Hinata's teeth gleamed from her manic smile. Naruto faltered slightly, giving her the chance to attack.
She was so fast that he didn't see her till it was too late. She was in front of him and moved her hand as if to swat him away.
But the force was incredible. It felt like he was being hit in the chest by a steam train, the force causing him to barrel through a tree trunk.
Kurenai instantly set up a genjutsu around the girl.
But she just laughed.
"Stupid woman, you should know that this doesn't work on demons!" she laughed shrilly, tossing her head back.
'Demon?' thought Kurenai.
"Who are you?" she asked carefully.
Hinata sighed "I suppose you deserve to know who kills you. My name is Akane."
"Where is Hinata?"
"HA! She's trapped. Never to be released." Akane laughed, tapping her head with her finger.
On the outside, Kurenai's expression didn't change, but inside she was shocked. Hinata's body had been taken over, and by a demon no less. The situation had just gone from bad to worse. The only skills she had left to use were her taijutsu skills.
She raced forward, aiming to land a kick to the demon. But Akane just grinned manically and raised her arms, slicing them downwards swiftly.
Kurenai fell to the ground in horrible pain. The demon had become familiar with Hinata's skills and was using them to her advantage. She had used fine chakra strikes to sever the muscles in both her shoulders, down to the bone. Kurenai could no longer move her arms, losing the ability to make jutsu's and to fight.
Kiba and Akamaru jumped down from the tree they were hiding from and charged forward.
Akane turned her attention to them, looking mildly amused. She waved her arm in front of her from left to right. Kiba let out a strangled cry and fell to the ground. She had just shut off any nerve receptors in his arms and legs, effectively rendering him paralysed. The dog had suffered the same attack and was lying beside his master.
A figure dropped down from another tree and stood facing Akane, arms outstretched.
"Oo-oh! A bug user! I haven't met one of you in a very long time." She exclaimed.
Shino frowned slightly, he knew more was coming.
"And I have just the technique for you. Enjoy it." She pushed her palm forward towards him and released a faint sound.
To a normal human, it would have been mildly irritating, but Shino was different. He dropped to the ground clutching his head and started screaming in a way that was inhuman. Bugs were flying out of him at terrifying speeds, all trying to escape, but dropping dead around him.
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Hinata was looking out at her friends, horrified at what this demon had done. She shook her head gently, this was all her fault. Her poor friends were in great pain and she was responsible.
"No…no" she repeated softly. She placed her hands against the window, dropping her head in defeat.
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'This was too easy." Akane thought, smiling at the bug-user writhing in pain. Now was the time to finish them off. She brought her hands above her head, ready to attack.
"No you don't." rasped a voice.
She looked over at the owner of the voice.
Naruto.
He was in an awful state. Blood was drying around the corners of his mouth and she could tell he had many broken ribs. With the force she had used on him he shouldn't be moving, let alone standing and walking.
"A demon then?" he asked her.
She smiled again, "Yes, boy. 100 demon."
It was Naruto's turn to smile, "Wrong."
Akane dropped her smile and glared. "What did you say?" she simmered.
"I said your wrong. You may have taken over Hinata's body, and you may have trapped her mind. But you have no control over her soul."
Deep inside Akane's prison, Hinata raised her head to look outside.
"She's still in there. I know she is. You will never have control over her. Hinata is stronger than you." He raised his voice even louder.
"You hear that, Hinata? You're stronger than her!" He screamed, eyes burning even brighter.
Hinata felt as if someone had just injected her with adrenalin, feeling a found energy. She pounded her fists on the window over and over.
"NARUTO!" she screamed, squeezing her eyes shut, pounding the window even harder.
Naruto saw a change in Akane's face. Like she was battling for control.
"NARUTO!" she screamed again, and with one final blow, the window shattered and Hinata felt herself connect briefly. She was looking out of her own eyes! Straight ahead of her was Naruto and he saw a remarkable change in her face.
But Hinata felt herself being pulled back under, but she wouldn't let that demon remove her before she had had a chance to speak.
"NARUTO!" she screamed, "THE BROOCH!"
It had been Hinata! He was sure of it. What did she mean? He searched the girl's body and saw what she had mentioned.
It finally all clicked into place. The brooch. The connection. He had to destroy it.
Akane tried to let go of Hinata, but Hinata held on. She needed to distract the demon, if only for a few precious moments.
Naruto saw his chance and ran for it.
He raised his hands and created a huge rasengan, pushing forward towards the girl. Towards the brooch.
Akane saw it too late, she could do nothing, Hinata was seeing to that.
Her final vision was of Naruto's screaming face.
The rasengan came to connect to the Silver brooch, releasing a brilliant white light.
Hinata finally let Akane go and felt herself falling. She closed her eyes, finally smiling.
But Naruto pushed forwards, still screaming. He saw the brooch through the light, the ruby eyes glowing once more, before a huge crack appeared and the brooch fell to the ground.
The light dimmed and Naruto fell to his knees, panting. He was dripping with sweat and blood, so exhausted.
'Hinata!' he thought franticly. He lifted his eyes and saw he lying a few yards in front of him, the brooch a few metres from her body.
He scrambled towards her and searched her for signs of life.
"Hinata!" he pleaded. Her chest was still, her limbs unmoving.
No, she couldn't be dead. He reached his fingers to her face, but paused before he touched it. She was smiling. A faint smile, but a smile nonetheless.
'No…'
He reached forward and touched her cheek ever so lightly.
"Hinata…" he whispered.
Her eyes shot open and she drew in a long, rasping gasp.
Naruto retracted his hand in shock. He couldn't react, he was stunned.
Hinata felt like she had lost her body for good, she was floating away from herself. But she had heard Naruto's voice and suddenly she was being pulled and she felt herself being connected again.
Her eyes were trying to focus, and they came to rest on a familiar blonde head.
"Naruto?" she whispered softly.
Naruto jolted out of his trance and dropped forward, bringing Hinata into his arms in a tight embrace.
Hinata was too exhausted to be shocked and just let herself enjoy the warmth of Naruto's body hugging hers.
She felt something wet on her shoulder and realized that Naruto was crying.
He raised his head and looked at her. He was smiling, and the tears were flowing freely from his eyes.
"Naruto…" Hinata started to inquire.
"I didn't lose you. I didn't lose you, Hinata!" he exclaimed, smiling broadly with a deep warmth.
Hinata smiled gently. "Thank you, Naruto."
She closed her eyes, she wanted to remember this moment forever.
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Phew….