It was small and fleeting but I saw the fear in her eyes. There were movements behind me but mother put her hand up to stop them. She then reassured her self that she was surrounded by guards and her seals of protection.
"Hinata you don't really think you can kill me do you? You still have so much to learn my dear."
"You don't know me or what I can do. What will it be? Are you going to make me kill you?" She straightened up in her chair and the look went from forced amusement to marble anger.
"You would have the Akatsuki and your elder sister to contend with before you even look my way child. I'll give you one more chance before I lose my temper and punish you." I took the last step and bent down to her head level and whispered.
"When I killed Ryo, do you know what he screamed?" She tensed and I knew I hit a nerve. No matter what plans she has for me I knew Ryo was her favorite and a part of her would never forgive me for killing him.
"He screamed for you to help him." She hissed and I transported down the stairs, narrowly missing the short sword that would have pierced my heart.
"Do you want to die by my hand that much you stupid fool? Need I remind you I have another child to follow after me? I could make you a casualty Hinata."
I smile at her and her eyes narrow as she takes the first step down the stairs.
"Die? I have no intention to die mother. Plus you and I both know Saki doesn't have what it takes to lead." Another three steps toward me and down the stairs.
"Now that you've called all your little minions back home they're going to need a real leader, not someone to sit back and watch behind the safety of her little lap dogs." With each step she takes the angrier she gets.
"That is why you wanted so many children right? We were supposed to have conquer the lands for you while you sit prim and proper on your throne made of lies, illusions and the sweat of every guy you've had to screw to get where you are now." More steps, more madness, less awareness.
"You dare speak to me like that?" She was on the last step, looking downward toward me with such fury it almost made me flinch, almost.
"What are you going to do about it?" There was a great shriek of rage as I was attacked. I kicked my sister in the stomach and sent her flying into the wall. She got up quickly and it's like she forgot she was a Nin as she attacked me with such an animalistic instinct that the only thing I could was to pin her to the floor.
"Do you really think she loves you Saki? Think sister! Is this what you really want? To following in the shadow of someone who thinks your replaceable?" She stopped fighting me for second and I saw past her resentment for me to see her hurt.
"I live for her Hinata. I am not strong enough to break away like you."
"Then you're going to kill me for her to?"
"You're my little sister Hinata, but you're more then that now. You are the one obstacle; the enemy she can't defeat. If I kill you then I will finally be worthy of being her daughter." I stared at in pity as her resolution to kill me was reinforced. She flipped me into the floor and was on top strangling me. I turned the heat in my blood up to a scorching temperature burning her terribly as she let go. Now there was space between us as we circled each other but it was getting smaller and smaller. We both knew her mental jutsu's were useless against me since my barriers were strong as ever.
"Enough!" My mothers shout jutsu was piercing as I'm sure everyone in the room flinched at the intensity of it. When it stopped I was on the floor holding my ears.
I summoned a wind jutsu and blew my sister in the direction of the statue with the lance sticking out. Before she was punctured with it she was caught by an Akatsuki. I stood up to see my mother surrounded by her lap dogs. Saki was dropped on her feet beside her mother as I tried to think of a strategy to get to her.
"Hinata if you want to fight that badly then I will give an opponent." She nodded toward the door that I didn't even notice was there. It moved as two black covered Nin moved to the side. My heart stopped beating for three seconds but just as quickly sped up. There stood Tsuni looking at me.
'Tsuni?" It was stupid, I knew that and Houkou who was screaming at me knew it to as I ran to him, only I didn't make it. My guard was down so it didn't take them long to knock me out.
*
There was laughing. It was a hauntingly beautiful laugh that made me feel like I was a little girl but as I listened to it a shiver of fear crept its way slowly into my mind and soul. I didn't move even as every ounce of self preservation I had had told me to run. Soon other sounds came drifting through the laughing, screaming, crying, explosions. Something inside told me to stand, to fight something, to not give up. Something warm was rubbing against my hand, its smooth patterns held a slow comfort that overcame the haunting laugh. With every stroke it brought me back to consciousness. When I finally opened my eyes I came face to face with dark purple eyes filled with regret and pity.
"Tsuni." I try to get up but he pushes me back down.
"Stay down Hinata-ne-chan, it will be over soon." I frown trying to figure out what he's talking about but my mind is groggy.
'What are you talking about Tsuni? What's almost over?"
"The end of the ones who tore us apart." I try to remember but for some reason the memories aren't coming to me.
"Who?" He doesn't want to answer as he continues to fuss over me.
"Tsuni, tell me the truth what's going on?"
"Mother is destroying the nation's last stand." I push him away from me as I sit up with a rush of dizziness.
"Don't! Just let it happen Ne-chan please!" he grabs on to my middle and hangs on to me for dear life.
"I can't. I don't believe in her and what she wants for the world. I thought you of all people would understand that Tsuni."
"I don't either but she really will kill you if you interfere this time! I can't lose you again!" I detangle my little brother from me to make him look me in the eyes.
"Tsuni you are my little brother, if I die today you must never let that woman get her claws into you. No matter what happens I will always be with you." I kiss him on the head and get up. He sits there on his knees begging with me not to go through his tears and sobs. I bend down to him one last time and place my necklace around his neck.
"Live for me brother." This time all he does is reach for me with an out stretched hand forgoing any words of pleading. I leave him there hoping that I don't fail so Tsuni can have a life with out the monster we call a mother.
*
When I find her she's surprisingly alone with Saki but I knew my time was running out.
"It ends tonight mother." She whips around to face with me with such childish glee I felt sickened.
"You're too late; the lands are almost at their knees Hinata." She laughs and I recognize the haunted laugh I had heard in my mind.
"No, I will kill you no matter what." I start walking toward with each of my steps become firmer and less shaky like before.
"You'll have to go through me little sister." Saki moves to stand right in my path like a puppet played by its puppeteer.
"Don't worry about Saki Hinata-ne-chan; I've got your back." I look over my shoulder to see Tsuni staring at Saki with such determination I know there is no room to argue.
"After I healed you when you thought to take your own life Tsuni this is how you repay me? By turning on your own mother?" She looked upset but I knew she was just unhappy with these odds of being a fair fight.
"The only reason you healed me was to use me against ne-chan in case she became too strong for you to put down."
Tsuni attacked Saki and forced her away so it was just me and mother. If the distant sound of battle were not there it would almost seem like just another peaceful fall day. Sakura blossoms fell like snowfall as the gentle breeze made them float across the sky. This time she was the one who took her first step against the floating blossoms but I soon was matching her steps. She used the flowers as cover; she disappeared but I wasn't nervous. I shut my eyes and focused on my byakugan. I saw her right before she used a seal on the ground underneath me. I dodged as the explosion caused a flurry of pink Sakura's that shot toward the sky.
Another seal was aimed at me but I dodged this one as well. I knew if she caught me in one of her seals I would be dead. My mother's talent was all about the seals. Any offensive move I would make would simply be knocked away by her powerful seals. So I had to wait and find an opening. A plan formed in my head, it wasn't good and the chance of success was low but time was not on my side.
I attacked her with a mental jutsu that Saki taught me but what I wasn't counting on was her doing the same jutsu back when I was unprepared for it. I was hit into another one of her seals where she activated it with a few hand signs. Lightning ripped through out my entire body, I convulsed and shook but she kept it activated. It got to be so painful that everything went numb and everything ceased to exist for me, even the sound of my beating heart.
Please review! I think i'm going to do only one more chapter since this chapter is the climax of the story. Thank you to my loyal reviewers! It means a lot to me!