Disclaimer: I don't own any of this and I'm not trying to sell any of it.

AN: Oh man guys, after this… two more chapters left!

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Chapter 25: On Edge

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Saturday

"I'm just getting fed up with my older brother…" Sasuke mumbled as he sat at the quaint kitchen table, sipping a steaming cup of tea.

"You do know that Itachi and I have come to an understanding right?" Kasai asked as she flipped a pancake with her skillet. Sasuke had skipped school again yesterday and came to her house when Sai left for school. Since he was still angry with Itachi, Kasai thought it would be best to let him spend the night.

"I can't wait until school is over," he said dully while staring at a random picture hanging on the kitchen wall.

"With the rate you're going you might skip enough days that they kick you out," Kasai said, reprimanding Sasuke for his recent behavior.

Sasuke chuckled. "That'd be nice... then I'd be able to come here sooner."

"What are you talking about?"

"I already told you, once I'm done with school I'm going to come live with you and help you take care of Hiko."

Kasai set the skillet down forcefully. "My son is in the house. Don't say nonsense like that when there's a chance he can hear you. I don't want you to get his hopes up with something that's never going to happen."

"What do you mean 'something that's never going to happen?'" Sasuke said angrily, sitting up and glaring at Kasai.

"You aren't moving in here. I appreciate the thought but I'm not tying you down with my problems," Kasai said, crossing her arms.

"You're my family, they're my problems too!" Sasuke growled hoarsely.

"So is Itachi and I don't see him trying to save me like I'm some helpless damsel," Kasai said, her voice raising.

"Yeah, because he doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself!"

"Watch your tone young man. I won't stand for that language in my house and I won't tolerate being spoken to like that by a self-righteous teenager who doesn't recognize sincerity when someone presents it to him. You and Itachi might be fighting but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about you."

"Ugh! What did he say to get you to turn on me? All of you are all the same saying the same damn things. Why can't I leave the town, why can't I come help you? What's wrong with wanting to help?" Sasuke stood up roughly and stormed to the front door of the house.

"Leaving nii-san?" Hiko asked from the foot of the stairs where Sasuke stood, putting his shoes on.

"Yes Hiko. I'll come see you again some other day though," Sasuke said, patting Hiko affectionately on the head and then leaving the house.

Kasai sighed as she listened to Sasuke leave. Of course there was nothing wrong with leaving the city or wanting to help family, but she didn't want Sasuke tied down when he had so many other options ahead of him.

As Sasuke sped back to town he decided to go back to Sai's. When he had left Friday morning, Sai had put out the option that his home was always open to Sasuke and while Sasuke could go to Naruto's he knew Naruto was on Itachi's side. Part of him wanted to go to Sakura's, but she had the same thoughts as the others, only for different reasons.

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Naruto pulled up to the long drive of the main Hyuga house; his truck sputtering painfully as it slowed to a stop and died.

"Thanks for waiting until I arrived buddy," Naruto said, petting the dashboard graciously. He was happy to finally have his truck back.

He walked up the steps to the front doors and knocked on the wood, still taken aback by the house's beauty.

"Who are you?" A girl asked, opening the door.

"Holy crap it's a miniature Hinata," Naruto said. He wasn't exactly right, this girl's hair was brown in color and she didn't have bangs, her breasts were also underdeveloped compared to Hinata's, then again she only looked about eleven. 'But Hinata had a pretty decent sized rack when she was twelve and that's only a year older…' Naruto's mind wondered off topic as he started thinking about Hinata in more… inappropriate ways.

The girls face lit up. "Wait a second! A blonde boy with a stupid expression; Neji-nii has told me about you! You're Naruto. Oh man, dad is going to be pissed. I'll go get him." She ran off yelling "Dad, you won't guess who's here to see Hinata."

"Wait," Naruto tried to say; he was hoping for a more formidable introduction.

"N-N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata said, coming into the entrance from a hallway. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to talk to your old man," Naruto said. "Who was that annoying girl?"

"That's my younger sister Hanabi. Dad favors her because she's really good at everything she does. Her greatest talent is sucking up."

Naruto was taken aback by Hinata's response. Normally she was shy and tried to get along with everyone, so seeing her talk so bluntly about her sister was a change. He liked seeing this side of her, like he was seeing the real her, even if she was being a little mean.

"What are you doing here?" Hinata's father said as he, too, came into the entrance.

"I want to discuss my relationship with Hinata with you, man to man," Naruto said without hesitation.

Hiashi laughed. "You are no man. Get off of my property and out of my presence…" he turned and began walking away.

"No, not until you hear me out," Naruto said forcefully.

"… before I call the cops," Hiashi said, looking over his shoulder sternly with a stare that told Naruto there was nothing he could do at the moment to change his mind.

Naruto sighed. "Sorry Hinata. I'll try again though, don't worry. I just need to think up a different approach."

"Th-that's fine Naruto-kun," Hinata said. She was happy he at least tried. Naruto leaned in to kiss her but Hanabi stopped them.

"Do it and I'll call for dad right now," Hanabi said.

"Do you act this way because you don't have any friends? Or, I bet you don't have any friends because you act this way," Naruto snapped.

Hanabi snorted and threw her hands behind her head and walked off proudly.

"She's actually really popular. She's only acting this way because she's prideful of our bloodline and agrees with father and nii-san that you aren't…" Hinata stopped herself and shied away from Naruto.

"That I'm not good enough?" Naruto asked. She nodded her head. "Hinata, you're pretty incredible, you know that right?"

She looked up at him startled by the compliment.

"You're well rounded and you're getting more confident every day. If someone like you can see good qualities in a dobe like me, then I'm sure I've got the potential to be great too."

Hinata laughed. "You say flattering things but we both know you're already aware of your potential. If not then you wouldn't be cocky enough to argue with my father about me."

Naruto grinned. He was happy that he stuck with Hinata and didn't dump her for the extra effort her father was making him put into their relationship; these challenges were only pulling them closer together instead of forcing them further apart. He placed his hands on her cheeks and gently pulled her closer for a kiss, noticing Hanabi watching from down the hall before he closed his eyes. After a minute he parted from her and left the house, ready to formulate a new plan and try again.

"Hinata, come here," Hiashi called to his daughter from deep within the Hyuga mansion. Hinata watched Naruto's back as he walked to his truck, then she continued to watch him until he had driven away and was out a sight; it took him awhile to start his truck up and she wondered if he was having engine troubles. Once he was gone, she turned and headed to her father, clambering through different rooms and down oddly placed hallways as she walked through the labyrinth of a house.

"Yes father," she said a little bluntly compared to her normal demeanor, but she hated when Naruto was looked down on.

"If I catch him here again, if I find out you're still seeing him, I will ship you off to a boarding school before you have time to text him 'goodbye'. Do I make myself clear?"

She stared confrontationally at her father. Should she agree with him or should she break the rules? Hinata wasn't an idiot, she knew that Naruto wouldn't want to put this much effort into their relationship, and if he did it was purely because he's a good guy and not because he liked her that much. He didn't love her… yet. But she had never disobeyed her father before, and the only way she could get around any of this would be if she snuck out to see him.

"Do I make myself clear, Hinata?" Hiashi asked, his voice raised; he couldn't believe his daughter was being so defiant.

"Crystal," Hinata said sharply. She turned on her heel and stormed away, pulling her cell phone out and calling the only person who she thought could relate to her at the moment.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end of her phone asked, shocked to be receiving a call.

"I need to get out of my house, it's urgent. I can't stand being here right now so could you please come get me?" Hinata asked, her stutter escaping her in the midst of her anger.

"Y-yeah, alright," the voice said. "I'll be right there."

Hinata wasn't sure but she thought she heard sniffling in the background before the call disconnected.

xxxxx

"Well damn," Naruto said to himself as he drove through town. "How am I going to prove myself to him? Don't tell me I'll have to start studying or something!" Naruto slammed his truck break to the floor in hopes of slowing down enough to stop for a red light. The truck slowed but not enough to stop and Naruto had to give the beast some gas in order to dodge a car from oncoming traffic. "I don't think my brain would handle studying…" he thought to himself absentmindedly, paying no attention to his failing truck; he was used to it by now. "Good thing there aren't any cops around."

He pulled into the parking lot of the skate park and grabbed his board, ready to get his mind off of the recent event.

"Gaara? What are you doing here?" Naruto asked as he walked to the half pipe and found Gaara at the top on the deck.

"The institute has been put on lock down so the trip has been postponed until next week," Gaara said as he made his decent.

"Oh no, what happened?" Naruto said.

"One of the residence, a guy named Juugo, went berserk and started terrorizing the staff and the other residents," Gaara said, his face even and uncaring. "Apparently he almost strangled one of the nurses to death."

"That's terrible…" Naruto said jaw-dropped. "They keep guys like that there?"

"Well he's not that bad of a guy. He's actually really friendly and loves animals. Juugo just has a split personality disorder," Gaara said.

"I see," Naruto said. "You're taking this pretty well."

"You win some, you lose some. I still get to go next weekend."

Naruto smirked proudly. Before, something like this would have drove Gaara over the edge, but he was doing amazing. The skate boarding must really be helping. "Come here a sec Gaara."

Gaara stopped rolling up and down the sides of the half pipe and neared Naruto. Naruto was digging around in a pocket on the inside of his jacket.

"Here," he said, handing over Gaara's butterfly knife. "I told you that if you could act normal you could have it back, and this is the most normal I think you can get, so it's yours."

"Thanks," Gaara said, taking the knife. He flicked the blade out and examined the design engraved into it.

After a few more sentimental seconds they went back to skating until the rising sun and their rumbling stomachs reminded them that it was time for lunch.

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"So what happened exactly?" Sakura asked Hinata one she had climbed into the car. They left the mansion and began cruising through the town.

"I'm just frustrated with my father," Hinata said, snapping a little. "S-sorry…"

Sakura was taken aback, not used to seeing Hinata so forward. Hinata began explaining about the trouble she was having with Naruto because of her father. Sakura noted that at least Naruto wanted to be with her, leading into a long talk about Sakura's relationship with Sasuke. Several minutes into the drive they stopped by an ice cream parlor and bought milk shakes. They conversed about the boys while sitting inside Sakura's parked car. While they chitchatted Sakura became distracted by a familiar revving. The girls stopped chatting in time to watch Sasuke speed past them on his motorcycle.

"What are you waiting for Sakura? Start your car! Follow him," Hinata said, snapping Sakura out of her daze.

Sakura followed instruction and pulled away from the parking lot as fast as possible, catching up to Sasuke but keeping enough distance that he didn't notice they were following him.

"He's going to be angry," Sakura said. "I thought I was supposed to keep my distance from him… You know, not be pushy."

"You need to prove to him that you're worth it. If you want him that badly then show him you mean business; that you aren't playing around and that this isn't some school girl crush. If he recognizes the heart you're putting into everything and still doesn't accept you then you know you gave it your all. If he doesn't recognize the effort then he's too stupid for you anyway," Hinata said.

Sakura laughed. She admired Hinata for her the love she had for Naruto, and if Hinata thought it was a good idea to throw everything she had at Sasuke in one final attempt then she was going to do it. They parked half a block away from the house Sasuke had pulled up to and made their way to him.

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Sasuke descended from his motorcycle and walked to the front door of Sai's house, rapping his knuckles on the wood.

"Oh Sasuke, back so soon?" Sai said, an odd look on his face as he opened the door for Sasuke to enter. Sasuke wasn't sure but for some reason it seemed like Sai was regretting something. As the door closed Sasuke noticed the presence of another person within the room.

"Sasuke Uchiha," the other person said, standing from a moth eaten arm chair and turning to look at Sasuke. "It's been awhile."

Sasuke frowned. "I apologize but… who are you?"

The man chuckled. "I suppose it has been awhile and you were rather young the last time you saw me. My name is Danzō." Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. "I see you remember me now."

"I will admit that I'm a bit surprised that I didn't recognize a face as torn apart as yours, but I do recognize you now," Sasuke said. He was glaring and gritting his teeth at the man.

A sudden knocking on the door caught their attention. Sai leaned in to the peep hole and then turned back to Sasuke and Danzō. "Things may be a little problematic. Two girls from Sasuke's grade are outside the door."

"What? Who?" Sasuke said surprised.

Danzō sighed heavily. "Damn." He sat back down again. "Let them in and do what you have to do to get them into the basement."

Sai nodded and opened the door.

"Sai! This is your house?" Sakura gasped.

"Go away Sakura! I'm not in the mood to see you," Sasuke yelled, his voice echoing within the house. He didn't like the way Danzō said 'do what you have to do' and hoped that yelling at Sakura would send her away from any immediate danger. It was too late though, the girls had entered into the house.

"I just wanted to talk to you—" Sakura started to say before Sai had his hand wrapped around her arms and body, a pocket knife digging into her throat.

"If the three of you would be so kind as to go downstairs," he said. Sasuke glared past the confused Sakura, right at Sai's composed face. Hinata walked to Sasuke and the two of them headed to the open door which normally concealed a staircase leading downstairs. Sai and Sakura followed close behind them and Danzō brought up the rear.

To show he meant business, Sai had the blade ripping deep enough into Sakura's skin to cause her to bleed slightly, but wasn't doing any immediate damage. With a hostage taken, Sasuke and Hinata had no choice but to comply when Danzō ushered them to sit down and then began restraining them with ropes. After they were tied up, Sai bounded Sakura's arms behind her back and to the chair he had sat her on.

"You're dismissed now Sai. I can't have you witnessing anything else," Danzō said.

"Yes sir," Sai said, "you didn't tie that rope properly though." He walked to Sasuke and inspected the rope before leaving the basement.

"What are you going to do to us?" Sasuke said as he moved his wrists back and forth, trying to see what Sai left him to work with.

"Shh, Sasuke, we'll get to that in time. First I have to make a phone call."

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While Naruto and Gaara were heading back to the skate park, having finished eating out at the town's sole ramen shop, called Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto's phone started to vibrate.

"Uh… hello?" Naruto said, not recognizing the number.

"I don't necessarily know how to explain what's going on but, this is Sai, and I just thought I'd like to let you know that your girlfriend, Sakura, and Sasuke have all been kidnapped. Would you like my address, because, they're currently being held in my basement."

Naruto stopped in his tracks. "Y-yeah… sure." He turned to Gaara. "I may need your help."

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"Hello?" Itachi said as he answered his cell phone. Kasai was calling him.

"I just received a disturbing call from Danzō. He says that he has Sasuke and that—"

"I understand," Itachi said, cutting Kasai off. His phone beeped and he looked down at it, finding a text from Naruto telling him the same thing but also mentioning Sai. "I'll take care of this." He hung up on Kasai and speed-dialed Sasori, hoping he'd know how where Sai lived.

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AN: I don't hate Hanabi, but she's always hanging around her father and she's a prodigy like Neji so I kinda felt her personality would be like this. Not like there's a lot of examples out there to go off of so… yea…