Chapter 25
Too Little, Too Late
Hinata stared out at the ever-moving water before her, the cooler wind coming off the sea stirring her dark hair until the loose strands blew in her face. The afternoon sky was deep with feathery clouds scattered overhead, tinted pink and lavender with the beginnings of a false dawn, the white-capped mirror beneath reflecting the shades perfectly. Just past the breakers a flock of birds rode the waves, settled in their own patch of white, content after a feast of fish.
"It's so peaceful." she breathed.
Behind her Kisame stood, one hand on the the small of her back, his eyes riveted on the same spot in the water. When his answer came, his voice was laced with a hint of longing, as if he was denying the urge to leave the land behind and submerge himself in the depths beyond.
"Yeah."
His fingers stroked her lower spine for a moment before sliding around her waist to draw her closer. She burrowed back into him, sighing softly. This felt... more right than anything she had encountered before. As if sensing her thoughts, Kisame gave her a gentle squeeze. She smiled up at him, and he returned it with the barest hint of a grin.
Letting her eyes roam over the water one last time, Hinata reluctantly pulled away and started up the beach, Kisame at her side. "We can't delay facing her any longer. She'll be more upset if we're late for supper."
"I know."
They had decided when they set out for home to walk up the coastline back to the village instead of taking the road. It had been a quiet trip altogether, the only people they saw were a couple of fishermen from the neighboring village hoping to reel in a final catch before dark made it difficult. Now that they were only a few miles from the village, they were taking their time, enjoying a few moments of simple existence before they plunged back into the real world.
There was a beautiful orangish red glow in the sky above the thickening trees, and Hinata smiled softly as she admired the boldening colors of the sunset against the dark earth below.
Until she realized that it was coming from the wrong direction.
Hinata stiffened as a deep feeling of unease suddenly rolled through her, scattering her peace and activating her Byakugan automatically. Kisame lifted his head from where he had been studying the rocks poking through the sand as they walked, sensing her distress.
On the edge of her vision, she could make out the buildings of the town, shinobi chakra flaring and dancing all around it like living flames. She could see the outlined forms of people and animals, far more than there should have been for the small village. Real fire sprouted from the darker shapes of the houses, making her gasp aloud.
"Kisame, the village!"
The urgency in her voice spurred him into action without question.
"Let's go."
They angled for solid ground at a dead run, taking to the trees as soon as they reached the woods off the beach. Leaves rustled and branches creaked, marking their path as they landed in tandem before launching for the next limb. Samehada came to life on its master's back, wiggling furiously as it detected the nearest rifts of chakra in the air. The breeze shifted toward them, carrying the mixed scents of the invasion to Kisame. He sorted through the smells as they traveled, the strong currents of blood and fear making him press himself to go faster.
Less than five minutes passed before they broke through the treeline. Drawing up and dropping to the ground, Hinata crouched in the shadow of the last tree between them and the village and studied the scene before them. Kisame crouched behind her, Samehada now completely still on his back.
The sun had just sank completely, the darkening sky backlit by the now visible houses on fire. The normally quiet streets were alive with shadows and sound, plumes of licking flames and pounding feet, blood and a cacophony of screams. Smoke rose black into the sky and tumbled down to the street, curling around bodies strewn haphazardly around, lives that were viciously taken and the leftovers carelessly tossed aside like some giant's forgotten dolls on the floor. Some had fallen as they fled for their lives, some had turned to fight, and some had preferred to take their own lives than die at the hands of their enemies. The elderly, men, women, children; none were spared.
But what caught Hinata's attention the most was the feeling of terror in the air. Raw, suffocating, like a poisonous cloud it threaded through the village, invisible fingers feeding on the living and the echoes from the dead. Hinata's stomach turned over viciously and she closed her eyes for a moment against the images, suddenly wishing she wasn't gifted with her clan's bloodline limit.
She reopened them at the crisp sound of a door sliding apart nearby, close, cautious. A figure, trying to hurry and hide at the same time, made a break for the street. He did not even see the danger lurking above. Twin coals glanced her way for a mere instant before she watched the silky form drop onto its victim. A muffled scream followed, gurgling and wet, the cloud of terror growing that much thicker. Hinata wanted to jump in to help, started forward though it was far too late, but was restrained by Kisame's hand on her shoulder.
"Wait." he commanded.
Another shadow, tall and slender, dim light glinting off of untouched steel. It knelt, greeting the great cat, patting it on the head. Praise for a job well done. Then they were gone, melting into the night until another victim appeared.
Hinata's voice was whispery and thin as she turned her face away from the life fading from the body on the ground. "What do we do?"
Kisame's hand trailed from Hinata's shoulder to curve around her neck in a comforting gesture, fingers curling over the font of life that pulsed beneath. He sensed her distress growing, and a strong demand to protect her flared within him. She had known battle and death before, but the situation before them was something that he was sure she hadn't encountered. This wasn't a fight between shinobi or opposing warriors. It wasn't an honorable battle, or even a dishonorable one. It was wholesale slaughter of the innocent, a senseless, special kind of hell that only his kind were strong enough to withstand. Demons like him who could numbly walk through the flames, wreck as much havoc as their enemies, and then send the nightmare images to sleep with the coming dawn.
Unfortunately, it was also a losing battle. They were outnumbered, overpowered, and the enemy had started the attack at their own leisure, which meant they had an immeasurable amount of time to prepare.
What could they do?
Nothing.
Tightening his hand on her slightly, he said what he had to, hating that the words would hurt her. "We can't save them, Hinata."
"We have to do something. Kisame, please."
He rose behind her, unsheathed Samehada, and helped her to her feet. "Very well, then. Let's find Nami first."
His eyes narrowed as he allowed the primal urge to fight rise within him like a tidal wave, brought on by her plea and the slaughter ahead as it hit his senses fully. The smell of blood and death was strong in his nose, mingled with the acrid smoke and salt from the sea air. A scream in the distance, cut violently short, sent his blood careening through his veins. His muscles tensed, reflexes honed to a diamond-sharp focus as his breathing steadied into a strong, rhythmic cadence, each inhale bringing him more information about his foes than the last, drawing him tighter until he was restless with the demand for action.
Taking a steadying breath, Hinata began searching for her mentor. It was difficult to see through the layers of chakra, rising and falling over each other like the winds in a hurricane. Behind her, Kisame's maelstrom of energy flowed steadily, an unleashed tower of destruction awaiting her command. A flare in her vision was suddenly snuffed out, drawing her attention forward again.
"This way!" she pointed down the main street as she saw Nami's chakra whirl up strongly in the other's absence.
Nodding, Kisame adjusted his hold on Samehada and waded into the chaos first, Hinata close on his heels.
As soon as they were clear of the tree, a wave of chakra signatures closed in on them. It was as if the distance between the town and the forest was the spring on a well-concealed trap. A pack of a dozen coyotes came rocketing around the perimeter of an outbuilding, their bubbling song rising above the din in the village behind. It died away into deathly silence as they came to a halt mere yards away. Large and sleek, the creatures lifted their lips in in a bevy of vicious snarls as they regarded their next targets. Kisame lifted Samehada and beckoned them forward, eager to get started.
Instead of attacking, three figures rose from the midst of the pack, morphing until identical shinobi triplets stood staring at them with intense yellow eyes that rivaled their canine counterparts. Sandy brown hair, cropped close to their necks, blended in with the dark tan of the sleeveless leather dusters each wore. Their matching jounin vests looked out of place with the ensemble, a pine green splotch above black pants and sandals. The only difference between them was the collars they wore around their necks, each one a different colored metal, all bearing the symbol for Hidden Claw. There were three ninkin companions apiece, wearing slender bracelets on their front ankles in matching metals.
"Hyuuga-san, it's nice to see you again." the shinobi on the right with the black iron collar said, speaking first.
Hinata paused at his words, trying to remember where she might have met them while she was in Hidden Claw. All she drew was a blank. Softly she shook her head. "I don't remember seeing you before this."
"Of course you don't." the middle triplet with a bronze collar replied.
"You were too busy watching the wolves to pay attention to the rest of us." the silver-collared triplet finished.
The genuine hurt note in their voices had her opening her mouth to say something, until Kisame shifted in front of her, preparing for the oncoming attack. She settled for schooling her face into an unperturbed expression, lips in a grim line as the veins around her eyes bulged and she locked onto their chakra signatures.
"We'll see how much you ignore us now..." they threatened in unison as they drew kunai and melted back into the milling pack.
The creatures took up their song, laced with growls and high pitched with anticipation. Louder now, it grew in volume until it was nearly deafening. Hinata saw the sudden release of chakra before she could hear it, signaling the casting of a sonic jutsu. With no time to issue the warning, she stepped in front of Kisame, pulling his head down, covering his ears and bracing herself. Using her own body as a shield to buffer the damaging effects of the noise, she could feel the vibrations roll over her back, and she was nearly disoriented regardless of her efforts.
Just as the clamor reached its crescendo, the first coyote launched itself in their direction. The rest fanned out to surround them before following suit, attacking from all sides. Hinata gathered her chakra to her hands in order to turn and defend herself, but before she could act, Samehada was swept in an arc in front of her, knocking the closest creature away. Kisame leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.
"Save your chakra. You'll need it later."
Hinata nodded, drawing several shuriken from her pouch and stepped back. Kisame jerked his head back and lowered his hand, palm open and upward. Taking the silent hint without pause, she rested one foot on the impromptu hold, and launched herself upward with his help, fingers brushing over his bare shoulder for a mere instant. She cleared the ring of oncoming coyotes, landing on the trunk of the tree they had just emerged from. She took a mere moment to anchor herself down before she was leaning out as far as she could, following the movements of her targets with unfailing precision. Kisame whirled amongst them, Samehada drawing blood with every swing. Her shuriken was loosed one at a time, a satisfying yelp accompanying each visual confirmation that her weapons had flown true.
Her pursuit wasn't long in coming. One of the coyotes broke away from the rest to counter her support attacks, launching itself straight at her. Its body contorted a moment later, morphing in mid-air. She had to dodge out of the way as the triplet with the silver collar landed right where she had been, kunai plunging into the bark. A growl emerged from his lips when he realized he missed, his golden eyes searching for his intended target. The blue glow of chakra on a tree just beyond the haze of light emanating from the village had his lips lifting in victory as he prepared to pursue his prize. Hoping for the element of surprise, he attacked immediately, only to realize too late that the glow was from a tagged kunai, not the kunoichi that had wounded his pack.
With no way to halt his flight, he turned so that the brunt of the explosion would hit his shoulder when it went off.
It never did.
He slammed into the trunk with a grunt, sliding down to the forest floor, half irritated that he had been tricked, and half glad that he avoided what could have been a serious injury. Without wasting time he stood, ready to jump away from what was now obviously a trap. He never even got the chance to move as a dark blur collapsed on top of him, a searing blue streak of chakra cutting into his exposed back. She bore him down, the blue glow between them coming from her hand, currently lodged deeply in his chest cavity. He barely had time to register the pain of the injury before she was gone, and he was left alone to die.
Hinata pulled her hand out of the shinobi's heart with a final burst of disrupting chakra, barely sparing his failing body a glance as she jumped away and raced back to where Kisame was still fighting. Breaking out of the trees she spotted him, covered in blood, but relatively unharmed. He currently had the bronze-collared shinobi trapped in his water prison, watching coolly as the remaining ninja tried desperately to free his brother. Aside from him there was one coyote left, distracted from attack by the rescue attempt. Hinata maneuvered her way along the trees and around until she had a clear view of its flank, intending to aim for its heart with the kunai she drew from her pouch.
Before she had time to lift her hand, the water prison burst, releasing the still form of the shinobi within, along with the two coyotes that had been trapped with him. The remaining triplet took his brother's head in his hand, assuring himself of the truth, before standing and giving Kisame a gilded glare that would have melted a glacier. He called to the only coyote that remained, and both charged simultaneously, intending to end the fight, one way or the other.
From out of the darkness a snow white body descended in smoke and silence, razor sharp talons sinking into the spine of the coyote as it was born to the ground before it could reach its waiting target.
Simultaneously, a pale blur swept by Hinata, and when it stopped the shinobi with the black iron collar was pinned to the side of the nearest building by a katana, the blade lodged straight through his heart and into the flaming wood behind. A petite kunoichi with long, silvery hair stepped back and away from him. She watched him coldly until his body shuddered to a halt, then she pulled her sword and turned around. Twin moons of black, ringed in bright emerald green, stared up in awe at the shark nin. Soft silver eyeshadow enhanced the depth of her eyes, her face an ethereal shade of pale save for the jet black painted on her lips. She wore little in the way of protective clothing, a gauzy, form-fitting top and floating skirt in shades of white and smokey gray. Her knee-high boots and the leather bracers covering her forearms were white as well. A second katana jutted out from over her shoulder, the handle wrapped in white cord and decorated with a thong of white leather and black feathers.
Kisame arched an eyebrow at her as he took in the Hidden Claw symbol on her jade green forehead protector. "An ally?"
A hint of fury passed through her gaze as she wiped the blood from her katana in a practiced motion, her eyes never leaving his. "An old score settled."
With a nod, Kisame brought Samehada in front of him, readying for her to attack now that her personal politics were out of the way. She gave him a fathomless stare before she shook her head.
"It is not my mission to stop you, Hoshigaki Kisame. That was left to others."
"I'm flattered." he stated drily. "If you're not here to stop or help us, then why are you here?"
She sheathed her sword. "Just passing through. My business is with the Daimyo." A ghost of a smile flitted around her black lips as she started to turn away from him. "See you there."
Before her soft words had time to register, she was gone, instantly and without aplomb, not even a hint of disturbed air to mark her passing. A moment later the snowy owl that had killed the coyote took off with a great flapping of wings, stirring up the dust around them as it gained altitude and disappeared in the darkness.
Kisame glanced back at Hinata and shook his head. But he didn't get the chance to say anything as an explosion rocked a building ahead of them. He recognized it as one of the farming supply shops; the explosion most likely coming from the ignition of the fertilizer inside. It was only in the aftermath that they noticed that the noise in the village had lowered considerably. It was more of a foreboding silence beyond the roar of the engulfed buildings now, punctuated by screams as the citizens of the town were routed from their hiding places. With the reminder that innocent lives were being lost with every delayed second, they rushed onward, Hinata taking the lead toward Nami, who was moving on her own personal battlefield in the center of the village.
She came to a sudden halt, her eyes landing on a pair of bodies lying a few feet down a side street, slumped against the edge of a porch. A moment of horror washed through her as her Byakugan zeroed in on the figures, threatening to break through her self-control as she recognized who it was.
"Hinata... we don't have time." Kisame tried to warn, but she ignored him, her feet pounding up the street as she ran to her only friend in the village.
Hitomi was face down, unmoving, her clothes torn and blood welling up from several large gashes in her back and head. The sticky fluid clung to her hair and dripped into the dirt, pooling along her body. The jagged rips in her flesh revealed several rib bones, chunks of meat hanging precariously to her skin. Burns and bite marks littered what she could see of her arms, a testament to the struggle that ended her life.
Just under her left arm curled the small form of Ryusei, quiet and trembling as he pressed against his mother. There was a gash in his cheek, and he was covered in his mother's blood. The terror in his eyes was obvious, but at least he was still alive.
Approaching quietly, Hinata knelt down, pressing her finger to the artery in Hitomi's neck, though she knew it was useless. Her friend was dead and little Ryusei was alone. As carefully as she could, she rolled the body over to reach the child underneath.
"Ryusei..."
Her voice died away and she froze instantly when a low growl sounded further down the street. Glancing up, she found herself staring at a pack of wolves, more than a dozen strong, regarding her with hungry eyes as they slowly advanced in her direction. Most had wet blood dripping off their muzzles, making them look demonic as they lifted their lips in a bevy of snarls. Hatred flared within her at the sight of them. Trembling with the emotion, she reached for her chakra, readying herself to fight them, bare handed if need be.
"Get him out of here."
She barely heard Kisame's voice behind her as she focused on the closest wolf, found the weak spots on his body, and prepared herself to attack. It snarled as it felt her intentions and lowered its head to respond.
"Go now, Hinata."
Kisame's firm command called her back reluctantly. Scooping Ryusei up, she rose with the boy in her arms as Kisame stepped forward, twirling Samehada in one hand as he dropped into a strong stance and returned the wolves fierce expressions with one of his own. Without looking back, she made a beeline to the one place she knew would be safe: Nami's house. The terrified child struggled and fought as she ran, trying to escape her grasp as he yelled for his mother at the top of his lungs.
Every desperate wail pierced Hinata's heart as she forced him to hold still so she wouldn't drop him, stoking the anger that had taken a hold of her into a burning need to exact some violence of her own. No child should suffer the horrors Ryusei was going through. To watch as his mother's life was taken from her brutally, and not just that alone, but in the midst of the utter destruction of everything he had ever known. He wouldn't be the same for the rest of his life. Gripping him tighter, she raced down the road, eating up the distance as she leaned forward and pushed chakra through her legs.
She passed underneath the overhang on the last building in the village, the path leading to Nami's house spread out in front of her. Before she had time to clear it a weight dropped on her from above, the searing pain of claws digging into her shoulder. She cried out instinctively even as she rolled forward, the child curled tightly against her chest. The mountain cat was thrown off balance under the sheer force of her momentum, and she stumbled back to her feet and continued running, ignoring the blooming injury that sent stars shooting across her vision. She heard the creature give chase with an angry snarl, and it only took a single glance backward to know it would outrun her in moments. Shifting Ryusei to her left arm, she whirled around, using the child as a counterbalance to her motion, and sent her kunai flying. They found their way home with deft precision, burying up to the hilt in the cat's throat and chest, sending it spinning into the dirt. Without stopping, she pivoted the rest of the way back around and continued onward.
Nami's house came into view minutes later, and Hinata exhaled in relief, glad that it had not been disturbed by the fight. She raced across the yard, gained the porch in one leap and had the door slamming behind her a second later. Glancing around the empty room, she moved to the couch and set Ryusei down gently. As if the change in position had awakened him from a stupor, he looked up at her, his eyes wide. Hinata gripped his face between her hands, forcing him to remain focused on her.
"Ryusei, look at me. This will be over soon. Stay here until I come to get you. There's food in the kitchen and you can hide in my bedroom in the back if you start to get tired. If I don't come before they find you, do whatever they say. Just stay alive." she instructed hastily before letting go of him and heading back outside.
"No! Don't leave me! Hinata-san!..." silence for a moment, and then, "Mommy!" he howled in terror from the other side of the door, instantly breaking her heart.
Setting her mind to the task with gritted teeth, she sealed the house with a protective jutsu. Sure that now he would at least survive the night, she turned back to the village, pale eyes glinting with unspent wrath.
XXXXXXXXX
Samehada arced through the air with a deep whoosh before landing with a satisfying thud across the back of the neck of a wolf too slow to save his own skin. Two more stood in front of Kisame, teeth bared, eyes gleaming red and gold. Both were heaving great breaths, their sides and chest shredded where Samehada scored decent wounds. With a malicious grin the shark nin sprinted forward at the same time the wolves launched themselves at him. Pulling a short blade from its concealed pocket in his pants, he dispatched the last of the wolves that had challenged him with a flurry of swift swings, tearing through the soft underbelly like it was made of air. Blood splattered fur and stone and skin, and with a sharp cry they were gone. Kisame turned around and kicked the carcasses away from him.
There was a subtle shift in the air then, prickling at the edge of his senses, growing stronger as the moments passed. It pushed back the terror in the village, the way radiant sunlight dissipates a heavy fog late in the morning. Anticipation followed on the heels of recognition as he picked out the source of the change. His senses heightened further, primal instinct urging him to go to her, join her, bask in the rage that permeated her scent and bled from her aura.
She was in sight a moment later, bypassing the side street he was on in favor of pursuing their closest enemy. Her dark hair streamed behind her like an inky banner, body stretched out as she ran for all she was worth. Blood welled from a wound in her shoulder, staining the dark fabric of her shirt as her movement exacerbated the injury. Molten moonstone eyes flashed his way momentarily in acknowledgment before she disappeared beyond the building on the corner. Gripping Samehada's hilt tightly, he reclaimed his sword and took off after her. The silent invitation in her gaze was his undoing, and the beast within him rose in acceptance. He embraced it willingly, no longer needing the control. She was his and he would instinctively protect her, even if every other person around her fell beneath his blade. Unleashed power coursed through his body as he fell in behind her, easily keeping up with the mad dash she was making through the streets, her eyes focused on the wave of enemies surrounding their mentor. A malicious grin stretched across his face as he focused on the fluid glide of the muscles in her back as she ran.
They would kill tonight, together.
He knew it was a terribly dark wish that he would never even contemplate were he thinking rationally. In fact, he didn't even know he wanted it until it was upon him, welling up from the cold, savage hole where the merciless killer in him resided. But he did want it, more than he wanted to see the weak struggling faces of his enemies as they realized their loss, more than he wanted to feel the contact of bone on Samehada's blades, more than watching the light leave their pathetic, defeated eyes. He wanted it with her. And she wanted it, too.
A new thought crept into his mind, tempered his desire, and he closed his eyes against it. Come morning, she would regret this moment, he knew that without a doubt. The horror of her loss of control would seize her, and she would see just how human she really was. He would spare her from the fallout if he could, but it was the price every warrior paid to fight without their humanity. The price he had paid over and over until there was very little left to return to him.
At least she wouldn't have to suffer with it alone. He would make sure of that.
They rounded a corner, interrupting his thoughts as a crowd of shinobi appeared. The epicenter of the battle lay in the marketplace, where Nami stood surrounded by her enemies. She had just downed a jounin, the rest regarding her with wariness as the fallen shinobi gasped his last few breaths. The old white dog towered above her head in his expanded form, his growl a lion's roar in the din of the fight. The kunoichi's head was up, eyes glittering, her wispy gray hair blowing around her wrinkled face as it danced in the hot breeze coming off the burning market stalls. She had her wolf fan in her hand, spread wide as she stood stock still, studying the group of shinobi around her. There were several bodies scattered between the two groups, both human and animal, proof that their lack of caution with her had cost them.
Like a freight train at full speed, Hinata and Kisame plowed into the distracted shinobi. Twin Lions blazing, she landed one blow after another, not stopping to fight any one opponent. Kisame and Samehada followed behind their harbinger of fury, slicing through tender necks and torsos, taking out as many as they could in the first few seconds of surprise. Nearly a half dozen went down before the Claw ninja noticed the second branch of attack and recovered to respond. By that time it was too late; they had breached the ring and reached Nami's side, who shook her head solemnly at the pair as she snapped her fan shut.
"You were foolish to come. We're completely overrun."
Kisame smirked as he brought Samehada up to rest on his shoulder, blood dripping from the blades like saliva from a drooling dog. "You don't give us enough credit, Nami-sama."
"And you don't recognize the difference between overestimating yourself and sheer stupidity."
Kisame fell silent under her harsh words. Hinata stepped toward him, lifting her chin as she faced her mentor. "This was my idea. He tried to warn me, but... they have to pay for what they are doing here, Nami-sama. It's not right."
"I agree. But fate doesn't play fair and this fight is out of your league. You should leave while you have the chance."
Hinata shook her head. "We're not running away. This is our home, too."
Before Nami could protest further, a panicked voice from behind them cried out,
"Ryujin!"
Kisame turned his head at the sound of the nickname the villagers had given him. One of the more successful fishermen, a man whose name he couldn't remember, ran toward him from his hiding place behind one of the smoldering shops. He bravely dodged a shuriken tossed at him to reach the shark nin's side as one of the Claw ninja erupted in laughter. Immediately he dropped to his knees.
"Please, do something! They're killing everyone!"
Kisame stared down at the man's moist brown eyes. Desperation, pain, fear; it was all there. A moment of silence passed before he tossed a kunai into the man's trembling fingers.
"Get as many people as you can down to the cove south of the village. There's a place you can use for shelter, you know where I mean. Don't go into the woods; that's where they are at home." He nodded toward the weapon. "That's a last resort."
"What are you going to do?"
Kisame didn't answer, and when the man stayed frozen where he was, he barked at him, "Go, now!"
The man scrambled off without another protest, crying out to the unseen villagers to run to the cove.
Kisame glanced over at Hinata. She nodded in silent agreement before taking off after the man to cover the villagers' retreat.
Noticing her withdrawal, the Claw nin pressed forward, hoping to quickly intercept whatever she was doing. Instead of facing the crowd directly, Kisame turned and ran to the pier a short distance away while Nami resumed her attack, drawing their attention to a more immediate threat.
When his feet touched the graying wood surface he took a centering breath and faced the village. The ocean was at his back, protection within her caressing depths. His enemies were before him, a ripe feast for his bloodlust and Samehada's unending hunger. Adjusting his grip on the hilt of his sword, he tucked it under his arm and began to form the familiar seals for his water jutsu, the cold, murderous glint of the shinobi he was before returning to his eyes.
A moment later the tide licking the shore drew back under the shark nin's command, condensing and rising in height until a huge wave stood poised, ready to be unleashed. A maniacal chuckle escaped his lips as Kisame leaped to the sky and the water surged forward with a roar. Chakra flared around him, merging with the tide as he landed on the crest of the wave. A glowing blue shark head formed beneath him, then three, then a hundred, their cold eyes roving, teeth bared.
A resounding crash splintered the night as the pier was obliterated. Kisame made landfall, water sluicing through the streets at high speed, dousing the market stalls and bouncing off the walls of the buildings. Smoke rose with an angry hiss, mingling with the dense fog that was forming in the air overhead. Shinobi were jumping from the street like crickets in the grass, seeking the safety of the roofs. They were denied refuge, however; the fires they had set had consumed the buildings, an inferno that would now be their undoing. Shark after shark found their way home on a target, ripping through flesh and fur. The ones that escaped the chakra beasts were met with sword and fist, Kisame's cruel grin their last sight before their lives were ripped from their bodies.
Nami watched Kisame's attack out of the corner of her eye as she fought another jounin hand-to-hand, pride swelling in her chest. He fought now as the legend the village had made him: Ryujin, their local savior. He was doing it not for her, who he was loyal to, not for Hinata, who he loved, but for the people of a village who was not inherently his own, against overwhelming odds. Truly, he was now the man she wished him to be.
A sharp snap of teeth and gurgling cry told her that her companion had finished the interloper off, and she paused for only a moment before seeking another target in the drenched streets.
"The four of us aren't going to be enough, you know that, Nami." the dog whispered over her head, driving the smile from her face.
"I know."
"You know what to do, then."
She stopped in her tracks and stared at him, shocked at what he was suggesting. "The final jutsu? Are you sure you're ready?"
The old dog gave a bitter snort, sending the blood and saliva coating his mouth flying. "What else have we been waiting around in this world for? Besides, I doubt at our age we'll run across a situation more dire than this."
Nami glanced down at him. He had returned to a less intimidating size as he spoke, and was now standing at her side. Her weathered hand rested on his head a moment before she sighed wistfully. "Yes, you're right. It's past time, old friend."
He stared up at her, love shining in his soulful eyes. "It has been the greatest of honors. May the voices of my ancestors swiftly carry you to the den of your mate."
"Thank you." she whispered, her heart twisting in her chest. "It won't be long, I'm sure."
Without another word she drew a black kunai emblazoned with the emblem for Hidden Claw from her sleeve. The dog held his paw up, flexing his foot to spread his six toes wide. She cut a deep gash across his pad before slicing her own palm open and grabbing his foot. Their blood mingled a moment before she dropped it and knelt down to place her palm on the ground. Several members of the Tsume clan had dodged Kisame's attack and were approaching her fast, a mixture of disbelief and anger on their faces as she went through the motions of one of their most sacred rituals. Nami gave them a smug grin before she spoke.
"Let all bear witness to the completion of my contract...Kuchiose no jutsu: Spectral Hunt." she said aloud.
Stepping between her legs, the white dog grew in size until he was once again towering over the humans, Nami settled on his back, fan ready at her side. Lifting his nose to the moon parked in the haze above them, he released a howl that echoed through the village. Chakra swirled behind them in response, creating a portal of glowing blue. A ghostly howl answered from within before a huge blue chakra wolf emerged, energy crackling through his fur and arcing off the ground. Another followed, then three more, and by the time the portal closed a dozen of them were standing fanned out behind the white dog. With a sharp commanding yip the old dog bounded forward, the wolves following as a unit.
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At the edge of the quieter delta Hinata waited, watching as the survivors made their way one by one to her location. She waved them past her and into the safety of the rocky alcove some distance behind her. Most had just avoided the flood that ripped through the village, using the distraction as cover to flee.
The last civilian she could locate with her Byakugan came into sight, running for all she was worth through the thickening fog, a baby in her arms. A rumbling roar sounded behind of her, and she screamed in terror. Hinata tensed, waiting for the oncoming attack, eyes locking on the growing chakra signature as the woman rushed past her. A shape began to materialize in the darkness ahead, looming larger as it closed in on them.
Her eyes narrowed. It was the biggest grizzly bear Hinata had ever seen. The top of his chest was well above her head, and he was broad enough that she wouldn't be able to span her arms from one shoulder to the other. His chestnut fur was sleek and oily with health, and the weight in his steps belied the strength in the lumbering mass of muscle beneath. On his unadorned back sat a thin shinobi, not much bigger than herself, legs crossed as he balanced with ease on his companion's spine. He was barefoot, his only clothing a pair of black leather pants. A combination of white feathers and skulls adorned his black hair and the front of his bare chest, covering large scars that littered the exposed skin. Strong green chakra surrounded the shinobi, catching Hinata's attention. Was he a medic nin?
The pair came to a halt just within range of her furthest attacks. It didn't look good for her; she was up against a heavy berserker with the probable ability to heal. What kunai and shuriken she had on her were long gone, her only remaining supplies a few blank tags and emergency accoutrement. She hadn't exactly planned for a battle when she left Nami's, and definitely not for this. The bear's lips lifted, displaying a wicked set of teeth before his voice rose up, rough and booming.
"Out of the way, weakling."
Hinata stood her ground, her ire bolstering her confidence despite her doubt. Ignoring the bear, she addressed the ninja on his back.
"Aren't you a healer? Why would you condone this?" she asked, indicating the village behind her.
She didn't really expect him to answer, but his voice drifted down to her, soft and ethereal, like shadows and wind melded together. "I am a shaman, not a medic. I am guided by the spirits of the departed. I do not seek to preserve life, but to maintain its balance."
"What balance is there in this slaughter?"
A scream pierced the village behind them. The shinobi glanced over his shoulder momentarily before shrugging. "Death is just the final judgment of mortals. One way or the other it finds us all, and we cannot escape it, nor do we deserve to. Do not cling to life so sentimentally, kunoichi. You cannot have one without the other."
"And the children? Do they deserve judgment before they've had a chance to accomplish anything? Do they deserve to watch while their home is burnt to the ground and their mothers are mauled to death in front of them? Would you agree for this to happen to your own child?"
The Claw shaman said nothing, his stare only shifting slightly, the sole indication that her words reached him at all.
"Enough of this moral debate." growled the bear. "We have a mission to fulfill. Move or die."
"I will not."
The bear's nostrils flared in irritation and he snorted. "Very well."
The shaman grabbed a fistful of fur and skin on the bear's neck as the beast rose on his hind legs. He stretched to his full height before dropping hard, his front paws hitting the ground like twin jackhammers. The earth vibrated violently under the assault, the tremor sending Hinata reeling backward to keep her balance. With no time to recover she watched him charge forward, ears flat back and jaws wide.
Finding a foothold in the rutted earth, she regained control and spun out of the way, a mere handwidth between her and the wrecking ball that was trying to flatten her. The bear made a wide turn to come around to her, and she faced him, readying her chakra. Bears were well known for their sensitive noses, so maybe if she delivered a punishing enough blow to his face, an advantage would present itself to her. Her Twin Lions blazed up her arms, pulsing with energy. As the bear closed in on her, the shaman's green chakra expanded and descended, enveloping the bear in a verdant glow as he ran.
Hinata charged forward, gaining momentum for the punch. The bear stopped in his tracks several yards away, as if startled that she would actually attack. She closed the distance between them, and swung with all her might. As her blue chakra connected with the green it evaporated as if it had never been there in the first place, leaving Hinata to deliver an unenhanced blow that barely fazed the bear at all. The favor was returned by a massive paw that sent her rolling into the dirt.
The bear roared with laughter as he watched her quickly pick herself up, snorts punctuating his exhales as his great sides heaved. "At least that never gets old!"
"Your chakra is useless here." said the shaman succinctly, the eerie silk of his voice washing over her.
Hinata scowled, bracing her wounded shoulder as she stood, her already smoldering anger flaring hot. She's been toyed with enough in her life to know it for what it was, and she wouldn't stand for it here. Her voice came out deadly soft, laced with finality. "You will take me seriously."
Cheeks flaming with effort, Hinata rushed forward to attack again. Using her Gentle Fist, she rained blows down on the bear, hitting his major chakra pathways one by one. Each time, her chakra was dissipated and the bear's hide deflected the physical attacks as if she were doing nothing more than standing there giving him a friendly pat. He tried to catch her as she moved around him, jaws snapping like a steel trap and claws raking at air as she dodged and spun, hair and chakra clouding around her. Their lethal dance came to an end when Hinata took a misstep on the uneven ground, placing her right in the range of the bear's mouth. Pain bloomed in her leg as his massive teeth closed around her thigh. It intensified as she was lifted into the air and viciously tossed aside, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop in a puddle of mud.
Damn.
She swore to herself in frustration as she spit dirt and hair from her mouth. The whole time she was attacking she couldn't find an opening or a weakness of any kind. Blinking rapidly as the spinning world came back into focus, she forced herself to slow down, to bring herself back under control. She had to think. What could she do against such a huge opponent?
The wound in her leg complained as she adjusted her position. It was bleeding far more heavily than the one in her shoulder. She would have to end this soon, before blood loss started affecting her. Ignoring the pain, she tilted her head and focused her Byakugan on her opponents. She could see the bear a good distance behind her. He was breathing hard with the effort of trying to catch her, head down as the shaman studied her.
"An admirable attempt."
Her eyes flitted up to the shaman balanced calmly on the bear's back as he spoke. Maybe it would be the same as the snow leopard she encountered on her mission to the northern village. If she took care of the summoner, the bear should break off his attack.
"But time's up."
How in the world would she get up there though? He might as well be sitting on a cloud in the sky.
She would just have to be faster. Another hit from the bear and she just might be done for. But he was big and sluggish because of his size, and if she could just avoid his attacks and find her opening, she could still win this.
Her planning was cut short by the sound of the bear's seismic footsteps as he closed in on her. Wrapping her fingers around a nearby rock the size of her palm, she waited. If she couldn't do it with chakra, she would just have to do it the old fashioned way. Laying still as he approached wasn't hard; she was hurting all over. Despite the pain, tension wound her tight as a tripwire. He was just above her now, she could feel his heavy, hot breath through her shirt and on the back of her neck.
And that's when she realized where her opening was.
She felt him withdraw to prepare for the killing blow, drew a deep breath to brace herself, and rolled right under his front legs. Mustering every ounce of strength she had, she lifted both legs and kicked him in the ribcage.
Rearing up to pull his chest out of her range, the bear took a step back as the wind was knocked out of him with a wump. It was all the hesitation she needed.
Flipping her legs over her head, she back rolled out from under him, sprang to her feet, and launched herself up the vertical wall of fur and flesh. Two steps and she was behind the shaman. Her hands tightening around the rock, she drove her improvised weapon into his spine as hard as she could. An unearthly shriek erupted from him as he shuddered and then froze, his body paralyzed.
Unable to hold on, he fell backwards into Hinata, who lost her balance as the bear tried to twist around, sending them both crashing to the ground. She landed on top of him, nose to nose with the man whose life she just took.
The green chakra surrounding her flared up, enveloping them both. The world seemed to go fuzzy, indistinct, and time ceased to exist. Hinata lifted her head as fear rolled over her. Shapes and shadows flitted around her in a silent, breathless whirlwind. Green chakra swirled around the shaman's eyes, and despite his injury, his hand rose and cupped her cheek. His gaze flitted to a point somewhere above his head before returning to lock onto her eyes. His face softened and he smiled.
"Do not be afraid. It is only the spirit's realm. One who loves you says he's happy you're so strong now..."
"What are you talking about?" she whispered, her eyes darting around before locking on his gaze.
His smile only grew softer in response. "I would tell you, but I have to go. They are waiting for me. Farewell, Yuhi Hinata."
His hand slipped away from her face as the light left his eyes.
Stunned, Hinata didn't have time to react to his words before she was thrust back into the living world, laying atop his now lifeless corpse. A breath later she was scooped from his body, claws digging into her torso as she was shaken like a rag doll before being slammed face-first back to the earth by the bear. Instinctively she tried to rise, but her head was spinning from the assault and all she managed was to roll over on to her back. His massive paw came down and pressed into her chest, threatening to break her ribs as he roared right in her face. Hinata's ears rang mercilessly, taking her breath. A sense of failure rose above the tilting disorientation to pierce her soul. She was wrong about the bear breaking off the attack, and now she would pay for it with her life.
Then all at once he was gone, disappearing in a puff of green smoke.
She didn't know how long she lay there, stunned and motionless, but the backwash of Kisame's water jutsu had reached her, soaking her back and stinging her injuries, prodding her back to awareness. She half-wished she hadn't, because the pain rocketing through her body was intense, and she seemed to hurt in so many places, she couldn't concentrate on any one at a time. The sound of soft crying reached her ears, and she remembered why she was there in the first place. Struggling to her feet, Hinata limped over to the cove, one hand supporting her injured ribs as she slipped through the mud. She could see the villager's faces at this distance, staring at her in awe.
Hinata looked them over, huddled at the back of the cove. They were scared and exhausted, most were wounded, a few looked mad enough to charge back out into the fight, and some were muddy from head to toe where they had been caught in Kisame's water jutsu. Guilt rolled over her as she went over each of their faces. There were so few of them left...
She released a guarded sigh. She wouldn't be able to protect them anymore in her present state. She was too wounded to fight alone now. She had to find Kisame and Nami. Walking up to the man that had approached Kisame, she took the kunai from his hand and wrapped a blank tag around the handle, writing the kanji for 'dispel' on it before she handed it back to him.
"I'm going to seal this place up now so I can go help the others. When it's safe to come out, use the kunai to break the barrier. Go to Nami's house. Ryusei is there."
"But we have to wait for the rest of the village!" he protested, his voice laced with desperation. "You can't leave us."
Her mouth set in a firm line, Hinata turned away, her voice soft as she broke the news to them. "No one else is coming."
Complete, deathly silence fell over the group as they absorbed her meaning. Hinata set the tags for the barrier and sealed it, wishing she had Naruto's almost limitless chakra to make sure it would hold against anything. But she was nearly out now, and it would have to do. With one last look at the shocked villagers and a reassuring nod to the man with the kunai, she started off toward the remnants of the battle.
Halfway there she paused when she caught sight of a white lump lying in the middle of a pile of Claw shinobi. The body of the old dog was barely recognizable as he lay curled in death. He was emaciated, patches of sparse white fur over withered skin, nearly every bone in his body visible beneath. His teeth were broken or gone, his purple tongue lolled out onto the ground. Reaching down, Hinata rested her hand on the still-warm head for a moment in silence before moving on.
Reaching the decimated marketplace without any interference, she found the place empty, save for Nami, Kisame and enough bodies to fill a graveyard. What chakra signatures she could see were on the edge of the village and pulling back. It looked like the fight was over, and with a relieved sigh she limped to where her teammates were standing and slumped to the ground at Kisame's feet. He stepped in front of her and knelt down. "Are you alright, Hinata? You're leg's bleeding badly."
"Yes. The villagers are safe in the cove. I set up a barrier to keep them in until the Claw shinobi move on."
The pain in her voice belied the severity of her injuries. Kisame inspected her wound, grinding his teeth in anger at the instinctive thought that anyone should harm her.
"Is he dead?" he asked, his voice tight.
"Yes."
"Good. Stay by my side until we're sure this is over."
Unwilling to argue over her condition, she nodded before her eyes found her mentor's.
"Nami-sama, your dog..."
Nami gave her a wistful smile. "I know. It was an honorable death. One he chose for himself."
A massive group of chakras rose in Hinata's vision the exact same time that Kisame suddenly reached down and pulled her to her feet. Her ribs and leg protested, making her gasp. Kisame's hand landed firmly on her undamaged shoulder, forcing her to focus on his voice. "Here comes another wave of them."
Shakily assuming a fighting stance, she frowned at the numbers approaching them through the ruined skeletons of the burned buildings. "How many ninja can live in one tiny village?"
Nami shook her head. "My question is, are there any of them that doesn't have a pet? This is just ridiculous."
Hinata spotted a familiar pack of coyotes slinking behind the bodies of the wolves and stopped. Triplet shinobi stood amongst them, twirling kunai in perfect sync as they crouched lower for their approach. "Something's wrong. They're the same ninja we fought already. Nami-sama, is this a high-level genjutsu?"
"No, child. There is no one here strong enough to defeat your Byakugan with genjutsu."
As if summoned in answer her question, Madara appeared before them, his orange mask betraying nothing of his state. Zetsu emerged from the ground at his side, looking tired and disconcerted. Nami looked between them, then at the ninja behind them, a frown creasing her face as understanding dawned.
"No... not genjutsu. They were all clones..."
"Very good. Revealing a man's secrets with a single glance. Nothing less than expected from the great Nami-sama. But it's over for you now. All of you." Madara let his single-eyed gaze fall on each of them in turn before he bowed deeply to Nami. She gave him a return nod of respect before opening her fan and turning to Kisame, her eyes as hard as stone.
"Get out of here, both of you."
"I can still fight, Nami-sama." Hinata protested.
Nami ignored her. "That's an order, Hoshigaki."
"Right." Kisame responded, his voice suddenly rough with emotion.
A second later Hinata was hoisted off the ground and tossed over his shoulder. Almost catatonic with the pain in her body and the backlash of her fury draining her energy, she watched the end of her mentor as Kisame carried her out of the village.
Time seemed to slow as the fan was spread wide, the wolf painted on the silk seeming to move with the fabric.
"After them!" someone shouted angrily when they caught sight of the retreat.
"No! Fall back, you fools!" a panicked voice countered.
Unflustered by the commotion, Madara spread his arms wide to encompass the village. "What's it like, Nami, knowing that your cowardice in hiding here has led to all of this death?"
Nami snorted as she lifted her weapon overhead and took a step back. "You can't lay this at my feet, you twisted son of a whore. You orchestrated this, and you more than know better. I hope that when you do meet your end, every soul lost here today has the honor of dragging your black heart to the depths of hell to answer for your sins, starting with me."
Madara's form wavered as he started to phase out of existence. "Farewell, Nami."
"Forbidden Jutsu: Phoenix Flower Bloom." came Nami's voice in his sudden absence, calm and sure in the chaos of the more determined shinobi surrounding her. Her hands moved with fluid grace as she folded her fingers into a single-hand seal, bringing the fan around in an arc at the same time.
Chakra flared around her poised body and extended into the fan, first a serene blue, then a bright orange as the mass widened and rose higher, taking on the shape of a giant flaming bird. A red lotus unfurled around Nami's body as she twisted and turned, dancing through the motions of the jutsu with her fan. The crimson glow of the gathering chakra petals tinted her long unbound hair red as she moved, the years seeming to fall away from her as Hinata caught a glimpse of what she must have looked like when she was in her prime as a kunoichi. Her physical body seemed to catch fire, quickly disintegrated under the heat and force of her unleashed energy, but her spirit remained within the conflagration, a fire sprite twirling through the last few motions of the jutsu.
For a mere second Hinata thought she saw a second figure, a pure white form that wrapped its arms around Nami's spinning spirit just before the bird opened its beak in a silent cry, spreading its wings as the chakra beast dove toward the ground and its doomed enemies.
Kisame didn't even look back as the ground trembled and debris shot skyward, running for all he was worth to escape the fallout of the ensuing blast. Hinata, still over his shoulder, watched the blazing red chakra until it dissipated within the rapidly dwindling signatures of the enemy shinobi. Then she closed her eyes a moment and allowed her Byakugan to recede as a sigh escaped her lips and weariness took hold. She didn't know how many ninja just lost their lives, but she did know that it wasn't nearly enough.
The village was lost.
At this rate, the whole country was lost.
With a disconnected, almost abject fascination, she watched as the muddy ground below her changed to sand, then the fluid darkness of the ocean. Up, up, up it came until it was high enough to reach Kisame's waist. If she reached down his back, she could trail her fingers in the water. His form was changing beneath her, twisting into something that was half-man, half shark. She wasn't afraid, nor did she shy away when he shifted her so she was riding on his back with one arm wrapped around his neck and the other clinging to a massive dorsal fin protruding from his spine, bringing her face close to his now less-than-human one.
The water was cold as they plunged the rest of the way in up to their necks, the sea salt stinging her wounds. But Kisame's skin was warm beneath her, and she held on to the sensation between them. His body stretched out below the water line, his strokes steady and sure, as if he were merely walking along a road instead of swimming in the water with the weight of an extra person bearing down on him. Settling down, Hinata rested her chin on his shoulder and focused on maintaining her grip as he moved. Occasionally she roused herself enough to look around as they traveled, but there was nothing save for water on all sides, the only thing marking their journey the steady march of stars above.
They made landfall just as the first streaks of dawn separated the sky from the water, and she could make out the vague shape of solid terrain around her. Now exhausted, Kisame crashed onto the sand, Hinata collapsing in a heap beside him as gravity overcame her hold. She tried to lift her head, to activate her Byakugan to scan the terrain, but she couldn't do more than sharpen her focus before her overworked eyes sent shards of pain stabbing into her skull. A groan escaped her lips as her will to stay awake slipped from her. She felt Kisame's arm come around her, heard his labored breaths even out, sighed as his rough, strained voice reassured her that they were safe, and slipped into unconsciousness with him.
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A/N: Whew! I'm beginning to think that a decent fight scene is harder to write than a decent lemon. Hopefully it was worth the wait. Also, the conclusion of this chapter puts us at the start of the final arc of the story. I can't believe it's time already, and at the same time I can't believe it took so long. Thanks for being so patient with me. :)
A/N P.S.: This chapter had a humorous subtitle called "Every Time They Write a Naruto Fanfic, They Burn Our Village Down!". It's a reference to a line in the Mel Brooks parody film, Robin Hood: Men in Tights. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's freaking hilarious. I deleted it from the title because it took away from the tone of the chapter. I thought it was still worth mentioning though.