I do not own Naruto
Chapter 26:
Recap
"Sasuke, what happened?" Juugo was the first to speak up, but Sasuke remained silent, "What did they want?"
"It's plain obvious isn't it?" Suigetsu butted and stared at Sasuke's form, "They want information about the Akatsuki."
"Demo why go to such lengths?" Karin muttered as she stared helplessly at Sasuke's form. Both boys stared back at Sasuke, waiting for him to answer until he finally let out a sigh and stood up shakily from where he had been sitting…
"Konoha's a pathetic excuse for a village… its ninjas is a very good embodiment." He replied, "This is what they call a desperate measure through desperate times." He finished and looked out the bars, leading outside where he could see the watcher…
"What do you mean?" Karin asked, and he looked at them…
"Konoha's preparing for war… so are the other nations." He said and looked back outside, "It's only a matter of time before Akatsuki will strike…" he then placed his lips outside the barred window he had and let out a whisper, "And then it's our turn to strike back…"
End of recap
Taka was silent as they stared at Sasuke, who was still bleeding profusely. Karin stared at him in concern as she watched him breathe in and out evenly, seemingly to drift off to sleep. Karin gripped the bars tight, as if trying to break them…
"Well if they need information," she started, "They're going to need you alive. And in order to do that, they can't let you bleed to death." She finished and Sasuke stared at her for a moment and then closed his eyes again…
"Baka." Was all he said, "They had a healer…" he finished. As she heard it, Karin piped up but tried to move closer, but she's out of space to move…
"Then why-"
"Because they want Sasuke to suffer more." Juugo finished for both of them. He stared at Sasuke and then back at Karin, "Sasuke doesn't want to talk, and that's fine with them. He has to live, that's fine with them." he then stares at Sasuke's scratches on the back, "But they've got time and patience, until then, they're going to keep doing it… and leave some scars." He then gazes at the doors by their cells and sat back down. Sasuke kept his eyes closed, but he was awake and alert. That was still the first part, and he knows they'll keep on repeating that process, but he'll just have to get used to it. What other tortures could possibly be worse right?
"Man I'm hungry." Suigetsu piped up and Karin rolled her eyes.
"You're always hungry." She replied and Suigetsu ignored her…
"A bit of water could be helpful as well."
"Do you not think of anything at all?"
"Karin…" Sasuke suddenly whispered and they shut up. Karin placed her attention back at Sasuke and waited for him. He opened his eyes and stared at her for a moment. "Can you duplicate these chakra restraints?" he asked them, and he didn't need to specify which, but they got it. Karin stared at the restraints on her arms…
"I-I," she started, "It's a bit difficult replicating them when I can't use chakra." She whispered and Sasuke just stared at her with his onyx black eyes…
"You don't have to hurry." Was all he said, "It won't act up unless your chakra flares up. You have excellent control. Keep it that way and slowly seep your chakra out to replicate it." He finished, still breathing in and out…
"Where should I place it?" she whispered back. Even Suigetsu and Juugo weren't able to hear what they were saying and exchanged glances. It must be something important if they're talking that low. It seems like Sasuke has found a way to block out the bouncing sounds and keep it with just him and Karin. They were still talking and suddenly, Sasuke's eyes closed and he was already panting heavily. Karin stepped back before kneeling down in front of the bars and closed her eyes.
"Oi," Suigetsu called out and stared at Sasuke, "Oi," he called out to Karin, but still she was in deep concentration…
"Suigetsu." Juugo called out, his eyes focused on both Sasuke and Karin, before he averted his gaze to Suigetsu, "Didn't you say you were hungry?"
"Yeah," he replied, "Why?"
"Shouldn't you start complaining?" and with that Suigetsu began to rant, the few moments of exchange between Karin and Sasuke was momentarily forgotten. Sasuke opened his eyes and stared at Karin, who was still concentrating, and then back at both Suigetsu and Juugo. Juugo and Sasuke locked gazes before Sasuke's lips turned up into a smirk. He knew Juugo would understand, even without him saying anything.
Seems like there are perks in having loud mouths in the team.
Konoha
"We still need more herbs in order to produce more medicine." Ino stated to Sakura as she checked the inventory, "There won't be enough."
"How about the food?"
"Still needs ten more crates." Ino replied to Sakura, "I don't think we'll be able to do this in a short amount of time."
"We have to… we must." Sakura said and left her to check the inventory once more as more and more sacks come in the warehouse. Sakura ran as fast as she could towards the Hokage tower, but couldn't help noticing that some of the carpenters have started to make more secret tunnels, evacuation passageways for emergencies. Some of the towns people had started to aid in the preparations by providing more rations for the war and planting more crops.
On her way, she passed by the hospital, where more ninjas in good conditions came out, while some were still in check up. The academy was also keen in preparing the ninjas in training as well in combats and analysis in the situations about to come in a fight. She finally reached the Hokage tower, where more and more birds flew in and out towards all the other villages surrounding. Alliances were trying to be forged, but the Akatsuki's threat was making it difficult.
She went up and saw Tsunade was still busy reading the scrolls. As soon as her mentor looked up, Sakura finally spoke up, "The inventory still have lots of things needed." She stated and Tsunade let out a sigh, "Ninjas are having their check-ups as well. The academy is teaching the students in sparring combats and all. Basically everyone is preparing for war." she finished and Tsunade buried her head on her hands. Sakura kept quiet and waited for Tsunade to speak up…
"Thank you Sakura," she finally said, "Please call for Shizune. I need her for something."
"Hai."
~Hyuga Compound~
"Hya!" they chorused as they continued to train under Neji's supervision. He stared at them as they sparred and only butted in when he notices something wrong in their posture or hands and what else he could see. In the back of the compound are many of the Hyuga branch members aiding and watching Hinata in making her ointments and replicating them. In the training rooms, Hanabi was there, ordering them what to do…
In the background, Hiashi was in a meeting with the elders, where they were trying to see whether they should start moving already to their safe house, in a secret location…
"That house has remained untouched for many decades now." Said one of the elders, "We Hyuga's never saw the need of using them."
"That was before Akatsuki is planning to attack. When Pein, the rumoured leader of Akatsuki had attacked Konoha, we were almost wiped out! Are we really going to risk a war with Madara?" and whispers broke out of the meeting…
"Demo Madara is one of the founders of Konoha! Along with the first Hokage, Hashirama, surely he'd spare the village he helped build!"
"Demo there are rumours that they were rivals once! When Hashirama was voted as a leader he broke away from the village. He must have ill feelings towards us and we're in more danger!"
"Let's go to that safe house! Leave the other clans here and we can all live in peace after the war!"
"Our conscience will not be at peace!"
"Silence!" Hiashi ordered them all and they quieted down, "You're all acting like children!" he added, "Some of you would like to flee, while some would like to take part in the war. I ask you one thing though, and one thing only," they all stared at him, "What does it truly mean to become a Hyuga?" he asked them, "Are we merely powerful because of our eyes? Because of our distinct skills in hand to hand combat?" he then stared at the elders who voted to fight, "Are we merely a clan filled with foolish pride?" he then shifted to those who voted to flee, "Or are we really cowards? I only ask you to think about my question." He then stood up, "We'll have this meeting again once you are ready to think in a straight manner." He then left and they all did the same.
Hinata had gone in the compound and was on her way to wash her hands when she heard the ruckus in the meeting room. She couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed to know that she was part of a clan who was voting to flee and leave everyone on their own. What does it truly mean to become a Hyuga? If being a Hyuga meant to hide while everyone else was fighting for their right, then she'd rather not be one…
She'd rather be part of a clan who would fight, even against their own village, for what they think is right. She unclenched her fists as soon as she felt her nails starting to sink in her skin. What is she thinking? Is she really going to go against her own family? She shook her head and started to walk out of the Hyuga compound. She needed space to think, and this was surely not the place. As soon as she got out of the gate, she broke into a run…
She didn't know which way she was headed to because all she cared about was to get away.
Away from all the chaos…
Away from all the talk…
And away from pain.
She panted as soon as she ran out of breath and wiped away some sweat forming on her forehead. She looked up and saw a riverbank before her and pushed herself against the tree and began to take off her clothes. As soon as she was stripped off of all her clothes she dove into the water and tried to feel the cool touch on her skin. Water always helped her think. It was one of the main reasons she often stayed long in the bathroom. She'd soak herself in water and just relax in it. She swam up and breathed in air, and for once, she forgot about everything…
But it wasn't long before something else popped in mind…
Sasuke.
She let out a sigh and washed her face…
What was he thinking? What is he doing? Where is he? How is he? Was he thinking of her, just as she is? With those questions in mind, she sunk back down to the water below to begin losing her thoughts.
Secret Prison
In was late in the afternoon already, and they were all hungry. Most of them were already fast asleep due to exhaustion and hunger, but Sasuke was still awake, though barely. He leaned his head against the rough walls and breathed in and out. They did heal him, but only enough to make him stop bleeding to death. After that, they fixed his broken bones a bit, but he knew they were only partially healing him. They needed him immobile and damaged so as he could not do it to them. Had he had the cursed seal still on him, he would have healed already. He stood up, and held a grunt as shots of pain sprung up from his legs and up to his back. He stopped a few steps before the bars and stared at it intently…
To the naked eye, it seemed normal enough, but to the trained eyes, there was something off about his bars. And if you were listening close enough, you'd hear a soft buzz… as if a buzz in the wind. It was barely audible, and Sasuke stared at it all the more…
It was glowing, though faint. A soft baby blue, barely noticeable with the sun still high up outside. They were out in a wide clearing in a forest, though he didn't know where. All he needed to know is go through their interrogations and make sure Karin succeeds in their plans. Right now, she was a vital part of it, and he wasn't the least bit regretful he broke her out. She does have her uses, but still, someone else had just the same amount of precision as she…
Hinata. But he swore to himself he wouldn't think about her, not ever. He made that decision as soon as he got back inside of Konoha. He should have severed that bond between them before it even got deeper. He was too preoccupied, too vulnerable to her situation. A situation he could still recall whenever he thought about his father, mother, brother, and the whole clan. They were so different, yet alike in so many ways unimaginable. He closed his eyes and tried to remember his mother…
The way she'd smile at him and tell him everything was okay, that his father was proud of him…
But they were now replaced by Hinata's smiles, Hinata's eyes, his moments with Hinata was dominating his thoughts, rather than his clan's. The bars suddenly clicked open, and Sasuke's gaze shifted to the gates. Three ANBU ninjas arrived with trays in their hands and the rest of his team was awake and eager to have their fill. They placed down trays, and they immediately began to eat…
But there were only three, and none of it was for Sasuke. Sasuke kept his gaze upon them and they stopped before his cell. The other two were positioned beside the middle ninja as he opened the cell and let them in. They grabbed Sasuke and shove him out of his cell and began dragging him out…
"Wipe that smirk off your face Uchiha." Said one of them as he closed the cell, but Sasuke kept his face the same and shared a look at Karin before he disappeared with the three ANBU who escorted him. The three of them were silent, and even Suigetsu stopped eating, fearing it was poisoned. Karin stared at his cell bars and stopped eating as she closed her eyes again and began to meditate…
"She's at it again." Suigetsu muttered to Juugo as they both stared at her…
"Leave her be," said Juugo, "She's doing that because of Sasuke."
Sasuke, on the other hand, was being dragged off somewhere again. His eyes scanned all over the place as he tried to figure out what they were going to do to him this time around when they suddenly stopped. Sasuke winced a bit at the sudden shift in his shoulder, but kept silent. The doors opened and he figured it was the kitchen. Ibiki was seated on the table, eating his lunch when Sasuke arrived. He stopped and gestured the ANBU to sit him down, "Sasuke, are you hungry?" he asked him and Sasuke just stared at him uninterested, "I've got food for you, but you'll have to choose wisely." Three plates were set down in front of him, "One of it has poison. Your judgement." Sasuke's lips curled up once more as he stared at the three food choices in front of him. One was onigiri, another was eggrolls with tomatoes, and last was cinnamon rolls.
"If this is a test," he finally said, "Consider it passed." He said and ate the eggrolls. It was a bit sweet, but it had his favourites, tomatoes. Ibiki's eyes widened and tried to make him spit it out, but Sasuke already swallowed it. "Oops," he said and smirked still, "Was that the one with poison?" Ibiki growled at him and began to yell at them to call for some medics. Ibiki stared back at him, but Sasuke wasn't the least bit worried…
"Baka, I expected you to know better." He growled at the teen.
"And I expected you to know less." Sasuke replied still smirking. A few moments later the medics arrived and began to asses Sasuke, but found nothing wrong with him. Ibiki stared at them as they assessed Sasuke for poisoning or anything wrong with his system.
"Are you sure it was in the eggrolls?" they asked Ibiki and he nodded in reply, "Let's ask the cook." Sasuke rolled his eyes and stared at the two dishes left on the table and watched them disappear as the rest of the ANBU were left with him. He stared at them and back at the door and waited for them to come back, when he finally ate the other two dishes. This enraged Ibiki and he charged at Sasuke…
"Baka!" he shouted, "Why'd you eat it!?" he asked and Sasuke coughed up some blood before spitting it to the ground…
"I was hungry." He stated plainly and Ibiki let go of him and they rushed to examine Sasuke again. Sasuke just smirked as they began to assess whether or not, the poison they bought was actually poison. For a place in a forest, they sure do have a lot of places to go to. After sighing in defeat, Ibiki motioned for the ANBU to bring Sasuke back to his cell and they did so as they were told. Sasuke was still smirking in victory to himself as he watched Ibiki rub his temples in frustration. They reached his cell and pushed him in it once more and left him alone. The other three who were left in the cells were eager to know what had happened…
"Sasuke…" Karin called out and he stood up and faced them smirking…
"Gather it and divide Karin." He whispered, loud enough, for just them to hear…
And that is all… :D
I wonder what Sasuke's planning…
Nevermind that xD I was the one planning xDDD anyway, it's nice to know we're almost by the war, which means almost the end and all that…
Up next, Akatsuki will begin to strike.