Love Never Dies

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Sorry, I normally update this one sooner. There were some technical glitches and I just wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this chapter originally. Thankfully, I now have some inspiration. So hopefully, you guys enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Notation: In a weird way, we're going to meet the newest member of the Uchiha Clan. Kinda. Oh and Suigetsu is Suigetsu.

Chapter 26

"I have no desire to hurt her." Madara as he liked to call himself holds the kunai at her throat. "I merely want to talk." He presses the kunai further against her throat. "I'll start with the basics then. My real name is Obito Uchiha."

"I don't think anyone gives a flying fuck what your name is." Suigetsu glowers at him. "Stop with all this freaky shit and let the hot chick go!"

Well, Hinata most certainly didn't. She also didn't want to be held a hostage either. Sasuke's gaze might be murderous, but the bluenette's was equally so as something unexpected happened.

Karin's eyes had yet to leave her. The red head might not exactly like her, but it was clear that she knew what would happen if Hinata died. Sasuke would lose it and that wouldn't be good for anyone.

Speaking of her lover, Sasuke's body tenses as he prepares to lunge and his eyes had changed somehow. "If we bother to give you a headstone, that will be good to know." The pattern was more intricate. Was this the Mangekyo Sharingan?

Jugo watches Sasuke with concern. It was pretty clear that he was thinking about intervening, but he never got the chance.

"AHHHH!" Suddenly, Hinata feels warm and Obito starts screaming. "DAMN IT!"

She was wrapped in a blue light of sorts. One that sounded like birds chirping and apparently, it was shocking Obito. A Chidori Current?

"I didn't realize you could project that to someone else." Itachi blinks as he looks at Sasuke utterly perplexed.

Sasuke looks just as confused. "I can't." He stops the lunge he was planning as he just stares at her. "At least, I don't think that I can."

That wasn't it though. Hinata knew Sasuke's chakra almost as intimately as her own. This was similar, but different.

"I don't think it's you." Karin gasps as she looks at Hinata.

The Hyuga Heiress didn't have time to ask the Sensory Type what she was actually seeing. They had more important things to worry about. They'd likely only get one shot at this.

"Sasuke, be ready!" The words left her lips before she could even fully process them.

Jugo bites his lower lip as he forms an ax of some kind made out of chakra. It was nice to know that the giant was willing to fight for them, but it apparently wasn't necessary.

Hinata had no idea how, but suddenly some of the black flames came hurling towards Obito. They slam him into him and push the man off of the Hyuga Heiress.

"Did that just happen?" Suigetsu blinks.

Yes, it did and the sounds of Obito's screams were intense. Sasuke had always good at improvising though because as soon as Itachi shut the flames off, he slams into Obito and wraps ties it around Obito's eyes.

"That should negate him from using the Kamui." Itachi watches him with wary eyes.

"Should?!" Karin sounds anything, but reassured by the Uchiha's words.

That didn't sound particularly promising to Hinata either. Itachi wasn't sure and he was supposed to be sure about these sorts of things. This was Itachi. He had always just somehow known everything.

She glares at Obito as Sasuke rolls around with him. The two were exchanging a flurry of punches and Obito was trying to undo the improvised blindfold.

"You don't actually think such child's play is going to stop me?" Child's play might be a good term for it. "There is going to be a new reality soon. We can make a better world together."

Itachi fumes as the battle rages on. "Foolish little brother, knock him out." That was good suggestion and shockingly enough, one that Sasuke complies with almost immediately.

That wouldn't solve everything though. Itachi's behavior had certainly solidified well everything. There could be no denying the true circumstances behind the Uchiha Massacre anymore.

"Done." Sasuke gets off of him. "Hinata, lock up his chakra points."

She smiles at him as she makes her way over. "I told you that I could lock up chakra points in the worst case scenario." Which is precisely what she did.

Karin immediately darts over. Hinata wasn't sure what she was more interested to see Obito or her stomach.

"You're pregnant." The red head blinks in wonder.

Suigetsu was less about wonder and more about concern. "Sasuke, you let her go near that freak while she was pregnant?" He shakes his head. "You're out of your mind. I mean I'm not all about the baby craziness and stuff, but that was a bad idea." This wouldn't end well. "What he hell were you thinking?"

Sasuke twitches and promptly Chidoris Suigetsu. He should have seen that coming really. The white haired ninja had to know what Sasuke's temper was like and he had walked into that one.

"I didn't let her do anything." Sasuke rolls his eyes at the now dazed swordsman. "I tried to discourage her from coming, but Hinata can be surprisingly stubborn."

Well, she couldn't entirely argue with that label. It was too accurate to do so. So Hinata just nods at that.

"He knows how to do Sharingan transplants." Itachi looks almost afraid to meet Sasuke's gaze, but he did. "If he does that, you'll be much stronger and as long as his chakra is locked up…we should be able to handle him." He pauses for a moment as if gathering his resolve. "You have the Mangekyo Sharingan. This procedure is almost a necessity now."

Hinata wasn't entirely sure about that. "Is that safe?" She didn't doubt that the 'freak' as Suigetsu called him had the skills to do it. "We got lucky this time, but we might not next time."

Jugo smiles at here serenely. "It seemed that I was a little late to warn you about the Jutsu, but in the worst case scenario…" He scoffs at Obito. "I'm certain myself and Suigetsu could handle him. Though I might advise breaking one of his legs or something of that nature so he can't run off."

Who knew that Jugo of all people could be so sadistic? Hinata certainly hadn't.

"While your skills and Suigetsu's are impressive, I'm not sure that would be enough." Itachi smiles at Hinata almost apologetically. "I'd also rather not risk endangering my niece or nephew, so I will contact Konan and Kisame."

Hinata a short while ago, wouldn't have found that particularly comforting. It was now though. Konan loved Itachi. She'd do whatever it took to protect him and Kisame, well he obviously felt some sense of camaraderie towards his partner.

"That will work." Sasuke meets Itachi's eyes. "If anyone hurts Hinata or our child though, you'll wish I had sent you straight to hell earlier though."

Itachi chuckles at that and nods. "I don't doubt that for a second, my foolish little brother." There was more than a little fondness in his eyes. Maybe, everyone would be alright.

Danzo paces. He didn't know why, but he had an awful feeling about well everything. It was all connected to that heiress.

"I don't think there is really any reason to worry." Sai smiles at him. "It's only natural that Tsunade would send her apprentice off on a mission." That creepy smile that never failed to make even Danzo feel uneasy.

Of course, he had only himself to blame really. He was the one who put Sai in ROOT. Still, creepy smile or not, his skill were invaluable and that was really all that mattered.

"I want you to spy on Tsunade." He glances at Sai. "Your artwork is excellent at gathering information."

He was tempted to send him on another mission to find Sasuke Uchiha. Unfortunately, Tsuande would notice his absence. He would have to be careful about everything. That much was for certain.

Sai nods at him and bows. "It will be done." Good. He was a well trained puppet. "As always, the roots will hold the tree up."

Yes, that was the purpose of ROOT. They would do what needed to be done to protect this village, even slaughtering a Clan.

"Good." He glances at his still bandaged arm as if to assure himself that what he had done was right. "You may go now."

There were times when he felt a flicker of guilt. It wasn't fair that Itachi had been forced to be the one to do it, but it was the best way forward. Being a ninja was never an easy task, but someone had to do it.

Sai nods quickly and departs. Once again Danzo was left alone with his thoughts and he couldn't entirely dispel the panic rising in his chest. He just wish he knew the specific reasons why.

"I should have had that brat killed when I had the chance." He sighs.

Two days later, Sasuke didn't know how to feel about this situation. Any of it really, but he knew one thing. Konan was in love with Itachi.

"So you want to have this man give me your eyes and you would take mine?" He wasn't entirely sure about that. "I have the Mangekyo Sharingan now."

It had apparently activated when Obito put that kunai to Hinata's neck. Which was good because in theory it was going to give him even more power. It also came at a cost though.

"Every Jutsu has a weakness Sasuke." Fugaku looked at him. "Great power always comes at a price."

He had only just learned how to make a fireball. Sasuke might be a child to most people, but now he was an adult. At least in the eyes of his Clan. His father had finally acknowledged him. What could be better than that?

He looked at the Uchiha patriarch in confusion. "What do you mean by a weakness?" That didn't sound good.

"There's always a drawback." He sighed as he looked at Sasuke. "Should you ever obtain the Mangekyo, it comes at a cost."

A cost. What cost? Hopefully, it didn't cost too much money. He had been saving his allowance for awhile, but that sounded expensive. Maybe, that was why Itachi had told him to always manage his money closely.

Sasuke tilted his head. "What kind of cost?" It was probably better to listen closely. This sounded important.

"Overusing the Mangekyo Sharingan, causes one to go blind." Ohhh.

That was horrible. Sasuke couldn't imagine going blind!

Itachi nods at him. "I realize this procedure requires a great deal of trust." Damn right, it did. "You haven't had any reason to trust me until now for a very long time, but sooner or later it has to be done."

Having his eyes ripped out and being completely defenseless wasn't an appealing thought. Sasuke would have to rely on Hinata, Taka, and two Akatsuki members to keep him safe while he recovered.

"You're right." Sasuke sighs. "I've had no reason to trust you, but Father told me this was a possibility."

He could say no and then risk going blind later or Sasuke could do it now. It was a strange band of misfits, but for some reason he mostly trusted them.

He looks at Hinata. "I want you to Flicker off immediately with Jugo if it looks like something is wrong." Jugo was the best bet to protect her.

Hinata shakes her head and kisses him. "If it will make you feel better, that's what I'll do." He smiles and returns the kiss.

He'd do anything for her and their super baby. That had to be what happened. Why else would Karin instantly know about her pregnancy?

Sasuke had no idea how their child was controlling chakra from the womb, but he was grateful they could. It might have saved Hinata's life and thus their life. Not to mention his sanity.

"Alright." Suigetsu glares at Obito's sleeping form. "He should be waking up soon, but I still don't trust this guy." Neither did Sasuke, but right now he was all they had.

Back in the Leaf Village, Neji punches some training posts with his team watching him. They were worried about him and it was painfully obvious why.

"Are you alright, Neji?" Tenten blinks at him.

He normally had better control over his temper than this. Unfortunately, the situation was getting to him and others were beginning to notice.

Lee smiles at him. "Yes, Friend Neji." Even Lee. "Tell us what's wrong because the Power of Youth will always be here for you."

He still didn't have the faintest clue what that was actually supposed to mean. Whatever. It was best to indulge Gai Sensei and Lee. They meant well and they were few people who were nearly as loyal as his team.

"I'm just worried about Hinata." He shrugs.

He didn't need to divulge the details. If the Hyuga Prodigy was extremely lucky, they might very well leave it at that.

Gai chuckles and claps him on the back. "Don't worry so much." He grins at his most somber student. "Lady Tsunade personally handpicked Hinata to be her apprentice. She's a lot tougher than she looks."

Well, yes. That was true. That didn't meant that Neji wanted her rushing off into whatever she was rushing into though!

"I know." He sighs.

Lee gives him that bright smile that the lovable idiot always had. "It'll be alright, Friend Neji." Everything was right with his world.

Neji hoped one day, he'd be able to smile like that. It didn't seem too likely, but one never knew what the future might hold in store for them. Naruto taught him that.

A few hours later, Obito sighs as he tries to feel his chakra only to find that he couldn't. Not that he expected to.

"You just had to go and find yourself a Hyuga woman for a lover." He shakes his head in amusement at this turn of events.

Sasuke glares at him. "Damn right, I did." The man probably would have killed him, if Itachi hadn't told him about the Mangekyo Sharingan requirements. "Though who I love is none of your concern. You really should be more worried about yourself."

He did have quite the temper. That was a family trait though. Obito had it himself.

"I would perform the surgery perfectly, if I were you." Konan looks at him. "We've never been friends, but we were colleagues."

That was true. Obito couldn't honestly say that he hated the woman. He just hated this world for what it had taken from him and so many others. Wasn't that the reason why Sasuke was standing before him today? Him and Itachi?

"I'm his shield." Jugo walks over to him. "So if you want to keep living, you should do as she says."

Such loyalty. It was inspiring, but it probably get him killed one day. This world tended to punish those with the purest of hearts. Like Rin.

He chuckles at that. "Very well." He looks at Sasuke and Itachi. "Well, my chakra points are blocked and I can't move one of my legs." That wouldn't last for long. "I'm a fast healer though. So that shouldn't be a problem."

"We could always rip off your kunai instead." Suigetsu grins at him. "That might take awhile longer to heal."

Sasuke's friends were utterly psychotic. Which was probably why he traveled with them in the first place, Obito muses.

"Yeah." Karin pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Don't try anything funny either. You're out number."

Kisame was there as well. He was standing in the background with his giant sword slung behind him as always. Interesting.

"The brats aren't kidding around." He smirks. "So you better fix their freaky eyes up good."

Well, how could he say no to that? It seemed that he would have a lot of work to do. That was fine though.

Obito merely shrugs. "I understand." He smirks at all of them. "So let's get started. You'll be in some pain no matter what I do when you get up." Facts were facts. "You'll also need some time to get used to your eyes, but let's not waste anymore time." Surely, when he fixed their eyes they would see what he did. That this world wasn't worth saving.