A/N- Thank you for so many wonderful reviews. I wish I had time to reply to everyone but writing comes first, ne? And yes, this chapter is shorter than the others. That's just how the cookie crumbles so stop your whining. *ducks back into bunker* This thing is totally fan-proof, right?

Disclaimer: All rights respectfully belong to Kishimoto.

Enjoy!

Ikigai

in Haste

Chapter 26

Tossing his towel into the hamper, Neji scooped up a comb and quickly ran it through his damp hair. Normally he was quite fastidious about his long locks, but today he was in a bit of a rush.

When the gates of Konoha came into sight, he only had one thought on his mind and that was spending the evening with Tenten. The guards at the gate confirmed that she had indeed returned from her own mission just that morning as expected, but their second bit of news had been considerably less comforting.

Four days ago, the Hokage sent Sasuke off on a mission outside of the village with Team 7. Whatever business was serious enough to require the Uchiha so soon after his return was almost as unsettling to contemplate as the thought of Hinata being more or less alone for four days.

Neji knew he would never be able to fully enjoy Tenten's company until he checked on his little cousin and eased his worry. While Hinata was a fairly capable woman despite her disability and she did have Nanami-san to keep her company, she had grown quite attached to the Uchiha and this was the longest the two had been apart since his return. Besides, as ironic as it sounded, he felt better knowing one of the most dangerous shinobi in the world slept beside her each night.

Dropping the comb onto the dresser, he snatched up a black jonin shirt and pulled it over his head. With one last flick of fingers through his hair, he left his room to put his mind at ease.

The once abandoned Uchiha District no longer retained the desolate atmosphere left in the aftermath of the massacre. He'd been surprised that Sasuke left the main house to fall into disrepair, choosing a smaller compound as the new residence for himself and Hinata. It stood out like a polished stone in a rubble heap. Flowers framed the entrance pathway, the wood oiled and finished to a warm, welcoming glow. Life thrived in this place unlike all the others and one could feel it seeping into their bones just by standing on the front step. Such was the effect of Hinata's presence.

Neji knocked on the door and waited patiently for Nanami to answer. It didn't usually take long unless she was involved in helping Hinata with something, as seemed to be the case today. He knocked again and tilted his head to listen for movement within. The entire compound was eerily quiet. Not that any of its occupants were ever noisy, but there was usually a thrum of activity. Hinata was a busy bee after all and had as much trouble sitting still as the rest of them. If she wasn't training she was working on her ointments and salves.

Slender brows dipped into a frown when the silence continued. Could they have gone out? He glanced up at the darkening sky. It's a bit late for that.

His hand hovered over the door handle as he debated with manners over concern and finally concern won out. After all, Sasuke wasn't here to ensure Hinata's protection and welfare and Hinata would hardly feel offended with a minor invasion of privacy such as this.

With his conscience mollified, Neji slid the door open and stepped in.

"Ohayo, Hinata-sama, Nanami-san?"

Silence echoed back at him and he cautiously walked down the hallway towards the kitchen, the most likely place to locate Nanami.

"Nanami-san? Hinata-sama?"

Stopping in the soft glow of light filtering through the doorway, Neji peered into the kitchen with increasing unease. All seemed to be in order, dishes arranged on the table and stove in preparation for dinner, but the continued silence was disquieting. Stepping around the table, he stopped in time to avoid stepping on a pale arm.

"Nanami-san!"

Dropping to his knees, Neji pressed two fingers to her throat and breathed relief at the faint pulse. Gently turning her over, he found the source of the congealed puddle of blood and quickly tore the sleeve off his shirt to bind the head wound.

What happened? She's obviously been laying here for some time…Hinata-sama!

Activating his Byakugan, Neji's blood froze with the confirmation of his worst fears.

No, not again!

Heaving Nanami onto his back, he raced to the hospital with greater speed than most considered safe within the village. Mental gears churned fiercely, coldly calculating facts and options to press down the thick choking knot of terror in his chest. Who? How many? Why? How much of a lead do they have? Where did they go? Is Hinata still alive?

Neji shook his head sharply, refusing to confront the possibility. Not now, not ever again.

Skidding into the reception area, his sharp eyes latched onto the nearest medic and he practically shoved his limp package into her arms.

"Where is Tsunade-sama?" he demanded of the startled medic.

"Not here. What hap— Hey, come back!"

Ignoring the medic's angry demand, Neji streaked out of the hospital to the tower, scaling the spiraling steps in record time. Vaguely aware of Shizune's startled voice, he burst through the door without knocking for the first time in his life.

"Tsunade-sama!" he stopped short at the sight of a genin team gaping at him curiously. The Hokage's expression flickered from anger to surprise in a heartbeat before blanking into a mask of calm.

"Dismissed."

The young team reluctantly filed out, casting inquisitive glances at the panting Anbu captain until the door closed behind them.

"Considering you aren't typically given to dramatics, I suspect this is important," Tsunade raised a brow.

Swallowing a broken breath, Neji strode the last few steps to her desk and squared his shoulders, drawing on years of control to withhold his panic. "Hinata-sama has been kidnapped."

Tsunade eyed his exceptionally cold features with sinking dread. "What?"

Silver eyes locked onto her with frightening intensity. "I stopped by the compound just a few minutes ago but no one answered so I let myself in. I found Nanami-san on the kitchen floor, unresponsive with a head injury. She must have been there for some time. The blood on the floor was congealed. Hinata was nowhere to be found."

Fire snapped in amber eyes. This is one time I wish my suspicions would have been wrong. "Evidence of forced entry?"

Neji shook his head. "None, though I didn't take the time to perform a full search. Hinata was obviously not present nor would leave the house alone and Nanami was seriously injured. I took her to the hospital and came here." His voice and eyes hardened into chilling resolve. "Permission to pursue, Hokage-sama."

Only years of working with the young prodigy and watching him grow into one of Konoha's finest shinobi enabled Tsunade to hear the desperate "please" left unspoken. With manners as deeply ingrained as his to suddenly drop all formalities regarding the former heiress, she knew the man was close to panicking.

She nearly lost this valuable asset and formidable shinobi to Hinata's prior disappearance and assumed death. The man was clinging to control by a thread beneath his stoic façade just as he'd been back then, but there was something far more desperate lurking behind those silver eyes this time.

Tsunade studied him coolly for several strained minutes. Hyuuga Neji was not an irrational man by any means, never giving reign to emotion over logic, but she knew nothing she said would keep him here when Hinata was out there somewhere helpless as a newborn in her current state. Still….

"Shizune!"

The dark-haired kunoichi poked her head in so quickly one might suspect she'd been listening at the door.

"Hai, Tsunade-sama?"

"Send an urgent message to the gate. As soon as Team 7 returns from their mission, I want them here!"

"Hai, Tsunade-sama!"

Neji fidgeted when the door shut and he was once more left without direction, without purpose while Hinata was slipping further away from them. Why was the Hokage stalling? The enemy was gaining greater distance with each passing minute!

"Hokage-sama…."

"I recently sent Team 7 on a mission to investigate rumors concerning a rogue shinobi targeting medical transports. This particular shinobi was reported to be using snake summoning jutsu."

Neji stiffened. "Orochimaru?"

A faint smile tugged at Tsunade's lip. At least now I have his attention. I wonder what he'd say if he knew how much he was acting like Sasuke and Naruto right now albeit slightly more sedate. Naruto would be yelling up a storm and Sasuke…. She suppressed a shiver at the thought of what the former avenger would do as soon as he found out someone had taken his wife. There would be no holding back that inferno.

"Sasuke remains adamant that Orochimaru is dead, but was suitably disturbed by the rumors. Considering the unlikelihood of just any random shinobi possessing a snake summoning contract, I have reason to believe their investigation and Hinata's current disappearance may be related."

Turning her chair to glare out the window, Tsunade tapped a long finger on her desk. "The timing is remarkably convenient. I send Sasuke out of the village merely weeks after his return and Hinata disappears."

Neji's fists clenched at his side. "You think someone has been watching them?"

Sighing softly, Tsunade tugged at one of her pigtails. "I hope not, but if they were…." shaking her head, she fixed a moderate glare on Neji. "Go back to the compound and see what you can find. If I'm right about this connecti—."

The door slammed open and darkness afire stalked in, searing every corner of the room with glowering crimson eyes.

"Where is she."

The rest of Team 7 stumbled in, panting from excessive exertion. Ever the resilient one, Naruto straightened up first.

"They told us at the gate to come here right away." He hesitated before voicing their shared dread. "Were we too late?"

"Her absence has only been noted within the hour," Tsunade said, glancing at Neji.

Sasuke's muscles tensed and in the blink of an eye he would've been gone if three pairs of hands hadn't seized hold of him. Despite the severity of the situation, Tsunade couldn't help her amusement at the picture. Naruto and Kakashi had what looked to be an almost painful grasp on the Uchiha's arms and Sakura's chakra enhanced embrace wrapped firmly around his waist.

The ensuing fight for freedom she expected never occurred. After a long, tense minute, Sasuke relaxed in the restrictive hold of his teammates and Tsunade raised a brow at his unexpected compliance.

Hinata really has changed him.

"Report."

"Orochimaru's compound has been excavated," Kakashi replied, voice unusually cold. "His remains were not to be found, however we did find a large jutsu grid, slightly faded."

Amber eyes narrowed. "What kind of grid?"

Kakashi tilted his head to glance behind Sasuke where only the crown of a pink head could be seen.

"The forbidden technique Living Cell Absorption," came Sakura's muffled voice.

Tsunade scowled. "Kabuto."

Neji's hands fisted at his side. Kabuto had infiltrated many different layers of Konoha over time. It would've been effortless for him to kidnap Hinata undetected.

Silver eyes turned accusingly on Sasuke.

"He knew she was here all this time and you didn't tell anyone?" he seethed.

Sasuke lunged and his startled teammates grappled to hold him back.

"I covered our tracks," he snarled.

"I can attest to that, Neji-kun," Kakashi said calmly despite the strain it took to hold onto a furious Uchiha. "The laboratory portion of the compound was decimated beyond any form of recovery. Kabuto had no reason to suspect Sasuke spared Hinata's life, especially considering her state of health at the time."

"Let's try to keep our focus, kids," Tsunade cut through the tension. "He's got as much as a day's lead if not more but at least we now know who and what to look for."

Everyone turned back to the Hokage and Sasuke allowed his muscles to go limp. "Let go," he growled. Their point had been made. This wasn't like his vendetta with Itachi. He knew he couldn't just run off and hunt Kabuto down with Hinata's life hanging in the balance. No doubt the medic-nin was expecting him to react with his usual impatience, and had Naruto and the others not latched onto him, he would have.

The man was an unknown factor now. Absorbing Orochimaru's remains could've given him more abilities than just snake summoning and he had too much at stake to risk running in blind…and alone.

Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura exchanged wary glances and nodded in silent agreement. All three slowly eased back until Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and stepped forward.

"Are you going to let me go after him or what," he demanded.

Tsunade's lips twitched. "You wouldn't listen if I said no."

He grunted, but waited for her to finish.

"Team Kakashi," Tsunade snapped, and all but Sasuke instinctively jolted to attention.

"Your mission is to retrieve Uchiha Hinata and eliminate Yakushi Kabuto by any means necessary. Hyuuga Neji will be joining your team."

Surprise flickered across Neji's face. "Tsunade-sama."

"It's more than obvious that Kabuto is expecting pursuit." Tsunade narrowed her eyes at Sasuke. "I suggest that you meet his expectations in every way."

Sasuke nodded once and turned on his heal, pausing beside Neji. "Meet us at the compound."

All rivalry and differences fell aside in the face of their mutual goal and Neji nodded sharply. Regardless of how much Sasuke's attitude and history grated on him, there was no doubting the man's devotion to his little cousin any longer.

Blood was going to spill.

***

Sasuke crouched in the grass and picked up a lone kunai. Nothing was out of place in the entire compound with the exception of the small pool of Nanami's blood in the kitchen. If Hinata put up a fight, it surely didn't last very long but knowing that she did gave him hope. His girl wasn't a quitter and no matter what Kabuto did to her, he prayed she knew he would never rest until he had her in his arms again.

This was by far the most sensitive mission he'd ever had. Even if he knew where Kabuto had taken her, he couldn't just barrel in Chidori blazing, no matter how fiercely he wanted too. So much was at stake. He couldn't lose Hinata and there were so many ways he could. Would she be wholly herself by the time he got to her?

The sharp sting of the kunai cutting into his fisted palm pierced through the fog of fury and fear threatening to cloud his mind. Slowly uncurling his hand, Sasuke watched his blood drip to stain the grass. So much of it had been shed by his hands and yet it still wasn't enough to protect the people in his life.

Revenge had left a bitter taste in his mouth once it was accomplished. Justice may have been served, but it didn't bring his family back. Dropping the kunai, Sasuke fisted his hand again, ignoring the twinge of pain. I will not become an Avenger again. This time I won't be too late.

Petite hands wrapped around his fist and he looked up into verdant eyes bright with worry and understanding. Sakura gently pried opened his fist and stroked healing fingers over the cut. "We need you in top form, Sasuke-kun," she murmured. "Hinata needs you in top form."

He grunted acknowledgement and turned his attention back to the garden. This wasn't exactly the homecoming he envisioned. Something along the lines of a hot dinner and a warm, willing wife in bed was more like it. Having replayed the goodbye kiss they shared over and over again, Hinata's fear of him leaving, left him with the certainty that affection was no longer one-sided. Of course, affection hardly did justice to what he felt but he wouldn't presume to know the inner workings of any woman's heart, especially one as extraordinary as Hyuuga Hinata.

Uchiha Hinata, he reminded himself. Those arrogant fools of the Hyuuga clan had no right to claim her anymore. They probably wouldn't even care to hear she was missing.

A shadow fell across him and he looked over at his wife's beloved cousin. It took Neji all of three minutes to gather his gear and meet them at the compound. The stray thought that Hinata would be happy to see the two of them working together nearly tugged a smile from Sasuke's lips. The Hyuuga genius still rubbed him the wrong way, but beyond a doubt no one else in the village was more devoted to Hinata than Neji.

"Find something?" He asked.

Neji picked up a small, broken leaf and rubbed it between his fingers. "Eucalyptus, a small pile of them."

"Maybe she was harvesting some for her medicines," Sakura offered.

Sasuke shook his head. "She would've had a container to put them in or something."

Raising the leaf closer for inspection, Neji wrinkled his nose at the sharp odor. "Hinata always smells like herbs, but if she was handling Eucalyptus…its fragrance is more potent, especially when the leaves are crushed and it takes forever to fade."

Tucking the lone kunai into his pouch, Sasuke stood. "Kakashi."

"Ah." It didn't take a genius to figure out what the other two genius' were thinking. Or maybe it does, Kakashi mused as he glimpsed Naruto's bewildered face. Nicking his thumb, he flipped rapidly through the signs and pressed his hand to the ground. With a loud poof, his pack appeared, eager for a good hunt.

"Yo, Kakashi," Pakkun popped up on the head of his largest counterpart.

"Someone has taken Hinata-chan," the copy-nin said. "The trail is one maybe two days old."

The pug grunted. "It rained last night. It'll be hard to track her."

"She may have scent-tagged herself," he said and eight pairs of ears perked up.

Neji kneeled and held out the leaf to the ninkin as they crowded around him. Several sneezed when they took too strong a whiff of the potent scent before breaking apart and snuffling the ground.

"It's a very natural scent," Sakura mused. "Do you think they'll—."

Sharp barks cut her off and the pack surged into motion. In a matter of seconds, Sakura suddenly found herself standing alone in the courtyard.

"Apparently, yes," she sighed. Chakra surged through her body and she sprinted up and over the wall. By the time they crested the gate, she fell in pace with Naruto.

The sunny blonde grinned at her, one sharp canine peaking out. "Ne, try to keep up this time, Sakura-chan!"

"Someone's got to watch your sorry behinds," she scowled at him.

Naruto's grin broadened, eyes bright with the thrill of the hunt. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

***

She twisted her wrists against the thick leather binding more so out of needing something to do than an effort to escape. Even if by some miracle she managed to free herself and disable her captor, there were still miles of twisting tunnels between her and freedom. So she would conserve her energy and wait because he was coming. As sure as the sun rose in the east and set in the west, Sasuke was coming and she would wait, just like he told her to.

"I must say, I'm a little disappointed," Kabuto sighed off to her right. "Your fire burned out rather fast, didn't it?"

When she remained silent, his steps moved closer.

"I suppose everyone always did expect too much from you, just for being a Hyuuga." An icy finger trailed down her cheek and she jerked away. "Even Sasuke-kun."

By sheer force of will, Hinata manage to keep from rolling her eyes. The Sound-nin took perverse pleasure in telling her stories about Sasuke, horrible stories about what he'd done in the service of Orochimaru. Perhaps some of them were true, perhaps not. She only knew how he touched her, held her, kissed her….

The pleasant memories promising to take her away if only for a moment shattered beneath the forceful pressure of a hand on her abdomen. She fought the urge to squirm, knowing it would only amuse him more.

"Such a shame you don't already hold the future heir. He would've been a nice addition to my collection." The heat of his presence increased and his breath brushed across her cheek. "No need to be afraid, Hinata-chan. Your purpose hasn't changed much." His thumb slowly caressed her stomach and she tried to shrink into the table, a whimper catching in her throat. "Sasuke-kun isn't the only one who has seen your worth."

The tightening coil of fear snapped and her head with it, cracking sharply against his. Pain sliced through her and she almost didn't hear the muttered oaths over the buzzing of her senses, but a sharp metallic scent twitched her nose and satisfaction blanketed the fear and frustration holding her captive.

"That was unwise," came a slightly nasal snarl followed by a flare of chakra. Of course, he could heal himself almost as quickly as she injured him, but the smell of blood lingered with the reminder that she was only as helpless as she allowed herself to be.

The surge of chakra subsided and she listened to him shuffle around with renewed purpose. When he returned to her side, the harsh grip of his hand on her arm was the only warning before a sharp stinging lanced through her flesh.

"Be as difficult as you wish." Kabuto's voice had returned to its deceptive calm. "I don't have to be gentle," he wiggled the needle in her arm for emphasis and she clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound. "And I don't need to keep you, either." Drawing the needle out, he carelessly swabbed the sore entry wound. "I can just as easily harvest your ovaries and implant the embryos in a surrogate."

Her muscles went limp when she wanted nothing more than to rip off the bindings and claw his eyes out. One by one, her over-active senses dulled and faded.

"Perhaps I'll even leave you alive afterwards and let Sasuke-kun find you." His voice drifted to her soft and cushioned on the edges of awareness and dreams. "Would he still want you then, barren and useless?"

Cold air dance across the skin of her abdomen and something sharper than fear pressed against her on the very fringes of consciousness.

"Let's find out."

*holds remaining chapters over fire* Be careful now. I can make threats too. *evil grin*