Chapter 28: Outcast Heart
Konoha Forest, 12:00 pm.
He stood under the small waterfall, letting the cold liquid spill down his bare back. He shivered from the dulcet sound of the water hitting him. He stiffened as he heard the crunching of footsteps.
"You made a real mess back there. It will take weeks for the place to be cleaned thoroughly. They weren't able to contain the fire until now." The man sighed, watching as he stood in the water.
"However you did your job. Even if it was done carelessly." Neji turned towards the man.
"The drug was effective."
"Ah it was? That's good then. At least they had no idea what was going on." Hiroshi tossed Neji his shirt.
"Tsunade has been arrested. She is now being held in the ANBU interrogation room. Things are going the way I want them to go. However…" Hiroshi sat on the boulder, staring at him.
"I wonder where our little princess is now?"
"Hinata is missing?" Neji lowered his voice. As long as she was safe…nothing mattered anymore.
"You seem happy about that."
"She's away from you." Hiroshi glared at him. Neji stared back blankly.
"Remember your side of the deal, Neji. You mess up I kill her. I kill them both."
"Tch."
"I'm serious. After last night…you should understand how serious I am, Neji. Mess up…and I won't hesitate to take all that is dear to you. And I mean everything."
--
"How were you able to invade the Hyuga Compound without setting off the alarms and the guards?"
"What was your motive for murdering the Hyuga?"
"Who are your accomplices?"
"Did you think that by setting fire to the Compound you could hide your deed?"
Tsunade remained quiet. She stared straight ahead at nothing but the pitch blackness of the room.
Never thought I'd see the day when I would be interrogated. This was all…one big set-up. And I fell for it!
"Where is Hyuga Hinata? Is she with Uzumaki Naruto?" The ANBU stood in front of here, demanding attention.
"I don't know anything."
"You sent your shinobi Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Aburame Shino, Uzumaki Naruto, to wreck the wedding, did you not?!" Tsunade grinned.
"I didn't send them to wreck the wedding. I merely didn't do anything about it."
"You knew what they were going to do?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you stop them?"
"That's enough." Homaru placed a wrinkled hand on the shoulder of the ANBU. He nodded and stepped back.
"Tsunade-hime. Why have you done this? The blood of countless innocents is on your hands."
"I told you I don't know anything! I sent my ANBU there after hearing that they were being targeted!" Homaru frowned.
"Who was targeting them?"
"…."
--
"Be prepared to expose yourself." Hiroshi stood from his perch. He cracked his back.
"I'm getting to old for things like this." Neji glared at him. He sloshed over to the bank grabbing his equipment.
"After the trial, you'll leave. I don't care where you go. Tsunade will be stripped of her position as Hogake and that's when I'll transfer."
"What about Naruto?"
"Why should I have to confront them when I have you? That's your job." Neji snorted.
"What will happen to the Main now that the Branch…is gone?"
"I preformed a sealing technique before your slaughter last night. In case you didn't notice, which you probably couldn't was the seal I had placed around the Branch Compound."
"A barrier."
"Yes. That's one of reasons why no one was able to leave, or go in or hear anything that was happening inside or out."
"You couldn't have preformed such a potent barrier by yourself. The strain would be too much for you. I can see it." Hiroshi smirked.
"I have friends in high places."
He grabbed Neji's head protector gazing at it.
"The Curse Mark is now torpid. The Main need not sacrifice anymore." Hiroshi pulled out a shuriken and scraped it across the top of the head band.
"At least…until further notice. Here you go!" He handed the protector back to Neji.
"You are officially a missing-nin. Congratulations."
"This is a game to you." Neji seethed.
"Everything is a game to me."
--
Ibiki sat across from Tsunade staring at her. Tsunade stared back.
Don't tell me they got you too, Ibiki.
"Leave us." He ordered an ANBU. He nodded, and closed the door. Ibiki stood, walking around the room. He stopped diagonally away from Tsunade and pulled out paper.
"You sent ANBU black ops to the scene of the crime at 5. Did you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I received intelligence that the Hyuga were being targeted. I only did what I thought was right."
"What did your ANBU find there when they arrived?"
"The place was in flames…the whole Branch sector. It looks the same as the Main, except their not duplicates. Two different counterparts."
Ibiki snorted. He pulled out a jagged knife, twirling it around his finger.
"These do a lot of damage…"
"I already told you everything I know!" He grinned. Walking over to Tsunade he pressed the tip against her throat.
"Tell me everything again."
"Could I have some tea first?" Tsunade whispered, staring straight ahead.
"What would that country have to do with this?" He said loudly.
"I know he's there!" Tsunade played along.
"Ibiki grinned.
"I'll gladly find him, Tsunade-sama."
--
With theses hands I killed…I killed a lot. And also with these I held her. If…she were to find out what happened…would she hate me I wonder? No…couldn't she even believe that I killed…so many people. That I killed so coldly.
Neji sat in the grass waiting for Hiroshi's next orders. He stared at his stained clothes. He stared at the sky. He closed his mind as memories began to force their way top. He tried to force them down…down into the chasm of his mind, of his heart.
He laughed when he realized he couldn't keep the farce up for long. After all he always had a heavy conscious. His eyes narrowed as he recalled their last conversation.
"Don't worry about Hiashi. I'm sure he'll die from a natural cause." Neji raised a brow?
"Natural…?" Hiroshi sighed.
"You know…your uncle always did have a bad heart."
"Natural cause..."
"Hiashi has always had heart problems whether he wants to admit it or not. Weakness comes with age…and his heart is failing him, though his body may seem strong."
Hiroshi cocked his head to one side.
"You don't understand do you?" Neji glared at him. Hiroshi waved it off and smiled.
"Think of it as sham regeneration. One can live without an arm, a leg…even an eye or two. While Hiashi's heart is failing his body is still healthy. Just think about it…"
"A heart attack…or stroke." Neji choked on his words.
"A great shock would do the trick. See?" Hiroshi threw a stone into the water.
"Killing two birds with one stone. Neji, you are my stone. Hiashi and the Branch…were the birds." Yea...corny attempt with Ibiki and Tsunade dialouge lol. I tried people...I tried... Somehow I feel like my chapters are getting shorter...anyway did I mention I have a new cellphone? Its awesomeness! Omg it's almost time for me to leave!
