A/N: Not to much to say. Glad you guys are getting two weeks in a row, but I'm a bit mad at myself- got sidetracked with FF13 (finally got around to buying it), and have eaten up my cushion for posting chapters now.
Still, THIS chapter was supposed to go up early this morning, and I got busy and forgot to put it up. Sorry. On the other side of that... it's ready to go, so here you are. Enjoy!
Chap. 37 The Unwilling
"Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, Uchiha-san," the elderly shopkeeper said.
Sasuke frowned. He hadn't been able to go anywhere within Ootori for nearly three weeks without someone expressing their happiness with his upcoming wedding. He wouldn't really have minded, his fiancée, Hyuuga Hinata, was extremely pretty and obviously knew the ways of high-class society. That was something, he was coming to know, his older brother had largely skipped over during his education. Since Itachi had already expressed a great deal of displeasure at the idea of heading the Clan once their estranged father had become re-acquainted with his sons, that left Sasuke.
Honestly, Sasuke thought it was a good match. He liked Hinata's shy, quiet nature. It fit his own. Sure, their home life was likely to be extremely quiet by many's standards, but they would also not be yelling or stepping on each others' toes often. She would handle the politics, he would handle the policing of rules, protecting his family, and so on.
What other eighteen-year-old shinobi had the chance for a setup like that? Especially since the Hyuuga heiress would also be forging, along with him, a truly lasting peace between the two formerly (and, admittedly, current) rivals. On top of that, Sasuke was fond of reminding himself, she was beautiful.
Maybe they would never have love, but at least she was fun to watch as she demurely walked around the nascent Village.
Except that, ever since their engagement party, she had been avoiding him. When they'd been forced together, Hinata had been surprisingly cold. It was doubly shocking because, to everyone she seemed to meet, the raven-haired young woman was unfailingly kind, generous, and loving.
Yet, whenever they'd been forced together by serendipity or the machinations of their families, Hinata's entire countenance had changed. No longer warm, no longer cheerful. The only thing the same was her reserved nature... except that she said even less verbally, while many things were said with her eyes. Unfortunately, Sasuke was quickly learning that, even with her pale eyes, they were quite expressive all the same... at least as far as anger, hatred, and contempt went.
"Thank you, Nagashi-san. I'm... looking forward to them, as well. Hinata-sa- Hinata-chan is a beautiful young woman. I'm sure we will be... very happy."
Fortunately, the old man had not seemed to notice the slip, or the unsure tone of Sasuke's voice. For his part, the shinobi was even more happy that no one would be able to see the unsettled feeling in his gut at the thought.
What had happened? When did the shy, demure young woman he'd found himself accidentally- or at least through no fault of his own- come to... to hate him so? Was there someone else? That was the only theory Sasuke could come up with.
And no matter how skilled a shinobi his brother had trained him to be, the younger scion of the Uchiha knew better than to try a bit of reconnaissance on a Hyuuga. Even though Hinata was not a trained kunoichi, she would undoubtedly be able to detect his presence very quickly, and that would be... bad.
So what could he do?
Maybe, after they were married for a time, she would start to relax and he could actually talk to her to find out... though talking had never been his strong suit.
The chime of the small shop rang just as he picked up his small bag of groceries. Sasuke again thanked the shopkeeper with a bow and murmur before turning to the door.
Really, Kami? Right now? We have to do this right now, when I'm already as confused as hell?
Standing in the doorway, blocking his exit, was the curvaceous form of the very girl he had been thinking about, the very one he was engaged to.
"H-Hinata-chan. It's... nice to see you."
She was silent for several seconds, while the shopkeeper called out a cheerful greeting and congratulated her, as well.
However, when she spoke, a chill wandered down Sasuke's spine, although her voice was as soft and carefully-modulated as any he'd ever heard, "Sasuke-kun. I have been looking for you for several hours."
Sasuke blinked and nodded. "Oh. Uh... I've been running errands. Dinner."
This time, she nodded, though she didn't blink. In fact, her nearly-featureless lavender eyes bored into Sasuke's dark ones. For a moment, he considered activating his Sharingan to let her see how it felt. That, however, could not be done. The Sharingan, unlike the Byakugan, was a weapon, and activating it was tantamount to drawing a kunai. She couldn't help her white eyes, however. "I see. Perhaps we should... talk."
Sasuke gulped. "Very well. Would you like to join me at my brother and I's tent? I have enough for us all here."
Hinata, though, shook her head. "No, thank you. However, if Nagashi-san would be kind enough to give us a few minute's privacy, this will not take long."
To his credit, the man only hesitated a moment before shuffling out from behind the counter, flipping the sign on the door and locking it, and moving into the back room where, doubtless, the once-retired merchant kept both stock and his small home. The building itself, rather new and ramshackle, was not that large. "Take as long as you need, Hyuuga-sama."
After he'd gone, Hinata stepped across the small grocery to stand directly in front of Sasuke. She glared up at him, though her expression never changed. "Uchiha-san, I don't know what your brother taught you about honor, but your behavior since our families formalized our betrothal has been reprehensible. My father would have thrown me from our family if I had acted as you have towards me."
Sasuke started to draw breath indignantly, intending to retort that it had been she, not he, who had been acting poorly. However, he was not given the chance.
Hinata, leaning in now, had a rather firm set to her red lips, "If you were not interested in our engagement, you should have said so from the outset, rather than let our families go through this expense, spend the time organizing our wedding and alliance, and most especially, before you let a young woman who dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding have those dreams crushed by a cold-hearted bastard who would snub her at her own engagement party!"
Sasuke actually stepped back from the vehemence of the young woman's words. Again, he drew in breath to retort, but she had already spun away, and was stalking to the door.
As she turned, her hair whirled. As she walked, Sasuke noticed how her hips and buttocks- so rarely covered in somewhat tight trousers rather than her usual dress- swung.
Perhaps he could be forgiven, then, for forgetting what he was going to say before she reached the door.
There, while unlocking it, Hinata said, without turning to look at him again, "I expect better in future, Sasuke-kun. Like it or not, we are going to be married. You may hate me, but in public, you and I will show each other nothing but warmth and affection... or we will have problems. Am I clear?"
For just a moment, Sasuke wondered where the shy Hinata had gone. Was this what hid behind the quiet girl? Had she always been this... forceful?
But before he had any answers to those questions, the door had swung shut. She was already gone.
"Well, fuck," he muttered. He was not one given to cursing, given that he had been raised almost a hermit, but he could find no other words to express his feelings at that particular moment.
All this time, he thought she'd hated him... when it had really been anger because she thought his own shyness and all-too-obvious feelings for her (even if, at the time, they had been only lust) were hatred? How had things gotten so... so messed up? Why wasn't it all easy? Wasn't he the prophesied hero? The guy who saved the Village, and all of Hi no Kuni? Wasn't the hero supposed to get the girl and live happily ever after?
"Damn it... Damn it all!" he suddenly cried, loudly, heedless of the shopkeeper in the back room, or even the crowds out on the street who heard his shout.
(O)(O)(O)
Two miles to the north, at that precise moment, Sasuke's older, wiser, and more experienced brother was having difficulties of his own. Having returned north to the refugee camp after delivering their terms, he had lead the team of shinobi escorting the first wave of long-term refugees to Ootori, where, hopefully, they would be able to find a lasting home. Something that many of the younger generation, largely left back at their camp with the majority of their families, had never had. He was gesturing out over the shallow valley where Konoha had once stood, and Ootori was being built, explaining the lay of the land and what the plan for construction was in loose terms. After all, since this was a construction crew, the families to come after, they needed to know the basics of where to begin.
That was, for the taciturn Uchiha, all well and good. He could lead ninja, he had lead ninja, as one of Konoha's former ANBU Captains, at a very young age. No problem to do it again, even though he hardly knew any of Ootori's current forces. At least about half of their number had been Uchiha, so he could count on their strength. Whatever his problems with his father, Uchiha knew that Fugaku would not allow a weakling to become a ninja. Not in his Clan.
No, Uchiha Itachi had three, all related- literally- problems.
The first, and arguably lesser, was one Watanabe Tazuna. The old man had been relentless. Jovial, kind, and friendly, the man had been an optimist through suffering that Itachi felt would have broken him. He'd even asked the second problem how that had happened. Said problem had sniffed, reluctantly replied that Tazuna hadn't had any choice, he had to be optimistic, because no one else would.
That had made sense... but it still grated on Itachi's nerves how much the man talked. Seriously, the shinobi had wondered not two days into the slow journey, how many times can you say 'super' in one sentence? It's... unreal!
But Tazuna's annoyance, while great, paled in comparison to the second problem. Inari was, like Tazuna, something of a leader among the Wave refugees. While the master carpenter had reached that dubious honor through hard work, diligence, and the sheer weight of his age combined with experience, Inari had essentially fallen into the position. However, while Tazuna spoke for the group as a whole, Inari spoke for the children. It did not help that Inari also felt Itachi was manipulating their whole group just to get at his mother. Obviously, many of the children, teens, and younger adults didn't much like Itachi, like Inari himself.
Again, though, the shinobi's issue with Inari- or rather, Inari's issue with him- paled next to the one standing next to him. Because Inari's mother, Tazuna's daughter-in-law, was vexing Itachi beyond belief.
She had been kind, considerate, willing to upend her entire livelihood, such as it was, on the slim hope that Ootori could protect them. That in and of itself displayed a bravery and will that Itachi found admirable. That she was, for a woman most of a decade older than he (eight years, if he remembered right), very attractive. She still had a very feminine figure, unmarred by the birth of her only child. She even seemed to carry some sort of affection for Itachi, though he was hardly the best to judge what kind it was.
No...
In fact, that was the root of his problem with the woman.
No part of Itachi's long experience or training as a ninja had prepared him for... for this.
He knew about sex, it was a mandatory part of Konoha's education. Knowing Tsunade (and Lord Jiraiya, he knew), it would be for Ootori as well. How can you be safe about something of which you know nothing?
What he didn't know was how to deal with... with a woman. She hugged him. The response to that was simple enough... an awkward hug back.
Once, she had given him a small peck on the cheek. That time, his face had heated up uncomfortably, his heart had started racing like it did in combat, his stomach fell into his feet, while apparently simultaneously pushing his heart up into his throat, where it hammered loudly... oh, and the clammy, sweating hands. Can't forget those... he thought with a frown. What the hell is wrong with this picture? How can this civilian woman I barely know... make me useless? I'm one of the strongest, most talented ninja Konoha produced in it's entire history! I might well rank up there with the Hokage themselves! How can this one, unarmed woman make me so weak?
"Excuse me, Itachi-kun," a soft voice said.
The ninja in question started, already feeling his face heat up. "Y- Yes, Tsunami-chan?"
Beside his mother, Inari scowled slightly at her, but said nothing.
Tsunami only smiled softly, like she always did, and asked, "You were saying...? Something about the defensive fortifications? You... well, you trailed off. Are you all right? Is something bothering you?"
The vast majority of Itachi wanted to scream and rail that, yes, something was very wrong with him, that something- her- was bothering him very much.
But he couldn't bring himself to wipe that smile off her face.
"N- No, Tsunami-chan. I... I was merely distracted. My apologies. The... the wall should stretch from-"
As he continued to explain, he never noticed that several of the onlookers, notably excluding Inari, shared a chuckle at his expense with how easily the carpenter's daughter had flustered the powerful ninja.
For her part, Tsunami smiled inwardly. Even if I know it's not really proper, it's nice to know I've still got it!
(O)(O)(O)
Naruto screamed, "Where the hell are they? How can these ninja not know about a base a terrorist ninja cell has in their own country?"
Next to him, Ino cried, her hands in a now-familiar shape to Temari, "Shinranshin no Jutsu!"
Unlike the interrogation jutsu Ino had primarily used only days before, Temari knew that this one would not make Ino's body vulnerable. In fact, in some ways it had the opposite effect. She was still in control of herself, but as long as only her concentration was divided, she could control the target as well, effectively giving her a person to actively defend herself if needed.
However, as she'd seen far more commonly, the jutsu was far more powerful, if riskier, than the former... at least, to the target. Ino had been using it essentially to force them to reveal the information. She could dig through their deepest thoughts and memories, no matter how much they guarded that information outside of their minds.
At least, that's what it seemed like. Unfortunately, that seemed to come at the cost of the target's sanity afterward... or maybe that was Ino 'unleashing the beast' as Temari had come to call it to herself.
What else could it be? Before Ishi, she'd gotten a chance to know Naruto, Sakura, and Ino, if only for a short while.
And yet, ever since then, they'd been... worse. More violent. Bloodthirsty, even. They still seemed to carry some sort of affection for each other, because while they'd glared at her, they never did at themselves.
Sometimes, Temari wondered why she was still there, too. More than just wondering why she had faith that these were not the real people she could almost have called friends. More than questioning how they'd allowed themselves to fall to this... this madness so easily.
Sometimes, over the last four days since they'd crossed into Tsuchi no Kuni, Temari wondered why they hadn't just killed her for trying to coax them into moderation, rather than ruthlessly slaughtering the dozens of Iwa ninja they'd seen since then.
She was sure the thought had crossed at least Naruto's mind, given the way he'd turned those red eyes- they were always red, now- on her just that morning.
And all she'd done was gone out into the woods to pee. He'd been a hair's breadth from killing her for slowing them down just that much.
Behind her, Sakura spoke, making Temari jump. She hadn't been aware the dangerous medic was so close. Damn, I hate treating allies like enemies... I shouldn't have to watch my back with them around! Still, at least it's really carrying home the idea that real alliances are more valuable than dad ever thought. Kami, I hope they get back to normal, and soon. I don't know how much longer I'm gonna survive this.
"Second thoughts, Temari-chan? You didn't seem to hesitate to kill back in Ishi. Are Suna shinobi really so soft?"
Kuso... am I really gonna die? If I back down, they're gonna be all over me right now, thinking I'm weak. If I stand up to them, they'll challenge me for showing dominance, and I'm dead anyway. Damn it! "I- no, Sakura-san, they aren't. Are Ootori shinobi always so brutal? I thought you guys were..." Hell... in for a ryo, in for a million, I guess... "I don't know, merciful? Kind? Right now, I'd settle for practical. What's the point in killing these guys? They don't know anything. If anyone in Iwa knows, it's the leadership. We should quit wasting our time. So what's the point of this?"
In a moment, all three of them were standing around her, hands on weapons. Four, she corrected, as the Iwa ninja, doubtless controlled by Ino, rose to stand next to them, between Sakura and Ino at her back.
Naruto, of course, was standing right in front of her, far inside her current comfort zone (which, if she were honest, was several hundred feet- at least), and leaning in so that he breathed down her neck, almost literally. "What point," he whispered, "do I need to kill my enemies, the enemies of my father? Iwa ninja have been our enemies since Konoha was founded. I don't need a reason to kill, to kill any of them!"
Temari sighed, knowing it was too late for her. Still, she had a duty to fulfill, or die trying. "So Ootori doesn't make it's ninja take oaths to protect their people, to follow the tenets of the Village? Or does your Village not have laws against senseless death, like Konoha had? Maybe this alliance you proposed really isn't in Suna's best interests, if that's the case."
Ino and Sakura, as one, hissed in anger. Naruto's teeth pulled back, revealing his overly-large incisors. "Well, I can't let you get back to Suna and tell them we're coming for them next then, can I, Temari-chan?"
However, before any of the four of them made a move to attack Temari, before she could even begin to defend herself, Naruto was screaming, stepping back several times, shaking his head with eyes clenched shut. "No, No, No, No, NO! That's not what I want! Damn you, Kyuubi! Those are not my words, not my thoughts! You think just 'cause you won a little victory with a trick, I'm ever going to give in to you?"
Temari was surprised to see herself ignored. The body behind her slumped to the ground, apparently released from Ino's jutsu, while both kunoichi moved in a blur to flank Naruto.
Should she flee while she could? Get ready to defend herself? Or...
"What the hell?" she whispered, more to herself than the universe at large.
Because Ino and Sakura were both cozying up to Naruto, and they were purring. "Naruto-kun," they said, in eerie synchronization, "don't you want us to be happy? We only want you to be happy, Naruto-kun. These people tried to kill your father, remember? They tried to kill us, Naruto-kun. They're killing Gaara and Yugito, your friends... remember, Naruto? We should stop them, right?"
Temari's eyes widened. It was doubtless them speaking; she could see their mouths move. But the words didn't sound either like Ino's relaxed, cheerful speech, or Sakura's more formal, carefully-chosen words. In fact, if she had to venture a guess...
"Damn it, you stupid Fox! Leave them alone!"
She was surprised to hear the words from her own mouth. Did she have a death-wish or something?
But her words had a startling effect.
Both of the kunoichi hissed at her again, though they didn't leave Naruto's side. Temari flinched back at the rage and hate in their normally-gentle eyes.
Naruto, though, jerked and flinched back from both women. "No... No. I'm... I'm not letting you have me, Kyuubi, and that's it. I told you before... you hurt them even a little, and I'm totally cutting you off. Have fun rotting in your new cage for eternity, you little bitch."
Naruto shuddered once, twice, and then stood up tall, gently pushing the girls away with a hand on each shoulder.
"Tema-chan," he said calmly, looking her in the eye, "I'm going to need your help. They aren't used to controlling it's influence... and they're going to fight back while I do this. Back me up?"
Thirty seconds before, Temari would have rather fled into the mountains for her life. However...
Naruto's eyes were blue.
"Yes, Naruto... close or long range?"
"Naruto-kun," both girls said again, "Are you really going to hurt us? We only want what's best for you, Naruto-kun... we love you..."
Temari wasn't nearly as hurt by the awful, horrid way they'd twisted that wonderful word as Naruto was, but she could see his resolve held strong. "Close... Sorry, I know it's not your thing, but I'll be almost defenseless for a few seconds."
This time, the two kunoichi hissed at him, moments before they launched themselves towards him, all four hands extended into blood-red claws.
After that, Temari had no more time for thinking.
A/N2: Not much to be said again. Sorry once more about the delay, hope you enjoy. Don't forget to review, people, and thank my Beta, Mouse, for his awesome work. ;)
Glossary:
Nagashi-san: Not important. He's the grocery store owner. As it's the only one in town currently, everyone knows who he is. There will likely be a small Omake-type scene (though it'll be canon) in the store later, but it's not integral to the plot at all, just for entertainment... and that's if I remember to put him in. You'll get a description then, but for now, assume middle-aged shopkeeper, male.