Hinari
Chapter 37
Sakura Hanamoto
Hinari ran through the forest as fast as she could. 'I won't let anyone get hurt!' She thought as a wave of pain struck her. She lost her footing and fell from the tree she was supposed to land in. She hit the ground with a thud. Hinari curled up, and slowly, the Kyuubi's chakra took over her. She stood, breathing heavily. She felt like her body was falling apart, but that hardly stopped her. Hinari's head snapped to the side when she smelled the approach of three people. Or rather, two people and a fox.
"Hinari!" Umi called to her.
"S-stay away!" Hinari cried, flinging her arms out, Sakura and Tsunade dodged a claw of chakra that had grown out from her arm. "I-I…don't want to…hurt you." She gasped as she fell to her knees.
"Hinari," Sakura took a step forward. Hinari let out a guttural roar that made Sakura retreat. "What do we do?"
"We need Yamato out here." Tsunade murmured. Hinari crouched down on her hands, and from the Kyuubi's chakra that covered her like armor, grew a long tail.
"This is bad," Sakura jumped away from another claw and landed in a tree above the girl. Both claws came at the women, Tsunade dodged out of the way, but before Sakura could, she lost her balance and began to fall. Sasuke leapt from a tree behind her and caught her.
"You okay Sakura?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sasuke put her down. Sai, Yamato, Shikamaru, Temari, and Kakashi soon joined them. "Hokage-sama sent us out, he said we'd know how to deal with this problem."
"Yamato." Tsunade nodded towards Hinari. The man stepped forward.
"We need to stop her movements long enough for me to get this needle into her." Sakura explained. Yamato nodded and began forming seals. But Hinari wouldn't let him finish. She charged at the man and rammed right into him.
XxXxXxX
Takuro sat up when he felt the powerful chakra rush through the village.
"'Nii-chan, what was that?" Satoko asked as she ran into his room. Takuro didn't answer; instead he got out of bed and changed.
"Stay here." He ordered her, and he ran out of the house. 'If Satoko felt that, then the whole village did.' He thought nervously. 'Hinari,' He picked up his pace, leaping up to the roof of the nearest building and followed the signature out to the forest. He looked down to see several villagers run out their houses brandishing anything they'd found as weapons. 'Shit!' Takuro moved faster.
XxXxXxX
"Damn, we can't get any closer Sakura!" Temari called to her. Sakura nodded. They'd managed to get a little closer to Hinari, but she kept beating them back, especially Yamato who kept trying to seal her chakra.
"Sakura, if we can't do this soon, we'll be facing the Kyuubi." Tsunade said.
"I know, but how can we get any closer, she can't hear us." As she said this, a small slip of paper flew passed her and nearly struck Hinari, but was blocked.
"Hmm, I guess that's not gonna work." Jiraiya had joined them.
"Shit, Chidori Nagashi!" Sasuke brought his sword up and cleaved the chakra claw in half as it came at him. Hinari roared again, her chakra pressing down on them. "We can't reach her Sakura, and we're running out of options!" Sasuke yelled to her. Kakashi ducked under a second tail to stand next to Sakura.
"Sakura, how did Naruto stay in control?" Shikamaru asked her.
"Yamato sealed Kyuubi's chakra or," Sakura stopped. "Hinata." She said. Kakashi nodded.
"Hinata was one of the few people that could keep him calm; perhaps it's the same with Hinari."
"Then who could do that?" Sai asked.
"Takuro." Sasuke answered. "He's always there to keep her calm."
"I'll go get him." Temari volunteered.
"No need, he's already on his way." Jiraiya said. "I saw him coming before; he'll be here any second now." Sure enough, Takuro appeared by Sasuke's side.
"Oh my god!" He cried out in alarm. "Hinari," He stared at her. He'd seen her access Kyuubi's chakra before, but never to this extent. It was awe-inspiring, but fearsome at the same time.
"Takuro." Takuro looked at his mother. She handed him a syringe. "Can you get closer to her and inject this into her."
"What will it do?" He asked.
"It'll save her." Takuro's fingers curled tightly around the syringe.
"I don't know, but I can try." Takuro stepped forward towards her.
"Is it such a good idea to entrust her life with him?" Kakashi questioned.
"Yes, he'd do anything for her." Sakura said. They watched as Takuro approached slowly. He took a cautious step forward. Hinari glared up at him, saliva dribbling from her chin, and three tails swishing about behind her. Her hair swirled in an unfelt wind current, forming a curtain of indigo around her.
"It's okay Hinari; I'm not going to hurt you." Takuro took another step forward. Hinari lunged a claw at him, and he barely managed to dodge, but her other claw came in from above. It gored at his face, from above his right eyebrow, across the bridge of his nose, and just barely missing his left eye, it formed three enormous gashes on his face. He cried out but ignored the pain. Takuro was only five feet away from her now. He reached a hand out to her, but coming so close to her caused the skin on his fingers to burn.
"He might not make it." Sai muttered, but he was silenced by Sakura.
"Shut up and watch!" She whacked him on the head again. They stopped talking when Takuro screamed as his skin was burned more and more. He moved closer, ignoring it as best as he could. Finally, he broke through the barrier of chakra and embraced Hinari.
"Hinari-chan," He whispered into her ear. He took the syringe and stuck it into Hinari's arm and injected the antidote. In a powerful rush, Kyuubi's chakra surrounded the two in a bubble, and then exploded, knocking the group of adults backwards. When the dust cleared away, Takuro stood there, holding Hinari tightly.
"He-he did it!" Sakura was shocked.
"Of course he did, he would have made sure to get it done even if it meant death." Sasuke said.
"Hinari-chan, are you okay?" Takuro asked. His face throbbed painfully, as well as his left arm, but he ignored his injuries. They were trivial next to his concern for Hinari's health. Hinari groaned and her eyes opened, he was relieved to see the crystalline blue.
"I'm alright." She said. Sakura and Tsunade approached. Takuro released Hinari, but she slumped to the ground. Sakura knelt next to her.
"Show me your face." Tsunade tilted Takuro's face up and healed it. "Kyuubi's chakra is disrupting the healing so it's going to scar." She explained. Sakura handed Tsunade some bandages, and she wrapped up Takuro's face with it. She then healed his arm and bandaged that too. She let Takuro sit by Hinari when she was done.
"We got lucky, Hinari still has quite a bit of chakra left, her own as well as Kyuubi's. Hopefully, her coils are already recovering." Sakura reported.
"Thank god you're okay." Takuro hugged Hinari. "You really worried us you know."
"Sorry."
"Let's get back to the village." Tsunade said.
"Uh, when Kyuubi's chakra hit the village, it was strong enough for the civilians to feel." Takuro told them.
"Damn, they'll think Hinari let the Kyuubi loose to destroy the village." Sasuke said.
"I came out here, so that I didn't hurt anyone." Hinari explained.
"We figured." Sakura told her. Takuro lifted Hinari into his arms and carried her. They walked back to the village at a steady pace.
"Sorry for ruining your face." Hinari said.
"It's okay, maybe now the fangirls will leave me alone." He said.
"Actually, they all went to the Shikatarou fanclub from what Tsubaki told me." Hinari informed him.
"Good riddance." They were now approaching the gates, but the village seemed frighteningly quiet. That's when they spotted Tsubaki.
"Mom! Dad!" Tsubaki came running to the group. "We've got trouble."
"What is it?" Temari asked.
"The whole freaking village is up at the Hokage Tower, they're demanding for Hinari's immediate execution!" Tsubaki declared. The adults tensed up. Takuro's hold on Hinari tightened defensively.
"What should we do?" Sai asked.
"We head over there, now; we have to find out what the hell they want." Tsunade said. "Don't let Hinari go boy, protect her with your life if they choose to attack her." Takuro nodded. He looked down at Hinari; she was staring at the ground.
"Don't worry Hinari; I won't let them hurt you." He whispered in her ear.
"Yeah, no one gets near our best friend without having to go through us." Tsubaki added.
They approached the tower to see nearly the whole village there. For the most part the chanted the same thing over and over. "KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!" Konohamaru stood, hanging out of the window of his office down at the people below. He'd tried to calm them down, but they weren't listening. Only a few weren't trying to kill her, he noted. Among them were Machi, the baker, Ayame, and the weapon's smith.
"THERE SHE IS!" Konohamaru saw that the group had returned with Hinari with them. "GET HER! SPILL HER BLOOD!" The adults formed a tight circle around Hinari and Takuro.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Tsunade demanded. The villagers halted at the sight of the former Hokage.
"Why do you protect it?" One of the villagers asked.
"Hinari's a human girl! You guys are freaking retards!" Tsunade yelled. The crowd began screaming and yelling, pressing at the group. A kunai nearly got through, but Sakura caught it and snapped it in half. Konohamaru was beginning to get fed up with the villagers.
"SILENCE!" The villagers shut up and turned to face the current Hokage. "Now listen up! I am not going to repeat this! You people make me sick! You're making the same mistake you did with her father! You called him a demon; you beat him, scorned him, and look what he did for this village!"
"Yeah, absolutely nothing!" One villager shouted, only to be silence by Iruka who happened to be standing next to him.
"Naruto-sama was the Rokudaime, he worked hard to gain your respect, and he protected this village, even when the village would beat him down. If he were here right now, he would hate you all for treating his daughter this way. Hinari would never hurt this village. She's too much like her mother and father to do it. Are you all really so blind in your own fear that you can't see that Hinari is just a child?"
"Like I give a crap!" One villager rushed unexpectedly and broke through between Shikamaru and Sai. He came at Hinari and Takuro. Thinking quickly, Takuro did the first thing that came to mind. He bit the man's hand.
"Don't you dare touch her." He growled in anger. The man stepped away. Sasuke grabbed the man in a headlock and tossed him back into the crowd.
"Takuro, Tsubaki!" Sakura spoke as she ducked under a pitchfork and brought her fist up, snapping the pole. "Take Hinari to the hospital and don't leave her side!" She ordered. Both nodded.
"Go, Takuro, I'll hold up the rear." Tsubaki said, drawing her fan. Takuro ran, as fast as he could. Hinari wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly. He turned a corner only to find it blocked.
"Shit!" He cursed and turned around. He ran in a different direction, but every direction he chose, they kept running into villagers. 'I can't attack, I'm not allowed to, and I can't even if I could.' He thought desperately.
"Takuro, run at the wall." Hinari said.
"What?"
"I can use that trick, it doesn't use chakra." She said. Takuro nodded and ran straight for a wall. Hinari concentrated and ghosted them through. They stumbled through the first floor of an apartment building and came out the other side. They kept on going, and managed to avoid hordes of villagers.
They made it to the hospital where Shizune quickly gave Hinari a room. Takuro placed Hinari on the bed and stood at the window. He looked outside to see Tsubaki and the others coming. Several ANBU flanked them.
"It's okay now Hinari, you're safe here." He reassured her.
"Thank you Takuro." Takuro turned to Hinari and saw that she was crying.
"Hinari-chan," He stepped towards her.
"I hate this! I'm always causing so much trouble for you and your family. It's all because of me, and Kyuubi-san. I-I'm not strong enough. I can't control him, I can't control myself." Takuro sat down on the bed next to her. "I-," She was cut off when Takuro hugged her tightly.
"It's okay Hinari-chan, you are strong enough, just believe in yourself and you can do it. I would go to the ends of the earth for you, so never ever think that you're being a nuisance to me or my family." Hinari gripped a fistful of his shirt as she hugged him back.
"Thank you so much Takuro, you're always there for me."
"And I always will be." Takuro held onto Hinari until she fell asleep. He put her down and pulled the blankets up to her chin and slumped into the nearby chair and also fell asleep.
XxXxXxX
Sakura stuck her head through the door to see both kids asleep. She unwrapped the bandages on Takuro's face and arm and checked his injuries. His arm was almost completely healed, there would be scarring of course. 'Poor kid, he's got more scars then some of the veterans.' She thought as she wrapped fresh bandages on his arm. Sakura left the room quietly.
"How're they doing?" Konohamaru asked.
"Great, Takuro's injuries have healed, and Hinari should be fully recovered by the time she wakes up." Sakura replied. Konohamaru nodded in approval.
"How is Arashi's therapy coming along?"
"Maybe another week, maybe two."
"Can you please explain exactly what happened to Hinari?"
"Well, during her last mission, the one to bring Hitomi and Satoko back, she was poisoned with a very potent herb called Snake's Fang. It was in a highly concentrated dose, but it moved through her system slowly. With the help of Umi, one of Hinari's furry friends, we found the herb; it was all the way out at the border. The herb broke down Hinari's chakra coils, making the Kyuubi's chakra run wild through her system, her chakra control also suffered greatly. Takuro brought it to my attention several weeks ago, but I wasn't able to do anything until I managed to secure a blood sample. Tsunade-sama and I investigated her blood, and extracted what we could of the poison from her body.
"With a sample of the poison, we were able to develop an antidote using the same herb mixed with another and diluted with water. Now, all that's left is for Hinari's chakra coils to heal." Sakura explained.
"Thank you; I want that in a report by the end of the week." Konohamaru said walking away. Sakura sighed.
'I always hated writing reports.' She thought.
XxXxXxX
Hinari moved quietly, she opened the window of the room and slipped out, leaving Takuro. She leapt across roofs, until she reached her apartment building. She got inside her apartment and grabbed her backpack and starting packing.
Hinari glanced out her window, to her relief, no one was around, and it was very early in the morning after all. Hinari finished packing her bag. She stuffed a few changes of clothes inside, along with all her equipment. Pausing, she picked her forehead protector up from the table and traced the leaf on the metal band. Slowly, she slipped it into her bag as well. Finally, Hinari pulled her hair out of the braid and rolled up the spiked decoration, she had no need for it any longer. Hinari pulled her sandals on and shouldered her backpack. Hinari headed for the door, and placed her hand on the doorknob but hesitated. With a final breath of resolve, she yanked the door open to find Takuro standing before her. For a moment, both were surprised and silent, but Takuro broke the silence first.
"Where do you think you're going?" Takuro asked, his face set in a grim expression. Hinari stared at the floor beneath her.
"I-I-," Hinari couldn't bring herself to speak.
"Hinari, please, tell me." Hinari bit her lip.
"I-I'm sorry Takuro!" She cried, bowing her head to avoid making eye contact with him. "I can't stay here." She whispered. Takuro brought his hand up to her face, and tipped it up to see her clearly.
"Hinari, please don't leave." Takuro pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I have to," She spoke softly.
"Why?"
"I-I could have killed you Takuro. I don't want to hurt anyone."
"You won't, I promise." Hinari shook her head in denial.
"Don't make a promise you can't keep." She paused. "You know as well as I that I've let myself slip into a power I can barely control anymore." Hinari hesitantly reached up and traced one of the claw marks on his face. "I hurt you; I don't want that to happen again." The wound had healed well, but he would always have the scars that she'd given him. "Try to understand why I'm doing this. I love this village, no matter how little it loves me. If it means leaving it behind, then so be it."
"Hinari, there must be another way." Once again, Hinari shook her head.
"There isn't." Hinari slipped out of his arms and walked out the door.
"Then, at least let me walk you to the gate." Hinari looked back at him and smiled slightly and nodded.
As they walked, Takuro looped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Hinari did not protest, but she knew, deep down, that his actions were making it harder and harder for her to leave. The gate loomed before them sooner than either of them wanted. Hinari walked a couple paces ahead, and then turned back. Hinari reached up behind her neck and unclasped her necklace. She took Takuro's hand and placed the necklace into it, and curled his fingers around it.
"Take this, as a parting gift from me." She explained at his confused look.
"I can't take this." Takuro protested.
"Yes you can, and you will." Hinari insisted. Takuro sighed and nodded. He reached back and put the necklace on. Hinari then dug into her pocket and retrieved a scroll. "Give this to Hokage-sama as soon as you can." Takuro took the scroll and stuffed it into his pocket. Hinari was about to keep on walking, but was surprised when Takuro hugged once more.
"Don't forget about us Hinari." He whispered into her ear.
"I won't."
"And, promise me you'll be safe, I won't be there to carry you to the hospital anymore." Takuro couldn't help but smile.
"I promise." Takuro, slowly, hesitantly released her. He then leaned forward and kissed her. There and then, Hinari realized how difficult this would be for them both. Takuro pulled away, and buried his nose into her long hair, taking in the faint scent of lilacs.
"I-I love you." He whispered so softly that Hinari barely heard him. She gave a small gasp, and smiled.
"I love you too." Hinari moved away from him, her hand slipping from his. And in a moment, she was gone.
XxXxXxX
Konohamaru was surprised to see anyone knocking on his office door so early. "Come in." The door opened and Takuro entered. "Takuro? Shouldn't you be with Hinari?"
"I feel that I no longer need to carry that order out." He responded. Konohamaru raised an eyebrow. Takuro reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll. He placed it on Konohamaru's desk. Without a word, Takuro left. Curiously, Konohamaru picked up the scroll and unrolled it.
"To the Hokage, my friends, and family." The scroll read. "I have come to realize that the power of the Kyuubi is far too powerful for me to wield. So, in order to find a way to do it, I have decided to leave the village. Please don't misunderstand, I am not defecting, I love Konoha, I would never think of doing that. I don't know how long I will be gone, so please; don't keep your hopes up that I will come back within a few months. I may be gone for several years, however long it may take.
"Until then, I hope that when I do return, you have all grown and become stronger than you are now. Hitomi-hime, I pray that you will grow up to become a wonderful kunoichi in your own right. For all of you, I will miss you all, and Tsubaki, I'm sorry that I didn't say good-bye, you can beat me up when I come back for it, if you can that is." Konohamaru couldn't help but chuckle. "And finally, Arashi-'nee-chan, please have Hikaru-sensei retrieve a shoebox from under my bed. It has scrolls in it of techniques Mom and Dad knew; as you have more right to them than I do, since you are oldest, learn them well. I hope you achieve your dream of joining the I & S. Good luck to all of you, and good-bye, for now. Signed, Uzumaki Hinari." Konohamaru heaved a sigh. Things were going to be difficult to sort out, that much was certain.
XxXxXxX
Takuro, Tsubaki, and Hikaru stood in the Hokage's office.
"Well, it's time for you guys to get back out into the field. But, before that, you need a substitute for Hinari." Konohamaru said. The door opened and Sakura entered, along with Arashi. "Ah, perfect timing Sakura. What's the verdict?"
"Well, Arashi is in perfect health, her strength has returned, and ready to get back out on the field." Sakura reported.
"Very well, Hikaru, I introduce your new student to you. Uzumaki Arashi." Arashi bowed.
"I know that I may not be as strong as my little sister, but I hope not to be a burden to you." She looked up to see both of her comrades staring at her in shock.
"Hinari's…?" Tsubaki began.
"…older sister?" Takuro finished. Hikaru only smiled.
THE END
Hehe, there was no way I could stretch out Hinari's departure into a decent sized chapter, so I decided to end it here. I hope you loved it. And tell me what you think. Well, so ends the beginning, and now, the end shall begin. Look for the second part entitled: Shadowfox, expect to see it by maybe Sunday, but no later than next Monday. Oh god, I'm gonna have so much fun with the next part. Expect new characters, new personalities, and new powers! Now for the torture, here's a little preview. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! Oh, I just realized, this is my longest chapter in terms of word count. OMG! Note: Snake's Fang is made up. All other healing herbs that shall be mention fron here on out to exist.
She sat at the bar, occasionally glancing at the man beside her. He was rather drunk, mostly thanks to her.
"You sure you're eighteen?" The man asked her.
"Of course I am." She reassured him with a smile. 'Pedo, but your demise will be fun.' Flicking her thick ponytail of auburn hair over her shoulder, she discreetly slipped her hand into her pocket and drew out a small packet. Opening it, she lifted the bottle of rum. "More?" She asked him.
"Sure!" He laughed and turned to the man on his other side. This gave her the chance she needed. She slipped some finely ground powder into the bottle and gave it a quick swirl and poured the rum for him.
"Oi! Silent Strike, hurry it up!" A male voice spoke through the small earpiece she wore.
"Shut up, I'm almost done." The man lifted the mug of rum and drank it. He put the mug down and stopped moving. He twitched several time before falling from the bar stool. The girl opened her mouth and screamed, feigning her innocence like a well trained actor.
'He-he's dead!" She cried. Everyone in the bar rushed forward to see. She slipped back and ran out of the bar before anyone noticed. She pressed a finger to her earpiece.
"Silent Strike to Shishou, do you copy?"
"I copy Silent Strike. Report?"
"Mission accomplished. I'm heading back. Over." With that, the fifteen year old girl slipped into the dark of night.