School has ended till next year! I miss my division already. The Wolf howls for her pack! :D

PART ONE

Tenten got up when the sounds started. The sounds of battle. She looked back at the two siblings there, reluctant. Until she heard a bomb. 'I'm gonna go check this out. I'll be back. You guys will be okay on your own, right?' She double-checked.

Sanagi nodded wordlessly. Hitomi said nothing at all, as usual but watched Tenten leave. The Hyuga wife ran out and stopped the first Kuroiwa she saw. 'What the hell?' She asked.

'Princess! There are intruders, please return to your room. It isn't safe.' The man said politely, urging her. Tenten was awfully confused now. Intruders meant Neji had come to save her. Why were the Kuroiwa attacking? Her dad already said she could go. That damned man! She let go of the Kuroiwa and raced to her father's command room.

When she busted the door down, she saw a bunch of people ready to attack stop when they realized it was their precious Kuroiwa King's daughter. 'Father…' She growled warningly. 'Why are your men attacking my husband and my friends?' she demanded.

The Kuroiwa head walked to her despite his people's nervous glances. 'I know you do not want to be my heiress and I will make good on my word. But Tenten, daughter, you can't go until I find a new one to replace you and honestly speaking, tell me, is there really anyone better to take that place?'

Tenten's eyes widened. 'What are you talking about?'

'You have my blood. Your skills are amazing. Who is a better Kuroiwa than the Kuroiwa Princess herself?' He reasoned. Tenten freaked out.

'You, you swore! I have a husband and a family and friends! I don't care how, you find another heir!' She yelled loudly.

'I know that but I need time! And in that time, you must stay!' He shouted back at his daughter.

'For how long?!' Tenten demanded. 'How much will I miss of my friends and family?! How heartless are you that you'd make me miss my kid's childhood!' She screamed in anger.

'I will be as heartless as I must to ensure the safety and continuation of my people. I will not let them die!' He retaliated with an unshakable authority.

'So you'd make your daughter, your grandchildren suffer?! You can't keep me here!' The weapon's mistress promised, her voice promising a force that would not be beaten down.

Her mind was full of thoughts for her husband, her children and her friends, some of which were out there now, fighting and risking their lives for Hitomi, Sanagi and herself. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But a King who fights for his people will not crumble with ease. And so father and daughter argued back and forth whilst the two sides fought; but the possibility of lives lost tormented both Kuroiwa royals.

PART TWO

Tenshi busted down the door but Daisuke was the first one through it, rushing to Hitomi's side. Sanagi moved from his sister for the first time in days and the moment he stood, his teammates slammed into him with hugs of relief. 'Raiden's so glad you're safe!' Raiden exclaimed adorably, happiness shining on his face. Sanagi's face softened but it didn't lose that empty look and Tenshi noticed.

'Sanagi?' Tenshi called to him but he pulled away from them without a word and looked at his sister, staring unseeingly.

'Hitomi? Hitomi!' Daisuke called, shaking her gently and stroking her face. She blinked once. Twice. And then she spoke.

'Daisuke.' She answered and closed her eyes, savouring the feel of his hand on her cheek. 'You came.' She whispered, passing out. Daisuke could see the effects the emotional turmoil had on her and he swore that she would never be alone again.

'Watch over my sister.' Sanagi said to Daisuke in an unshakable voice. 'I must make up for my failure.' Tenshi knew immediately what was wrong with him. Hitomi was the most beloved person in Sanagi's life.

Daisuke understood this very well too and although he wanted to rip apart that bastard himself, he knew Sanagi needed to do this. So he held his captain tighter and nodded to the young Hatake. Sanagi rushed out the door and his teammates followed, they didn't get far before they ran straight into a team of Kuroiwas. Raiden didn't hesitate to throw himself into battle while Tenshi summoned her Deva Path and Preta Path, joining him.

'Go, Sanagi!' Raiden yelled over the clashing of kunai, his Sharingan blazing.

Sanagi didn't need to be told twice. He ran ahead, straight for the fake Tsuyosa's cell. It didn't take him long to find. When he did, he blew it open with a couple of paper bombs. 'Look who showed up?' A crawling voice taunted. The shadow of Tsuyosa walked out as a twisted version of the actual hero, small cuts decorating his body from the exploding debris. 'That's not nearly enough to kill me.'

'It wasn't meant to.' Sanagi stated in a cold voice, his Sharingan portraying the infamous Uchiha glare. 'I want that pleasure for myself.'

'My, my, what would Hitomi say if she could see you? Her little brother killing with such a hateful look.' The bastard man laughed at Sanagi's threat.

'I'm sure she'd understand. There's no way I'd let you live after what you did to my sister.' The Hatake growled fearsomely. But his opponent was unfazed, amused even.

'But that was your fault, kid. You were supposed to protect her, right?' He mocked Sanagi further. The member of Team Dojutsu knew that very well. He had not stopped thinking about protecting Hitomi since the day he could speak.

'Don't worry. I'll fix that mistake now.' And with that, Sanagi launched himself into battle, his sister the only thing on his mind.

PART THREE

When Hitomi next opened her eyes it was because of the familiar tune that she had spent so many years hearing. The melody she longed to hear for so long now. Her mismatched eyes met a pair of waiting, protective violet ones. Suddenly she was ashamed. Ashamed of what had happened to her. And it showed easily on her face. She lowered her eyes but the shame only burned brighter, taking in Daisuke's Akatsuki cloak.

But he knew her. 'You have nothing to be ashamed of. So don't be.'

'You know what happened to me?' She asked quietly and he nodded with his sorrowful eyes. 'Then you know I should feel ashamed. I… I don't have the right to wear this cloak, or this ring!' she cried out, tears falling from her strange eyes as she grabbed his cloak and tried to remove her ring.

Daisuke clasped his hands over hers securely, stopping her actions with wide eyes. 'What are you talking about? Explain it to me. Please, Hitomi.'

She stopped trying to take off her ring, twisting it around her finger lightly instead. 'How can a member of the Akatsuki be so weak? I haven't just disgraced the Akatsuki, I disgraced Team Prodigy too. How could I have been taken down so easily? It shouldn't have been possible. I should not… I'm not worthy of…'

'Stop that.' Daisuke demanded, softly but firmly. She kept quiet and looked at him, expecting him to turn back on her now. 'You could have taken that guy apart easy. I know that. You know that. Everybody does.'

'Then explain how come we're here now.'

'You trusted him. Because he's like Tsuyosa.' Daisuke said simply and Hitomi scowled.

'He's nothing like Tsuyosa!' She growled.

'But you thought he was. And you told him everything about him, didn't you? You trusted him so easily because even though he's not Tsuyosa, he was the closest thing to the real deal.' Daisuke insisted and Hitomi began to see just how much he knew her. 'Tsuyosa would never hurt you.'

Hitomi nodded in agreement. She couldn't deny it. She trusted Tsuyosa completely and mistakenly trusted his twisted shadow because of it. 'Tsuyosa died for me. I wish he hadn't.'

'I know. You felt bad for it for a long time. Right up till that asshole took advantage of it. But Hitomi, Tsuyosa died to keep you safe. He died for your sake.' The sound manipulator spoke. He was grateful to that Iwa boy. He regretted his death but Hitomi's life was more important to him.

'He shouldn't have. I don't want to feel this way. I don't want this guilt to eat at me and know I can never repay him for what he did. I don't want to be stuck in the past all the time and make myself weak with all this regret!' Hitomi insisted and this time she fisted her hands in determination. She'd get stronger. So strong no one would ever have to risk themselves, kill themselves for her again.

'Hitomi…' Daisuke murmured, looking at the sudden change in his lover.

'I never want anyone to die for me ever again.' She said in a hard voice. But she didn't know at that moment, yet another person was throwing his life away, all for her…