Kill the Beast

"Free my father!" Hinata screamed, getting off her horse. Heart beating fast in her ribs, to her surprise the whole village was outside. Obviously, they didn't she was coming not that she is even important. She wonders if anyone even listened to her, and why did everyone look so…scared?

Suddenly, people started gaping at her. Pointing at her in disbelief, mummers break through and she was utterly confused. So many emotions where coursing through her veins fear what has become of her father, confusion as to why is everyone staring at her as if they just saw a ghost? Why was the whole village out in the first place? But most of all, she could feel a pain in her chest, which had nothing to do with her breathlessness. She knew it was heartbreak, but she did not have time to deal with that. Not right now. Right now, she needed to find her father, yes, that's why she ran off and came back.

I'll find you, Papa!

Suddenly, there was disturbance in the middle of the crowd and out came the last person Hinata wanted to see. Toneri.

"Hina!" He exclaimed, and started hugging Hinata, "how did you…?" Hinata pushed him away.

"Where have you been?" Toneri demanded. As if I mean something to you! Hinata thought.

"That isn't important. Where is my father?" Hinata waved off the question and asked what she wanted to. Her eyes now started searching for familiar faces in the crowd. She knew, Toneri was of no use. She needed to find Kurenai or Sasuke or anyone who can actually help her.

"Your father…" Kiba started but Toneri kicked him. And made a gesture, which very clearly meant for Kiba to 'shut up.'

"Hina, your father is in the mental asylum." Toneri said as if it was the most obvious thing in this world.

Hinata was startled. She did not want the image in the mirror to be true. She was hoping it was a lie. A prank by Naruto. A horrible prank. She could not believe what eyes and ears were telling her. The world seemed to be fading. The asylum. Asylum. She kept on repeating it in her mind. She knew they treat those people worse than animals. They don't understand them, their minds. Her father used to hate the asylum. He knew the atrocities that happened in there. She can't even begin to imagine what he was going through.

"Why?" She whispered but everyone heard it. The environment was eerily quiet. As if it was the calm before a storm. A huge storm.

Toneri laughed.

"Why?" He laughed again, although he was the only one who found this funny. Everyone else looked very uncomfortable. "He kept on babbling about some monster that imprisoned him and then you! That old man! Said there's a huge mansion, hidden by magic? Like that's true!" Toneri kept on laughing. This time a few people joined him.

"So, we knew he went bonkers!" He continued, now serious, "I thought he did something to you, I kept on looking for you… I am so happy you are okay, Hina!" Toneri said hugging Hinata again.

She shoved him away. No one has ever seen Hinata angry. But there was no mistaking, she was furious. Toneri thought she was going to scream at him. But when are voice came out it was calm, which was even more terrifying.

"How can you think something so dumb? Have you got no brain? How dare you put him in there!" She said, her voice rising yet it sounded calm. I don't want to tell them about Naruto. But what other choice do I have? After I free Papa, I'll go back to him. Yes, I just need to free him and then maybe I can go back. Maybe he will forgive me…

"My father was telling the truth." She said finally. "And I have proof."

She took out the mirror Naruto gave her, ignoring the horrifying look on everyone's faces. If only she would looked up and saw everyone's face, she would have known what a terrible idea this was.

Show me Naruto. She said in her mind. In the mirror her own image blurred and came Naruto, sitting on the top of the highest tower. Hinata looked at him for a second, emotions welling up inside her. She pushed those feelings away. Not now.

"Look." She said. Toneri looked at the picture, as just Naruto screamed or to be more precise roared. The whole village was surrounded by his roar. The loudest one yet, sending shivers down everyone's spine expect Hinata, who barely even flinched by the sound. The roar had the opposite effect on her. Where everyone thought of the roar as fearful, she knew it was sad, and painful. And it was because of her. But this was the first time she actual heard it.

"So, the roars… he's real!" Toneri said. His faced changed from fear to malice in a matter of seconds. Hinata noticed it and knew instantly her plan was about to fail. But before she could say anything, Toneri spoke up. Mummers once again broke though the crowd, this time more clearer, "beast is real" was thrown around.

"EVERYONE!" he screamed at the top of this lungs, "LOOK AT THIS BEAST!" He said showing everyone the mirror. Everyone certainly did see a beast in it. Someone covered with what the townspeople thought was blood, and has tails…. Almost four tails? Whatever this thing was it cannot be good, certainly not friendly. And mysterious, hence they feared it. Everyone looked scared but at the same time they loathed what they saw. They needed a push.

"FRIENDS!" Toneri screamed again, "WE NEED TO END THIS! WE NEED TO KILL THIS BEAST!" He declared. And this was the only push they needed. There was an uproar. Everyone screaming "yes", and clapping.

Kill Naruto… Hinata replayed Toneri's words in her mind. And without thinking she screamed, "NO!" Tears were forming in her eyes, and she tried to keep her calm.

All was quiet again. All eyes were on her.

"He is not a monster!" She said bravely. Everyone looked at her as if she has gone mad. Maybe she did. Why did she even fell in love with someone who kidnapped her father and imprisoned her? Why did she care so much about a boy she knew only for two weeks? Why does it feel that this boy is one of the most important part of her life? She did not have answers to these questions. But one thing she knew for sure was that Naruto Uzumaki is anything but a monster. Sure, he is loud, rude, and angry but he is also humorous, compassionate, and understood her like no one else did. Maybe because he understood the loneliness you feel even when you are surrounded by people who loves you the most. She doesn't know how can she possibly explain this to any of the villagers? If only someone…

Suddenly, she saw a familiar raven-haired boy, smiling at her.

"Sasuke!" She lunged forward and hugged him. He returned her the hug.

"I am glad you are okay, Hinata." Sasuke says. But Hinata isn't listening.

Sasuke will tell everyone! He knows Naruto like no one does! He can save him and my father! Happiness took place of sadness and powerlessness Hinata was feeling seconds ago. She started smiling brightly, her tears going back into her eyes.

"Sasuke, tell them! Tell them about Naruto!" Hinata said, happily. Sasuke looked perplexed.

"Sasuke? Tell them! You know Naruto, you are his best friend!" Hinata said again. Her hopes were high.

"Sasuke?" She said in a soft voice. She looked tensed.

"Hinata what are you talking about?" Sasuke finally said. "Who is Naruto?"

Hinata's heart sank.

"STOP THIS NONSESNE!" came Toneri's voice. He studied Hinata for a couple of seconds.

"Hinata you are sick… that beast… OF COURSE!" He screamed suddenly, "that beast you under his control!"

"No!" Hinata tried to fight back, "No! He is not a beast! He is just a regular boy. He is just like us and yes, he is cursed for some reason but that does not mean he is a BEAST! And he doesn't mean anyone any harm!"

"Look at this mirror! Tell me if this isn't a beast! A blood-thirsty beast, he will come in the night to hunt!" Toneri said, smirking he turned towards the crowd, "he'll come stalking at night, he will kill your kids, feast on your women! ARE WE GOING TO WAIT FOR HIM TO COME TO US? OR SHOULD WE GO TO HIM!"

"WE SHOULD GO TO HIM!" the crowd replied.

"IT'S TIME TO KILL THE BEAST!" Toneri screamed. The crowd agreed.

"Sasuke!" Hinata said helplessly, trying one last time. "Please! Tell them! You know, Naruto!"

Something flashed between Sasuke eyes. But it was gone as soon as it came.

"I'm sorry, Hinata. I don't know what you are talking about." Sasuke said, "also who is Naruto?"

"HIM!" Hinata said tears coming back to her eyes, pointing towards the mirror Toneri was holding.

"Oh? The beast has a name?" Toneri sneered.

"HE IS NOT A BEAST!" Hinata screamed. All her emotions she had bottled up from the evening came out. And she started crying, hysterically.

"Hina—" Toneri started.

"DON'T CALL ME THAT! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO CALL ME THAT!" Hinata screamed suddenly, starling even herself. What has gotten over me?

But it was too late, she knew. Everyone was looking at her as if she were mad. As if she, just like her father, belonged in the asylum. And that's were they took her.

She protested. She screamed how Naruto was not a monster. She screamed how her father is not crazy, how she is not crazy. She screamed for her freedom. But she couldn't fight the huge crowd of men and women gripped by the fear of something they don't understand. She knew in that instant she was going to lose everything she has ever loved. She was never going to meet her sister again, or her brother. Or Naruto. Because she isn't in one of her books. This isn't a fairy-tale world. This was real life. And she was losing everything.

After being shoved into a small cell, she curled into a ball and cried. Her tears seemed to go on forever. Until a voice came, and so did her hope.

"Hinata, don't cry. I'm here." Hiashi said, smiling.

#

Jiraiya finally managed to calm down Naruto, who was now fast asleep on his bed. In his four tails Kyuubi mode, Naruto trashed around and gave Jiraiya a deadly blow. But help came in time, and both Naruto and Jiraiya were saved. But they all knew this was just the beginning, Naruto need to learn to control. Naruto needs to let go of the hatred inside him, and find his true self. Only then can he save the world.

In the town's hall, Toneri was making plans to invade the mansion. To put an end to this "monster." He thought it was his duty to do so and he knew people will follow him no matter what. He knew, he can lead them into battle.

"We are not coming back until he is dead!" Toneri screamed.

"We have two weeks to prepare him! Two weeks!" Yamato panicked.

"In two weeks', time we will prepare for the battle of our lives!" Toneri said.

"This is the battle of not only his life but all the shinobis!" Tsunade said, rubbing Naruto's head gently.

We will be prepared. Jiriaya and Toneri thought.