I was so nervous to post this! Fight scenes are not my thing at all, Angst and sarcasm are better my thing. However, I gave it a shot and tried! Hope you all enjoy this!
Sasuke could practically feel the misery radiating off of Naruto. It was like their training years all over again when the Hyuga first was captured, Naruto looked so defeated. When he found out he was deceived, it took a lot to get the blond male to stop trying to fight him off to go after Hinata. Trust him, that was no easy task. Naruto may be annoying at times, immature to the highest caliber and overall, in Sasuke's mind, borderline mentally slow, but damn was he a good shinobi and strong. Naruto was strong, and he was focused, and once the dobe got focused on something he wouldn't let it go.
Right now, Naruto was focused on Hinata.
Sasuke figured for the most part the female Hyuga knew that Naruto would seek her out as soon as he found out she lied to him, so of course she made sure she did whatever she could to get away from them as fast as possible and attempt to cover her tracks. Wouldn't last long, he was sure Naruto would track her down and find her. Neji and Naruto would be the main people to stop her once they found out that Ino wasn't going to be with her. The fact the young Hyuga was going off alone, in the middle of a war zone to fight an enemy that they were uncertain if he was alone or not, wasn't exactly the ideal situation to envision her in.
He was honestly surprised that they were letting the two women face Kabuto alone in general. However, Tsunade made it painfully clear that Kabuto was off limits to everyone except Hinata and Ino. He figured their reasons for wanting to kill Kabuto personally was something that would never be shared to anyone, he wondered even if Naruto knew.
Sasuke did know there was no way Naruto, and even the Nara would let Ino and Hinata truly go alone, without one another or SOMEONE with them. However, Sasuke understood why this was something between Hinata, Ino and Kabuto. Clearly something happened during their time with Orochimaru that pushed the Hyuga and Yamanaka to greatly hate Kabuto. It was none of his business to stop Hinata from seeking her vengeance on Kabuto, and in a way it wasn't Naruto's business either.
He believed that was a hard pill for Naruto to swallow.
Naruto actively was always in some type of business that kind of had nothing to do with him. Sasuke knew that Naruto meant well, he didn't think that Naruto really knew how to be malicious when he intervened. However, just like the conflict between him and his brother Itachi, Naruto had to stay out of it when it came to Hinata. He often tried to put himself in the dobe shoes when it came to what he would do in situations involving a romantic interest. It was hard really, because this Hinata was not what he remembered.
Really he didn't know much about her, they never spoke in the academy and she never looked his direction unless Naruto was beside him. It was funny really, considering the similarities him and Hinata shared family wise.
She wasn't the Hinata he witnessed and ignored years ago, the wallflower, the painfully shy, girl. The one that would grow dangerously hot around Naruto and couldn't get a word out without stuttering.
This Hinata was tortured, put through hell and never was saved. So, she had to learn to save herself. She had to learn how to care for herself, and on that path she did some things that was extremely unethical. While Sasuke couldn't put himself in Naruto shoes, he could put himself in Hinata's, and he would want to face Kabuto alone. No interferences.
Also, if he was in Hinata shoes he could imagine all the rage she has bottled up, all the darkness and all the depression. Sasuke had no clue if the Hyuga planned on staying in the village if they all survived, he didn't think that Hinata even believed she was going to make it through all of this.
Coming back from his thoughts Sasuke noticed Naruto, who decided for the night that he was going to isolate himself on the other side of the safe area Hinata had created for them temporarily. It was weird really; it was like she planned it all. Like she knew that her time was coming soon, and she wanted to protect Naruto one last time.
The blond was sitting on a log just staring into the fire that was created for the chilly night. What brought Sasuke back from his thoughts was catching Naruto frequently look up from the flames to him. Like he was observing Sasuke, to size him up, to see if he could bring him down for a moment to leave.
"Seriously dobe, stop it." Sasuke really just rather rest instead of spending all his energy fighting with Naruto.
Naruto said nothing but continued to look into the fire, the fire seeming to match the anger that was burning inside of him. How could she, how could she lie to him.
"This is not the time to lose focus and you know this. People are depending on you to lead; people are depending on us to pull them out of this. Pull yourself together, you're acting like a selfish love sick puppy. You're putting one life in front of millions." Sasuke watched the anger spread across the blonde's face and how Naruto visibly shook to contain himself. Sasuke felt bad for Naruto, he really did, but at the same time they had duties as shinobi to protect. Naruto was neglecting this, and he wouldn't let him.
Not when so much was at stake. They were in the middle of a WAR for God's sake. They were in a war for the sake of humanity.
"If she dies, I don't know what I'll do. If she dies ALONE…I'll fucking lose it. I know what it is at stake, I know the enemy is zeroing in on us and any moment now we'll be fighting for our fucking right to live. Dammit! That doesn't mean that I can just throw her away! It doesn't work like that, but…but it seems like it has to…it fucking HAS TO."
"Because, we are shinobi and we endure."
Naruto closed his eyes tight at hearing Sasuke's declaration of their ninja lifestyle. He never thought he'd feel so sick, on the verge of throwing up from hearing that. He felt pride in being a ninja, he felt pride in protecting his loved ones. He did that, and he would continue to do that, but he deserved something right? He deserved, even in a time like this, to have the person he loved with him. He didn't doubt in Hinata's abilities at all, but he just…couldn't let her be alone.
Not again… Sasuke could hate him now all he wanted, but he was going to be selfish.
"I know Hinata lied to me to make sure I stayed here, where I'm supposed to be. Protecting my people…but they're your people too Sasuke."
At this the dark-haired man actually looked shocked, Naruto was actually making it official. He was officially choosing Hinata over being Hokage. Yes, he heard Sakura's endless rant on the matter, that the Hyuga female would turn the blond away from his positive path to greatness.
Sasuke was starting to realize that Hinata had little to do with Naruto making this declaration. Naruto was doing this for his peace, for his tranquility. He couldn't be mad at that; they all had their painful and dark childhood. Naruto especially, on a social class scale, Naruto was treated below the level of shit by everyone growing up. Everyone including him and excluding the Hyuga he was in love with.
It was kind of all making sense, she cared for him and thought nothing but the best of Naruto, while everyone else shunned him away. How could you allow someone like that to slip away? Someone who wasn't just following the crowd and praised you because you were the village hero, she was there from the beginning. Naruto couldn't find anyone else authentic like her.
Fuck, he just realized Naruto decided a long time ago Hinata was going to supersede anything else.
Sasuke was speechless, and it was rare to catch the Uchiha off guard like this. "N…Naruto…you dobe, you can't be serious?! This is not the time or place to decide to leave. This war is your fight, what she has with Kabuto is not your fight. Understand this you fucking moron! I'm not going to let you just throw everything away like this because of your raw, unstable, pointless emotions-"
"Kabuto almost raped her Sasuke." Naruto cut him off sending him a look like he was pleading for him to understand. "That fucking bastard Orochimaru practically raped her…repeatedly and wanted her to have his disgusting fucking kids, and teme…this new information goes past no one but you and me. Strength wise she may not need me, but she needs me."
Hanging in the air Sasuke felt like Naruto wanted to say, 'And this was all your fault. You just had to be a selfish fucking traitor.' He knew Naruto would never say that, whether it was true or not. Naruto cared about him that much that he wouldn't say something like that, but he didn't have to. His face expression spoke volumes, the cold blue steel look in his eyes screamed violence towards him.
Sasuke stood at the fire with an openly wide, shocked facial expression. He knew it was bad, he knew Naruto was keeping things from them, but he didn't think it was this bad. Hinata was tortured and raped, she didn't kill Orochimaru in cold blood. She killed him to live again, she never wanted to be another version of the snake sannin. She wanted to escape her abuser.
Everyone judged her while she was still suffering, and she was so ashamed of what happened she had rather people hate her then to tell the truth. Him being no different than the others that judged her. He realized she kept her distance from people because she didn't want them to see her pain, he should have caught on to the signs easily. A look of understanding and defeat finally crossed over the young Uchiha's face, "Well…what are you waiting for, go find her, but come back here when it's all done."
At this Naruto looked at his non-blood brother and smirked at him, it took Sasuke a couple of seconds to register what was going on, but everything finally clicked. The isolation from everyone, the constant observation of him and choosing to practically hide himself behind a fire, the fake depression. "Dobe...don't tell me-"
"Teme, I already left."
Hinata noted that Kabuto had been busy, the now snake like looking man had been the one pushing out these powerhouse reincarnations. The last reincarnation being his last resort was Uchiha Madara.
What in the entire fuck was that man thinking, did he not read history books?
He was getting desperate she figured, and things just weren't adding up to her. So, there was another Uchiha alive, by the name of Obito. He was on a genin team with Kakashi and died. Pretty much Kakashi was the only sole survivor of his former team at that time. Depressing.
However, it has come to light that this Obito guy was never dead and he's the main reason all this bullshit is going on right now. So, he was the real face of Akatsuki? It was all confusing for her, and not her focus right now. Maybe if they got through all of this she would ask Sasuke what the hell was with his family in the most polite way possible.
She was zeroing in on Kabuto's location Ino had given her when she came into contact with two people she would rather not have. Uchiha Itachi and Nagato. Itachi was supporting the frail man, but Hinata would not believe that the man was indeed actually frail. She doubted that she would be able to pass by the two unnoticed and she was right, the older Uchiha immediately laying eyes on her as she moved silently in the dark tree tops.
"What are you doing out here alone?"
"Kabuto sent you out for Naruto." She cut straight to the point, clearly Naruto had to be the target. Based on their speed, she believed she could get to Kabuto and end all of this before they got to her other half. "Will the Impure World Reincarnation end if I kill Kabuto?"
"It would be best to find a way for him to release the Jutsu himself. I am not sure if his death would end it." Hinata cursed under her breath and Itachi arched a brow at this before grinning, "Not very lady like."
Even in a time like this she gave a small smile at his humor, "My apologies Itachi-san." Said person smiled and nodded his head to the direction that Kabuto resided, "Hurry. Do not give him more time to prepare for you." With that both departed from one another and Hinata quickened her pace. She couldn't help the thought in her head that Itachi looked quiet at peace dead.
Arriving in the cave and seeing Kabuto in person after so many years felt odd to her. Both of them had changed in both a mental and physical aspect. It seems that Kabuto took up the interest in learning all types of different Jutsu's and the origins from them, just like his master. She was sure at some point over their time apart Kabuto had surpassed Orochimaru, it was time to test out if she had too.
" Ah, you look lovely as ever Hinata." Her face remained blank to him, her eyes calculating his every movement. "Nothing to say to an old-time friend?"
"Out of all the paths you could have gone through Kabuto, you chose to work with a crazed man on ending the world." She spoke this in an offhanded tone, this man was such an annoying problem. She could sense that he was stronger, more agile, not the reserved man that he once was before. She supposed they had more in common than she once thought. She supposed they both took the death of Orochimaru the same, it both drove them insane.
"Surely you can't believe that you could beat someone with the capabilities of using Sage-mode."
Hinata again made no show of emotion, but internally she frowned at this, "Only one way to find out, right?"
She really wanted him to make the first move, she was an observer, that was how she worked, and it worked out well for her. She wasn't someone that was impatient and just went at her opponent and learned from her mistakes after. She wasn't some rough house fighter, she had to take her time with things and then execute. Kabuto surely knew that already though; he did know her. So, she supposed this was the fight that she would have to pull her tricks out the bag and just be a dominate, rough fighter.
She moved fast that it looked like a flicker, she figured if she paused and gave the man time to do anything than that would be her worse mistake. Kabuto heard of snakes that he unleashed was met equally with her own, but she didn't want to fight like this, she wanted to feel his flesh, she wanted to hear bones crack.
Hand to hand combat was something she was born to do anyways.
She finally activated her Byakugan, reserving it as much as possible, and assailed at Kabuto with her traditional Hyuga Juken. The two went blow for blow, both trying to out show the other on their power level, "Even if you managed to kill me, which I highly doubt, it wouldn't end the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!"
"But you would be dead, which is enough for me."
"You haven't changed one-bit sweet Hinata. Narrow minded as ever."
The arm that extended to strike at Kabuto suddenly morphed into a snack and wrapped around his neck. Throwing the man off guard, but he quickly found his momentum and grabbed the snake hand and lifted her to the air, putting much effort to make sure the slam to the ground caused damage and knocked the air out of her as painfully as possible.
Fuck did that hurt.
The initial impact made her pause for a moment, the air escaping her lungs. Kabuto took that time to pin her to the ground and straddle on top of her, "Does this bring back any memories?"
He said it with such a slick grin on his face, the slick, slimy grin. She began to see red with killing intent, she wanted his head, "Do you still see yourself as a man after your failure of trying to take advantage of me?" True to her flexibility, she lunged her legs to come up behind him and wrap around his neck, not giving him anytime, she pulled her legs down and had the man land on his head. Hinata than granted them distance and flipped herself up and away from Kabuto.
True to his Sage ability, Kabuto was able to bend the cave ceiling and the sharp rocks closed in on Hinata. Standing up from his position he watched as Hinata was pierced in several locations on her body by fine fragments. As he got close to the pinned Hyuga her body turned into a log, he hissed at this and barely acknowledged Hinata spring forward from the dark cave dwelling.
"Eight Trigrams Air Palm!" The move hit him on point, she had her eyes set on him long enough that there was no way that he was going to escape her line of vision anyways. The impact knocked him deep into the underground walls and the dwelling starting to fall apart was the only reason Hinata stopped her further advancements.
"Really Hinata, you hate me so much you're willing to die down here with me. I'm so touched. You won't stop me from becoming the new me, from being great. You and your spoiled, rich, coddled life! What do you know about someone growing up alone and in poverty, without anyone?! The only problems you've had was that you struggled to get your cousin to not hate you for being such a nuisance!"
At that he bolted out of his confinement and went toe to toe with the skilled Hyuga again, "As long as you die that is all that matters, right?" Hinata spoke this as her hands glowed blue and turned into lions. Their blows became more violent and each hit on one another broke or damaged something of importance on the other. It was like mini eruptions each time that came into contact with one another, their chakra flaring out threatening to consume them.
A high kick to the chin Hinata was able to create space again and pulled out her sword making a swift slice for Kabuto's neck but ended up slicing one of his horns.
She wouldn't voice her disappointment that she was hoping that the move would have done anything special, really, she kind of thought she would get a break here and removing a horn would take some of his massive chakra and energy down a notch. Why did fairytales have to be a load of shit.
Clearly annoyed with how things were going, off guard Kabuto sent massive snakes Hinata's way giving her little to no room now in the cramped cave to move around. Dodging some but not all, she was taken down to the ground clearly being out numbered.
This was getting nowhere, being the noble Kunoichi everyone wanted her to be. As she figured her patience was running thin. Kabuto watched as his snakes hovered on the Hyuga, clearly suffocating her and probably ending her life now, a smirk played on his lips as he watched them cover her into nonexistence. He then froze slightly watching as the snakes were flung off her one by one, rising from the ground was the second phase of the curse mark. The Naga form of Hinata.
"Oh, so you decided to play-"
Kabuto was cut off by Hinata swiftly attacking him, her tail wrapping around his frame, pinning his extra extended body part to himself. She wrapped her hands around his head and squeezed, she squeezed until she started to hear the sounds of cracking and watched as blood started to come out of Kabuto's ears. Letting out an animalistic hiss Kabuto released a large amount of chakra and propelled Hinata away from him.
"You ungrateful little harlot! You think your cheap tricks are going to finish me so damn quick! I don't know why Orochimaru took a liking to a miserable soul like you! You betrayed him; you wouldn't be what you are today if it wasn't for him! You'd still be a weakling, and probably dead!"
Hinata tilted her head as she stared at Kabuto, "I didn't know being like this, was something to be proud of." She knew that the man in front of her had detailed knowledge of her curse mark and knew that her being in this form for too long would be toxic for her. Finishing this swiftly was her best bet, even if it meant the two of them would be caved in.
"I see you have better control of your curse mark." The man was now in a craze and looked ready to attack again.
"It's because I have a target to focus on… Eight Trigrams Hazan Strike!"
Hinata didn't really care if the cave came down, as long as Kabuto came down with it. The scaly man was quick and agile, but thanks to Hinata's recklessness he didn't have many places to recede to. The attack hit him dead on and this time the cave could take no more. The sharp rocks from the ceiling came tumbling down upon them, "Palm Rotation!"
Wasn't exactly her plan, but it still turned out in a positive, the shards from the ceiling rotated from Hinata and onto Kabuto, several piercing the man that had no space to maneuver. She watched as he let out a dry scream of pain and blood started to pour out of his body. He soon passed out from the pain and the rocks crumbling on him, consuming him. Hinata would gladly like to end the man's life right here and there. To kill him now and take his body to the surface and carve him up into tiny pieces for her snakes. To have another head as a souvenir. However, the bells started to go off in her head that Kabuto needed to be alive to end this reincarnation bullshit.
So, she had a plan.
It was quiet and Kabuto opened his eyes to find himself tied to a tree, he looked around him and noticed his vision was blurry. When he finally gained eyesight back and his barring he noticed Hinata back to her usual self, staring at him and beside her he noticed Uzumaki Naruto staring a hole through him with his arms crossed. Looking at his surroundings he noted they were no longer in danger in the cave. The Uzumaki looked about ready to rip his head off, a low growl coming from him. Possibly not exactly from Naruto.
"It doesn't matter if you kill me or not Hinata. That isn't going to stop the Impure World Reincarnation!" It was only a matter of time before he broke out of his confinements and killed these two anyways, he could already feel his chakra building back up. His life-threatening injuries healed mysteriously, and he briefly wondered if the Hyuga had healed him.
"I know this Kabuto, that is why you are going to end it. On your own free will." Kabuto looked at Hinata like she was crazy, "You have got to be kidding me, you think because you have him here now that I will bend to your will?!"
"It has nothing to do with Naruto…and everything to do with you being mine now."
Kabuto looked confused for a moment before Hinata walked over to him and pressed her index finger to his forehead. He felt a painful sting and realized she did something to him, "Now you have a curse mark too, you're my caged bird…if you don't release the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, I'll put you through something worse than a swift death."
"Fuck you, you witch!"
He heard the angry sound come from Naruto for calling Hinata out her name, "Normally, I would be repulsed by something like this happening in front of me…It's inhuman, but for you Kabuto I will make an exception. Maybe now you'll learn to keep your hands to yourself…She was always my Hime, never yours."
With that Kabuto screams could be heard for miles, Sasuke could even hear them.
That's it for this chapter, hope you all enjoyed it! I see one of you guys have the same mindset with me when it comes to Naruto always being the hero. Like let the girl fight on her own and shine okay! Lol. See you all next week! Oh yeah...check out my lemons that's coming out by the end of the night. (Insert smooth face)