My original plan is to update next week so that I could write longer chapters…but one reader threatened me with a nuclear attack if I won't update today...(You know who you are and I love you! Such encouragement!) So before sleeping last night, I tried to continue the story with my life on the line…lol
And please don't send the missiles…I still have classes today.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto...
Chapter six: The Way to Suna (part two)
Hyuuga Hinata has been waiting for her partner at the main gates for a few minutes now. She activated her Kekkei Genkai and tried to pinpoint her partner's chakra signature. Her efforts were rewarded when she saw a dark, bluish chakra not far from her location. Uchiha Sasuke is already making his way to the main gates, she figured it's just a few more minutes and they can proceed on their way.
She silently thanked him for not making this harder on her. What would she do if he just decided not to show himself and abandon the mission? She knows that the rebellious Uchiha would not be an easy company, he have proven that last night and earlier this morning.
A sudden flash of orange passed Hinata's eyes. She blinked as she recognized the Kyuubi's chakra with familiarity. After a few seconds, a greenish chakra joined the orange one.
Naruto-kun and Sakura chan…
The young Hyuuga deactivated her dojutsu and grabbed the mask that is attached to her waist, she placed it gently on her face just as Naruto and Sakura came to view. Hinata leaned on the tree beside her and watched the two lovebirds made their way to the gates.
"Hey Hinata chan…?" Naruto called her name but it came out as a question.
"Naruto…you are not supposed to call an Anbu by their real name once they are wearing a mask." The pink haired kunoichi pointed out.
"Ohh…yeah…right."
"It's her alright…"
Hinata gave a gentle smile as she saw Naruto scratched his head in an adorable way, remembering that time when they are in the middle of the fourth shinobi war. Naruto held her hand back then, telling her that she is one of those people who gave him the strength to go on. Both of them stood side by side back then, getting their will and courage from one another.
We are taking different paths now…aren't we Naruto-kun?
Sakura and Naruto waved at her as they passed the tree where she stood. In normal days, they would have come to her and talk without restraint. But this is not one of those days…
Hinata knew that Sakura feels awkward around her when she's with Naruto. The girl feels guilty for her, though Hinata would have assured her that everything is fine with as long as both of them are happy, but the blue haired nin knew that saying those words won't make it easier to any of them. It is much better to keep silent and let the time speak for itself.
"Goodluck with the mission Hina- I mean… Anbu-chan." The blonde called as the gates closed behind them. "Take care of yourself and Sasuke."
The blue haired Anbu nodded in reply.
"Take care of him…Sakura-chan." Hinata whispered as she tucked one stray lock behind her ear, still staring at the place where her two friends waved at her before going out of the gates.
Uchiha Sasuke was on his way to the main gates when a dark cloud suddenly formed in front of him. It blocked his way and made him stopped on his tracks. He frowned; this is not a mist. The buzzing sound made him sure. He adjusted his pack which contains the things he needs for traveling to Suna.
He stared at the black cloud for a few seconds.
These are insects… Sasuke thought.
He looked around and saw Shino Aburame standing on a tree branch just a few meters away from where he stood, the Aburame's covered eyes looking at his direction. Sasuke tensed as the swarm of insects started to make a circle around him.
"What's your deal Aburame?" The young Uchiha asked.
Shino leaped from the branch and landed in front of the Uchiha, with his hands on his side pockets, the young Aburame matched Sasuke's glare with covered glare.
"I know what you did to Hinata last night, Uchiha."
"That Neji told you?" Sasuke smirked, last night, while he was drifting in and out of consciousness, he heard that arrogant long haired Hyuuga declared that he was going to skin him and feed him to their pet koi fish.
"I saw you."
Sasuke's lips stretch into a devious smile. "But you were too afraid to stop me?"
"I don't need to…Hinata-chan made sure of that. Say Sasuke-san, is HInata's bed comfortable?" The Aburame just stared at him behind those dark glasses, relaxed but cold. He watched as anger started to be visible in Sasuke's face. Normally, Shino never likes to insult anyone, he never even says anything most of the time.
But last night, one of his insects alerted him that an intruder just entered Hinata's quarters. Every night, Shino would let a few of his insects out and guard his friends as they go to sleep. He knows that they are all capable ninjas, but knowing that he would be the first one know if anyone of them is in danger just made his mind at ease.
He has to skip dinner just to run as fast as he could to the Hyuuga compound once he received the silent signal. He perched himself on a tree not far from Hinata's windo. He saw Sasuke trapped Hinata while his sharingan is activated. He would have run to her rescue if he did not see Sasuke slumped when Hinata blocked his chakra pathways.
Sasuke scoffed. "Make your point straight Aburame. "
The swarm of insects began to move back into Shino's coat. "They may consider you as one of the most dangerous shinobi out there Uchiha-san…but I won't hesitate to kill you if you let anything happen to HInata."
"You think you could beat me, Aburame?"
"Maybe not, Uchiha-san… but it won't stop me from trying."
After his parting words, the young Aburame leaped back to the tree branch where Sasuke first saw him and disappeared from sight.
Well that's interesting…The raven haired shinobi thought as he made his way to the main gates. The Hyuuga princess obviously won a lot of hearts in this place.
Hinata glanced at the person beside her as they leaped from branch to branch. They have been like this for hours. Not once did they stop to rest or eat. The heiress knew that the raven haired Uchiha is used to traveling like this when he was still a rogue ninja. He could have been running and escaping all the time back then.
But we have to rest sometime…
They have left the Hidden Leaf's boundaries a few hours ago, and not one of them has spoken since. Not even when they met at the gates of Konoha, the young Uchiha just gave her a passing glance and nod. The events from last night hangs in the air like thick smoke, but the two figured that it is better left untouched.
Hinata have a suspicion though, that the rebellious Uchiha means every word that he said to her last night.
You know that I'm going to get back on you for what you did last night, don't you? She recalled his exact words.
Out of curiosity, Hinata observed Sasuke with interest. The ruckus that this guy has caused for many years is unbelievable. It broke many hearts and destroyed plenty of lives. She recalled that a lot of girls have fallen for this rebel even while he was still young. Sakura-chan and Ino-chan are no exeption.
She can't blame them though; the last of the Uchiha is extremely handsome with the skill that could kill you on the spot. She noticed the sword behind him and wondered how many lives have been ended by the cold metal.
"It's rude to stare."
Hinata's cheeks flushed as she brought her eyes to look ahead of her. "G-gomenasai." She apologized. The raven haired shinobi looked at her with an arrogant smirk on his face.
"Haven't I told you that I hate muffled sounds? Take that mask off."
Hinata blinked. "W-why?"
"Just take it."
"No." The heiress tried to make her voice sound firm. Her mask always makes her feel safe and guarded. It helps her hide her emotions when she fails on doing so.
"Are you going to take it off yourself or I'm going to do it for you?" Sasuke threatened. "Believe me when I say so, you don't want to choose me."
Sasuke always hated the sight of an Anbu mask. It always reminds him of Itachi the night he massacred his clan. His older brother is an Anbu back then. Sasuke remembered the feeling when he saw Itachi's mask and the blood of their whole clan that stains it.
When the girl behind him did not show any signs of removing the Anbu mask, Sasuke suddenly stopped and in one swift move, blocked Hinata's way. The heiress tried to leap into a different branch but was too late. Sasuke pulled both of her wrists in a strong grip, bending her arms behind her, careful that her fingers won't touch him like the last time.
He learned his lesson well last night.
"Sasuke-san!"
Placing both of her wrists in one hand, he untied the string of the mask with the other. She tried to squirm but to no avail. She may be a qualified Anbu, but he is still stronger than her in terms of strength.
He removed the mask from her face and let the Hyuuga wriggle herself free. Her white eyes looked at his dark orbs with confusion and …anger? He cannot really tell. Her face has that certain aura of gentleness into it. No matter what her expression is, she would always have that innocent look engraved on her face.
"Sasuke-san…Please return my mask. I am an Anbu, hiding my face is an important rule."
"Hm." Sasuke examines the mask in his hand; he can smell the scent of lavender from it. How a dreadful thing could smell so good escaped him. He began to tighten his hold on the mask and watched the Hyuuga's face turned into horror.
"Sasuke-san…" Hinata tried to stop him when it dawned on her on what he was about to do. "Stop!"
A cracking noise was heard and the mask broke into pieces.
So here ends my chapter six. What do you think? (There is a part three coming up so please be patient… I never let you wait very long right?)
LOL…did I just made Sasuke a very mean guy?
P.S. I love Shino and Neji… you guys might be wondering why I keep them on the spotlight.
Thanks to embracethewind16, Attykka (I don't understand French but I hope you like it.), Shamilia,
To Nhiismoney, A sunny place for S., Hilda9, Cooper80, Misao97… , and FallenHime(the picture is great! I checked it last night.) Thank you for bearing with me with every chapter. …
Keep the reviews coming please…they give me the will to continue.