Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Okay…maybe I could not finish this story within twenty five chapters after all. Thanks to the reader who mentioned it to me! I think Hinata's feeling still needs work.
The last chap was not the best one…I admit. I have writer's block. I don't know what to do and how to continue, but after reading the newly released chapter of the manga. I could not just let SasuSaku have the spotlight!
(In the latest manga chapters…Karin was able to use binding chains that was the same as Kushina Uzumaki's power…just a small info so you would not be confused later while reading. )
-oh…this is just a quickie update guys.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Nineteen: Hinata and Karin
Hinata placed the lid of the last bento box she was preparing and placed it carefully alongside a few others. After counting the boxes, she stretched her arms and took a deep breath.
She woke up earlier than usual because she wanted to cook for Hanabi and Neji since the two requested for her cooking. They literally begged her to do so and as the easily persuaded one of the family, she can't say anything but yes.
Because she prepared too much food, she decided to made bento boxes for her teammates, Kiba and Shino as well.
She was actually feeling good, since she knew that they love her food, but when she counted the boxes. One extra bento caught her attention.
Who did she make this one for again?
There was someone she has mind but she shook her head, embarrassed. Why was she thinking about him right now? Of all the people to enter her mind these past days…
And why was she thinking about him anyway?
Clicking her tongue at her own thoughts, she focused her attention in cleaning the mess she has made while preparing the food. It was quite helpful, for she love kitchen work and it took her mind off the more stressful things and unwanted thoughts.
Keep your head together. She mentally told herself. You are just confused…that's all.
After cleaning up and arranging the utensils back to the proper places, she started wrapping the boxes with white cloth. She tied it securely so that the box lid would not detach itself. It has happened many times and it was such a waste of food.
A knock on the kitchen door made her look up from the bento box that she was wrapping with the cloth. It was Neji, his hair was dripping wet and he was wiping it with a towel. He was wearing his black shirt and pants. Her cousin smelled with something like rain and something that was so masculine. She recognized it as his usual scent after bathing.
Somehow, it reminded her of Sasuke's scent. It was quite different from Neji-Niisan's, but it was screaming of masculinity just the same.
Wincing at her own thoughts, she reprimanded herself mentally. Even when he was not present, Sasuke Uchiha sure knows how to mess with her mind no matter what time of day it was.
"That smells good Hinata-sama." He complimented when he looked at the bento boxes. "And I assume that the biggest one is for me."
The blue haired nin giggled. "Of course Nii-san…though I got to say that you smell nice too." She sniffed the air playfully. "It's so…masculine."
"You have been spending time with Tenten aren't you?" Neji's eyes narrowed. "You are making jokes like the same way she does."
"What kind of jokes Nii-san?" Hinata asked innocently, her eyes round.
Neji coughed. "I-Its not important Hinata-sama…Oh by the way, Shino is outside waiting for you." Neji picked one sushi on the tray and examined it before putting it into his mouth. "I saw him waiting on the garden on my way here."
"Oh right!" Hinata, nodded. "It's Tuesday. I almost forgot."
"Aah. Your training schedule."
"Hai."
The girl began to cover each bento box with haste. She doesn't want to keep Shino waiting. The Hyuuga genius pulled out a medium size basket from the cupboard and handed it to her. She smiled in gratitude and places the lacquered boxes into it, left alone two.
Hinata pointed at the bigger one of the remaining boxes. "That's one for you Nii-san…and the other is for Hanabi."
After arranging her basket, Hinata ran to her room and pulled out her pouch of Kunai. She tied it around her leg and straps the sword on her back. There are also a few vials of her personally made salve that she put inside her pocket. She always carries it with her during training, since there might be injuries or cuts that can never be avoided.
Tying her hair into a knot, she left the room and proceeded to where the Aburame was.
Shino Aburame looked at the basket the girl was carrying, taking it from her, he carried it himself. The aromatic smell that came from it was mouthwatering. The bug-wielder could feel his stomach growl when he caught a whiff.
"Kiba is going on a mission today so it would only be the two of us." Shino informed her. "He told me yesterday."
"Oh…" Hinata looked disappointed. "I made him a bento."
"If you could go at the training ground first, I could take it to him." Shino offered. "I bet he's still on the gates."
"Why don't we go together?"
"If you want to."
Gathering both of their speed, Shino and Hinata began to leap on the roof of the nearby houses. Securing his grip on the basket, the male followed the direction that leads to Konoha's gates while the girl was just a step behind him. The roofs from under their feet were replaced with tree branches as both were beginning to close the distance between them and the village walls.
When they reached their goal, the gates were empty, save for the Anbu watchmen that were guarding it. Landing on the ground, Shino asked the watchmen about the team of Inouzukas that were on a mission. The Anbu with a rat like mask told them that the small unit has left just a few minutes before they arrived.
"Too bad…" Hinata said and her eyes where downcast. "We are late."
"They are not in a hurry." One Anbu with violet hair sticking out of the mask informed them. Hinata recognized the voice and knew it was captain Yugao. She did not acknowledge her though, for an Anbu does not own a name once their mask is on. "You can still catch them if you try a detour."
"Come Hinata." Shino pulled the girl's hand and leaped on one of the branches again.
"But Shino-kun…It's just a bento, I could make Kiba-kun one when he returns."
"Hmm…consider it a training then." The Aburame answered as both leaped on the same branch. "One who catches the group wins."
The heiress giggled and leaped on a different tree. "That sounds…challenging.
Without any warning, Shino suddenly leaped on the tree that she was about to land on. Good thing she has good reflexes so she managed to cling on the next branch, which she almost missed if she did not have enough chakra on her feet. She glared at Shino which she was now matching with speed.
"Shino-kun!"
The bug wielder shrug and Hinata has a feeling that he was smiling behind the collar of his cloak.
Feeling a little mischievous now, the heiress started to quicken her pace more. When she was a step ahead of him, she pivoted and blocked his way. He leaped on a different branch but not before his hand reached out to mess up her hair. He then looked at her with raised eyebrows.
Shino was taunting her. She was sure.
"No surprise there." Shino said.
"I'll get you…just watch out." Hinata bantered while suppressing a giggle. They are not following the trail now, but a different direction that was opposite from it. If they wanted to catch Kiba and his group, they should use a shortcut.
Shino looked at the blue haired nin who was grinning at the little play they were on, she was so into it that he cannot help but be infected with her aura.
Sasuke Uchiha has claimed two months ago that Hinata was now under his protection. The Aburame was not sure what Sasuke's intentions are, he has never really have the chance to talk to the Uchiha since his return from his two month long mission from Kiri.
Shino smirked, he knew that Sasuke has somehow set his eyes on Hinata…It was clear the moment he told him to watch over the Hyuuga heiress…
He better not try anything funny with her…or else.
"Shino-kun! Behind you!"
The Aburame heir was so engrossed with his thoughts that it was a second too late when he takes heed of Hinata's sudden yell. In a split second, the wind was knocked from him when the heiress tackled him from the branch. It was so unexpected that he did not have time to hold on to something. There was a sickening crack from the branch and they both fell.
Both members of team eight hit the ground hard.
Shino groaned and he heard Hinata scrambled to her feet. The bento boxes littered the ground around them, all lids still intact. Good thing Hinata has tied them securely enough. The bug user tried to move, but a sudden jolt of pain from his ankle made him wince.
He broke his foot.
"Hina…what?" Shino was confused and has no idea of what was happening at the moment.
The heiress did not have time to answer, for she grabbed his arm, and with strength that surprised them both, pulled him away just in time for unearthly glowing chains to coil on the place where Shino was lying seconds ago.
Tracing the long chains with her now activated Byakugan, Hinata saw a red haired woman with glasses standing a few feet away from them. The chains that were used to attack them came from her back. The heiress recognized it instantly as a sealing jutsu. Hinata frowned, her veins popping at the side of her eyes as she scanned the clearing in case some other intruders show up.
She saw it bind Naruto once when he was being controlled by the nine tails…
Intruders. Hinata thought as she let go of Shino and she raised her arms in a fighting stance, her hands already glowing with light bluish chakra. Under the bushes where the redhead stood, was another person. He has short white hair and sharp teeth. Realizing that he was being watched, the guy revealed himself, muttering something about Hyuugas and their dojutsus.
Even if he could not stand, Shino's bugs started to make a dark cloud around Hinata as the heiress took a few steps to where the two unique pair was standing.
"Oi…Karin. That's a Hyuuga." Suigetsu whispered, the side of his lips twitching. "I am not really sure if your plan is as good when you first told it to me."
"Shut up Suigetsu!" Karin growled. "You know we could not just enter the leaf without being interrogated by Anbu... or torture us with their mental games. This is the fastest way to get to the Hokage and Sasuke-kun."
"But taking someone hostage?" Suigetsu grimaced as he told himself mentally to stick to the plan they have devised earlier. All they need is to hide themselves and attack nins who are not so dangerous looking. If they succeed, they would use them as a ticket to enter the village. "Oh boy…she looks pissed."
"It would be the fastest way. Everyone knows that we are Orochimaro-sama's apprentices. Some would not hesitate to kill us on the spot idiot." Karin's deadly chains began to move all around the small clearing dangerously, she glared at the blue haired girl behind her clear glasses. "Distract the girl while I take care of the injured one." She commanded her companion.
"We are getting ourselves in trouble Karin…"
"More trouble would come if we cannot talk to the Hokage and Sasuke-kun. As I said before, if we ask for permission for entrance, we can't be certain that the Anbu would let us pass without messing with us first. So stop whining!"
"Why did you attack us?" The nin wearing the lavender colored jacket asked, her hands glowing with chakra.
Hinata glanced at Shino, who was helping himself up despite of his injured ankle. She focused her attention again at the two intruders. They are somewhat familiar but she could not quite place it. It was like she has seen these two before…
The spiky haired girl advanced on her and Shino, while her partner was eyeing her curiously. "We do not mean harm." The one with the sharp teeth said, raising his hand.
"Then why did you attack us?" Hinata asked again.
"We have to…"It was the girl with the glasses who answered this time. "Believe us…we do not want this." Karin suddenly leaped from the spot she was standing and ran to Shino's direction, her chains shot like arrows ahead of her.
"Shino-kun watch out!" Hinata cried out as she wheeled herself around to prevent the redhead who was about to pass by her, but before she could reach the bespectacled girl; someone caught her by the arm and pulled her back. It was then that she realized that it was the one with the sharp teeth. She tried to pull back but she suddenly found herself being tossed into a tree truck.
"I am not going to kill you." Suigetsu tried to tell the kunoichi, he was just about to prevent her from going after Karin when chakra flared from her fingers, he has no choice but to throw her away from him. "If you could just stay put-"
The blue haired nin with the famous Byakugan did not listen. She stood up and wiped the blood from her lower lip. as her hand gripped the hilt of the katana behind her. With a swift move, she detached it from the sheath and gracefully brandished it before attacking the male.
Shino leaped just in time before the deadly chakra controlled chains could touch him. He dodged it a few more times, only to worsen the pain he was feeling on his broken ankle. He glances at Hinata, who was now using her katana against the young man with sharp teeth.
Avoiding the chains again, he let his bugs gather into a dark cloud…but it was not to protect him. He was smart enough to know that binding chains would just dissolve his beetles. The sealing chakra emitting from it was powerful. The beetles flew to where Hinata was, making a makeshift shield around her while she was fighting the other intruder.
"You won't stand a chance against chains that can bring the nine tails down." Karin said. "Shinobi of the leaf, all we are asking is surrender to us for a while and help us out. We do not mean harm."
Disregarding her plea, Shino pulled out a kunai and threw it to the girl. Karin was fast in her movements but she was not quick enough to avoid it. It pierced her leg and she yelp in surprise and pain. For a split second, Shino thought that he has brought himself some time to leap on another tree, only to be knocked by one of the deadly chains.
"Karin!" Suigetsu yelled when he heard his comrade's painful yelp.
Wrong move. Hinata thought as she found her chance to attack. The white haired man's attention was not focused entirely on her for a second.
It was all that she needed.
Emerging from Shino's cloud of insects, she leaped and with a blur, placed herself behind the enemy. With a movement that only befits an Anbu, she placed the cold steel of her katana on his neck. "One move…" She warned before he could say anything.
When she looked at Shino, her eyes widened at the state he was in.
Half of his body was already wrapped in those deadly chains.
"Shino-kun!" She called out for him.
"Suigetsu!" Karin placed a hand on her bleeding leg.
Hinata pressed her katana on her captive's neck, making him feel the bite of the cold steel. "Let go of him." She demanded, trying to hide her worry about the bug wielder. It did not escape her that he was protecting her even though he was the one who was injured.
Karin let the chains coil around Shino's body up to his neck. "No. You let go of him first."
"Hurt my friend…and I won't hesitate to kill your comrade." Hinata answered back. She was never this hostile before…but if Shino's life was on the line. Heaven knows she would not hesitate to kill. Raising a hand that doesn't held the sword; she let the girl see her glowing fingertips.
She admits that some many has their doubts when she was assigned on the Anbu Black Ops…
Now she's going to demonstrate why.
-o-o-o-
"Naruto! Sasuke!" Sakura yelled the names as she saw the two spar on the training field. She dropped from the tree branch and took a deep breath. After looking for the two from all around the village, she was breathless.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto stopped midway on throwing a blunted kunai at Sasuke's direction, who in turn was crouching in anticipation. "You are supposed to be at the hospital."
"I have been looking for you two!" The Haruno nin scowled, a little angry. "Why do you have to hid your chakra signatures?"
"We just don't want anyone to disturb us while we're training." Naruto scratched his head; sweat was dripping from his brow down to the side of his whiskered cheeks. Sakura took a small towel from her pocket and handed it to her lover. "You know teme hates it."
"Something came up." Sakura's eyes darted on Sasuke, who was picking up some of the blunted kunais that littered around him. The Uchiha did not even bother to acknowledge her presence. If anything else, he looked irritated at the intrusion. "Sasuke-kun…It concerns you."
The raven haired Shinobi looked up while Naruto frowned.
"What is it about?" Naruto asked, wiping his forehead with the white cloth.
"There is some commotion in the forest an hour ago, near the gates. Kakashi-sensei told me to get you two…" Sakura explained. "He passed by me on the way back to the tower with-"
Sasuke smirked. "Why that concerns me?"
"Intruders eh?" Naruto asked. "We should check it out Teme."
"Go check it yourself, dobe."
Sakura rolled her eyes at the two. They did not even let her finish."Sasuke, there are two people that has breached Konoha's barrier." She tried again. " Hinata-chan and Shino-kun fought them when they accidentally encountered them at the forest." Sakura continued, eyeing man that she has loved unconditionally in the past. "By pure chance, Kakashi was there and he was able to stop it."
"Hinata?" If the Uchiha was not interested on what she was saying, he was now. He tensed. "Where is she?"
"Would you let me finish?" Sakura grabbed Sasuke's arm as he was about to pass by her. If it was not her that was grabbing his arm, Sakura knew that Sasuke would be able to remove her hand, but she was stronger than him in strength…and he knew that.
"What?" Sasuke almost growled. Why was Sakura talking in riddles? She should know better when Hinata might be hurt.
"One of the two people that breached the barriers was…Uzumaki Karin."
-o-o-o-
"Such an unexpected visit from Sasuke-kun's old comrades." Hatake Kakashi placed a hand on his chin, looking thoughtful. "If I recall correctly, your name is Karin Uzumaki."
The red haired girl nodded. Somehow, the bright red color reminded Kakashi of Kushina Uzumaki, Minato's beloved wife and Naruto's mother. Earlier, it was actually by chance that he was the one who personally stopped the fight between the Hyuuga heiress and the rogue Uzumaki. The copy ninja was visiting Rin Nohara's grave when he sensed the same chakra that Naruto's mother once possessed. It made him curious so he went to see where it was coming from.
It was then that he saw Hinata Hyuuga and Uzumaki Karin fighting each other. He remembered the redhead when she was held as a prisoner by Konoha once, she was forced to give up information about the whereabouts of Sasuke when he was still a rogue nin.
Despite of the tortures, she never did.
When Kakashi stopped their fight, Karin literally begged to talk to him so he brought the two females with him at the Hokage tower, leaving the two injured males to the care of the medic nins. Shino Aburame was not severely injured, but the powerful binding chains that could make even the powerful tailed beast Kuruma yield, was too much for him. It left him weak and absorbed his chakra.
The other male, the one with Karin, was not wounded, but Hinata has tampered with his normal blood flow, so he needed to be brought to the Hospital too.
Such dangerous women. Kakashi thought as he eyed the two girls who were still giving off killer auras. Apparently, the two has not forgiven each other yet for what happened to their partners. "So you are saying that you intended to take someone hostage just so you could see me and Sasuke-kun right away?"
"Hai." Karin bowed her head low, embarrassed at her actions. "We have no choice. The reason why we came here is confidential. We do not want to be interrogated by the Anbu before we could get to the Hokage…so we needed something to get your attention."
"And you did." Kakashi answered.
Hinata leaned her back on the wooden wall as Kakashi and Karin talked. Somehow, she was breathing heavily. The fight has left her feeling shaky. She doesn't know what possessed her earlier, but when she saw Shino being bound by those deadly chains triggered something inside her.
She would not hesitate to kill to protect the people that are important to her.
Looking down on the broken basket beside her, she stared at the bento boxes. It looks like her efforts in making them were wasted. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, trying to keep her self control in check. The girl named Karin already explained the reason for her actions, and Hinata was not someone who could not forgive easily…
But why was she feeling pissed? She never felt anything like this before. Even with her enemies, Hinata knew that she always knew how to forgive. She never kept grudges for she just can't. Was it because this time, she was not the one who was hurt but Shino?
The conversation between Karin and Kakashi stopped when the door opened and Sasuke Uchiha entered, followed by Naruto and Sakura. The Uzumaki looked at Karin with recognition and surprise.
"We're here, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura was the first to speak from the newly arrived team seven. "I brought Sasuke and Naruto just like you asked."
Because Hinata was the one who was standing nearest to the entrance, her eyes met Sasuke's dark orbs when he entered the room. He stopped for a brief second to study her appearance, his obsidian eyes taking note of every bruise and scratch. Somewhere in Hinata's mind, she knew that he was going to come to her and ask if she was alright.
With that brief connection with Hinata, Sasuke noted her bruises, the scratch on her left check, and the tear on the right side of her purple jacket. Her hair was messy but she still looked pretty to look at…
Hinata was going to be fine.
Sasuke passed by the blue haired Anbu without a word. Unknown to him, something between being upset and ignored showed on the Hyuuga's face. It was brief, and the upset expression was suddenly replaced with an emotionless mask. No one really saw it…except for Hatake Kakashi, who just raised an intrigue eyebrow but did not mutter a single word.
I'd like to see how this will turn out. Kakashi mused.
Sasuke focused his attention on the bespectacled girl who was looking at him with breathless awe. He took a step towards her; his observant eyes did not miss the wound on her leg. "Karin…" He called her name. It has been almost a year since he saw her. The girl has saved his life many times than he could remember, but she disappeared like a bubble after the war. He never heard anything from her since.
Until now…
Even with a wound, Karin closed the distance between herself and Sasuke with just a single stride. It was the first time that she laid eyes on him for a long time and she was ecstatic, all her worries forgotten in an instant the moment he stepped into the room.
Oh how she missed his dark eyes. "Sasuke-kun!" She almost screamed the name as her arms flared.
She needs to touch him…she need to feel that he was real.
As if she was suddenly oblivious to the people around the room, Karin tackled Sasuke down to the wooden floor, burying her face on his chest as she clutched at his collar. "Sasuke-kun!"
-o-o-o-
Here ends the chapter.
Yeah, It might be a little boring compared to the other chaps but believe me, this chapter is important so that the next chapters would make sense. If you have questions…just pm me and I would gladly answer it for you. (you know…if there are parts of the story that confuses you?) and btw…who has suggestions about Karin's purpose in Konoha? I would love to see those…
Oh…constructive criticisms are fine, as long as it would help me improve. Constructive…not insults. Okey?
See you next chap!
-crazygurl12