A/N: Let me know what you think please? Is it too much, too little? This is not Beta'd so please forgive any mistakes made. The fighting scenes are lacking yes, I am just trying. Thank you.
Music: Easy on me (Louis La Roche remix)
If I die young
Rewrite the stars
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
CHAPTER 8
Nalina chases the kidnapper right through the park she knows the gates are on the other side and if he gets through… "No, you will NOT get away" she grits through her teeth. Her heart is beating so fiercely it feels like it may jump out at any moment. She makes her way higher into the trees and just when she draws head-on with him she takes a mighty leap and somersaults in the air to land right in front of him crouching low already in a fighting stance with one leg stretched to the side - cutting off his escape "GIVE HER BACK!"
She stands face to face with a pale looking white haired young man with green eyes that would've been beautiful if they held any light within their depths. Two distinctive red dots above and red bag looking rims below adorns his eyes. He looks distant and cold, detached from the world he lives in, the look makes a shiver run down her spine but she doesn't let it show. The baby is in a sling that crosses over his body from the left, she is quiet but there is movement.
"And why would I do that?" his voice as cold and detached as his demeanour.
"Because if you do, I may let you die painlessly" the simple answer comes from behind him where Itachi now stands.
Nalina feels for the first time ever the darkness in Itachi's heart surface as his KI rises to a suffocating level. Her eyes remain fixed on the bundle in front of the kidnappers' chest however as all she can think of is to retrieve little Aiko safely. Her own chakra has become ominous and rages about her in angry furls, her hair that was in a simple braid has come undone and it too is swirling around her like a dark forbidding mass of life.
"Ah, and here I thought I won't be indulged in some fun before I leave this dreadful village" he counters sounding bored.
"I said GIVE. HER. BACK!" Nalina says beginning to step forward. "Hime, stop. We need to work together now. Trust me!" She freezes when she hears Itachi's voice in her head…how did he? She lifts her gaze a fraction to register the shock on his face in that moment, she just nods as her thoughts return to Aiko being saved.
"If you want her so bad you are going to have to take her from me" with this he removes the sling only to lay it down on a patch of thawed grass next to his feet. "I'll make sure you do not harm her by accident as my Lord would like to have her alive."
"And who is your Lord? Who sent you to kidnap a baby?" Itachi takes the opportunity to confirm his suspicions.
"If you win you just may find out" he sneers.
The fight between the two is more like a dance than a battle, they both move with an elegance and grace that seems out of character for killers, for people with blood-soaked hands. Although Nalina finds the exchange beguiling she remains focussed on retrieving the little girl around whom the fight centres and who still remains silent. Her heart quickens at the mere thought.
Every time Itachi tries to snag the bundle, Kimimaru intervenes skilfully manoeuvring it just out of reach. For fear of hurting his Imouto Itachi is holding back on unleashing his full abilities, even pulling the white-haired man into a genjutsu is risky as they do not know what he has done to little Aiko who is still not making a single sound.
The rest of the sound nin with scroll in hand is waiting for Kimimaru to show close to the gates just outside the walls. They don't have much time as the security has been alerted and they are sure they will soon have company. "Should we go help him? I mean he can't take on the whole Uchiha clan by himself" Tayuya asks annoyed at the delay.
"Nah, let him enjoy this. He doesn't get as much action anymore so he won't appreciate it if we should interrupt his last chance" Kidomaru answers stretching two of his arms lazily over his head. They take a last look and turn around, jumping from branch to branch as they make their escape.
At the Hokage's office the tension is high as the break-in is made known. Most of the special Jonin was sent out of the village after the tea-house slaughter to gain information – they did not anticipate an infiltration right into the heart of the village. Shikamaru and Choji has just returned from a mission as did Neji, Kiba and Akamaru was out for an early morning training session when they received the alert.
In Tsunade's office now she looks at them seriously – "There is not much time and right now you are what is immediately available. There is a fight ensuing in the park between a kidnapper and the Uchiha – Aiko was abducted. The other infiltrators made off with some scrolls from the archives. Now I don't know which is the decoy and which is more important to them but I intend to stop all their plans" - she looks at the four teens before her. They are not the most seasoned but they are talented this she knows. "I need you to retrieve whatever information they took from here; I'll be sending reinforcements as soon as they arrive after you. Just delay them long enough."
Looking at one another they each nod their heads and turns to head out – "Shikamaru you're in charge…come back alive!" – the Hokage's last order ringing in their ears.
The duel has been raging for a while as the sun has risen high enough to shed light into the once dusky park. Neither fighter has gained nor lost any ground and their stalemate continues. Kimimaru has begun to use his Kekai Genkai – his bones can be used as weapons and he is using it to its full potential. He has discharged the bones in his fingers as projectiles towards Itachi who was not wearing any form of armour, if not for Nalina who flipped between them opening her hair like a shield he would have been riddled with the fragments. She even summoned a clone to stay close to Itachi while she still tried to find an opening to grab the baby from the kidnapper. Her heart is beating in her ears now and her thoughts are completely immersed in saving the little ebony haired infant.
Realising they were encircling him Kimimaru reaches into his left shoulder to draw out the bones in his arm, blood seeps down the appendage from the gash he creates as the flesh hangs limp at his side from lack of substance to give it shape. In his other hand he now holds a sword made from the bones in his arm, it looks lethally spectral. Deciding he has had enough playtime he activates his curse seal – they did not know he was slowly dying and was not at his full strength but he would use this to his advantage and make off with his Lord's prize.
Nalina watches in dread as she realises that Itachi has no weapon to protect himself she feels useless in that moment until she focusses on the white blonde man behind her. She picks up from his chakra the weakness in his body and her eyes widen as she realises, he is nearing his end and wants to get away with Aiko.
Looking into crimson orbs she mouths "Trust me" before turning around and running straight towards the now transformed foe. Bones were now sticking out from his body adorning it like spikes preventing any close attacks to reach him, his pale skin turned a tan brown making it look more like tough hide than skin and his eyes that once were a light sea-green are now black orbs with yellow rings inside. He looks as murderous as he feels to Nalina but her fear was choked off by the need to protect the innocent child. Still running towards him with golden eyes set in determination, she flings her arms out just as his sword connects with her abdomen impaling her as she runs with more force into the blade to get as close to him as she can. When the bones on his body finally started cutting into her flesh her hair encases them both.
Itachi is frozen as he watches her move without hesitance towards her death but something seems off. The dread he should be feeling was nowhere to be found and as he watches closely, he sees another Nalina slide in from behind after the hair had enclosed them, her side flush with the cold ground as it scrapes her whole left side, snagging the little bundle while sailing past. Giving him a last look and small smile, she blinks away in a whirl of lotus bloom petals.
She has given him an opening to unleash his full strength by removing his Imouto from harm, he relishes in the thought of how he would make Kimimaru scream for mercy. Just as the clone poofs out of existence Itachi takes its place locking gazes with the kidnapper ensnaring him in his jutsu – 'He will suffer before he dies' Itachi's last thoughts before he finally turns and walks away from the form now rooted in place.
In the frenzy of it all almost nobody noticed the visitors until they stepped into the Hokage's office. "Hokage please, what has happened here?" his gravelly mono toned voice grates through the noise surrounding Tsunade in that moment.
"Kazekage! When did you arrive?" Surprise not even hidden as she acknowledges Gaara and his two siblings (Kankuro and Temari) now inside her office witnessing all kinds of disruptions.
"We only just arrived and by the look of things we came just in time. Tell me, how can we assist?" thinking of his one and only friend and the boy's love for this village he offers without hesitance.
His to-the-point offer comes like a saving grace to the blonde who is still trying to rally up reinforcements for the squad she had sent after the four who infiltrated the archives. Accepting his help without fail she requests them to back up the teens she sent off in pursuit of the offenders.
-O-
In hot pursuit of the transgressors Shikamaru looks at his 'friends' – he and Choji have been close since they were very young and being on the same team has just deepened that bond; Kiba he grew to know from the Academy but their clan has the best vets in Konoha so that just allowed things to be so much easier between them (the Nara clan forest having so much wildlife in their care); Neji was a prodigy that was born on the wrong side of the family but after losing his fight with Naruto he turned his whole point of view around, and that in the Nara's book made him a genius. All in all, he didn't want to lose a single one of them, but these guys they were chasing were so much more powerful. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, the laziest boy with the sharpest mind in his class decides - 'Today, our will of fire shall see us through.'
-O-
Nalina whooshed into the nursery with little Aiko safely tucked under her chin. Mikoto was still there rocking Keiko who was crying inconsolably, Fugaku came rushing in just as the bluette was laying the kidnapped child back in her crying mother's arms. "She seems to be unharmed but she hasn't made a single sound since I found her" her worry apparent as her bottom lip gets abused right after.
A tear streaked Mikoto rips off the silencing tag after making sure her baby was indeed safe and unharmed "I-it was o-only a silencing tag. P-probably so she could not wake us when they t-took her." Turning her gaze to Nalina she chokes out "Thank you! Thank you so much. You've saved her …again."
"I only did what anybody else would've done. I'm just happy that she's back home now, where she belongs" watching as the twins comforts each other, settling down from the morning's events. "I have to get back to Itachi, I left him alone with that demon" she turns to head back out but Fugaku grabs her by the shoulder halting her.
"He is very capable and more than able to fend for himself. I am sure he held back in fear of placing Aiko in danger but you have cleared away that problem now" his hands remaining firmly in place chancing a glance at his wife and daughters over his shoulder.
"No, I can't leav- "she started before being cut off suddenly.
"Nalina, we have already lost a daughter once but we have gained three in her stead, today we thought we almost lost two…again. Please…please don't put us through that, neither of us will survive it."
For the first time Nalina sees true emotion overcome Fugaku's face making him look so much older than his years. Her heart aches to pain him so and as she glances over at Mikoto she sees the same sentiments reflected there – she cannot hurt them. "Very well but somebody must go hel-"she is again cut off.
"Hime, everything is taken care of already" Itachi says as he enters the now crowded nursery. He did not expect the blur of blue-black tunnelling towards him until it hit him right in the chest, arms curling around his neck and warm tears soaking the thin sleepshirt he was still wearing.
"You're alright!" she wrangles out between sobs as relief washes over her at seeing Itachi unharmed.
After dispensing a huge sigh of relief both Uchiha seniors exchange knowing glances as they watch a shocked Itachi folding his arms gently around the small form hanging from his neck, feet daggling haplessly in the air from when she had jumped to embrace him. They did not miss the surprised affectionate look that ghosted over their son's face when the girl displayed her joy and relief at his safe return.
-O-
"They should've been back by now! It was not such a complicated mission that they could not have completed their goals already" the snake hisses, discontentment and impatience evident in his darting eyes.
"You were only to retrieve the needed information, not kidnap an Uchiha baby! And not just any Uchiha infant, the CLAN HEADS daughter no less. Were you trying to get your subordinates killed?" Zetsu's sarcasm was meant to sting but from the look he receives he knows the man cares not for any of his followers. The anger within Zetsu however is not so easily appeased as he requires that scroll and the information it contains.
"They are easily replaced; the child is NOT!" Orochimaru spits back at the plant look alike. "You yourself said with her power we can bring over our own army with unknown potential" the smirk on his face not reaching his cold dead eyes.
"IF we had her YES…but we do not! Because of your incompetence. I will have to make use of another way should your greed have cost us this information" he snaps out as he internally starts to eliminate the now useless piece in his arsenal of allies.
"Perhaps you could use her vessel in her stead, I hear she is the reason there was another child born to Mikoto in the first place" Orochimaru baits his angered ally, he knows he needs to appease his anger somehow.
"If they do bring you the scroll you know where to find me. Just know I am not willing to sacrifice my goals for your short sightedness, WHEN this comes back – because it will – I won't be at your back." These his last words before he melts back into the soft soil where he came from. Zetsu purposefully ignored the little titbit of information, his mind already at work on how to secure this new little pet.
-O-
They followed the four ninja catching up to them when they were nearly halfway to the border. There they had split up leaving just one to deal with all four of them and by the looks of things Shikamaru deduced that even together they may not be strong enough for this one guy. When Choji stepped up and gave them the headway to chase the others while he remained to fight this massive and powerful adversary, the Nara heir just had to oblige. He has never seen his gentle, kind hearted friend this determined to fight before and deep down he already knew…Choji has amazing potential just waiting to be tapped and unleashed.
At the next encounter another member stayed behind, this time a weird looking guy with four arms and unusual spider like skills. Before Shikamaru knew what was happening Neji gave them the head start to continue the mission while he stayed behind to subdue the arachnid challenger. The Nara heir was again at a loss but he also realised that Neji had something more to prove than most others he knew – he could choose his own path, and so he let him.
Kiba not wanting to be bested was next to take on the following fiend that was lying in wait for them. Since he had Akamaru it seemed like a fair enough match up considering this guy had two heads. Shikamaru knew the canine lover also had a lot more at stake than just his pride, being strong but never strong enough he wanted to lay claim to his place in the sun – who was Shikamaru to deny any man his chance at glory.
This left only him and a girl, again. 'How troublesome' he thinks, 'why do I always get to fight the girl?' This said he can't be up staged by a girl and least of all one that means to harm his home, mind made up he spares one last thought for each of his team mates left behind along the way with a silent prayer for their survival. Biting down he drops his gaze for a moment before fixing his sights on the task at hand "Ready to play little girl?"
Finally, Choji has managed to eliminate the beast of a man that was disrespecting him and his friends, at the cost of his life he believes it is all worth it. His final move took everything out of him; he wants to ensure that this ogre will not be able to again lay a hand on any of his comrades and friends. He had taken the final secret Akimichi food pill which enabled his secret hidden powers to awaken like a caterpillar emerging as a butterfly, and this along with his determination to not let his friends down secured his victory. He was elated…his best friend had been right all along…he had done it, on his own. Finding the tree that was marked by his team as a beacon for him he noted while tears poured from his eyes each of their messages and knew…his friends cared and believed in him. His legs can carry him no further and as the small blue butterfly flutters towards him his legs buckles, he slides down to the floor with his back against the trunk, his head nods forward and his hitai-ate that was knocked off his head during the battle slips onto the ground from his slackening grip with a feint clang.
Not too far away Neji was also claiming his victory from the spidery fiend after his blood traits' weakness was exploited affording him one too many fatal injuries in return. By the time he realised that the enemy has identified the flaw in his jutsu and was calculating his certain demise, he remembered the lesson a new dear friend taught him - he was not a victim of fate but the author of his own destiny. Drawing renewed strength from this truth he uses his own weakness against his present opponent. Forced to take another direct hit (adjusting himself just slightly to avoid instant fatality) to ensure the success of his counter strike, he then with the memories of what and who he is protecting fuelling his internal fire, surges towards the enemy to deliver his Gentle Fist Eight Triagrams – Sixty-Four Palms lethal blow. His final thoughts were of his comrades (friends) and the faith they had placed in him, his family whom he's grown to cherish and admire, Naruto that had inspired him to change and not to be caged by resentment, Nalina who accepted and cherished him exactly as he was and his team mates that stood by his side through all of this. He remembered Tenten who had trained and worked so hard at his side to help a 'genius' become even stronger. He felt content as he finally understood why his father chose his death to save those he loved. Just as a bird flies overhead and a single falling feather lands within his limp weakened hand - his fingers unable to clasp it.
Kiba was at his very end, Akamaru was direly injured and he too had sustained a very serious wound to his side. He has retreated and had even tried to escape in order to save his faithful furry friend but this opponent wielded unorthodox powers allowing him to mutate into two assailants in order to track and locate them just to continue the onslaught. It was when he was trying to regroup and formulate another exit strategy when the one villain cornered him with a kunai aimed for the kill…"DIE!"
Shikamaru's battle had been exhausting, his match up was completely out of balance and to top things off this konoichi is apparently a natural born strategist too boot, countering his moves with deadly intent and a seemingly endless supply of chakra thanks to her curse mark. He barely manages to escape from her genjutsu by breaking his own finger. Now he finally has her in a deadlock using his clans' secret hidden technique but his own reserves are failing him drastically and utterly, he cannot summon even a single drop more to finish it off. His clans' special jutsu is waning and he is powerless to stop it or the attack she has planned. Using his own kunai against him she draws back aiming for the kill…"DIE!"
As the kunai nears its mark Kiba folds over his companion to at least spare him the first blow when it was blocked by a figure in a cloak…"What the hell…"
As the kunai approaches its target Shikamaru accepts his fate, willing to die a soldier when the attacker is literally blown away by a gust of wind…he is frozen in place by shock.
"Who are you?" stated in unison by the two attackers even though they were miles apart.
"Allies of the Leaf of course!" comes the smug reply from the two siblings who each stood before their chosen protectee.
Kankuro is now engaging this half but Kiba sniffs the other as he tries to attack from the rear, unable to move to assist he shouts "Behind you". Too late the sand nin turns as he is grabbed by the iron like arm this twin wields thanks to his curse mark. Following through with his plan of action Kankuro incapacitates Sakon using Black Ant as he was hiding wrapped in bandages on the puppet's back. Sakon's shredded body falls to the ground and his curse mark recedes. Ukon wastes no time to step between his twin and the puppet master while he absorbs the other back into himself to recover. The duel continues as Kankuro sets his trap and the demon twins are caught in the belly of his Black Ant puppet expelling the last of their chakra leaving them vulnerable and screaming. The deadly attack combo of Black Ant and Crow (The Iron Maiden) was the bloody end of the screaming Ukon & Sakon Siamese twins as their angry bellows turned to wails of anguish and torture. "Show's over" Kankuro says with a satisfied leer across his painted face.
Shikamaru eyes the blonde sand nin standing before him now, his last female opponent from the Chunin exams. "I didn't expect you to switch sides so quickly" he utters.
"We were only following orders then…" turning her head to look at him over her shoulder "…just like we are doing now."
"The Hokage sent you!" the gears in his head jumps into action as he mentally places all the pieces together and thanks his leader inwardly.
Deciding to cut their little 'squabble' short Temari instead asks for an analysis report of the konoichi she was facing now who conveniently distanced herself when she realised the match up for this round is more than evenly balanced. Information provided by Shikamaru in hand the spunky blonde bites her thumb to smear blood on her giant fan, summoning her Blade Dance into action, effectively stunning the Leaf nin behind her. The devastation caused in its wake spread around for a three-mile radius reducing the surrounding foliage and attacker to nothing more than cut up firewood and one defeated and completely crushed Sound nin.
"It's finished" she nonchalantly states with a beautiful grin that lights up her entire face.
'She doesn't mess around. She may even be scarier than my mom!' the pineapple haired nin thinks in awe.
"Pretty good huh?"
'Oh well, this time I should be grateful she's so scary' he thinks as his expression morphs from worry to shock to admiration.
-O-
Having returned little Aiko home safely and dressed more appropriately (they had chased and battled the Sound nin while still in pyjamas) Itachi and Nalina makes their way to the Hokage tower. Fugaku informed them that there was a break-in and some scrolls were stolen while the kidnapping was taking place. Nalina was sporting a permanent red tinge to the tops of her ears while her bottom lip was being perpetually punished between her teeth.
"You had better stop biting so hard or you will break skin and draw blood Hime" Itachi eventually breaks the uncomfortable silence that is engulfing them currently.
She jumps at his sudden statement and draws her lip in deeper, eyes widening as she stops dead in her tracks while her cheeks turn the brightest twinge of pink that would rival Hinata on a good day.
Stepping closer while fixing her in place with his crimson stare, Itachi lifts his hand and gently but firmly pulls on her chin. Effectively releasing her hold on her lip with a distinctive hollow pop. "What has you this worried? Aiko is safe and the perpetrator dealt with. You did exceptionally well this morning, I am very proud of you" he says while stroking his thumb once tenderly over the angry bruise she just made.
Her eyes fall to the ground and her shoulders droops at this, "I was just in the way and could do nothing to help you" she says almost too soft for him to hear. "What am I even doing here if I can't help anybody?" she looks up with saddened eyes, chakra swirling turbulently around her.
"Hime..." as he reaches out to draw her closer, her chakra suddenly pulls in towards herself sharply and she blinks away leaving lotus petals in her wake. He sighs loudly as he turns towards the direction of the tower where he feels her signature appears next 'Hime, you have done so much more than you can even comprehend' he thinks as he jumps up to the rooftops to hastily make his way back to her side…where he belongs.
Back at the tower Nalina finds that everybody is in a state of confusion and between snippets being passed along from one shinobi to the next she learns that Lady Tsunade is at the hospital. Still feeling disappointed in herself she makes her way to the hospital only to find Itachi waiting for her at the front door. Glancing up at him with shame still floating in her eyes she moves past him as her throat closes up with a dull ache as it signals the tears she is trying to keep from falling is close.
Inside they find the nurses rushing around and trying to get even one of them to just answer them proves to be a near impossible task. Nalina finally manages to locate Shikamaru sitting in a waiting room looking like death was holding his hand and leading him down a dark path. Temari is sitting opposite him with her legs casually crossed but even she has the cold feel of death clinging to her that makes Nalina's neck hair stand on end.
"Shikamaru, what happened?" she is next to him in an instant instinctively absorbing the dark waves as they roll off of his slouching frame.
"I-I … I failed them. I've let them all down" he chokes out in response.
Shikaku steps closer from where he was standing in the next hallway "They were sent after the thieves to retrieve the stolen scrolls. His team mates are all in a very bad way. Kiba and Akamaru is in the other room, his sister is busy with the nin-pup. Lady Tsunade is trying to save Choji right now; I had to bring the Nara Clan's Sacred Medicine guide for her. Neji…" his voice dies as he mentions the young man's name "didn't make it. Shizune is preparing him now for the Hyuga to collect as we speak."
"Oh Shika..." enveloping him in her arms unconsciously extracting the darkness from within him. She turns to Shikaku with a new resolve shining in her eyes "Take me to Lady Tsunade."
Entering the room where Tsunade is busy reading and mixing herbs to counter act the effects of the food pills Choji ate, Nalina walks over her chakra becoming nearly palpable to the entire room. "Lady Tsunade, please… let me help you" her voice is soft and pleading but there is an exacting undertone not missed by the Hokage.
She arches her brow "What do you need me to do?"
A smile graces the young girls' face as she comes to a stand behind the blonde medic "Trust me" her simple answer as her hands moves to rest on the blonde's back and bright gold chakra starts to flow from her palms and through the others' body to her palms as they hover over a deathly looking Akimichi heir.
It takes a while before the teens complexion starts to return and his cheeks vaguely begin to resemble a semblance of their usual signature chubby-ness, but when it does everybody present exhales a breath of relief. Nalina is far from done though and as soon as she is assured that the young man is completely out of harms' way, she retracts her chakra flow.
"Take me to Kiba and Akamaru" she says softly.
"You can't! Last ti-" Tsunade is cut off before she can finish her objection.
"Let me help you….please" the imploring tone in her voice so tangible it sticks to the medic's skin making it tingle with hope.
Relenting she moves past the hazel eyed girl while taking her hand as she passes, "Follow me."
In Kiba's room with Hana tending to Akamaru and Tsunade taking the place of the other medic's, she replicates the actions she did earlier with a hand on each medic's shoulder this time. Her brow furrows deeply as she once again worries her lip this time managing to draw blood much to Itachi's dismay as he watches but doesn't interfere.
He knows a part of Nalina needs this, needs to know her place, where she belongs, to know how she is indispensable to every person she has met and to the village he knows she loves. He feels her chakra moving and churning, he also remembers how weak she was from doing this when she was helping Lee. Although she has that much reserves at her disposal the fact that she has never used any of it before is just too much for her body to handle without sufficient training. He wonders how long she will last.
When they finally finish, she pulls back the chakra flow and barely remains standing before Itachi is at her side wrapping his arm around her shoulders to keep her steady. She smiles up at him weakly but her eyes shine bright and golden with her strength of will and determination – "Take me to Neji."
They all look at her shocked.
"Hime… he is gone" Itachi offers sorrowfully.
Looking up at him her eyes pleads as her voice fails her in that moment. He relents with a sigh as he bends to pick her up bridal style motioning to the Hokage with a nod while he closes his eyes resignedly following her out to another part of the hospital.
When they enter the room where Neji is laid out in preparation for his family to collect, the sorrow so heavy and thick it clings to them like a drenching, soggy morning mist condensing on leaves. The aura inside is dark and burdensome refusing even the slightest sliver of light to break through. Hinata and Hiashi are next to the table where he lays, he may as well be sleeping peacefully if not for the bandages that covers the wounds on his torso revealing the truth of his state and the small white cloth hiding his face from view.
Team Gai is standing huddled in the furthest corner across from them tears flowing freely but silently out of respect for the family present. Hinata is trying her best to hold back her sobs as her shoulders shake from the effort. Even Hiashi's usual blank face is etched with grief and bereft and his eyes are glistening, watery pearly orbs even though no tears were spilt over his cheeks.
"Oh Neji!" Nalina whispers holding back a sob as Itachi lets her down carefully onto her feet. She stumbles a bit as she moves forward her knees weak, whether from emotion or the three procedures she just assisted in she herself does not know.
Itachi pays close attention to her chakra, noticing how it absorbs all the negative energy flowing freely in the room like a sponge; it is all being drawn into her seamlessly without any much effort on her part it gets drawn to her like moths to a flame.
She reaches for Hiashi's arm gingerly, requesting permission with her eyes and receives it in the form of a soft nod from him. She gently lifts the concealing cloth away allowing the rest to see his handsome seemingly sleeping face. The heart wrenching sobs torn from Hinata and Tenten's throats simultaneously at the profile of the person they love and whom they will never again get to see, causes everybody's gut to clench with compassion. Her fingers tremble and her emotions cause her core to begin to churn in a completely new and unknown way. It is reaching out to something, what exactly she is not yet sure but she can feel it calling back – tugging on something that is awakening within her.
Standing next to the still form her tears no longer stays back and flows freely over her cheeks forming streams down to her chin and then drips onto the edge of the stone cold surface. "Do you want him back?" she murmurs, her voice expectant with emotion even if she is surprised with her question.
Nobody answers, and she turns to face them – "Do you want him back?" – she asks again but this time a decibel louder and clearer making it understood she needs an answer.
"Yes..." Tenten and Hinata both answer in unison between choked back sobs hope colouring the edges of their voices unintentionally.
Itachi notes the heaviness within the walls has begun to diminish to a thin veil.
Nalina smiles as her tears continues to flow, turning back to the table she unties her shirt front partially and slides in down over her shoulders exposing only the lotus bloom on her back and the markings on her front. Tsunade moves to the opposite side of Neji "What are you doing?"
Her request is met with silence as Nalina closes her eyes, her shoulders and the lotus on her back now bare and visible to the room. "Who will help me?" she asks once. When there is no answer, she turns her head to the girl with the two buns on the sides of her head – "I need your help Tenten."
The young girl looks up and weary brown eyes meets beseeching gold orbs, she is a little surprised by the request but her body moves forward of its own accord - "What… must… I do?" Her voice is small and raspy from the tears she has been swallowing.
"Just love him like you've always done" the corners of her lips pulling up slightly as she turns her gaze back to his still form.
Hinata moves forward – "I want to help too."
A tearful smile graces the marked girls features as she nods and motions for them to come closer and flank her on each side and then place a hand on each of her shoulders. The silence that draws around them hums with anticipation as the people present watch with a growing sense of angst and curiosity.
Itachi watches as Nalina's head drops forward and her brow furrows intensely; she looks pale yet almost luminescent at the same time, he moves to have a clear view not only of her face but also the still form of the teen in front of her. Under the gazes fixed on her the lotus on her back starts to light up, glowing brighter as it pulses colourfully – her breathing has shallowed to little gasps now and her lips are parted to allow in more air. Her tears change from clear to sparkling silver trickles flowing down her face and she leans in closer as the drops now fall on Neji's seemingly resting face, a few tears spill on his lips and chin and eventually the tiny puddle it forms slips past his thin lips and disappears in the cavern behind them.
Her eyes suddenly open as her head falls back, the emblems on her shoulders glow faintly as they slowly move along her collarbone to unite inside the etched crest on her chest as it lights up like a small sun compared to the pulsing soft glow on her back. The moment the Yin and Yang mark is complete inside the flowery crest Nalina exhales loudly as her eyes again snaps closed, her face grows paler and the feeling Itachi has growing in his insides becomes almost too much to bear. A solid stream of silver blue light mixed with chakra of all different hues and colours begins to emerge from the brightly lit mark just above her breasts. It seems to be alive as it almost peeks out and seem to sniff around before finding its mark and start to slowly make its way in a winding mass of light and colour to Neji's waiting body forming a writhing arch of light as it moves.
Nalina's eyes are tightly shut with Hinata and Tenten's hands still on a shoulder as the pulsing writhing serpent of light and colour enters into Neji through his lips. The pull of it forces Nalina to bend back further as she almost floats on her back while the girls' hands remains glued to her form. Her colour begins to dull and her tears have stopped completely now, as the connection between her and Neji remain beating like a steady heartbeat flowing over more than just chakra from her to him with every single colourful flashing pulse.
Looking at the young man Itachi sees his wounds heal from the inside out, the blood begins to slowly circulate through his once silent system the flow steadily growing stronger, chakra reserves start to replenish to near overflowing, dead cells flower to life in small bursts of colour and finally after what seems like an eternity, he draws his first deep ragged breath.
At that very moment the silvery life-giving serpent retracts, pulling back into Nalina as the girls' hands become unstuck and falls to their sides. Everybody stands shocked and rooted in place as Neji's laboured breathing makes the only sound around them. A gentle rustle brings Itachi back to reality as he watches the now nearly ashen coloured girl crumble to the ground. He catches her just before she meets the cold floor but she is already unconscious and unaware of the awed stares she receives from the room.
"TENTEN…HINATA?"
-O-
"Come out coward! Face us if you dare." The threat is thrown down the dark passage leading underground into a dark abyss. The Leaf Anbu team and Kakashi stands outside knowing the snake is either already gone or retreating through a back exit. They've cut off and surrounded the ones they could find but the Copy Nin knows the Sannin always has another way out that nobody but him knows of. They were not expecting a confrontation but they were well prepared for one, this was just to make him slither further away from Konoha until they could cut off his head once and for all.
"You are wasting your time shouting down an empty rabbit hole. The snake has long since left without even leaving a moulted skin for you to find" a deep voice behind them flatly states.
The ninja all twirl around to find a figure covered with a black cloak with red floating clouds on it and a swirling orange mask addressing them from up a tree close by. "And who are you?" Kakashi asks eyeing the foreign figure warily hand at the ready to throw a kunai.
"Ahh, in time my friends…in time. I just thought I'd let you know nobody is home" and with that the figure begins to swirl and disappear before their very eyes. Just as they were getting over the worst of the shock only his head swirls back into view – "Oh yes! You may want to Root out your threats closer to home before you decide to stretch beyond your reach next time. I believe that old traitor is currently at an onsen a day's travel from Konoha towards Tea Country" – he chuckles mysteriously before his head once again vanishes.
The other nin were confused by the cryptic message but Kakashi knew exactly what he meant; he was however curious to know who this person was. He had a feeling it was no friend to Konoha.
-O-
A special request made by Fugaku to the Hokage secured his position in the current mission to finally eliminate the cause of the threat that was clearly apparent to their village and his clan still…Danzo. He waited many years to exact his vengeance for the poison about the Uchiha this man had infected the village with, and now his time is nearly at hand.
The information Kakashi had brought back regarding Root just confirmed suspicions many already had about it, its members and their supposedly dead founder. He looks to his side at the pale young man jumping from branch to branch between himself and the Copy nin. There were not many of the 'integrated' members that were really willing to leave the organisation behind after they started to whittle them out in their ranks. Yet, he was the only one willing to accompany them on this mission even though when interrogated he nearly died when trying to speak about Danzo – they found the hidden curse mark only afterwards when another really did choke to death in his desperation to divulge information.
They had stopped the interrogations then but this also proved as a mark for who of them was truly willing to be a part of Konoha and what it stood for. This shinobi next to him is willing to lay down his life to ensure that monster will not escape again, also to ensure his Root comrades are set free from the curse mark they were forced to get, and for that Fugaku admires him. He will not lose any more of his family because of people like Danzo, not his blood family or his village family. He thinks back on the sentiments the Third Hokage explained to him and what the Light showed him on that fateful night and today he finally agrees.
-O-
Shikamaru (with a shogi board to teach her how to play), Choji (bringing an assortment of fresh cakes – his cousin having told him she favours sweets), Kiba and Akamaru (with an open invitation to all their long walks in the country side) all waited outside her room in the hospital where she slept for two days before waking. They wanted to thank her personally not only for themselves but also for what she did for their fallen friend.
Neji was not allowed to move from his bed or room for a week even though they could find nothing wrong with him. He constantly had visitors in any case, either Hiashi (who after this event had a complete change of character) or Hinata (who doted on her cousin incessantly) or Tenten (quite a bit awkward but her relief was more apparent).
Tsunade ran every test imaginable and countless more chakra infused ones but nothing, it really was as if he just went into a deep sleep and woke up refreshed and energised. Even Inoichi was called to do a psych exam but all he could report was an all-consuming darkness and then a light where Tenten and Hinata stood calling and pulling him (Neji) back.
On Nalina however they noticed that her Yin and Yang markings were somewhat faded although back on her shoulders and some of the coloured diamonds that filled the lotus on her back were gone. Shrugging her shoulders airily "No matter, it was used for a good cause so its fine" with a shy weak smile upon her face. She beamed brilliantly though when she discovered that everybody was doing well and then summarily discharged herself and headed home. Itachi was not too happy with her decision but secretly glad that she just wished to return home… to his family.
-O-
A month has passed since she brought Neji back and helped heal the retrieval team, they had attempted to send Orochimaru running but he was already gone. They did however manage to find and dispose of the last remnants of Root within their walls as well as its founder (thanks to the tip from the masked man). Fugaku and Kakashi was back and even Sai was now a regular visitor – Fugaku having invited him to spend time with him and his family, the young man was stunted emotionally from being raised in the organisation and he hoped that Nalina could somehow help.
The sun was bright and it was a warm balmy mid-morning when Kakashi found Nalina sitting with her feet dangling over the pond on the bridge from her hut. Since the night he just left in the middle of their disagreement he had been avoiding her – "A little bird told me you are a local hero. Can you spare a moment for a silly old ninja?" – he catches the small smile that tugs at the corners of her mouth. He has missed her joy and cheer, her innocence, her love, but he is too apprehensive to admit as much.
"Hmm, you're not old Kakashi…just stubborn" a slight giggle bursting out at her own admission.
He feigns a pained look as he places a hand over his heart "And here I thought you were a respectful girl…mindful of her elders."
The look that he receives has him biting back his laughter; it's somewhere caught between 'You can do better than that' and 'Are you trying to piss me off'. "Still mad at me though?" he ventures after taking a seat next to her hanging his arm over his one knee casually.
"I could ask you the very same thing" she doesn't meet his gaze and her lip gets stuck between her teeth again.
"Nalina...-" he starts slowly, apologetically.
"Listen, I know I'm not strong and I know it will be dangerous out there. I'm not a trained shinobi no matter how well Mistress may have programmed me. I know all this but this? This is something that I have to do. I have to retrieve the lantern. I have to face the Moon Island monks. I have to … I need to be useful. Else I may as well just … leave." The earnest of her words and demand in her tone portrays her absolute necessity for the endeavour.
As strong and intense as her argument had started it ended on a bit of an unfinished note. Looking underneath the underneath is something Kakashi has taught and lived by near his whole life but it never spoke in such volumes to him as much as it did today. "There is something you are not telling me."
A single tear slips from her eye as she closes them with a resigned sigh – "You're like a dog with a bone, you know? Kakashi, if I am not the one to retrieve the lantern others will die, as well as Mistress and my body in my world will be nothing but a husk. I am the only one who can touch it."
"You could've just told me."
"And you could've just trusted me."
"Hmm, I could've. But I still feel there is something you're not telling me."
"Kakashi…have I ever lied to you? I never lie…I …" her voice dies and she explains no further.
The way her voice trails off says more to him than her actual words in that moment and he exhales loudly, forcing himself to let it go…for now. "My head hurts, won't you rub it for me…please? I-I've missed it…I've missed you" he offers instead hoping the broken bridge can be mended. As he feels her chakra surging into warm comforting curls his heart sighs from relief.
Her radiant smile is nearly blinding to him – "I missed you too Kakashi-Onii-chan. Your hair is sooo soft, I just love how it feels between my fingers!"
From his usual perch Itachi listens to the exchange and feels himself a little happy that they have made up but there is a twinge of something on the edges that he just can't place. He can feel it eating away at him slowly, the more she becomes involved with others the more this feeling grows and he just cannot place why that is. Shoving it to the furthest reaches of his mind he instead focusses on what she said about never lying. He distinctly remembers her lying…at least once that he can recall. He means to ask her about it, but he prefers to do such matters when they are alone. Having her all to himself has become the highlight of his day, their morning training sessions having resumed when she was strong enough – he found conversing with her was easy and unstrained, even when her emotions had her reacting like a child most of the time her understanding and thinking was way past her years and extremely enlightened. It always left him thinking.
-O-
Naruto and Sasuke had begged, pleaded and bargained to return to the village for a few days just to celebrate the twins first birthday. They both missed the village and their team and was itching to show off their improved skills. They arrived late afternoon, entering from opposite gates and were barrelling towards the Uchiha district when they nearly collided into each other.
"Idiot" Sasuke drawls his usual greeting.
"Guess we had the same idea then, but I bet you didn't remember to bring them a gift" Naruto grins with mischief sparkling clear in his bright blue eyes.
"They're my baby sisters so of course I did, Dope" Sasuke grunts but can't keep the tint of joy from creeping into his eyes.
"HA! Mine is still way better than yours and they will get it first too, Sasuke" his words thrown over his shoulder as he bounds around the Uchiha bouldering ahead, falling straight into their never-ending rivalry.
"Hn" Sasuke shakes his head with a small smile tugging at his lips before he blinks away in a poof of black smoke.
Inside the Uchiha main house the celebration is drawing to a head as the twins cake is brought out. The smaller children look at the colourful confection adorned with a single lit silver candle being carried towards the table in the courtyard where the two little girls are watching intently.
Nalina stands behind them with eyes glowing bright and happy, her chakra emanating brilliant hues of joy, excitement and contentment. Itachi cannot keep the smile spreading over his features as he watches her elation. She turns suddenly towards him eyes wide with a new level of happiness covering her face - "They're here!" – she squeals while jumping up and down and clapping her hands together.
"I know, and they're back to their usual antics too" he chuckles as he waits for the two teens to erupt from inside the house.
After greetings, reunions and cake Mikoto stands up to address the people gathered (for a children's party there really was a lot of grown-ups present). "We asked you to attend today for more than just a birthday celebration. We are thankful for the support we have received from each and every one present and even those who are not leading up to this point. The sacrifices that was made to retrieve our little girl when she was taken, we felt deeply and we are honoured to know that we have the support of an entire village behind us."
She looks at Tsunade, Hiashi, Inoichi, Shikaku, Tsume and Choza with a nod of her head – "Our gift for our girls is also a promise we make with you all as witnesses" – she turns her head to look at Kakashi and Fugaku who just nod in response.
Stepping forward Fugaku holds a long black rectangular box in his palm, opening it to reveal three pendants lined next to each other. Two silver leaf emblems with a garnet stone nestled in the centre shining bright in the sun. The middle one was the Uchiha crest, a red and white fan, the red made with many bright red rubies and garnets crusting together their shades working in unison magically, the white was made from intricately sculpted mother of pearl gleaming with a rainbow of colours when caught by the faintest bit of light, all surrounded in a dainty rose gold casing allowing just a small border around to complete the circular pendant.
Hanging a leaf pendant around each of the twins necks from a black satin ribbon Fugaku explains, "They are a new generation of Uchiha. A generation that will forever forward have the whole of the Leaf as their family, this pendant will serve as their daily reminder and promise that they are members of the Konoha family first and the Uchiha clan the protectors of this home that we all love and cherish."
There were gasps around the courtyard as the Uchiha were known for their Clan pride, putting everything and everybody second after that.
Nalina was beaming brightly and her chakra was alight in a myriad of loud bright colours. Itachi was relishing watching her immerse herself in elation rather than constantly absorbing negativity, he liked the way her joy spilled over and curled around everybody present it seemed her joy had a further reach than her ability to absorb. Placing his palm on the small of her back her gently nudges her forward towards his parents.
"The third pendant…" Mikoto pauses as she looks up to catch a startled Nalina being ushered closer. "Is for another daughter we gained. She may be too old for us to adopt formally but with this she is and will always remain a daughter of the Uchiha and of Konoha. She is the reason we now understand the strength there is in forging real bonds." She reaches out to take Nalina's trembling hand and pull her closer as Fugaku removes the pendant glinting in the light as it rotates lazily where it hangs from a blue-black satin ribbon.
Itachi reaches around to lift her signature braid away as his father ties the ribbon behind her neck. The pendant nestles exactly in the centre of her etched flower crest on her chest. It lays sparkling in the sun as her fingers moves gently toward the edges to finger the beautiful piece of jewellery around her neck. She looks at the pair in front of her and chokes back a sob as it threatens to jump from her lips. She looks behind her to find Itachi gazing down at her with crimson twirling tomoe and a smile gracing his handsome face "This is where you belong Hime."
The twins who is being held one each by Naruto and Sasuke erupts in bouts of gurgles and giggles. Leaning closer to each other their hands finally touch over the constricting arms of the teens, Aiko who has her Sharingan activated grips Keiko's chubby fingers and immediately a bright genjutsu cloaks the entire courtyard and people present. Bursts of rainbows and light with butterflies and music envelops them, it was like a child's dream wonderworld.
The children are chasing the butterflies and catching rainbows as the adults are caught in surprise and rapture. "Yaay!" Nalina claps her hands in joy, emotion from a moment ago forgotten during the new developments. She rushes towards the little girls who are walking wobbly still hand in hand where the teens placed them down in their surprise. "You're first jutsu. Well done Aiko and Keiko! Seems like you both will give your brothers a run for their money" she adds with a wink and a chuckle as she grabs them both hauling them up onto her hips. Their hands disentangle and the jutsu disappears as suddenly as it came into being.
It was much later after everybody had left that Itachi finds Nalina sitting alone on the porch around her hut fondling the pendant around her neck "Now do you see how important you are Hime?"
"When will just use my name?" her voice tainted with slight annoyance.
"That can never be, for to me you are more precious than the title you bear" he hands her a small box trying to distract her "Choza-sama left this for you, he said it's your favourite." Her very expressive sigh at his reply not missed.
Taking the box with glee filling her eyes Nalina opens it to reveal a small round cheesecake inside. "You can help me this time" she chuckles as she holds out the box towards him her annoyance already forgotten. "I know you love sweets" digging her pointer finger in generously she deftly scoops out a portion of the confectionary and with an innocent look holds it out for him.
He cocks his eyebrow at her questioningly. Internally he aches to accept the intimacy she is offering so willingly even if she is unaware of the invitation extended.
She looks at her cheesecake covered finger and back at him puzzled before giving up on trying to coax him with the sweet treat. She shrugs her shoulder minutely while bringing it back to her own waiting open mouth when a tap to her forehead stops her from dipping just low enough to clean her digit of its sugary treasure. She raises her gaze to catch crimson eyes drawing closer as his fingers still remain on her forehead, keeping her in place just out of reach while his free hand is wrapped around her small wrist trapping it mid movement, the jolt from the suddenly halting action dislodges some of the soft creamy cake and a bit is already slipping down her knuckles inching closer to her palm.
Mesmerised by the twirling tomoe she watches as Itachi moves closer leisurely, she feels her breathe catch in her lungs when he glances at her finger then back up and the look reflected back seems to be dark but promising. He doesn't stop inching closer, never breaking eye contact, she watches intently as his mouth opens slowly and his hidden pink muscle creeps out to lick her pointer from the smudged knuckle up to the tip before the whole digit disappears into the warm wet cavern.
Her intake is sharp and loud and his eyes close to hide crimson behind long dark lashes as a soft rumbling hum vibrates from him right through her hand and settles in her middle. He swirls his tongue around the digit expertly while sucking just enough to make her pulse jump at the sensation it creates in her core, if she was not already seated her knees would be failing her right now. Opening his eyes as he pops her finger from between his lips tender hold, only to capture her once again with his pinning gaze. His fingers have moved from her wrist to cup her hand palm up and he precedes in using his tongue to lick the remaining traces of sweetness from it closing his lips around every lap to ensure nothing gets left behind.
By the time he releases her palm to look up their noses are just a breath apart and he could feel her warm shallow gasps on his wet lips. "Perhaps a fork would've been wiser" he murmurs his voice deep and velvety, noticing the blush that has crept over her cheeks darkening her honey coloured skin to a richer deeper shade setting it a glow.
"F-fudge-buckets" she whispers breathily.
"Itachi! Nalina! Where ha-" Mikoto stops short as she watches the two from across the bridge "Ahem…am I interrupting?"
Itachi does not miss the slight tinge of red that flits across his mothers' cheeks and moves to stand placing a decent distance between them, "Not at all Okaa-san. Nalina was just sharing her treat with me and realised she does not have the proper utensils at hand." He begins to cross the bridge hands deep in his pockets and when he gets to the middle, he stops and looks over his shoulder at the stunned girl still holding her hand in the air, a cocky smile plays on his lips "That was… delectable, I never expected lemon to taste so sweet. Remind me to share mine with you…again" and with this he leaves the two females to stare at his back as he disappears down the darkening corridor. He will savour reliving those moments and her reactions later.
Mikoto turns back to see an astonished, wide eyed, flushed Nalina with one hand in the air and a small cake box in the other staring back at her, "W-what just happened?" Mikoto cannot hide her chuckle "Apparently he likes the taste of your cake."
A/N: Please review? Thanx! Laters J