Itachis POV:
"Please don't do this" the woman in front of me cried. I closed my eyes and thrusted my sword across the skin of her neck.
I quickly pulled my sword out and opened my eyes.. that was it.. everyone else was dead and my heart ached knowing who I had to kill next. My mother.
The breath caught in my chest woke me up and my eyes snapped open. My mind was a never ending war zone since I landed in this hospital. When I was asleep, I was having nightmares but when I was awake, I couldn't stay awake. I'm sure the medication they had Neji and I were working wonders but I was close to asking to take me off of it. I'd rather deal with the pain, rather than reliving that night over and over again.
I turned my head slowly toward Neji, he didn't look like he moved at all since the last time I looked. I wondered when he was going to wake up.. this must of been the first time he's been threw serious injury for his mind not to register consciousness.
Then the door to my room started shifting and I closed my eyes again. I didn't want to deal with anyone yet. My heart rate was still rapid and I didn't want anyone to ask what was wrong. I never did get checked by Ibiki like I said I would..
I heard light footsteps, followed by a chair moving before someone sat. They were in the middle of Neji and I.. that much I knew.
It took a few seconds but then I smelled it.. Hinata. No. It was mind playing tricks on me from missing her. I withheld my stinging in my eyes so I wouldn't cry.
"I love you.. please wake up soon" I heard a small gentle voice and my heart started skipping.. now my mind was really messing with me.. I could hear her.
Something in me made me open my eyes and there she was.. her upper body was hunched over my bed. Her head was resting on her arms and ours met. She really was here..
"You're awake.." she said softly and the few tears I was holding back had rolled down my face. Who found her?
"You're okay" I said but it sounded harsh because my throat was dry.
"I am.. but you're not.." she said, grabbing my hand. I could see it in her eyes, she was happy to see me but felt guilty because I was injured in an attempt to find her.
"I'll be fine.. who found you..?" I asked, my curiosity was over riding my brain now.
"I managed to escape. I fled the land of lightning and I swam a great length to assure my safety" she told me, sitting up now but she never let go of my hand.
"You swam?" I questioned her. There was a lot of ocean between her and there.
"I did. From the coast of Kumo to turtle island, then to land of whirlpools. I found safety in a small inn and the following morning I used a boat to get here. I landed on the shore but my kidnappers found me again. They had me trapped.. so I panicked and I ran up the safety wall of the mist village.. they followed me in but Chojuro and the Anbu found me" she explained to me of how she got here so I didn't have to ask anymore questions.
These people must be powerful if they didn't have a car about entering a village full of enemies.. it made me wonder who they were..
"Did they say anything about what they wanted from you when you were taken?" I asked her.
"Stop thinking for once and just relax. Everything is fine for now" she said, giving me a small smile and standing up from her chair. She was right.. at least Kakashi and his search team could still put clues together..
"You know.. you were gone for a year once… but, these past four days seemed longer. I'm glad you're here" I told her and it was true, I was just relieved she was here now with me.
She moved a little closer to my bed and leaned forward. She rested her forehead on mine and I closed my eyes. She released my hand and moved them to my face, her thumbs wiped away whatever tears had come out and she gave me a small kiss.
"I'm glad I'm here too" she whispered to me and then moved away.
Kakashi's POV:
"Kakashi, there's a messenger bird circle overhead" Shino said bluntly and we all stopped moving so it would land. We were damn close to where Kabuto was last seen, thanks to Itachi.
The hawk swooped down to the ground and dropped the message on the ground. I kneeled down to open it.
Come back to the mist, its urgent.
Really? They knew what we were doing was important but I couldn't ignore the message. Hinata's kidnappers could of changed direction and we would just waste time.
"Kiba and Shino, take our Anbu and go see if Kabuto is still there. If you find him, take him directly back to the leaf. Hiashi and I will go back to the Mist" I deadpanned.
"Understood" Yugao spoke and the three of them took off. I wanted Hiashi with me because it would look bad if I somehow got the Hyuga clan head injured or worse..
"Is there a reason we're going back to the mist?" Hiashi asked and I could hear it in his voice, he was annoyed.
"They said it was urgent" I told him and we took off.
We rushed back to our boat quickly, Hiashi had paid the man very well to wait for our return. I was thankful for it considering waiting around for a boat was not something I wanted to do.
"We need to go to the Mist village" I informed the man and he nodded.
"Your group is smaller this time," the man said as we all got onto the boat.
"Were having difficulties in what we're doing" Hiashi spoke before I could open my mouth.
"Well, hopefully the journey will become easier in time," the man said before leaving Hiashi and I.
I hope he was right.. I just hope she's okay.
I sighed and went to the back of the boat so I could watch us depart, which didn't take long.
The coastline was vanishing and before it did, something caught my eye.
"Hiashi, do you see those two people?" I asked out loud and heard movement. He appeared at my side and then activated his Byakugan.
From what I could see, the two people had white hair and were laying on the ground. It looked like they just got done swimming.
"Their chakra banks are gigantic" Hiashi said and it made me wonder who they were. Having white hair wasn't common.
"Whomever they are, they're exhausted from swimming. That much I can still see" Hiashi said as the coastline vanished from my own eyes. It's times like these I missed having a sharingan but it is what it is.
"Thank you for helping us travel" Hiashi said kindly while we hopped off the boat.
The man didn't say anything and we headed towards the gates of the Mist village.
"You need to head to the manor, Meis orders" the guard said to me when he reached us.
"Thanks" I said and he vanished, he must be letting them know we're back.
Hiashi and I didn't speak for the remained of the walk. We were both becoming increasingly more annoyed the further we got inside the village.
"The sooner we leave this waste of a village, I'll be happy" Hiashi finally spoke as we walked up the stairs to Meis office.
"It's not that bad," I told him, shrugging his comment off.
"The people who kidnapped my daughter have followers who live here, not to mention we spent a good portion of the day in Kumo. It's reminding me of a time when Hinata was a toddler. You'll understand when those babies come out" he grumbled towards me.
I kept my mouth shut because I wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about or what he meant. But it didn't matter because we had finally reached Meis office.
I knocked and waited.
"Come in" she said and we entered.
"Mizukage" Hiashi said, giving her a bow of respect. I didn't bother too considering we've seen each other naked so formalities didn't matter anymore.
"Sasuke, Naruto and Chojuro are going over files of missing mins. The kidnappers had chased Hinata into the village so we know what they look like now" Mei informed us. They chased her into here? Was she back?
"Is my daughter currently in your village?" Hiashi asked her calmly.
"Yes. She is in Itachi and Nejis hospital room" she told us. My nerves were still running high but I knew once I saw her, I would feel peace again.
"Please, take us to her?" He asked her and she nodded her head in compliance.
The walk to the hospital seemed to take forever but we got there.
"She is down this hallway, last door on the right. My medical assistant Jin should be checking in with them now. I have to go back" Mei said and stopped walking. I watched Hiashi nod his head and leave the two of us alone for a moment.
I grabbed Meis hand and she looked at me weirdly.
"Thank you for helping us, it means a lot," I told her, giving her a small smile.
"Now that were in more peaceful times, it's part of my job to help other villages" she said.
"I understand that but the babies that Hinata is carrying are mine and it means more than you realize" I told her and finally let go of her hand. I watched her eyes filter threw emotions and she finally gave me a small smile.
"We still need to figure out the kidnappers plans but at least for now she is safe," she said and then turned to leave.
She had that right.. although at least we know what they look like and can hopefully devise a plan before they strike again. But, that's something to think about afterwards.
I finally turned myself to see Hiashi still standing outside of the door. Why hadn't he gone in yet?
I moved quickly and was soon next to him.
"I waited for you" he said calmly and finally opened the door. We entered quietly incase Itachi and Neji were sleeping.
I closed the door behind us and moved out from behind Hiashi, my heart was racing. Then I finally saw her, she was looking between the two of us.
She got out of her seat and walked towards me first. I didn't hesitate to hug her.
I could feel my eyes become watery and I didnt care. She was safe.. my babies were safe. She tightened her grip before letting me go and then she looked at her father.
"I'm surprised to see you here," she said, sounding shocked.
"After what happened all those years ago, I wanted to make sure you were safe again," he said softly. I raised my eyebrow in curiosity. He was bringing up the past again.
"Thank you" Hinata said and gave her father a hug. I don't think I ever saw Hinata hug her father or really give either of his children affection. He finally gave her a hug back but I could tell it was something he wanted to do.
Maybe he wasn't such a hardass after all…
Then my eyes flickered toward Itachi and Neji. They looked bad but I knew they would be better once they woke up. They were both sleeping.
"Itachi just fell asleep, Neji hasn't woken up yet since they were brought here" Hinata said filling us in on them.
"Where is this Jin person?" Hiashi asked.
"You guys must have just missed him. He just checked on them" she told us and I nodded my head. I didn't exactly want to meet him, he's the one who gave Hinata the vile in the first place. I wouldn't put the entire blame on him for this mess but he also helped.
-one week later-
We were finally home, only it sucked. Itachi, Neji and Hinata were finally back in their home but problems came along with it.
"Kakashi, are you okay?" Sasuke asked me, breaking me of my thoughts.
"I'm just thinking about everything," I told him the truth.
"Stop thinking for once, everything will be fine," he said and it didn't help whatsoever.
"I want to agree with you but I can't," I said and exhaled the mass amount of air I was holding in
Everything would be fine if Yugao wasn't mad at me for making her Hinata's personal bodyguard..
Everything would be fine if Kabuto would snap out of the Izanami and tell us anything he knew the situation..
Everything would be fine if Neji wasn't still unconscious, rendering him in a comatose state..
I never thought so many problems would come with a kidnapping.
"Well I have something for you" Sasuke said and I looked at him. He threw a folder onto my desk with a seal of classified that was broken.
I sat up and flipped it open and my eyes grew wide.
"How the hell did you find this?" I asked him, flipping the documents around to scan over everything.
"Naruto helped me but it was a lot of digging" he answered me.
"You need to stop asking him for help with official leaf documents. Its breaking codes, Sasuke" I said nonchalantly while
I continued reading the paperwork.
"He's going to take your place someday, I don't see how it's breaking any codes" he said and then I heard him flop down on the couch that was inside my office.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring him.. he was wrong but I knew Naruto wouldn't say anything about helping Sasuke with these things.
"I assume you already went thru this?" I asked him.
"I did and it makes sense now why Hiashi came along for the search" he huffed.
"Mm" I made a noise towards him with acknowledgement.
No wonder why I didn't know anything about the Hyuga affair. I was one years old when it happened and it was a secret kept buried among the third Hokage and the Hyuga clan.
Wow.. Hinata's family played dirty.. it made me wonder what other secrets they harbored in all these years. Not that it was my business but it was interesting to say the least.
"Do you think Itachi can wake Kabuto up?" Sasuke asked me and it threw me off guard.
"We would have to ask him, he might know a way" I told him. I wasn't sure if what he did was reversible. I never had the ability to do so.
"Let's go see him then, it's about that time of the time anyways" he said and I looked at him. He was restless today. He's been running around all day. I did agree with him and I got off my seat and walked around my desk.
We had been visiting everyday around lunch time so to see how the progress was coming along.
We made it to their house quickly. Yugao was standing near the front door, doing her job. I felt bad about it but she was the only anbu I could trust at the moment to do this job since everyone else was injured. She only had to stand guard in the day time though.
"Hokage-sama" Yugao bowed to me but I could hear it in her voice, she was irritated with me. I'm sure she would be fine one she came home though.
Sasuke and I walked right on in, closing the door behind us. Shizune was at the top of the stairs talking to Hinata.
"Everything okay?" I asked them and they turned to look at me. Hinata looked like she was ready to cry and it concerned me.
"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" Shizune asked and I absolutely did not like those words.
"Good news first" I said and waited for either of them to speak to me. I leaned against the wall behind me and just waited.
"Hinata is officially twenty-one weeks pregnant today and Itachi can finally walk around.. slowly though" Shizune informed me and a small smile spread across my face. Both were great news. But then I remember there's bad news.
"Now.. the bad news" Shizune said and I glanced at Hinata. Was this was she looked sad?
"When Itachi and Neji were attacked.. they might have suffered from the same wounds but whatever entered Neji's chest in the attack, it skimmed his heart. Making his attack more fatal. I'm afraid I don't know when hell wake up.. if he does" Shizune told me and. Sadness took over me. Could he really not wake up?
"Are you sure?" I asked her.. I knew she knew what she was doing but I was digging for hope.
"Yes, unfortunately. I was wondering why he wasn't waking up if they shared the same wounds so I had Hinata help me look closer. It was something my eyes couldn't see" she said as she walked down the stairs. Hinata remained at the top of them.
"Well.. thank you for everything you've been doing" I told her and she nodded her head. She left right after that and I looked back up at Hinata. We just continue to look at each other.
"I'm going to lay down.." she said in a barely audible voice and left Sasuke and I alone in their front hallway.
"Let's go find your brother" I mumbled, pushing myself off of the wall. I assumed he was in the garden if he could move again.
I was right. I could see him sitting on the staircase to his garden from the back door being wide open.
"How is Hinata?" Itachi asked us when we go to the porch.
"She's sad.. did you hear Shizune?" Sasuke asked and leaned against the railing.
"Yes and I asked because I don't have the energy to get up right now and go check on her" he informed us and I could hear the sadness in his voice as well. This entire house was just sad right now.
"Well, we came to ask you something" Sasuke said, completely changing the subject. I rolled my eyes.. always so impatient.
"Is there a way to reverse Kabutos current state? He's still trapped in your jutsu" Sasuke asked him.
"There is only one way for him to come out of this" Itachi answered very vaguely.
"Which is?" Sasuke asked again.
"He needs to find peace within himself and accept reality" he answered.
"Great.. we really have to wait for him to come out of it on his own" Sasuke said, his temper had come out along with it.
"That is why it's not a commonly used jutsu anymore" Itachi said, which I understood.
I was finally in the shower, it had been a long day emotionally and I was ready for it to be over.
I dipped my head backwards under the stream of water, absorbing how good it felt.
"You're on my list, by the way" Yugao said and poked me in the chest. I bent my head forward to see Yugao had joined me in the shower.
"But, I'll forgive you for now" she said with a grin and kissed me hard. I smiled in our kiss and I broke it off.
"What list?" I said, winking at her and picked her up. I placed her against me and the wall, her legs were wrapped around me.
"We have to get ready for the upcoming chunin exams, they're soon and were hosting it" I told Sasuke as he sat on the couch in my office.
"That's right, I forgot about it with everything that's happened in the past week" Sasuke said.
"Yeah, well at the moment there isn't anything we can do except wait and focus on other current matters" I told him. Last night released some tension I had built up. I didn't even realize I had any until I woke up this morning.
Hinata's POV:
"Your home is very nice daughter" my Dad said to me as we continued eating breakfast.
Itachi and I were woken up by my father and sister knocking on my front door. Which I had to answer because Itachi couldn't move fast.
"Thank you. This is Itachi's home too" I said with a smile, giving him a glance. My family had come over with some breakfast for us all to have. It was a nice surprise.
"So how are you feeling Itachi?" Hinabi asked him and he placed his glass back on the table.
"It looks worse than it is, I'm doing okay" he said honestly as he looked down at his body. His entire torso was covered in bandages. But you could still see his arms were covered in cuts.
"How is Neji?" My father asked before Hanabi could reply. My heart thumped a little bit. They didn't know yet. I had tried not to think about him yesterday when Shizune told us.
I slept most of the day to avoid the thoughts. I would only get up when Itachi needed something or to change his bandages the way Shizune had showed me when we arrived back home.
"Hes.." I started to speak but I lost my nerve. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
"Not well" Itachi finished my sentence and I looked at my father and sister.
"How so?" My father asked, looking directly at me.
"When we were attacked, Neji's heart was skimmed. It put him in a worse state than we thought. Shizune doesn't know when hell wake up.. if he does wake up" Itachi said. I was glad he was sitting next to me because I didn't think I would be able to get the story out.
Hinabi got up from the table without a word and headed straight upstairs. I heard her open Neji's door and a tear rolled down my face.
"I'm going to go up there with her" I said quietly, standing up from my seat at the table.
"Hinata" my father sent and I looked at him. I could read his emotions for once. He was upset.
"I can say this with confidence because I've been in this clan a lot longer than you. We Hyuga do not give up so easily, were fighters. He will wake up" he told me and something clicked inside of me. He was recognizing me as a Hyuga again. It was the first time in years, I felt happy to be apart of this clan. So I wiped the tear from my face and I nodded my head at him.
I turned to leave the kitchen to head towards Neji's room.
I turned the corner to enter Neji's room, he was laying on the bed. Hinabi was sitting next to him, holding his hand. She had silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
My eyes moved towards Neji's chest, I was watching him breathe. He was a fighter, we always knew that.
I moved around the other side of the bed, sitting down and holding his hand. My father's words kept replaying in my mind. He was right.. he would make it threw. There's no way Neji would of lived the life he did and not survive this. He was strong, caring, independent and hardheaded.
"He come back to us.. right?" Hinabi asked me with a raspy voice.
"Yes" I told my sister with confidence. I was being brave for her. I was being brave for myself and most importantly, for him.
I moved my other hand to the side of his face and tucked some of his hair behind his ear.
"You need to show these babies who there uncle is" I whispered to him and we sat in silence after that.
i hope you all liked this! hopefully chapter 37 will be up in a few days and also, i had to find something in another chapter i wrote and damn.. i didnt realize how far along weve come in this story. anyways, enjoy (: