Last Time:
"He's not here," Itachi cooed as he pulled Sasuke's head into his lap and gently moved some of his hair out of his face. "Orochimaru isn't here; he can't hurt you. He won't get anywhere near you so long as I'm around."
"I saw him," Sasuke told him, fear filling his eyes along with tears. "He was there Itachi. He was there."
Itachi pursed his lips together before putting his forehead against Sasuke's. He shushed him patiently and gave Sasuke's chest a reassuring pat. "You're okay. You're going to be okay."
"Naruto-kun?" Konan saw Naruto's eyes begin to flutter. "Naruto-kun, I need you to stay awake, okay? Do you hear me? Hey!"
"Can you drive any slower?!" Deidara shouted as he felt Naruto's grip loosen up completely. "Yahiko!"
Opposites Attract: Chapter 20 – "Here's What Comes Next"
Hiashi let out a heavy sigh as he continued to look out over the late night skyline of Downtown Konoha. A burning cigarette lingered between his lips as he held onto a cup of black coffee that was mainly for keeping his hands warm rather than drinking. The usual hum that came with the city was relaxing for him but despite all his attempts to distract himself and focus on something else for even the slightest second, he still worried about his daughter.
"Hiyori-chan said I would find you up here," Kushina said as she came around the bench and took a seat beside Hiashi. She eyed the cigarette for a second before she saw Hiashi pull the carton from out the inside pocket of his jacket and pass it to her. "Thank you," she muttered before removing one for herself and lighting it. She let out a cloud of smoke with a sigh if relief before passing the carton back to him.
"I didn't take you for a smoker," Hiashi commented as he flicked some ashes onto the ground.
"Eh." Kushina shrugged. "I used to smoke all the time in high school but after a while I just kind of stopped," she admitted. "Guess the quality went down or something but it just started to taste gross and made me feel sick. Nowadays it's just the occasional cigarette when I'm worried or anxious."
"Or stressed," Hiashi added before taking another drag. "How's Minato? I heard he was brought in for a gunshot wound?"
Kushina nodded as she flicked some ashes onto the ground. "He'll live. Bullet went straight through so all they had to do was stitch him up and put a bandage on it. And Hinata-chan and Neji-kun? How are they?"
"They're fine. Worried, but fine," Hiashi answered. "Hinata believes that we're just waiting for the transaction to be processed before Hanabi is released back to us."
Kushina watched as Hiashi ran his fingers through his hair before finally take a sip of his coffee. She sighed and looked out over the city.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to formally apologize as one of the Heads of the Whirldwind Yakuza," Kushina stated. "We failed to cover all our bases when it came to Baji and because of our lack of preparation, Hanabi-chan was abducted."
Hiashi didn't respond.
"We'll do better from now on," she added.
"'From now on?'" Hiashi repeated. "Kushina, the fact that I'll have to explicitly state this to you is baffling but after this mess is over and that New Year's Charity Event is over, I refuse to associate myself with your family socially again. And don't worry, once Hinata is discharged, I'm keeping her away from that son of yours because he's the reason Hanabi was kidnapped in the first place!"
Kushina sighed. "Hiashi, you and I both know there's nothing you can say or do that's going to keep those two apart."
"You clearly aren't aware of the lengths I'll go to ensure my daughter has the future she deserves," Hiashi snarled. "I refuse to let my daughter end up the wife of a good for nothing failure like your son!"
"Hiashi-san," Kushina spoke firmly as she glared at him. "Let me make one thing very clear to you: my son is no failure. He is one of the hardest working, compassionate, caring, and kindest human being I have the pleasure of knowing and I am beyond proud to say that he is my son. Mine. Whatever you think of my son or think you may know about my son are all entirely wrong because you don't know the first goddamn about him." Kushina crushed her cigarette in the ash tray that sat between them and stood to her feet. "And here's a bit of advice, Hiashi-san: don't drive a wedge between your daughter and my son. If they love each other as much as I think they'll do, that wedge you're driving between them will really just be a wedge you shove between you and your daughter."
"What do you know?" Hiashi questioned.
"I know plenty because that's exactly what happened with my father and myself," Kushina answered. "My father has never met Naruto and has no intention of doing so because of his resentment towards me and disobeying his wishing. If Hinata-chan loves my son as much as I loved Minato when I was her age, you'll find yourself in the exact same situation in no time at all."'
Despite Kushina's sure tone, Hiashi could see the pained look that lingered behind her eyes and that alone caused him to reconsider his previous opinion. He didn't say anything though as he looked back out over the city and listened to the chaotic hum that was Konoha City. Kushina let out a heavy sigh before beginning to make her way back towards the rooftop entrance but before she could reach the door, it swung up with Kakashi standing on the other side.
"Kakashi-kun?" Kushina saw the frantic expression on his face and that caused her own nerves to stand on end. She felt her stomach churn as her chest tightened, the thought of what he had to say sending her into her own panic. "Kakashi-kun, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
"It's Naruto." That was all Kakashi was able to say before Kushina hurried off the roof and towards the emergency room. He ran after her and as they burst through the doors into the emergency room waiting room, Yahiko and Itachi had rushed in carrying Naruto and Sasuke, both of them motionless and all of Akatsuki frantic.
"Somebody!" Yahiko shouted as he adjusted his hold on Naruto, his blood staining Yahiko's clothes and falling onto the floor.
"Naruto-kun!" Kushina screamed as she tried to reach her son but Kakashi held her back and out of the way as doctors and nurses came rushing into the room with two stretchers. "Naruto-kun! Naruto-kun!"
"Hurry and get these two into surgery immediately!" Shizune ordered as Naruto and Sasuke were both loaded onto their stretchers and rushed out of the room. She eyed the blood trail the two of them had caused and pursed her lips together before looking over towards Kushina who struggled to get out of Kakashi's hold.
"Let me go!" Kushina demanded. "Kakashi, please!"
"Lady Kushina, please," Kakashi pleaded as he tightened his hold on her. He looked to Shizune, his eyes serious as they shared a look. Without needing to say a word, Shizune nodded before rushing after the doctors and nurses who had just left. Hiashi entered shortly after and saw the scene in front of him, the blood causing his own blood to run cold and the sound of Kushina's wailing tugging at his heart.
"Where is he?" Hanabi cried as she ran into the emergency room ahead of Sakura and tugged on Itachi's arm, Hanabi being completely unbothered by the blood. "Where's Sasuke-nii? And Naruto-nii? Are they going to be okay?"
Itachi looked down at Hanabi, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of Itachi's hopeful expression yet doubt filled eyes. He said nothing as he fell to his knees and hugged Hanabi, her tears running down her cheeks as she cried.
"Hyuuga-san."
Hiashi looked beside him and saw Nara Shikaku standing there with a stern expression on his face. "Yes?"
"I'm Nara Shikaku, the Head Curator and Archivist at the Konoha Cultural Museum," he formally introduced himself with a firm handshake and a smile. "You may not remember me but you and I were in the same graduating class from Konoha City University."
Hiashi studied Shikaku's face for a moment before nodding. "Yes, yes. I remember now. You were salutatorian."
"Yes, almost valedictorian. I just had a bad habit of sleeping through ninety percent of my classes," Shikaku joked, the two of them sharing a light chuckle.
"Excuse me if I'm being rude for asking this but, why are you here?" Hiashi questioned, clearly confused and struggling to process everything happening around him.
"I'm here to coach you," Shikaku answered. "If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm also a member of Whirlwind; more specifically in Master Minato's inner circle. I'm the one responsible for bending the media into believing what we need them to believe."
"I'm sorry?" Hiashi continued to struggle.
"A 'fixer' is a simple term for what I do," Shikaku explained. "I make things disappear, other things appear, and typically make others hear, see, and believe what I need them to believe. And right now, my next assignment is you and your family."
"Oh." It caught up with Hiashi what was happening next. "No, of course."
"I know this may be a bit much to process with all that's happening but don't worry, you'll get through this just fine," Shikaku explained before looking over his shoulder at his son who had just hung up his phone. "So?"
"All done," Shikamaru answered just as Yamanaka Inoichi and his daughter Ino came into the emergency room. "Ino, make sure Hanabi gets cleaned up and changed immediately."
"Of course," Ino said as she went to Hanabi and knelt beside her and Itachi. She patiently waited until Itachi let go. "There's a van outside that'll take you all back to the estate so you all can get cleaned up."
Itachi nodded weakly before standing, Kisame's hand clashing Itachi's elbow to help him stand. "Right…thank you."
"Come on," Kisame urged. "We'll come straight back once you're presentable, okay?"
Itachi nodded quietly before he was guided out. Ino watched as the rest of Akatsuki filled out of the waiting room before she looked at Hanabi and wore a smile for her. She removed a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away. "Everything will be okay, Hanabi-chan."
"Really?" Hanabi questioned as she sniffled.
Ino nodded. "I've known Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun most of my life and they're two of the most resilient people I know. They'll brush something like this off like it was nothing and be back to normal in no time at all. So, in the meantime while the doctors and nurses help Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun, I need you to come with me so we can get you cleaned up and changed. Is that okay with you?"
Hanabi looked at Ino for a moment before nodding. Ino praised Hanabi by giving her an affectionate pat on the head before taking ahold of her hand and leading her out of the waiting room and into the hospital.
"Hiashi," Shikaku called and regained Hiashu's focus. "I need you to stay focused for a little while longer. Can you do that for me?"
Hiashi nodded. "Yes, of course. Whatever you need."
"Perfect," Shikaku said with a smile. "Come, we'll speak details elsewhere since this isn't the ideal setting to be handling this situation at the moment. And we'll grab your wife along the way."
"Wait, what about Baji?" Hiashi questioned as he followed Shikaku. "Where is he?"
"You don't need to worry about Baji," Shikaku answered.
"Hiashi-kun?" Hiyori caught sight of her husband as he entered into the wing and quickly went to meet him. "Hiashi-kun we heard someone scream for Naruto and now Hinata is a wreck in there. What happened?"
Hiashi hesitated to answer before looking at Shikaku. He sighed and looked back at Hiyori. "Naruto got hurt pretty bad, he and Sasuke are in surgery right now."
"How bad?" Hiyori questioned. "Was that Kushina we heard?"
Hiashi nodded.
"What about Hanabi-chan?" Hiyori questioned, her worry beginning to show. "Is she okay?"
"Your daughter is just fine," Shikaku answered. "My niece is with her now helping her clean up and get changed before you see her."
Hiyori let out a heavy sigh of relief as she took ahold of Hiashi's hand and squeezed tightly. "Thank goodness," she breathed before looking at Shikaku. "And you are?"
From there, Shikaku reintroduced himself and explained his role. Hiyori stood and listened, her grip on Hiashi's hand still firm. Shikaku went over the details on what they needed to see and prepared them with potential answers for possible questions that were going to be thrown at them.
"I'm sorry, who is Takahashi Hibiki?" Hiyori questioned. "Is he even an actual person?"
"Yes, Takahashi Hibiki is very much a real person," Shikaku answered. "And he's not an innocent person either so you don't need to feel any guilt by naming him. As of right now, he's already in police custody and being processed."
"Is this someone of Whirlwind?" Hiyori asked, her voice stern.
"Of course not," Shikaku answered. "All you need to know about Takahashi is that he'll be taking the fall for this kidnapping. Minato has personally handled the logistics of it all and you don't have to do anything more than give your statements and then answer a few questions."
Hiyori sighed. "Fine," Hiyori agreed before looking at Hiashi "we'll do our part."
After giving Hiashi and Hiyori a quick summary, he guided them through the hospital and to the main entrance. As they entered, Hiyori saw the partition that was set up, reporters and flashing cameras already covering the steps of the hospital while officers set up a podium. Nearby, Ino stood with Hanabi and seemed to be fixing her hair but the minute Hanabi caught sight of her mother, she ran to her. Hiyori happily took Hanabi into her arms and held on tight. She kissed Hanabi at least a hundred times over before looking her over.
"Are you all right?" Hiyori questioned as she put a hand on Hanabi's cheek. "You're not hurt?"
"I'm fine, Okaa-chan," Hanabi answered with a smile. "What about Onee-chan and Onii-chan?"
"They're fine," Hiyori answered. "They're dying to see you."
"Me too," Hanabi said.
"Lady Hiyori, Master Hiashi," Umino Iruka spoke up as he stood by casually at the divide in the partition, "they're ready for you."
Hiyori nodded before standing up and taking ahold of Hiashi's hand. She gave his hand a firm squeeze and gave Hanabi one more hug before they made their way outside to the podium, questions already beginning to be hurled towards them.
"Good evening," Hiashi began, the questions calming down as they prepared to hear what he had to say, "first off, my wife and I – the Hyuuga Clan as a whole really – would like to thank the Konoha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for all their efforts in searching for and returning our daughter back home to us."
To Be Continued…