Author's Note: Feels like it's been a while. Chapter 35 took a while to write, so this took a bit longer than I anticipated.
Before you reach any conclusion, please make sure you read the entire chapter.
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Chapter 33: It's Better This Way
"Oh, c'mon, c'mon! Let's head into a town; can we, please?! All of this walking is really killing my mood!"
The bombastic Tobi was doing laps around the stoic Uchiha prodigy. Itachi was able to stay composed, as usual. There wasn't a single twitch in his eyes, while the playful fraud kept darting in and out of his field of vision.
Despite outward indifference, he was inwardly running through endless theories and several simulations. Something was wrong; that was clear. Madara Uchiha, Tobi was what he was going by, had come out of the shadows and joined the organization. With Sasori's death still being fresh in all of their minds, it wasn't a huge surprise. No, that wasn't the problem.
Why had they been paired together? Was it merely because he had been the Puppeteer's most recent teammate, or was there hidden meaning behind it? Perhaps, just maybe, the Uchiha rogue had overanalyzed the situation in front of him. He had a penchant for doing it, that he would admit. The Clan may still be alive if he had curbed that habit sooner. Self-deprecating thoughts have been the norm ever since that fateful night at the compound.
It still haunted him to this day.
The orange-masked Akatsuki seemed to huff and puff from being ignored for the tenth time today. It was disturbing seeing someone with so much power act in such a manner. It was a scarily good act, to boot. If they hadn't worked with one another in the past, Itachi could see himself nearly falling for the ruse; a possibility that made it all that more terrifying.
"Oh, Itachiii." The fool said in a singsong voice. "What do ya say? We can get some hot food from a shop. Oh, I bet it will be delicious! Wouldn't that hit the spot right about now?!"
No answer.
"Perhaps you would like this voice a little better." The raven-haired prodigy stopped in his tracks and looked at the new person before him. Tobi, whose voice had been light and cheerful before, was now cold and grating. "Ah, I seem to have finally gotten your attention. That is good." The curvature of his visible eye was accompanied by a mirthless chuckle.
"I'm glad to see that we are no longer playing games. Madara."
"You're no fun, Itachi. Stoic and robotic, as always. No man is an island; you'd do well to remember that."
"Why have you joined the ranks? What are you playing at?"
"Whatever do you mean?" The sinister man said with a hint of amusement. "Sasori is no longer with us. With no new members lined up to take his place, I only thought it best to step out of the shadows to join the Akatsuki. Besides, you would be so lonely without a companion. You should be grateful; I'm doing you a favor."
"You can drop the act." The former ANBU Captain was incredibly adept at picking out a lie. Years of acting as a double agent honed this ability to the highest degree. Though, it wasn't like the man in front of him was trying all that hard to hide his intentions. "You don't even believe the words coming out of your own mouth."
"Heh, straight to the point. That is so like you." The man behind the mask nearly sighed. "If you must know, I'm here to make sure you don't fail your next assignment. You see, your debacle in failing to capture the One-Tail didn't go over so well within the organization. Something like that cannot happen again."
"I know that." Itachi responded calmly. "However, I had no choice in the matter. I was outnumbered. And with Sasori defeated by the Nine-Tails, it was only a matter of time before I was, as well. Only later did I find out that you joined in the fight. Had I known sooner, things may have gone differently." Those cold eyes flashed dangerously as if daring Madara to challenge him.
It was a verbal chess match, one that most wouldn't even pick up on. However, these two were not just some run of the mill Shinobi; they were the pinnacle of the once great and feared Uchiha Clan. It was clear that neither wanted to fight, but they were still cautious their counterpart would strike.
"Hm, I wonder about that." His tone would have chilled nearly anyone to their core, but Sasuke's brother held steadfastly. "Answer me truthfully, did you have a hand in Sasori's defeat? I find it nearly impossible to believe that he was beaten by the Nine-Tails brat all by himself. Zetsu saw you at the battle site with Naruto, and Sasori was already down. You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?"
'He really doesn't know anything.' Itachi's thought as he allowed his shoulders to relax slightly. "By the time I arrived back at the hideout, Naruto had already killed him. I soon found myself pinched between him and the team I had previously pursued. With two Jinchuriki and two highly skilled Jonin along with a skilled medic, my only option was a retreat."
They glared at one another.
"Hm, Naruto Uzumaki, huh? I had my doubts, but this conversation seems to have confirmed it. It appears we took him far too lightly. On top of that, I now realize I should have killed that Nara brat while I had the chance. Together, they could grow to become a real thorn in our side."
The son of Fugaku did not lower his guard, still raised around one of the two founders of the Hidden Leaf. The air was heavy with unspoken tension. There was something else the masked man wasn't saying; he could feel it.
"So… what is the plan now?" Sasuke's brother asked tepidly.
"We will continue to hunt just as before. One of the things mentioned in White Zetsu's report says that the Hidden Sand has acquired a worrisome new asset that will impede any further advancements. Half of the One-Tail's chakra will have to do for now; we can always retrieve the rest later. And, as for the Nine-Tails, when the time comes… I will task Pain with that duty."
"I see…"
Not good. Not good at all.
'Naruto… have no choice but to leave the rest in your hands…'
The exchange with Ibiki was brief. Naruto explained the vital information that Sasori had relayed to him and that his plan was to head straight for the Hokage. They both agreed that this was imperative to the safety of the Land of Fire. Haste was key.
Though, for reasons unknown to even himself, the blond left out the part about the Tenchi Bridge.
It just wasn't nearly as pressing as what was happening within the Leaf. Yes, that was what he had told himself. I mean, who would care about that when a spy was in their midst? It made sense… right?
Well, that didn't matter right now; the only thing that did was finding Tsunade. The quicker, the better. A sense of trepidation crept up on him and refused to go away. He just had to hope that nothing would get in his way.
"Hey, Naruto! Wait up!"
'Of course… just what I needed right now.' Naruto turned around and smiled. Though, it lost a bit of its luster when he noticed the person's body language. Kiba didn't look very happy, and he wasn't even riding on Akamaru's back; the dog followed slightly behind the Inuzuka, his tail down between his legs in a subdued manner. Come to think of it, the Dog User's callout to him sounded rather aggressive for addressing a friend.
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't voice his thoughts. "What's up, Kiba?"
"What's up?!" The boy nearly snarled. "You really got the nerve to act like nothing is wrong?!"
"Eh?" Okay, now the Uzumaki was definitely confused. "What did I do?" Looking the member from Team 8 up and down, it was clear that he wasn't fully recovered from their mission. There were scuffs and scratches on his face, and his right cheek was bandaged.
"Don't act like you don't know. Kakashi-sensei and Sakura both said you were in the room when Lady Tsunade told you guys that the four of us were still in the hospital. They came to see us. You know, their friends!"
'What? She said that?!' The blond Chunin thought. 'Actually, I did zone out in there… Did I really miss that?' The Jinchuriki shook his head. Now wasn't the time to get distracted, not after what he had just learned. His friends were important, but they were still alive; some people might not be very soon if he didn't deliver this intel to Tsunade immediately.
"Look… Kiba, I don't mean to seem like an ass, but I have some really important stuff going on right now." He sounded almost pained to say that. "We're going to have to talk about whatever this is later."
Kiba's frown deepened even further as the blond teen walked past him. He followed just as quickly. "More important than your friends?! More important that Hin-" The Inuzuka stopped himself.
Naruto couldn't bring himself to say it aloud, but, yes, this was more important than visiting his friends in the hospital. Much more.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Kiba, but I wouldn't expect you to get upset over something like this. I honestly didn't even realize you guys were still in the hospital. If I had known, I definitely would have already visited you."
"This isn't about me, idiot."
The newly-minted Chunin stopped and turned to face his similarly-ranked friend. "Then, who are you talking about?"
That made Akamaru's owner hesitate slightly. He avoided eye contact for a moment, a clear sign of inner turmoil. What was so bad that it made him reluctant to talk about it?
"Hinata got it worse than all of us."
"She did?!" Blue-eyes widened slightly. "Is she okay?!"
Kiba roughly crossed his arms at his chest. "Oh, so now you care about her?" He scoffed. "Yeah, she's getting better like the doctors say. But that isn't the point." Akamaru whimpered softly behind them. "Hinata was one of the three people who demanded to be put on the squad tasked with fighting the Akatsuki. Hinata was actually the one to write up their argument for why they were the best people for the job. She fought her ass off for you. Now she's in the hospital recovering from injuries she received trying to protect you, and you don't even try to see how she's doing?"
"I already told you, I didn't kn-"
"Even if she wasn't in the hospital, you didn't even bother to check in on her." Kiba suddenly coughed into his fist. "And Shikamaru, too. Yeah… he's a good guy, a good friend. Make sure you pop in his room for a visit." He finished weakly.
Naruto felt a pang in his chest. Kiba was right, and he knew it to be true. Why hadn't he even attempted to make sure they were alright? The last time he had seen them, they were unconscious… Sure, a lot was going on right now, but that was definitely no excuse for his behavior.
'Some friend I am.' The teen thought disparagingly. After all, his friends and loved ones were supposed to be what he held closest to his heart. It wasn't like him to disregard them in such a manner. 'Is this a side effect of losing Hikari?' No, he wasn't going to let himself off that easy. That excuse was just a pitiful attempt to try and shift the blame off of himself. This was his fault, and he would take responsibility for his actions.
Jiraiya's student sighed. "Thanks for letting me know, Kiba. Right after I take care of this, I'm going to go see how everyone is doing… I'm sorry for being a crappy friend."
Kiba nodded, accepting that answer. Deep down, he knew the blond idiot wouldn't have forgotten something as important as this without good reason. Still, seeing the downcast expression on his Hyuga teammate's face was enough to send him into 'brotherly mode.' It was bad enough the girl had to deal with her overbearing father, but her idol seemingly not giving a damn about her despite all she had done? No, that was where he would draw the line.
"I'll hold you to that, Naruto."
The blond reciprocated the nod, and body flickered away with a simple hand sign.
'Whatever you're doing had better be damn important, idiot…' The Inuzuka knew it was; the knucklehead wasn't someone who would lie about something like that. Still… "You're so oblivious." He was speaking as if someone could hear him. "How can you not see how she feels about you?"
Naruto quickly found himself in the room with the Fifth Hokage and the Jonin Commander, Shikaku Nara. After his encounter with Kiba, he wasted no time in making his way to the tower. It had taken a bit of waiting since the two were out conducting official business. If their location hadn't been highly classified, the blond would have gone to look for them himself. Despite the severity of his visit, he waited as patiently as he possibly could.
The discussion had been more extensive than his exchange with Ibiki, but not by much. While massive in weight, the information he carried was quick and easy to explain.
"I see…" Tsunade had looked worn out before their meeting, but it was even more apparent now. The Jutsu she used to keep up her youthful appearance was still in effect, but even it couldn't hide the toll this day had taken on her. "And Sasori told you this himself?"
The Uzumaki nodded. "I'm not entirely convinced that he's telling the truth, but I think that-"
"Oh, he's definitely telling the truth." Shikaku cut in. "In fact, this news could not have come at a better time."
"And… why is that?"
"We're working on some theories right now, Naruto." Tsunade said calmly. "It's okay. You can let us handle things from here on out. You've been a tremendous help to us."
That put the Chunin at peace. It was good to know that he sometimes didn't need to run himself ragged, trying to solve a problem all by himself. To rely on other people, that is what Kakashi had told him to do before they left on their mission to rescue Gaara. Thinking back on it… Naruto didn't follow it all that well back then.
"Then, I would like to make a request. If that's okay, of course."
"Oh?" The Sannin's eyebrow rose. "What is it?"
"The spy is most likely here because of me, right?" Both Jonin nodded their agreeance. "Well, then why don't I just leave the Village for a bit? If we don't tell anyone, this Zetsu guy won't have any idea where I am. In an attempt to find me, he might step out of place so you guys can snuff him out. Besides, there's something that I need to do, and this is the perfect time to do it."
Tsunade mulled it over in her head. It wouldn't be such a bad idea to get Naruto out of the line of fire while they suppress the flames. Though, letting the Jinchuriki outside the Village walls would always be a risk. The Chunin had already proven that he could take care of himself, but a pair of Akatsuki would be a tall task for even someone as strong as Jiraiya, let alone his student.
'What to do?' She thought.
"If I may ask, what is it that you need to do outside of the Leaf Village for, Naruto?" The levelheaded Nara asked with thinly-veiled curiosity. "As you know, it would be dangerous to let you go anywhere by yourself. Even if we have Akatsuki here, they could still be skulking around close by, too."
Naruto bit the inside of his cheek. He had already made his choice. "I want to visit the Land of Waves and bury Tsunami and Inari next to Tazuna. I made a promise to him at his grave that if I found their bodies, I'd bring their family back together again."
Tsunade's heart panged for the boy, and her kneejerk reaction was to authorize his request. Though, as the Hokage, she resisted the temptation. The Commander, on the other hand, was a little less quick with the emotional trigger.
"We still have the Akatsuki to worry about. You can't be out there alone." Shikamaru's father put his hand to his chin. "Though, if we mobilize a whole squad… then, Naruto's whereabouts may be found out by the spy. Too many moving pieces on the board will uncover our strategy. That would be counterintuitive to the whole reason that he'd be leaving in the first place…"
"I can always get myself out of any dangerous situations using the Reverse Summoning Technique that Jiraiya-sensei showed me. All I need to do is summon a big enough toad, hop in its mouth, and poof back to Mount Myoboku."
The Sannin, despite the situation, smiled. "I'll meet with the Elders, and we will find some common ground. I'll do everything in my power to get you to the Land of Waves as safe as possible."
'The Elders?' The Jinchuriki couldn't help but grimace. 'Those bastards again?'
"I know that none of this is ideal." Upon seeing that face, Lady Fifth sighed with a shake of the head. "We both are aware that the higher-ups only see you as a military asset. If I do anything reckless, they may try to turn this against me."
"No… I understand, Granny." The blond bowed. "As the Jinchuriki, I can't be doing things that will put the Leaf in danger." With his head dipped down, neither of the Jonin could see the look on his face.
Fierce and defiant.
"I'll meet with them later this afternoon and get back to you. If all goes well, you should be able to leave in the evening."
Jiraiya's pupil was dismissed, leaving the two leaders alone with a new and essential piece of information.
"What's your analysis about this Zetsu person and his abilities, Shikaku?" The Senju asked of potentially the most intelligent man in the Land of Fire.
"Based on the information Naruto gave us, I can say with near certainty that this Zetsu took the place of Izumo and assumed his identity. It explains why Kuromaru and Neji had conflicting stances on when he was last alive. The person Neji saw just a few days ago was not the real Izumo, but Zetsu in disguise."
"I agree with that. However, where does that leave us now? The imposter hasn't been seen in a few days. He could be anywhere, or anyone."
Shikaku nodded sagely. "We have to take a step back and look at the big picture. The first question is, why Izumo? What was the benefit of taking the place of a Chunin?"
"Couldn't it have been random selection? We don't even know how the intruder got into the village. It could have been a crime of opportunity, not necessity."
"I doubt that." The genius continued. "Think about it; he was a Chunin regularly staffed as one of your assistants and commonly on rotation for gate duty. Those make this less likely to be a simple coincidence." He started to pace in front of the Hokage desk. "Then, there was his apartment."
"It was messed up, torn apart." Recalled Tsunade.
"Exactly." The deer herder snapped his fingers. "My guess is, Izumo was chosen because, from an outsider's perspective, he could be deemed as an easy target who had access to important information. If he got close to you, then all of our intel would be at his fingertips."
"He couldn't have found anything of note within that apartment. And I never had Izumo and Kotetsu handle classified intelligence. Which means…" She trailed off.
"He would have found that out rather quickly. Zetsu must have already changed into someone else." Shikaku concluded, arms folded tightly at his chest. "He could be anyone with close ties to you, Lady Tsunade."
"Damn!" The Sannin bit her lip. "We have to meet with them to plan our next course of action. For now, do background checks on every potential suspect with the assistance of the ANBU Back Ops, and do it in secrecy! You're one of the only people that I can trust right now."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade." The Nara obeyed with a bow.
"We have to keep this contained. I haven't even told Shizune what's going on yet." She swung around her desk and poked her head out of the door. "Shizune! Call a meeting of the Elders, immediately!"
"Y-Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
"Oink!" Added Tonton.
Shikaku Nara walked over to the windows behind the Hokage's desk and frowned. Looking down at the people of his beloved village, it sickened him to think that anyone of them could be an enemy of the state. Now, he feared that at least two people had been killed by some imposter trying to get close to Naruto and Tsunade. That was his son's friend, and he'd do anything to protect him.
And yet, what was this feeling?
'But… why? Why do I feel like I'm missing something incredibly important.'
'Why… did I lie? I could have told them about the Tenchi Bridge, but I didn't. It's only six days away. If I leave for the Land of Waves today, I'll have to head straight to the rendezvous point." The blond raked his hands roughly through his blond locks. 'What is wrong with me?!'
Naruto had wanted to tell Granny Tsunade about what the Puppet Master had relayed to him; he really did. Yet, when push came to shove, his mouth didn't move the way he wanted it to. It was almost like something deep within his consciousness had ordered to keep that detail secret. He hadn't felt like himself.
A four-sided pinwheel.
'I'll definitely tell Granny the next time I see her."
He definitely would not.
The smell of anesthetics and other chemicals reminded the boy of where he was. He blanched; his abject hatred for hospitals rang loudly in his ear. This was for a friend, so there was no place to be a baby. There were just a lot of bad experiences he associated with being confined to the hospital.
A Chidori to the chest, along with a missing friend, in particular, came to mind.
The teen shook his head clear and recalled the words from the nurse at the front desk. 'Room 205. Should be three more doors down on the right.'
Just then, the door to the room he was walking towards slid open, and Hiashi Hyuga stepped out. Those eyes, as cold as ever, were quick to lock onto the approaching Chunin. Naruto hadn't even done anything, but he felt guilty about it. That hard stare, no wonder Hinata wasn't a very outspoken person. Who would be when they had to face those unforgiving eyes every day? It felt like every movement he made was being examined, scrutinized. It would deflate anyone untrained in discipline and self-acceptance, especially a child.
Much to his chagrin, the Clan Head seemed content to stand at the door and wait for his daughter's visitor to arrive and try to move past him.
"Lord Hiashi." Naruto nodded.
"Naruto Uzumaki." The nobleman didn't seem very impressed. "Here to see my daughter, are you?"
"I am." This moment felt similar to when the Uzumaki met with the Sand's council. "I wanted to swing by to thank Hinata for her help in the mission and to make sure that she's okay."
Hiashi said nothing, though the intensity of his stare increased drastically.
The boy on the receiving end scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Is everything okay with you, uh… sir?" He had no idea what was happening.
"That depends on what you mean by your question."
"W-What?"
"My eldest daughter is in the hospital. Do you think this is good news? Should I be happy with these developments?"
"No! That isn't what I sai-"
"On that same note, these unfortunate circumstances have led me to have one of the first introspective conversations with Hinata. I feel that our understanding and the bond that we share as father and daughter are stronger now as a result. In that sense, I suppose that you could say that things are 'okay.'
"Heh, heh." Naruto could do nothing but laugh nervously. "That's, uh, good to hear, I guess."
'What the hell is this guy talking about?' The blond added mentally.
"Just a few years ago, I considered Hinata a failure not worthy of leading the Hyuga. During spars, she would routinely get bested with ease by her younger sister, Hanabi." The Hyuga took in a sharp breath, and Naruto wondered why the man was telling him all of this. "Then, over the past couple of years, she quickly grew into someone I barely recognized. Her confidence surged, strength grew… but she still maintained the same kindness and gentleness of her late mother." A sad smile appeared on the face of the aging widower. "I had thought my teachings and guidance had finally gotten through to her, that she came to understand the importance that being heiress to the clan was to us."
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, but where is this coming from?" In other words, what did it have to do with him? Hinata had told her side of this story earlier. What was Hiashi getting at?
"I was wrong. It was not me that spurred her transformation. To be more precise, my strict tutelage was the reason she was timid and reserved in the first place. I see that now." Naruto's humorous squint of confusion made the typically stoic Byakugan wielder chuckle lightly. "I don't understand what she sees, but I suppose that sort of thing is in the eye of the beholder."
"All Hinata needed was for you to believe in her. As her father, why couldn't you do that from the start? She would never have had to claw her way to where she is now if you were there at the beginning."
The Clan Head blinked, taken aback by the bold stance the boy took. Not many had the gall to speak to him in such a way. However, he did not get upset by it. On the contrary, that little display showed him what made this boy special. "Yes, I know that now. It was a grave mistake that I wholeheartedly accept responsibility for. Thank you for giving my daughter the things that I could not. Or, rather, something that I did not realize she needed. My wife had always been the nurturing one, and, well, it appears that I failed miserably in that department." He bowed his head slightly in appreciation.
"Eh?" The Chunin blurted out, eyebrow arched. "I didn't give Hinata anything. What she did, she did on her own. Don't try and diminish all of the work she had put into herself."
'This boy is even denser than Lord Jiraiya… shall I just tell him?'
"She… cares for you deeply. Much more than you know."
"…What?"
Hinata was seated by the window in her hospital bed. It was bright and sunny out, but she was stuck inside in this uncomfortable hospital gown. The weather outside mirrored her usual disposition nicely, but all she felt was gloom today. Many people came to visit her during her stay, which was nice. And yet… the one person she truly wanted to see had not shown up. She found herself gripping the familiar orange book in her hands a bit tighter.
Kakashi and Sakura insisted that if he wasn't here, then that meant he was busy with important matters. The Heiress took those words at face value, but it didn't help her feel better.
The blond had changed a lot since going off with Jiraiya on their adventures. It should have been evident to anyone that knew him. However, after some reflection, she began to notice that something was off with the Naruto that she knew. It was different than simply growing up and maturing, he wasn't nearly as enthusiastic or happy as he used to be. When asked questions about his time away with the Sannin, his apathetic responses usually skirted around them entirely. That smile, bright as the sun, had dimmed to a point where it was nearly unrecognizable. The shy girl had been so happy for his return that she missed several red flags from the way he was acting. Now, it was as clear as the day that she was currently missing out on by being confined indoors.
"I wonder what he's doing… I just hope that he's okay."
Just then, a knock came at the door.
"Hinata, it's me." The blond's voice was one she recognized immediately, and she involuntary stiffened up. "Are you decent? Can I come in?"
The Hyuga teen stuffed the book underneath the covers and nervously straightened the sheets for her bed even though nothing was wrong with them. "Y-Yes. You can come in."
The door slowly opened, and his blond mop of hair was the first thing that came into her view. After sliding the door shut behind him, the whiskered boy stuffed his hands deep into his pockets.
There was an air of tension in the room, one that Hinata could feel but not understand. 'Did something happen?' She wondered.
…
"How are you feeling?" The blond finally broke the awkward silence. "Kiba said that you got roughed up pretty good." He could have winced at the way he phrased that. "I mean, I just wanted to make sure that you were feeling okay."
The kunoichi deflated slightly at the mention of her teammate. 'Is… that why he came to see me? Because of Kiba?' The Inuzuka had expressed frustration at Naruto's no show, and despite her best attempts to calm the boy down, he had declared to 'teach that blond idiot a lesson!' after his own discharge.
"I-I'm okay." Her tone was soft. "The doctors said I broke a few ribs and had a break in my right femur, along with some other minor injuries. I feel much better thanks to their Medical Ninjutsu. I should be able to leave in a few days."
"That's good to hear." The Uzumaki scratched his cheek, a tell that he was either nervous or uncomfortable. "I would have been here sooner, but I had no idea you guys were in the hospital! Kiba said that I knew, but I really didn't; honest. You know that, right? I would never forget about my friends like that!"
"Of course I know that, Naruto." It still felt unbelievably good to hear it come out of the boy's mouth. "You'd never turn your back on your friends, just like we would never do that to you." She smiled warmly.
"Ah, that's a relief!" The teen plopped down on the chair at the girl's bedside. That bit of confirmation seemed to have cut some of the tension within the room. "I knew you wouldn't be mad at me, but it's still good to hear, ya know?"
"I heard the mission ended up being a success." The kunoichi said in an attempt to nudge the conversation forward. "The Kazekage is safe because of you, you know?"
"It was a team effort. We had a huge team; I couldn't have done without the help of all of you."
"You're so quick to dismiss yourself." Hinata was surprising even herself with the way she was speaking. "It's okay to give yourself credit when you do something good." She would know. That advice, thanks to Ino, helped her significantly in changing as a person.
"Heh." His laugh didn't sound that happy. "That's what everyone keeps trying to tell me… but it wasn't good enough for me. I still made so many mistakes that I could have avoided. Granny Tsunade even gave me a field promotion to Chunin. Can you believe that? Me, a Chunin?"
"That's great news!" This Naruto reminded the Main Branch Hyuga of the time they spoke at the training grounds before the blond's fight against Neji. "That's something you should be happy about. She saw your skills and potential and rewarded you for all of the hard work you put in."
"I don't deserve it."
"Why not?"
The sternness in the question brought the Uzumaki's gaze back up; throughout their talk, it had slowly dipped down to the ground that rested beneath his feet.
"Being strong doesn't mean I deserve to be Chunin. I've made so many mistakes in the past. I don't have the brains of Shikamaru, or the leadership or Kakashi-sensei, to handle that kind of responsibility. I don't trust myself with the lives of my friends."
"But we trust you with our lives." The Heiress added in gently. "Why do you not trust yourself?"
"What if I'm not strong enough, or I make another stupid mistake that gets someone killed?" The blond grimaced, the only thing he could think about was the massacre in the Land of Waves. All of that blood was on his hands, and he knew it. "If I had that choice, I would always try to do everything by myself. It's better this way. If anyone has to die, I would be glad that it's only me." Kakashi's words rang loudly in his ears, but they had lowered to a faint whisper. He knew the man was right, but, deep in his heart, the blond couldn't bring himself to adopt that kind of mentality. One of his goals was always to protect his friends; how could he do that when they were trying to protect him?
"What about those people that you're trying to protect? They also want to protect you. Do you think that they would be okay with your choice to sacrifice yourself? Are you even considering our feelings at all?"
Naruto couldn't help but frown at those words; they stung. "Hinata, I-"
"The Hyuga are known for being able to read people. And, to me, you're almost like an open book right now." She unconsciously squeezed the novel that was resting in her lap underneath the covers. "It isn't just for us. You're afraid of being alone again."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"I've been watching you for a long time, so I think I understand you a little. Why don't you just let your friends help you? If we help each other, then no one person has to shoulder all of the responsibility."
The look of intense emotion in those pale eyes reminded the Jinchuriki of what Hiashi had said to him in the hallway.
…
He didn't answer.
"Is something wrong, Naruto? Ever since you got back to the village, it feels like you're trying to push away everyone that cares for you."
"I… ran into your dad on my way here." He involuntarily sucked in a deep breath. "He mentioned that he spoke to you… about why you joined the Akatsuki Assault Squad. And, also, about how you managed to grow so much over the past couple of years."
If Hinata's behavior was any indication, she had not expected her father to be brought up. The twiddling of her hands in her lap, coupled with her downward gaze, reinforced that thought.
"Oh."
He was about to do exactly what she feared would happen.
…
"What did he tell you?"
"He told me that I was the reason for both of those things and that you… cared for me. A lot."
They both shifted uncomfortably, and the kunoichi was suddenly very aware of the reason for the tension that she felt earlier. Her face grew hot.
"You shouldn't." Naruto shook his head. "Ah, wait, that came out wrong. What I'm trying to say is that we're friends, good friends. But… we're just friends. Caring for me in the way that you do… is a mistake."
Hinata's grip tightened around the bedsheets she had clasped onto ever since the boy entered the room. She finally lifted her head up, and Naruto was surprised to see anger in her typically bright and caring eyes.
The Uzumaki flinched.
"You think what I feel is wrong?" The shy girl didn't seem so reserved anymore. "Naruto, how could you say that? Why do you think you have any right to tell me what I should feel?" The Heiress didn't raise her voice, but the tone behind her words was fierce and full of defiance.
And, also disappointment.
She had a right to be mad. After all, the Uzumaki never said that he didn't reciprocate her feelings. Instead, he tried to negate everything that she felt as if she was mistaken. In truth, Naruto had no idea of the depths of admiration and love that Hinata felt for him. That's not his fault; how could he know when she had never said anything about it? Despite that, the words did not sting any less.
The boy winced at how hurt the girl felt. "N-No. Hinata, I-"
"Please leave; I would like to be alone." With a firm voice, the Hyuga turned away from him and looked out the window. She was mad and didn't want to see his face right now, but it was also an effective way to hide the tears that she knew were already welling up in her eyes.
Naruto reached his hand out as if to grab hold of the situation and mend it back together. It was too late. Based on her body language Hinata had already distanced herself from him, and it was clear that he was no longer wanted in the room. His hand fell lifelessly into his lap. With a heavy sigh, Jiraiya's student stood up slowly.
"I'm sorry… I'll go now."
A few seconds later, he was at the door—another sigh, followed by a sad look over the shoulder.
"I'm… about to do something really stupid." The Jinchuriki spoke even though he wasn't entirely sure the Heiress would listen to him. "The problem is, I know that it's stupid and dangerous, and I'm going to do it anyway. I have to." Hinata still didn't shift her head to look at him. "I have a duty to do, which I will gladly risk my life to complete, and I'm not just talking about being a Shinobi. What I want to do is not even for the sake of the Village. It's why I can't be with anyone. I couldn't live with myself if someone that loved me like that had to worry every day about whether I am going to live or die."
Still no response.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I hope you get better soon."
'It's better this way.'
The soft click of the sliding door told the Hyuga that she was now alone. Well, it would have if she hadn't already had her Byakugan active; the veins around her eyes were proof enough of that. She may not have been facing the boy when he spoke, but she had seen everything. The range of her vision extended out to the hallway. After a moment, the whiskered Chunin was out of sight, and she didn't bother to extend her visual field.
That appeared to be her breaking point.
A few sniffles, followed by a couple sharp breaths, and the future Clan Head brought her hand to her face to wipe away the tears. Tears brought on by a man who didn't understand the first thing about what she truly felt.
"That's a terrible reason to be alone, dummy…" She whispered to the empty room.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot!" The knucklehead pounded the top of his head like a drum. "What the hell is wrong with me?! She was already in the hospital feeling like crap, and I had to go and make it worse on her!"
The view from atop here was grand, but he didn't have the heart to enjoy it.
Naruto sat atop the stone statue of his father, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. The slightly humid wind delicately through his hair and lightly brushed over the whisker marks on his face. That did little to soothe his mind, though.
Everything had gone so smoothly in his head.
Hinata would come to realize the error of her ways and go back to just being a regular friend. There was so much going on in his life right now, countless things he worried about. It made the mere possibility of romance a foolish proposition. It would only get in the way of all that he wanted to accomplish. After all, he was a complete mess. How could anyone care for him in such a way? It didn't make any sense to him.
'Kiba's gonna want to fight me after he hears about what I said.' The Chunin sighed. 'I just hope she doesn't hate me now…'
"What would you have done, dad?"
With a sudden surge of adrenaline, the blond's instincts screamed at him. There was something wrong. In an instant, Naruto spun around on one knee, a kunai already gripped tightly in his hand.
Above, left, right.
Three strange, black, and white lion-like creatures rushed him at high speeds. 'What?!' Thought the blond frantically. With a clap of his hands and a surge of chakra, Naruto's Wind Wall sprung to life full-force around him. The elemental forcefield impeded the advancement of the oncoming threats.
All three monsters exploded and, to the teen's great confusion, sprayed out a thick, black substance. "Ink?" Was the determination he came to after closer inspection. "Well, whatever they are, they aren't as durable as I expected them to be. What is going on here?"
The high-pitched squealing of steel slicing through the air alerted him to the assailant approaching his back.
'Clang!'
It was a boy around the same age as himself, his tantō scraping dangerously against the Jinchuriki's knife.
The pale stranger has short, straight black hair and dark eyes. His outfit consisted of a high-collared midriff shirt and black pants.
Most importantly, his headband donned the Leaf's insignia.
"I'm going to give you a minute to think about what you're doing." The Uzumaki warned. "I'm in a really bad mood. I might do something that I'll regret later."
The assassin, who did not seem the least bit worried about the threat, smiled eerily. "I had heard you were able to kill Sasori of the Red Sand, an S-Rank threat from the Akatsuki. After seeing you for myself, I can see that those are only rumors. You're pretty weak, aren't you?" Despite their weapons clash, that creepy smile stayed on his face.
As if to say: I'm not trying all that much.
Naruto smirked. 'Am I being underestimated?' He thought.
'Poof!'
The assailant's eyes showed the first bit of worry as a seal-less clone appeared behind him. He leaned forward on his lead leg and threw a back kick to quickly dispel the copy.
'Got you!'
With his rear foot off the ground, Naruto slipped to the side and disengaged from their struggle. Without a solid foundation, the mysterious teen lost his balance and stumbled forward from the sudden loss of opposite force.
Jiraiya's student grabbed his attacker's arm, tripped his legs out, and threw the boy over his shoulder straight into the ground and onto his back. All of the assassin's air was expelled from his diaphragm, but Naruto left him no time to recover.
Naruto's knee dropped heavily into his gut, and a kunai was placed precariously close to the unknown teen's throat.
"I told you that I wasn't in the most forgiving mood today. Maybe you should have listened to me." That tone promised pain if his words were disregarded. "Now, before you die, tell me what you want. Why did you try to kill me?"
"I wasn't trying to kill you. " Despite being an inch away from death, the pinned Shinobi showed no outward fear. "I merely wanted to see how strong you were. I needed to know if the rumors were true. If you had died from that assault, then that would have answered any questions that I had."
"Next time, don't assume the skill level of someone you just meet." He pressed down on the kunai a bit harder. "As a Shinobi, you should know better. You're just asking to get yourself killed."
"Haha." That might have been the most disgustingly fake laugh Minato's son had ever heard. "I must say you hide your abilities very well. I am usually quite perceptive, but you play the role of a weakling convincingly. I'm impressed."
"I haven't seen you around before. Who are you, and why did you want to see how strong I was?"
"You can call me Sai." Another creepy smile, coupled with that monotonous, almost bored, tone. "As for why, well, it's only natural I would want to assess the skill level of my new partner."
"Partner? What are you talking about?"
"You requested to go to the Land of Waves for a personal mission, yes?" The blond teen nodded. "It was decided by the Elders and Hokage that I will accompany you on it. I assumed you to be weak if you needed guardianship, but that doesn't appear to be the case. How interesting."
Naruto didn't sense any lies coming from the one called Sai. He removed his knee from the sternum of his new teammate and offered a hand for assistance. The pale boy ignored it, opting to stand up by via his own accord.
'He seems decently strong, and I have never seen him before… On top of that, the way he acts reminds me a lot of Uddo.'
"Are you a member of the ANBU Black Ops?"
"You could say that, yes."
A glint refracted in those azure eyes. 'Perfect. I found my distraction for Kabuto, Sasori.' Thought the Chunin. "I want to leave today. Can you meet me at the Village Gates in an hour?"
"My mission is to accompany you, so, through my obligation to the Village, I must comply with your intentions." Still, that smile that made Naruto's skin crawl was plastered on his face.
"You could have just said yes…"
"Yes."
The Uzumaki took a deep breath and shook his head. 'Roll with it. It's not worth the effort.'
"We'll meet at the gate in one hour." The blue-eyed Shinobi made a quick hand sign for the Body Flicker. "Oh, and if you try to attack me again… I really will kill you next time." He wouldn't actually; it was mostly to try and get Sai to sweat a little. If something like that was even possible for a member of ANBU.
'Poof.'
Outwardly, those words of warning appeared to have done very little. On the inside, however, well, who knew?
…
"What took you so long, ya jerk!" One of the doppelgangers stomped up to the original after he walked through the front door. "Do you know how long we've been here doing your dirty work?! It's been hours, and you never came back to bring us food! What's up with that?!
"Yeah!" Chorused the other blond copies fuming behind him.
"I know, I'm sorry." The real Naruto would have scratched his cheek sheepishly, but his hands were full. "I didn't realize there were so many things I needed to do, but don't worry. For your hard work, I brought each of you four bowls of ramen!"
The clone's anger quickly seemed to die down. Should… should they still be mad? They knew they were being taken advantage of through their love of ramen, but it was four bowls. Four bowls!
"With extra pork?"
"With extra pork."
With extra pork!
The hungry Naruto's scarfed down their reward with fervor. The original thanked them for their efforts, dispelled them, and took in the experience that team had gathered for the day. It didn't overwhelm his senses, but he held onto something for support just in case. Once all of the necessary information had been sorted and assimilated, he took out a scroll and sealed all their notes and drafts away.
'I'll bring these with me. Who knows, may want to write a little to keep my mind occupied.' A quick glance at the clock showed that it was already almost time to leave. 'Better do a quick once of the apartment. Don't wanna miss anything that could be important.'
After a few more minutes of collecting items, the blond found himself staring at an old photo of Team 7. 'It's so dusty. How'd I miss this when I cleaned up before?' He asked himself as he lazily wiped the glass frame with his hand. All of the memories from his early Genin days came flooding back to the forefront of his mind.
Some good… and some bad.
His gaze lingered particularly long on the only one in the picture who wasn't around anymore; Naruto's best friend, Sasuke Uchiha.
'Sasuke.'
The pain and wounds he felt after the battle at the Valley of the End were mostly gone; only a lingering sense of sadness and self-doubt remained. Not that he failed in bringing the Uchiha back, no; Naruto just realizes now how foolish and naïve he had been back then. Trying to force Sasuke back, when it was clear the prodigy had no plans to, was idiotic. If the battle had swung the other way in his favor, it still wouldn't have ended well. Not with Sasuke the way he was. Speaking of that, Orochimaru…
The Snake wasn't the primary catalyst in the young Uchiha's change, but it certainly didn't help the situation. No, the flame of hate the avenger had for his elder brother was already searing and luminous; the serpent Sannin, with his wild ambition, merely fanned the inferno to new heights. There would have been a breaking point regardless; his involvement simply expedited the unfortunate chain of events.
'I haven't seen Sasuke in almost three years. What if he's changed into someone like Orochimaru?' It wouldn't be unbelievable to think that being around a sociopath like Orochimaru would alter a person for the worse. Could his friend reach that point, though? They may not have always gotten along, but Sasuke never did anything to make Naruto think of him as a bad person. He could be an asshole sometimes, but that was it.
In the end, he really wouldn't know until the day they meet again. Would they be friends or foes?
'If it's true, and Sasuke has changed, I'll-'
There was a dull ache in the back of his head, but he ignored it. With a heavy heart and sad eyes, Naruto placed his framed picture of Team 7 face down on the table.
'I'll have to kill him, too. For his sake.' To save a friend from the path of darkness, no matter what it takes.
No regrets.
A sound off to his side withdrew him from those morbid thoughts. Out of the corner of his eye, a hawk landed at his window. It scratched gently against the glass with one of its talons. The majestic bird appeared to be carrying a scroll on its back.
Naruto, confused, slid open his window and gently removed the message from its carrying case. With the job done, the bird of prey took off into the sky.
The teen unfurled the parchment, all while wondering what the contents contained. The Hokage's easily recognizable seal immediately told him who it was from, and, potentially, what it was about.
"I'm sorry that we couldn't meet in person, but some new information has been revealed about the situation. It is nothing to worry yourself about, but we should keep our distance until it is resolved because of what we discussed before. Your request has been accepted, but the Elders insisted upon assigning you an ANBU member under the command of Danzo Shimura. I'm sure you have heard bits and pieces from Jiraiya about this man, and I warn you to take all that he told you very seriously. Watch your guard like a hawk, because I am sure he will be doing the same with you. Be safe, and come back alive."
'Is she being intentionally vague in case this message was to be intercepted?' It made sense since that Zetsu guy was still skulking about. 'I wonder what kind of information they're talking about? Did Sasori spill more details, or did they figure something out by themselves?' The Uzumaki doubted the Puppet Master said anything, but that guy didn't make any sense to him. It was possible, just not very probable.
Wait, wasn't he told not to worry about it?
The blond teen shook his head. 'I should get going, anyway. I've got some big days ahead of me.'
"The Great Naruto Bridge? I see, so you were named after this bridge, yes?" The one called Sai asked behind his fake smile.
Naruto twitched slightly at the obvious attempt to rile him up.
"No wonder you have such a strange name. Haha. Waves, water, fish; it all makes sense now."
"You don't talk for the entire way over here, but now you decide to open your mouth? What the hell is up with that? Could you just not think of a sly comment to make until now?"
"That's right, fishcake boy."
So far, the Root Operative hadn't done anything to arouse suspicion. To be fair, there was not much Naruto could go off of. All they did was travel from the Leaf to the Land of Waves in near-silence.
The only thing about the whole situation was the guy himself. He creeped the blond out. The empty grin was bad enough, but he'd sometimes catch the pale teen just staring at him. It didn't feel like an examination, either. It almost felt like… his new teammate was… trying to be friendly?
"You know, you ought to work on your facial expressions a little bit more." The Chunin stated while they walked under the arches of the famous bridge. "Anyone, even a civilian, would be able to tell that you're faking."
"Oh?" The smile dropped, replaced by an inquisitive look. "It is that obvious that it's not genuine?"
"Yeah, it is."
"What gave it away? I've tried very hard to get it right, but these types of things do not come naturally to me."
"First of all, no sane person is going to be smiling all of the time. People aren't that happy. It's freaky, so cut it out. Secondly, there's no emotion in your eyes when you do it. Without that, you're just going to look like a serial killer. A person's eyes are the real key to what is in their hearts. It's much harder to fake and also a lot more difficult to hide. Lastly, it looks like you're forcing your facial muscles into that position. It just doesn't look natural on your face. You're far too tense and rigid when it's supposed to be happy and relaxed."
"Hm, I'll take these tips into consideration. Thanks, shorty."
"You're gonna be the one looking up at me in a second after I drop you again." The blond shot back calmly, he hand placed casually behind his head.
"Are you actually Naruto Uzumaki?" A simple yet loaded question.
"Eh?" The aforementioned blond glanced over at the Root Shinobi. "Of course, I am. Who else would I be?"
"I believe that you are already aware that I am not just here to act as your bodyguard. You are stronger than me, so the prospect of you needing my protection seems silly. You are also smarter than you look, which means that you must have figured this out immediately after our first encounter."
"Obviously. What's your point?" The elephant in the room had been addressed. Though, it surprised the Jinchuriki that his watchman was the one who outed it. Instead of revealing the notice he received from Tsunade, Naruto would take the compliment. He was reasonably confident he would have figured out that information without the Hokage's help, but there was no way to know for sure.
"It's just, the intel on you that I have been supplied with seems to be as if it was about another person. Hotheaded, easy to anger, low intelligence, prideful, and a middling Shinobi in strength. And yet, you are none of these things."
"Damn, that stuff is a little hurtful. Whoever compiled that list definitely has it out for me. Normally, some of the snide remarks you say might annoy me a bit, but I've heard a little about how Root trains their soldiers."
'He is even aware that I work under Lord Danzo, not the Hokage?'
"You're stripped of all emotion and are essentially made to be tools used for the sake of the Land of Fire. It reminds me of another ANBU that I met. Because of that training, you lack tact and have no awareness of social cues. I can't, in good conscience, get mad at someone when they don't even realize they're doing something wrong." The Chunin patted his partner on the shoulder in a gesture of understanding. "You're an ass, but I kind of like you."
"I nearly killed you."
"Are you kidding? It wasn't even close. There'd need at least two more of you for me to break a sweat."
There was a brief silence between the two as they arrived in the small town's shopping district. Every time Naruto visited, the area became more and more prosperous in the time he was away. There were even more shops than last time, and each of them seemed to carry a wide variety of products. The residents looked happier; their clothes were no longer tattered and old. Tazuna's bridge had truly changed their lives forever.
Once villagers became aware of his presence, they began to huddle around their savior in mass fervor. Not only was he a best-selling author in those parts, but he was one of the main catalysts that freed the land from the clutches of Gato.
To even someone as emotionally detached as Sai, the Wave celebrity looked uncomfortable with the whole situation. Despite that, the teen 'happily' signed a few autographs and greeted a few familiar faces before he was on his way.
It wasn't long until they were at the gravesite. Naruto's eyes fell on the three plots already there.
So much death and in such a short amount of time.
With a sad sigh, the Uzumaki unsealed the puppet bodies of Tazuna's family. A quick and easy Earth Style Jutsu was all that was needed to prepare their resting place. The human puppets were buried, covered, and mourned over in the span of just about forty-five minutes.
'It took a long time, old man, but I finally did it. I brought Inari and Tsunami back to you like I promised. They may look a lot different from the last time you saw them, but I did that best that I could. I hope you can rest easy now.'
The boy whose name was immortalized in the nation's famous bridge took a moment of silence for his fallen friends.
Zabuza, Haku; they may have not seen eye to eye initially, but he had been grateful to have met them. Those two allowed him to find his own Ninja Way. One that, while he had changed drastically since their confrontation, he still believed in with absolute certainty.
Protect your loved ones with everything that you have.
Inari, Tsunami, Tazuna; they were taken from the world far too soon. Despite being oppressed by a cruel tyrant most of their lives, they were kind and caring people who had the guts and determination to never give up. Without them, the area would still be destitute and hopeless. If anyone deserved their name on that bridge, it was these three.
Naruto winced as a bright shine of light glinted in his eyes. The steel off of Zabuza's executioner's blade being the culprit of the offense. It was as if that little moment of chance compelled him to act.
"You're taking the blade of one of the Seven Ninja Swordsman?" The ANBU teen asked as he watched his partner seal up the massive sword. "What good could that possibly do you?"
"I'm not really sure." Said the Jinchuriki honestly. "I just don't think it's a very good idea to leave it here. I wouldn't want something as dangerous as this to fall into the wrong hands. I have no intention of using it myself, though; I prefer to use kunai."
"Are we going now?"
"I see that smile." Naruto commented. "You'd love to leave, wouldn't you?"
"More than anything." Was Sai's honest response.
"Fine, but…" There was a glint in the eye of the blond, one that made even Sai uneasy. "Just to be clear, your mission is to escort me wherever I go, correct?"
"That is correct. I have been told to be at your side at all times."
'Just as I thought. That's perfect...'
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason. No reason, at all…"
Author's Note: Now, I know what some of you are thinking. Before you write that review telling me that you hate Hinata and are dropping the story, take the time to look at the genre that this story is filed under. Just Adventure, there is no romance tag. This is not a romance story, and I have no intention of writing any mushy love scenes. That does not mean there will never be pairings of any kind in the future; just know that they wouldn't be significant to the overarching plot.
Hinata has feelings for Naruto, and those feelings had to be addressed at some point. It wouldn't make sense to ignore them. People may not like it, but that's the truth. There are no plans for a pairing of any kind anytime soon.
For all of those who enjoyed the actual chapter, thank you. I'd greatly appreciate it.
Drop a review! It motivates me to keep writing.
See you next time with Chapter 34: Controlled Chaos!
Hinata Hyuga: Hidden Leaf Chunin
Age: 15
Ninjutsu – 3.5, Taijutsu – 4, Genjutsu – 3, Intelligence – 3.5, Strength – 3, Speed – 3.5, Stamina – 3, Hand seals – 3.5
Total – 27
Rank – B
Profile: A budding expert in the Hyuga's Gentle Fist Taijutsu. Through hard work and determination, she improved significantly in nearly all areas. Hinata's Gentle Fist and smooth, fluid movements make her a deadly opponent in close combat, but her real strengths lie in her reconnaissance ability using the Byakugan. A valuable Shinobi asset, the Heiress would elevate even the most skilled squads.
Battle Type: Recon/Combat
masterchief1229 – Thanks! A lot of people didn't know about Anko, it seems.
Altzelic – Sasori did it mostly for himself, but that doesn't mean it isn't a tremendous help to the Leaf. Glad you enjoyed!
Eap22 – Wow, long time indeed! Good to hear from you again!
When you say write about the toads, what do you mean?
Yugitolover9000 – Yugito is around Kakashi's age. 29 is too old for Naruto, in my opinion.
Addictorator – This is one of the most in-depth and insightful reviews that I have ever received. The amount of thought you put into your predictions is impressive to see. I can't answer anything directly due to spoilers; just know that I was smiling from ear to ear while reading every word!
I'm glad that you've been enjoying this trip!
Gramfam – I appreciate the honest review, and you are right that I accidentally reused that puzzle metaphor. I have to chalk that up as poor memory on my part. The time between the writing of these chapters can be pretty lengthy; as a result, I can't remember everything. I'll try to be better next time.
Thanks again!