Chapter #8
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, it all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
"Blindness hatred is blind, as well as love."
-Thomas Fuller
Laughter rippled off Naruto with ease.
The salty breeze stung her eyes as she centered herself at the center of the rocky vessel. The nauseous winds blew past her, making her green with ache.
Her eyes fixed hollow at the fading sight of Yukigakure.
For so long she had desired to not be a part of the village, to leave at the first opportunity. Yet now, as she stared from afar...
"It's like an ant from afar," he chuckled, slamming at her side, inhaling deeply the salty air
"Ant?" she peered confused
"You don't know what an ant is?" he screeched
"It's too cold for them in Yuki," a timbre sound responded, dark hair tied away , his eyes sharp, precise.
He introduced himself - Itachi Uchiha. The man who had helped her regain her sight. The man whose voice alone tricked her heart into confusion and her body to a deep fever. She shifted closer towards Naruto, an unconscious uneasiness and distrust of the older gentleman.
The blond ruffled his hair, a light blush of embarrassment before diving into tales of Konoha - the great land, his friends, the people. Hinata leaned into his words, absorbing each sentence with desire, yearn, hope.
"Itachi, we are approaching fog." a silver haired man in the corner approached
Hinata looked at the smoke like-film that distorted their view. Her thoughts returning to the Uchiha mansion, Naruto's tired voice giving way to introducing the Uchiha who looked at her eyes,
She still felt the sharp jolt of electricity, chakra, they had called it. As he quietly played his fingers expertly, shaking the "knots" surrounding her eyes.
"There are Hyugas in Konoha. I believe you have some form of relation with them." Naruto had explained so easily, his countenance so hopeful it filled her with excitement.
Hyugas she had come to gather were her people, somewhat. She still couldn't understand why they all stayed in Konoha, leaving her to the last seventeen cursed years.
But a possible family - a home
Itachi watched her from afar, the wheel in his grip piercing his skin raw, rough parts of the wood splintering his skin. It was her. He looked at his finger, the middle finger of his left hand, black ink danced as an imprinted ring with the word prêt - ready - staring him in the eye.
The key sizzled lightly into his skin.
It hadn't been activated in more than a decade but as he channeled chakra into her eyes, opening blocks that had built from the sudden surge of unused chakra, it had opened - revealing what he had known
The cool night breeze blew past, sending a shiver down his spine, carrying with it Naruto's words that had no end and her laughter, cautious and soft that punctuated the blond's rambunctious acts.
Returning to Konoha seemed inconspicuous on the outside - a boat leaving Yukigakure to Konoha. However, Itachi knew to be cautious, calm, and alert
"Naruto, take your friend inside." his voice stayed smooth, his knuckles tightening the only indication of uncomfortability. Comprehending, Naruto helps Hinata up, a reassuring laugh her way about how they'd rather she not get ill from the sea's unforgiving winds
Once the door closed behind the duo, Itachi stared intently into the night mist, a clone appearing beside him to take the wooden wheel of the ship.
"Come out."
The wind whistled eerily for a moment, the air pulsating with urge.
A silhouette appeared on the foremast, the mist seal gleaming off the moonlight, a cool air surrounding the person.
"Is there something going on?" Hinata whispered to Naruto, one normally loud and open with his movements, was suddenly controlled and stealth-like with each stride.
"Nothing to worry about," he laughed off quietly, jiggling open the wooden door frame. It opened to a narrow compartment, a bunk bed with black sheets and Uchiha insignia decorated all over. The room stayed empty except for a table and chair and was lit by candle light.
Naruto motioned Hinata to the bed but seated himself on the chair, between herself and the door. His feet tapped with anxiety, ready to pounce at the slightest sound.
"Tell me about your life," he turned to her, his way of pulling her from whatever was happening outside their reach of hearing
She still didn't know this boy. She couldn't say she trusted him completely either. She was only here because there was a possibility of a family - and after being alone all her life and without roots, she had jumped at the possibility, impulsive, reckless.
Telling about her life though...that was hard. She thought through her words, analyzing each sentence, dissecting how much he must know. There were things she'd pushed away, to the foremost parts of her mind, locked away to never graze again. Concluding she was not ready - she mumbled
"It was alright. What was yours like? Being a prince and all."
She had come to find in the brief encounters they had that he enjoyed speaking. He spoke with such giddiness she couldn't help but be taken by the most mundane and absurd stories. But most of all, she enjoyed his stories about his friends, family, village - leaned into the novelties, heart wrapped around them as though she were fashioning a vapor like experience of her own.
Itachi stared the silhouette down calmly as sharp black eyes peeked through the fog, "Who are you?" his voice reverberated off the air, chillin it with frost
"I have been sent to collect the heir." the voice that responded had a much silkier feel to it than he had anticipated but it didn't unease him
"By?"
"My master." the only response he was sure to get
"There is no heir on here. You are mistaken." the timbre of his voice played calmly off the wood, oiling the boats ridges
The silhouette twitched slightly, as though considering his mistake but before he could speak another silhouette popped up beside the previous, this one much larger, stalkier. His aura more menacing, that the water seemed to still in his presence, fear of upsetting him.
"Itachi. Just hand him over."
The shark-like man spoke, eyes bearing holes through the older Uchiha.
Itachi's eyebrows raised for a brief second, understanding dawning into his features as he recalled his father's words,
"I can't just hand over my brother, hm?" he played along,
Itachi and Kisame had both studied at Akatsuki high in Amegakure during their teens and had been partners. But upon returning home, they had both ended on separate sides of the upcoming war
Kisame's face stretched to a smile-snarl. "We know that your numbers outnumber us both," he turned to the darkness, glaring down people he couldn't see. "Just for old times sake, I'll let you go."
Itachi's eyes rolled at Kisame's act of benevolence.
"I'll keep the graciousness in mind." he smirked, as his friend returned into the dark pools of water, the other hesitantly behind
~.~.~
Naruto's eyes widened at the sight of Kakashi at Fugaku's side and Itachi put two and two together of the day's events.
It really was her then.
"It has come to my attention that a Hyuga, the possible heir of Yuki, has been located." Fugaku's voice rang void of emotions as he looked the trio in the eye. "You are to return to Konoha tomorrow. I have sent word for Sasuke to remain. She is to go with you." his eyes, piercing dark gaze landed on his oldest son
"So soon?" Naruto blurted
"It is not safe here. And she hasn't been raised to fight, a skill she will very well need if she is to survive."
"You think it will be as big a war as 17 years ago." Itachi concluded as Fugaku shook his head, sullen.
"Bigger."
"He's right," a figure appeared from the walls, her gray dreads sweeping her hip as her purple kimono danced around her feet. Walking with grace and lightness, she stared at the trio,
"Kakashi," she nodded, the man looking no different to how he had a few years prior
"Itachi." and the room stood still, a blinding light haloed her as she stood before him. He bowed, "Mona-san."
"Wow," Naruto stared in awe, his face red from embarrassment and stunned at her beauty. Her attention landed on him for a second, "Yellow flash?"
"His son." Fugaku responded, pulling all attention back to himself.
"Hinata cannot leave Yukigakure." Mona's voice chilled, all forms of pleasantries dissipated, purple eyes flashing red then white then purple again
"Why not?" Fugaku was a stubborn man, he had always been. Mona studied the Lord of Yuki, yes he was definitely much different from Hiashi. Where a strong voice would halt a Hyuga it fired up an Uchiha. Sighing inwardly she stared him in the eyes, the sages were never one to waver. They were named sages for a reason.
"What do you see out there Fugaku?" she motioned to the nearby stream that flowed smoothly around the palace walls.
"Water." having never been a man of riddles he answered irritatedly.
"It's moving. The Hyuga's blood agreement with the Sages is what restored all four seasons to Yuki, a land that once knew only winter. After the war, the annihilation of the Hyugas caused a return to winter. Yuki only began to know spring ten years ago when Lady Hinata turned seven." Mona explained calmly, her Yukata blowing under her feet, white locs slowly moving and her chakra, a dark purple enveloped her being.
"So what you're saying is?"
"If Hinata-sama is to leave, Yuki will not only lack fall and winter but spring as well."
"Mona." he muttered quietly, fists clenched on his desk as he stared daggers into it. "If she doesn't leave, they will find her. When they find her, they will kill her. Yuki will then have no hope."
Purple chakra slowly crept from beneath her kimono, slowly engulfing the whole room.