It was horrible, just horrible the sight eyes witnessed. The attack no ambush was devastating and horrific. The train tracks ripped and twisted, train carts blown, some dismantled, others looked like a beast tore and ripped through it. Shattered and broken windows. Earth mixed with metal, fire and smoke mixed with earth. Blood painted and fertilized the ground. Some bodies scattered like confetti. Things buried under rubble, chaos and destruction. It was hard to tell if anyone survived.
Everything desolated and still...dead. Nothing moving, not even the single breath or whip of the wind. There was just nothing, nothing at all. Nothing but shambles. How could this happen? How could it? They should haven't let them go, they should have went them. Should have provided them with more security. Or at least a clone. Temari should have gone them. But they insisted it was going to be alright. All they wanted was to spend time with their child. That was all they wanted, some time with their eldest. Recalling their talk, all she wanted was to get her daughter back. Missing them so much, showering them with love. See them smile.
They just wanted a little bit of time with them. Their smile assuring them everything was going to be fine. Despite the dark look in their daughter's eyes.
All for it to be destroyed before their very eyes. Everything they loved buried and destroyed before them, what they've found and had for the past couple of years. Now...now...
They couldn't believe it either, the second they heard what happened wasted no time to send out a team to the location and they themselves went. Leaving their position and hurried to the site. The damage done was extensive. It was more than an ambush, from what they quickly gathered. It was meant for murder, a vengeful murder.
Responsibility. It was their responsibility given to them, by their father. To look after them, it was their duty. The swore to uphold it no matter what. Even as they grew older and started their own families. They would keep carrying it, till the day they die and should they. It would go to another. They would make sure. Their hearts barely staying strong, gripping to hope it didn't happen. Gripping hard. Imaging what happened, their mind piecing it together. Speculating. Their thoughts running like lighting on what happened. All to be clouded by the horrific blood curdling screams. It had to have started off peaceful. She went to her daughter, with her smile and intent to just talk. Trying to get them to smile, see what was wrong. No doubt about to apologize when...it happened. The attack. And with their strength still returning, after their pregnancy. Left them vulnerable and easy to attack. Should their attacker not be noticed. Not saying they couldn't defend themselves. They would have been able to put some sort of resistance and offensive. But with their children there, their focus and current powers would be to protect them. Leaving them to be taken down and subdued.
The thought of the children witnessing such a scene, the horrified shock of disbelief up on their faces. Especially for the second child, their innocent eyes inherited from their mother, now shattered. Their smile turning in a twisted frightful scream. The twins, the babies. Unlike the others who, they prayed survived. Had some way of defending themselves, but the youngest...the completely inexperienced did not.
The kids! The children! Where were they? What happened to them?
There she sat in her hospital bed, holding and cradling her infant daughter. Smiling with joy and love. The look in her eyes, shocked and beyond happy. Her eyes never left the little bundle of life, which she gave birth to, something she never thought could be possible but here it was clear as day. Her daughter, in her arms. Her arms gently and protectively holding the little one. The same way she held all her children when they were born. The tender look in her eyes, the strong desire to always love them and protect them with her very life. Her golden-yellow eyes never gleamed to bright. True happiness was what she held physically. What gave her happiness, what made her happy. Tears would have weep down her face, if she could produce tears. But, there was no need for them. The moment itself showed it.
Her eyes didn't want to move, until they noticed another's presence. She turned towards them with smile so loving and bright. Inviting them to come and join in her happiness.
Boulders, rubble and debris quickly moved out the way. Being extremely delicate and careful. Sensory shinobi's scouted and looked high and low for any sign of movement or life. Just anything. All anyone came across was tattered and shattered remains of the ambush. This wasn't look good. Not at all. Names being called in hopes for a response back. But nothing came, except echos.
Many where beginning to doubt there could be survivors, but held their tongues in fear of what would follow should they do so. Still nothing, nothing at all. No sign of the one who did the ambush. Clearly long gone no doubt. Not even a single trail or scent could be picked up. They covered themselves well, very well. The best noise couldn't pick it up, causing frustration and anger. Which wasn't helping them focus. Their own emotions rising. Growling lowly to themselves. Years ago, they had done the same thing, trying to find them after an explosion which was thought to have taken their life. They had managed to find a small trace of their scent. Yet, they couldn't. With their desire to find them, pushed them to not become discouraged.
There was no energy they could feel. That bind them together, as it did years ago and still did. There was nothing they could sense. This only happened once, when they couldn't sense them. With the help of another it allowed them to sense them, just the faintest spark. Now, there was nothing. Using as many shadow clones, to scour every single inch.
Why hadn't they gotten the information sooner? This could have been prevented, all of this. But, it was too late. By the time the two came into their office to deliver the information from Sasuke, it had happened.
Nothing. No had found anyone at all. There was no one. Things begin to look grimmer and grimmer. Heartbreak was beginning to form. Desperate from something, anything. Begging the world not to let this happen. Pleading with their lives to not take another they love away.
"...Good morning, Gaara."
They could hear their wife's voice and see her greeting smile always ready. Arms open wide to embrace them in love. Her soft and gentle touch, that warmed him and made everything still. Rid him of all his worries.
"I brought you some dinner. You need to keep your strength up."
"I'm so proud of you, Gaara."
"Yoshi is trying on your Kage attire."
Using their sand to remove a heavy piece of Earth, throwing it aside. Nothing. They wouldn't stop, they had to be here. Somewhere.
Yoshi coming in scream in delight. Energetic smile from ear to themselves right at them. Luckily Gaara managed to catch his son."Daddy! Catch me! Catch me!"
While in his office, Gaara went over paperwork his son coloring on the floor merrily. Humming to himself, before stopping. Something catching his eyes, giving it a curious look. To just suddenly laugh for no reason. Puzzling the Kazekage, who smiles to himself at his son.
Yoshi jumping out of nowhere, upon his back. Demanding a ride, for the sand to catch as he nearly fell off. Gaara setting him gently on the ground and taking him by the hand. The two of them walking together.
A wide eye Yoshi staring up at the Shukaku, meeting the one tail for the first tail. Happily accepting him, screaming with delight to his father how happy he was.
Curling up in Gaara's lap, falling asleep.
Where was his son? Lifting up another heavy piece, finding no one and nothing. Not a single sign of his child. Not of his two twin daughters either. Even of his stepdaughter. He came across nothing. Exhorting him more than anything. No children found. No wife. Not even the faint glow her energy. This was getting him nowhere. Desperate to find them wanting to rush through it all. To remind himself he might miss something. Keeping his cool and thinking clear, despite his rising emotions.
Thrusting their heated palm melting away some of the metal, Natsuki finds nothing. Angered by this, she moves onto the next spot. Coming up empty. Becoming more angered and scared. Eyes focused and scouring everywhere. If only she had those eyes, but she didn't. Striking another large piece. Nothing. Grunting in frustration. Kicking the ground.
Kaito lands behind her."Well find her."he assures her. Doing his best to remain calm."We will. Come on."Casting his eyes up at Onyx who flew above the wreckage.
It was clear the bird hadn't found anything. With eyes sharp as his, he could hone in a mouse hidden in tall grass. Nothing got passed his eyes. He wouldn't allow it, dropping a bit lower. Circling around and around. Nothing.
Not a word from his clones, none of them found anything yet. This search was becoming difficult. Time went by, they hadn't noticed how much. It didn't matter, there was no way they would throw in the towel. They didn't do it years ago and they wouldn't start now. The promise they made and indeed to keep. Upon their sensei's and their grave and to them face to face.
Naruto ran jumping off the side, yelling."I've got you! May!"
Opening his blue eyes, recalling that day. A day he and others witnessed the depths of another. The compassion and selfless. Stopping just for a second, his eyes look around at everyone. Focusing on Natsuki and Kaito giving it their all. The fear in her eyes. Glancing over to Shikamaru forsaking planning, the resilience in his eyes burning. To Gaara, struggling to keep it together. All of them hanging on. There was no time for tears, he wouldn't let them come. Re-focusing himself he continues when and the others hear the words that stopped their hearts and tighten with hope.
"We found something!"
One of the shinobi's alerts others. In a flash Naruto and the others arrive, along with their lead medic. Ino who tells others to move out the way, pushing through them. Throwing the debris aside, with the help of the others.
"Over here!"another shinobi yells.
Naruto orders one his clones to go and see, looking to Gaara telling him to go over too. At first Gaara was going to protest but didn't and hurries over. Shikamaru and Naruto continue dig. It would be easier to use a jutsu but this was delicate work and more harm would be done than good. Everyone quiet, hearts pounding against their chest. Anxious and the anticipation. Was overwhelming. Naruto's eyes begin to search wildly, along with Shikamaru's.
They could feel it getting closer and closer. Who was it? Mother? Children? Child? Just someone...anyone. With the last piece about to be move a bloody hand thrust itself through. Covered in scratches and one gash. A few small shards of glass embedded in their skin. It startled quite a few. The hand stretching upward goes limp along with a breath.
Knowing that hand well. Very well, Naruto snaps at them to get them out."Damn it! HURRY UP and they them OUT!"
It took about a few more seconds, Ino warning them to be careful taking them out. While ordering others to prep, carefully she guides them to pull out the survivor. Tears in her eyes, but refused to let them come. Swallowing her sorrow and anger. Gasping silently at the horrible sight before. Shikamaru was about to scoop them up in his arms. To be stopped by Ino. Telling him not to touch. Quickly taking the survivor to medical area she had prepped. Watching as the bloody and highly bruised body was laid before and quickly got to work. Examining could their whizzing. Struggling to breath for life. No doubt their throat was crushed or close it. No...it was their lungs, something was punctured. The gurgling of what sounded like blood trapped in them. Heartbeat barely there. Skipping beats. That wasn't good. Gashes upon their body from the attack. It looked some heavy damage, not to heavy but enough.
Their state was fragile and broken. Blood trickling down, into one eye. One eye remained shut while the other one swallow and barely opened. Barely concussion, fading in and out. Gripping desperately for an answer. For the question they had in their eye. Seeking for someone to answer. Unable to make out the blurs. Naruto looking down at them, unsure how to answer such a question. Shikamaru held their near corpse hand in his own. Delicately squeezing it. Holding it to his head, shutting his eyes. Praying it seemed. Or asking for forgiveness.
It was forgiveness, Ino could easily see and tell. And she knew who it was to. Looking back at her patient, she had to keep alive. Luckily she had some blood to give them for a transfer. It wasn't enough, but it would have to do. Carefully she takes out the shards that she could. Those not dangerous. Praying for them to hang on, while using her telepathy to contact the others at the hospital to get ready.
With just a few more, she quickly wraps them up and prepares for transfer. It needed to stead fast and hasty. Order her squad to be careful, they get the survivor ready. The second she was taking off her gloves. Gaara comes over holding in his arms. Another. Which was relief, till they realized it was only one. Not all four.
Gaara held them in his arms, the absence in his eyes as tears rolled down. Cringing distraught. Ino wasn't sure what to do, to the grieving Kazekage. Except take who he had in his arms and quickly tend to them. They weren't as badly injured, like their mother. But still required her attention.
Anger flaring inside, Naruto had to keep it in check. With one single command he orders the shinobis to fan out and search every single inch.
It wasn't...It happened so fast. So very fast, was all they could remember. Slowly awaking from such a horrible event. Hikari finds herself not on the train anymore, but, in a hospital room. Everything was fuzzy at first, but she soon regained her senses. A bit of pain in her arm, but that was all. Nothing really else. They patched her up really well...if it was her mother she would be able to heal her in no time and she wouldn't be feeling this pain.
Her mother!?
Remembering what happened, she shoots up to find glaring at her hard. Their fist balled up in anger, before she could react, they charge her and grab her by the collar of her hospital gown shirt. Yanking her forward, almost causing her to fall out of her bed. It amazed her at their sudden strength considering their size compared her own. Not to mention age. Being a few years their junior.
Staring into their heated blue eyes, that stared with disgust."I can't believe you! You did this!?"They scream at them, their grip tightening more upon her collar, pulling them forward more. Till the two of them eye level."That's your MOTHER! YOUR FAMILY!"They yell, balling up their fist more raising it about to strike.
To be stopped someone."BOURTO! DON'T!"Hinata stops his son from striking hid cousin just in time. Holding his enrage hand back. Bewildered by her son's sudden sporadic action. She didn't understand.
Bourto struggling against his mother, didn't let his eyes off Hikari. Reading them, she gasping realizing he knew. Hinata was able to pry her son off Hikari and steps in-between the two. Looking down at him demanding an answer.
"What is this meaning of this?"she asked.
A question that only fueled Bourto's anger towards Hikari. He points a finger, glaring daggers as cold as ice. His finger shook."S-She caused this all to happen! All of it!"Confused Hinata looks at her son then niece, wanting to know.
"Hikari? What is he talking about?"she turns to the guilt ridden Hyuga. Who quickly adverts her eyes. Which allowed Hinata to understand, gasping in horror and shock. She couldn't believe it. Her words tremble as she spoke."H-Hikari...wh-what did you do?"