Love and Death
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Naruto characters or blah blah
blah...but I do wish that I did.
A/N: Okay! I've finally started the 14th chapter! That means...only one more to go! I'm so excited! My first successful completed fanfic. My other two didn't go so well, so knowing that there are those who enjoy my fic makes me so happy. **Wipes tear from eye.** But I should be saving this for my next chapter. So, back to the fic, this chapter may be kind of random. I think I might just let it flow as I'm writing, because I don't really have any ideas for it. I also think I'm going to take a break from the fight scenes for a while, so there won't be anymore in this chapter. That's all for now, I believe. Enjoy!
Chapter 14-
Way of the Shinobi
A warm breeze brushed the faces of the shinobi whom were conversing jovially about trivial things. For the first time in the past few days, smiles – real smiles – could be seen upon their faces (Well, except for one – the redheaded man). The trees, too, seemed to have caught their contagious disease. The greenest of leaves made their way off of their branches and, dancing in the wind, onto the pathway below. The sun shone brightly overhead, and signs of nature's children could be seen and heard throughout the forest: the chattering of chipmunks, the songs of birds, and the scurries of squirrels.
TenTen smiled warmly at the young man with whom she walked hand in hand. Although, she had to admit, he could be an idiot at times, she knew that he was the only person she could ever be truly happy with. Of course, she wouldn't let him know all of that...just yet, anyway.
"Lee-kun?" She asked, slightly tightening her grip on his hand. He looked at her and flashed her one of his flawless smiles before answering.
"Yes?"
"..." A loud grumble shot through the air, as everyone quieted and turned in the couple's direction. TenTen smiled weakly before continuing, a hint of crimson brushed over her fine features. "Are you hungry?"
Lee sweatdropped, but recovered quickly. He stood and faced her, hand behind his head. Listening closely, TenTen could hear the tinniest hint of a growl erupt from his stomach. "Actually, TenTen-chan, I am."
It was then that Sakura spoke up from the head of the group. "Maybe we should stop here and get something to eat and sleep until tomorrow. It's almost dark now anyway, so we might as well." Everyone nodded in agreement, and they all moved off of the forest path into a small clearing deep amongst the trees. There they lit a fire and sat down, in couples or teams, and began to prepare food. Which was, of course, mainly instant ramen.
Hinata, sitting by herself only a few paces from the fire, couldn't help but smile as she thought of the one she loved, who had been left at the Konoha Gakure. 'He would love to be here right now.' She thought to herself, still smiling. 'I wonder what he's doing now...'
**Back at the Konoha Village**
Naruto smiled at his former sensei over his ramen bowl, face hidden by an overly large trench coat. Dark glasses covered his baby blue eyes. He had discarded his Hokage outfit elsewhere, and now just wore black leather pants, and a black (tight) short-sleeved shirt.
"Ahhh! Sensei, thanks for buying me ramen!" He said, with a hint of immaturity, as he ordered his fifteenth bowl.
"Naruto...calling me 'sensei' while you're Hokage wont make me forget that you still have to pay me back the money that you owe me from all this ramen." Kakashi stated dryly, sighing into his hand.
"Eheh...demo, sensei! They don't pay you for being Hokage, you know!" Naruto protested weakly. "How am I supposed to pay you back?"
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders carelessly, and pulled out Para Para Paradise. "You figure it out."
Naruto grabbed his old sensei's book and flipped through it, glaring suspiciously at Kakashi the whole while. "You've had this book for over eight years, and you expect me to believe that you still haven't finished it yet?" Naruto questioned in disbelief.
Kakshi shrugged once more. "I might've missed something." He answered tonelessly. Taking the book back from Naruto, he soundlessly continued to read, Naruto noisily eating his ramen. Once more he was interrupted, and that was when Kakashi had said, "Hurry and finish, Naruto. You look horrible in that jacket."
**Back to the middle of nowhere**
Kiba, noticing Hinata by herself in the corner of the clearing, decided to join her. They had become close friends over the years, and he could not get any closer. After all, the Hokage was her boyfriend. Yet still, he had learnt to settle with second best.
"Yo, Hinata!" He grinned as Akamaru jumped off his head and bounded over to the female Hyuuga.
Hinata looked up suddenly, surprised. She hoped he hadn't seen her smiling like that. "A-ah, hey..." she trailed off, lifting her eyes to the sky above.
Kiba looked at the girl he once – and still did – had feelings for. Grinning, he stated the obvious. "You really miss him, don't you, Hinata?" Although the sky was now pitch black, with naught but the moon and campfire around which they sat to light the clearing, he could see a faint blush grace her features. He knew he was right.
Not taking her eyes of the sky above, she nodded slightly. "I...I miss him so much." Finally drawing her gaze away from the sky, she turned toward her friend and smiled. However, Kiba could see the tears which slowly fell from her ivory coloured eyes.
He looked at her sympathetically and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll be back before you know it." He assured her. "You'll be able to see him soon."
Hinata nodded and whispered a small "Thank you..." before returning her gaze to the heavens above. "Aren't they beautiful?" She asked softly. Kiba gave her a funny look before dropping down onto the lush grass, hands behind his head. "Yeah..." He said quietly. "They are."
Miharu looked at the couples – and teams – around her, from where she was sitting, which was, of course, beside Sasuke. Hinata and Kiba were talking together on the other side of the fire. Miharu smiled, realizing what a good friend Kiba was. Instead of getting angry with the girl he had loved for choosing someone else, he had stuck with her, and had eventually become her best friend. Then there was Shikamaru and Ino, both asleep side by side underneath a large willow. (It's the first tree that came to mind. Forgive me!) Sitting and eating together not too far away was TenTen and Lee. Although they were hidden in the shadows, Miharu could still sense the team from the Sand. They weren't too far away. Chouji was off eating by himself, of course. Surprisingly, a small distance away from the crowd, Shino and Sakura were talking quietly. 'It seems we're all getting to know each other better on our supposed "Last Mission"' Miharu thought to herself. Now the one person she needed to find was...
...Right there. Getting up slowly, Miharu dusted herself off as she made her way to the quiet Hyuuga, unaware of her other teammate's stare. Stooping in front of him, she bent down so that her face was inches from his own. His eyes were closed; a look of peace was upon his fine features. She was almost sorry for what she was about to do. Almost.
"Hey, Neji, can I join you?" She asked him, her voice an irritating tone. Neji said nothing, but cracked an eye open to look at her. Taking this as a yes, she plopped down beside him. "I forgive you," she grinned.
This got his attention. "For what?" He asked her, slightly amused by what she had said.
"For acting like a complete asshole this morning." She stated rather bluntly, unaware of the smirk which had wound itself into Neji's still amused expression.
"I did not ask for your forgiveness."
"Well..." she said, thinking, "I guess that makes me an even better friend, doesn't it?" She smiled happily, for no apparent reason.
"Why would that be?" He inquired tonelessly.
"Because I forgave you without you even asking!"
Neji closed both his eyes in an attempt to ignore his utterly annoying teammate. He hadn't realized that the eyes of their third were fixed upon the two as if they had killed one of his own. Sasuke didn't miss a word that had been exchanged. Though he was out of earshot, he wasn't out of sight. He was still able to read their lips. Straining his eyes, he tried to make out the words which were being said by Miharu.
"Ne, Neji?"
"..."
"Why are you so..."
Finally opening both of his eyes, Neji had decided to give the girl his full attention. "So what?" He asked.
"...so...afraid?"
Neji bit back his harsh reply, realizing what she meant. Looking at his hitai-ate, which was placed on his right arm, he asked her to continue with a simple, "Afraid of what?"
"Of...love? Relationship? Feeling? Emotions?" She blurted out, placing a hand over her mouth in fear. 'I shouldn't have asked that...' She realized, only too late.
"Because I am different." He stated carelessly.
"Different how?!" Miharu exclaimed. The look Neji gave her sent chills racing up and down her spine. Yet still, she went on. "Everyone has grown to accept you for who you are! I don't see what's so different! The only reason people shy away from you is because you act so goddamned cold! Maybe if you could learn to act more human-"
"Human how?!" he snapped. "I am a Hyuuga. Worse yet, I am of the Branch House. I am restrained, yet no one sees it. I cannot have freedom as you do! One day I will have to die for the Main House, and it will be of no consequence to anyone else! No one will see it as tragedy! It is fate..." He trailed off, breathing hard. "Forget it. If that is all you came here for, I think it is time for you to go elsewhere."
"How can you be so sure?" Miharu asked him angrily. "You don't know if...you won't have to die for them!"
"I can be sure because I have this." Taking off the cloth which covered the upper half of his forehead, he looked straight into Miharu's gray eyes.
Her mouth widened considerably as she stared upon the seal on his forehead. "Oh...W-what?"
"This seal is given to all those born of the Branch. If one of us is to retaliate against one of the Main House, all they must do is perform a series of hand seals, and we will die almost instantly." He tied the cloth back in its place, and continued. "We can't be human."
Miharu still wouldn't give up. Despite that, she rested her head on his shoulders and closed her eyes. Stifling a yawn, she fought back "I don't care what you say." She told him quietly. "If you choose to act like a normal human, then you can. Once you do, I'm sure you'll find that one perfect person to-"
Neji looked down upon his teammate, fast asleep, a steady stream of breathing emitting from her lips.
Sasuke sat back, relaxing. So that was it...
A sudden image of a young blonde flew into Neji's mind. Shaking it away quickly, he averted his gaze. Now looking into the sky above, he replied, "You may be an elite, Miharu, but you've yet to learn the way of the shinobi."
End of Chapter 14!
A/N: The part with Neji explaining about the Main and Branch Houses, I got the idea for that from a fic I read, called "Need to be Strong". I'm not too sure if I got it wrong, so if some parts are incorrect, forgive me. Also, I'm sorry that it took me so long to update, but I've been kind of busy these last few days. Anyway, the next chapter is going to be pretty interesting, but it might be pretty long, and so may take a little longer to write. Please keep checking! Ja ne!
blah...but I do wish that I did.
A/N: Okay! I've finally started the 14th chapter! That means...only one more to go! I'm so excited! My first successful completed fanfic. My other two didn't go so well, so knowing that there are those who enjoy my fic makes me so happy. **Wipes tear from eye.** But I should be saving this for my next chapter. So, back to the fic, this chapter may be kind of random. I think I might just let it flow as I'm writing, because I don't really have any ideas for it. I also think I'm going to take a break from the fight scenes for a while, so there won't be anymore in this chapter. That's all for now, I believe. Enjoy!
Chapter 14-
Way of the Shinobi
A warm breeze brushed the faces of the shinobi whom were conversing jovially about trivial things. For the first time in the past few days, smiles – real smiles – could be seen upon their faces (Well, except for one – the redheaded man). The trees, too, seemed to have caught their contagious disease. The greenest of leaves made their way off of their branches and, dancing in the wind, onto the pathway below. The sun shone brightly overhead, and signs of nature's children could be seen and heard throughout the forest: the chattering of chipmunks, the songs of birds, and the scurries of squirrels.
TenTen smiled warmly at the young man with whom she walked hand in hand. Although, she had to admit, he could be an idiot at times, she knew that he was the only person she could ever be truly happy with. Of course, she wouldn't let him know all of that...just yet, anyway.
"Lee-kun?" She asked, slightly tightening her grip on his hand. He looked at her and flashed her one of his flawless smiles before answering.
"Yes?"
"..." A loud grumble shot through the air, as everyone quieted and turned in the couple's direction. TenTen smiled weakly before continuing, a hint of crimson brushed over her fine features. "Are you hungry?"
Lee sweatdropped, but recovered quickly. He stood and faced her, hand behind his head. Listening closely, TenTen could hear the tinniest hint of a growl erupt from his stomach. "Actually, TenTen-chan, I am."
It was then that Sakura spoke up from the head of the group. "Maybe we should stop here and get something to eat and sleep until tomorrow. It's almost dark now anyway, so we might as well." Everyone nodded in agreement, and they all moved off of the forest path into a small clearing deep amongst the trees. There they lit a fire and sat down, in couples or teams, and began to prepare food. Which was, of course, mainly instant ramen.
Hinata, sitting by herself only a few paces from the fire, couldn't help but smile as she thought of the one she loved, who had been left at the Konoha Gakure. 'He would love to be here right now.' She thought to herself, still smiling. 'I wonder what he's doing now...'
**Back at the Konoha Village**
Naruto smiled at his former sensei over his ramen bowl, face hidden by an overly large trench coat. Dark glasses covered his baby blue eyes. He had discarded his Hokage outfit elsewhere, and now just wore black leather pants, and a black (tight) short-sleeved shirt.
"Ahhh! Sensei, thanks for buying me ramen!" He said, with a hint of immaturity, as he ordered his fifteenth bowl.
"Naruto...calling me 'sensei' while you're Hokage wont make me forget that you still have to pay me back the money that you owe me from all this ramen." Kakashi stated dryly, sighing into his hand.
"Eheh...demo, sensei! They don't pay you for being Hokage, you know!" Naruto protested weakly. "How am I supposed to pay you back?"
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders carelessly, and pulled out Para Para Paradise. "You figure it out."
Naruto grabbed his old sensei's book and flipped through it, glaring suspiciously at Kakashi the whole while. "You've had this book for over eight years, and you expect me to believe that you still haven't finished it yet?" Naruto questioned in disbelief.
Kakshi shrugged once more. "I might've missed something." He answered tonelessly. Taking the book back from Naruto, he soundlessly continued to read, Naruto noisily eating his ramen. Once more he was interrupted, and that was when Kakashi had said, "Hurry and finish, Naruto. You look horrible in that jacket."
**Back to the middle of nowhere**
Kiba, noticing Hinata by herself in the corner of the clearing, decided to join her. They had become close friends over the years, and he could not get any closer. After all, the Hokage was her boyfriend. Yet still, he had learnt to settle with second best.
"Yo, Hinata!" He grinned as Akamaru jumped off his head and bounded over to the female Hyuuga.
Hinata looked up suddenly, surprised. She hoped he hadn't seen her smiling like that. "A-ah, hey..." she trailed off, lifting her eyes to the sky above.
Kiba looked at the girl he once – and still did – had feelings for. Grinning, he stated the obvious. "You really miss him, don't you, Hinata?" Although the sky was now pitch black, with naught but the moon and campfire around which they sat to light the clearing, he could see a faint blush grace her features. He knew he was right.
Not taking her eyes of the sky above, she nodded slightly. "I...I miss him so much." Finally drawing her gaze away from the sky, she turned toward her friend and smiled. However, Kiba could see the tears which slowly fell from her ivory coloured eyes.
He looked at her sympathetically and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll be back before you know it." He assured her. "You'll be able to see him soon."
Hinata nodded and whispered a small "Thank you..." before returning her gaze to the heavens above. "Aren't they beautiful?" She asked softly. Kiba gave her a funny look before dropping down onto the lush grass, hands behind his head. "Yeah..." He said quietly. "They are."
Miharu looked at the couples – and teams – around her, from where she was sitting, which was, of course, beside Sasuke. Hinata and Kiba were talking together on the other side of the fire. Miharu smiled, realizing what a good friend Kiba was. Instead of getting angry with the girl he had loved for choosing someone else, he had stuck with her, and had eventually become her best friend. Then there was Shikamaru and Ino, both asleep side by side underneath a large willow. (It's the first tree that came to mind. Forgive me!) Sitting and eating together not too far away was TenTen and Lee. Although they were hidden in the shadows, Miharu could still sense the team from the Sand. They weren't too far away. Chouji was off eating by himself, of course. Surprisingly, a small distance away from the crowd, Shino and Sakura were talking quietly. 'It seems we're all getting to know each other better on our supposed "Last Mission"' Miharu thought to herself. Now the one person she needed to find was...
...Right there. Getting up slowly, Miharu dusted herself off as she made her way to the quiet Hyuuga, unaware of her other teammate's stare. Stooping in front of him, she bent down so that her face was inches from his own. His eyes were closed; a look of peace was upon his fine features. She was almost sorry for what she was about to do. Almost.
"Hey, Neji, can I join you?" She asked him, her voice an irritating tone. Neji said nothing, but cracked an eye open to look at her. Taking this as a yes, she plopped down beside him. "I forgive you," she grinned.
This got his attention. "For what?" He asked her, slightly amused by what she had said.
"For acting like a complete asshole this morning." She stated rather bluntly, unaware of the smirk which had wound itself into Neji's still amused expression.
"I did not ask for your forgiveness."
"Well..." she said, thinking, "I guess that makes me an even better friend, doesn't it?" She smiled happily, for no apparent reason.
"Why would that be?" He inquired tonelessly.
"Because I forgave you without you even asking!"
Neji closed both his eyes in an attempt to ignore his utterly annoying teammate. He hadn't realized that the eyes of their third were fixed upon the two as if they had killed one of his own. Sasuke didn't miss a word that had been exchanged. Though he was out of earshot, he wasn't out of sight. He was still able to read their lips. Straining his eyes, he tried to make out the words which were being said by Miharu.
"Ne, Neji?"
"..."
"Why are you so..."
Finally opening both of his eyes, Neji had decided to give the girl his full attention. "So what?" He asked.
"...so...afraid?"
Neji bit back his harsh reply, realizing what she meant. Looking at his hitai-ate, which was placed on his right arm, he asked her to continue with a simple, "Afraid of what?"
"Of...love? Relationship? Feeling? Emotions?" She blurted out, placing a hand over her mouth in fear. 'I shouldn't have asked that...' She realized, only too late.
"Because I am different." He stated carelessly.
"Different how?!" Miharu exclaimed. The look Neji gave her sent chills racing up and down her spine. Yet still, she went on. "Everyone has grown to accept you for who you are! I don't see what's so different! The only reason people shy away from you is because you act so goddamned cold! Maybe if you could learn to act more human-"
"Human how?!" he snapped. "I am a Hyuuga. Worse yet, I am of the Branch House. I am restrained, yet no one sees it. I cannot have freedom as you do! One day I will have to die for the Main House, and it will be of no consequence to anyone else! No one will see it as tragedy! It is fate..." He trailed off, breathing hard. "Forget it. If that is all you came here for, I think it is time for you to go elsewhere."
"How can you be so sure?" Miharu asked him angrily. "You don't know if...you won't have to die for them!"
"I can be sure because I have this." Taking off the cloth which covered the upper half of his forehead, he looked straight into Miharu's gray eyes.
Her mouth widened considerably as she stared upon the seal on his forehead. "Oh...W-what?"
"This seal is given to all those born of the Branch. If one of us is to retaliate against one of the Main House, all they must do is perform a series of hand seals, and we will die almost instantly." He tied the cloth back in its place, and continued. "We can't be human."
Miharu still wouldn't give up. Despite that, she rested her head on his shoulders and closed her eyes. Stifling a yawn, she fought back "I don't care what you say." She told him quietly. "If you choose to act like a normal human, then you can. Once you do, I'm sure you'll find that one perfect person to-"
Neji looked down upon his teammate, fast asleep, a steady stream of breathing emitting from her lips.
Sasuke sat back, relaxing. So that was it...
A sudden image of a young blonde flew into Neji's mind. Shaking it away quickly, he averted his gaze. Now looking into the sky above, he replied, "You may be an elite, Miharu, but you've yet to learn the way of the shinobi."
End of Chapter 14!
A/N: The part with Neji explaining about the Main and Branch Houses, I got the idea for that from a fic I read, called "Need to be Strong". I'm not too sure if I got it wrong, so if some parts are incorrect, forgive me. Also, I'm sorry that it took me so long to update, but I've been kind of busy these last few days. Anyway, the next chapter is going to be pretty interesting, but it might be pretty long, and so may take a little longer to write. Please keep checking! Ja ne!