Disclaimers: I don't own Naruto! The heck!
Author's notes: Well… I guess I'll be blunt. I'm kinda lazy to answer the reviews for now. I don't have that any other exams except for that blasted Biology subject so I guess this will be a bit short. I really don't have that much time. So… I'll go on straight to the chapter. All I want to say is… THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS!!!
Chapter 5:
"Oyamada Uesugi. Let's end this quickly shall we?"
Now- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Uesugi suddenly smirked with an amused look on his face. The two sand-nins tensed up. No one knows what their unknown opponent has on his sleeves. Unexpectedly, Uesugi started chuckling. The two girls narrowed their eyes.
"What's so funny?" Ame asked.
Uesugi stopped chuckling and looked at the two girls straight in the eyes. He 'hned' with a sigh as he hid his weapons away. "I give up." He said.
The two girls were pissed off. "What do you mean you give up?!" Mika demanded as she held her kodachis tighter. She was getting pissed off by every second.
"He gave up? What on earth is he thinking?!" Naruto exclaimed as he crossed his arms. "Then again, that means we win this game." He said with a raised eyebrow. "Surely you guys know that."
Unexpectedly, the opposing team didn't speak a single word to object their teammate's decision. Naruto narrowed his eyes. 'What's wrong with them?'
"Answer us!" Mika exclaimed again.
Uesugi started chuckling again. "I said that I wish to end this as soon as possible, so I'm ending this using the fastest method possible. I gave up." He then shook his head. "I know that if I asked you girls to forfeit you would just decline and that would cost another unnecessary waste of time." He explained. 'And besides, I have something MUCH more exciting than this boring team game.'
With that, Uesugi jumped back to his teammates and crossed his arms. Itachi merely stayed calm. "Uesugi, you must have something up on your sleeves. I know you're not the kind to just give up on a fight." Itachi said.
Uesugi chuckled darkly. "Of course… Itachi-sama. I do have something up on my sleeves as you have said. Is Maya and the others alright now?" He asked.
"Yes. Though Joan has not yet fully regained her strength. And I suspect this is one of your plans?" Itachi answered.
Once again, Uesugi chuckled darkly. "Hah. Cunning as ever… well…"
"Uchiha Itachi! We won! Give Hinata back to us and leave Konoha!" Naruto exclaimed. Sasuke suddenly glared hard at Naruto.
"Naruto! What the heck do you think you're doing?! Letting that bastard go!" Sasuke exclaimed. "Why are you letting this opportunity go to waste?! You're more of a bastard than Itachi then!"
This time, Naruto glared at Sasuke full force. "Don't you even DARE compare me to him!" He paused. "I'm sorry. I know what he has done, and I now have a grudge against him as well. But this isn't the right time to attack him. The kids are still with us, and the war is still going on outside of this dark fortress." He said.
"I won't agree with you! I've waited for this time! And I won't let it go that easily!" Sasuke said as he dashed towards Itachi.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Sasuke, you bastard!" He exclaimed before running over towards him.
"Naruto! Sasuke! Matte!" Lee exclaimed before dashing towards them, hoping to restrain the two before Sasuke even reached Itachi who was still calmly standing still with his arms crossed, amused of the predicament the leaf shinobis were currently in.
"Otousan, aren't you going to stop them?" Reika asked.
"No. This family matter is none of my concern, nor is it yours. Just go and treat those two kids lying down on the cold ground. Sasuke's kids, I mean. They're your teammates, right?" Neji said as he continually stared at Itachi who was still not moving, and Uesugi who was standing right beside him.
"Hai." Reika nodded before going over to her unconscious teammates.
"Kuso… that bastard. He was insulting us!" Ame exclaimed as she and Mika went down the arena back towards Gaara's place in where Ring was sitting down as well. Ring went towards them as she placed a hand at their shoulders.
"Forget it. What's more important is you won, and our team have won the game." She said.
Mika looked down. "You're right. But I just can't shrug this feeling that something fishy is going on." She then looked back at Uesugi, whose face was as calm as the river. "I'm sure of it."
"Reika-chan?"
"Oh… Hro-chan. What is it?"
"I can't stop being nervous." She said as she sat down with her and started to help treat the Uchiha twins' wounds. "I feel that something bad is going to happen."
"I feel the same way, Hro-chan. But we're shinobis. Shinobis must always expect the unexpected, for no one knows what will really happen in the future so they must always be on guard. That's my ninja way." She said.
Hro nodded. "You're right."
"Heck! Hro-chan, you're older than me for goodness sake! I should be the one nervous, not you."
"Tai."
Tai turned around to see one of the other Hyuugas in the team. Yamaru's white eyes continuously stared deeply into Tai's. "What do you want? Shouldn't you still be sitting down or something? It's a shame that Hro-san and I haven't got the chance to fight." He said.
"I can manage. My situation is none of your concern."
"Then what do you want?"
"Be on guard. Something is about to happen. I can feel it and I'm sure the other shinobis are feeling the same way. There's something not right about that sound-nin giving up." He said.
Tai nodded. "I agree. I felt the same way."
"SASUKE!!! CALM DOWN!!!" Naruto exclaimed as he and Lee struggled to calm the raging Uchiha. 'Gee… really… it seems impossible to calm down raging Uchihas. Especially in this case since Sasuke is now face to face once again with the man he swore to kill.'
"NEJI!!! WE COULD USE SOME HELP HERE YOU KNOW!!!" Naruto exclaimed at the staring Hyuuga. Neji sighed and walked over to them.
Now even with the three of them, it still seems impossible to calm him down.
"Augh…"
"Lan-kun! Keiki-kun! You're awake!" Reika and Hro said at the same time.
"Reika… what happened?" Lan asked.
"You lost. Both of you fell unconscious due to chakra lost before that fire using sound-nin lost hers. She even attempted to kill the both of you, but Naruto-sensei stopped her from doing so." Reika explained.
"I see." Lan and Keiki's eyes widened as they saw their father struggling to get free from Naruto, Lee, and Neji's grasps in order to get to Itachi.
"ITACHI!!! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
"CALM DOWN SASUKE!"
"Father…" As soon as the word left the Uchiha twins' lips, the two stood up and went towards their father as they locked themselves in a tight embrace with their raging father.
"Otousan! Otousan! Calm down! Onegai!" Keiki exclaimed.
"Otousan! Snap out of it! Everyone don't need this now! We still have to save Hinata-san!" Lan exclaimed as well, supporting his younger brother.
Seeing his two sons in the tight embrace on him, he unexpectedly calmed down as his eyes softened. Looking at his sons, he remembered them and all of his important people in Konoha. He must be there for them. Sure he still has this deep grudge against Itachi, but he has changed.
Uesugi chuckled again. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to put his plan into action, he, Kisame, Maya, Yuro, and even Joan who was still weak (ehemnarutoehem), jumped up as they signaled all of the sound-nins hiding for the attack.
The rescue team was shocked. "Itachi! What the heck?!" Naruto exclaimed.
Itach turned back and walked away, signaling the other sound-nins to take Hinata back to the team. Well… not exactly take… but they threw Hinata down from the high balcony. Fortunately, Naruto caught her and placed her on the ground as he avoided another dozen of kunais raining towards them.
"I gave her back. The deal is off. But then, I didn't say that I would let you get out of here alive." Itachi said. The rescue team was gritting their teeth in anger. "Everyone, attack them." He ordered as all of the remaining sound-nins attacked them.
Itachi just disappeared in a swirl of smoke. Sasuke gritted his teeth seeing that Itachi had escaped. "DARN IT!" He then evaded a kunai. "I'll get you for this, Itachi."
"No time for that, you bastard!" Naruto exclaimed as he and Sasuke went back to back. The two scanned the area, both coming up to a conclusion that there were at least a hundred shinobis on this fortress.
"Drats! What about the kids?!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Kids! Go and leave the area! Take Hinata with you too! Gaara, you'll be in charge of them." Lee said as he punched a sound-nin on his face then ducking a senbon from Maya. The sound-nin came up to face him, smirking.
"I will be your opponent."
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata exclaimed as the kids ushered her outside.
"Hinata-neechan, calm down! Naruto-sensei would be able to defeat them." Reika said as she glanced back and widened her eyes as she quickly moved in front of Hinata to prevent two kunais to hit her back. The kunais quickly sunk deeper in her arms.
"Reika!" Both Lan and Keiki went near her side. Reika gritted her teeth as she roughly took both kunais out and threw them back at the two upcoming sound-shinobis, both hitting them in the neck, killing them both.
"Move everyone! I'll try to hold them off!" She exclaimed. Ame and Mika suddenly came by her side. "Mika-san? Ame-san?"
"Hey. We lost our opportunity to fight so we're helping you out." Ame said as she took her katana out of its sheath. Mika then started playing with her twin kodachis. "And besides… we can't let you have all the fun."
Reika smirked. "Heh. Be that way." She then turned to face the others only to see Gaara walked near them. "Gaara-san?"
"Naruto and the others need my help. I'm intrusting Hyuuga-san to you all." With that said, Gaara disappeared in a swirl of sand.
"Minna-san, Gaara-sensei trusts us to take care of Hinata-san. Uzumaki-san, Uchiha-san, Hyuuga-san, and the others do to. Let's not break this trust that he have given us." Ring said as she held a kunai in her hand tightly.
The others nodded and ushered Hinata outside. "Naruto-kun…"
"Hinata-san, Uzumaki-san will be alright." Hro said.
Hinata nodded.
-Naruto and the Gang-
"There are so many of them! More Kage bunshins then! Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed as he made twenty kage bunshins more and ordered them to attack.
"Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu!" Sasuke exclaimed as the harsh fire dragon burned three shinobis. He threw a kunai and deflected a kunai that was coming towards Neji. Neji glared at him as he just used Kaiten to deflect the other upcoming weapons.
"I don't need your help, Uchiha!" He exclaimed.
Sasuke shrugged it off. "Sasuke, why don't you use that fire jutsu that your son, Lan, uses to deflect upcoming attacks?" Lee asked as he punched another shinobi on the face then delivering three kicks at the three shinobis surrounding him.
"The kaji no tate is only used by my son, Lan. We agreed on that. Even Keiki who wanted to learn that jutsu himself agreed." He threw shurikens on an upcoming shinobi and delivered a kick at Yuro who was about to sneak attack him.
"What the heck?!" Naruto exclaimed as ten shinobis attacked him at the same time only to suddenly be engulfed on sand.
"Sabaku Sousou (?)!" The sand then exploded, creating a rain of blood around the area. Naruto sighed in annoyance at the one who sent the sand.
"Gaara, you really need to warn me before starting another rain." He said as he jumped away from another swarm of sound-nins.
Gaara 'hned'. "If I did, they would be able to evade my attack."
"Well… you're right."
"Feh! These sound-nins seem endless!" Sasuke exclaimed as he jumped away from an upcoming senbon.
Neji used the kaiten again and attacked a sound-nin on the stomach. The sound-nin fell lifeless. "Uchiha's right. Most of their shinobis are out on war." Strike. "There shouldn't be this many here."
"Gaara, where are the kids?" Lee asked.
"I left them with Hinata-san. They will be able to handle themselves. Those kids have the skills of a chuunin, even though they haven't really experienced actual missions, them being able to last this long in a class-A mission like this proves that." Gaara replied.
Naruto snickered. "You're praising people that you barely even know? Gee… you've really changed." He said.
Gaara didn't reply after that.
-Kids' Area-
"Kyaa!!!" Ring exclaimed as she dodged another trap.
"Ring! Are you alright?!" Shinji asked as he helped the bun-haired girl up. Ring smiled gratefully.
"I'm alright. Thank you. Huh?" Ring jumped away from another trap. "CRAP! Could the Hyuugas here activate your byakugans to see the traps?!"
Yamaru, Hro, Reika, and Hinata nodded and activated their byakugans, successfully leading the group out of the way of traps.
As the group finally made their way out of the secret entrance, they didn't fail to see and hear both of the explosions from back inside the entrance and at the forests in where a trail of smoke is seen.
The group's eyes widened.
"Minna-san, let's do this. Tai, Shinji, Keiki, Mika, Ring, and I will go back to the village and bring Hinata-san to Godaime-sama. Lan, Reika, Ame, and Hro will go back inside to help. " Yamaru explained.
Shinji shook his head. "Yamaru! Are you crazy?! Why are you sending the younger ones?! There's another war back inside that entrance too! They might get hurt!" He exclaimed.
"Yamaru's right, Shinji-san." Lan piped up. "Reika, Ame, Hro, and I should be the ones to go inside. We have the jounins and anbus there. But your group has no upper class shinobis to go with you. You guys need the stronger ones to take Hinata-san back to the village safe." He said.
Finally, Shinji agreed. "Alright. Just promise me that you will all get back." He said.
"Lan, Reika…" Keiki called as he took a step towards his team.
"What is it Keiki?" Reika asked.
Keiki went nearer towards them and hugged the two tightly. "Promise me that you'll both come back together with otousan, Naruto-sensei, Uncle Neji, and the others soon alright."
Lan and Reika chuckled. "Keiki let go. We won't be able to help otousan if you continue to hug us like crazy." Lan joked.
"Lan's right, Keiki. Don't talk like this will be our last chat. Now go on. You must help the team get back to Konoha safe." Reika said as she hugged the younger Uchiha twin. "We promise. We'll be safe."
"Alright." Keiki went back to the group.
"Be safe." Hinata said as she placed a hand near her heart.
The four nodded and dashed back inside the entrance.
"Well…" Tai turned around and patted Hinata's shoulder. "Are you able to move Hinata-san?" He asked.
Hinata nodded. "Hai. But Tai-kun, I'm…"
"Ms. Hinata, don't worry. Uzumaki-san is a great ninja, and together with the others, he would be able to defeat those sound-nins no problem." Tai said.
Hinata smiled slightly and nodded.
"Keiki and I will be on the lead. Hinata-san, could you also help us by activating your byakugan?" Yamaru asked.
Hinata nodded as the group then jumped towards the trees.
-Foursome Group-
"Minna!" The four exclaimed.
The other shinobis gasped. "Lan! Reika! Ame! Hro! What are you four doing here?!" Naruto demanded as he evaded another attack aimed for his head. The four then dashed towards the others and started attacking the sound-nins.
"Naruto-sensei, does this answer your question?" Lan asked as he attacked another sound-nin.
"Otousan!" Reika exclaimed as she threw a kunai towards a sound-nin that was about to stab Neji who was currently absorbed in fighting five sound-nins at the same time. He knew that there was another one behind him, but the other five were keeping him occupied.
"Reika-chan!" Hro then attacked another sound-nin who was about to attack her. She plunged a kunai deep into the opponent's stomach and kicked him away, causing him to slam onto the wall.
She pulled Reika back. "You baka! You shouldn't just dash towards someone like that especially when there are so many opponents around!" She exclaimed. Reika chuckled.
"I guess you're right." She then attacked another sound-nin behind Hro. "You should apply that rule to yourself as well, Hro-chan."
"Heh. Got me there."
"Gaara-san!" Ame exclaimed as she slashed another sound-nin coming towards Gaara. Gaara glared at her after taking care of a few other sound shinobis.
"I could kill him myself."
"Gomen-nasai."
"Otousan! Are you alright?" Lan asked as he went back to back with his father. Sasuke nodded.
"What are you going here?" He asked.
"Kaji no Tate!" Another wall of fire surrounded the father and son. "The others are with Hinata-san. They are about to go back to Konoha. Reika, Hro, Ame, and I stayed here to help the others here." He explained then blocked a senbon with a kunai. "Drats. They just keep coming and coming."
-Others-
The other team swiftly dashed back into Konoha as fast as their ninja speed could carry them. They even used their chakra to fasten their speed. Everything was going on normally, but what was really weird was there was no traps, no shinobis, no genjutsu… in short, no distractions.
"This is really weird. There are no distractions here." Mika said as she still held her kodachis tightly by her side.
Ring sighed and scooted closer to that Haruno. "Shinji-kun…" She started.
"What is it?"
Ring blushed. "N-never mind." She then scooted back towards Mika who snickered at her. Ring tried to hide the redness on her face but failed horribly. "What?"
"Awe… it's the first time I saw you in love." She teased.
"It's the first time I heard you tease. You're usually the cold stoic one and…" She paused as she contemplated Mika's words. She then frowned at her as the redness on her cheeks intensified. "Hey! I am NOT in love!" She exclaimed.
Almost everybody stared at her. She blushed harder and shook her head. "N-never mind. D-don't mind me." She then laughed nervously. She then glared at Mika. "Mika-san, we are in a war. There is no time for teasing." She said in a softer voice. 'Though I am glad that Mika learned how to tease.'
"A-ano… how much farther is it to Konoha?" Hinata asked.
Keiki grinned at her. "Come on, Hinata-san! I know that's not your question." He said.
Hinata blushed. "W-well… yeah… d-do you think that… t-they will be…"
"Hinata-san! They'll be alright!" Yamaru exclaimed.
Hinata went wide-eyed, not expecting the Hyuuga to react like that. Yamaru then gave his young aunt one of his rare smiles. "Hinata-san, I know that you love Uzumaki-san more than anything and care for Neji-sama, Reika, and Hro more than anyone by this time since they are all your kin. But you must believe in them. Remember that I am a Hyuuga as well… a branch house member too to top that. All of the Hyuugas I have just stated are all branch members, so I know more about them than the main house members. Main house members are strong, but no offense, I believe that the branch house members are stronger because of their will, so you don't have to worry. And besides…"
Yamaru paused for a minute before speaking up again. "You don't want Uzumaki-san to see you worry like that, do you?" He asked.
Hinata blushed again and nodded. Yamaru smiled once again before taking his attention back to the surroundings.
Shinji smiled slightly. 'Even Yamaru changed. I think that this war has also done something good.' He then took a glance at Ring who was chatting slightly with Mika. 'And I have started feeling things inside me that I have never felt before.'
-Fortress-
"Where the heck did that bastard go?!" Sasuke exclaimed.
Lee shook his head. "They left. Together with Kisame." He just defeated Maya who was now unconscious on the floor. "Things will not get any better if you only think about your brother."
"You have no right to call that bastard as my brother!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"Sasuke calm down! This will all be finished!" Naruto exclaimed as he took a glance at the other members of the team. Gaara was doing well with his opponents. He doesn't even have a scratch on him. Lee was doing fine, defeating the shinobis with his speed and strength. Reika and Hro were both teaming up on a few sound-nins. Neji was doing fine on his own, not really minding his surroundings. While Sasuke and Lan were backing each other up.
'Only a few more.'
Just then, Naruto's eyes widened as he tried to think of an idea to end this fight. 'The fortress is the king of this match. The sound-nins are the pawns, the kunais are the bishops, the senbons and the shurikens are the rooks of both our teams, and our techniques and other weapons are the queen. Then… argh!!! I don't know what I'm talking about anymore! I wish we have Shikamaru here!'
Just then, he heard an explosion caused by an explosion note, causing a huge part of the floor to crumble down.
PING!!!
"I got it! Reika! Hro!" Naruto exclaimed.
The two genins hurriedly went towards the blond as Naruto gave the two each a pouch of exploding notes. "Hurry and place these exploding notes at every corner of this area. Make sure to put as much as you can at the pillars supporting this fortress. I'll explain why later. GO!" He commanded.
The two genins nodded as they quickly went and placed every explosion note on every place and pillar they can find. There were really a bunch of explosion notes inside the pouches.
Naruto snickered. 'This whole fortress is the king, while the pillars are the rooks. In the game of chess (a/n: Just pretend they have chess instead of "Go".), the player usually takes the enemies rook away using their queen to easily checkmate the king. In this game, our explosion notes would be the queen of this game.'
A few moments later, Naruto managed to explain his plan among his other comrades even though with some difficulty due to the fighting around.
'Okay. Sasuke's the only one left to explain this to.' Naruto thought as he sprinted towards Sasuke. "Hey Sasuke-bastard, I already explained this plan of mine to the others. You're the only one left."
"Plan?" Sasuke then blocked another attack. "Make it a good one, dobe."
Naruto decided to shrug the insult off as he blocked a kunai towards him. "Listen up. I told Reika and Hro…" Block. "…to place all of my explosion scrolls around this area." Clank. "There are many at the pillars." Block.
"What now…" Clank. "…dobe?" Block.
Swish. "The plan is…" Clank. "Lure them into the…" Block. "…trap." Clank. "Gah! Will this never end?!"
BIG CLANK!!!
"Anyway…" Block. "Once you…" block. "…lured them into the area…" Block. "Let them hit the ex…" Clank. "…plosion notes…" Block. "Or you hit them yourself." Clank.
Sasuke 'hned'. "That…" Clank. "…plan…" Block. "…might kill us…" Clank. "…too." Block. "I am expecting…" Block. "That you have…" Clank. "…another…" Block. "…part in this."
Naruto nodded. "Yes." Clank.
"Then what?" Clank.
Block. "Be sure to…" Clank. "… run immediately before the explosion notes explodes right on you." Block. "Get it? I know you can. I know your speed." Block.
Sasuke chuckled. "You made a nice plan…" Clank. "…Naruto."
"Hey! You didn't call me a dobe for once!" Clank.
Block. "That's because a dobe like you isn't really likely to be able to…" Clank. "…think of a nice plan…" Block. "…Naruto."
"Hey!" Block. "You still called me a dobe in that line!" Clank.
"Feh. Let's do it, dobe."
"You're on bastard!"
-Konoha-
"Godaime-sama!" An anbu exclaimed as he poofed out of nowhere behind Tsunade who was on top of the Hokage monuments. "I have an urgent report!"
"Speak."
"Godaime-sama, Hyuuga Hinata has been brought back by some of the rescue team members." He reported.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. "Some? Where are they now?" She asked.
"At the gates, Hokage-sama."
"Hurry! Bring them to my office!" She commanded.
"Hai."
Poof!
'Some? Then that means the others aren't there.'
Poof!
She disappeared.
-Hokage's Office-
"Hinata!"
"Neesan!"
Both Hiashi and Hanabi hurriedly went towards Hinata and hugged her tightly. "Hinata! I thought we lost you!" Hiashi cried out as he hugged his eldest daughter tightly. Hinata was VERY shocked at what was happening.
'Otousan's hugging me?' "Otousan… Hanabi… you were worried?"
"Of course we were, neesan! We were SO worried!" Hanabi exclaimed.
"To tell you the truth, at first I was very angry at you for letting yourself be kidnapped. But then, I realized how important you really are to me." Hiashi said.
Hinata smiled slightly. "Arigato… otousan… Hanabi…"
"Ehem. Though I hate to end this little reunion," Tsunade turned to face the genins who brought her back. "I would like to know where the other members of the rescue team are." She finished.
Yamaru took a step forward. "The other members are currently still in the enemies' fortress. They are all doing their best to end the fight once and for all." He said.
Now that was already enough explanation for the female Hokage.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shikamaru then entered the office. "A huge explosion has occurred on the enemies fortress!"
-Fortress-
Bang! Boom!
Little by little, all of the explosion notes started to explode. The pillars were starting to fall down as all of the sound-nins screamed.
"Quick! Let's get out of here!" Naruto exclaimed.
Gaara managed to go out just fine with a single swirl of sand. Lee reacted quickly enough just as Neji and the others did. However, as the two Hyuuga girls were about to go out, Hro's left foot got stuck under a huge rock.
"Hro-chan!" Reika exclaimed as she ran towards her. She held her hand and tried to pull her out. "Gosh! I can't pull you out! I can't take that rock away either!" She pulled again, but she can't get her cousin out.
"Reika! Leave!" Hro exclaimed. "Another Hyuuga branch member won't make a difference! Leave now!" She exclaimed.
"No! I won't leave you here!"
"It wouldn't make a difference! Remember that Neji-sama's father, Hizashi-sama, was killed for the main family! Another sacrifice won't make any difference!"
"YES IT WOULD!" Reika shouted. Hro was shocked by her sudden outburst. "Enough branch members have been sacrificed! I don't want another one! Heck! You aren't even a true branch member!" She then held Hro's arms tightly. "I won't let you go!"
-Outside-
"Is everyone here?" Sasuke asked. Ame's eyes widened as she noticed the two girls missing.
"Reika-san and Hro-san are still inside!" She exclaimed.
"WHAT?!"
Before Neji could even enter the building, Naruto stopped him from doing so. Neji glared at him. "What the heck are you doing, Naruto?! My only daughter and niece might die there!" He exclaimed.
"I'll handle it." Naruto then dashed inside again.
A scream. "I won't let you go!"
'There they are! Kage bunshin no jutsu!' Ten Narutos appeared and dashed towards the two girls. "Everyone! Take this huge rock off her!" The original commanded. All of the clones did as ordered.
At last, Hro was pulled out. "Naruto-sensei! Ariagto!" Reika exclaimed.
"No time for that, you two. Let's go!" Naruto carried that two on his arms and dashed outside quickly.
They got out just in time when the whole fortress fell down to ruins. Lan held the three girls close for protection while the other advanced shinobis had their own way of shielding themselves from the sand and stone… well… all except Gaara. He was used to this.
A few moments passed…
All that was left was ruins of rock and stone. There were also bodies of sound-nins that were buried alive inside the fortress, and those who were alive were all missing.
"I-it's over…" Ame whispered to herself.
Lee shook his head. "Not yet. But it is soon to be over." He said.
Lan took his grip off the three girls and walked beside his father. Sasuke nodded at him as he faced the rest of the team. "Everyone, we are going back to Konoha." He said. Everyone nodded and jumped towards the forest, not once looking back at the fallen fortress.
-Konoha-
Tsunade was walking to and fro at the top of a cliff as she watched the current fight between the sound and the leaf. No one seems to have the upper hand… not until the sound-nins saw their fortress fall down to ruins.
"Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Lee, kids… where are you?" Tsunade thought aloud.
Hinata placed a caring hand on Tsunade's shoulder. "Don't worry, Tsunade-sama. They will be fine. Naruto-kun's there… they'll be fine." She said.
"Awe… Hinata-chan… I'm so touched." A coice cooed from behind.
Tsunade, Hinata, and the other genins turned around and saw the remaining members of the rescue team standing behind them. Tsunade gasped. Their injuries were far worse than the others. Sasuke was full of senbon scratches and scrapes with some even sticking out of his arms, Neji was bleeding from the head, Lee's left arm was wounded… again… Naruto was clearly bleeding from his right leg and head, and Gaara? Well… like always. Still clean looking though with a few scratches here and there.
The four genins were all injured from head to toe. There were dried blood spots on their clothes, scratches and wounds all over their body, and there were bruises here and there as well.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata suddenly ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Naruto 'ouched' right away, though Hinata didn't seem to notice. "You had me really worried! I thought something bad had happen to you!"
Ouch.
"I was worried sick of you!"
Hinata it hurts…
"I thought you died!"
"Err… Hinata… I really am going to die if you don't let go of me soon." Naruto said weakly. Hinata quickly let go of him. Naruto placed a hand on the back of his neck, massaging it softly. "Gee… and you were suppose to be the top medic-nin of Konoha."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright Hinata-chan. I know that you didn't mean to hug me that tightly." Naruto grinned.
Hinata shook her head. "No. I'm sorry for being a burden. If I was just alert enough, I would never have been kidnapped and you wouldn't be involved into all of this trouble." She said.
Naruto's eyes softened as he hugged Hinata tightly. "I don't blame you, Hinata. You didn't do anything wrong. You were just really kind hearted to fight back." He said.
"No! Because of that… because I'm 'really kind hearted' as you say… I was kidnapped… and involved all of you in this! I want to change myself for you, Naruto-kun… so that I wouldn't be a burden… but I can't!" She cried out.
"I don't want."
"Nani?"
"I don't want you to change, Hinata-chan. I love you because you are you. I love you the way you are. Your kind heartedness was the reason on why I love you."
"Ehem. Naruto, I hate to end this lovely-dovely moment but… there is still a war going on." Tsunade reminded.
All of the other shinobis sweatdropped.
"Oh… yeah… sorry."
Sweat drop.
"Well…" Naruto then dispersed all of his kage bunshins that were currently in the battlefield. It was a wonder on how all of those kage bunshins managed to last without 'poofing' out.
"You can give Shikamaru the signal." Naruto said.
Tsunade nodded as Shikamaru instantly poofed behind them. Shikamaru grinned lazily at them and nodded as Tsunade gave him the signal. "We'll go out full force now, Hokage-sama?" He asked.
Tsunade nodded. "Yes. All out! Defeat all of them!" She commanded.
"Hai." Shikamaru disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
From the cliff, they can see the sound-nins running back as they all retreated back. All of the leaf-nins rejoiced at that. They have won the battle once again. Their second war against the sound was another success.
At the sight of Konoha's victory, one by one, the rescue team members smiled and fell into unconsciousness… with smiles on their faces knowing that their efforts weren't in vain. They have won the battle, and that was the important thing.
-1 Week Later-
Tsunade publicly announced their victory over the sound. All of Konoha rejoiced, and in the blonde's surprise, the people were congratulating him… giving him smiles. Naruto was happy. Even though not all of them acknowledged him as a shinobi, acknowledgement was still acknowledgement.
Hiashi had finally accepted Naruto as Hinata's lover and they were officially engaged. Hro was happy that she isn't to be marked by the main house and became an official member of Konoha and the Hyuuga branch house. Hiashi wanted her to become a main house member, but she politely declined, saying that she's happier with the branch house since that's where she really belonged.
Ame, Mika, Ring, and Gaara decided to stay at Konoha for a few more days, but since the sand genins and the leaf genins have developed a strong trust… even friendship with each other, it was hard for them to part.
Naruto decided to hold a party for the rescue team for their win and also for farewell. The Hyuuga main house even agreed for it to occur on their place as a thank you for saving Hinata. Everyone had fun, even Gaara, Neji, and Sasuke who were all the quiet stoic ones, shared a laugh or two with them.
Ring stood up from her seat and went towards the balcony in where Shinji currently was staring at the stars. She fiddled her fingers in shyness. "A-ano… Shinji-kun…"
"The stars are very beautiful… aren't they?"
Ring blushed and nodded slightly. "Hai. A-ano… S-shinji-kun… a-about the battle against Yuro… a-ano…"
Shinji chuckled. "You indeed have a cute side, Ring-chan." He poked Ring's cheek with his finger, making her blush a lot. He turned around to look at the stars once again. "Thank you, Ring."
"Huh?" Ring looked up to him. "For what?"
"At the battle… you saved me and did your best for me… for me… a complete stranger to you. I thought I was going to die back then… when Yuro's weapons were about to hit me… you shielded me." He said as he turned around to face Ring once again. "Thank you very much. For that few days that we met, I cannot deny that you have been a very close friend of mine. I cannot deny how much you mean to me." He said.
Ring blushed as Shinji placed his hands on her shoulders. "Arigato, Ring."
"A-ano… Shinji-kun… I… I want to say something to you…" She stammered.
"What is it?" He smiled.
Ring blushed more crimson as Shinji's hands never left her shoulders. Gathering up all her courage, she looked up straight into his eyes and blurted it all out. "I like you Shinji. I really like you. E-even though we have met just because of this war… I… I… I can't explain… I…"
"Shh… say no more." Shinji said as he placed his index finger at Ring's lips. "I already know."
"Y-you knew…? For how long?"
"Ever since we started to have a first name basis."
"…"
Shinji chuckled. "Don't feel embarrassed. I should be the one to be embarrassed since it was the girl who admitted her feelings instead of the guy doing it." He said.
Ring's eyes widened. "What are you saying?"
Shinji suddenly kissed Ring's forehead lightly and smiled at her. "I like you too."
Now the two genins never knew nor noticed that two people were spying them. One was a girl with white eyes and the other was a guy with dark eyes. The girl was giggling slightly. "I knew Ring-chan has something for Shinji." The white-eyed girl said.
"It has been a long time ever since I heard you giggle, Reika." The dark eyed boy said.
The girl, who was now obviously Reika, smiled at her companion. "And it has been a long time ever since we spied on someone, eh Lan?" She asked.
Lan nodded. 'Should I tell her too?'
"What is it, Lan? It seems that you want to tell me something."
'No. Not yet. Maybe some other time. I don't think she likes me back anyway.' He thought. But boy! He is totally wrong. He shook his head at her. "Nothing. Come on. Let's leave the two lovebirds in peace." He said.
Reika nodded. "Yeah."
Unbeknownst to them, the dark eyed boy's twin, who was obviously Uchiha Keiki, peeked from the doorway, hearing their every word. He sighed. 'Geez… I don't think I have a chance for Reika. Lan likes her and it seems that she likes him back. Sigh…'
"Keiki-san? What are you doing here?" Hro suddenly asked as she entered the room in where Keiki was peeking in. She titled her head in confusion as Keiki started to laugh nervously. "Well… if you need anything, I'm on the other room okay? If you're sleepy, you can sleep on this room. It's vacant anyway. I'm sure that Hiashi-sama wouldn't mind if you take a nap here. I'll wake you up in case you do fall asleep after the party."
With that, she closed the door and went on her way.
Keiki leaned on the wall as he smiled slightly to himself. 'Come to think of it, Hro's nice and cute as well.'
Currently, Neji had just entered the branch house estate and went directly into his room. He said he wanted to clear his head off the noise for a while. He opened his closet and took out a picture frame that contains two separate pictures in it.
One was a young woman with long silky black hair with deep dark blue eyes. She wore a simple blue and white dress with her hand holding her hair to avoid it being tangled in the wind. She was smiling peacefully.
The other picture was a picture of three. One was the same woman, another was a longhaired guy with white eyes, and on the middle, being held by the woman was a baby girl with innocent white eyes and visible dark hair. The two parents were smiling gently.
Neji smiled as he remembered who were the people in the picture. The first one was his deceased wife, Hiana. And on the second picture was the three of them: Neji, Hiana, and a month old Reika.
He smiled at the memories as a lone teardrop fell on his face. He remembered his wife's last words before she died on his arms.
'Make Reika grow into a fine young woman that we will both be proud of. I love you both.'
'Hiana… she indeed grew in the way you want her to. I am proud of her, and I am sure you are too.'
Sasuke sighed as he closed his eyes to avoid the noise that has been going on for the past hours. Gaara has retreated back to the inn, just as Neji went back to the branch house's estate.
He wondered on what would Sakura do if she were still alive.
'Sasuke-kun! I'm so glad you're safe! Lan! Keiki! My sons, I am so proud of you! Ino-pig! Love reigned again!'
'Keep dreaming Sakura! Love has nothing to do with your sons!'
'Yes it does! These twins of mine were created with Sasuke-kun and my love!'
'Yeah whatever.'
'You're just jealous, Ino-pig!'
'Hah! At least Ayumi-chan is more cute that them!'
'Take that back, Ino-pig!'
'In your dreams, Big Forehead Sakura!'
Sasuke chuckled. That would be exactly what would happen… if she were still alive. But then, he has no time for sad memories. Itachi is still alive, and his clan is slowly reviving. He must make sure to achieve both goals at all costs… for him and for Sakura.
Naruto and Hinata went out of the household together, laughing whole-heartedly as the memories flooded through them.
"You know Naruto-kun…?"
"What is it, Hinata-chan?"
"I was wondering… what would happen if you didn't love me."
Naruto poked her cheek playfully. "Hinata-chan, you're still thinking about that? Remember: Even if I didn't love you in the past, I would still love you in the future. Past, present, future… who cares?! I would still love you no matter what! Even if I have to follow you to the end of the world!" He declared.
Hinata giggled. "You don't need to prove yourself to me. For me, you will always be my beloved Naruto-kun."
"Awe… arigato Hinata-chan!"
Pause.
"Hinata-chan! Look!" Naruto suddenly pointed towards the horizon. "Look Hinata-chan. You see the sun? It is a symbol for a new beginning. The war may have taken a lot of things from us, but we mustn't lose hope. We must begin anew. For a man's life is too short. We must live it to the fullest. For today, and for the future generation."
Hinata nodded as she allowed herself to be cuddled in her lover's arms. "Yeah… Naruto-kun… I love you."
Naruto nodded. "Yes. I know. I love you too Hinata-chan." Naruto looked up as the Sakura petals started to fall down towards them. "Hinata-chan?"
"Nani?"
"Remember this place? This is the place where we sealed our promise remember?"
Hinata nodded. "Yeah. You know… I'm glad that this is all over."
The blond shook his head. "No Hinata-chan. It's only the beginning."
"The beginning of what?"
Naruto suddenly cupped Hinata's chin to make her look into his eyes. " The beginning of the new beginning. I fulfilled my promise. And that promise will only start now."
Lips met lips.
The strong feeling had started to flow around the hearts of the two-shinobi lovers. Just as the war had ended and the rising sun stated new beginning, new life, and a new peace.
Just as bubbly ness and timid ness.
Laughter and shyness.
War and peace.
Happiness and sadness.
Hope and Love.
Just like the two parts of a ying-yang… light and darkness.
The circle of life will continue on…
It will never be broken…
Even through war and peace…
It will never shatter…
For the ninjas of the night will never fade nor leave…
For today and the future…
For now and forever.
END
Author's notes: Wah!!! I ended it already! (is crying) I can't believe I actually ended this story! It's my very first completed story and I'm so happy for this accomplishment.
For the people who supported me until the end, I thank you very much. You have all been my support, my inspiration, and my council for this story that I made for all of you.
At times I have been debating whether to continue this fic or not, but you guys kept reminding me to go on until the end.
(sniff) I thank you all very much. Even though this is the final chapter, please still review! They are all still greatly appreciated!
