the sacrifice
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Someone already suggested a new name for this fic… The someone is Tsuki Okami. Tsuki Okami suggested the title "SUMMER RAIN"… So what do you think? Please comment on this announcement when you review… Just tell me if you want to stick with "THE SACRIFICE" or if you want to change it to "SUMMER RAIN" or my own suggestion "SUMMER SOLSTICE" … I will be tallying your votes… Thanks! (PS: The suggestion of a new title is over…)
Previously…
"What do you say… umm, we watch movies tomorrow…?" Naruto asked again.
Hinata looked as if she was going to faint. /*This is just a dream… just a beautiful dream… and I'll wake up in a matter of seconds…*/ Hinata told herself.
"… it'll be on me," Naruto continued, wearing a huge smile.
Hinata couldn't take it anymore. She didn't hear Naruto's explanation… for she's feeling very dizzy...
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Chapter
4: SOME TURN OF EVENTS
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"Hinata? Hinata? Are you all right?"
Hinata was sitting on the floor with her back to the wall. Upon hearing the worried voice, she opened her eyes slowly.
Kiba's concerned face came into Hinata's vision…
/*Kiba?*/ Hinata asked herself. /*But… Naruto… Where is he?*/ Hinata scanned the crowd and saw Naruto nowhere. Hinata sighed. /*Am I imagining things?*/ Hinata took a deep breath, and forced herself to smile.
"What happened to you?" Kiba asked.
"Nothing," Hinata answered weakly. "Maybe it's because of the heat today…"
"Do you need anything? Water perhaps? I'll get you some…" Kiba didn't wait for Hinata's response and proceeded to get a glass of cool water for her.
Hinata sighed. /*Since when did I have hallucinations?*/ she wondered. Then, she decided to go outside the room to have some fresh air.
=====
Actually, Hinata wasn't imagining things between her and Naruto. Naruto had rushed out of the room to get some water and medicine for Hinata when obviously Hinata was unconscious… And when Naruto was nowhere in sight, Kiba (who had noticed Hinata) came into the picture… and that's when Hinata woke up…
Now, Naruto was confused. He had just left Hinata at their workplace, unconscious… and now, she was missing… /*Where is she?*/ Naruto asked himself, looking worried.
"Thank goodness you brought some cold water," Kakashi said and simultaneously snatched the glass of water from Naruto. Then, he drank the water eagerly…
"Sensei! That's not for you!" Naruto said, annoyed.
"Sorry," Kakashi said, grinning, and gave back the almost-empty glass of water to Naruto. Then, he walked away.
Naruto turned around to fill the glass with water, once again. But then, he caught the sight of Kiba carrying a glass of water. He went to Kiba and snatched the glass of water from him.
"Hey!" Kiba said.
"Gomen, but someone needs this badly!" Naruto yelled as he ran away from the furious Kiba. Then, he threw back the glass with a little water to Kiba.
Kiba caught the glass swiftly.
=====
Naruto's feet directed him outside the place… and saw Hinata sitting on the protruding huge root of the old maple tree. /*She seems okay… But how did she get there?*/ Naruto thought. He walked towards her, careful not to spill the water from the glass.
"Hi there," Naruto greeted Hinata.
Hinata was startled. She was surprised to see Naruto for she was somehow expecting Kiba to be there… /*This is so weird…*/ Hinata thought. She didn't respond because she was half-scared that Naruto would turn into Kiba as soon as she said something. She just stared at Naruto and waited for him to go on…
Naruto stood near Hinata. He held to him a glass of cool water. "Here," Naruto said. "It was probably because of the hot weather today…"
Hinata took the glass from Naruto. She drank from it and felt refreshed. "T-Thanks," she mumbled inaudibly, feeling energized once more.
And there was silence between them.
The wind blew softly, touching Hinata's delicate face. Then, two birds settled down on each of Hinata's shoulders and started to chirp to Hinata as if they could understand each other.
Naruto stared at this beautiful sight. And for the very first time he thought Hinata looked cute. "How come these birds only come to you?" Naruto asked in a jealous tone.
Hinata looked at Naruto. "I didn't know you like animals, Naruto-kun…" Hinata replied. "I never saw you play with Kiba's dog…" (A/N: I forgot the dog's name… sorry about that… ^_~)
"Well, the dog always looks like he's ready to bite me," Naruto reasoned out.
Hinata grinned at Naruto's comment. "Give me your hand…"
Naruto did what he was told.
Hinata carefully placed the white-feathered bird on Naruto's palm.
"She's cute," Naruto commented as he peered at the little one on his palm… "And light, too. She's a she, isn't it?"
Hinata nodded. She felt relieved that the bird liked being with Naruto too.
There was a beautiful silence that proceeded as Naruto played with the little animal and as Hinata and the other bird watched them, amused.
"Umm, Hinata?"
"Yes, Naruto-kun?"
"Can I have her as my pet?"
"Sure."
"Thanks!" Naruto replied happily and excitedly as the white bird chirped too. "What's her name?"
"I haven't thought of one…"
"Umm…" Naruto thought for a moment and got something. "I know!"
Hinata gave him a look asking him what.
"How about 'Hina'?" Naruto suggested.
"H-Hina?"
"Yeah," Naruto said. "In honor of you of course, Hinata…"
Hinata's cheeks went pink.
"Hina is the best name for this white bird…" Naruto continued. "Know why?"
Naruto looked sideways for Hinata, but Hinata looked away… "No, why?" she asked humbly.
Naruto grinned. "Because Hina's cute, and so are you…"
Hinata's heart was beating furiously against her chest. She didn't expect to hear something like that from Naruto…
"I'll take care of her, I promise," Naruto said, "Cross my heart, hope to die…"
Hinata nodded… /*I wish you could also take care of my heart…*/
=====
Naruto and Hinata's solace under the maple tree was stopped short, because Kurenai suddenly appeared to where they are.
Kurenai looked grave. "All students gather in front of the school now," she told the two seriously. Then, she disappeared instantly.
Naruto and Hinata looked at each other with a questioning stare. However, they obeyed the sensei's command.
Naruto went to the front yard of the school where all students were clustered in a group, talking among themselves. Naruto sensed something was happening… Then, he sensed Sasuke's presence behind him. Naruto shot Sasuke a questioning look, but Sasuke just looked away. /*Where's sensei-Kakashi? I want to ask what's going on!*/ He, too, scanned the crowd for Kakashi.
Then, Naruto heard Nara's remark: "The surprise party won't push thru."
"Why?" Ino demanded in an irritated voice. "I practiced for weeks just to perfect my song number, and then you're telling me I won't perform tomorrow?"
"Nobody told you to perfect it," Nara replied with a smirk.
"Hmpf!" Ino walked away from Nara, apparently she didn't want to hear any assumptions of her smart teammate…
"Anyway, all of our sensei went to some place, probably having a meeting with the Hokage…"
Naruto noticed that even Sasuke was listening to what Nara was saying.
"Of course," Nara continued, "the meeting is about something else… something serious… Did you see the look on their faces? For the past weeks I haven't seen them frowned that much, but now's different…"
"Yeah," Chouji simply put in.
Naruto was getting impatient now. All these assumptions didn't clearly answer all of his questions.
After a few more minutes of uneasiness among the students, all sensei appeared at once at the very front of the school. These sensei walked silently towards their team, and motioned their respective students to follow him/her.
Even before their team had settled down at their usual place, Naruto had shot Kakashi various questions, but Kakashi kept his mouth shut. So, Naruto just kept silent, too, even if it kills him not to talk for some time…
The very first words that came out of Kakashi's lips were: "We have a new mission."
"What's new?" Naruto blurted out in a bored manner.
"I tell you what's new, Naruto," Kakashi replied, "Team 7 will be abolished partially to make way for a new larger team alliance…"
This statement caught Naruto and Sasuke's attention.
"We are running out of time, to tell you the truth," Kakashi continued as he felt the two boy's eagerness to hear for more details. "That's why even if Sakura and Rekka aren't here yet, I am telling this now to the two of you."
Naruto suddenly remembered that Sakura and Rekka was out there, somewhere, with Rock Lee and Hyuuga Neji. /*Where could they be?*/
"This is a class E mission," Kakashi spoke clearly, looking very serious. "It seems that the Anbu Team of Konoha had suddenly disappeared… And so are the other elite ninjas…"
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed. "They're dead?"
"Presumably they are," Kakashi answered. "Since nobody's responding to the call, we assumed that they are already dead."
"So we're investigating on this?" Sasuke asked.
"Right," Kakashi said, "along with the other students… And we'll stop whoever is behind all of this mess."
=====
While the other ninjas were discussing the new mission, Rock Lee, Neji, Sakura, and Rekka were still picking up some items at the grocery store. After paying for all the stuff, each of them carried a heavy paper bag. Of course, Rock Lee offered to help Sakura carry her burden.
Sakura refused, saying that the paper bag she has was the lightest of them all.
Rock Lee decided to change tactics and decided to engage Sakura to another conversation.
Sakura always answer his questions briefly without explanations. Then she would subtly walk faster than Rock Lee because she wanted to keep her distance from him as much as possible.
But Rock Lee would still follow this pink-haired girl…
Which leaves Neji and Rekka walking side-by-side together alone. But they didn't talk. They were just silently walking forward; each was amused to watch Rock Lee chasing Sakura from afar.
Suddenly, Neji and Rekka looked alert. They stopped walking.
"Somebody's watching us," Neji hissed, as his eyes quickly scanned his surroundings.
Upon ending his sentence, there stood a muscular man dressed like a ninja in front of Neji and Rekka.
Both teens were surprised at the sudden appearance of the masked man. Both of them instantly jumped backwards…
The masked man had a bored stare in his eyes as he eyed Neji and Rekka.
Neji threw a serious glare at the man. "Who are you? What do you want?"
But the masked man didn't answer Neji. He immediately attacked Neji!
Neji was ready for such things, but Rekka interfered with him… Rekka threw the paper bag at the masked man, and then she grabbed Neji's hand. "Come on," she said as she practically dragged Neji out of the place (street).
Neji just looked at Rekka. Seeing the girl's seriousness, he quietly forgave her for interfering with his match.
Rekka sensed Neji's stare so she looked at him, too. Then, she realized that she's still holding Neji's hand… "Gomen!" Rekka mumbled and she let go of him. Then, she said in a more serious tone, "We can't let ourselves be seen by many people, especially the kids, fighting…" she reasoned out.
Neji now understood her actions and said, "I know a good place…" And so, he led the way…
Rekka followed him.
=====
"It has been two and a half hours! Where are they?!" Naruto asked nobody in particular.
The students were still in the school but their sensei had gone to some place to prepare some things for their newest mission.
"You mean Sakura and your new teammate…?" Nara asked, folding his arms.
"Yes," Naruto replied. "They're supposed to be here an hour ago… but they're not yet here…"
"Well, they should show up soon because we're about to leave in about…" Ino checked her wrist watch first. "… Thirty minutes…"
"WHAT?!" Naruto exclaimed. Then, Naruto faced the seemingly calm and very cool Sasuke who was currently leaning his back to a tree. "YOU!" Naruto yelled at Sasuke. "Are you not supposed to do something?"
Sasuke raised his eye brows at Naruto.
"Like find her or something?" Naruto continued to ask.
Ino butt in. "Sakura doesn't need help from Sasuke… Remember, Rock Lee is with her…"
"Who will Sasuke find?" Nara inquired, for he apparently knew that Naruto wasn't referring to Sakura…
"Of course, Rekka-chan! His fiancée, who else?" Naruto blurted out suddenly. And quite loudly.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he heard Naruto's statement. He has this look that he was about to kill him (Naruto) right then and there…
"WHAT?!" Ino, Nara, and Kiba exclaimed at the same time. And each of them has this disbelieving look on their faces. Chouji choked on his snack, while Hinata blushed. Shino still looked cool… Then, all of them slowly shifted their gazes to Sasuke.
No one said anything…
Then, they just realized that Sakura and Rock Lee were already near them… and of course, the two new arrivals heard everything… (They were very exhausted for they searched the whole street for Neji and and Rekka but all they got was the wasted food items scattered on the sidewalk… So, thinking that something might have happened while they're gone, Lee and Sakura decided to go back to the school and report the incident.)
It was Rock Lee who told them everything…
Sakura was still in shock to hear the news about Sasuke and Rekka… She wanted to ask Sasuke if that was true, but of course, she could not… /*Who am I in his life anyway?*/ Sakura thought sadly.
Sasuke didn't wait for Lee to finish the story. He suddenly disappeared and fled as fast as he could… Where? He has no idea. All he knew was someone might be needing his help at this very moment.
=====
Naruto was deciding – whether to stay with, console, and make Sakura-chan feel better, or to go with Sasuke and search where his teammate might be…
He chose to stay…
TBC
Shout-outs…
Lady Light – Good thing you like my fic… Please continue reading and reviewing (afterwards)… *smiles*
Tsuki Okami - Thanks for the suggestion about the title of this fic… :D That's cute, I mean, your title "Summer Rain"… Maybe one of these days, I'll change the title to it… If the readers agree, that is… Anyway, thanks for the compliments…
gaarasand – Honestly, there's no definite pairings yet in this story… Okay, I admit I have some ideas in mind, which includes Hinata/Naruto and Sasuke/Rekka… But this will still change, if and only if I receive dozens of suggestions from the reviewers… So I am really hoping the readers to help me with this 'coz this is quite a vital part in my story… I am considering every comment/idea so that you'll continue to support and read this fiction. Anyway, I'm glad to be of any help to the communications between signed-in users… ^_^ And before I forget, thank you for stopping by to read this fiction… Hope you'll come back and review again.
RiNuN-sAMa (yamileena00@aol.com) - *Blushes* Thank you so much for liking Rekka that much… :) I will really, really think about the idea of Rekka and Naruto together…
Cookie6 – You're the very first person who thought of this Neji/Rekka… Even I haven't thought of that… Oh well, thanks for the idea. Any more ideas in your imaginative mind? It is much welcomed, really. Thank you!
:D – That's the typical idea, isn't it…? Sorry if I didn't use it. I wanted this to be unique as much as possible, and the catching and falling scenes are overly used in every romantic fiction… I hope you'll still like how it proceeded… Please, don't be mad at me… *Kneels down and pleads*
Wormkaizer – Have you read gaarasand's message to you? Well, it's included in his previous review… anyway, I will still quote: "and i also wanted to say somthing to wormkaizer he should make a story have you ever seen someone that has posted so many revews and hasnt made a story... [sic]" And I agree with him/her (gaarasand)… Why don't you write a fic? I promise, I'll be one of the first to read and review it… Thanks for the compliments…
darren (bam@1988online.com) – Another one for RekkaNaruto, eh? I see you like chanting… There'll be songs included in this fic later on… Just stay tuned… hehehe!
hikariko – Sorry it took me a long time to post this new chapie… Again, thanks for liking this chapter…
duochang97 (duochang97@yahoo.com) – Angst? Hmmm… I haven't written any fic with angst… Maybe you could tell me which person should have this angst feeling? Sakura, maybe? Still, I'll consider your opinion, of course :D
M-Naruto-Fic (placebo45x6mikeh@yahoo.com) – I quote: "he (sasuke) likes Naruto right? (it said in the Description) [sic]" Where did you get the idea about SasukeNaruto? What description? LoL… :P Sorry to break this to you man, but I am not making it a yaoi… Sorry, sorry… Hope you'll still read and review the chapies… Pleassssssseee?
rEiko-SaMa379 – Salamat! (Thanks!) I could use your reviews you know… So if you have any ideas… Please, just click the 'Go' button below and type your ideas…
Like always, I hope you like this chapter.
Now, don't get shy to say your opinion to this new twist in the story. Since I've built my character and the plot (somehow), I thought of inserting now the major conflict/problem in the story… which the Naruto characters will be solving in the succeeding chapters…
My only advice here is review this chapter and you'll definitely get to read the next installment of this story. Don't forget to cast your votes, okay?
Thanks! And smile always!
Poprice
29 April 2004
2:25pm
PS: Here's a tally of the
suggested parings in this story:
HinataNaruto – 4
RekkaNaruto – 4
NejiRekka – 1
SasukeRekka – 1
So, I'm just wondering where in the previous chapters did you (the people who voted for RekkaNaruto) get the idea of Rekka liking Naruto, and vice versa…? As far as I know, there were no romantic scenes between Rekka and Naruto… right? Well, not yet… So if you'll insist on the idea of RekkaNaruto, then the lemons will come out pretty soon… of course, between them. Just pray I won't have any writer's block by that time…