The Weight of the World

Naruto

Chapter Five

sinceritea-

Chapter Five

" You got her...Icha Icha Paradise," Hinata said slowly, flushing as she looked down at the latest volume of the graphic novel.

Naruto beamed. " Yup! I asked a lot of girls advice and I came to this conclusion: Girls want what it seems they don't want!" Chuckling at his logic, he set about his messy apartment, looking for a box. " So," He continued, " Sakura seems like she DOESN'T like Icha Icha Paradise, but in actuality, wants it more then anything in the world!"

He danced a little happy dance and Hinata giggled softly. Giving her a thumbs up, he grinned a Cheshire grin. " I'm smart aren't I Hinata-chan? Ne, Hinata-chan?"

" Yes, you are," Hinata said, quietly, smiling as he grinned. She didn't have the heart to break it to him that Sakura might not like an adult novel, especially one that Kakashi was such a fan of. But then again, Sakura would hate it and that would break Naruto's heart..

" Eh...N-Naruto-kun," She stumbled over her words as he trained his big, blue eyes on her. " I don't...think..."

" You want ramen?" Naruto broke in.

Hinata blinked. Where did ramen come in to this...But Naruto was already jumping about in the small kitchen, clanging pots and pans and taking out packets from one of the hugest stocks of instant ramen she had ever seen in her life.

Happiness was tingling across her skin and she gave up on what she was trying to say, and decided to just enjoy the moment. Too many of her days were spent in depression or fear...she just wanted to happy for once. And Naruto made her happy. He had such a bad life...yet seemed to be a bundle of joy that she wanted to emulate so badly..

" Ramen!" Naruto shoved a bowl under her nose and she looked up, surprised. He cocked his head, eyebrows rising.

" You don't want ramen?" He asked, sounding shocked.

" No, no, no, I-I like r-ramen," She stuttered out, nervous at the close presence of her long-time love.

Chuckling, he grabbed his own bowl and began to shovel in ramen at a rapid pace. " Can you believe that some people don't like ramen? Sasuke doesn't like ramen! It's absolutely horrifying..."

Hinata made her way down the pathway , heading towards the spot where Itachi and her met. Her heart was bursting with joy. He had invited her again today, because the day before, they hadn't realized the time flying by and the present still remained unwrapped.
Hinata had to tell him today that an adult novel wasn't exactly the best choice to get a girl on her birthday, especially a girly girl like Sakura...

She finally reached her tree and sat down, fingering the grass around her as she waited. Why she kept coming back everyday still remained a mystery...every moment she was in the vicinity of Itachi, her life was in danger.

Maybe it was some twisted knowledge inside of her that made her feel like she was worth something. If such a genius ninja like Itachi spent his time talking to her...maybe she was worth something...maybe..

The breeze blew by and she grew tired. The minutes ticked by and after a while, she knew Itachi would not show up. Not today.

Getting to her feet, she searched the tops of the trees for any sign of the Uchiha mass murderer. No sign..

He wasn't coming today. A feeling akin to disappointment swept through her and she made he way back to the village.

She didn't know why she was feeling this way. It was another day that blood flowed through her body and her heart pumped life into her veins. She should be happy...should..

But nothing was as it should be.

Itachi gazed down at the girl from his perch. She searched the skies once last time before her shoulders slumped and she turned and walked back where she came from. And that was when he released the kunai he was gripping so tightly in his hands to the ground. It struck in so deep with enough force to create a small crater around the area it pierced and he felt his fingers shake.

He had meant to kill her.

He had meant to throw the knife straight through her heart. Straight past the pale skin into that beating organ that kept her alive. He meant to end her life right then and there...

But he couldn't. His knuckles went white as they gripped the kunai and he could feel every muscle in his body fighting against his will and he couldn't move...

He couldn't kill her.

He could kill his father. His mother. He killed his whole clan.

But he could not kill Hinata.

" Fuck," He swore, getting off his perch and landing to the ground. Eyes bright red, he punched a tree and it timbered over, falling hard against the neighbouring trees and a loud crack went through the entire forest.

Swearing profusely, he ran a hand through his hair. He would not loose his cool. Tomorrow was another day. Tomorrow he would kill her. Tomorrow, he would watch the blood pour from her body and he would not regret a thing.

.Not a thing..

She went back to Naruto's house.

She came back to the clearing.

He had his kunai ready.

He could not kill her.

She left, once again with shoulders slumped and disappointment clear on her features.

He could not kill her.

What was wrong with him?

" Itachi..." She whispered under her breath as she sat under the tree for the third time in the row. Had he already died? No...the town would be buzzing about the news...yet no one knew of Itachi's presence in the village much less a death.

Getting up, she headed back to the village. Smiling to herself, she took a shower and headed to Naruto's apartment. They had gotten to be good friends through Sakura's present. She had not the heart to tell Naruto that Icha Icha Paradise wasn't the greatest present but she did give him a few hair pins and barrettes she had bought (as an added bonus, she had said) just to make the present a little better.

Maybe he'd realize it on his own? She giggled. Naruto realize anything on his own was quite impossible. He was oblivious and naive...and that's what she liked about him.

Today, he had gone to give Sakura her present. She wondered what the turnout would be..

Darkness was settling fast and she turned the corner, heading towards his apartment. Then she felt her heart begin to thump harder and she felt her senses begin to tingle.

Someone was watching her.

She turned around, her eyes searching the dark shadows fearfully. Should she alert her bayakuugan? Maybe it was just her imagination-

Then something leapt in front of her, and she felt her breath stuck in her throat and she only had time to breath out, " Itachi..." Before she felt the ground rise up to meet her.

The world was swirling. She blinked hard, trying to clear out the images and keep her head straight. The cold air was biting her skin and she felt her hands come up tremblingly to her arms, warming them up. She let out a low moan as she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.

The familiarity of the arrangement of trees overwhelmed her and she blinked. She was back at the clearing. What had happened? Last thing she knew, she was heading to Naruto's apartment and then..

" Itachi.." She whispered and then, her body seemed to fly up from the ground and she was shoved hard against the bark of the opposite tree.

It was then that she realized a hand was gripping her shoulder, with all the force of ten men and she felt pain begin to envelope her body as his fingers tightened, almost marking the fact that it was there.

" Bitch.." She heard him swear, lowly. " Who the hell do you think you are?"

Confusion and bewilderment was slowly drowning out any thoughts in her head. She fought to keep calm but the silence of the night was roaring in her ears and she could not keep the panic from bubbling up.

She knew this would happen. Conversing with a suicidal mass murderer every night was one thing..

Getting him pissed was another.

" Uchiha..." She choked out. " What-why are you-"

" I asked you a question. Now, girl, you'd better answer it before I put you through three days of torture that you won't be able to survive and that's guaranteed," Itachi swore, his lips close her ears, nearly tickling the skin there. In spite of the danger in his words, she felt heat spread through her body and she wondered, dimly at the feelings that were coursing through her veins.

" I-I-don't know wh-what you're t-talking ab-about Itachi-kun, p-please-"

" Itachi-kun," Itachi laughed, sardonically. Then his expression grew serious. " You fucking think this is a joke. You think that all I'm gonna do is play the happy little bunny and watch you come here every day, crying your fucking brains out without any repercussion at all?"

He bent down, and made sure her pale eyes met his. Then he enunciated slowly, " I killed my parents. Don't you dare underestimate me."

She was breathing hard now, fear evident in her eyes. She whispered, " Itachi...I d-don't underestimate you. I never have. This..." She motioned outwards, ever aware of the red eyes that were trained on her, that every word had the weight of her life mounted upon it. " This...is like a test...for me. I-If I'm w-worthy...if I'm w-worth it...If I can handle talking t-to you...I c-can handle a-anything...this is n-no joke, I-Itachi..."

" Stop saying my name as if you know me," Itachi said lowly. Hinata nodded, numbly, overcome by the dangerous situation.

Any moment, she could die. Any moment, he could kill her. Any moment..

Every moment was precious..

She could feel the anger dissipate from him as he moved away from her and she fell to the ground, weakly. Her hand went to her injured shoulder and she held it tightly, her body curling into itself. Itachi stared down at her, his red eyes slowly disappearing into the dark irises they usually were.

" Shit..." He swore, and he turned around, his hand running through his longish hair. " Lost control..again.."

Hinata knew that Itachi wasn't the type to reveal his emotions or show them at all. That he lost control over such a little thing, Hinata knew was killing him inside.

But what Hinata wanted to know was why...why Itachi would lose control and why this had ever happened.

" Why the hell are you still here?" Itachi was looking at Hinata and Hinata looked up, surprised.

Do you have a death wish? She heard a voice echo within her head as she felt words tumble out of her mouth. " Why...why did you bring me here? Why did you get mad? What is this...all about?"

Itachi stared at her. Hinata felt every bone on her body rattle in fear but she tried to keep it together. Why can't she ever shut up?

" You...you're walking a dangerous line, girl," Itachi said, softly. " Now go home. Before I do decide that blood spillage tonight is just what the doctor ordered."

Hinata got up, tremblingly and then cried out as she fell to the ground, her hands going straight to her head. He had knocked her out and she hadn't recovered. Itachi watched, emotionlessly as she gripped her head.

Then she took stock of her breath and choked out, " I d-don't think that's gonna-gonna happen anytime soon.." Before she had dropped, at that second..

" Should've controlled the chakra in that hit," Itachi mumbled to himself as he watched the girl lay there, unconscious. He turned around before feeling emotions run through his body. Akin to guilt, he turned and looked at her motionless body. Angrily, he stalked over to her and scooped up her body in his arms, quickly making his way to the mansion where she lived.

Only for amusement, he thought. If only, for entertainment of my last living days.

" You were laying outside the gate, when we found you," Her cousin said, coldly, staring down at her judgingly.

She stared at him in shock. " Really?"

" Yes, really."

So then Itachi really did...help her..

A slow smile began to spread across her face and she giggled happily. Neji rose an eyebrow. " What the hell is wrong with you?" He grumbled, as he stepped inside the household.

Hinata twirled, before turning and smiling shyly at her cousin. " No reason," She grinned, before hurrying to gather her stuff.

Today, she had a thank you to carry out.

a/n: Yea late, i kno! lol, thanx for the reviewz.