The forest was quiet.
No. Not just quiet. The wooded area was dead silent.
Hinata stopped, feeling very much on edge. There should be some kind of noise. Had something frightened the indigenous wildlife?
"Does it really matter?" She said, feeling an uncharacteristic surge of anger. Running a hand through her hair, she chose to take a rest, after having spent the whole day walking. "Maybe the animals hate me too." Sitting on a moss-covered boulder, she looked up at the sky and watched a large dark cloud pass in front of the sun. "Just like my life," she whispered.
Hinata still felt emotionally numb for the most part; but, her emotions were reawakening. After the shock and despair she first felt, her physical condition had been in a state of imbalance too. Bumps and bruises that she ignored before were now beginning to draw her attention all at once. Her equilibrium had been somewhat defunct, causing her to stumble and fall on a number of occasions; bang hard against avoidable rock spars; and take heavier damage than usual when passing through thickets and hedges.
"Maybe I'm too clumsy to be shinobi," she said, doubting herself. "Everybody probably knows that, but were too nice to tell me. I guess I was fooling myself, thinking that I had been doing well."
She took out her small jar of medicinal ointment, intending to rub it on her throbbing wounds. She sighed, staring at the container. It had been a constant part of her life, ever since she began ninja training. She shook her head. Memories of the first Chuunin exam came to her. She had offered the salve to Naruto, after he had defeated Kiba. Wiping away a lone tear, she recalled her internal debate during that match: should she cheer for the boy she always watched, or for her teammate.
After putting the ointment away, Hinata took off her sandals so that she could massage her feet. She closed her eyes. Tears formed and fell. She was lost, literally and figuratively. It had been childish and immature to run off like she had. She had turned back many times that day, determined to prove to herself and everyone else that she had changed. But, it had been her feelings for Naruto that had brought about those changes. Each time she realized that, she resumed her aimless trek.
"This can't really be happening." She looked up at the sun, now peaking out from behind the nomadic cloud. "It was all some kind of mistake. Maybe if I go back now, everything will be better." She couldn't force a smile any more than she could get herself to believe those words. Denial of the truth wouldn't change anything. The things that her father, Hanabi, and Onoda had discovered could not all be misunderstandings.
Light found small openings in the lush tree canopy, and formed large slanting beams down to the forest floor. In some ways, the setting looked like something out of a dream. That fit Hinata's mood, as she felt as if the world she sat in was unreal and impersonal. If only she could wake up and find things to be different! "Nothing was real," she said, rubbing her eyes. "It was all a trick." For a moment, she felt like taking out a kunei and throwing it, not caring where it might land. Her anger surged again, tinged with bitterness. "He really didn't care about me." Memories of her recent times with Naruto swirled around her, taunting and teasing. Maybe she wasn't as small as she once was… but she was still small. Perhaps she wasn't as shy as she had been… but she was still shy. Twiddling her fingers, she sighed. She clasped her hands together to prevent her childish habit, she wondered if Naruto still thought of her as a weirdo.
Weirdo. Joke. Nonentity. Maybe she was one of those, if not all three. Part of her complained, saying that kind of thought was unfair. She had worked hard. She had made great strides. Naruto had even commented on that. But, if he had been playing her for a fool, he might have said any number of things that he thought she might want to hear. Right? Everything he had done and said could have been a lie.
"I'll always be alone, one way or another." Hinata's bitterness and anger gave way to feelings of isolation and depression. Naruto had started off alone, much like she had. Watching him at the Academy, she felt a kinship of sorts. He had no parents. Her mother had died, and her father had given up on her, tossing her away like a faulty or broken thing. When he started making friends, he opened up like a blooming flower. He grew stronger and more dedicated by the moment. She hadn't. Her change had been much slower. She was still a bud still waiting to bloom. No, she was one of those things that turned brittle and brown on the branch.
A deer ran through the nearest clearing stopped for a moment, and then ran on. For a moment, the sound of its hooves reminded her of Naruto's footsteps. When it had passed through one of the slanted stairways of light, she had seen Naruto's image in its place. When it stopped, standing majestically with its huge antlers, she thoght of the way that Naruto sometimes posed.
A large tree bough fell heavily to the ground, somewhere on the other side of a nearby rise. The sodden thud had Hinata bringing her hand to her mouth. For some reason, the sound reminded her of the sound that the lid had made, when it closed on her mother's coffin. That sound had haunted her dreams and waking moments, years ago. It still sent a icy tendril into her heart, whenever something reminded her of the moment that she finally had to accept her mother's death.
"Why me?" She reached down, picked up a large pine cone, and began stripping off the seed-bearing scales, throwing them down on the leaf strewn forest floor. "Why does it always have to be me?" She brought one hand down hard on the boulder, the thick cushion of moss preventing a nasty bruise or gash. "It's not fair!"
Her childhood had been wonderful, though she never had reason to understand that before things changed. Her mother's death had shattered her world. When she needed to reach out to her father, he had grown harder in his loss, seeing her more as an obligation to offer the uncertain future than as a daughter. When her failures magnified her mother's death in his eyes, he became harder still. Her relationship with Hanabi had been broken once before, too. When her younger sibling had begun to get her father's favor, it had hurt. But, she still had a sister and playmate. After Hinata was handed over to Kurenai for training, Hanabi had become a shorter younger version of her sire in many ways. Luckily, that had turned around after the reconciliation. But, even as that change looked destined to add another ray of light to her life, her sister had gone on to play a major role in the tragedy she was faced with now.
"It's just not right. I almost…" Hinata bit her lip, not used to vocalizing her feelings like this. Everything had seemed to be on an upswing. Her friends were truly that. They had all been willing and even eager to help in her deception, because they felt it would be best for her and Naruto. She had been on the verge of feeling like she was truly a member of the group, not just someone who was around when everyone met in friendly fashion. How long before that might change, too?
For a moment, she found herself thinking it might be best to avoid her friends altogether, so that she would never be at risk of seeing their attitudes change towards her. That was foolish, and she knew it. But, her emotions did not subscribe to logic or common sense. Following the thought through, she froze. She needed to go back at some point. Whatever fallout came from her abrupt departure, she would have to deal with it as best she could. But, going back meant coming across Naruto at some point. How would she feel then? How could he be a beacon of hope or inspiration ever again? Without that in her life, what was she left with?
"Mother." Hinata sighed, looking up at the sun, squinting as light flooded her boulder after the cloud had passed from view. "I wish you could help me. I would do anything, if things could go back to the way they were." She felt tears welling up in her eyes again. Things might not have been perfect before; but, they seemed like paradise at hat instant. She would give up any hope for things getting better, if she could only get back the things she had lost. "I would give up everything I have, if Naruto would care about me."
That last statement had Hinata shaking her head again. Even if Naruto could somehow learn to care about her, it might not really matter. No, it would matter, but would present her with a terrible choice again. 'There… will…be… no… now,' her father had said. 'There will be nothing at all. You will never have anything to do with Uzumaki Naruto again.' If she disobeyed her father in that, she would likely lose all connection to her family, and to the Hyuuga clan as a whole. It might be more realistic to expect a heavy snowfall on this warm sunny day, than to expect her father to change his mind when he makes a statement as forceful as that.
"Opportunity is slipping away. Act now or relinquish your dream." Hinata clenched her hands, tearing up thick sheets of most and small admixed mushrooms. That stupid cookie! It had caused so much trouble. As ridiculous as it might seem, she found herself hating that fortune cookie. She had tried hard. She had taken risks, in hopes that she could see her dream come true. Despite all that, she felt as if her whole life had crumbled into smaller pieces than any cookie could. "At least Hanabi's message came true…" That felt like the final injustice.
It wasn't the cookie's fault that she had placed all of her eggs in one basket. She had been focused on Naruto for so long, that she never even thought to set her hopes on anything else. It hadn't been about dreams and hopes for a relationship, at first. It had been about admiration, inspiration, and young girl fantasies. When she did take her first steps outside of her constant and comfortable world, it was to prevent Hanabi from destroying the life she had grown used to, not to make some bold move to win Naruto's heart. But, once she found herself taking baby steps, she discovered a desire to walk, maybe even run. Things that her father, Tsunade, and Kurenai had said to her over the years had started to make sense.
'If one has to jump a stream and knows how wide it is, he will not jump. If he does not know how wide it is, he will jump, and six times out of ten he will make it.' Those had been her father's words. They might be true… for everyone else but her.
"No," Hinata said, trying to keep from sinking into a bottomless well of self-pity. "If I hadn't taken the chance, the truth would be the same. I wouldn't have been hurt; but, some day the dream would have ended." She shouldn't be angry at herself foe trying. She should be proud. And, it hadn't really been stupid, putting all of her eggs in one basket. There were no eggs, plural. Naruto had been the only egg. While it might be easy to say 'I should have had more eggs', she never really had any reason too.
Hinata thought back to something that had made her father livid. When the clan had been expanding its shared facilities, there had been problems with nepotism amongst the building contractors. A lot of time and funding had gone towards blueprints drawn up by noted architects. The builders ignored the plan, making mistakes when laying the foundation; erecting the walls in incorrect locations; and placing windows in wrong spots. The building looked nothing like it had supposed to, and ended up being torn down.
Her life had ended up like that building. No, in some ways, things had turned out even worse. She never really had any kind of plan to begin with. The only word on her blueprint had been 'Naruto'.
After this, she would need to rethink her life. She could retreat altogether, never opening her heart again, and never taking any chances. She could just shuffle through her life, waiting to see if anything fell to her from the heavens. She could make more efforts, trying to open up to more people. But, if it did not come naturally, it might never bring more things into her life.
"It doesn't matter now," she said, her throat feeling somewhat thick. She coughed. "Today, nothing matters much…" The way that she felt, she wondered if anything would ever matter again. It might be simple to make up a list of ways to better her life. There were things that she could do. She could spend time with other people. Her friends could help her cope with stressful events and offer her the support she might need. She could find positive things to do, like giving blood, donating money, or joining projects designed to help the community. She could spend much longer hours training, the way that Naruto had.
"Naruto-kun…" She hung her head again. Her heart felt so heavy. Before she could worry about other people helping her, she needed to find the desire to help herself. She also needed to charitable to herself, before she could think about being charitable to others. Before she could do any of that, she had to believe that there could be something in her life that would fill her newfound void.
Wanting to resume her walk again, Hinata decided to climb up one of the tallest trees, in an attempt to get her bearing. Hopefully, she would catch sight of a mountain she recognized, a farmsteads that she had seen before, or some familiar body of water. Flashing from bough to bough, she stopped. She never reached the top. Something caught her eye.
There had been movement below, at a distance. It had been very slight, and merely for an instant. But, for some reason, it had her concerned. Sure, it could be another deer, or the same buck she caught sight of before. It could be any number of types of wildlife, as these forests were unspoiled and rich with natural bounty. Call it intuition, or even paranoia, but Hinata felt a need to check things out. Wait! What if it was Naruto? Her heart beat quickly until she placed her forehead against the tree and sighed. He wouldn't be looking for her. He wouldn't even know that she was gone. Even if he had come, it would be out of honor, because he had hurt a friend. He wouldn't be coming because he had feelings for her.
She flashed ahead cautiously. Her movement was so quick and so subtle, that the squirrels she sped by never had reason to scamper away, or shake their tails in alarm. Birds remained perched on their branches, unperturbed. When she hugged one side of a tree tightly and peered around the edge, she swallowed hard, her eyes going wide. It was a ninja. But, it wasn't Neji, Odona, or anyone else that her father might have sent after her, if he had taken any action at all. There! Another one. No, two more. The last pair were carrying a huge scroll.
"Who?" Hinata whispered to herself. "And what is that scroll?" Her own experiences fresh in her mind, the Leaf shinobi wondered if it could be a summoning scroll. That thought had her thinking back to the day that the Sand and Sound had attacked Hidden Leaf Village. Konoha had been attacked by giant snakes.
It might not be the Sound. That might not be a summoning scroll. But, whoever they were, and whatever that is, they probably had no business being in the Fire Country. Sure, it could be some kind of joint training mission; but, in that case, there should have been some kind of word passed along to chuunin and jounin. One thing was certain. She didn't have the luxury of wandering around hurt and confused anymore. Heart broken or not, she had a duty to her village. She needed answers, and she needed to report back.
The men she moved on were no slouches. They had been on their guard, knowing how precarious their situation was, and cognizant of how any hope of success depended on surprise. There had been no call signal, so it likely wasn't one of their own. Could someone have penetrated their lines? Or, had someone already been in the area, when they began to set up?
"Th-They… kn-know…" Hinata realized that she had been detected. While stealth was still important, she needed to find out the extent of the threat she was dealing with. Speeding from tree to tree, or flashing along lichen covered rock spines and small ravines, she kept an eye out for other groups. Narrowly avoiding numerous confrontations, she managed to come across a number of similar teams, each with a scroll. There were more than eight men to each group, and they all looked to be experienced ninjas.
Hinata dove to the ground, did a handspring, and then leaped up to an overhanging branch. A number of shuriken thanked into the rotting logs and leaves that she had been running over. The weapons had converged from many angles, and had been sent high and low. She barely escaped with the few scrapes she took to her arms and legs. She was surrounded, but she couldn't see her foe. But, she was of the Hyuuga clan. She had the Byakugan.
There might be no escape for her. That truth had Hinata trembling; but, it also filled her with resolve. She needed to warn her friends and fellow townspeople. How? She didn't know exactly where she was, or how far away the village was. Just the same, she needed to make as much noise as possible, as that would be directly against the wishes of the unknown invaders. If she was fortunate, there would be teams out somewhere in the forest, either patrolling or training.
Trying to find the safest place to stop for a moment, she used her blood limit ability to predict potential avenues of attack, given the location of the men and women encircling her position. Breathing heavily, she forced herself to be calm as she began wrapping explosive seals around her collection of kunei.
Stepping out onto a large bough, she exposed herself necessarily. With all the might in her small arms, she threw the kunei as far as she could in as many directions as she could. Having done so, she was vulnerable. Arrows, shuriken, and throwing darts sped towards her. Some were even coming from above. There was no time to dodge, and no way to move that would escape all serious injury. Before she even heard her own kunei detonate, Hinata was forced to use Kaiten.
The Heavenly spin proved no problem when one is standing on a flat secure surface. But, spinning at high speed while standing on a narrow rounded surface was tricky. All of the attacks were deflected, but she lost her footing and fell off the tree. She managed to orient herself well, just like a cat might have, landing on two legs instead of four. She would probably need to do Kaiten again; but, sooner or later, she would run low on chakra. If she didn't choose one direction and rush in to attack, she would never have any chance to break free. As it was, she was probably doomed.
"I won't hurt, anymore…" She said, out loud.
No attack came. Instead, she saw one person walking in her direction, hands held out from his sides. Light shined off of what could only be glasses.
"Are you injured?" The man asked, misinterpreting Hinata's words. "I have medical ninja training." As he stepped closer, and watched Hinata take up a fighting crouch, the man smiled. Walking into a large slant of light, his allegiance became clear. There was a musical note engraved on his forehead protector. He was from the Sound. "Ahhhh. I knew it was a Hyuuga. But you…" He chuckled. "I healed you before. The day I put you and the other fools from the Leaf asleep at the arena."
Hinata blinked rapidly. Kiba had told her that a man in a mask had healed her when she fell ill from the results of her brutal beating at Neji's hand. He had said that the mysterious figure had knocked him out somehow. Later, she had heard about a traitor who had killed a number of ANBU, and who had been wearing that mask. Kabuto, someone had named him. Beyond that, she knew little.
"What? Nothing to say?" The young man smiled. He looked so cheerful and affable. It was easy to see how he had fooled so many people for so long. Failing the chuunin exams purposefully seven times in a row had helped matters, too. "Well, that's refreshing I guess. No boastful words or rash attacks. They wouldn't do you any good, in any case. You realize that we can't let you escape and carry off word of our unannounced social call." He shrugged. "Fortunately, we are far enough from Konoha. Your trick with the explosive kunei won't work. Nice try, though."
"Someone could have heard it," Hinata said, her mouth feeling dry. "There are patrols out."
"Yes, there usually are." Kabuto ran a hand through his hair. "But, there were a number of squads out the day we attacked before, right?" He shrugged. "No one heard. We will still pay a visit to your friends. But, we are in no hurry. We have a more important mission."
"That's enough! You talk too much. Kill the girl." The voice was angry and oily at the same time. A man in dark robes walked out of concealment, dark robes ruffled by a sudden strong breeze. "Those idiots in the village may not have heard the explosions; but, there is a chance that our prey has. Signal the men. Move them to new sites along the periphery."
"Yes, Orochimaru." Kabuto kept a subservient look, but his eyes danced with mischief. He was not concerned that he might have angered his master even further. He watched the look of shock on the Hyuuga girl's face. He intended to play with her mind a bit, before talking her life. "I'm sorry. He's not as much for pleasant conversation as I am. You understand, I hope."
Hinata bit her lip. She felt her knees weaken ever so slightly. It was bad enough to face a jounin level fighter rumored to be a match for Hatake Kakashi. But, to actually be in the presence of the evil Sannin. That bode poorly for her village. And what might their mission be? It sounded as if they were waiting to capture someone who might be headed for Konoha. An informant? An envoy from another Nation? Who?
"Now, what's that face for?" Kabuto said, chuckling. He began walking towards Hinata. "Didn't your mother ever tell you that if you make a face like that, it might freeze that way permanently?" He shook his head. "Oh. Silly me. I should ask you something before you die. Have you ever been kissed." She smiled, seeing the expression on the girl's face. "If not, I guess I could do that, before I kill you." he had no intention to do so. But, the fact that the girl might mourn her kiss-free life would be delightful. That, or her mourning the boy who did kiss her. "But, not if you make a face like that one!"
Hinata prepared to use the Hakkeshou Rokujuu Yonshou she had learned from Neji and her father. Kabuto looked unconcerned, prepared to use Shosen Jutsu and In'yu Shōmetsu.
"I have something better for you," a voice called out. That voice was familiar to both of them. "You can kiss my ass." It was Naruto. He was sitting on a bough overhead, swinging his legs, a nasty look on his face. "Pucker up. You're happy to see me again, aren't you?"
For a moment, Hinata brought her hand to her mouth. She knew that Naruto was talking to Kabuto; but, the words 'You're happy to see me again, aren't you' filled her with mixed feelings. "Naruto-kun…"
"Naruto," Kabuto said. "I never expected to see you again, not after Akatsuki set their eyes on you." He put one hand behind his neck. "I'm glad they failed, actually. We weren't on the best terms with them, you know. And, it gives me a chance to hear your foolish boastful talk again." He narrowed his eyes, fighting a frown. He would never forget what Naruto had done to him before. There was no chance that he would ever underestimate the whelp again.
"Kabuto!" It was Orochimaru. "I told you to kill the girl. I will take care of Jiraiya's stupid pupil. Though I would like to have the power of Kyuubi, I do not relish the idea of trading this body for his."
"What?" Hinata froze. That almost proved fatal. A number of very well placed shuriken grazed her as she jerked back to motion. The Sannin's mention of the Nine Tailed Fox Demon had her baffled. Why had he mentioned Naruto in connection with that monster?
"I hate Sannin," Naruto said, filling the forest with clones. "One is a freaking hairy pervert. One is a big-chested bully. And the other gets a hard on over snakes." The clones all threw smoke bombs, causing a large stretch of forest to be covered with billowing clouds of smoke mixed with sneezing powder. "Put a cloth over your nose, Hinata. Move!"
Hinata did as Naruto said. Before she knew it, he had her by the wrist, and was pulling her out of the way of a series of attacks. Large strands of snakes wrapped around a branch they had just jumped from. Kunei thudded into trees, causing an early snowfall of bark and leaf fragments.
"You can't escape that way, Naruto. You're surrounded." Kabuto's voice was colored by derision.
"We don't have much time, Hinata-chan." Naruto said. "They may get me. I will do what I can to break through their traps. Keep an eye out, and move through the opening. You need to head back to Konoha and warn everybody. Kakashi told me that spies had brought word of some pending move. They need to know things are in motion now. Pakkun was with me, but he left to sniff out another trail. It's Sasuke. He's supposed to be coming back."
"That's who they wanted…" Hinata used Byakugan just in time. This time, it was she who grabbed Naruto by his jumpsuit collar, swinging him around Orochimaru had used a wind blast technique, clearing the general vicinity of the enshrouding fumes. The Kusanagi sword slit the treetop, passing right over Hinata's head as Naruto kicked her legs out from under her.
"There's no time, Hinata." Naruto knew that he couldn't possibly take on Orochimaru and Kabuto at the same time. They were too powerful, and far too crafty. "I just want to say I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you, OK? Now go! You may need to break out on your own…" he shoved her roughly, causing her to jump to the nearest tree or fall to the ground.
"Is this a lover's quarrel?" Kabuto's voice preceded his attack by a mere instant. His hand touched here, there, and everywhere, trying to stop Naruto with a paralysis technique. "How sad." Opening his mouth, he sent a stream of poison needles into Naruto's body.
"NARUTO-KUN!" Hinata looked on with horror. What should she do? There was no way that Naruto could fight after being hit with that attack. But, she needed to get past the enemy and find some way to alert the village.
She began flashing from tree to tree, tears coming to her eyes. There was no time to cry. Her heart was broken from losing her dream of Naruto, earlier. Now, the pieces would be broken again, as she hurried to do her duty, leaving him behind to die. It was a sad part of a ninja's life, one that Naruto would have had great difficulty overcoming himself. The irony was lost on the stricken girl at that point.
"Stupid!" Naruto crowed, his words out of earshot for a speeding Hinata. He had used the substitution jutsu, fooling Kabuto. Rasengan in hand, he thrust it into the medical ninja's chest. "Just like old times!"
Kabuto disappeared in a puff of smoke. A short segment of tree branch fell down where his substitute had been standing.
"I don't have to worry about you being a genius!" Kabuto's kick sent Naruto hard against a tree twenty feet away. He sent a group of explosive kunei after his opponent, knowing that there would be no way to dodge that spread. The seals were coated with paralysis powder. This might be ridiculously simple after all.
Clones came into being, clustered in groups of threes. Two in each group sent the third flying, like a bolt fired from a crossbow. The projectile clones caught the kunei and threw them at Kabuto, causing the startled ninja to do a series of back springs to avoid his own weapons.
An impossibly long tongue flashed into view, knocking Kabuto to the ground below in a well aimed fit of pique before wrapping around Naruto's leg. Dozens of clones popped into view, handing on to the tongue, trying to pry Naruto loose with no effect. The young ninja was slammed against tree after tree, before being brought down hard to the forest floor. His scream rang out long and hard. He nearly passed out from pain.
At the same time, Hinata had drawn the attention of a number of Sound ninjas. Whistles sounded, as the men began setting up positions intended to slow the fleeing girl, before attacking and subduing her. Howls sounded through the wooded area, as summoned wolves were sent into action.
"No… no, I won't let them stop me…" Hinata ran directly for a charging troop of wolves, each the size of a small man. She couldn't outrun them. They would be able to scent her. There was only one chance. "I have to get through…" It was dangerous gamble, not the kind of move she would normally have used. But, what did she have to lose? Dodging as long as she could, drawing the bloodthirsty beasts close to her, she took a number of painful swipes and bites before working Kaiten. The summonings popped from view after their broken bodies ricocheted off of tree trunks and rock slabs.
Naruto's scream echoed through the forest. It sent a chill up and down Hinata's spine. Were they torturing Naruto? Would they toy with him, as they interrogated him? What horrible things might they do to him?
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata reversed directions. She couldn't let Naruto suffer like that. No duty or obligation could turn her into that kind of person. If she had to kill Naruto, she would. But, she would not leave him to be wracked with agony. She would probably die too. But, that was always the danger, wasn't it?
As she sped along, using the Gentle Fist against any shinobi that tried to intercept her, she wondered if she was doing this so that she could die. That way, she wouldn't have to face the pain-filled life that awaited her. No! That wasn't it. That wasn't it at all. Naruto might not care about her; but, there was no way to turn off her feelings, no matter how depressed and heart heavy she was.
"Get her!" A Sound ninja shouted to his fellow pursuers. Great criss-crossing gusts of wind knocked Hinata down to the ground. A number of shuriken hit her in the legs, giving her shallow wounds as she continued the mad rolling under her own volition. She was struck again, this time with globs of sticky material, the unknown matter dotting her chuunin vest and giving off a sickly odor.
"The royal jelly is on her. Do the summoning. Now!" An unseen ninja called out. Soon, a puff of smoke was followed by a growing sound: a low droning noise ame from various aspects of the forest. "The rest of you, protect yourselves. And cover her with more jelly."
A number of ninjas began moving in, swing smoking incense ball on the end of long chains, twisting colored smoke this way and that, like billowy vines creeping up along their bodies. Each also carried a bucket filled with slimy grey matter.
As Hinata watched in sudden fear, she felt her legs go week. Bees. She had a fear of bees. It had been that way, ever since she was a little girl, and had stumbled across a nest of yellow jackets living beneath a rock she had once hidden a trinket under. But, these weren't the normal every day bee. Each looked to be the size of a small cat. They were headed straight for her.
Flutes sounded, the terrible noise working the bees into an even greater frenzy. Venom dripped off of the end of their stingers. Their wings were a blur.
The jelly. That's what would draw them. The smoke would keep them away from her foe. There was no way to outrun the bees. The Kaiten trick wouldn't work like it did with the wolves. There were too many insects, and they were coming in waves. Wait. It might work after all. This was something that Naruto might think up. It really had helped, her spending that time with him.
She had decided to act just in time. The enemy was not content to use one method. Flights of arrows sped ahead of the bees. Explosive kunei and shuriken followed, as did small balls that could contain combustibles, gas, or any number of black powder mixtures. As she spun a long and drawn out Heavenly Spin, Hinata deflected the thrown items. The smoke braziers were extinguished, and the buckets of goo flew this way and that, splattering their contents on trees, ground, and shinobi. As she fell to her knees, nearly exhausted, Hinata flung her Chuunin vest far away.
The bees were stirred up, angry enough to sting indiscriminately. That had Hinata dodging, leaping, and rolling. But, they did not follow her. Large numbers rammed stingers into her discarded vest, while others attacked a number of the men who had thought to use them to their own ends.
Hinata hurried on her way. Ninjas moved to head her off, but she would not let them catch her. She found renewed strength, moving swifter than she ever had before. Darts bearing Genjutsu bells and near invisible wires didn't stop her. Neither did sonic attacks that caused bark and wood fragments to rain down on her as the enemy tried to predict her ever-changing route.
As the worried girl rushed back towards Naruto, he was dealing with problems of his own. Matched up against Orochimaru… with Kabuto stalking somewhere at his back… he knew that he was in a very bad way. Kakashi had been right. He had been reckless coming out here alone. As part of a larger group, his skills would have been additive and harder to circumvent. He might well die, without saving Hinata. But, he had done what his heart told him to do. That was Uzumaki Naruto, take him or leave him. That was his Ninja Way.
"Do it!" Naruto ached in every bone in his body after the pummeling he took. "I don't know why someone hasn't tried this before!" A large number of clones appeared, each holding a dagger. They worked as a team, so after Naruto used a number of moves that Jiraiya had taught him, focusing his chakra and increasing his speed. He ran around a tree, coiling up Orochimaru's tongue. The clones each stabbed it with daggers. "Chop the freaking thing into pieces!"
After that, things happened in a blur. When the great tongue recoiled in the blink of an eye, Naruto couldn't follow every subsequent thing that happened, needing to attack and retreat whenever the situation dictated. Kabuto nearly crippled him on a number of occasions. The wrath of Orochimaru would be something he might have nightmares about some day.
The dodging ninja would have been impressed by the number of techniques used by his two main opponents, had he been able to stand still and enjoy the show. It took everyounce of skill he had… not to mention a year's worth of luck… just to stay in one piece. Lucky for him, Kabuto and Orochimaru did not seem to fight well as a unit, the way that the latest Team Seven did. He would have given anything to have Kakashi and Sakura there with him. What was Hinata doing? Would she be able to get through?
Panting, Naruto took a moment to turn inward. It was time to weed his enemies out again. A number of the jounin and chuunin level Sound shinobi had joined the fight. Orochimaru had summoned a number of large snakes. The Sannin had also reanimated a number of dead shinobi that Naruto had killed during the melee. Kabuto worked to confuse him as well, using the Shikon no Jutsu to make dead ninjas seem alive, causing Naruto to waste his energy fighting them again.
"Hey, bastard fox…" In his mind, he walked down spacious empty hallways, stopping in front of a large set of bars. A musky odor filled his nose. Breath sounds, like giant bellows, came from within a large dark enclosure. "I need more than you usually let me take…"
His trancelike state was interrupted, as a huge horned snake swallowed him down. Shit! What was it with snakes! Not again. Stupid scaly big mouthed f-ckers! After bursting his way out of the shocked creature with Rasengan, he tried to find another place to make contact with the Nine Tails. He heard a cacophony of flutes in the distance. For a moment, he was distracted again, this time with worry for Hinata. She wouldn't have left the village and gone wandering, if she hadn't learned what he had been doing. He never would have done that, had he known how she really felt. While he wouldn't have come to feel the way that he had… finding himself liking her more and more… she never would have been emotionally hurt. She wouldn't be caught in this harrowing situation.
"WORM. YOU COME CRAWLING BACK AGAIN?"
Kyuubi's voice filled his mind. It had him shivering; but, it also filled him with righteous anger.
"You can suck my worm, you stupid lazy fleabag. While you sit in their sniffing your own butt, I'm out there fighting a Legendary Sannin and a bunch of other strong guys. If I die, you go down with me. I'm willing to save you, since I'd miss these fine conversations we have." Naruto stood unflinching, as a huge snout bumped up against the bars, and he caught sight of huge eyes and teeth.
"I PRAY FOR AN ACCOUNTING, SOME DAY," the demon fox replied. "BUT, YOU HAVE SPIRIT. WHAT DO YOU ASK?"
Naruto explained his needs, before returning to full consciousness just in time. Kabuto struck from above, breathing out a large cloud of poisonous gas. He followed up with Nehan Shōja no Jutsu, a move that would have been the end of Naruto, had his master not worked hard to improve his Genjutsu abilities.
More giant horned snakes were zeroing in on Naruto's position. Sound shinobi were attacking with methods that he had seen in pervious opponents. At least one attack came from someone trained in the use of the Melody Arm, a device used to amplify and control the sound waves emitted from it to attack his opponent's sense of hearing, rendering the target off-balance and nauseous. Another attacker used Zankūkyokuha, controling sound waves and air pressure with devices implanted in his or her arms.
"You might as well give up and die like a good boy," Kabuto's voice mocked, as Naruto scrambled to dodge the multiple attacks. "You've gotten the master angry. If I don't get you, he will. And, while he can't do anything that might draw too much attention here, no doubt he has sent for the new Sound Five. They're young yet. You would make a good training toy for them."
"Shut… the… f-ck… up…" Naruto knew that he was overreacting. That prick Kabuto was trying to keep him off guard, letting the others do his dirty work for him, saving himself for the perfect moment to strike. Sooner or later, Orochimaru would attack again as well. He had to get free of this situation, so that he could run interference for Hinata. Since he had been unable to do that, she might well be dead now. She had grown stronger and more skilled; but, there was only so much that she could possibly do.
It wasn't time yet for his big move. To do that, he needed to slow things down and draw his enemies closer. First, he would use some of the techniques that he had begged Jiraiya to teach him. He might not be Hokage yet. He might not be as strong as any of them had been. Just the same, he had hounded his master to teach him at least one jutsu from the repertoire of each.
"Shuriken Bunshin No justu." He threw a shuriken towards the sound of Kabuto's voice. It multiplied countless times over, resulting in an extraordinary number of spinning blades. Trees sprouted throwing stars like new growth, as branches and leaves rained down in vast numbers. A shouted curse had Naruto smiling before he shouted 'Kokuangyō no Jutsu,' causingdarkness to envelope his stretch of the battlefield.
As Hinata dodged the latest attacks directed at her, she felt her spirits rise. That noise up ahead… someone was putting up one heck of a fight. That meant Naruto was alive. She had underestimated him; it made her feel embarrassed. As his unknown watcher, she once knew just about everything about him. Now, just what had he become? Her spirits fell, as her dark thoughts returned. Even if they did survive this, what would he be to her? It wasn't enough to be strong. What happened to the kind and considerate boy he once was? Even worse, she had allowed her feelings to move her like one of those puppets of Kankourou's. If she had been duty's marionette, she would be heading for the village now.
"What…" She almost ran into a tree, as the woodlands around her went black without warning. Who had done that? How long might it last. There were sounds all about her, and she too was making subtle noises as she moved cautiously, using her White Eye technique as a means of pinpointing objects. If she wanted to escape, it would be best to remain still, catching her breath and shepherding her remaining chakra.
"You have grown stronger…" That was Orochimaru's voice. For a moment. Hinata froze, only her fingers twitching, afraid that the voice was directed at her. She had indeed grown much stronger than anyone would have expected, thanks to her inspiration. Naruto had gone away for years, training to become someone greater. She had dedicated her life to doing the same, learning things that her father and Neji had thought she would be incapable of. She might not be a genius like her cousin; but, sometimes hard work and a will to succeed are as important as brilliance. "That stupid buffoon chose the wrong student; but, he has done a lot with so little."
"Bite me, you freaky sack of shit!" That was Naruto's voice. "Looks like your student ran away, right? Probably because you wanted to dress him up in lady's clothing and do the nasty with him." That had Hinata breathing a little easier. The Sannin was talking to Naruto. "Fortune-telling may be a bunch of crock; but, I learned some interesting things about dream interpretation. Because snakes ability can shed their skin and renew themselves, some dopes think that dreams of them mean renewal, problem-solving, and good tidings. Crap. Others see it as a symbol of temptation. That makes more sense. But you and I both know what it really means. Some say that it's a phallic symbol, meaning one has an aversion to… you know…doing things with women." That had Hinata blushing.
"Your disrespectful prattle will not anger me, fool." Orochimaru called out a number of orders, sending word that they would need to sweep the entire wooded area immediately. The distractions could have given Sasuke a golden opportunity to get past their snares. He, Kabuto, and a few chosen others would remove the tiny threat the two Leaf shinobi presented. Both should be significantly weakened by now.
"Hey, it's OK. No need to feel bad and all." Naruto's affable remark was followed by laughter. Hinata shook her head. There the boy was, facing someone that either of the two other Sannin would have trouble with, and he was doing his usual schtick. Honestly! "I'm not so good with girls, either. I finally found one I might truly like; but, I screwed things up, thinking that she had someone else. Then, I hurt her feelings. But, you know how that is. That's why Sasuke ran away, right? Either that, or you ran out of Vaseline." Hinata put her hand to her mouth. Naruto actually had feelings for her! But she had run off before she could even talk things out with him. Her actions had cost her even more than she first thought.
"This grows tedious," Orochimaru said, as the darkness suddenly expired, vansishing like it had never been there. "Good bye." he swept his arm in a grand flourish, after working supernatural fast hand seals. He had developed a new Katon technique with Sasuke, in preparation for taking over his body some day. An unbelievable wall of fire roared across the forest floor, looking like a fiery tsunami. Trees caught fire and leaves on the forest floor were incinerated on contact.
"Looks like an Uchiha trick." Naruto said, working his own seals. "Scraping the bottom of the barrel, are we? Yawn."
Hinata wanted to rush in and grab Naruto. Didn't he see that the fire had split, approaching him from more than one side. Soon, it would encircle him entirely. Don't stand there bragging! Idiot! Heedless to the attackers he heard closing in on her, she stepped out of concealment, ready to send shuriken in Orochimaru's direction.
"Uh uh-h-h-h…" That was Kabuto. Where was he? "Let's not be rude. The two of them are involved in such a pleasant chat. Why don't you and I become better acquainted. You surprise me. When I was collecting data, there was no doubt that you were a shy useless thing."
Hinata swallowed hard, confronted by her secret fear. She was no longer useless! That kind of talk wouldn't get her to let down her guard. Normally, she would remain silent. But, for some reason, she felt a need to respond, much like Naruto had. What would he say at a time like this? "Y-You…" Great. Stutter. That will make it sound real good! "You must have been an ugly baby," she said. "Why else would your parents have thrown you out with the bath water? Does it make you feel better, sucking at Orochimaru's… ummm… t-tittie…" She had to talk loudly, just to get that out. It made things easier, as she could convince herself that it was someone else talking.
"HAH!" Naruto barked a laugh, just before performing Suiton: Suijinheki, preparing to create an enormous water barrier to protect himself from the raging inferno. "HINATA! KICK ASS, GIRL!" Damn. What was he encouraging her for? Why had she returned! Shinobi should listen to the orders they are given…
"Bitch," Kabuto said, miffed at his angry reaction to Hinata's taunting..
The wall of fire created by Orochimaru ran into the huge barrier of water that Naruto had erected. A great hissing sound followed, making it seem that the forest was filled with snakes. After the war of the elements played out, the fire continued, leaving a large charred area. A single misshapen and burnt shape lay at the center of the blackened earth.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata felt her entire body go numb. It was not from the effects of Kabuto's incomplete jutsu.
"Boo hoo," Kabuto said. "I'm not crying for you, though. I wanted to be the one who finally shut that boy's mouth."
"One Thousand Years of Pain!" That was Naruto's voice! He had used a trick akin to Kabuto's, remembering the move that he himself had used to defeat Neji in the Chuunin exams. After bursting out of the dirt, he had plunged an explosive kunai into the anus and rectum of a shocked Sannin. It was a stupid and dangerous attack. There was no debating that. But, his itch for mischief and making a demeaning statement needed to be scratched. If he survived the battle, he would have a great story to tell Kakashi and Jiraiya. Iruka would love to hear it over a bowl of ramen, too! This one was better than the one he used on Gaara, just before the boy had gone Shukaku big time.
"Arrrggghhh!" Orochimaru shouted in pain and insane rage. The attack caused more damage to his pride than anything else. He called down a fierce technique, ready to paralyze the reckless boy with a strike of his hand. He had disappeared. Naruto had used Hiraishin no Jutsu, allowing him to move across space and time in a flash-like instant.
Kabuto couldn't help but smile. His moment of pleasure at his master's discomfort gave Hinata a chance to run some distance away, dragging one leg behind her.
"You might not need the Vaseline any more, right?" Naruto reappered a few yards away, ready for his big move. "OK, stupid fox. Let's do this…" Those last words were mumbled under his breath. Gathering Kyuubi chakra, he began creating clones in small batches, infusing them with enormous amounts of energy. If he slipped up, even for a moment, the amount of demon chakra flowing through him would kill him.
"Yea!" Hinata clapped her hands together, immediately feeling embarrassed. She was not a cheerleader. There was no time for being a spectator. She began playing with a dangerous idea. It might not work. Even if she were successful, she might find her self jumping out of a relatively small fire into a giant frying pan. But, what other choice did she have? Naruto was putting up a valiant fight; but, despite all that, both Kabuto and Orochimaru didn't seem too much worse for wear.
As Kabuto headed towards Hinata again, Orochimaru worked hand seals, wondering just what the churlish boy was up to. Before slamming his bleeding hand against the ground, the Sannin watched as a large number of Naruto clones each produced Rasengan. The spinning balls of chakra energy had dual layers, with a ghostly orange aura spinning well beyond the intense central spirals.
"Move, Hinata!"
Naruto needed her out of the way, as one group of clones converged on Kabuto. The others headed for Orochimaru. While the clones were doing their thing, he needed to follow up with some other attack. He froze for a moment, seeing what Orochimaru had been up to.
"SSSS-S-S-S-S. YOU DARE CALL ME AGAIN, OROCHIMARU. AFTER THAT LAST INDIGNITY, I SAID I WOULD KILL YOU."
"Oh crap!" Naruto lost his momentum, not even watching as the clones failed in their mission to stop either Sound ninja. The snake towering over him now was no average giant snake. It was Manda. Now he was sinking in deep shit, as if he had performed Swamp of the Underworld over a city sewer or something.
"I know," Orochimaru said, looking unconcerned. "But, I bring you sacrifices. There are Sound ninjas running around this area…" He didn't care the few ninjas that had remained behind. "There is also Kabuto, if you wish him." He shrugged, not caring what his subordinate might think. "But, I offer you something better yet."
"YES-S-S-S-S?" The great snake knocked trees over, bring its head down close to Orochimaru, its fanged maw open. Great globs of venom slid off of the wicked teeth, as a tongue longer than that of the Sannin brushed across his darkened robes. "I WILL LISTEN A MOMENT LONGER."
"There are few demons greater than you, that still choose to walk this world when summoned, or by their own accord. One resides in that boy." Orochimaru waved his hand in nonchalant fashion, causing the snake to swivel its head, looking at Naruto. "Wouldn't you like to consume that waif, and in doing so, rid the world of the Kyuubi?"
Hinata blinked rapidly, stumbling as she prepared to meet Kabuto's next attack. Orochimaru had done it again. He spoke as if Naruto were somehow connected with the great monster of legend, the one that had brought so much death and destruction to the Hyuuga clan.
"SSSSS-S-S-S-S. AHHHHHH. I MISSED IT BEFORE. I SENSE THE PRESENCE THIS TIME." Manda rose up to his full height, dripping more venom in anticipation. "KYUUBI IS THERE. WE HAVE A SCORE TO SETTLE FROM LONG AGO."
"Oh my?" Kabuto laughed. "News to you?" he saw the look on Hinata's face. "Girls like their guys to buy them fur coats, right? They don't want them to be a fur coat…"
"N-… N-… N-…" Hinata's sudden disorientation almost proved the death of her. Poison needles flew at her, causing her to use Kaiten once again, falling to the ground exhausted, when she was done. Looking up, she saw Kabuto bring a strange blue glow up both arms. His eyes were glowing as well. She had no idea what his next attack might be.
"No… big… deal…" Naruto bit his thumb. "Let's even the playing field." Grinning, he performed Kuchiyose No Jutsu, expecting Gama Bunta to come at his call.
"Hi, Naruto!" A small voice spoke as the miniature cloud of smoke thinned. The orange and black frog might have matched Naruto in color; but, he was no larger than the boy's head. It was Gamakichi. "Wanna play? Why…" He froze, when a huge globule of poisonous liquid fell near him. Looking up, he leaped backward, landing in Naruto's arms. "Yikes!"
Orochimaru smirked. Manda's laughetr grew in volume, echoing throughout the vast wooded expanse. Kabuto paused in his approach, wanting to watch the humorous spectacle.
"Oh…" Hinata rubbed her fingers together for a moment. Then, she stopped, taking a deep breath. She tried to focus. Things might not work if she was too excited.
"H-H-H-Huh!" Naruto's mouth fell open. "Where's your father?"
"H-… H-… H-…" The frightened toad quivered until Naruto's elbow struck down on the top of his warty head. "He was called already. By the big hairy man, I think."
"Wonderful," Naruto said in a deadpan voice. "Thanks a shit load, Ero-sennin…" His former teacher must have been feeling paranoid, getting word of the Sound's rumored activity. Either that, or some word had gotten though somehow. "Think you're strong enough to take this guy on?" His quip had a result he hadn't planned on. Toads have a habit when picked up by humans. Gamakichi mimicked that response, but for a different reason. His urine soaked the front of Nauto's jumpsuit and dripped from his hands. Moments later, the toad left that plane of existence. "Swell."
"Didn't Jiraiya teach you to hold your water?" Kabuto asked, calling across the fight area. "He turned to smile at Hinata. Looks like you'll need a bucket and a mop around that one, eh?" He scowled. "At least, you would have…"
Hinata closed her eyes. It was time.
Now or never.