To all other readers out there, thanks for the reviews as well. And if you thought chapter 6 was tear jerking, wait till you get a load of chapter 7. Won't say any more. Read on!
Chapter 7: RevelationNaruto entered the room softly.
Kakashi looked at him. "Naruto," he said, arching an eyebrow. "I hope you won't go dashing off again. I really don't feel like chasing you right now."
"Gomen, Kakashi-sensei."
"Why did you run off?" Kurenai asked, looking at him.
He shrugged. Without another word, he went closer to the side of the bed. He knelt down and grasped one of her hands.
"Hinata," he said softly. "Can you hear me?"
"I don't think I quite understand what you're saying, Gaara."
Gaara looked up at his father. So strict. So commanding. Unfeeling. How could he have possibly thought that this man could ever care for him? Love him? It was stupid, really.
"Gomenasai, Otosama, demo…" He looked away. He had never imagined that saying those 4 simple words would be this hard. I've come this far, he thought, biting his lip. I can't back down now.
"…I can't do it."
Suddenly, he felt something hard hit him in the midsection. The force was enough to lift him from the floor and send him slamming into the wall.
He looked up painfully at his father, who was breathing hard with rage.
"What do you mean, you can't do it?" He said, his tone deadly.
Gaara stood up slowly. He looked straight into his father's eyes. The familiar feeling of anger rose up again.
"Answer me, you filthy son of a b!" he said, moving one step closer.
Looks like he found the perfect word to describe himself, Gaara thought, amazed that he could still find humor in this situation. After all, I am his son.
"I'm sorry," he said again. The fear was gone. It was replaced with anger. "But you're asking me to help destroy the village of my friends, and I just can't do that."
There. He had finally said it. He had finally admitted that they were more than close companions. They were his friends. And he wasn't going to endanger them. Not anymore.
Silence reigned. It lasted for a few minutes.
I wonder what he's going to do to me. Gaara thought, watching him carefully. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.
Suddenly, his father laughed. Softly at first. Then, he laughed louder and louder until he was practically screaming in delight. Gaara stared at him in confusion. And fear.
Oh great, he thought, backing away. The news was so shocking that it caused him to have a mental break down. I'm getting out of here!
Then, without warning, he came closer. The laughter died down, but he was still smiling. Gaara looked away, not wanting to see what he was going to do.
He felt his father's hands on his shoulders. He waited, knowing something was going to happen. He waited. And waited. When it became clear that that was all his father was going to do, he looked up at him in surprise.
"Gaara," he said softly. "You can't really believe that they are you're friends, can you?"
Gaara was too shocked to speak.
His father shook his head, still smiling. "Gaara, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I was never there for you."
"N-nani?" Gaara was still trying to get over his shock. For twelve years. The twelve, agonizing years that he had known his father, this had never happened. This was the first time his father actually showed care. Concern.
"I should have helped you see the truth." His father continued. "I should have told you that your friends aren't real." The smile was gone. He looked serious again. "They aren't really your friends, Gaara. They're only pretending to be."
No! Gaara thought, his eyes widening. You're lying! I know you are! They really care for me. Why else would they accept me! Why else would they no longer look at me and cower back in fear, like before! He was furious again.
"Why!" He said angrily, jerking away from his father. "Why would you say that? What reason would they have to pretend to befriend me?"
"Gaara, Gaara, Gaara." His father said, looking sadly at him. "I thought it would be pretty obvious. You are probably the strongest among the Chuunin. They've pretended to befriend you so that you wouldn't attack them."
His dark, black eyes looked straight into Gaara's green ones. He saw fear. Confusion.
"They befriended you to save their lives."
NO! he thought wildly. Nonononononono! He felt like a part of him was being torn away. He tried to calm down. But it hurt too much. The agonizing feeling of realizing that he was alone. Again. It hurt too much.
His father gathered him into a hug. Gaara was too distraught to realize what he was doing. Besides, it was relieving.
"Gaara," he said softly, "would you do this for me? Would you fulfill this mission for me? Because I know you can."
It took a long time for him to answer. A part of Gaara told him that his father was lying. But he didn't pay any attention to that. It felt so good to be held like this. To actually lean on someone instead of always standing alone.
"Hai." Gaara said softly. "I'll do it. And I promise you; I won't fail."
His father smiled. So gullible. He thought. After Konoha is destroyed, I shall have no use for him now. Then, his death shall be by my hand.
"Make me proud." He said, stroking Gaara's back. "Make me proud."
"I don't know what to say," Naruto continued, holding her hand tightly. "I guess it's because I don't know where to begin." He took a deep breath. "Everyone's waiting for you Hinata. Your father. Neji. Kakashi-sesnsei. Kurenai-sensei. Kiba. Shino." He squeezed his eye's shut to stop the tears that threatened to flow. "Me. We're all waiting for you. Don't leave. Not now,"
She didn't move. He shook his head. This is pointless, he thought angrily, letting go of her hand. They already said they couldn't save her. Why am I still trying?
He stood up. "I'm sorry, Hinata." He said. "But I've had so many disappointments already. More than I can endure, in fact. I don't want to fight so hard, just to bring you back." He swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat. "I don't want to get my hopes up by entertaining the fact that you will survive. I don't want to stay by your side day and night, holding your hand, willing you to stay alive!" He realized that he was shouting already. He didn't care. "Know why? What if you do give up? What if you won't survive? What if you won't stay alive? It'll hurt so much, knowing that I tried so hard to bring you back! Knowing that my efforts would be so futile!" He was breathing hard, crying openly. He remembered that there were other people in this room. It didn't matter.
"I've told you that I've had too many disappointments." He continued, looking at the floor. "And watching you die, without having the chance to apologize for what I did, would just crush me." He looked at her again, the tears overflowing from his eyes. "Watching you die, without telling you everything that I've been wanting to say, would probably be the biggest disappointment in my life!"
"I'm going to stop trying, right now." He said, calming down. "I'm sorry, but I'm tired of fighting. Hinata," he turned to leave, "you're on your own."
"Why were you late?" Neji asked, looking a bit cross.
Gaara shrugged. He was still trying to get over the fact that his father had actually showed signs of affection.
Neji rolled his eyes. A puff of smoke appeared, and Neji was gone. In his place was Sasuke.
"I managed to fool him into thinking I was the real Neji." He said, sitting cross-legged on the grass. "I hope he can bring her back. I don't want to have to use…someone else."
Gaara nodded. "Right. Whatever. Where'd you put him?"
"The real Neji? Stuffed him in one of the supply closets at the hospital. I saw him in the hallway. He was apparently going to try to talk to Naruto. He's unconscious right now. Why?"
"Because he can't know about the plan. We're going to have to finish him off."
"You do it." Sasuke said, standing up and stretching. "I've done my part. Besides, I'm supposed to missing, remember? I can't go back in there. Someone might see me."
"Alright."
Without a word, both of them teleported.
"Are you crazy!" Kurenai said, standing in front of him, blocking his way.
"I'm not." Naruto said softly, not looking at her. "I was actually serious, for once, when I said that."
"This isn't the Naruto I know!" she was practically screaming hysterically. "The Naruto I know wouldn't give up so easily! The Naruto I know would do his best to bring her back!"
"The Naruto you knew is gone!" He screamed back at her. The silence reigned heavily in the room. It lasted for only a few seconds, but it seemed like forever.
"He's gone, he's gone." Naruto repeated softly, still not looking at them. "He's gone, so just accept it."
No one moved, or made a sound.
Kakashi looked at him, his eyes wide in shock. This is a new side of him, he thought. I never knew he was like this. I guess he, like me, also had a mask. And he finally took it off. I'm not so sure I want him to keep it off, though.
Kakashi was about to get up. Maybe if I talk to him, it'll calm him down. His body wasn't responding, though, so he just sat there, frozen. Useless.
Gaara walked into the hospital lobby. He barely noticed the medic nins around him.
I was wrong. I was so wrong about everything! He thought bitterly. I was wrong about my father. He's not as unfeeling as I thought he was. A wave of memory swept over him. He remembered his father's embrace. Those strong arms that had wrapped around him had given him strength. It brought him relief.
And I was wrong about them. he thought, his good mood instantly replaced. I was wrong about all of them. Naruto. Sasuke. Sakura. Hinata. All of them are liars. They all deceived me. They all used me. He clenched his fist so hard, his nails dug deep into his skin. They caused me pain. Again. All over again.
He stopped at the supply closet. He was supposed to be in here. He opened the door and let himself in.
Sure enough, on the floor, Hyuga Neji lay unconscious.
He looked at his limp figure. His previous thoughts came flooding back. They caused me pain. Again. All over again.
He bent over and picked him up.
They should be destroyed.
The sand slowly engulfed him and Neji. In a few seconds, they both vanished.
Seconds later, they reappeared at the very same place Naruto had taken Hinata to. An eternity ago, when she had wanted to watch the sunset, he had taken her here so they could see the sunset closer, and with each other.
I'm sure that they both remember this place as their special cove, he thought, wandering near the cliff. Their own, special place where they won't be disturbed.
They caused me pain. Again. All over again.
It's only right that I destroy that happy memory.
Sasuke leaned against the smooth, cool wall of the cave. It was finally done. He had mastered the Chidori Nageshi.
I'm stronger. More powerful. He thought, holding up the palm of his hand and looking at it intently. Unbeatable. Unstoppable.
Images came rushing back to him. Itachi's face flashed in his mind. That cool, calm, damnable face. The very reason he was pushing his self. The very reason that he was willing to kill his best friend.
When I've beaten Naruto, he thought, clenching his fist, then I'll be that much closer to defeating my brother.
Then Gaara's words came rushing back. 'Do not attack his heart. It will only give him strength'.
You fool, Gaara, he thought, closing his eyes. He was never even strong enough to begin with.
Naruto and Kurenai still hadn't moved from their positions. They had been that way for at least 3 minutes. It was like the whole world had frozen, due to the weight of Naruto's words.
The sun was finally setting, casting the room into the shadows, creating the perfect atmosphere to match their mood.
That's it! Naruto thought. I've shown then who I really am. I can't stay here.
He walked past Kurenai towards the door. He placed his hand on the doorknob. No one made any effort to stop him.
Suddenly, a soft voice spoke. "N-n-naruto-kun,"
Naruto whirled around, hardly daring to believe it. She spoke again. "N-naruto-kun…"
He dashed to her bedside.
"Hinata! Hinata," he grasped her hands tightly. "Hinata, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here. Hold on."
"N-naruto-kun," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "N-naruto-kun…I'm so sorry, but…I'm so tired. I don't want to fight. You understand, don't you?" She looked at him with her pale lavender eyes. "You said it yourself."
He didn't say anything. He merely grasped her hands tighter.
"Gomenasai, Naruto-kun…" she closed her eyes again. "I'm sorry for being so weak…I don't…want…to fight."
"Hinata!" He yelled, holding her hands tighter and closer to his face. His eyes were pooling over, dripping onto her hands, as well as his. "Hinata, hold on! Forget what I said before! Hold on! Please!"
She didn't move. He leaned closer, enormous sobs escaped his throat, causing his body to shiver uncontrollably. "Please…please."
After what seemed like hours, she spoke again.
"N-naruto-kun."
His head jerked up. Her pale, lavender eyes looked into his cerulean ones.
"Naruto-kun, don't let go."
The wind whipped through Gaara's hair. He was still holding Neji's limp body.
He looked over the edge of the cliff into the deep, seemingly endless void.
They made this a place of happiness, he thought again.
They caused me pain. Again. All over again.
It's only fair that I destroy that happy memory.
Without another thought, he hurled Neji's body over the cliff and into the deep, seemingly endless void.
A/N: I am so sorry! I know this chapter sucks…I kept repeating the 'they caused me pain. Again. All over again' line. Oh well…