Chapter 16: Risk
"There is no intensity of love or feeling that does not involve the risk of crippling hurt. It is a duty to take this risk, to love and feel without defense or reserve."
― William S. Burroughs
Hinata
Neji waits 2 days before finally deciding to confront her.
Somehow she managed to avoid him all day until nightfall, catching her alone long after dinner when he's sure everyone in the compound has truly gone to bed and won't be privy to listening in.
It's not a surprise to see him right outside her room, regarding the bright silver of moonlight as it spills along her bedspread and the notes scattered along her desk without taking a step forward to enter. They used to going in and out of each other's rooms all the time to borrow a book or scroll, but that's changed now that they're older, now that she has secrets to hide...
"Neji, did you need something?" Hinata asks as she approaches, ignoring the swirl of her stomach tightening.
His eyes linger on her open notes and scrolls, sighing.
"I've wondered much about the future; what you and Naruto saw and did. I'm sure some of it was quite stressful knowing you two want to stop or alter various scenarios from occurring." He starts, turning to face her.
Hinata swallows, his tone clearly implying he's heard what she's murmured with Father and Hanabi even when she had assumed, had hoped he wasn't nearby or out of the manor on a mission/with his team.
"Yes, Naruto and I met with our future selves and our children. There's much we saw and learned in regards to the Akatsuki and the growth of Konoha." She describes.
Neji frowns then, eyes sharpening.
Footsteps echo abruptly in the distance and Hinata straightens, gesturing for them to head to the patio by the meditation room where nobody will overhear them at this time of day.
Fireflies flicker in sparks of neon greens and bright golds by the garden, dancing through the hydrangeas and lilies.
"Children? I've heard Uncle mention the names Boruto and Himawari. That's who he was referring to then, right? His future grandchildren?" He questions.
Hinata nods slowly, Neji's annoyance only deepening.
"Why is this the first time I'm learning about all this? I thought that I would be one of the first people in our clan to know you'll marry and have two kids with Naruto! Am I the last to know about all the excursions you two did the future?" He spits out.
Hinata tightens her lips, heartbeat rising tenfold in her ears.
At her expression Neji calms himself, rubbing his head.
"I'm sorry for raising my voice. It's just do...do you not trust me still?" He asks carefully.
Hinata shakes her head quickly, tears pressing up against her eyes she hurriedly blinks away.
"No, it's not that Neji! Of course I trust you, I asked you be my sparring teacher after all whenever Father isn't available." She speaks gently.
Neji's brows crease, on the tip of his tongue to ask why then has she kept all this from him when Hinata holds up a hand to continue on.
"I didn't want to speak about the future with you. I told Naruto not to mention it around you either or Team Gai and for that I apologize. It's...It's just painful what we saw happen to you. I felt at the time speaking it aloud would make it all the more true and I didn't want to bear with the ache. I wanted to simply focus on us getting back home and then figuring out everything we needed to change..." She explains hoarsely.
Neji quiets, taking in the underlying meaning of her words.
'Speaking it aloud...didn't want to bear it...' He ponders.
The buzz of cicadas fills the silence, warm breeze drifting over him.
And then it clicks.
Ah, now he knows why she's been so uneasy around him, why she gives him pained looks off and on that she's never been good at completely hiding.
"Well if you won't say it, I will. I must die at some point between now and before you have Boruto and Himawari, correct?" He guesses.
Hinata stiffens, lips contorting into a rare scowl.
"You say it so casually as if we're just discussing the weather!"
Neji shrugs, though she can see the new weight of rocks this news puts on him from the crack in his usual stoic look, the way his opalescent eyes turn despondent and she curses herself for not just lying.
'He would've seen through it, he would've found out eventually.' She knows.
Still, she would've preferred to carry on this pain secretly than see this sadness upon his face...
"We're shinobi Hinata. Death comes with the territory such as when we took our chunin examinations back when we were at the the Academy, gave the shinobi creed." Neji reminds her.
Hinata balls up her fists, taking in the dark sky before looking back to him.
"No, you didn't die on a mission Neji. You died in a war brought on by the Akatsuki's leaders." She grits out.
Neji's features remain impassive, annoying her further.
Doesn't he care? Isn't he scared? Upset? Angry?
Instead he smiles gently, patting at her head in the same way he used to do when they were about spar and she wanted to run, wanted to find any excuse not to hurt him...
"I must've died pushing you or Naruto out of harm's way perhaps? Or maybe there was an attack outside the scope of our byakugan I couldn't avoid in time? You wouldn't get this mad if it was a death that couldn't have been prevented such as a terminal illness." He assumes.
This time she just lets the tears come, sliding down her face in cool rivulets.
"...It's silly how accurate you can even predict your own death." She murmurs after a pause.
Neji laughs humorlessly in response.
Changes always have consequences. Good or bad, but he's sure Hinata and Naruto already know this...
"Hinata, it's a honor to protect you and Naruto even at the cost of my life. I just want-"
"I want you to see Boruto and Himawari grow up, train with them, have them hug and cling to you and call you Uncle!" Hinata interjects confidently, so sure of such a future, a new reality than what she and Naruto first saw that Neji momentarily can't come up with anything to say in return.
And so Hinata pushes forward, pointing to the mountains in the distance, the rolling hills and forestry all encased in the ink black of the night.
"I'm traveling with Naruto and Jiraiya this coming Friday. To master better use of my lightning and fire affinities and for Naruto to master control of Kurama under the tutelage of another jinchuriki." She voices.
Neji nods his understanding, following her gaze.
He recalls when Hinata would turn beet red around Naruto, unable to even form a proper sentence around him. If he'd teased her on it now she'd say she was only 12, still naïve of how easy it is to strike a conversation up with Naruto, to express her true feelings.
'No, she became bolder as soon as she stole the scroll of Ages and Seasons.'
"Ah, Jiraiya the Toad Sannin? Don't let him put any ideas in you and Naruto's head to have Boruto and Himawari early, okay?"
His warning makes her cheeks flush, shyness blooming back up so quickly Neji chuckles.
"W-We weren't going to do anything like that!"
Sakura
"Oi, I'm no one special! You didn't have to go out of your way to come see me before you go."
Though even as Tsunade says this she squeezes Sakura closer, laughing lightly as she buries herself into her shoulder. Their breakfast has been a light mix of rice with salmon and eggs, Shizune even packing her a variety of bentos of her favorite dishes to keep her going for the first couple of days out on the road.
She must've known she was coming even without her saying so (Tsunade's never up this early without good reason), having gotten up when the sun is still barely on the horizon to actually cook and prepare a few quick meals and ration pills for her, sky a light hue of pastel pinks and violets.
Kurenai-sensei had thought her late night goodbye silly as well, but nonetheless was happy for her visit and drop by of some nursery gifts before she departs.
"I expect to hear great things about you Sakura." Kurenai had stated and she hopes she can truly live up to the genjutsu specialist's words.
"Wrong! Of course I'd come say goodbye to you; you're too important My Lady! I'm going to miss you barking orders at me to see such and such patient before they crash and sparring with me to blow off steam when a patient gets too flirty or grabby! I suppose Shizune will have to take over for me again on making sure you don't gamble using Konoha's treasury funds or drink too much sake before noon!" Sakura teases, squeezing her back. She smells of sake and roses, clinging to the familiarity before she has to inevitably let go.
"Rude; even I know better than to do such things!" Tsunade snorts.
She pulls back slightly to get a good look at her, brushing away teardrops shimmering in her verdant eyes.
"Don't worry about me, Shizune, or the village Sakura. Also if that Uchiha brat so much as makes you cry or hurts you in any way, I'll break every last bone in his arms, hands, and legs!" She promises.
Sakura cracks her knuckles in response blinking away the last of her tears, smirk rising up.
"Oh, they'll be no need for that My Lady! I'll break every arm, finger, toe, you name it if he tries to cross me the wrong way! You can heal him afterwards or perform any necessary surgeries!" Sakura beams.
Tsunade laughs boisterously, nodding her agreement. "Just like how I did that old pervert Jiraiya when he tried to peep on me at the hot springs!"
Shizune meanwhile takes a step back from the pair as they laugh and bond over their strength, hugging Tonton closer.
'Tsunade truly raised a second monster when she took Sakura on as student!'
Sakura slowly untangles herself from her arms reluctantly, sighing as the sunrise starts to truly make an appearance.
"Do you have everything?" Tsunade prompts once more, looking over her gear and supplies.
All their plans, fail-safes, and research over these past weeks to months are finally about to be used.
Sakura nods in confirmation. "Everything."
"I have to get going, I promised to meet by the entrance gates for 5 minutes to 6:00 am and it's already past 6 now." She sighs.
Tsunade nods, hazel eyes turning towards to the coming dawn.
"Well, don't keep him waiting then! I don't want him to go snooping around here for you!" Tsunade chortles, waving her off.
Sakura nods, taking the back roads and forests that lead up to the gates. Light crosses over fresh dew and tree bark making them sparkle reminding her of the days of early morning training at the Academy.
She purses her lips thoughtfully, trying to decide what to say once she finally greets Sasuke.
A simple 'hello' or 'good morning' don't sound sufficient enough; fake. A game of pretending nothing has changed or happened to them in the time since he's left the village.
At this time of day she can at least watch as silver droplets along the trees and gold-green hues of sunlight on the grass mix together, night and day meeting before parting and her body relaxes some.
Konoha is rarely this peaceful, not with rumors of war popping up more and more often.
Sasuke is leaning against one of the trees, gaze skyward on the swallows and crows swooping through the morning air leaving black and brown feathers in their wake.
'Itachi's signature genjutsus involve crows.' She recalls, following his gaze to the birds before she feels his stare upon her.
"Sakura." Sasuke nods in greeting and she notes he isn't in disguise this time, perhaps if only because so few civilians are out and about at this time of day.
He holds up a thermos for her and she feels her chest lurch, digging her nails into the palms of her hands to stop the rising blush.
"What's this for?" Sakura questions and Sasuke shrugs, passing it into her hands.
"You like to drink a latte in the morning, right? Namika said you always go to the cafeteria to get a medium latte before beginning any shift you had." He mentions and her face burns wondering why he felt the need to ask Namika such a question or even notice such a habit about her.
She takes a long sip of the drink, welcoming the burn of it hitting her tongue too fast, anything to calm the thrum of her heartbeat. It neither calms or helps her nerves seeing Sasuke watch her silently, dark eyes focused on her lips.
"Thank you, you didn't have to go through such trouble." Sakura voices.
For the first time in a long while she gives him a true smile, the same one from their childhood and early days as Team 7 and he wishes he wasn't about to break it with his next words...
"Sakura, we need to take a detour before we truly begin pursuing Itachi." He mentions and he watches as her smile turns sardonic; icy.
She moves the thermos from her lips, jade eyes steely with suspicion.
"Ah, so this was just...bribery coffee, huh?"
Sasuke shakes his head, clicking his tongue. Of course Sakura would twist this, would assume the worse and he can't truly blame her knowing his most recent actions. "No, I just wanted you to try and start your day as you normally do."
Sakura's brows furrow, unconvinced. "Where are we going? To Team Taka's current hideout?"
'She knows about them?' Sasuke frowns making Sakura's scowl turn into mischievous grin.
"Yes, I know about Team Taka. You know, two of your teammates seem to only follow you out of pure idolization. Jugo for seeing you as his jailer to keep him from going on killing sprees and Karin for you rescuing her from a life where her body would just be used as a tool for healing. Suigetsu seems to be the only one with you for the purpose of collecting rare swords, particularly the ones from the Seven Hidden Swordsmen from the Mist." She goes over.
A silence overtakes them as they finally decide to get moving out of the village, the annoyance in her features switching to pleasantry as she bids the nightshift guards goodbye.
He picks up on the faint scent of fuchsia on her, the way the guards eyes turn dreamy and cloudy.
"Have a safe trip Ms. Haruno, don't let that rookie of yours slow you down!"
"Oh, he's much more experienced than you know!" Sakura chimes back in sing-song, cheerful mask evaporating once they're truly out of sight. It's best that the guards can't even think to ask questions of why she's leaving at this time of day, that their eyes can't linger for too long on Sasuke in realizing he's the same ninja from their village that went rogue.
"I need to explain to them why I'll be gone for awhile, there were plans we made that will now need to delayed or even stopped entirely." Sasuke finally voices.
Sakura doesn't look at him, eyes focused on the trees, avoiding the damper branches and the ones layered with moss and thorny leaves.
"...Well, it's more than you gave us. I'm sure they won't be expecting me or would even want me there though so I'll just stay to the background of the forest while you say your goodbyes." She snorts after a minute.
Abruptly Sasuke leaps ahead of her, landing on a branch in front of her forcing her to slow.
"That tone. Are you jealous of them?" He questions point blank, watching as her eyes widen before they darken like a storm, a blaze of paralyzing green threatening to smolder him.
Sakura balls up her hands, slamming a fist right against the bark next to his face, piercing a hole straight through making splinters nearly slash at his face as he leaps back. Birds hurriedly rumble out of their nests taking to the canopies, leaves cascading down like rain around them.
The tree crackles and groans from her attack, swaying downward awkwardly from the injury about to collapse fully with them on it.
"Get out of my way." She growls when Sasuke still manages to impede her path.
"Answer my question." He retorts.
Her shoulders tense before relaxing, façade rising up again as she gives him a placid smile.
"Envy is unbecoming, but yes I do feel the twinges of jealousy knowing that you were a part of Team 7 first and didn't show us the same consideration or care. You were ours and greedily I wanted you, still want you for myself. Though I also ache for Team Taka, to follow you so admiringly and adoringly not knowing yet how quick you'd betray them if the right opportunity came along." She scoffs.
"I won't betray them." Sasuke counters though it sounds off even to his own ears knowing what Itachi could yet tell him. Sakura leaps back into the shadows of the trees without answering and he maneuvers to an opposite tree himself as their current one lets out a final roar before it tilts and crashes down.
'I greedily want you for myself.'
Her words don't match her actions...
Still he bristles at the weight of them and the knots it drives into his chest, Sakura appearing once more on the treetops and he senses it then too. That sickly familiar smell of disinfectants and chemicals that Orochimaru uses to preserve his cadavers to experiment on them for as long as possible, air becoming coated with blood.
Kabuto or Orochimaru, one of them is close by.
Sakura's eyes narrow, scoffing.
"Looks like we're being followed ourselves."
Naruto & Hinata
"You know, I'm starting to think Pervy-Sage may have ditched us or forgotten the meeting time he gave us." Naruto huffs.
"He wouldn't do that when he was the one who brought up this idea in the first place." Hinata considers while adjusting her bag, though her eyes glance back towards the training grounds and markets searching for his trademark spiky white hair.
Nothing.
Naruto scowls, checking the center square clock again. Yes, it's still 20 minutes after 6:00 am and yes, Jiraiya still isn't here.
10 minutes later they finally see his telltale snow white hair weaving through the morning rush, cheeks stained a crimson red and Naruto groans lowly.
"Great, he's drunk and he's the only one who knows the guy we're supposed to be meeting and what he looks like!" He grunts.
Jiraiya grins toothily as he gets closer, saluting the pair in greeting.
"Oh good! Wasn't sure if you two were going to actually be here on time based on the last time I woke you guys up early!" He chimes.
Hinata's face goes red while Naruto bristles, stomping ahead.
"Can we get going already? You've already made us 30 minutes late on starting this journey you know!" He snaps.
Jiraiya merely shrugs, dark eyes clear despite his flushed cheeks.
"Kid, you don't even know which direction we're going in. We're heading northward to Kumo; not south like the way you're going." He snorts, catching him by the collar of his jacket before he can get too far.
Hinata studies him silently and Jiraiya catches her gaze with an arched brow, casually waiting for her to say something criticizing about him too.
She purses her lips instead, matching his bemused stare with one of her own.
"Why did you go out drinking last night when you knew we were going to be leaving early in the morning?" She questions.
"Yeah, I would think even you would know better!" Naruto adds in as he squirms out of his hold.
Jiraiya grins widens, wagging a finger up at her and Naruto's apparent naivety.
"More information collecting of course! You'd be surprised at what people confess to once their lips have been loosened via their favorite drink or tonic! A man from the Kumo region in town to visit his sister told me all about their village's Eight Tails and the temple that's been used for generations to help jinchuriki control their beasts." He describes.
Naruto perks up in interest, so it would be a temple they would be visiting then? He wished he had asked his future counterpart more about what the other jinchuriki had been like it even though he had only met them all briefly.
"Really? I'm surprised you learned so much considering that never worked on Granny! Didn't she knock you out instead?"
Jiraiya frowns at the memory, the smell of sake and the fish snacks they shared before his vision went black...
"She used a drug on me that was odorless and tasteless! Ugh, anyways, let's just get going! It's going to take at least a week or two to get to Kumo even moving at a fast pace." He orders.
They reach the border of the Land of Hot Water just as the sun sets, Jiraiya announcing they'll be staying at the Hanayoshi Mineral Hot Springs and Garden Hotel for the night.
It's a grand newer hotel from the way a concierge eagerly describes it showing them painted décor of Yugakure at night lit up with red and yellow lanterns along with their famous sapphire blue hot springs. This hotel in particular is nestled deep within the greenery of the forests using wood and tile the colors of chestnut and gold.
"We actually just opened up this place last year! You should check out our all you can eat buffet and our complimentary room service for food and any laundry needs you all have!" An attendant named Koyuki describes as she leads them up the the front desk.
Jiraiya grins deviously as he gets them checked in, nudging Naruto as he passes him his room keys. Hinata has taken to flipping through the pamphlets to the side of the desk that go over amenities and attractions the hotel and locals offer, not paying them any mind. It would save money to have them all in one room, but it would be much too crowded.
On the other hand, he's sticking two teenagers in one room knowing what's already happened when they're alone together...
'Hiashi will probably paralyze me once we return back.' Jiraiya sighs.
Still, he should make the most of this trip!
"You think I could do a spin off novel of my Make Out Paradise series for Young Adults or Teens?! I mean I would of course have to get research and investigate by asking the ladies around here or even see if Hinata would be willing to-"
"No, don't even think about it! Besides...I'm the only one who can do the type of 'research' you do with Hinata!" Naruto interjects before sending Hinata a grin when she looks their way.
They share a hot pot for dinner filled to brim with a variety of noodles, vegetables and meats packed in. Dishes and bowls of tonkatsu, tempura udon, karaage, and gyudon are passed around until they can all eat no more.
Naruto yawns as he gives a half wave to Jiraiya before leaning against Hinata as they stride leisurely to their room on the opposite side of the hallway, breathing in the fading scents of iris and vanilla upon her skin.
Their room matches the color themes of the lobby, soft blues in the bathroom and light greens and redwood flooring for the walls of the bedroom and the steps that lead out to spring baths respectively.
The attendants at the front desk had bragged each room came with it's own private mini hot spring if they didn't want to use the communal bath. He intended to see if their boasts truly promised for soothing at how sore his back and feet currently feel.
"Do you want to go in first? I can order us some late night snacks and check what shows are on." Naruto asks gently, poking at a cut near her elbow she'd gotten earlier from a branch scraping against her.
Hinata shivers from his touch, studying the waters for a moment before looking back to him, intertwining their hands.
"We can go in together." She decides.
Naruto smirks making her face pinken before they've even moved. "Really? I like this new boldness Hinata!"
"Yes, well you said you liked it when I'm more daring! And...I don't mind if it's you Naruto." Hinata clarifies, wiggling at her toes to distract herself.
"It will always be just me Hinata, no one else." He asserts and emphasizes and her breath catches at the tone of possessiveness, the way his cerulean eyes turn a shade darker roaming her figure.
This sounded so much easier in her head, asking Naruto to bath together when they've already slept together. She expected Naruto to tease and flirt back with her yes, but not for his eyes to flicker that same deep scarlet as he takes a step closer to her.
"I've been wanting to touch you all day, you know that right?" He whispers as his fingers roughly caress the curves of her breasts. He slides her robe open unabashedly drinking in her cream skin, guiding her into the warmth of the spring waters.
"Mmm, I know. I overheard your conversation with Jiraiya." She hums in return, letting her own fingers run from his messy locks down to his chest.
She manages to get him to slide off his own robe before he gets it wet, admiring his body in the same manner, cheeks burning. It had been too dark that night she stayed over at his apartment, moonlight not bright enough for her to see the scratches she left on digging into him or ogle the plains of his muscles.
"Come here." Naruto grunts out and Hinata lets out a low whine as his fingers slide to her center, gently rubbing at her nub before pushing in.
"Naruto!" She gasps.
He lays her back against a corner of the tub, pulling open her legs farther.
"Hold on, I'm not finished yet." He murmurs by her ear, pulling his fingers out making her sigh in protest.
But she's writhing again in pleasure a second later as the tip of his cock slides in, Naruto groaning at her tightness.
White spots cloud her vision, Naruto clenching around her as his thrusts taper off.
He kisses away beads of sweat on her brow, chuckling taking in their equally flushed and pruning skin.
"Round two in the shower or bed?" Naruto suggests gently with a smirk.
Hinata nearly sinks into the water avoiding his knowing grin, his stamina was endless.
"...The bed."
The sheets smell of lavender and pine even hours after tussling through them, reminding her of home.
Of Neji.
At some point after kissing and touching Naruto all over she must've drifted off calmly, Naruto curling an arm around her shutting off the lamp light.
The peace doesn't last, her dreams are chaotic, the scent of smoke and blood choking at her throat.
"You couldn't even save your precious cousin. You and Naruto are only going to make this bloodshed continue if you don't just give up now." Obito sneers, twisting her head forcing her to watch as the Ten Tails unleashes a cascade of black spikes that pierce straight through Neji's body in quick succession, crushing at his organs.
Blood pours out of him like a river and soon Neji's body is slumping over, auburn hair and headband coming undone revealing his fading branch seal.
"No, let me go!" She screeches, burning at his fingers to no avail. The medics are all too far away, unable to get to him in time even if they had a clear pathway...
Neji gives her a peaceful look as the light leaves his eyes, accepting of his fate.
"No!" She yelps.
Her stomach feels clattered with rocks, pointed and hard poking at her from every which way. Sweat sticks to her, fingers trembling in rhythm with her pounding heart.
"Hinata, Hinata! Relax, you're fine!" Naruto speaks in a rush hovering above her and Neji's death recedes back into the darkness of their room.
A nightmare.
"What's wrong?" He questions at seeing tears prick her eyes, thumbing at them gently forcing her to meet his steady gaze.
"I told Neji about his death, a death that's now haunting me." She whispers.
Sasuke & Sakura
'She has that look in her eyes again.' Sasuke realizes.
Malice and annoyance swirl across her jade eyes, settling back into a thicket of leaves and shrubbery out of sight.
"It's Kabuto." She mouths and he mouths back asking how she can know this and she points then to her nose.
He maneuvers himself quietly into the moss and vines beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
"Everyone has a particular scent to them. Kabuto's is very similar to Orochimaru's, however his is a less potent smell of blood and snake venom. I presume most of the time Kabuto must have the job of cleaning up Orochimaru's experiments when he grows bored with them as he smells strongly of disinfectants and cleaning products too; medical instruments I use daily in my own practices." She notes.
Sasuke nods, surprised she can acutely smell out such scents this deep in the forest, but then again she deals with such smells on a daily basis.
The bushes beneath them crackle, Kabuto's laugh echoing out.
"You know, it's rude for you two to talk about others, especially when they're right nearby!" He mentions with mock hurt.
They both leap away as kunai tagged with a paper bomb lands right between them, explosion pushing them out of their hiding spots. Smoke clouds the area, Sasuke gritting his teeth searching for Sakura's chakra signature within the black smog.
"Ah they're you two are! Sorry to interrupt your lover's quarrel, but Orochimaru requests you back Sasuke!" He announces, leaping up towards them.
"I'm not going back to him." He retorts coldly.
Kabuto grins wickedly at his response, going in close for Sakura landing a sharp punch to her gut kneeing her. Blood bubbles up out of her lips, body tumbling backwards down towards the forest floor.
"Sakura!" Sasuke shouts, watching her figure quickly disappear into the darkness of the trees and haze.
"Strange to see you of all people actually caring about someone besides yourself. As much as it annoys me, Orochimaru isn't just going to let you go so easily Sasuke. Have you forgotten what Itachi did to you? To your clan? The need for power that drove you away from the village?" He questions with a cruel snicker, giving chase after him until they both land on the ground.
Sasuke answers him in a blaze of fire he quells with a water dragon, obsidian eyes gleaming.
"Come on, don't make this any harder for me. Master Orochimaru expects me to have you back by nightfall uninjured."
Kabuto moves to launch towards him but freezes up, eyes rushing towards his legs.
Sasuke follows his gaze and frowns, the skin at his feet and ankles now a mottled purple.
'Sakura's work.' He realizes.
Kabuto lets out a low hiss of pain, attempting to shed and tear the skin to no avail as the deep violet continues crawling up his legs, veins turning a haunting black.
"What is this damn it?!" He growls.
The ground rumbles beneath their feet abruptly, sinkhole forming.
"Earth Release: Abyss."
Sakura's voice.
It's cuts faintly through the silence, her hands reaching up grabbing Kabuto by the legs tugging him straight down into the dark.
Sasuke moves quickly after them, sliding around tree roots and rocks of her fissure creation, following Kabuto's sharp gasps.
He turns a corner and finds Sakura has pinned him to the ground, emerald eyes bright with a vicious glee.
"I have to say, that knee punch you gave me did hurt a little. Though it's nothing in comparison to the rocks and punches Lady Tsunade used to toss at me during our training spars, so there's that! Since you weren't concerned about me, those brief seconds where you got up close to me I was able to prick you in your legs." She chimes out bubbly.
Kabuto moves one hand up prepared to make a hand sign to create a barrier between them only for Sakura to grab and twist it, bones crunching from her pressure.
"No moving." She orders.
His hand falls back limply, cursing. "Don't act so fucking mighty and cocky! I don't know what you've done to me, but Lord Orochimaru will-"
"Will what? I'm prepared to deal with him as well when that time comes, but I'm taking care of you right now." Sakura cuts in.
She places a finger to his chest, against his rapidly beating heart and smirks.
"Your heart is beating fast for someone so confident he's going to get out of this situation alive. I used a mix of Voodoo Lily and Larkspur. Voodoo Lily to irritate your skin just enough until the Larkspur truly kicked in to start the paralysis, nausea, and irregular pulse. The effects would've kicked in faster I'm sure if it weren't for Orochimaru pumping you with various poisons over the years, none though for flowers really it seems unfortunately for you."
Drool coats the edge of Kabuto's mouth he can't wipe away, vision blurring gritting his teeth. He can't die here, refuses to die here to a mere chunin who once quivered at the sight of him...
But his body won't cooperate with him, fingers only twitching when he tries to move them up once more.
"Sakura, we can't kill him. Not yet or here when Orochimaru will pursue us twice as hard or even potentially kill one of your loved ones in revenge." Sasuke intercedes seeing the glint of her kunai press up against Kabuto's carotid pulse.
"I'll make it quick, his death is needed knowing what he'll do, how much death and pain he'll cause if war breaks out." Sakura states absently, not even glancing towards him and he sees the cool fog of muted indifference form in her eyes like it did with Danzo; the readiness to kill.
He grabs her hand before she can perform the killing strike to his jugular, grip tight enough for her to finally glance to him.
Onyx to verdant watch each other while Kabuto's breathing slows, eyes drifting shut...
"Give him an antidote. You can take his arms away or even his legs, but we can't kill him here." Sasuke repeats firmly.
Sakura scowls, looking away first before reluctantly dropping her kunai to press a hand against his chest, green glow slowly emitting out.
"Taking away a body part doesn't matter. Like a snake, he'll just find a way to regenerate the lost body part or steal it from some poor civilian or unsuspecting shinobi. Orochimaru isn't so fortunate since he lost his arms to the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, but he'll still keep tracking you down for your eyes anyways no matter what we do next." Sakura counters gently.
With her free hand she presses in against Kabuto's forehead with bruising intent, eyes narrowing in concentration.
"The brain however, that can't be so easily restored once damaged. Once various nerves and certain lobes are cut or destroyed; that's it."
Hinata
It's 1:45 am when she wakes again.
She blinks away the image of Neji's corpse broken and bloody on a field miles away from her thoughts, willing her heart to calm down.
'It wasn't real, none of that happened.' She reminds herself.
Naruto is happily sound asleep snoring and gently she moves his arm off from across her chest, smiling at his content form.
He peeks one eye open as she attempts to slide out of their shared futon, snickering tugging her back into his arms.
"Where ya going?" He slurs out.
"To the convenience store downstairs. Maybe they have some extra tea packets there to help me stay sleep." She answers.
"We could just call room service?" He suggests between long yawns, but Hinata shakes her head. Despite wanting to take advantage of the 24-hr room service while they still can, she doesn't particularly feel like bothering the cooks and servers for a simple cup of tea she can get herself.
"It's fine, I could use the walk anyways to stretch my legs."
Naruto nods slowly, blue eyes drooping close again.
"If you're gone for too long I'll send a clone." He mumbles as she puts on her sandals.
Hinata nods, dropping a kiss to his forehead before heading out.
The bar and mini casino by the lobby are still packed despite how late or really how early it now is. Couples and other tourists are bunched together slowly sipping colorful mixes of sakes and liqueurs only found in this region.
She strolls quickly past them as they banter and gamble loudly, the convenience store is right on the other side...
"Can't sleep either huh?"
Jiraiya's tone is lighthearted, curious as to why she's awake at this time of day as well.
She turns halfway expecting him to be mildly intoxicated like the other guests, but his cheeks hold no flush and his onyx eyes are clear save for the reddish cracks of broken sleep like her.
Hinata nods slowly, pointing towards the direction of the store.
"I figured they might have some tea to help me sleep and then I would take a walk around until it took effect." She mentions.
Jiraiya scratches a hand through his hair more in disarray than usual, taking the lead.
"They must have something for headaches then too."
He pays for their items and hands her the hot water the employee gave him, pocketing the extra ryo and sighs.
"Are you afraid of going on this journey? To Kumo I mean, considering this is the same country that tried to kidnap you years ago for your eyes." Jiraiya asks.
Hinata feels her shoulders stiffen, Father had whispered the same concerns before she had left with the elders when he thought she was out of earshot, worried for a repeat of The Hyuga Affair occurring.
"I...I don't remember the event since I was only 3, but no. I can't let any of my fears, anger, or desires for revenge dictate my decisions to the point it consumes me or stops me from taking action." She voices.
Jiraiya gives her a half-smile of agreement and Hinata watches then as he plops into a chair in the corner away from the crowds, taking in the view of the garden outside. At night the lanterns along the sides cast a golden glow against the wood and pavement, mists from the hot springs warming the air.
'I've never seen him this quiet. He's normally so happy and boisterous like...'
Like Naruto.
And like him his smile eventually cracks too, typically when no one's around.
She takes the seat across from him sinking in against the pillows, dipping her tea bag into the water before it gets cold.
'I don't know anything about him. It would be easy if he had an About Me box like the one Boruto made.' Hinata muses.
"What's an About Me box?" Jiraiya chuckles, straightening up his shoulders as he turns to look at her.
Oh, she didn't just think that; she said it out loud as well.
"Ah, it's just something Boruto made at the beginning of his school year so his classmates could get to know him! He did a Big 5 Questions as well on 5 things his classmates could ask about him and vice versa..." Hinata trails off.
"No Papa, don't look; it's not ready yet!" Boruto declares between giggles, wiggling out of Naruto's hold slamming a hand against his paper.
"How are we going to confirm if you have our likes and dislikes down correctly you know! Maybe you put down that I like vegetables or something?!" Naruto gripes, Boruto wrinkling his nose in disbelief.
"Nu uh! I can prove it!" Boruto pouts, holding up his paper for him to see.
Hinata smiles while watching the pair, Himawari wiggles in her arms trying to match their energy by clapping her hands excitedly. Briefly her eyes connect with Naruto's and her grin widens knowing he's tricked their future son into doing exactly what he wanted in the first place.
"I know what Papa likes you know; see! It's Ramen, Mama, and me and Hima!" Boruto announces proudly, pointing to his colorful scrawl of yellows, oranges, purples, and blues meant to represent them and their favorite foods and likes.
Naruto turns the paper for her and Himawari to see, tapping a finger against her section of the box.
"He put cinnamon rolls, me, himself, and Hima in your likes area. Sound about right to you?" He asks.
Hinata nods her agreement, Boruto taking the paper back to finish coloring everything in.
"It does."
"How do we do the 5 Questions game?" Jiraiya asks, Hinata realizing while she described the memory he had grabbed a napkin and pen in order to recreate the box activity.
She leans over to take in his work, messy black ink showing his name at the top.
'Jiraiya. Likes: Women, conducting in my research for my books, karaage, sleeping in, sake. Dislikes: kiwifruit, waking up too early, when women catch me in the midst of my research and attack me, headaches like the one I have right now.' Hinata reads.
Typical.
"The 5 questions game is just another way to get to know a person. You ask them 5 questions, each one progressively deeper and more personal than the last about anything you want." Hinata explains to answer his earlier question.
Jiraiya hums curiously, clapping his hands in delight.
"Anything?" He repeats.
Hinata considers for a moment adding 'within reason' to her statement, but this is Jiraiya and she imagines he won't throw her any serious curve balls.
"Okay, I'll start first! What are your measurements?!"
'I hoped wrong.' The flatness of her expression making Jiraiya laugh aloud.
"Ah, kidding! You've truly mastered that deadpan annoyed look the Hyuga clan is known for! Alright, alright. Real first question is: Why Naruto?" Jiraiya asks.
Hinata blinks, cocking her head slightly. What did he mean?
"Out of all the boys in your class, why do you love him? I mean, I know I never paid much attention to his classmates, but you've always looked at him alone when most of the girls were going crazy for Sasuke. He's the total antithesis of your clan's ideals and practices; he's loud, stubborn, and utterly rude at times." He clarifies.
Hinata beams, giggling at his description. "For all those reasons! I don't want to be with someone who reminds me of how cold the Hyuga clan can be, who would dredge up memories of Father's cruel looks to be tougher; speak louder. And then there's the elders whispering behind my back how much my sister would be a better heiress than I, that I am only worth being guarded for my eyes..."
"Naruto never let such struggles get him down forever. All the cruel comments, the sneering, and the ignoring I'm sure hurt him though he still always tried to find the good in people and inspire others. At my lowest points when I've been bullied for my eyes or felt the weight of my Father's disappointment I would watch him and feel the spark of hope return and my love for him grow stronger. I stole that scroll knowing it was risky, knowing it was wrong, though at the time for once Naruto was feeling low about himself for losing to Sasuke and I wanted him to know I cared." She reveals.
Jiraiya goes silent and she reddens wondering if she babbled on for too long until Jiraiya breaks into a warm grin.
"I think that's the most I've ever heard you say. Alright your turn. Ask away!"
'I don't know what to ask you.' She should start off easy, something simple and mundane. She could ask if his hair has always been white, though she knows it has from seeing it in old class photos buried within the Central Library. Or maybe about his many adventures out traveling through the nations; the most interesting people he's met.
"Um, err your books? Did you always want to be an author? Did you write anything before your Make Out Paradise series?" She sputters out.
Jiraiya leans his head against his palm, amused. "That was multiple questions at once, however I never really planned to be an author I would say. My first novel was a commercial failure after all!"
Hinata leans forward in interest, surprised. Naruto's older self had said the Make Out Paradise series was successful enough to make Jiraiya rich even if he never bragged about it or mentioned it, especially so after his untimely death...
"Really?" She breathes out.
Jiraiya nods thoughtfully, continuing on. "I mean, I'm just an ordinary guy. I've failed in a lot of departments of life, in friendship in losing Orochimaru to him choosing those vile experiments and defecting from Konoha, in never winning Tsunade's love or even saving my old students from Ame in them creating the Akatsuki. Hell, I'm not even doing much of a good job in helping train Naruto either or being a proper Godfather to him."
Her stomach tilts at his rueful grin then, tea turning bitter on her tongue.
"Since you just bombarded me with a lot of questions, I have some serious ones to ask and be honest with me here. When you and Naruto went to the future you indeed saw I was dead, correct? What about Orochimaru and Tsunade? They're both okay, right?" He asks.
Hinata nearly crushes her cup burning her fingers, panic flickering in her eyes, pausing to weigh her next words.
"Why ask that when you already know we did?" She murmurs.
"Naruto danced around the subject, became teary when I brought it up and I didn't want to pressure him by focusing on the topic for too long. I didn't realize he cared about me so much to-"
"Of course Naruto cares about you! He kept all your old books, though we had to hide their location because Boruto kept trying to read them, still though he kept them! He wants you to be at our wedding, see our kids, we both want that!" Hinata interrupts sharply, nearly standing up.
She reddens at his stunned look and relaxes her posture, murmuring a soft apology.
Jiraiya grins then, chuckling.
'I wondered what Naruto saw in this girl who's his near opposite in personality, but she can be a bit of a firecracker too when pushed! On top of that, it seems she truly does care about him and is bringing out his best attributes.'
"Lady Tsunade is fine, she's fully retired and travels and gambles leisurely throughout the nations from what Sakura's older self told me. Orochimaru is...okay. He no longer commits any heinous crimes, however his experiments and research have made him modify his body to the point he looks younger than he does now taking the youthful appearances of both men and women. Oh, and he also has a son named Mitsuki." Hinata recalls.
"What?! Who would want to go to bed with him unless he...actually, never mind! I suppose that's better than whatever he's currently up to." Jiraiya shrugs.
Hinata shifts uncomfortably. Jiraiya is one of the few people who knows and remembers what Orochimaru was like before he defected from the village.
"What changed him?" She asks softly.
Jiraiya sighs, glancing towards the clock. An hour has already nearly passed of the two just talking.
"Death of a loved one. It always changes people, whether for better or worse." He muses.
Hinata nods her agreement, standing up to head back.
"Coming?" She asks, seeing Jiraiya still staring absently at the main lobby's clock.
"Hmm, I'm going to polish off my water! You go on ahead, we can order a late breakfast and all sleep in before heading out." He determines.
Hinata nods, giving Jiraiya one last look over her shoulder.
Silly of her to think they're weren't more facets to this man, that beneath his easygoing smile are the same facades she sees replicated in Naruto as well.
Akatsuki-Elsewhere
"They left the village about a day or so ago." Zetsu confirms.
Konan nods, dismissing him.
She isn't sure how Nagato will want to proceed with things from here.
She trails slowly into his private quarters, his gaze focused on the ongoing rain outside. The sky is a curtain of iron gray, droplets cold against her fingers when she sticks a hand out of one of the few open windows.
Would Yahiko be pleased with their progress? It seems they're only going backwards; stagnating from the dreams they made all those years ago for peace.
'This doesn't forebode well for the Akatsuki's future.' She knows.
"Your fears are unfounded Konan. With the Nine Tails gone from the village we could always initiate our attack on Konoha earlier, it will force him and Jiraiya to return. Many of their top shinobi are currently away from the village leaving them defenseless as well." He considers after she provides him with Zetsu's update.
Konan clicks her tongue, considering her next words carefully.
"That is true Nagato, but I'm worried about something regarding our own team members; regarding you."
Nagato arches a brow looking to her fully then, gesturing for her to go on.
She holds up a folded paper crane then, it's wings coated in blood.
"Kakuzu. I haven't heard from him in days when normally by now he would've at least sent a message that everything was successful with our cut of ryo by now. He was last seen with Hidan around Curtain Village." She explains.
"It's possible they were both being followed themselves and were intercepted at some point." Konan goes on further at his silence.
His dark eyes narrow, but still Nagato doesn't see cause for concern as it's typical for the zombie duo to argue after an assignment is done on if they should cause further death around the area for Jashin and splitting the ryo before remembering to check in with them. Konan holds up a paper rose as his flat expression remains, petals the color of mud and ash.
"I positioned this rose close to your real body months ago, waiting for the moment it would change colors and it has." She goes over.
Her chest aches as his violet eyes widen just a fraction then in understanding.
He expected it to be Jiraiya or even Naruto who would be the ones to breach his true location but they're heading north.
So there's somebody else then who knows where his real body is, a rogue shinobi, another spy like Jiraiya, or someone else?
"How many?" He asks.
Konan shakes her head. "It could be 1 or 10, or hundreds. They were careful, leaving no distinguishing scent or mark behind. This is the only rose that changed colors, maybe even done so on purpose to send to us as a warning."
Nagato grits his teeth before relaxing his hands.
Nothing comes from worrying, stressing.
The plan is still in place, nothing has changed.
"Fine. We can send warning messages as well, directly to all of Konoha's civilian and shinobi; tonight."
Naruto & Hinata
"He said all of that really about his old books and travels? I'm surprised Pervy-Sage gave you a heart to heart talk you know!" Naruto chuckles.
Hinata laughs, swinging their hands up and down.
"Not everything, just a little bit of how his life was before he came back to Konoha! I guess the best deep conversations are the ones done in the middle of the night." Hinata muses.
"What are you two snickering about back there? We need to pick up the pace. Before the end of the day we need to be closer towards the Land of Frost than the Land of Hot Water." Jiraiya complains, peering over his shoulder at the duo.
Naruto gives him a cheery grin, waving him off. "You're the one who delayed us heading out because you wanted to check out the hot springs one more time before we left!"
Jiraiya huffs, ready to argue back that he did the same thing with Hinata when he notes a change an air, soot fluttering in the wind like rain.
He pauses, bending down towards the grass to rub his fingers against a few blades, coming away with a mix of dew and ash.
'Strange, by now the area around us should be feeling a little bit colder, the grass should be a bit icier as well.'
Going by the direction of the wind, a fire was started from somewhere behind them, the area around Konoha...
He recalls the hushed murmurings of the staff from this morning as they were checking out, particularly from the ones who have family in the smaller towns/villages that border Konoha or nearby.
"My Aunt said flames were rushing up like a tornado everywhere! They barely got out of their house in time before it went down!" A cook mutters.
"Shit, my brother and his kids live near the business district in Konoha. My nephew reported seeing some fires spinning up early in the morning via a messenger bird I just received an hour ago. I haven't heard anything from them since then." One of the janitors mumbles back in equal dismay and fear.
None of what he overheard sounds good.
"Pervy-Sage, now you're the one slowing us down!" Naruto interrupts his thoughts, tapping his foot impatiently. Hinata watches him in concern before her stare turns skyward, tugging lightly at Naruto's jacket catching a flake of ash the color of ink in her hands.
Jiraiya puts on a smile, gesturing to the bushes nearby.
"Going to take a leak real quick, you two don't go too far!" He jests, ignoring their disgusted looks.
He summons Gamaden as soon as he's far enough away, running through his next options. Taking to the treetops confirms his suspicion at seeing smoke billowing up near Konoha's region, balling his fists.
"What can I do for you boss?" Gamaden questions.
'It must be Pain or Nagato attacking the village. Should we go back? No, that would be going right into his trap to kidnap Naruto. News must've gotten back to him that his true location has been breached so he's taking action as a warning on what will come next. Konoha is lacking in our best shinobi to stop him, for now I'll just need to send a Toad to watch the events and provide me with continuous updates.' He decides.
"Head back in the direction of Konoha, tell me everything you see and check back in with me daily before evening." Jiraiya orders.
Gamaden nods, leaping away.
He returns back to Naruto and Hinata's side, observing the pair for a moment silently as Naruto brushes the black flakes from Hinata's hair while she does the same to him.
"Someone set off a fire, I'm sure of it you know! Pervy-Sage probably went up the trees to check." Naruto notes.
Hinata nods her agreement. "You can smell it in the air, but using my byakugan I don't see any particular person or group near the village who maybe set it off trying to escape. They must've attacked early in the morning, perhaps Jiraiya will want us to head back to make sure?"
"No, we'll keep moving forward for now!" Jiraiya cuts in, revealing himself.
'I'm not going to play into your games Nagato, you and Konan should know that about me by now.'
Elsewhere- Itachi
Flames dance up like twisters blotting out the moon, ribbons of reds and oranges making him pause and look back.
That fire is in the direction of Konoha.
Kisame chuckles at the sight, toasting the air to the destruction.
"Someone throwing a party we didn't hear about?!" He grins.
Itachi shrugs, but his eyes narrow just slightly in concern. He hadn't received any updates from his crows or the jonin he regularly keeps in contact with of the village being in danger. Pain hadn't stated he had any plans to attack Konoha so early, they haven't even fully captured One Tails or Seven Tails yet based on their last meeting.
The biggest news he's heard regarding Konoha was that Naruto, the village's jinchuriki and Hinata the Hyuga Clan's heiress had gone to the future for a year and returned now set to go out on a training trip with Jiraiya.
'The future. I can only predict so much of what will happen once I'm dead and gone, however those two have surely changed things already from what they saw.' He knows.
Including his plans for Sasuke.
Did he know the truth now? And if so, does he still desire to kill him?
A coil of worry burns at his chest and he holds back a cough, metallic taste of blood splashing against the back of his throat.
'Ah, that keeps happening more as of late too.' He muses, keeping his expression neutral as Kisame looks back to him.
"Think that's your little brother on a warpath towards you?" Kisame questions with a snicker and Itachi mulls over the idea.
He can't be sure what Sasuke is up to now if Naruto saw enough of the future to tell him his plans, he must still want to come after him for conclusive answers. That much he can assume even if Naruto told him everything about the history behind their clan's downfall.
"It may or may not be him though either way I'm heading to Uchiha Hideout. Patrol the area to ensure nobody else but him comes close." He decides and Kisame nods with a razor sharp grin.
"Alright! I'll feed any intruders to my sharks should they try to interfere!"
Itachi meanwhile takes one last look towards the smoke billowing out from an area that once used to be his home, picturing what Sasuke may look like now. He'll be taller now, perhaps have that same stern expression their Father always had...
'If it's Sasuke, he'll know where to find me. Though I can't be sure any of my plans or hopes are going to come to pass now.'
-x-
Sorry I'm a little late on posting; It's already May! May is a busy month for me with graduations and birthdays (My brother's on the 10th, but the more important is mine on the 19th lol). There's also planning for vacations since I have a family reunion coming up next month. I don't think any of these events will affect my writing schedule too much though but just an FYI for you all.
Just Wondering: I've been thinking about Hinata getting a summon during this training trip or if she should just be without one. I've typed a little up of both scenarios, but it's really just a floating idea so I would like opinions. So far I've thought of lion, tiger, wolf, owl, or leopard but all of them feel so commonly used ha ha!
Hopefully the pace of this story isn't too fast or slow, I know that's been one of my problems with past stories, but I'm trying to take things nice and easy lol. I really enjoyed writing Hinata and Jiraiya's interaction for this chapter (I was originally going to make him act a bit more perverted to her, but I felt he should be somewhat serious).
I'm looking forward to writing and editing Sakura and Sasuke's eventual interaction with Itachi and more of the Akatsuki and Kakashi!
Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
