Chapter 22: Radiant
"Escape from the black cloud that surrounds you.
Then you will see your own light
as radiant as the full moon."
― Rumi
Naruto
Hinata's breath fans his cheek, warm with the scent of something sweet. It was afternoon just a minute ago he's sure, but now it's suddenly nightfall, sky littered with stars the colors of yellows and whites spread across a sea of black.
'How did I get here?'
She snuggles closer into him and he half turns getting a full outline of her body bathed in silver light and a rush of goosebumps dance across his skin seeing the desire in her eyes. He wraps an arm around her, trying to recall how they suddenly got here...
He was doing something important, wasn't he? Something he alone had to face and accept.
A smile crawls up Hinata's lips when she properly catches his gaze, leaning closer allowing their lips to brush. She presses into him letting her nightgown slide from her shoulder, feels the rise of his pulse and erection.
"What's wrong? Aren't you sleepy?" She asks.
Naruto nods, but something doesn't feel quite right about any of this. He's sure Hinata was somewhere else earlier in the day while he focused on...training? Or was it studying a new jutsu?
Why is it so hard for him to remember right now?
"When did we go to bed?" Naruto questions.
Hinata's grin widens, fingers brushing at his whiskers.
"Silly, you're the one who said you wanted to sleep the whole day away! You were so exhausted after training with all your clones yesterday, but don't worry; you can rest now. I'm not going anywhere." She promises.
She lays his head back against the pillows even when he tries to resist, wincing at the sting of her nails digging into the nape of his neck.
"Sleep Naruto; relax. This is what you want; isn't it? Or do you feel like doing something else?" Hinata pressures and he catches the lilt of her voice darkening.
'No, I'm still at the Falls of Truth. This is just a mind game.' He forces himself to remember.
His 5 year old self, the smell of blood, razor sharp grin welcoming him back...
"Naruto, come on. Let's go back to sleep already." Hinata persists with an alluring softness, fingers dancing at the edge of his neck, body going numb with the annoying realization this isn't really her.
Naruto scowls, pushing her hand away.
"You're not Hinata; stop it." He grunts.
'Hinata' looks at him puzzled, about to protest before stopping herself seeing his expression. The white of her eyes dull, melts into a deep haunting red. She grins revealing jagged teeth, following his move sitting up.
"You could be happy staying here with your precious loved one Naruto. Why not just sleep forever, free of all your responsibilities and problems in the real world?"
Naruto shakes his head, rising fully from the bed. "I don't want that and neither would the real Hinata."
'Hinata' scoffs, snapping her fingers.
And quickly all their surroundings fade, back in his grimy apartment; alone.
"You're right. Happiness. Smiles. All of that is only temporary for us; jinchuriki's aren't allowed the pleasure of love."
His 5 year old self reappears out of the shadows before shifting into a teenager too, crimson eyes sharp in warning.
"It doesn't have to be." Naruto counters.
Dark Naruto scoffs, snapping his fingers again changing the scene.
Ichiraku's. The smell of beef broth, dozens of faces looking his way in annoyance and alarm.
He's 10, no maybe 11.
It's sometime after he failed some test or another from the Academy that much he knows.
"I thought you said that boy doesn't come here at this time of day?" A woman hisses to what must be her date.
The man shrugs, hazel green eyes icy and frustrated both at him and how terrible his date is already apparently starting.
"I didn't know! I thought he was out of town on some D ranked mission or something last I heard." He grunts.
"No stupid! He's not an any assigned team, he keeps failing the exams at the Academy." The woman retorts, brushing a hand through her brown locks in aggravation.
His dark side watches them, already knowing what he thought to do to make their date even worse.
The simple prank he originally did of 'accidentally' pouring sake and soy sauce in their ramen turns cruel; deadly.
He reaches and smashes at the sake bottle upon their table, holds it at the man's throat, gleaming seeing his throat constrict, blue of his veins shine against the red.
"Stop; don't do this." His date whispers, brown eyes wide in shock, frozen in place and it feels as if time is slowing down.
"I'm sorry me trying to get a decent meal at the only place that will serve me and not rip me off bothers you so much!" His counterpart snaps, Naruto racing forward before he can plunge it into the shivering man's neck.
"Enough. We didn't try to kill him!" He growls.
His dark side laughs, eyeing him again.
"It crossed your mind though for the briefest of seconds. Why do you think I'm still here? You've bottled your rage for too long. If you won't let me take over, then I'll just keep giving you these twisted memories!"
He turns his attention back to the man, presses a sharp point to his carotid enough for a trickle of blood to escape.
'Think. Think! I obviously figured out a way to counter this from seeing my future self.' Naruto mulls over.
He snaps his fingers recalling the perfect scene, background melting into a home.
His dark side glances around taking in the new environment, familiar photos and freshly shined oakwood flooring, but this isn't their apartment...
"Look Hima, Papa's back!" Boruto cheers, showing Himawari how to wave.
Naruto-Y laughs, both kids parading around him as he takes off his shoes.
His hair is coated with grass stains and mud, sunlight from the windows highlighting his gleeful look.
"Boruto, don't hold her hands like that, rest them forward." Hinata-Y instructs, popping in from the living room.
She too is covered in dirt from whatever outdoor activity they were up to.
"Gardening." She answers seeing the questioning in his eyes, reddening as he scrapes off a smudge of a dirt and flower petals from her cheek. Hima holds up a carrot practically as tall as her while Boruto lugs a bundle of potatoes and herbal leaves in a basket behind him.
That's right, their future selves have been showing them how make various herbal remedies and teaching the kids how food grows. The former is especially helpful since for the time being they'll be around the kids who seem to pick up a new germ every time they go off to daycare/pre-school.
"I came back early! Hokage meetings aren't as exciting as I thought. I guess my future self was right about that." Naruto-Y chuckles.
His clone can just give him an update later.
Boruto tugs on his pants, now that he's here his interest has quickly switched to wanting to do another activity they can all complete together. Himawari attempts to climb up his legs until he lifts the pair up into his arms. It's getting easier to figure out how to carry them both, no longer needing a clone or Hinata-Y to rush in to help carry one.
"Guess what Papa?! Kamen Ninja did this cool backflip to take out the robber man I want to show you!" Boruto proclaims.
The last time he did that he lost a tooth a cried for hours.
"Ah, how about we do something a bit safer like making a pillow fort to hide from the enemy shinobi upstairs!" Naruto-Y beams, looking to Hinata-Y who grins in agreement.
"Mama play too!" Himawari exclaims, able to recall the last time they played this game said 'enemy shinobi' could track them easily with her byakugan.
"What is this?" His dark side questions, Naruto patting at his shoulder. His gaze pinpoints on the stuffed animal Himawari hugs close, stuffing spilling out of the ears from constant playing and tugging.
"The future. Our future."
The sake bottle falls from his hands hitting the floor with a sharp crack drown out by their future children's laughter.
And Naruto hugs him close now that he's unarmed, red eyes slowly melting back into blue.
When he speaks again his voice is clear, no longer full of malice.
"Thank you for showing me this."
Naruto nods as he fades away, one step closer now. He's sure Kurama doesn't exactly know what to say when he's finally given him proof that he does live and work with him in harmony in the near future.
After all, the last thing he surely expected to see out of this is his daughter happily clinging to a plushie version of himself.
Hinata
"Both are dead?" Hinata repeats to be sure, halting her flow of electricity in her palms to gaze upward.
Asami is slickened with rain, brown-black feathers weighed down until she ruffles herself out.
Motoi has taught her all the lightning techniques he knows, Killer B usually watching from the background occasionally throwing in another suggestion or option to do blending fire with taijutsu.
Now she just has to be ready for what the Akatsuki and Obito will do next.
Asami nods as she lands down properly beside her, orange eyes following her gaze out towards the stormy sea. The waves are particularly rougher today even with the passing thunderstorms, blue-gray waters crashing against the rocks leaving streaks of grainy foam and sand. They sky is an endless gray for miles, lightning rippling across bundles of dark clouds.
"Pain or Nagato going by his true name along with Konan were killed by Jiraiya, though I don't know any further details beyond that from what the other owls near Amegakure told me." She states.
Hinata breathes out a sigh of relief, only Obito, Deidara, and Zetsu remain then from the organization.
Zetsu will require sealing, it shouldn't be too difficult of a task to trick it into an unmarked location it won't be able to escape from.
Deidara will probably go after Itachi for his betrayal, all the more reason in his mind to kill him besides for his lack of appreciation or care of his art. His explosions could easily endanger or kill more lives though depending on where and when, though he too can be lured to somewhere deep in the woods or towards the mountains like before.
And Obito will be after Kakashi; all of them really.
Asami looks to her again, curious.
"What do you plan to do now?"
Hinata balls her fists against the rocks, coming away with salty droplets on her fingers, unsure.
"We need to prepare all the nations for Obito eventually waging war, but with the changes we've made to the past so far, I don't know when and where he'll make his first move. Though it's likely the first person he'll seek out is Kakashi-sensei." She reasons.
Asami hums thoughtfully at that, feathers brushing at her cheek.
"Are you so sure it will be this Kakashi fellow? After all, you and Naruto are the ones actively destroying his plans, who know too much."
Hinata swallows, it's an option she's considered, but from what their future counterparts told her, Obito currently holds the biggest grudge against Kakashi-sensei for Rin's death.
As long as they're here on Turtle Island they're safe, however it leaves all their loved ones back in Konoha vulnerable...
Footsteps approach behind them, Motoi greeting the pair with a smile.
"Oh, there you are! I've been looking throughout the forests for you all morning. Naruto completed the first step of his training at the Falls, he's preparing to head now to the Temple with Killer B if you'd like to come along."
And just to prove his point they hear Naruto's voice coming up right behind him, waving eagerly as he sees them both.
"Hinata, Hinata! The first objective is done! I showed my dark side/Kurama the future and he had no comeback in return!" He grins, lifting her up excitedly into the air. Motoi calls for him to avoid the edge where it's slippery, though his warning falls away to the wind as Naruto peppers her cheeks with kisses while Hinata lightly giggles in return.
She glances to Asami again, gesturing for Naruto to set her down.
"Asami has an update. Jiraiya has taken care of Pain and Konan."
Naruto instantly turns serious, nodding thankfully to the owl. "Thank you for letting us know."
Asami simply hums, turning her head sharply back towards the seas.
"What's going to be you two's next move?"
Hinata answers, stepping forward with a small furled note. "Once Naruto is finished controlling Kurama here, we'll head straight back to Konoha. In the interim, can you send out a message to all the nation's leaders to be prepared for Obito and the rest of the remaining Akatsuki? I'm sure most of them know, though it's urgent that further preparations are made especially with all the damage Pain already caused to Konoha."
Asami nods, orange orbs flitting to her one last time before she takes flight again. She leans close to her nuzzling in and Hinata breathes in the scent of rain and pine upon her body.
"You must be aware that the longer you and Naruto stay here, the more likely you are to come back to a Konoha ravaged by war, the other nations in turmoil, and the possible death of your loved ones." She whispers.
Hinata feels her stomach drop, Neji flashing to mind.
'No, we're going to prevent that.'
An all out Fourth Shinobi World War won't happen with all the knowledge everyone has, can't happen; they'll make sure of that.
Her fingers curl near her ear tufts, trying to calm this new coiling in her chest.
"Be safe." She orders gently.
Asami scoffs at be needed to be told such a thing, expanding out her wings briefly shrouding her in darkness out of Motoi and Naruto's view. They focus on each other eye to eye, Hinata's gaze softening seeing the concern in her features.
"Same to you Hinata. Don't let that lover of yours run into any danger unknowingly."
Naruto huffs as Asami takes flight again, side-eyeing Hinata who reddens, avoiding his gaze.
"She knows I just heard everything you two just said; right?!"
Sasuke & Sakura
'We're getting close.' Sakura notes, grass beneath them that vibrant shade of green Konoha's forests always turn in the late spring to early summers.
She's never felt such hope and fear all at once in returning home.
And the knowledge of what she's done in her time away twists at her heart. It isn't guilt she knows, but a worry all these efforts to save Itachi will be in vain...
The sun peeks again once more on the horizon, moonlight fading paving the way for a pink- orange dawn.
At their current pace, they'll reach the village by moonrise again tonight or a little early into tomorrow morning. They haven't yet come to a decision on where they should go first. Sasuke suggested the Uchiha district, but the idea of guards and spies lingering about the area made it a no for both Sakura and Itachi. Sakura suggested Tsunade's apartment only to have both Uchiha men look at her blankly that Konoha's current Hokage would definitely not want a traitor and one who went rogue anywhere near her house or belonging even knowing the full story.
"Maybe you two should just use a transformation jutsu?" Sakura suggests aloud.
Sasuke scoffs at the idea. "The Intelligence Bureau of Konoha will see through any transformation or disguise we do easily."
Sakura barely restrains a snort. "Well, at least I'm giving options! We're going to have to decide a set spot where we can rest and at least get bandaged up some more without getting too many looks or sneers to go away."
"The hospital is fine, I don't think there's any reason to worry about going there." Sasuke grunts.
Sakura pauses, lips flattening. "...There is when everyone knows me there, will possibly deem me a traitor too."
"They won't with everything else that's happened in Konoha." Sasuke relates.
Sakura shakes her head. "Two Uchiha men aren't just going to be 'looked over'."
Itachi studies the banter between the two, smiling.
'I should interrupt this before it gets ugly.'
"We should take a short detour before heading directly into Konoha I feel at least to heal up some. I know a location that's right along the border of the Land of Fire Sakura. It's not a spot any of us are known for particularly visiting either." He explains.
Sakura arches a brow, interested. Sasuke just looks at him flatly waiting for him to just spit it out already.
"It's a small underwater cave and natural spring that will give us cover from anyone directly searching for us. Final preparations can be made there before heading into Konoha." Itachi determines.
Sasuke and Sakura look to each before nodding, designating him to lead the way.
He winds them alongside rivers and grasslands with stalks nearly as tall as them before they hear the low crackling of water, morning light shining on wafts of steam and clear crystal blue waters.
"I found this spot during the early days of traveling with Kisame when looking for a spot where we could hold meetings in privacy. It's a small mineral spring that slopes down eventually to meet the rivers near Land of Grass and Land of Fire. It's similar to the ones found in the Land of Hot Water and should promote healing and relieve some of our pain." Itachi explains.
'Why is this the first time I'm learning about this spot?!' Sakura considers in awe, dipping a hand in tentatively. She supposes with how deeply buried this is up into the forests and carves of the mountains you'd have to know where to search to find it all while traversing terrain even an experienced climber could have trouble with. It's hotter than she expected, washing her face.
"Itachi and I will be on the other side." Sasuke states behind her and Sakura simply nods without looking back to him, face burning at the sudden rush of thoughts at seeing him nude.
"If you see or hear something, send us the signal." He goes on at Sakura's silence.
"Okay." Sakura answers simply, half glancing towards him to confirm she's truly listening.
He grabs at her arm forcing her to meet his gaze fully.
"Sakura, seriously. Don't do anything alone. Itachi told me Deidara will be the one most likely after us next. He may or may not know about your presence too, but his bombs could impact you as well."
Sakura arches a brow, she's read all about Deidara from Naruto's reports on the Akatsuki. He's crafty, loves the thrill of explosions as 'art'. "Duly noted. You're one to talk."
Sasuke bristles, Sakura sighing tacking on a small smile.
'He's showing he cares, stop being cold!' She reprimands herself.
"I'm fine; I understand. I'm not going to do anything risky alone. And you two shouldn't either." She promises.
"...I'm worried what he'll do. When pushed, he has nothing to lose." Sasuke remarks.
Sakura purses her lips, she knows what he's done in another timeline from the notes: make himself into a suicide bomb.
And he could easily choose to take that route again.
She reaches up to squeeze at his arm, hope she can exude some confidence into this situation.
"Naruto told me, well, what I saw from the information he collected from the future was that you fought Deidara alone and won in spite of him finding ways to counter the sharingan and some of your techniques, this time you have Itachi and me. Naruto didn't get the full details, but you exhausted Deidara's chakra to the point he turned himself into a bomb, hopefully we can end things before then."
Sasuke mulls it over before nodding and walking away.
"I don't want you in harm's way." He mutters under his breath and Sakura pretends not to hear him.
She really can't be in harm's way considering she's the healer of this makeshift trio, she'll need to stay in the background and assess, provide distraction and aid from a distance...
'Ugh, I don't want these stupid thoughts right now!' She grits her teeth as she turns to focus back on the spring, slipping herself beneath the waters taking in the shock of goosebumps, the fresh tingling of her skin warming to adjust to the spring's temperature.
Itachi must find this all amusing, she hadn't missed the way he had smiled at their arguing before they headed up here.
She needs lavender or aloe right about now, anything to calm the rising of her heartbeat in her ears. She stays underwater until her lungs start to burn for air, rising up slowly.
At least her arm is starting to feel much better.
But it doesn't feel right to sit in these waters any longer, drying and re-dressing herself quickly taking to the trees to scope the area.
A bird as white as the snow lands in the trees opposite from her and Sakura straightens, recognizing it from Naruto's photos from before.
'Deidara's clay.'
Though Deidara has no apparent interest in her, probably doesn't realize she knows of his abilities and weaknesses...
Sasuke and Itachi must sense it too even without her code tapping at the bark of the trees because they appear out of the bushes just as dressed watching as the 'birds' slowly gather at trees.
She clicks her teeth as Sasuke draws his sword while Itachi's eyes spiral into red.
And then a second later comes the flash of white; the explosions starting.
Naruto & Hinata
"It's said that the Sage of Six Paths and his followers built temples similar to this one in at least 9 different regions of the world where any Tailed Beast could live should they need protection from being used as a human weapon in wars and what not." Motoi explains as he points to a row of headless sculptures and blue towers that climb to the ceiling layered in thick vines and moss.
"How many chambers are there?" Hinata asks.
Motoi holds up two fingers. "The first chamber is designated to hold a Tailed Beast in case the jinchuriki is unable to master full control of their beast. It would be sealed there until another suitable jinchuriki could be found. The second chamber is for chakra isolation. It's impossible to detect chakra behind the walls of that chamber, at least we haven't come across anybody who's been able to."
'Why are these statues in particular all without heads?' Hinata considers, taking in the sculptures wanting to ask, Killer B piping up seeing her curious look.
"They loss their heads because they fled from all the corruption and impurity in their hearts!" He grins until Naruto points to the one head cracked and fallen over in the corner covered in weeds and grass.
"My future self said you would joke about that you know!" He smiles, waving Hinata forward as they approach the first chamber.
Hinata takes in the symbols and design of the Two Tail's head, it's mouth open.
'So this is what some of the other Tailed Beasts look like.'
All she truly studied was Kurama, Shukaku, and Gyūki considering that they are the three that Naruto in both the present and future corresponds with the most with.
Killer B gestures to it's mouth, grinning. "Alright, I can't fool you then! So you know then what you already have to do to activate the switch; don't ya?" He asks.
Naruto nods, putting his head straight in.
Motoi looks perplexed, it's been too many years since they've needed to head this deep into the chambers for him to recall what happens next...
"Guys, this isn't good!" Naruto says with a false panic Hinata recognizes and Motoi stiffens on.
And then Naruto comes out without his head.
Hinata glances to Motoi seeing his skin turning a grayish-white, hiding a snicker before stepping forward to pull at Naruto's jacket.
"Naruto, you wouldn't be able to talk if you lost your head!" She teases as he pops his head back out. He laughs, leaning close to her.
"Can't lose my head, especially since I need my mouth for multiple reasons!" He whispers, enjoying the rise of pink to her face.
He grins back at Motoi that's he truly fine, getting an annoyed scowl sent at him both him and B in return.
"You're both terrible jokers I see."
Kakashi
"Is this working? Will she live?"
His knuckles turn an ashy white against his knees when he gets no answer in response.
Fu clings to life like a true fighter, but he's not sure how long that will last for the way she thrashes in her sleep, the way how just an hour ago her eyes rolled to the back of her head and her whole body went ramrod still before he had to hold her down again while Kirika forced down another sedative.
"Asking me that every 30 minutes isn't going to make me work any faster or heal her any faster you know!" Kirika gripes between pauses in grinding up herbs finely enough into powder and liquid forms.
Kakashi winces at her tone, nodding. "Sorry, I just-"
Kirika waves him off, not wanting to hear his excuses or worries all over again.
Gai paces behind them, refuses to look at the relative paleness that remains to Fu's skin.
Her skin has more color than it did when they first arrived so Kirika's healing is helping despite their shared impatience.
Kirika finally looks up to him again, wiping a sheen of sweat from her forehead, auburn eyes bright despite the exhaustion seeping in as the hours go on.
"I've managed to break her fever and take care of the worse of her superficial injuries, but she's severely dehydrated and malnourished. I'll need to start an IV line in her to at least get her some fluids and nutrition. Also, I hope whatever war is going on in Konoha and the rest of the nations doesn't head our way next." She explains quickly.
Kakashi nods, part of it going over his head at her rush of medical terminology and anatomy as Gai runs to get the IV prep supplies she asks for.
Outside the rumbles of fire and earthquakes have thankfully quieted, but then that could all just be the calm before another storm.
'I hope everyone is staying safe.'
He thinks of Obito, the risks of him coming here are low, but he and Gai have to protect these civilians while they're here.
"Tell me Kakashi of the Thousand Jutsu or Kakashi of the Sharingan, whichever one you choose to go by, what will you do with this girl after I take care of? Or better yet, what would you do to me if I'm unable to save her? Is she to become another jinchuriki for Konoha to use as a weapon or sold on the black market?" She questions sharply, dark eyes studying him for an answer.
His mouth goes dry at the pure bitterness she doesn't bother to hide from her tone.
Hachō Village and Tonika Village citizens always have to be on guard though, especially when it comes to protecting The Hole for it's waters special medical properties and the military weaponry hidden beneath the oasis.
Though he himself can't recall ever visiting either of these villages in the past for a mission, but that tartness in her voice comes from a place of pain, of sadness at watching too many deaths of loved ones and friends over the years...
"I won't harm you if that's what you're alluding towards. Whatever you can do to help her, I and my friend will be grateful for." Kakashi voices.
'Naruto. The future's already changed from what he and Hinata saw. The lives we save, are they at the cost of another's?'
He shouldn't be worrying about this right now, can't be worrying about it. But it nags at him from the back of his mind, refuses to go away that they're playing with fire, gambling with creating a future worse than what they saw the more they try to change things...
Kirika hums, finally finding a thin vein in Fu's antecubital area and Kakashi winces, turning his head as she pushes the needle in. She laughs at his squeamish behavior, this is the same man who had no problems dealing killing blows to the chest and neck of his enemies without a second thought.
"She appeared to be afraid of you two before she fainted, that's why I'm asking." Kirika mentions again after a moment's silence.
Gai bristles, having approached during her concern over Kakashi's sincerity. As crabby as he can be, Kakashi's still his number 1 best friend and rival!
He pats at Kirika's shoulder making her glance towards him, brows furrowing at his bright smile and thumbs up.
"Trust us Kirika! Kakashi is the most youthful and trustworthy man I know from our generation! Though he doesn't look it, he handles responsibility well and sincerely cares for all students taken under his wing!" He promises.
'Don't say it like that Gai!' Kakashi wants to retort sending him a glare he utterly ignores, though he's not sure what he could say to not have Gai toss about silly praises over him when it's one of his favorite ways to boost morale and lighten the mood of any situation.
If anything, telling him to stop could just encourage him to say more.
Kirika's snickering turns his attention back to her, watching as she hooks up the IV line to a hanging line of fluids, draws up and gives a clear liquid medication that gets Fu to finally fully relax.
"Do you need us to get anything else?" Kakashi asks.
Gai fetches for another pillow and blanket, helping slide Fu up in bed.
Kirika shakes her head as she straightens out the bedsheets, checks the time to see it's already midway into evening.
"Oh where does the day go?" She yawns.
She stands up to stretch, takes in the ambers and blues of the sky marking the end of another day.
"I'm sure you two are hungry, we'll work together making a meal that isn't one of your usual chalky food ration pills or on-the-go ready-made meals." Kirika decides, in the mood for chicken katsu or curry.
She follows Kakashi's stare back to Fu, patting his shoulder in understanding.
"Now we wait."
Akatsuki Hideout-Obito
There's no point in holding a meeting when half the group is dead now or in Itachi's case, betraying them.
He knows this wasn't in Madara's plans, but there's still time to fix things, to ensure their Eye of The Moon plan comes to fruition. Sasori hasn't yet returned from Suna, if he even managed to escaped considering that Gaara and all of his advisors apparently knew of his arrival and adequately prepared.
'He didn't even want to wait to get back up/assistance from Deidara.' He frowns, recalling his impatience to not sit and wait.
Perhaps with all this death surrounding the Akatsuki as of late he had no qualms about the risk of potentially heading towards his own demise as well...
"It doesn't seem like you can stop them Tobi. Those two know everything, all your tricks and plans even before you speak them. This plan isn't going to happen anymore it seems when they can already predict our moves before we do them." Sasori mentions coolly.
"So that's it? You're okay with returning to the very village you abandoned having them kill you in retaliation? That you at one point felt ready to destroy?" Tobi asks, leaning against the wall watching him prepare his mix of puppets and poisons.
Sasori glances to him, same dreamy like smile upon his face.
"I'm not going to go down without a fight. And besides, consider this my way of obtaining the information you may need to stop them and carry on the plan. I'll be sure to pass along everything I gather to you even if it's after my death."
That conversation was months ago, he pictures his puppet body somewhere within Suna out of his reach now...
"Don't look so sorrowful. We haven't lost yet." A raspy voice croaks by his ear.
Obito sharply brushes Zetsu away, nearly tears off it's hand in the process fixing it with a glare.
"It doesn't look too good when more than half this organization is dead with every last one of our plans already altered and destroyed before they can come to pass!" He snaps. He let Deidara go off to take out Itachi and Sasuke with Kisame's message of the former's defection, but it won't help them in capturing anymore of the Tailed Beasts.
Without all the Beasts, this was all for nothing...
'Naruto. Hinata. Those are the two I truly need to stop.'
And the best way to get to them isn't via widespread violence like Pain did. No, this has to be personal, enough to cause a lasting heartache and decrease the morale of others in its wake.
He walks back to his private study, opens his drawers revealing a bundle of photos withered to a yellow-gray. He puts back the the top image of Rin from the day they graduated, old pictures of their class at the Academy and his time on Team Minato, moving towards the newer images in the back.
'These two.' He stops his flipping, studying the pair.
One is of Iruka Umino at Konoha's Academy just as school is getting out; a candid shot probably taken by one of the children's parents beaming at whatever joke or story one of the students is telling him, teeth shining in the sunlight. The other is of Hiashi Hyuga, typical stoic expression upon his face, arms crossed. He holds that same trademark look of his clan as he peers directly at the camera for a family photo he probably wants to get done and over with as soon as possible. Both his daughters look equally stiff and uncertain by each side of his legs, holding only the barest hint of smiles.
Two men with such differing personalities, but equally important to both Naruto and Hinata's lives respectively...
-x-
And on that ominous note, we're heading towards the final battles and final villains of this war arc which will show the worst consequences of Naruto and Hinata changing the past!
I know people don't care about Sasuke and Sakura's stuff as much (or at all), but they'll be involved too lol! I do try with my stories to make them more likeable than their canon counterparts, don't know if that's working really as I don't want for example Sakura to be weak or feel too OP either. I don't want to cut them out either so any suggestions would be nice. Anyways, send your guesses and Stay tuned!
Thoughts and Feedback always appreciated!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
