A/N: I know I said once a month, and I swear that I intended to but... well, I wanted to finish the fight (Which I'm sure some of you will appreciate) before I posted it. This is the second longest chapter I have EVER Written, so I do hope that it makes up for the leangthy delay.
-Insert standard Ownership Disclaimer Here-
-Insert standard Adult language and situation Disclaimer here-
(Yes I know I'm being lazy, Just keep in mind that this fic is rated R for a reason)
Haishi leaned forward and propped his elbows on the railing of the bridge that overlooked his twilight darkened garden, it had been an interesting evening, not the least part of which had been re-taking his daughter. Even as he sat contemplating she was being 'prepared' for her trial. Something didn't quite feel right about this however. Certainly he had been righteously angry about catching his daughter with that THING but he could never remember having struck her before, it made him uneasy. On top of that his nephew, the family prodigy Neji had managed to escape in the time it had taken him to retrieve his wayward daughter... and the odd companion of the demon boy was the most disconcerting thing of all... it was almost as if...
"Good evening Haishi-sama."
Haishi froze, he knew that voice. Occasionally he had even done business with that voice.
"Ahhh, Mikuhasi-san, What can I do for you this fine Evening?"
In his mind the demon snickered, images of the pompous fool in from of him being slowly turned on a roasting spit filled his mind, but he kept his expression carefully neutral.
"It is more what I can do for YOU Haishi-sama. I have recently come into some information that will probably effect you, and I have come to offer my help if you should need it."
Haishi frowned slightly, As far as he knew today was shaping up to be the perfect day.
"I thank you for your kind offer, but I think that I have everything well in hand."
The demon smirked a little
"Nevertheless Haishi, I felt you should know that if you should ever find yourself in a tight situation you can call on me for support."
Working carefully the Demon Added a little more to the darkness he had been cultivating within Haishi these long years. It hadn't been particularly difficult to turn the man against his eldest daughter; She was the dangerous one, after that manipulating the rest of the household had become a breeze. Haishi Frowned as though thinking.
"Well, I do have a little proposition for you Mikuhasi-san. I need someone to... Disappear."
"Oh anyone in particular?"
Haishi glanced left and right and then leaned forward just a fraction of an inch and lowered his voice
"Yes, but I'm not going to tell you about her here."
Straightening back up Haishi Attempted to smile, but it automatically morphed it's self into a smirk.
"Perhaps a drink Mikuhasi-san?"
"It would be my pleasure Haishi-sama."
"Good, Perhaps afterward we can... evaluate... my 'problem'."
Mikuhasi Smirked, anticipating the fruition of a plan begun long ago.
It's almost a pity that he felt his brother's death was primarily his daughters fault, It would have been MUCH more Challenging, as well as interesting, to be forced to work though his resentment of Kyuubi... Oh well.
The next morning, Haishi whistled to himself slightly as he walked down the hallway. It was a beautiful day, the birds were singing, the grass was green, he had the Hyuuga clan firmly under his thumb, and there was no way his eldest, soon-to-be-ex-daughter, could possibly stand up to the Ahem 'Tender' coxing of the families interrogators. After that he could marry her off with no worries, and formally declare Hanabi Heir. Then, as always, the Hyuuga would have a firm hand to guide them, and he would have a potentially useful tool already well placed in the upper echelons of Hidden mist.
Ahhh, Life is finally good!
"Mikuhasi-san Good morning"
Haishi gave the man a small smirk as he went though the information his odd partner had given him the night before.
If you weren't such a low class fool it might almost be a pleasure to do business with you
Mikuhasi had of course been listening to Haishi's thoughts, and would probably killed the weak minded fool if Haishi's reaction hadn't been exactly how he had trained Haishi to think
"Good Morning Haishi-sama. I'm glad we were able to work out your little problem last night."
"As am I, Hopefully our meetings can always been as productive."
Mikuhasi bowed
"A pleasure to be of service, Keep in mind that I shall be around town for the next few days, If you should ever need my services, feel welcome to call upon me."
With those words the demon walked around the corner and, once he was out of sight, vanished in a mist of curling black smoke. Haishi was carefully going over his plans for the day when he heard the sound of running footsteps behind him.
"Haishi-sama! Haishi-sama! You have received a top priority scroll! It came by courier less than a minute ago!"
Haishi frowned before he snapped.
"Well? What does it say?"
"I don't know Haishi-sama. It has been sealed to the Hand of 'Lord Haishi of the Hyuuga, first prince of Konoha"
Haishi's frown deepened again, the only person who could send him a sealed letter addressing him, as a prince would be another of the princes.
Perhaps it's the Uchiha boy… Yes, he's probably wondering where his girlfriend is. Hmmm… it'd be nice to have him under my thumb, and so long as I don't let it slip that my daughter was cheating on him with that… THING, I might be able to pull it off.
"I will take it in my private den. You are dismissed."
A minute later Haishi was unrolling the scroll
To Hyuuga Haishi… from the third prince… Dear Sir… yadda yadda… come to my attention…Had anyone been in the room, and had they dared to watch Haishi read his private mail they would have seen his eyes suddenly seem to stick to one line at the top of the parchment he was reading. It stayed there for a long moment before suddenly zipping back and forth across the paper at high speed. A minute later the parchment was engulfed in flames, and a minute after that Hyuuga Haishi was headed for the Hokage tower as quickly as he could while still maintaining his dignity, his face a mask of fury.
---Drip---
(Ruffle)
---Drip---
(Ruffle)
Blinking, Hinata Slowly opened her eyes. Silently Hinata watched as one of her clans few permitted healers dripped a clear liquid into the open wounds on her arms and legs. As the healer looked up Hinata quickly closed her eyes again and pretended to still be asleep.
"I'm sorry but that won't help you child."
Hinata said nothing, but kept her breath even as she tried desperately to ignore the fact that she was lying completely naked under a thin blanket in her families 'Interrogation room'. The women sighed and Hinata heard the rustle of cloth as she stood up.
"Please don't hate me Hinata-Chan, but there is nothing I can do. Even if I could manage to unlock the manacles and get you some clothing, there are two guards posted outside the door as well as an exceptionally complicated Jutsu that would set off any number of alarms if you should leave the room. I'm doing what I can for you but I'm afraid that it's mot much."
Hinata sighed and opened her eyes, as the healer knelt down again Hinata tried to hide her tears, of all the people in the entire clan, this was the one person she had least wanted to see. Not because Hinata disliked the women, but because this was the one person Hinata looked up to, almost was though she were Hinata's own mother. Though an odd twist of fate, it was her aunt, Neji's mother Emily.
"Please Aunty Em" Hinata whispered, "Just go away. It's only worse with you seeing me humiliated like this."
Em knelt again and gathered Hinata up into a hug
"Shhh Shhh. Don't worry my darling Hinata-Chan. It's OK now. I'm here."
Hinata couldn't help it, and though she kept silent, she couldn't stop the flow of tears as she returned the hug. After a moment she whispered
"Oh Aunty, what do I do? I can't take much more of this… They came so close last night… so close… and when they tore off my clothes I thought they were going to… to…"
Hinata broke down again, and Em fought to keep from crying herself as she tried to stay strong for her niece.
"He… he wouldn't do that Hinata-Chan. As horrible as he is, he's still your father."
At this proclamation Hinata choked back a bitter laugh and hugged her aunt even tighter as she answered
"Oh no. Not any more I'm not. In fact if it weren't for the fact that I'm to be the third wife of Prince Ru of mist He would have been more than happy to let them take turns with me."
Em shuddered a little bit
"What makes you say that Hinata?"
This time Hinata did laugh, a bitter sobbing laugh that soon turned into tears again.
"Because last night he told me that if it hadn't been for that fact I was still a virgin I would have been sold as a prostitute to a grass trader that he has occasional contact with."
"He wouldn't Hinata-Chan. He's just saying that to Frighten Yo…"
"Oh he WOULD" said Hinata bitterly "In fact he almost did. The only reason father knows I'm still a virgin is because he had that… that… CREATURE in here to look me over last night… Em… He… he touched and poked almost EVERYTHING… F…father had me stripped in front of him and… and…"
Hinata shuddered…
"After groping me a bit he cast some kind of Medical Jutsu. That's when he found out about it. He was really excited… said something about me being worth a fortune on the street because I was still 'intact' at my age. That was when father decided that marrying me off was worth more… didn't stop the bastard from letting that… that THING grope me some more though."
Em closed her eyes and held Hinata even tighter as she broke down in tears again sobbing about feeling dirty.
Haishi stormed the Hokage's tower, blowing past guards as though they weren't present causing quite a stir as they had been informed to keep him away from the Hokage as she was in a conference. Naruto was discussing the nuances of his plans for the evening with Tsunade and Neji when they heard him bellowing at someone to let go of him. Smirking, Tsunade opened the door to find Haishi being dragged away by a group of ANBU. Neji and Naruto shared a look and a grin when the flashbulb of a camera being wielded by a smirking Shizune went off unnoticed.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"
Immediately the ANBU froze, Haishi of course was still spitting obscenities, but for the moment Tsunade ignored him and fixed the guards with a glare.
"I could have SWORN that I said I was in an important conference and that I wasn't to be disturbed. Why aren't you doing your job?"
The leader of the morning's detachment swallowed loudly before replying
"Sorry Tsunade-Sama, I didn't realize that you expected someone to put up quite this much of a struggle."
She paused for a moment to gesture to the (finally) subdued Haishi and the five ANBU guards who were holding him.
"As you can see, we have the problem under control. I'm deeply sorry for disturbing you."
Closing his eyes the captain said a quick prayer to Kami and hoped that the Hokage was in a good mood. Tsunade successfully suppressed a smirk as she turned to the now bound and gagged Haishi.
"And you Haishi-Sama… what is so important that you could not have waited to bring it to my attention? I do have an entire village to run you know."
The Guard mentally wiped her brow over the fact that Tsunade's Ire had been directed to the elder Hyuuga. Haishi of course said nothing, but drew up what dignity he could and glared at Tsunade around his gag. Of course, considering the fact he was trussed up like a pig for the market he didn't have much dignity left, but he did try.
Naruto smirked to himself as he watched the events unfolding. Tsunade had shut the door behind her, but that of course didn't stop Konoha's number one prankster. Neji on the other hand was VERY nervous
"Are you sure that you're doing it right? The last thing I need is for Haishi to see me."
"Relax a little Neji. The third never caught me, and Tsunade isn't likely to say anything if she does."
"But the Hokage's crystal?"
Naruto spared a glance from the crystal to look at Neji.
"What? You'd rather I tune it in to ten-ten? She's probably out training with Lee at this time of day."
Neji Blushed as unbidden pictures of his teammate flashed though his mind. Naruto on the other hand just assumed that Neji didn't want to admit his feelings and went back to watching the fight.
… And I don't care WHAT delusions of grandeur this little shit has there is no why that…
"… And I don't care WHAT delusions of grandeur this little shit has there is no why that the DEMON could POSSIBLY be a prince of Konoha! Furthermore I have been wondering about the Intelligence of appointing a WOMAN as Hokage for a while! OBVIOUSLY you don't take the proper…"
Tsunade tuned Haishi out; she had learned this particular trick rather early in her tenure as Hokage. In fact the third had left a note for his successor on how to Mentally withdraw from a conversation while still appearing interested.
I wonder if Naruto is catching any of this? For all I know he's rolling on the floor laughing right now. Jirayia said he should be adept enough to at least cast a simple silencing Jutsu by now… Oops… he's wrapping up, better start paying attention again.
The scene inside the Hokage's office was anything but humorous however. Naruto had stopped actively viewing the crystal, and was instead sitting cross-legged on the floor. He had realized it the moment Tsunade tuned Haishi out as her eyes had gone glassy. He had spied on several of the third Hokage's meetings, and had noticed him doing the same. It had taken a while for him to figure out what it meant, but that didn't change much. Neji on the other hand was still staring at the crystal, though from time to time he shot a glance at the meditating Naruto who was giving off the occasional flash of visible chakra as he attempted to keep his temper in check. Thankfully Haishi was winding down.
So there you have it. If you follow my…Suggestions. You will remain in power for a long and illustrious career. Who knows you may even be able to see the value in such actions yourself in the future.
Neji was in shock. Haishi had spent a good majority of his rant dropping not-so-subtle hints that Tsunade might not survive long if she didn't do exactly what he told her to, and then acted as though all was well in the world. Was his uncle really that stupid? You don't threaten the HOKAGE, Especially not this one. Tsunade didn't seem to be on the point of losing her temper though. Oddly enough she looked as though she were considering it.
Externally Tsunade was calm and thoughtful, internally however she was seething
Tell me how to run MY country will you? We'll see about that!
"Interesting propositions Haishi. Quite a revelation in fact."
Haishi of course puffed out his chest at these seeming complements
"But of course! I am Hyuuga Haishi after all!"
Tsunade nodded as though accepting that this made him the ultimate authority.
"I tell you what Haishi I am going to step into my office for a minute, and then I am going to step back out. When I do, you had better not be here, because if you are I will take all of these interesting propositions of yours and BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH THEM!"
Neji took a step back from the crystal, but Naruto only smiled
"Now listen here you stupid irresponsible ugly HAG, you will do EXACTLY what I tell you to or…"
"No Haishi. Listen to me very VERY c.a.r.e.f.u.l.l.y Ok? If you EVER make such a stupid list of demands and threats to me EVER again, I shall personally see you tried for treason to the leaf. As for Naruto, He is NOT an imposter. He is a direct line descendent of the Uzumaki clan, and is in fact the last of the line. If he has challenged you under the laws of the princes then it is out of my hands. The only way to change those is Unanimous consent of all heads of houses, and I have a feeling that you wont get his. Have your daughter ready by tomorrow morning at 8 or pay up, I really don't care which. Good day sir."
With that Tsunade spun on her heel and walked into her office closing the door softly behind her.
As Tsunade entered her office the first thing she did was to erect a hasty silence ward before ranting,
"Of all the stupid thoughtless brainless fools I have to deal with on a regular basis, THAT one is the worst. So of course he would be the one with the most political clout. Stupid Bastard… thinking he could use me as some sort of puppet…"
Tsunade ground one fist into the palm of her other hand for a moment before looking at Naruto who was still cross-legged on the ground.
"How much did you hear?"
Without looking up Naruto waved his hand in the direction of a guilty looking Neji and the crystal ball.
"Pretty much all of it, I don't think you did though. Be glad you tuned it out when you did or you probably would have killed him on the spot."
If Tsunade were fazed by the fact that he knew she tuned Haishi out or even the fact the he knew how to work the crystal it didn't show on her face. Crossing the room she sat behind her desk and steepled her fingers. All three sat for a moment in thought before she spoke up.
"You do realize that he will probably have her violated and sealed tonight correct?"
"Unfortunately Yes. We shall have to retrieve her before he manages it."
Neji looked uncomfortable about how casually the two were talking about this before he asked
"You have a plan?"
Naruto smirked
"When do I not?"
The sun hadn't been down for long when Naruto and Neji finally slipped out of the Hokage's tower. The plan was simple, Sneak in, liberate Hinata, sneak back to the Hokage's tower, and then pretend that it had be Haishi's Idea for Hinata to show up early. Moving stealthily down the streets Naruto and Neji were two nearly invisible shadows. As they walked down the street other nins would pause for a second. Stealth in a town like Konoha was virtually unknown, as years of battle gave most Shinobe a second sense for things like that. Surprisingly however Both Naruto and Neji made it all the way to the Hyuuga household without being caught. Moving silently Neji used the Jyuukan to knock out the two guards at the watchtowers and the two of them slipped inside with Neji leading the way. After a few moments of avoiding guards, Neji pried open a window and they both slipped inside.
"Alright"
Said Neji in a whisper.
"Around the corner is Hinata's room. If she's not being kept here at night then they've decided to treat her as a criminal and probably treasonous. If that has happened she's down in the cell block."
Naruto said nothing, and the two of them snuck around the corner. While Naruto took out the guard with a well-placed blow, Neji worked to unlock the door. After a second there was a rather satisfying 'click' and the door swung open. Neji motioned Naruto through, and carefully closed the door behind him. When he walked into the room Neji Immediately knew that something was wrong. It seemed to… Sparse… for Hinata, To Utilitarian. Naruto didn't know this however and was already approaching the person sleeping in the bed.
"Hinata-Chan? Come on, Wake up Hinata, We've come to get you out of here."
When she didn't respond Naruto leaned over to gently shake her shoulder. Seeing this Neji hurried over to stop him, but it was too late. Hanabi spun around slashing at Naruto's throat with the Kunai she had kept hidden under her pillow.
"Stay away from me you Fucking Demon! You may have sullied my sister, but you won't touch me!"
Naruto had immediately jumped backwards when Hanabi had slashed at him, and was now regarding her as someone might study a bug under a glass.
"Who are you and were is Hinata-Chan?"
Before Hanabi could answer Neji spoke up.
"That is Hanabi, she's Hinata's younger sister… I assume you're the heir now?"
Hanabi didn't bother responding, and instead stared at Neji. He no longer looked like the Neji she had known, and she didn't recognize him. It wasn't all that surprising however, He had trimmed his hair down to keep it out of his eyes, and instead of Blue shorts and a tan shirt, he was wearing matching deep blue pants and shirt to blend into the night better, add to this his now blue eyes, and he looked like someone entirely different
"Who are you and how do you know me?"
Neji looked surprised for a moment that she didn't recognize him until he remember his new look, smirking he answered
"Sorry cousin, but I don't think that I'm going to answer that."
Hanabi sneered before replying
"I don't know who you are, but you are no family of mine, No Hyuuga would stoop to helping a bastard like him take one of our own."
Neji was about to reply, but Naruto was already sick of the time that was being wasted. Biting his thumb he swiped it across the feather on his arm before running though the seals necessary for the summoning Jutsu. A brief flash of flame later, and Kenchi was hovering in the air in front of him.
"Where is she?"
Kenchi looked disgusted for a moment before flashing over to Hanabi's bedpost and perching.
"I don't know. They've moved her since I was here last, and I haven't been able to locate her yet"
"Dammit! Neji, were are the interrogation rooms?"
Neji ran a hand though his hair.
"She can't be there, I told Kenchi to start there and tell us if they were keeping her in the dungeons."
Kenchi nodded from his perch on Hanabi's bed.
"I checked inside the high security vaults as well, nothing."
This time it was Neji who swore before replying
"They must have shipped her out already, it's the only explanation… Dammit Naruto, I told you we should have moved sooner!"
Naruto was about to make a biting comment about the necessity of secrecy when a cool voice spoke up from the bed.
"YOU'LL never find her, not even with the help of the flaming pigeon there."
Kenchi glared at her for the comment, but Neji suddenly looked thoughtful. He stood staring at her for a while before the smallest of smirks appeared on his face. Straightening his shoulders he turned back to Naruto.
"She's right, Hinata is lost to us."
Naruto was in shock, and Kenchi nearly fell off of his perch at this comment.
"I guess we'll have to make due with the other one."
As he said this his eyes darted rapidly from Naruto to Hanabi and back several times as though he were trying to say 'Just trust me on this one'. Naruto wasn't sure what he was doing, but he played along anyway.
"I suppose your right… Pity, I much preferred Hinata."
Neji nodded in a knowing way.
"Yes, you do tend to have an attraction to your first, but since her sister is out of our reach, I suppose you shall have to settle for Hanabi here."
Neji had of course been talking about Naruto's first girlfriend, but had phrased it in such a way that Hanabi Immediately assumed he had meant first Lover.
"WHAT? I shall be no such thing!"
Naruto watched Neji carefully, and saw him suppress a grin before he turned back to the now-pale Hanabi.
"Sorry Hanabi-Chan, but with your sister not available you are the only option. We didn't come all this way to leave empty handed… you may be a shrew, but a couple months of ministration by the demon over there and I'm sure you'll be just as… Pliable… as your sister."
Naruto was now leaning against the doorframe and trimming his nails with a kunai, at Neji's pronouncement however he looked up, and then channeled just enough chakra to make his eyes seem to flash a glowing red for a moment as he grinned. Mentally he thanked Kami that the 'demon-boy' comments he had grown up with had caused him to create that particular Jutsu… of course after meeting Kyuubi it hadn't seemed quite as amusing anymore… But at least it still had its uses. Hanabi of course quailed for a moment before screaming as loud as she possibly could. Naruto and Neji had prepared for having to make a noisy retreat however, and had warded the room against sound escaping, this being the case they just stood there and looked unimpressed. After a few seconds however, Hanabi realized that screaming was fairly useless and stopped. Naruto took this as a good time to press an advantage and began advancing on her.
"S…stay away from me you F…Fucking freak! I'll K… kill you!"
Naruto however kept moving forward. Panicking Hanabi threw her kunai… Naruto however just stepped aside and let it pass before moving forward again. He was probably only two feet from the bed when Hanabi acted again; jumping up she hit him several times with her family's Jyuukan attack. This didn't even seem to phase him however as he kept moving forward. Inwardly Naruto was grimacing with the pain of the attack, but to all appearances he didn't even feel it. Stopping at the foot of her bed, Naruto gave his most malevolent grin to the now cowering Hanabi.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt… not after you stop struggling anyway."
Naruto had been talking about tying her up, Neji had planted the seeds of fear however, and she immediately took the worst possible meaning for his words. Trying to make herself as small as possible she squeaked out.
"Please, Please don't do it! I'll tell you were she is! I'll tell you where to find her! Just don't…"
Hanabi cut off as her imagination left her shuddering in fear. Neji chose this moment to act, and broke in.
"Where is she, Tell us and we might just leave you alone."
"D…down the hall, there's an unlit torch on the wall across from the window. P… pull it down and twist left and the wall o…opens into a hidden room."
Neji nodded, and Naruto moved back to the door and opened it a crack, from where he stood he could see the torch she indicated. Looking at Neji he gave a brief nod before closing the door again. Neji smiled to himself, before walking over and cutting a strip off the curtains. Naruto shook his head however and walked toward Hanabi's bed again. Hanabi had watched this exchange with wide eyes, and had pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her face into them as he approached again.
"Hanabi?"
The voice was soft, and far gentler than she had expected. Glancing up she found herself unable to look away from the softest blue eyes she had ever seen.
"We wouldn't have hurt you… I'm sorry it came to this."
That was the last thing she heard before the world went dark.
Naruto caught her before she hit the bed, and carefully tucked her back in.
"How long will she be out for?"
"A couple of hours if Tsunade is to be believed."
"Alright."
"…"
"…"
"I don't like doing that Neji… I've been fighting to change the so-called 'Demon' persona for a long time… I don't like playing the part."
Neji sighed
"I know, I don't like her much, and I hated putting you on the spot like that, but it was necessary."
Naruto nodded.
"I know, now lets get Hinata, and get the hell out of here!"
Being careful not to make as sound the Duo slipped out of the room and closed the door on the Unconscious Hanabi. Being especially careful to watch for traps or guards the two of them eased down the hall. following Hanabi's directions Naruto pulled on the candle bracket and twisted it to the left. Beside him the wall silently slid backward and then sideways, opening up a decent sized windowless room.
"Kenchi?"
Whispered Naruto to the Phoenix perched on his shoulder
"Do you see her?"
"Yes Naruto. She's on the other side of the room, but…""Good, go back to Tsunade and tell her that we have reached the target, and should be heading back soon."
Kenchi gave Naruto a flustered look, but he didn't see it as he was already peering into the darkness, trying to make his eyes adjust faster. With a Shrug Kenchi disappeared.
Naruto's POV
When Naruto felt Kenchi shift slightly on his shoulder in preparation for vanishing Naruto closed his eyes. There was a brief flash of light, and then darkness again. Opening his eyes back up Naruto squinted into the pitch-black room. Thankfully his Kyuubi enhanced eyes could pierce the darkness though it took a few moments more before he saw her. She was laying with her back to him, badly beaten from the bruises that he could see, and curled up into the fetal position. Softly he entered the room and, still careful of traps, crossed the floor. At the sound of his footsteps Hinata began sobbing and curled up even smaller. By this time Naruto had crossed the floor and had knelt down beside her.
"Hinata-Chan?"
Hinata flinched away from the sound of his voice, crying even harder
"Hinata-Chan? It's me."
Hinata just sobbed even harder. About this time Neji's eyes finally caught up to Naruto's, and Naruto could hear him suck in a sharp breath. Naruto realized that they were running out of time, and he knew that he needed to act. Shrugging out of his coat, he wrapped it around Hinata's shoulders.
"Hinata-Chan, I'm going to pick you up ok? We're getting you out of here."
Hinata's POV
Hinata sat alone in the darkness, Her father had told her what was to happen to her. She was to be sealed, and then he intended to leave her alone for a few hours with some of the guards. As afraid as she was of being sealed like her cousin Neji, she really didn't think her fate was too horrible, not until he told her who the 'guards' were going to be anyway. They were Perverts, all of them. The Hyuuga's that the rest kept out of the public eye. A few years back the three of them had cornered her in an alley on the way back from the academy. Apparently they had liked what they had seen, or else they had just wanted to show the 'head family' how much they cared. The things they had told her they were going to do had given her nightmares for weeks. Thankfully Neji had saved her that time, but if they were to guard her it could only mean one thing…
I'm so sorry Naruto-kun, I've tried, but… but… I can't fight them any more. I'm to stiff… I'm to sore… and all I want is to be with you. I kept them off of me earlier, but I just don't have the strength to do it again. I'm so sorry that I'm weak.
Hinata's thoughts were cut of then as she heard the locking mechanism on the door click open. Scrambling backward she had huddled as close to the wall as she could, the door slid open, and a moment later there was a flash of light.
Oh GOD, they are going to take PICTURES?
Curling up into a ball, Hinata tried to make herself invisible. There were a few moments of silence, and then footsteps, Hinata tried to shrink further into herself as the footsteps stopped, and there was a rustle of clothes as the person knelt beside her.
"Hinata-Chan?"
Hinata tried to stop it, but she just couldn't contain the sob that tore from her throat
Those BASTARDS! They're going to pin this on Naruto-kun… they intend to take Photo's of one of them in a Henge doing… THAT to me…
"Hinata-Chan, it's me."
Oh you fucking bastards… My kami curse your souls to the deepest circles of hell if you do this.
Hinata heard the rustle of clothing and cried even harder
Oh Kami, Please Protect me, take me away from all this. Please, Unite me with my beloved Naruto-kun. Please… Save me!
Suddenly there was a warm weight wrapped around her, and for the first time the scent registered. Meadows, earth, and Ramen. Hinata was in shock, and crying to hard to stop when she heard the voice behind her say.
"Hinata-Chan, I'm going to pick you up ok? We're getting you out of here."
Oh praise be to you Kami… it's really him!
Neji's POV
Eyes straining Neji peered into the darkness, he could just about see across the room when there was suddenly a flash of light directly next to him. Blinking and internally cursing the damn phoenix for spoiling his night vision, Neji tried to blink the spots away. Beside him Naruto had already begun to move forward. Briefly he contemplated following blind, but knowing Haishi, that could be a very dangerous thing to do. Instead he once again squinted into the darkness. From the other side of the room he could hear a low voice murmuring, and the sound of sobbing. It broke his heart to think of Hinata in pain. Finally, FINALLY, he recovered his night vision, and promptly gasped, what little he could see of Hinata was beaten black and blue, and quite frankly, she didn't appear clothed.
Were we too late? Oh KAMI please say that we weren't too late!
Suddenly he felt it. The almost unnoticeable vibration of approaching footsteps.
Oh SHIT.
As Naruto was about to Pick Hinata up he heard Neji moving quickly, half a second later he could hear the sliding door closing.
"Neji? What the hell are you doing"?
"We have company Naruto."
Pressing an ear to the wall Neji listened to a shout when the approaching people found the guard that they had knocked out. There was the sound of hurrying feet, just as they arrived Naruto pressed his ear to the wall also.
"Do you think it was a raid?"
"No, Hanabi is fine, she's still fast asleep. He probably just fell asleep on the job."
"Sucks to be him eh?"
Just then Naruto and Neji heard the approach of another group of people, there was the sound of clothes rustling and then
"Haishi-sama."
"Haishi-sama."
For a moment there was silence, and then the unmistakable sound of Hinata's father was heard.
"Well?"
"We suspect that he fell asleep on the Job Haishi-sama, Your daughter Hanabi is fine, and the door here seems undisturbed."
There was another brief moment of silence and then
"In that case he shall be punished, and the two of you may do what you like without him."
Both Naruto and Neji felt slightly ill at the lust they could hear in the voices of the guards as the two of them answered
"Yes Haishi-sama. Thank you."
There was another pause and then.
"Well what are you waiting for? Open this door up!"
Neji and Naruto looked at each other for a moment, and a silent communication passed between them, and then Neji was striding across the room and trying to get Hinata to stand up so they could make a faster retreat. Naruto on the other hand stood in front of the door, his rage building as he thought about Hinata's father, and what the bastard had just authorized
Kami DAMN that man! How could he do that to his own Daughter! To think that he would let them…
Neji had coxed Hinata to her feet by this point, but the two of them didn't move, both were staring in shock at Naruto who was beginning to glow slightly blue. For a moment there was nothing, and then the door clicked and moved forward in preparation for sliding back. It was then that Naruto Struck. Kicking it outward Naruto stepped though the swirling dust, his rage beginning to make his blood boil. The Kyuubi may no longer have been sealed in his stomach, but Naruto was far beyond reason at this point. There was a moment of silence, and then Naruto and Haishi Locked eyes.
"YOU! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!"
This of course was precisely the wrong thing to say to an enraged Naruto, and Haishi's guard stared in a rather morbid horror as a flicker of flame appeared at Naruto's feet, Haishi of course was oblivious.
"YOU DARE TO TWIST THE LAW TO TAKE WHAT IS MINE FROM ME? YOU WOULD DARE TO…"
The guards began to shift uncomfortably, Naruto's gaze wasn't focused on them, but that didn't mean they weren't being caught but the outer edges of the killer intent that was beginning to be felt from the young man Haishi was yelling at. The fact that those eerie multi-colored flames were now dancing up to his knees didn't do much to ease their minds either.
"…IN MY OWN HOUSE? YOU WOULD DARE TO DESECRATE THE VERY…"
"Shut up old man."
Suddenly Haishi seemed to register the fact that he had unwittingly triggered something of epic proportions, Naruto's rage had been Blinding to begin with. His anger at Hinata and Neji's treatment, the scornful looks the villagers had given him, years of pent up frustrations and disappointments which had been repressed, biding their time and feeding on each other, waiting for the opportune target to present it's self. Naruto had been mad when Neji had shown up at his home three days ago, he had been furious when he had seen Hinata flinch away from his touch three minutes ago, but now, as hard as he had been trying to keep his temper, Naruto was Royally. Pissed. Off.
"You are nothing Haishi, to call you a fool would be a complement. You are leading your house to its destruction and your family is powerless to stop you."
Haishi sputtered for a moment before Naruto continued
"You have tried to kill me, OK, I can live with that."
The flames were now licking around his waist
"You attack myself and my brother in the very halls of my home, OK, I can ignore that."
The flames had reached his chest now, and his loose fitting shirt was flapping as though caught in a high wind, it was also beginning to smolder around the edges.
"You insult my sister Tsunade in her office, OK I can accept that."
The fire was intensifying now, and Haishi noted with rising horror that the flames had twisted themselves down his arms and up over his head.
"But you… you Vile, loathsome, petty, insignificant fool, you DARED to touch MY Hinata!"
Hinata shivered a little bit through the pain, not in fear, but with a sudden lust. Even after all she had been though, the possessiveness in his voice was something she had never heard before, and the power he was radiating was nothing short of primal. With a flash his shirt disintegrated, showing off Naruto's scarred back. Haishi was now noting with a morbid fascination that the tattoos on Naruto's arms and shoulders were beginning to glow a brilliant red.
Naruto struggled for control, every instinct he had inherited from Kyuubi, and a vast majority of those that he didn't were screaming at him to tear Haishi apart, to burn the fool to dust and scatter the ashes, He was losing the battle, he knew it… but something was keeping the primal rage in check Naruto wasn't sure what it was but something was holding him back. It came as a rush, a sudden realization that he couldn't lose control, that if he did he would lose a part of his mortality… that he would lose a part of himself. He was pleased to see that almost half of Haishi's guards had either fled or fallen to their knees in terror. Some however had left with a determined glint in their eyes, no doubt to get the rest of the family.
"Who… who are you?"
Suddenly Naruto's anger turned cold, a blue flame that burnt with the intensity of a thousand suns rather than a raging, all consuming inferno. For a moment the multi-colored flames Pulsed around Naruto's body, briefly disappearing and then rushing outward a second later in every Hue of blue and black instead of the warmer reds, oranges, and whites they had been before. Naruto's eyes bored into Haishi's, the only part of Naruto that was still easily visible though the whirling inferno that enveloped his body.
"Who am I? WHO AM I? You attack me without provocation, you slight me and my family with your incompetence, You Burn my home to the Ground, and you have the utter GALL to ask me WHO I AM?"
Naruto seethed, His anger was threatening to consume him again, but he fought the building rage, the blinding and all consuming bloodlust he could feel rising in the back of his mind. He forced himself to calm down slightly, his aura however was now radiating like a sun-gone nova, and Haishi had been forced to abandon his Bykuggan because of the intensity of it. As Naruto started to speak his tattoo's burned black, though he didn't notice it.
"I am the shadow of Konoha, the forsaken and redeemed. I am the Son and the Star, The reviled and beloved. I am the embodiment of both the past and the future. I am the son of Uzumaki Arishi, grandson of Uzumaki Kenamo…."
At that moment there was a shattering sound as the glass window in the hallway burst inward and a pool of liquid black flowed through, a moment later the shadow coalesced into a large three headed dog that immediately moved to box the Hyuuga in from behind. Echoing in his mind Naruto suddenly heard it's heads asking
You called Summoner?
Naruto said nothing, something was telling him not to speak just yet. A moment later there was a momentary flash of light and a burst of red flame, then Kenchi burst into view. Circling the opposite direction from the dog the small phoenix called out
I have come brother!
Still Naruto uttered not a word, bursting though what had been a wall only moment's before and wreathed in a flaming red aura of his own, his eyes blazing a man dressed in a dark red, so dark it was nearly black strode over to Naruto's side. His eyes sweeping the room Kyuubi said.
I am here kit!
Naruto's face didn't twitch a muscle, nor did he flinch when a toad appeared in a blast of smoke across the room, a pair of Katana already drawn and poised to strike
An honor to serve Friend.
Followed seconds later by a purring voice in his ear Again there was no reaction from Naruto as Berra appeared in a maelstrom of white flame, dressed in an immaculately white Toga
I am also yours to direct.
Haishi tried not to gape in wonder at the sudden appearances of some of the most legendary summons in all of recorded Mythology.
A trick, that's it, this is some sort of illusion.
Haishi repeated that to himself several times in his mind, willing himself to believe it,
This can't be real; it is not POSSIBLE for this to be real… if it isn't possible than this is obviously some type of jutsu…
"B… Bykuggan!"
The veins around Haishi's eyes grew prominent as he re-activated his blood limit, though the blinding aura Naruto exuded was nearly enough to make him deactivate it again. After a moment Haishi's eyes adjusted themselves, and he nearly fell over. Naruto had gained new tattoo's somehow, in addition to the others there was now a black paw print in the center of his chest, and three golden slashes that looked like claw marks on his left arm. After a moment Naruto continued.
"…I am the Summoner and the destroyer. The Judge, Jury, and executioner, I am balance embodied. I am the shadow lord. I am Uzumaki Naruto!
There was a moment of silence as the summons warily circled the now overwhelmed Hyuuga, and then Cerberus spoke yet again
"Others come Summoner, more of his people. There is a stench in the air though... one I should know from ages past."
Cerberus paused for a moment before two of it's three heads grinned at Kyuubi
"It almost smells worse than those damn Fox's"
Kyuubi snorted at this.
"Nice to see you too Ototo, perhaps we shall have to have a repeat of what happened in the Yan-Si settlement?"
Cerberus threw back two of his heads and howled in amusement while the third continued to stare resolutely at the quaking Haishi. Naruto remained impassive, his eyes traveling slowly over the beings that had come in response to his unintentional call. When he spoke his voice was steady, unaccented, and yet somehow loaded with emotion.
"Thank you all for coming. Take care of the others, but this one is mine."
The other beings paused and gave short bows of acknowledgement before turning to Haishi's quivering bodyguards. There was a momentary struggle as some of the stronger minded guard put up a fight, but it wasn't nearly enough, and soon the Youki had driven them from the hallway leaving Haishi and Naruto alone. Now that the summons were gone however Haishi was feeling much bolder.
"Foolish move Brat, without your guardians you are nothing."
Naruto studied him for a moment before replying
"Funny, Rekku said that too." (1)
Haishi was ready to make a quick retort when Naruto cut him off
"There is a faster way to settle this Haishi, The oldest laws state that a single duel may be fought to determine the outcome of a conflict between the major houses."
Haishi sneered at Naruto's impertinence
Young fool thinks he can take me on does he?
"Name the stakes and we can settle this right now CHILD."
Naruto studied Haishi impassively for a moment before replying
"The old laws state that that I am entitled to your eldest daughter and half of your fortune as recompense for the crimes you committed against me…"
Hinata of course hadn't known this and drew in a sharp breath at what that single statement implied, She had always known that she wasn't the strongest of people, but to be treated like… like Chattel. That was just degrading; it made her feel less than human, and for Naruto to imply something like that. It made her feel even worse.
"… I however have always felt that this was a rather degrading thing to do to women. Especially as that law is a holdover from the old days when harems were common."
"Your point is? Wait, you know what? I don't even care! State your terms and let's get this farce over with."
Hinata had begun feeling better when Naruto had stood up for her again, but to hear her own father say something so heartless… it broke her heart. It also enraged Naruto further although he managed to keep a tight leash on his temper.
FINE YOU BASTARD!
"The rules are simple, First person to either be killed or caught in a unmistakably fatal position loses."
"Done." Haishi drawled out "It will be a pleasure to kill you."
"What are the stakes?"
This question caught Haishi slightly off guard, but it only took a moment for him to recover.
"If I win your name is to be expunged from all records of this village, your land and monies are forfeit to my family, you will be publicly executed for treason and all bloodlines will be forever sealed away from…"
Here Haishi's eyes darted briefly toward the waiting Neji and he sneered out the next sentence as well.
"…Your Brother."
Naruto nodded slowly as he thought it over.
"I will agree to that on the condition that if I should win Hinata will be given the choice of whether or not she wishes to marry me. If she does, you will pay me half your families monies as a dowry, if she does not, you will Defer to he judgment in all things. In effect she will be the ultimate authority in your house. You shall re-instate her as Daughter-heir, and offer her a public apology."
Hinata gave another gasp and Naruto turned toward her.
"Hinata-Chan I am sorry to put you in this position. I realize that we have only been dating a short time, but it's the only way I could find to keep you completely out of his grasp."
Hinata didn't have a chance to respond however as Naruto's attention was forcefully drawn back to Haishi as he deflected the pair of shrunken that the man had thrown at his head.
"Anything else?" Haishi asked with a sneer
"You and your family will act courteous to her when you see her, there will be no retaliatory actions against me and my family, and neither she nor her children will ever have to worry about having their bloodlines sealed at your families order."
Now it was Haishi's turn to pause, If he lost the Hyuuga would lose control of the eyes, and the line could be spread to another family, or even mutate into a new line as it had a millennia ago with the Uchiha. Haishi was about to refuse when he suddenly shook his head and narrowed his eyes again.
"Done. But I want this in writing, I refuse to get in trouble when I deliver your lifeless body to that meddling old women Tsunade."
Naruto narrowed his eyes as well.
" I so swear as Lord Uzumaki if you do the same as Lord Hyuuga."
For a moment there seemed to be a crackle in the air as ancient powers were invoked, they hung, waiting on the patriarch of the Hyuuga. There was a moment that Haishi looked ready to refuse again, but then he gave a smug grin and said
"I so swear."
Up in the Hokage's tower Tsunade dropped her head into her hands, and a lone tear made it's way down her face as another golden scroll appeared in mid-air and wrote out the terms of the fight.
Why Naruto? We had him! Why couldn't you have just stuck to the plan and gotten Hinata out of there?
"Ready to die boy?"
Naruto gave a short bow as both Neji and Hinata looked on in trepidation and no small fear. To the best of their knowledge Haishi had never been beaten. Naruto's response, while cheeky, was slightly out of character for him.
"I have been for a great many years Haishi. It will not happen today though, you underestimate me."
Haishi snorted in amusement.
"We shall see."
Briefly Tsunade considered sending out the ANBU to break up the fight that was brewing between Haishi and Naruto, In fact she was about to call on Shizune to do just that when the Crystal ball caught her attention again, the Battle had begun!
The testing of defenses was swift and brutal, Haishi's first move was quick as a serpent, and in less time than it took to blink He had sealed half of Naruto's chakra points. He had not escaped unscathed however; Naruto had managed to plant a Kunai in his shoulder, and another in his thigh. Haishi was frowning, and Naruto's breath came out as a slight wheeze. Two seconds later came Naruto's counter attack and Haishi was suddenly sprouting another four blades. Another through his previously injured shoulder, one through his Usable hand, and two more in his injured leg. Naruto of course didn't escape unscathed as he had another three major points sealed.
"NO YOU IDOT! YOU CAN'T TAKE ON A HYUUGA THAT WAY!"
Oh you stupid Idiotic arrogant little
"Tsunade-sama? What's going on in... Oh my!"
Circling slowly the two eyed each other. Haishi had been expecting an easy victory, and Naruto had expected a much slower opponent.
"Not bad brat."
As he spoke Haishi began pulling Kunai out of his arm and leg and began healing himself, his eyes never left Naruto however.
"Not good enough, but not bad… for a DEMON of course."
"B...Bastard!"
Naruto's breathing was a trifle labored. Thankfully his family's natural affinity for healing had been accelerated by Kyuubi's tinkering. On top of that he had accidentally activated 'Angels flame' when Haishi had pissed him off earlier. All he needed was a little time and his tenketsu would open completely on their own.
"I'm not likely to lose to an old fool like you!"
Haishi growled a little bit and launched another flurry of blinding punches and kicks, all of course charged with enough chakra to completely obliterate the pathways that fed chakra though his body.
"Duck, DUCK! Oh thank heavens He evade... Wait..."
"BEHIND YOU NARUTO-SAN IT'S A CLONE!"
Tsunade sighed as Naruto realized that clone trick in time to avoid the real attack from behind. Shizune on the other hand was a nervous wreck, She had never really been in combat before... She had treated victims, but had never actually witnessed the fights. Unfortunately the two of them yelling had alerted the ANBU waiting outside that something was wrong. After sending off her partner with a call for re-enforcements the day's ANBU head Anko Burst though the door, Eyes moving in every direction, she was slightly surprised therefore to see both women hunched over a small glass globe.
"Tsunade-hime? What's happening in here? I heard yelling and..."
Tsunade cut her off with an impatient wave of her hand. Taking this as a signal to move closer Anko approached the two hunched over women.
"Tsunade-Hime? What are you looking at? Is that the..."
Suddenly Anko's eyes went wide as she got her first clear picture of the crystal ball.
Naruto said nothing, his eyes slightly narrowed as he coldly calculated. Trying to find the fastest way defeat his opponent.
Charging him won't work; sooner or later he's bound to hit something vital… He sees though Genjutsu with little to no difficulty… He's trained in speed… perhaps… Perhaps the old tried and true?
Dodging yet another lightning fast attack Naruto danced away from his opponent. Haishi on the other hand was becoming annoyed, the Brat just wouldn't hold still! Haishi frowned as Naruto Suddenly grinned and put his hands into a familiar cross shape
"KAGE BUNSHIN!"
Haishi's eyes widened as Naruto called into existence a small army of clones. In odd stereo the all cried out
"Ready Haishi!"
Anko's Eyes may have widened when she saw Naruto challenging the head of the Hyuuga household, but they nearly popped out of her skull when Naruto successfully pulled off the single largest Kage bunshin she had ever seen used.
There must be almost FIFTY clones in there!
Anko rubbed her eyes and looked at the crystal ball again before stammering
"Ts...Tsunade? Did he really just..."
With a grim smile Tsunade leaned back.
"Yes... I believe he did."
Shizune said nothing, her mouth hung open however as she gazed on the battle.
Haishi's eyes widened even further as the clones all attacked as one. For a moment he was nearly overwhelmed as he tried to block Punches and kicks from every angle... In fact the only reason he WASN'T overwhelmed was because he remembered a rather simple fact about the Kage-bunshin. With a small smirk He shouted out
"KAITEN!"
Spinning he projected a solid wall of chakra outward, catching all his attackers at once and blowing them into the stone walls of his home. In a moment only one was left standing in the enshrouding smoke that had been left behind by the fading bunshin... staggering unsteadily and supported by the wall He managed a weak grin.
"Damn... I keep forgetting your kind can do that!"
In the Hokage's office it was dead quiet. Tsunade had ordered the Crystal ball to show a projection so she could keep track of all the clones in the melee. For a moment the silence held, but only a moment as Anko suddenly vocalized what all three of the women were thinking
"Oh FUCK.
The projection of Naruto managed to pry it's self away from the wall and all three of the women were paling at the sight of a smirking Haishi as he marched closer to Naruto.
The three were mesmerized as this most dangerous of opponents gave a cold smirk as he neared the wounded boy. All three of the women leaned forward as he opened his mouth to speak, but what he said to Naruto was lost as the door burst inward and All of the jounin Instructors as well as a good portion of the ANBU poured inside only to stop dead when they realized what the projection was showing them.
Haishi grinned and swaggered toward him. For a moment Neji struggled to join his wounded friend, but Hinata held him back.
"You are a fool Uzumaki! Did you really think that you could beat me? ME! The Lord of the Hyuuga! I hope you are ready to die!"
With a defiant smile Naruto let go of the wall
"I have just one thing to say."
Suddenly Haishi was in motion, and before anyone could react He had hit his opponent in the chest with enough force to stop his heart! There was a moment of silence in which Haishi savored the look of complete surprise on the face of his opponent before suddenly Naruto looked at him and smirked.
"Fool."
There was a puff of smoke as the bunshin Disappeared, and though he tried, Haishi couldn't react fast enough to escape the counterattack that was launched from his blind spot.
Not a sound was heard in the Hokage's office as one of the stones in the ceiling of the mansion suddenly gave way and fell. Half way down there was a Burst of smoke as the real Naruto released His Henge and sent a spinning kick to the Back of Haishi's Head.
"Gotcha you bastard!"
Naruto was breathing hard, the timing had been Impeccable, but it had also been extremely difficult to get into Haishi's blind spot in those few precious seconds while his clones were attacking.
"End this Haishi! You are beaten and I am only beginning."
Haishi struggled back to his feet, weaving slightly as he had received a concussion when his head struck the stone wall. Raising a shaking head Haishi touched the cut and winced slightly.
"You call me a fool, and perhaps you are right, but only in the aspect that I have underestimated you... This will not happen again, for you are in range of My Hakke!"
Naruto's eyes widened at this He remembered Neji using this very attack on him at the churning exams. Thinking quickly Naruto called out
"Earth Ability: Wall of Mud!"
Dirt pouring from his mouth Naruto erected a hasty defense and re-enforced it with as much chakra as he could spare, even as he finished however he heard Haishi beginning his attack.
Tsunade, Shizune, and everyone in the room flinched when Haishi announced his attack, and everyone but Tsunade was surprised when Naruto managed to erect his hasty defense. The projection showed Haishi quickly breaking it down however. Staring intently Tsunade studied Naruto's face.
Come on Naruto, you can do this, THINK!
"Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade glanced to one side at the sound of the quiet question
"Yes Sebeki?"
"Is that Uzumaki Naruto?"
Tsunade frowned slightly
"Yes, it is. Why do you ask?"
Sebeki frowned slightly
"Because I ran into him the other day one my way to the academy when I was assigned to help Ikura-san and he..."
Sebeki cut off however when the wall of earth exploded inward, and Haishi came charging through with death in his eye.
Naruto had no Idea what to do; He knew that the wall wouldn't hold for long. He also know that Haishi was a vicious bastard, but for the life of him he couldn't imagine how to stop the enraged Hyuuga. Already cracks were appearing in the wall of mud, and faintly on the other side he could hear Haishi calling out
"Four hands… Six hands…"
"Bushin again? There's no way he could possibly get us all right?"
Naruto raised his fingers in his classic cross-position, but before he could form the chakra or say the words Haishi burst though.
"SIXTY FOUR HANDS OF HAKKE!"
Naruto was blown backwards into the wall of the house. Thankfully the wall of mud had held long enough to withstand the attack, but Haishi was already blurring as his hands found the hidden pouches in his robes, and he began to throw knives. Naruto had no time to react before there was a veritable wall of steel flying toward him; intent on making sure he drew his last breath. Without thinking Naruto infused his body with the last chakra he could spare, he found it odd that everything seemed to suddenly slow down, but he wasn't going to complain, springing to his feet he wove his way though the gauntlet of suddenly frozen metal, and without hesitation grabbed the elder Hyuuga and threw him into one of the walls.
Not a sound was heard in the Hokage's tower as Naruto suddenly blinked out of view, there was a bright blue flash of light, and suddenly Naruto was standing above a unconscious Haishi. Nobody moved, nobody spoke, the awed silence was only broken by the sounds coming from the crystal
Time returned to normal rather suddenly for Naruto, but didn't waste a moment. With a well-placed blow to the head the elder Hyuuga was unconscious. Neji and Hinata still stood in the doorway, staring in shock for a moment before Naruto fell forward. He caught himself with one knee and a hand, and rather violently emptied his stomach. His head was swimming, and he burned all over, but he had won. Wiping his mouth he glanced up and Neji and Hinata and grinned
"Well… I guess that means you have a choice to make Hinata."
A second later there was a flash of light as Kenchi re-appeared.
"It is done Naruto-san. But something approaches. We need to be gone."
Naruto nodded, and with great effort pulled himself to his feet and hobbled over to Neji and Hinata. Wrapping the once-again sobbing Hinata in a hug Naruto turned to Neji.
"You may want to hold on tight."
Neji looked shocked for a moment before he grabbed Naruto's shoulders tightly. Seeing this Kenchi swooped down, and in a flash the whole group disappeared.
(1) I was REALLY tempted to let this chapter stop here (Middle of the fight) But I figured that as much as I love death-threats the majority of you would prefer a minor cliffy to a major one.
Also I'm wondering... How many of you would use a forum if I were to take advantage of the system that FF.N has in place?
Till next time,
Manatheron
PS. Thank you all for the reviews, I love hearing from you! (And to the random people that leave critizing comments Anonymously... I like you to, I just wish you had the guts to leave your review as signed.)