SHIBARI: Bound
SHIBARI: BOUND
A/N: HAPPY SASUHINA MONTH 2021! I'm LavenderEyedAssassin but you can call me LEA. I'm kicking things off by publishing my first fanfic ever. Terrible writing ahead so consider yourself warned. Also, I'm only halfway through the war arc. If there are any discrepancies with the events, just chalk it up to creative writing and please be gentle. ;)
Before we get started, there are a couple of things I need to go over.
Summary: One pivotal moment is altered during the 4th Shinobi War that has a ripple effect on everyone's lives. Five years later, Hinata is still coping with Naruto's death by protecting the Leaf Village as an ANBU operative. When Sasuke returns unexpectedly with company, life gets complicated. Slowburn SasuHina with a side of NejiHina.
WARNINGS: Major character deaths / Slightly OOC / OCs / Hyugacest (Don't like? Don't read.) / Mature Content / LEMONS / Non-con / Heavy flashbacks / Triggers / Violence / Language. This cup of tea is NOT for everyone. Sensitive viewers be warned. Some darker material contained (at times).
FYI: I have included a musical soundtrack to enhance your reading experience. Everything can be found on YouTube. Music is listed at the beginning of each chapter. When it is time to queue a song, there will be a small reference before the section (i.e., (P.2) or (4.1) for Chapter and Song Number). Songs with lyrics could be distracting so I'd suggest listening at a lower volume. Proper pacing with the music is approximately the same as reading it out loud to someone else.
Also, this is UnBETA'd. That's pretty much it for now. Starting with Chapter 1, I will try to keep all A/N's at the end. Leave a review to let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.
Musical Score:
'(P.1) Narrow Skies - The Night
'(P.2) Emad Yaghoubi - Final Stand
'(P.3) Twelve Titans Music - Monolith
'(P.4) Eternal Eclipse - Reach
'(P.5) Michael FK - Above The Clouds
Note: You can find the YouTube Playlist links on my profile page
Prologue
'(P.1) Narrow Skies – The Night
Naruto is dead…
Pale lavender eyes transfixed, unseeing on the large stone monument honoring the fallen hero. Standing as still as the stone in front of her, a light breeze danced in the leaves of the tall trees and played with her long midnight tresses. The biting cold of the early morning air barely registering in her mind.
Gloomy skies still waiting to be kissed by the sun's rays reflected the emotions she buried behind an impassive mask. Small droplets of water began to dot the soil beneath her. She couldn't tell if they were released from the empyreal heavens or from her own sorrow.
This graveyard had become her sanctuary. It had been so for the past 5 years and was now the only place she allowed herself to cry. The only place that allowed her some semblance of peace for her inner turmoil. It embittered her to think how easily life moved on. People moved on. For some reason she could not.
She was stuck.
It wasn't that she was angry about other people deciding to enjoy their lives. It just seemed pointless. The endless cycle of life and death. The dreams she shared with the boy ended tragically and too quickly. Should she hold on to her nindo, their ninja way, or was it wrong to believe to begin with?
She stood, unclenched hands at her side, still wearing her mission gear from the night before. The sleeveless black turtleneck that doubled as armor hugged her curves and allowed free movement.
Dried blood itched from behind an exposed shoulder where she had missed cleaning. It wasn't hers anyway. Yet, she remained inconsiderate of the subtle discomforts of her body as she breathed. It reminded her that she was still alive, while so many others did not share in her fortune.
The thought gnawed at her guilt, somewhere in the pit of her stomach. Her chest tightened painfully making her gasp shallowly. The evidence of her breaths curling in diaphanous vapors before her placid features.
Tracing the letters in the carved rock with her gaze- Naruto Uzumaki. She'd done the same hundreds of times and would probably do so hundreds more. Only her memories to keep her company.
(Flashback)
'(P.2) (Final Stand - Emad Yaghoubi)
5 Years Earlier- 4th Shinobi War
Chaos and confusion wreaked havoc among the allied shinobi forces in the dimly lit field as large wooden spikes blotted out the moonlit sky, piercing through the flesh of its victims like butter. Scattered cries erupted from blood laden throats. Earth rumbled and moved to shield some of the shinobi still standing.
"Now it's my turn!" Naruto charged the Ten-Tails monster responsible for the carnage. "Rasen shuriken!" Throwing several wind chakra blades, they struck the intended target in large blasts with little to no effect. Exhausted from his efforts, the blonde teen collapsed onto his knees and breathed heavily. Hinata's slim form moved quickly to block the recovering jinchuuriki from an incoming projectile with the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm causing it to burst into pieces.
The creature raked an extended arm across the rocky terrain. Naruto was now down on all fours unable to react to the assault.
"Eight Trigrams: Air Wall Palm!" Hiashi shoves back the attack. A massive hand reared to form Cutting Sprigs from a single finger aimed at Naruto. Hinata threw her body in front of his as a shield, arms splayed, knowing it would cost her own life.
Naruto… I believe in you. I love you…
She closed her eyes accepting fate- happy to sacrifice herself for the boy who would be Hokage, their only hope of winning the war, the boy she secretly loved. Suddenly, she felt the wind get knocked out of her as she was struck sideways. Her left side landed hard on the ground.
Is this the end?
Confused, Hinata realized she felt none of the pain she was expecting and opened her eyes. Ocean blue irises stared back into her opalescent ones. Naruto's handsome features morphed into shock and pain. Her breath hitched.
No…
In the background she could faintly hear the battle still raging. A shinobi from Iwagakure cries out "Earth Style! Mountain Jutsu!" Momentarily trapping the Ten Tails between large slabs of stone.
She sat up with difficulty from under the weight of Neji's body whose arms had been protectively wrapped around her and Naruto. Fear gripped her as she activated her bloodline limit and frantically assessed the condition of both men. Both were injured while she suffered none.
"Medic!" She screamed, deactivating her dojutsu. Her vision blurred and she blinked away her tears. She shifted to kneel between them.
Sakura appeared at her side, eyes glistening. "Oh Gods!" A choked sound escaped her throat as she knelt at Naruto's left side opposite Hinata. His torso and chest had been impaled by multiple sprigs. Blood leaked from the side of his mouth. Hinata already knew, without needing to hear it from the medical apprentice, he was mortally wounded. Even Kurama could not save him. Sakura grabbed the boy's lightly tanned hand and held it to her chest as he turned his head to look at his pink haired teammate.
Feeling like an interloper, Hinata quickly turned her focus to her cousin. Taking a shaky breath, she removed the deep shard from under his right shoulder blade in a single swift movement. He winced in pain and grunted from the motion. She bandaged the affected area steadily. This much she could do until proper care arrived. "Hinata…" he started before his eyes rolled back and his body slackened from chakra exhaustion. She whispered in his ear to "hold on" before gently setting his body back on the ground and turned to her blonde friend.
She was vaguely aware of the other shinobi that had begun to crowd around the dire scene. Her father, Hiashi, and a medic-nin were now tending to Neji.
For the moment, the Ten Tails was secure. However, Obito Uchiha, another threat, was now shouting taunts directed at Naruto, hovering over the trapped beast.
Clutching at her chest Hinata willed herself to look at Naruto. Sakura put his hand down as they ended their conversation and determinedly began to remove the massive thorns and close his wounds to stop the bleeding. She was buying him time.
'(P.3) Twelve Titans Music - Monolith
His gaze moved to meet Hinata's. "Hinata, I need your help." He smiled at her though there was no amusement behind it.
"Anything… N-Naruto," she fumbled.
"I don't have much time, but I'm going to bring Kurama and the Ten Tails with me. Take care of the Leaf for me would 'ya? I'm almost out of chakra and I won't last long, so I'm going to need your help to make sure I can get close enough. Will you help me Hinata?"
Hinata placed a gentle hand on his cheek, strengthening her resolve. "I will Naruto, I promise… and I never go back on my word, because that is my Ninja Way too." Her body lit up with bluish white chakra that blossomed from her core and flowed through her palm to Naruto's face and into his being.
"Thank you, Hinata." His sparkling blue eyes locked with hers and he graced her with a genuine smile that was just so Naruto. As he struggled to a sitting position, she moved her hand from his face to grab an arm. Orange tinted chakra steadily grew and permeated throughout the boy's limbs. Now interlocking fingers with the Hyuga, Sakura reached out for his free hand. As the girls allowed their chakra to strengthen their injured comrade, the trio rose to their feet.
Naruto closed his eyes, inhaling deeply before refocusing on his goal with a hard look. A chorus of shouts erupted from the Allied Shinobi Forces, "We're with you Naruto!" Emboldened by the moment, they charge.
Hinata and Sakura sped up, releasing Naruto, staying just a step ahead. Ready to block any offending attacks that may come. Not a single able-bodied warrior held back.
Unexpectedly, a strong spike in chakra on the battlefield surged. Four reanimated Hokage arrived in time to join the fight, followed by the avenger, Sasuke, with his rogue band of shinobi, Team Taka. With no time for distraction, simple nods of acknowledgment would have to suffice as welcome greetings.
The team began to diverge from their shared path. A portion of the allyship pursued Obito with the third Hokage. Another group split off to target Madara led by the first and second Hokage. Minato, the fourth Hokage, in kyubi mode, and Sasuke followed Naruto to focus on securing their primary objective. The remaining forces stayed behind to continue fighting the rest of Madara's army.
Once within range, Naruto began forming a series of hand seals he recalled his father using once from a lucid memory. "Reaper Death Seal!" The Ten Tails roared in defiance, breaking free of its binds but not before the God of Death connected. Minato was momentarily stunned by his son's action before flickering above the monster to pin it down with a giant rasengan.
Once again it started to rain down wooden spears from raised digits.
Hinata spun in the Hyuga clan's signature Revolving Heaven technique to deflect the barrage from herself and the would-be martyr. As the shower of deadly spikes trickled to a stop, she saw several Zetsu clones breaking through the guarded lines of the allied forces. They were all coming for the young jinchuriki. With fresh determination fixed in her mind, for the first time, she combined her Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists with the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms techniques and brought the fight to the pale replicas.
Sakura dodged one of the thick javelins and kicked off the landscape to strike a powerful blow against the multi-limbed assailant.
The beast bellowed in frustration and lashed out with its arms, writhing its body to free itself, and pounding the earth.
A whir of raven hair flew past Hinata to the opposite end of the beast. "Susanoo!" The upper half of a giant armored avatar covered in violet chakra flames formed around the young man. Its large hands shot out to grab hold of the chakra monster. A large fault opened beneath the monster to further trap movement. Naruto's body strained under the effort of securing the creature's essence further into himself. It struggled to no avail. The combined assault subdued the Ten-Tails enough to ensure escape was futile.
At every effort, the opposition found themselves besieged by an onslaught of attacks. Even Madara's perfect Susanoo was matched by the Senju's Golem. Unable to rescue the Ten Tailed beast, the Infinite Tsukuyomi was no longer viable. An inhuman roar of frustration erupted from Madara as he witnessed his plans fall apart. With one final push, he struck out with his susanoo's blade in a wide sweeping arc and annihilated as many loyal soldiers as his reach allowed.
Then all at once, wailing with promises of retribution and enraged with defeat, Madara and Obito vanish. Remaining enemy combatants retreat or perish.
'(P.4) Eternal Eclipse – Reach
A wave of cheers echo through the valley. The relief and joy flooding the hearts of the allied nations is short lived as realization sets in. Minato and Sasuke appear next to the young Uzumaki. "Hey Dad… hey bastard," Naruto's voice is gruff and he smiles weakly at the pair as his knees weaken and give. His breathing becoming erratic.
Catching Naruto before he could hit the ground, Minato kneels to cradle his son's blonde head in his lap. "You did well son. You became the hero I always knew you would be, and I couldn't be prouder. Your mother and I will see you soon." Minato lowered his head in defeat, his body shuddering.
Sasuke dropped to his knees, eyes wide, gasping desperately. "Idiot! What did you DO?" He grips Naruto's shirt roughly and unwittingly activates his sharingan. "You said WE were supposed to fight to the death! Do not think for a moment that I will give you the satisfaction of dying right now! Do you hear me? NARUTO!?" He spat, unbidden tears streaming down his face past red bleeding eyes.
A solemn and speechless crowd formed around the beloved war hero. The darkness in the sky beginning to secede to the light.
Naruto chuckled at his friend. "Sasuke… it's your turn now… to be the hero," he paused to take a labored breath. "Please… forgive the Leaf. Forgive yourself Sasuke." He placed his hand over Sasuke's pallid one on his chest and continued, "I need you to look after everyone since I can't… I need you to carry on the Will of Fire." His expression full of exhaustion, he lowers his lids. "Thank you Sasuke. Thank you everyone for believing…" His words grow into a whisper and his body went limp, his face finally at peace. The God of Death disappears, victims claimed.
(End Flashback)
'(P.5) Michael FK – Above the Clouds
Hinata closed her eyes and tilted her face up to greet the weeping sky as she breathed in the calming scent of wet dirt and grass. Her now soaked bangs clinging to her forehead protector. Rain trailed down her pale arms, through gloved hands and off exposed fingertips. The clouded horizon now blushed with a dusty lilac and rose-colored dawn.
Another day is here. Another one gone.
Recently, her visits had grown silent. She held so many one-sided conversations in the past, spilling her pain, hopes and secrets. Now she just felt empty. Feeling the weight of her guilt, loneliness and shortcomings, her chest grew heavier. Her small hands clenched into tight fists, she took a deep breath, and swallowed her emotions.
Her heart fluttered as she sensed the familiar ghost of a chakra signature she couldn't identify. Almost undetectably, her left hand drew a kunai from the pouch on her thigh, which was swiftly flung from an extended arm. She opened her pale orbs and calmly tilted her expressionless face back to the grave marker, limb lowered back at her side. "Byakugan," she softly called out, veins forming along her peripheries.
As expected, there was not a living person to be found within the vicinity. She tsked. Honestly, she didn't know what she was expecting or what she would do if she could actually catch her specter. Her 'ghost' was never actually there, though it would make appearances every now and then during her visits over the past year.
She was beginning to think she was finally going mad, or the burial ground was truly haunted. Perhaps she should take comfort in the routine of its visits.
Her veins receded and she toed the muddied earth with her boot. It didn't really matter. Truly little did anymore. It was time to move. His wasn't the only grave she needed to visit, and she was tired.
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