Chapter 7: Message.
He allowed himself to shed a few tears and feel defeated for an instant. It would be the last time this opportunity would be given. It hurt his soul to see her like this but now it was when he had to remain stronger and more serene. For their children. They were going to need her temperance more than ever. When he left the room, the search team was still on the lookout.
-Forgive me Nii-san, we should have found her earlier- he narrowed his eyes defeated.
-l'm sure they did their best.- He placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it slightly - I thank you all for bringing Hinata back.
-I will go to the complex to inform Hanabi-sama and Hiashi-sama. I'II be right back- the Hyuuga came out with apparent calm.
-Kiba and I will go with the Hokage to deliver the mission report.
-What are you talking about Shino? Are you leaving right now? Don't you want to stay with her until ...?
-It is our duty as Shinobi to deliver the report. And I'm sure Sasuke needs space to update Uchiha-san. Don't be childish Kiba, we won't be long.
-Okay but let it be quick- Both ninjas left the area. Obviously Kiba didn't want to leave with the unpromising prognosis of his friend and former teammate. They all wanted to be there to fire her. Even Akamaru looked sad to leave the place.
-Nii-san?
-I'm fine Sasuke, I don't have time to regret. He stroked her temples trying to release some of the accumulated tension. "I have to think about my children, I'm sure Hinata would do the same if she were in my place."
-Are you going to tell them? I don't know if it's good idea for them to see her ... in that state.
-I haven't decided yet. I think the same as you, but they also deserve the opportunity to say goodby.- I wish a miracle would happen.
-We found her along with three other cocoons. The others were practically bones. We believe that it is because of its amount of chakra that it managed to stay longer.
-Were they civilians?
-No, they were all samurai, part of the guard of the Emperor of the Land of Iron.
-Samurai develop the same or greater amount of chakra than a shinobi, maybe they fell earlier.
-No, in the Country of the Iron they confirmed their identities to us. They all went with Hinata, it was a recon mission nothing more. Normally Hinata's missions were short and within the Country. This was an exception, they required her for her abilities.
-A trap?
-Unlikely. Even Neji had trouble finding the damn cave. It was quite a few meters underground and there was no sigh of any battle. They must have fallen by accident and were caught by the roots. He tried to catch us too. I made the motherfucker ashes.
According to what Kou had told him when they arrived in Konoha, it was a mission in the village of Sound and after a few weeks they had given up their search.
-If it were not because Orochimaru is 10 meters underground, I would suspect him.
-Orochimaru? The disgusting snake that tried to steal your body nii-san?
-Indeed. I guess it was just a terrible accident. - She sighed wearily moving her bangs reluctantly- The most important thing at this moment is ...
-Mother is comfortable and let my brothers know.
-Inori! - Itachi exclaimed with surprise- How did you know?
-I felt mom's chakra. Can I see it?" He sounded serene, as if it were a scenario that I had already expected.
Sasuke and Itachi exchanged glances. How long had he been in hiding? They had not been aware of his presence.
"Mom doesn't look good at all, maybe it's better than ..." Itachi tried to make him give up.
"It doesn't matter, I want to see her please ... Dad," she begged softly.
The three entered the room expecting many reactions from the little boy, however, he remained stoic for several minutes, then activated his Byakugan. Immediately his sharingan began to spin.
-Inori?
When he felt his eyes get used to the demand for chakra, not knowing how or why, he was in a garden. The grass was green and the sky was open. He felt at peace.
-Inori?
When he turned around following the voice of his name, he froze. - Mommy?
-What are you doing here little one?
Before answering he ran to her and hugged her waist very tightly. Hinata started stroking her hair while calming her little sobs.
-What is this place?
-It's hard to say for sure. I think we are in my subconscious. You managed to enter with your eyes, you are incredible heaven.
-I miss you so much mom, we all miss you.
"I can imagine, I have died a little every day without you" she smiled wiping her tears.
-You're really dying mom, I don't want you to leave us!.
His features softened. He crouched down to her level and motioned for her to sit on his lap. She put her arms around him and rested her chin on her little boy's head. They both looked at a beautiful field of sunflowers.
-Have they been good? Did you meet dad?
-Yes, he has been very good to us, grandparents, Aunt Hanabi is incredible, we have not lived much with Uncle Neji or Sasuke, but they have all been great with us. They treat us very well at the Academy. Takara doesn't let go of Dad for anything in the world, Takeshi has opened up a bit more and I ... well I think I've started to love him.
-I'm really glad to hear that, I'm sure they will be very happy in Konoha.
-Not without you mom, please don't leave us.
-I don't know if my heaven can, I don't feel anything from the outside world. It's like I'm just dreaming and at the same time I feel like this is real.
-Promise that you will try, we will take care of you, but you ... you keep fighting, yes? - many tears fell down her cheeks. Hinata hugged him very tightly. When he was calmer, she sat him in front of her.
-Listen well darling, could you give a message to your father and your brothers for me?
The little boy blinked and was again in the hospital room with the Uchihas. He felt how liquid ran down his cheeks, when he wiped himself he realized it was blood. Quickly both Itachi and Sasuke helped him clean up and check that he was okay.
- Are you okay Inori?
He nodded affirmatively. -I have a message for you and my brothers. Please call them, they have to see my mother.
The boys arrived accompanied by Mikoto who cried along with Takara. Neji and the rest of the search team returned as promised and waited in the waiting room. Hanabi later appeared alongside Hiashi; They both spent a long time in Hinata's room and without saying anything they left the hospital. Neji would take care of keeping them informed.
At last the three children were alone with Itachi. Takeshi was shaking.
- This is your fault! It's always been your fault!" He raged against his father.
"Takeshi, calm down, you're upsetting Takara!" Inori tried to appease, the little girl had started crying uncontrollably.
-Inori take your sister out for a moment, I must speak with Takeshi ... alone.
"I have nothing to talk to you," she replied dryly without looking at him.
"Takeshi" Itachi's tone was calm, he didn't even raise his voice, but something in the way he said it made Inori quickly pull out his sister and silence Takeshi.
-I understand your resentment, but ...
-You don't understand ... You don't understand anything! - He closed his eyes clenching his fist. - You don't know everything that mom had to go through, and because of you she accepted that stupid mission, she never went that far ... She left for you! - Itachi opened his eyes in surprise.
- What are you talking about?
"See for yourself" The two blades of the boy's red eyes began to spin rapidly.
Hinata was finishing tucking him in, it had been quite a tiring day. He gave her a kiss and left the room. He felt very tired, he was about to fall asleep when he felt another chakra. It must be Kou.
He closed his eyes until he noticed three things: Both Kou's chakra and his brothers were still at home. The unknown chakra was drifting away along with his mother's. And despite the exhaustion, he could no longer fall asleep.
He left the house that was inside the Emperor's Palace. He knew that at that time he could no longer roam the streets of the Imperial City so his chakra completely disappeared, just as his senseis had taught him. When he reached his mother he realized that he was talking quietly with none other than the Emperor's eldest son, for some reason his attitude made him feel uncomfortable.
He hid behind a large bush. His heart began to pound when that man caressed Hinata's face in a way he didn't like, he couldn't name what he saw, but he hated it. He felt like vomiting when his mother, far from rejecting the contact, accepted it with the greatest naturalness in the world and they entered the royal chambers together.
He ran as fast as he could home. Because I was crying? Why did he feel like everything was spinning? What was his mother doing with that guy? Why did he feel like he couldn't get close to them? He remained seated in the hall, he did not know how long it was, maybe a couple of hours, it was still dark when he saw her arrive.
- Tashi? What are you doing out here? You will freeze, let's go inside.
- Are you one of His Highness-Sama's concubines?
Hinata turned red up to her ears. -Tashi! Who-who told you about concubines? She gave a sorry little cry with both hands on her cheeks.
-My sensei. He said that I am still young to understand some things - he rolled his eyes - in a few years he would explain it to me, but I understand that they keep the Lords company and have their children. Will we have a brother mom?
Nervously and flushed, she waved her hands from side to side in a negative way. "No, no, no, it's like that, darling." I'm not pregnant, but ... - along with grief on both fingers, a habit that he had inherited from his two brothers, fortunately not from him.
-My sensei said that concubines are respected and it is a great honor. If you were, I wouldn't mind, although I don't know if Takara thinks the same. I think it would go crazy. - ironized
-Tashi... - her eyes watered and she sighed to calm herself- I'm going to tell you the truth, but I need you to keep the secret. It's not that it's bad, but as you say, it's not something Takara is ready to listen to and Inori I think he would feel ... betrayed. You have always been as insightful as your father- lovingly wrapped his cheek while exhaling air that he did not know he had held back.