If you find someone who makes you smile, who checks up on you often to see if you're okay, who watches out for you and wants the best for you, don't let them go. Keep them close and don't take them for granted. People like them are hard to find.
-Unknown
Kisame was travelling behind Itachi when he heard the shriek.
Both of them paused, sharing a glance as they landed on the next branch. However, before either of them could say a word, another shriek was heard.
It was much like the previous one. However, Kisame could have sworn that this one felt closer than the last one.
He shared another glance with his partner, silently conversing the coarse of action they should take.
Engage or ignore?
Itachi closed his eyes, contemplating the pros and cons of each choice. But, he didn't have enough time to actually pick one, because the scream came again.
Kisame looked over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow.
It's definitely closer.
Kisame held out his sword, and Itachi activate his Sharingan, both tensing for a battle.
A heartbeat passed.
The shriek sounded again, as something shot past them and upwards. Both of them looked up, taking in the bird that now circled above them.
A Dove.
It shrieked again.
Kisame flinched at the shrill sound, gritting his teeth.
I swear I'm going to-
Itachi's Chakra spiked.
Kisame paused in his thoughts, turning to look at his partner.
Itachi's gaze was focused on the bird, eyebrows furrowed. His eyes seemed brighter than usual. Without saying anything, he jumped onto a higher branch, holding out his arm for the Dove to land on.
Kisame raised an eyebrow.
So, his partner knew the sender?
Kisame settled his hand back on his shoulders, turning to Itachi to inquire about the message.
However, he blinked, confused at what he was seeing.
He didn't know what was more surprising. The blood on the Dove, or the panic in his usually-aloof partner.
Itachi muttered what Kisame could've sworn was a curse.
However, as if realizing that he wasn't alone, a blank mask immediately settled on his face.
"I need to go." Itachi said, his smooth time not giving away anything. Kisame raised an eyebrow.
"Where?"
"Somewhere." Was his partner's cryptic answer.
Kisame regarded Itachi silently.
He had noticed the change in his partner's behaviour in the past few weeks. He was more distracted than usual, and disappearing more often these days.
He hadn't mentioned it before because it hadn't been interfering with their missions.
But, this was different.
Kisame's eyes fell on the Dove again.
"That's a summon, isn't it?"
"It is." Itachi replied easily.
Kisame could be quite observant when he wanted to be. And though, usually, that was a good thing, now it was a sign for Itachi to be careful with what he said.
"Who is it from?" Kisame asked.
Itachi was quiet for a moment.
"You should go ahead without me." He said instead, "I will catch up when this has been dealt with."
Kisame narrowed his eyes.
"How long will it take?"
Itachi looked away, as if uncomfortable with the question.
"Nothing can be said." He said, slowly.
Kisame pursed his lips.
"Whose it from?" He insisted again.
Itachi turned away, and was quiet for a moment.
"Someone." He said at last, "Someone I owe a debt to."
And with that, he was gone.
Kisame raised an eyebrow at his cryptic words, before shrugging.
He continued walking with tha parting thought.
Didn't know doves had white eyes.
Travelling faster than he ever had before, Itachi shot through the trees, retracing the steps he had travelled just the day before.
He glanced at the bird above him, making sure he was going in the right direction.
Though appearing calm on the outside, behind that cool facade was a raging storm of emotions.
When the Dove had first arrived, he'd felt surprise. Many of his encounters took place at night, in the cover and comfort of darkness. This was the first time she'd called him in broad daylight.
As he had gone for the Dove, his mind had been thinking of ways to get away from Kisame without arousing his partner's suspicion.
He had been following that train of thoughts when he'd seen the blood.
For a second, everything had frozen, his whole body going numb as he simply stared.
Then came the panic, hitting him full force as he began contemplating all the different scenarios she could be in.
All of it had summed up into one thing: He had to go to her.
Kisame and his suspicions be damned. If anything had happened to Hinata, he would not hesitate to use Tsukiyomi on her attackers as many times as his Chakra would allow. He didn't care if he drained every last drop of his Chakra, if it meant that those attackers would suffer.
However, beneath all that panic and fear and anger, there had been something else too.
It was gladness, he realized with a start.
He was happy to think that when she had been in trouble, the person she had called for had been him.
Not anyone else, but him.
It made him happy becasue she had done so much for him without realising it, had made his life so much easier by simply beinf there. He was willing to repay her in any way possible, without making it too obvious just how much she meant to him.
So, he hadn't actually lied to Kisame. He really did owe Hinata. If not for all of the above, then for not killing him when he was vulnerable.
He threw another glance at the Dove before speeding up.
Despite the ruthless pace he'd set, it was still hours before he reached the clearing.
As he began to descend to the ground, the stench of decaying flesh hit his nose. He almost missed his next step as he landed, bending over and gagged. He pressed a hand over his mouth and nose, feeling the bile rise up his throat.
He almost didn't want to look up.
But, at the end, his worry far exceeded his disgust and he surveyed his surroundings.
His eyes widened, horrified, as he took in the state of the bodies.
Oh god...
There were actual holes in their chests, their eyes bugging out, wide with fear and mouth gaping, mid-scream.
He felt the stench get to him, and for a moment, he thought that he might pass out.
But, he didn't, because he was there for a reason. And that reason was Hinata.
The thought was like cold water to his face, as he shot up, fear and worry rising to impossible levels. He whipped his head around, looking for her.
He staggered a few steps, head spinning, partially due to the state the corpses were in and partially due to the thought of Hinata being one of them.
His chest constricted at the thought, as he clamped a hand to his mouth, a futile attempt to control the panic that consumed him. He simply panted and gasped, looking for the woman who meant half the world to him.
No.No.NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo-
There was a cough.
He turned towards it at breakneck speed, willing his vision to clear up of the black dots that had began appearing.
There, at the corner, half-hidden by the thick, over-surface roots of a tree was a figure.
It had midnight hair.
He was by her side in less than a heartbeat, taking in her condition. He raised a trembling hand to her face, removing some of her hair away from those beautiful, wide eyes. Then, he placed a finger at her neck, feeling her pulse.
He almost collapsed on top of her in relief.
Alive. Alive. Alive. Alive.
Then, he slowly took in her state, cursing at all the blood and bruises on her. Just as he was about to gather her in his arms, and carry her to safety, she coughed again.
She leaned into his touch, her voice barely a rasp when she spoke, as she turned slightly.
"N-Naruto?"
There you go with the weekly update!!
So, what are your thoughts?? What will Hinata do?? And how do you think Itachi will react?? Will we find out who those attackers were?? And what about the others?? Will they find out??
Wait until next Monday to find out.
Until then, ENJOY!!
-Your hardworking author.
