Chapter Five
Naruto watched Neji smile. Those perfect lips were just asking to be kissed. His crush had a crush on him too. Naruto looked up at Neji. Ok so Neji wasn't that much taller than him, maybe two or three inches, but still. What was he supposed to do? Neji Hyuuga just gave him permission to kiss him. He just admitted he had feeling for Naruto. How was he supposed to pass this up?
The answer was simple. He couldn't. Even if he did get injured, he wanted Neji to know how he felt about him. Naruto wanted to kiss Neji and now he knew Neji wanted to kiss him too.
"You're not just saying that? If I kiss you, you're not going to kick my ass?"
Neji sighed. "Naruto, either you kiss me right now or I'll kiss you. Either way, we're having this kiss."
It took Naruto a few seconds to process those words. He licked his lips and leaned forward, hesitate, then placed his lips on Neji's. Neji took it a step further wrapping his arms around Naruto, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. Naruto, too, wrapped his arms around the other man.
The two stood there for what felt like eternity to Naruto just kissing. Zan Hun could have shot them both right then and Naruto would still be happy. However, the thought made him move away.
"I would love to keep this going but we are on a mission." Naruto stated almost breathless.
Neji sighed. He kissed Naruto once more before coming out of their embrace. "When we get back to the Leaf, I want to take you on a date. You will be mine and I won't care who knows it."
"Yeah. I would like that." Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"We should eat. It's going on eight."
The two started to walk towards the inn they were staying at. "Man, what I would do for some ramen right now."
"Never say things like that around me. You have no idea what kind of things run through my mind."
Naruto blushed. Flirty Neji was kinda hot and sexy. "Maybe I'll have you show me what you have in mind one day."
"That is a promise."
The two sat down and had a quick dinner. Around nine they met up with the girls. Hinata looked a little angry and Sakura looked worried.
"What's wrong with you two?" Naruto asked.
"I don't know what's wrong with Hinata. She's been angry for a while now." Sakura whispered.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure she's still pissed that I don't love her like she does me."
"Naruto, I want to ask you something."
"Sure."
"Whatever it is, it can wait." Neji commented. "We need to have our heads in the plan. Ok, we know what he looks like and we know he's been staying near the village. Your job is to apprehend him. Do not engage in combat unless it's necessary."
"How are we to capture him without combat?"
Naruto watched Neji look over at Sakura. "Set up traps. If you need to battle him, send out your signals. Either way, don't do anything without back up."
"Hai!" The team acknowledged.
"Dismissed."
Naruto was assigned the West side. He stayed close to the village first working his way outwards. He wanted to be the first to find Hun. If he would have just said something days ago, the latest victim wouldn't have been injured. It was his fault they now have seven victims.
Naruto heard a snap behind him. He stopped and looked around. Before he could really look around, he felt something whiz by to his right. He turned his attention that way in time to see someone hide behind a tree. Before he sent off the signal, he wanted to make sure it was the person he was looking for.
He conjured up two clones. One went left, one stayed where he was while he went to the right. As he made his way to the tree, the clone to the left disappeared. Zan Hun jumped into view.
"I know who you are, Naruto Uzamaki. You don't scare me." The raspy voice didn't match the youthful look of the man in front of Naruto.
"Then you must be really stupid."
"Stupid? No. All you have are clones. I could fight them all. You're all alone."
"I'm not alone." Naruto released the flare he was given. He knew Sakura and Hinata are nearby. "So, until they show up, I'll just have to kick your ass!"
Naruto threw a kunai but it was blocked. He engaged in combat. Kunais and shurikins thrown back and forth. Neither side got a good shot in for some time. Finally, Hun's kunai grazed Naruto's shoulder. That made Naruto pause.
Taking in deep breaths, Naruto spoke. "You think you can just keep dodging my attacks?"
"From where I'm standing, you're the one that has an injury."
Naruto tsked as he wondered where his backup was. He knew the two of them have been fight for a good few minutes. Naruto reached in his pouch and threw another shuriken but it missed Hun sticking to the tree next to him.
Hun started laughing. "Your aim sucks."
"Cha!"
Naruto looked over to see Sakura land a punch on Hun.
"Thanks, Sakura."
"No problem. Where's Hinata? She was closer."
"I don't know. This guy is pretty fast though." Naruto's gaze went to where Hun landed. Hun was slowly getting up.
Hun wiped his lip. "Having a girl fight your battles, what kind of ninja are you?"
Naruto looked over at Sakura. The two nodded then went to attack Hun. The three started throwing punches and kicks. Hun was skilled but the two Leaf ninjas had him where they wanted.
Hun jumped back a few feet. "I'm done with you two." He started doing hand signs then a wave of water hit the duo.
"Naruto! Sakura!" Naruto noticed Hinata's voice.
Naruto and Sakura started to fight but Naruto noticed how far back Hinata was. It was now three against one. The odds were in their favor but Hun wasn't backing down. Soon the trio were panting while Hun stood on a tree limb mocking them with a smile.
"I won't lose to you stupid Leaf idiots."
"Eight trigram air palm!" A large gust of wind flew Hun out of the tree. He landed hard to the ground.
"Neji!" Naruto shouted.
Hun started to stand. "Looks like we have a party going here. Let's end this!"
Hun ran towards Neji but was blocked. The team joined in the fight but Hun blocked them all. Hun stood in the middle of the team, kunai in hand. He looked at every member before reaching in his pouch and dropping a smoke bomb.
Naruto started to cough only to be knocked to the ground. Hun had a kunai at his throat. "Anyone moves any closer and I'll kill him."
Naruto looked around. Everyone stood a few feet away but didn't move. Naruto could feel the weapon bearing down on him. He had to think of something, and soon. He looked over at Neji and something clicked. If Hun can't see what's going on Naruto will have the upper hand. Naruto grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in Hun's eyes.
Hun jumped back. It gave Naruto enough time to preform the rasengan. "Rasengan!" The chakra ball made contact sending Hun back several feet knocking him unconscious at the base of a tree.
"Quickly tie him up." Neji commanded. Sakura tied Hun up with some rope. "Good work everyone."
Naruto lugged Hun over his shoulder as the team went back to the village. He dropped Hun on the ground in the middle of town stirring him back up.
Leto-san came over. "Why Zan? This used to be your home."
"Some home. All you people did was farm and hope the Leaf village helped us once in a while. I couldn't stand it!"
"What did you use to make everyone sick?" Sakura asked.
"I'll never tell." Hun smirked.
Naruto grabbed him by the collar and started to shake him. "Tell us or I'll beat the shit out of you again!"
"Fuck you!" Hun spit at Naruto.
Naruto was about to punch him when Neji restrained him. "Tell us what you used and maybe you won't spend the rest of your life in jail."
Hun smirked again. "Sun root."
"Sakura, I'm unfamiliar with this plant." Neji stated.
"It's uncommon. I didn't know the Sun Tear Drop plant could be used as a poison."
"Can you make an antidote?"
"Yeah. I need a few things but I can do it."
Neji turned to Leto-san. "Please help her find whatever she needs."
"Yes. Of course."
Naruto watch Leto-san and Sakura walk away. He then saw Neji turn his attention to Hinata. "Where the hell were you?"
"Wha…what do you mean?"
Naruto hasn't heard Hinata stutter in some time.
"I'm talking about how I know you were taking the Western half of the North while Naruto was starting in the Western part of the South. Which means when his flare went off you should have seen it first and been there first."
"How do you know I wasn't there first?" She countered.
"You didn't have a mark on you when I arrived. Also, Sakura and Naruto had weapons drawn."
Now that Naruto thought about it, Hinata barely tried to help at all. She seemed to stay as far back as possible.
"I was in the same battle you were. I tried to help."
"Naruto?" Naruto turned his attention to Neji. "How long would you saw Hinata showed up after your flare went off?"
"I wasn't keeping track of time but Sakura was there first."
Naruto watched Neji turn his attention back to Hinata. "Why did you ignore the signal?"
"Because I saw you! I saw the two of you!"
Naruto was shocked. Hinata saw him and Neji kissing?
"What happens between Naruto and me is none of your business. You are a shinobi. You are expected to put your feels aside for the sake of the mission."
"I tired. I went to ask you something and saw everything. I was just angry."
"And Naruto could have been seriously injured because of your petty jealousy. If I didn't fear ramifications from Uncle, I'd slap you."
"Hey, Neji, that's not necessary." Naruto chimed in.
"No, it's not. But this will go in my report." Neji picked up Hun. "I'm going to put him somewhere till I can have ANBU come get him."
Naruto watched Neji leave. He then looked at Hinata. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why can't you let this go? I didn't want to hurt you and then you go and make things about you."
Hinata said nothing. Naruto just walked away painting Hinata in different light.