Chapter 16: Of Entanglements
"Have you ever been in love? Horrible, isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up." -Neil Gaiman, The Kindly Ones
Sasuke & Sakura
"…Well, what are you waiting for?" Sakura questions him with an arched brow.
Those sea glass green eyes that have haunted him in the night for days on end now simply regard him emptily, lips pursed flat as if already tired of this conversation happening.
Of him.
No, she doesn't get to pretend that what's she's done doesn't matter, that her feelings for him are so dead enough now to have created this fracture within the team he created right underneath his nose.
"Aren't you going to say something to defend yourself?" He answers her question with one of his own as he steps forward out of the shadows.
If anything that just annoys her even more, a shadow passing over her features as the beginnings of a smirk crawl up.
"What is this Sasuke? Do you want me to apologize for poisoning and bribing your teammates? You know we're still in the middle of a war and I have too many patients to attend to right now. You underestimating me is what caused this to happen in the first place." She remarks.
He lets his hands crackle with the beginnings of a chidori and even then there isn't a hint of fear in Sakura's gaze that he could kill her right here and now.
Instead she goes into a stance of her own, balling her fists.
"Karin, did she tell you I made more of that poison? I've perfected on it since giving her that first dose so many moons ago now. I've created much more toxic combinations using not only just the most poisonous flowers, but the venom of the worst bites and stings of snakes, scorpions, frogs, spiders, hell even jellyfish." She explains.
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Sasuke scowls, gliding right up beside her.
She stiffens just slightly as he expects with electricity crackling right in her face. He could cast her in a genjutsu now, torture her just as she's been doing to him in his thoughts.
Sakura licks her lips, moving him back with a chakra infused fist just enough to put some distance between them once more. Her push holds just the faintest hint of her true underlying strength, enough that it's sure to leave a bruise from where she jabbed her hand into him.
"It means I have acids on me right now potent enough to burn your skin and eyes should you get that close to me like that again!" She hisses.
Sasuke laughs mirthlessly, onyx eyes boring into emerald.
They both know she isn't that fast to land such a hit on him in time, to poison him like she threatens.
But he sees the glint of one of her needles catch the sunlight, her teething clenching together as she poses her fingers ready to inject him if it comes to that.
Though instead she stomps her feet creating a mini fissure in the ground, furthering herself away from him.
"…You could've killed me by now if you truly wanted to Sasuke, so why haven't you? You now have the eyes of your brother after all, eyes that can easily burn these forests and tents surrounding us or keep me casted in an illusion while you cut me apart piece by piece." Sakura mentions.
'So she really does know all my secrets.' Sasuke frowns.
"Who says I came here to kill you?" He asks and Sakura is the one this time to let out an unladylike snort and chuckle.
'Always answering a question with another.' She sighs, she can't be sure what type of tactic Sasuke is using this time though she needs to stay on her toes.
"Right? Because that was just a game of tag back in the Land of Iron when you tried to kill Naruto, Hinata, Kakashi-sensei, and I?" She questions him right back.
Before he can respond they hear the sound of coming footsteps, Sasuke moving towards her in the flash wrapping an arm around her taking her into the trees just as a pair of medical nin come around the corner.
"I heard Lady Sakura's voice just now." The first one peers around in concern, looking at the remnants of their footsteps in the dirt before her partner shakes his head.
"Based on what Lady Shizune mentioned she left to go report to headquarters that these White Zetsu can blend themselves in with us." He states.
"Still, I hope she doesn't run into any of them while she is away, we all need to stay alert." The woman grimaces, images of the dead surely coming to mind.
Sakura bites down into his hand as soon as the pair are safely out of sight and hearing range to not be caught up in their square off, Sasuke wincing before jabbing at her head and clenching at her neck until she finally lets go.
"What the hell is your problem?!" He growls, Sakura flashing him an equally pissed off look as she catches her breath shifting out of his hold with kunai at ready.
"If you're going to abruptly grab on to me, I'm not going to just sit there and take it or go down without a fight!" She retorts back, spitting blood and skin from her mouth.
And Sasuke pauses, the woman before him is not the same girl he left behind on that lone bench as soon as nightfall hit to get power all those years ago. She smears off remnants of crimson on her lips and teeth, jade orbs vicious and cold. His hand stings from her bite and part of him wonders if she ingested the poison or pricked it into him during her squirming prepared to make herself a weapon if need be.
He came all this way for answers, a wondering if Sakura has truly given up on him.
"...So, your feelings for me are truly dead then?" He finds himself asking.
Sakura straightens, eyes narrowing. There are hundreds of ways she can answer that. Either say the simple answer she's been using as of late that she and Naruto will do what's necessary to properly bring him back feelings be damned if he refuses to listen/cooperate. Or the more difficult one that her feelings for him never left, merely frozen over by his continued cruel and dark behaviors.
"Who told you that?" Sakura answers vaguely, more wondering aloud to herself than expecting an actual response from him.
His eyes widen just slightly and her heart jolts in her ears.
She doesn't wait for him to respond, jumping back down to the ground. He hops down after her and Sakura tightens her grip back on her kunai hearing the crackle of his chidori forming again.
"I have to go now." She asserts, ignoring the hammering of her heart. If he kills her here and now so many innocent shinobi and civilian will continue to die. The people within these tents aren't just ninja from every nation, they are average everyday shop-owners, businessmen, and even children that have been caught in the crossfires too of this war.
Sasuke creates a trail of flames encircling them, gritting his teeth. "Answer me this at least, how did you get to Karin and Suigetsu?"
Sakura lets out an impatient sigh, squeezing her eyes shut as smoke burns at her throat. "You already know this Sasuke. Karin, I had poisoned her with the flowers long ago back in the Land of Iron. Suigetsu...well you know his love of swords and his desire to collect the ones of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. I bribed him with rare swords from the Warring States Era and he gave me information in return."
She leaps out of the fire before it starts brushing at her legs, Sasuke not moving to follow her this time letting the black flames around him cease.
"If you try to harm me or anyone here in Konoha I will stop you." She reaffirms. He studies the growing violet-red bruise at her neck he caused from earlier, an injury she'll heal as soon as she is far enough away without anyone being the wiser.
Sasuke clicks his tongue, a tightness coiling at his chest unwavering as her words sink in.
"Even if it kills you in process; kills me?" He pursues.
Could either of them ever be okay with such an outcome? Killing each other without Naruto or Kakashi-sensei being able to do anything to stop it? He hasn't broken all ties like he wanted, not when even now with Sakura right before him he hasn't struck her dead...
And Sakura doesn't hesitate, nodding and the knot in his chest twists harder.
"Yes, even if it comes to that Sasuke."
-X-
Naruto
'Hinata is at least a good mile away.'
He's lost so much time, he should've been out on the battlefield hours ago.
"You know I can't just sit here Iruka-sensei, not with this knowing that my very own classmates, sensei, and fellow shinobi are giving their lives to try and protect me. The Akatsuki are going to close in on this location, I'd rather it not come to that and have you be caught in one of their attacks." He reasons.
Iruka's firm expression slips just slightly hearing that. Naruto has always been so frustratingly stubborn even with his own life, rigid in his mindset that it takes calmness of a saint or monk and if not them then your fists to get him to change his mind once he's decided on something.
"We wouldn't be keeping you here if it weren't for your own good Naruto, you know that." Iruka gathers his voice. Naruto's features remain stern, cobalt orbs stormy as he takes one final look around them before gazing back at him. He sees the flash of scarlet in his eyes, that his own patience for this conversation is wearing thin.
"Iruka-sensei, you were one of the first faculty members to trust and believe in me back in the Academy...does that fact still stand now?" He questions back.
Iruka pinches his nose, the memories resurface before he can stop them. The gleam of sunlight as showed off his headband for the first time, footing the bill for him at Ichiraku's to comforting him over popsicles in the days after Jiraiya's death...
"Yes, it still stands." Iruka speaks, managing a smile for him. There's a barrage of arguments and yells around them, but he steps aside to let him and Killer B pass.
Though unlike all the other times before, he prays he truly isn't sending Naruto to his death.
The closer he gets now, the more he senses so many negative emotions, the killer intent of these White Zetsu's interlaced with the smell of death and blood.
He picks up the pace, ignoring Killer B's questioning if his hurry is for Hinata or the danger surrounding each squadron.
Hinata's eyes catch his first as he breaks through a thicket of leaves and thorns, blue to lavender. She keeps her byakugan active for a moment longer before relaxing and Naruto feels his grin widen as he reaches out a hand to her while seamlessly pushing back a group of Zetsu who had been closing in.
"Naruto?" She questions.
"Hinata, you're safe!" Naruto breathes out, tugging her fully right into his arms without disregard. Or maybe he should've waited seeing how she flusters so easily, though his mind has been racing with impossible scenarios, fears that came to life each time he blinked that he doesn't even want to consider anymore.
She is real. Alive.
He buries his head into the crook of her neck and her cheeks warm to a dark pink as he breathes in the scent of sweat and the underlying jasmine/lilac mix that is utterly Hinata that even war cannot wash it off of her.
"Hey! How do we now for sure you're Naruto and not a clone or White Zetsu for that matter?" Kiba barks, roughly tugging Hinata back. He bares his teeth, dark eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Naruto blinks, squeezing at the remaining hand he has a hold of on Hinata. "Ehh, doesn't your scent recognize me Kiba?! Or for that matter Shino's bugs?" He questions, looking between them both.
"The enemy can perfectly replicate one's scent and even their chakra signature, we have no reason to believe you are who you say are just yet." Shino vouches for Kiba, brows knotted.
Hinata looks back to him, face burning as she holds up a hand to calm everyone. She can't blame them for their immediate wariness, they're already so protective of her as is and this new enemy only increases that notion.
She can feel Neji too watching them from the corner of her eye just a mere few feet away ready to step in if necessary, equally wary though holding back from immediately jumping in.
But she can tell it's Naruto through and through, reaffirming his loosening hold on her hand.
"It's okay you two. I can tell it's Naruto from his eyes." She explains and Naruto beams before twisting to give Kiba a smug look.
"See, I'm the real deal! Anyways, if I was a Zetsu wouldn't I have tried to attack one of you by now?" He questions, pulling Hinata back into a half-hug.
Hinata pulls back from him just slightly, thankful for his presence and shaken all the same by the fact he has been protecting her more so than she has done for him since this whole war started when he is the main target.
'I need to step up my attacking, using my Twin Lion Fists should be able to burn and push back any Zetsu or enemy that gets too close.' She reminds herself.
Naruto reads her expression before she can mold it, smiling and tapping their foreheads together gently. "Hey, I've seen for myself how strong you've been on the battlefield so far. Don't let any of these enemies or long dead old farts try to rattle your confidence!"
Shino raises a brow and Kiba studies him for a long minute before sighing. He's sure a Zetsu wouldn't be this touchy-feely or romantic and he wonders then just what changed between Naruto and Hinata in the Land of Lightning for her not to be so completely beet-red or light-headed from Naruto holding her so close. He can't recall the two ever seriously dating before they left, hell Naruto definitely hadn't been so clingy or even very aware of Hinata's feelings.
At least he thought so.
He wrinkles his nose, not letting the thought linger any longer.
"...Alright, let go of her already so we can focus!" He snaps.
And Kiba grits his teeth when Naruto flat out ignores him, nuzzling back into Hinata's neck eliciting a new wave of scarlet to her face. He doesn't miss though the light blush to Naruto's own face as he whispers something into her ear and she nods, expression growing serious once more.
'What the hell happened between those two?'
-X-
Kakashi
Quick and painless.
That is the best gift he gave to his Father to not be the cause of any further deaths on the frontlines.
"You've somehow grown even stronger than the last time we crossed paths. Ah, but hopefully this is the last time until it truly is your time to go!" Sakumo laughs lightly.
Somehow he can still smile even with his very own blade plunged into him, immobilizing him in place just before his kunai can dig or tear any deeper into his shoulder.
He's losing his consciousness, everything that makes his Dad him will soon be gone once more.
Kakashi simply nods, voice failing him to say anything else on this matter. There are so many long dead comrades, friends, and family from past battles and wars waiting for him on the other side, his Mother who was taken far too young by illness, Minato-sensei...
Rin.
"Please find and stop whoever it was that brought me back to the living Kakashi. I know you can't be the only one facing a dead loved one." Sakumo voices before the sealing team binds him completely.
He stays over his wrapped coffin, calming his breathing.
And it's only then once he truly can no longer sense his Father's presence does the sting of his attack come.
His blade holds none of his blood as he sheathes it back into a place. A corpse can't bleed he knows however all the same he's glad he doesn't have to have yet another painful mental image to add to his already growing collection.
"We should investigate and find the man or people behind the cause of this reincarnation technique. The way it's looking we can assume that all of the past dead jinchuriki have already been resurrected." Gai voices behind him.
A Suna shinobi makes his way over to them as they join back with the others, out of breath and pink in the face with sweat.
"Kakashi, there you are! There's been a report that Naruto and Killer B are making their way onto the battlefield! One of the sensor shinobi just reported seeing one of Naruto's clones taking out some of the White Zetsu in the forests to the North!"
Kakashi looks back to Gai who nods, features turning grim.
'Shit, that leaves us with little time.' Kakashi calculates.
He thanks the shinobi, ordering him to tell the rest of the division the update and to prepare for the stronger enemies they're about to face.
Zabuza and Haku will seem easy compared to what is next.
It will be a race now to see who gets to Naruto and Killer B first, them or the Masked Man. All of the other jinchuriki will be there with him, his sharingan one he has yet to fully unpuzzle of all the secrets it holds.
There is a sinking feeling in his gut it won't be them to reach the pair first, clicking his teeth.
His identity may still be a mystery, but everything seems to keep pointing to Obito.
'Has he truly fallen that far if it's him?' He sighs, he's spent too long trying to think it wasn't him up until now.
If it stands to be true it only means he must kill another person he cares about again or be killed himself.
-X-
Hinata
"I'm going now, don't worry though I'll get this war done and over with soon you know!" Naruto promises her before disappearing again into a clog of dusty smoke.
The sky takes a shade liken to the maroon-violet of a bruise and Hinata clenches back her fists, focusing again on her surroundings.
Whatever comes next in this war needs her full attention.
The Second Division is those like her who focus primarily on short-range techniques and combats, the front lines of the war and the ones that so far, get the closest to the enemy to attack.
She burns at the face of a Zetsu burrowing up from the ground until it's body melts from the heat, electrifying the second one that comes up right behind it until it's pasty white skin is as black as the dirt it came from.
'Even with Naruto's assistance, they continue to keep coming in droves. Though something is off about their pattern of behavior, they aren't moving as fast to attack and seem to be stalling.' Hinata frowns.
"Lady Hinata, it seems more of these Zetsu are heading northward. We should move ahead to help aid the teams over there." Neji suggests, gesturing in the direction where a mass of white and sharp spikes are visible.
"Okay, the enemy has something larger planned that's yet to be determined. Something with the jinchuriki..." She trails off, shaking away the image of Naruto being captured. Neji moves ahead first and she follows after a moment ensuring she can sense nothing else in the vicinity that will track them.
These Zetsu have changed their pattern of behavior under their leader's orders perhaps and she purses her lips at these ominous thoughts that the worse is about to be sprung upon them.
She crosses near the edge of an assembled meeting of one of the other divisions through an open space in the forests, pausing taking in the authoritative voice of their leader.
"I know for some of you this is your first experience with war, your first time seeing death right before your eyes! However, do not let that fact falter you from your main objective and duty! First and foremost we are the eyes of the Allied Shinobi Forces as the Sensory Division! The things we continue to pick up on and make note of involving the enemy can make the difference between life and death for thousands of shinobi! Bury all thoughts of fear and worry and do your upmost best for the forces until your dying breath if need be!" He yells.
"Yes sir!" The shouts of the men and women cry back in unison.
Hinata slows her pace just slightly to hear them better, enough to ensure her eyes aren't messing with her taking in the pointed light blue of the Captain's hair. There's only one man she knows who styles their hair in such a moussed up manner, who speaks in that stern, prideful stereotypical style of a lot of men from Father's generation.
'It's him.' Her heart pounds faster.
"And what of you Ao? Will you be going on to the frontlines eventually as well?" A Kumo shinobi asks and Ao shakes his head, Hinata following his gaze in the direction of headquarters.
'He's on your side, he's no longer an enemy.' Her thoughts tell her.
Nobody among the other nations should be an enemy right now, only the Akatsuki.
Still it does nothing to ease her heart's rapid thrumming, a disgust that burns at her gut knowing part of the reason for his superior tracking and sensory skills is only because of her clan.
Because of that eye he stole.
'It doesn't matter now, catch up to Neji!' Her thoughts further hiss.
Her heart and stomach win out though, Hinata staying rooted in place until she hears Ao's response.
"No, I will finish assisting Inochi in creating the sensing barrier. That will provide us with being able to pinpoint, relay the enemy's location, and identify the strongest masses of skill and energy among them." He explains.
The Kumo ninja nods, satisfied with his response as the team moves to assemble into their assigned tasks.
Ao lingers there in the coppice of trees watching them go, cerulean hair sticking out amongst the greenery before his stare eventually moves to her, light blue of his left eye looking as icy as her own opalescent must look to him.
To her surprise he smiles, waving her to come down. He doesn't ask what business she has with him or why she's even here watching him when she should be back with her own division helping stop the next phases of the Akatsuki's plans coming to fruition.
Hinata weighs her options before leaping down next to him, keeping her back pressed into the damp bark of the tree should she need to make a hasty retreat.
Ao's grin seems to widen seeing her features up close now and Hinata tries to ignore the anger bristling along her skin as he finally speaks.
"It's been a long time since I've seen a Hyuga gaze at me with such hate."
-x-
New Month, New chapter!
I plan for Sasuke and Sakura to have another major interaction down the line filled with all that fun sexual tension! By the way you guys, I hope I did justice to their scene without either of them feeling too out of character. As for Naruto and Hinata, besides the hand-holding scene there is another scene I have in mind for the two as the War reaches it climax. Please let me know any and all thoughts!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
