Life As A Fox
Chapter 54
NSW-The Forsaken Author of the Lost Story (see my bio for explanation)
Hinata gently put Hime to bed. Hinata smiled down at her daughter, she had grown so much. Already her hair began to fan out into wild spikes like her fathers. She gently slept while holding her favorite stuffed animal, a little horse that she had day in and day out since she turned three months old. Hinata leaned over and turned on the pale pink night light that cast images of revolving stars and moons across the ceiling and walls of the room.
Hinata went over to the window and glanced out at the beautiful calm night. Hinata sighed happily then padded out of the room, she made one last glance to her daughter before retiring to bed. She yawned and relaxed slowly into her blankets they crumpled as she began to situate herself in them. She was all alone tonight, Kiba was away on an overnight mission both he and Akamaru so it was just her and Hime.
She was about to go to sleep when she had a premonition that something wasn't right. She sat up and listened to the sounds of the house, it remained mostly silent. She walked down the hall way hestitently, something was knawing at her, she knew something was up. She looked into Hime's room, Hime was sound asleep. Hinata closed the door, then continued her scan of the house, she walked by the pictures in the hall-way, she stopped at her wedding picture.
She looked at it then gently placed her fingers on the glass over Naruto's image. "Where are you?" she asked it silently, as if expecting it to answer back to her. She brought her hand down and continued into the living room. She felt her stomach spin nervously, something was very wrong, her hairs on the back of her neck rose.
She continued on slowly, then she heard a small keening sound. It sent her on edge and she froze, but then she realized it was the pot of tea she had forgotten on the stove. She laughed out-loud despite of herself and went into the kitchen quickly and grabbed the pot. She placed it to the side, no longer in the mood for tea she began to pour it into a container to be used later.
She cleaned everything up then shut-off the kitchen light and went back to the bedroom. She couldn't beleive she was so over edge about a tea pot. The floor boards creaking beneath her. She glanced out in the living room, and saw a small flicker near the window. The curtain was moving. She walked towards it. She gently placed her fingers and captured the soft fabric. She wondered why it was moving, then felt the chilly autumn air seeping through a crack.
The door was just slightly ajar she pursed her lips, that was weird. She shut the door fully and locked it. She looked out on the lawn the wind blew a few leaves from the tree, they swirled about rapidly. The branches moved with the wind, they looked like small hands to her, small gnarled hands beckoning to her, or maybe even warning her with their eerie creepy features.
She felt a sudden pain in her back, she gasped. It spread from a small pin-point of pain and spread outwards. She turned around wildly. She opened her mouth to speak, but her body suddenly shuddered all at once. As all the blood in her veins chilled. She looked up dizzily to a man with long silver hair and one eye. He grinned down at her "To bad your cursed wolf is not here, I would have loved to kill him and make him join the petty children he had lead against us."
Hinata wanted to scream, wanted to fight, wanted to do something, but her body had already collapsed and she hit the floor her body thudding cruelly against it.
It was hours before Hinata could awake, she bolted up, her body still sluggish form the affects of the poision or medication, she went for the one thing that mattered in the house. Dragging herself across the floor by her fingers she clawed her way to her daughter like a beast. She managed to stagger to her feet by bracing herself against the door frame.
She staggered into the room, falling and catching herself on the crib. She looked in and futilely pushed her hand down to feel every corner of the crib, making sure of the worst thing in the world, that her daughter was not sleeping in it. She whirled about and scanned every inch of that room, then scoured the house. Once she was sure that her daughter was not in it's confines, she screamed.
When Kiba came home that next day, he came home to a house in complete disaster. Shikamaru, Neji and Lee were there. He heard a wailing in the background, he rushed to Hinata not knowing what was wrong. She was in Hime's room. Sitting on the floor hugging a stuffed animal to her chest. Kiba stood there not knowing what to do.
Sakura was next to her, comforting her or trying anyway. "what happened?" he exclaimed. Hinata spoke in between sob's "they ... took ... Hime... they ... took ...our little...g-girl" she said her voice cracking and breaking down into gut wrenching sobs. Kiba collaped next to her, "who? who?" he asked. Hinata shook her head "I don't know, a man with only one eye...and silver hair"
Kiba growled he felt angry, how dare someone break into his house and take his precious girl! How dare they do such things to his family! He wanted to go and couse pain, he wanted to go and hurt them for attacking his wife and taking his precious child. The blood lust rose up violently, as his pupils turned into slits, his lips drew back and his slightly indented canines that every member of his clan possessed revealed themselves. But Sakura spoke "Kiba, she needs you to be here, not for you to go for revenge" Just as his anger had risen swiftly, it had went away at the same speed, he relaxed, knowing Sakura was right, he reached down for Hinata and collapsed next to her he then held and rocked Hinata slowly, crying as he did.
Kakashi had took a report from Hinata, (once they could calm her down.) Kakashi was going to go and talk to the Hyuuga clan and see if they had anything behind this. Kakashi ordered a search of the entire Hyuuga grounds. They scoured every inch of the place, and found nothing. They had to call it clean and walk away even though in Kakashi's gut he knew they were behind this somehow.
But he couldn't convict them or anything without evidence, so the trail was cold for now, but they were not going to give up. He issued posters and warning's and even offered a reward for her return, but even with all that, there was a silence, it seemed as though the world had turned a blind eye to the kidnapped child.
Hanabi cursed and slapped one of her hand maids about, enjoying watching the frail creature hit the floor, blood spouting from her nose. The shaking girl however got back up and continued to her duties. Hanabi smirked as she watched the girl bleed in the mirror. But she grew disgusted after a few seconds and ordered her away.
She then turned back to the letter that caused her the initial anger. 'The package shall remain with us until the proper price is met.' That was it, nothing more, she swore and cursed, that damn greedy clan! She wanted to rip the paper to shreds right then and there and burn it but waited and threw it in disgust at another servant. "Take that to my father!" she said with one final shove, then she ordered a bath to be run, with the finest of mineral waters, then ordered for the rarest of petals to be placed in the water for her.
Hanabi soaked herself while a servant cleaned her hair and combed it out, another began to clean beneath her nails and message her fingers. Hanabi smiled as she looked about the marbled bathroom, and to it's dark stained wood doors and decorated windows. She breathed in the sent of the rare flower petals and relaxed, she ordered for wine, then put her head back, resting on a fine soft satin pillow that was used for such things.
Life as a Hyuuga was so grand, why would Hinata betray it for so called love? There was nothing better then wealth and power, when the wine came she sipped it slowly and relaxed even more. She suddenly grinned, it didn't matter, her precious sister was paying for it, her demon wolf that had convinced her to leave the clan was now gone, and now her daughter, she has to be almost shattered.
Hanabi chuckled at the thought of seeing her sister crumpled on the floor, sobbing and wailing like the pathetic creature she was. Hanabi chuckled even louder. Even if that stupid clan wanted more money, they deserved it for bringing this kind of amusement to her, but she knew father would never agree for such sum, although the child in the hands of the clan could be bad. She could grow up and breed within the clan, possibly making the byakugan even stronger with the Chen clans strange dojutsu.
Hanabi waved it from mind, if need be they could send the entire second branch after them and hunt them to extinction and return the child back to them, then again, why get the child back? It did not matter if she lived or died to Hanabi, it had served it's purpose, causing Hinata pain. Hanabi closed her eyes and set her wine down, she slowly let the warm water drift her to sleep.
That evening a few miles away from the village, two figures looked down upon it from a large hill. Yume turned to him "it is so large, how many?" she asked "a number that the wolves of the wild do not know, thousands upon thousands of them." Yume shrank back a little. "What is wrong?" he asked her. She shook and looked afraid, "I don't know if I can do this, I have learned so much from you Naruto, but still, the fears embedded in me by the pack...take hold of me."
Naruto licked her above the eye "you can do this, I will give you a hint, just look at the ground and keep moving your legs, that way you will move forward without even knowing where you are going, then you will bump into the main gate, and you will be there and your fear will be gone." Yume smiled softly at him "you are right, I am afraid Naruto, but not so afraid that I can't do this."
Naruto brushed against her "together we can get through anything, remember that." Yume nodded "very well, who will we visit?" Naruto grinned, "a fellow demon like ourselves, Gomeg." Yume literally squealed and nipped at him playfully, happy. Naruto and her rushed down the hill and began to run towards his home.
They snuck in a secret place that Naruto knew, entering Konoha by the secret underground passage ways of old. He wandered about, it had been sometime since he had been down here, but he followed the ancient wooden arrows that were set down here. He followed them until he reached a place, that he knew was wrong. It was then he remembered, as a small child when he had stolen the Hokage's official gown from the third Hokage he had turned the arrows in the wrong directions.
Naruto stood there and said quietly to himself "I tricked my future self...damn I am good" He sighed if that was correct he would have to go this way, he didn't need the arrows anyway, the memories of exploring these caverns were coming back to him. He headed down a path that was lit from above, since it also served as the drain system from the street, so the moon shone through the grates above them.
His ears pricked up as he caught the sound of voices. "I can't believe what misfortune they are having..." Naruto mostly ignored the voices until he heard the name Hinata. "She is such a beautiful person and soul, why would someone do such a thing? poor dear, if the gods are willing, maybe her child will be found." Naruto froze. He turned to the voices and listened.
"She was drugged, and then they took the child, I must say they were smart whoever did it, because if she was conscious, every last one of them would be beaten to a pulp." Naruto silenced a growl. "do they know who did it?" the man said nothing at first then spoke "no they do not, although Hinata was babbling about a man with silver hair and one eye." Naruto's heart literally stopped, his eyes widened.
Memories flashed brutally in front of his eyes, screams, blood spattering the snow, his students falling like leaves before him, then the figure of the man...that man. Anger welled up inside him. He began to growl, Yume shifted nervously beside him. She only had to look into his eyes, and his anger faded, her beautiful eyes, they calmed the storms of his heart. He turned away from her and led her off. He needed to speak to Gomeg.
Once they were underneath the Anbu head quarters they snuck in and headed for the medic ward, knowing that was were Gomeg stayed. Gomeg had claimed a back office, that was decorated with his odd assembly of peculiar objects he used for demon things. Horns of different animals, bones of strange beasts. Leaves giving off strange and bitter aromas, or flowers filling the room with their beautiful scents.
Naruto looked about no one was in the ward thank Kami, he stopped unsure of what to do or say, or how to introduce that he was back. But he didn't have to Gomegs voice came form the darkness "is that the scent of a long-lost fool of a friend?" Naruto sighed "a very large fool at that" he answered back. "But I also scent someone else, someone quite beautiful, and fair...and kind, someone who made the friend realize he was a fool possibly?"
Naruto grinned "yes, Gomeg, she is the one." Gomeg revealed himself, not much has changed since he last saw the badger. "Come to me my friend, it has been too long since we have been apart" Naruto walked forward and just as he was about to say something he was hit very hard over the head with Gomegs cane that he used to help him walk up right.
Naruto landed in a heap, Yume was unsure of what to do, she ran up beside Naruto and growled at Gomeg. Naruto spoke...somewhat "Yume ... you ... can,... ah ...stop...I kind...of deserved it." Yume did and began to lightly lick where he had been hit. Gomeg glared at him "You think? You big idiot! Leave the village without a word? No one knows where you are or if you are okay? Everyone worried sick! Some have assumed you dead!"
Naruto grunted as he stood back up "I know! okay? I know, I just...I had to go, It turns out the spirits of my students...they were leading me to...Yume, leading me to the one who would heal my broken heart." Gomeg stared at him he knew by the sound of his voice that Naruto was speaking the truth, Gomeg sighed, maybe such a thing was possible, who knows, all that mattered was that Naruto was back.
He spoke "I need to tell you something, it is about Hinata-" "I know, Hime had been kidnapped, by the Chen clan." Naruto spat. Gomeg nodded "yes, you know this?" Naruto spoke "we listened in on to villagers gossiping, the man with one eye and silver hair, he's the leader of the Chan clan." Gomeg was surprised, with the news of the one eye the Anbu was looking for other people.
Gomeg spoke "how do you know that the leader has only one eye?" Naruto was silent for a bit then he spoke "because I was the one who ripped it from him," Gomeg was silent. "Very...well" Gomeg continued "shall we go tell Mammoth of these things?" Naruto was silent then spoke "no, I must right some wrongs, we must leave now, if we wish to find Hime."
Before Gomeg could stop them Naruto and Yume had left, blast his old age. He scurried up to the office of Mammoth. He was up late doing forms once more. He actually was sleeping on said forms, snoring. Gomeg rapped him on the head with the cane. Mammoth shot up "what? what is it?" he said looking about, then he turned his eyes upon the badger that stood before him.
He narrowed his eyes "oh...you, what do you want?" Gomeg looked down for a few seconds "Wolfheart...has returned" Mammoth shot up "what? why didn't you tell me! where is he?" Gomeg continued "he has left again." Mammoth turned around slowly "he..left...again...WHY?" Gomeg glared up at him "don't take that tone of voice with me young-ling, and do not worry, Wolfheart is back to his old self, he found one he can confide in, the one who healed his broken heart and soul, he has found...Yume, and together they are going to save the Hime child."
Mammoth crumpled into his desk chair, "when shall we expect his return?" he said going about business. "Knowing Wolfheart...soon, so I suggest you figure out a way so that he is not imprisoned for abandoning the village." Mammoth nodded "I will speak with the Hokage." Gomeg nodded "I wish to go with you" Mammoth laughed "like I can stop you."
Kakashi was awoken late at night, he got up quickly and dressed even faster, being a ninja tends to have that affect on you. He quickly went to the door. Opening it, Mammoth stepped in accompanied by the always present Gomeg. "Mammoth, Gomeg" Kakashi said nodding to each in turn. He beckoned them in, they sat down.
Mammoth spoke bluntly "Wolfheart had returned a short while ago" Kakashi almost dropped the mug of coffee he was making he turned around "what? and I was not told?" Mammoth removed his mask, revealing an aged face, the years of stress on his body from the Anbu had turned his once un marred face into one of scars, wrinkles and worries.
Mammoth spoke "he had returned to speak with Gomeg, even I did not know until of recent hour." Kakashi nodded and turned to Gomeg. "well" he simply said. Gomeg turned to him, "he is healed of what happened to him, he now fairs much better now that he has found his soul mate." Kakashi did a double take "soul mate?!" Gomeg nodded "she healed his heart and soul, calmed his spirit, he has let go of what happened to the past, he no longer is haunted, he smiles once more."
Kakashi was relieved, he now knew that Naruto was okay. He thanked the gods that he prayed to. Kakashi turned to Mammoth next "where is he now?" Gomeg spoke "he left, again,however he has gone to rescue the child Hime, expect his arrival soon enough" Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, just like Naruto, just when you think you have him tagged he goes out and does something unexpected.
Kakashi shook his head "how does he know where she is? and who she is with?" Gomeg also spoke up "it was the Chen clan, we were detoured because Hinata spoke of a man with one eye, well...little did we know that the leader of the Chen clan had lost his eye recently, thanks to the fangs of our familiar wolf friend."
Kakashi was in awe, in a few brief seconds Naruto has given back almost all hope, with his return and the knowledge of who was behind this with Naruto's information. "I came to speak with you about the possibilities of what would happen to Wolfheart upon his return, the forsaking of the village for almost a year will not be kind upon him."
Kakashi nodded "yes, the laws of Konoha are very...strict, but if Wolfheart accomplishes this mission of his, it might bring favor back to him." Mammoth nodded "Also you need to think of the things he has not done while on his...well...leaving." Kakashi turned to him "how so?" Mammoth spoke "well...most people who are true traitors of the village, usually join a group of enemies and start trying to cause damage to the village, but from what Gomeg has told me on the way over here, Wolfheart mearly just went in search of peace."
Kakashi nodded "yes, he didn't really cause any harm to Konoha or anyone for that matter...he mostly just went off the map. So yes you are right that will also help him, since he did no damage to Konoha in his absence." Kakashi turned to Gomeg, "you met his...mate then?" Gomeg nodded "Yume was her name, very kind and caring soul, I sense great love between them, they are true soul mates, nothing could pull them apart, they share each others heart."
Kakashi nodded good this was good, he was happy that Naruto finally found someone. He turned back to coffee, "so what shall we do?" Gomeg spoke "let us not speak of anything till he returns, we can't reveal his return just yet, even though I know you wish to tell Hinata this." Kakashi nodded "yes, I do, but you have almost a hundred years on both of us, you might know a few things."
Gomeg grinned "these pups today, when did they learn to flatter?" Gomeg turned towards something in the kitchen "if that is what you humans call 'toffee cake' I gladly would like a piece." Kakashi turned to his kitchen counter 'how the HELL did he know that was there?' he thought to himself he turned to Gomeg, a knowing wry smile upon his aged lips.
Yume and Naruto ran away form the village "where shall we find the child?" Yume asked, Naruto turned to her "if Hime has been captured only a few days ago there still is a chance we can find them before they reach the main body of the clan again." Yume turned to him "where does the clan reside?" Naruto shrugged as he used his chakra and lept into the tree branches, running along them, Yume followed suit. "They wander about I think, their home was discovered."
Yume turned to him "if their home is discovered wouldn't they go back to it again?" Naruto paused "what?" he said turning to her. "It is like foxes" Yume said "when their home is discovered they will retreat to another place for a bit, then return back, no one expects them to go back to where they were discovered before, and in doing so they become invisible once more."
Naruto nodded it made sense, no one would expect them to be back there, not after it was found out, so no one would be looking for them there, which is why it would be the perfect place to hide. If Yume was right then, if they ran hard enough, he somewhat knew when they could meet up with the kidnapping party. He smirked he was glad he knew these woods, because that also meant he knew short-cuts.
I hopes you enjoyed, I did. It was fun writing this, but many more chapters will follow. This story is not finished yet, not by a long shot. You may be wondering 'how? what more can she do?' Well that is for me to know and you to find out. ;)
NSW