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Shippu Jinraikyaku

Chapter Eight

Naruto stayed where he was, on top of Hanabi. He lowered his head to one side of her head and whispered, "Maybe if we keep still, or pretend to be dead, they'll go away."

Hanabi snickered. "Get off of me." She pushed him off and stood up. She faced her tormentor. "Why is it that you are conveniently popping up?"

Kakashi, grinning devilishly under his mask, feigned innocence. "I really don't know what you're talking about. I just happened –"

Naruto cut him off. "You just happen to be everywhere we are."

"Naruto, how come you didn't tell me?!" Sakura asked, materializing from behind Kakashi.

Naruto groaned. The entire village was bound to know now that Sakura saw them together. He turned to face her. "What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"

"We could ask you the same thing." Kakashi countered, sliding the tiny camera he had in his back pocket.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hanabi asked in a tone that implied Sakura was stupid.

"For your information," Kakashi started, "we were on patrol when we just happened to hear some unusual sounds coming from this vicinity, wherein we proceeded to investigate; only to find you two…I need not go on."

"Don't you think it's about time you come up with something original?" Hanabi asked.

Kakashi's eyebrow shot up in surprise. This was the first time someone said that to him. It was disconcerting.

"Why are you two here?" Naruto asked a wicked smile on his face. He wiggled his eyebrows at Hanabi, who immediately understood his innuendo, and rolled her eyes. "Here, in this nice secluded area, miles away from the nearest rural house. Where no one would even think to look for anyone."

Sakura eyed him suspiciously. "What are you hinting at?"

"Don't act like you're stupid." Hanabi stated. She turned her gaze to Kakashi, who suddenly took avid interest at the moon.

Kakashi awkwardly cleared his throat when he realized what Naruto and Hanabi were hinting at. "Clearly you don't suggest that …" He motioned a hand between him and Sakura.

Sakura gasped. "How dare you suggest such a thing?"

"It's okay." Naruto chided. "Well if not that then what?"

"We were…uh…um…" Sakura stammered.

"Stalking us?" Hanabi offered. "It's the only other reason why you two would be here."

Kakashi came to Sakura's rescue by saying, "How dare you imply that we were stalking you; your superfluous insinuations has me flummoxed, and has drastically impaired my egotistical sub-conscience."

Naruto scratch his head. "Did anyone understand a word he just said?" He turned to Sakura. "You want to translate for me?"

Kakashi continued, "I am also ecstatically appalled that you would even indicate that Sakura and I are in any sort of scandalous behavior. Shame on you."

Sakura and Hanabi's face were a burrow of concentration, trying to decipher what the jounin had just stated. They gave up. Hanabi faced Kakashi. "Back to what we were asking, why are you stalking us?"

"Why are you persistently implying that we are negatively pursuing you and your spouse's recreational epoch?" Kakashi replied.

Naruto clutched at his temples, and said, "Shut up with the big words already and answer the question. I ought to tell Granny that you've been stalking us."

Kakashi was prepared for that, and so countered, "And I could mention certain things to certain people." Hanabi tensed. "However," Kakashi continued, "If you do me a tiny little minuscule fav-"

"OOOHHhh no," Hanabi interrupted, "You're not pulling that blackmail crap again."

"You don't have a choice," Kakashi stated, "Seeing as how I have a witness. Right Sakura?" She pretended to study a nearby flower with unrelenting interest

Naruto came to Hanabi's rescue by saying, "Well if you mention a few things to certain people, we'll just mention to certain people that Tsunade's apprentice, and the famous copy ninja Kakashi, meet on a constant basis to have passionate, wild, bestiality, S&M orientated gatherings in Sakura's office."

Sakura sent him an incredulous look. "Who the hell, in their right mind, would believe that?"

Hanabi bit her tongue as a picture of what Naruto just said formed in her mind. She did not know what it said of her that she found it disturbing and exponentially funny.

"Iruka-sensei, would. And he could convince anybody." Naruto answered her.

Kakashi closed the book he was reading at Naruto's comment. He turned to Sakura. "The sad thing is, he's right." If anyone started to believe that he'd have to leave the village. Sakura lowered her head. She could imagine what the staff at the hospital would say behind her back. She'd never live it down. And any attempt of denial would only strengthen people's belief in the rumor.

"Fine." Kakashi stated, "You win for now. However, I wonder what her father would say," He nodded towards Hanabi. "if he learnt about what she was doing. I just might let something slip."

Hanabi tensed at what he said. She suddenly remembered the heap of trouble she was in with her father, which also reminded her that he usually did late check ups to see if she was in her room or not. If he missed her tonight, she was definitely going in the hole

Hanabi looked up; the moon was almost above her head. This meant she had to go, if she wanted to be home before curfew. She frowned. She was really enjoying herself. She faced Naruto. "Idiot, I have to go." She turned and started back down the path.

Naruto turned to Kakashi and Sakura. "This isn't over. Wait till tomorrow. Hanabi, wait up." He jogged after her.

When they disappeared behind the trees, Sakura whirled to face Kakashi. "Why didn't you say something? Now they think that…" She couldn't even bring herself to say it.

Kakashi shrugged. He still couldn't believe that she'd told him to come up with something original. That really damaged his ego. As far he was concerned he came up with the most original excuses ever. He'd have to go home and meditate over this.

"I don't know why I let you talk me into following them." Sakura continued.

He pulled the camera out of his pocket and waved it in front of her face. "Because, dear child, one of these goes for 30,000ryo."

Sakura frowned. She almost felt guilty for selling out her closest friend. Then again, 30,000ryo for a picture was hard to turn down. She suddenly thought of something. "Kakashi-sensei, you think if we get a video of them, they'll pay more."

Kakashi paused. Now there was a thought. "I like your way of thinking. In fact, meet me at the training grounds tomorrow, around 4." He just remembered there was something he had to take care of. If he didn't Jiraiya would strangle him. He disappeared in a whirl of leaves. Sakura followed suite.

***

By the time Naruto caught up with Hanabi, they were a few feet from the Hyuuga estate.

"Hey stop for a minute?" Naruto asked, pulling lightly on Hanabi's sleeve.

She stopped and turned to face him. Damn, he was sexy. She wondered what would have happened if certain people hadn't intruded.

In a way, she was sort of glad they did, or else she would have ended up doing something she might've regretted. "What?"

Naruto slid his hands in his back pocket, and hunched his shoulders. This was the first time, as far as he could remember, that he'd ever been nervous. "Um…I want t to see y you again." His face was cheery red.

Hanabi bit down hard on her tongue, to keep herself from smiling. He was actually asking her out, and he was nervous as hell. Imagine, the infamous unpredictable ninja, a hokage hopeful, was nervously asking her out. She wondered what his expression would be if she told him to get lost. Nah, she wasn't that cold.

Hanabi moved a few strands of hair from her face. "You're looking at me now right?" She smirked, this was sort of fun. His face was turning redder.

"N not like that," Naruto stammered. He took in a deep breath. He'd never been nervous before, it was disconcerting. If she told him no, he might bash his head in the wall. "I mean, I want to take you somewhere. Tomorrow?"

It was taking a lot of her concentration to keep herself from laughing. Hanabi chewed on her bottom lip for a second. "Tell you what. You see that place over there," She motioned her hand toward the Hyuuga estate. "That's my prison, in all sense of the word. If you can present a valid reason to my warden as to why I should leave, then I'll do whatever you want to do tomorrow. If you can get me out, that is."

Naruto thought for a moment, and then sent her a wicked grin that made her heart jump. "You have a deal then. And to make it binding…"

Hanabi sucked in a breath, when Naruto suddenly pulled her towards him and plundered her mouth. Hanabi started to protest but, after a few seconds, leaned into Naruto and started to kiss him back, with much enthusiasm. When Naruto ran a hand down her back, she pushed away from him, before she lost herself. She looked around, her face red. Thankfully, there was no one on the street.

Naruto smirked at her. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he disappeared in a poof of smoke.

Hanabi took in a huge breath to settle her nerves. She had to learn to control herself, or else. But the question she kept asking herself was, would the 'or else' part be so bad. She decided that if she was going to do the "or else" part; she had to get to know him first. She walked through the main entrance gate of the estate, her thoughts full of Naruto. She decided to walk around the branch family when she saw two elders talking in the courtyard; she didn't want to be harassed.

Hanabi slowly walked along the outskirts of the branch family, near the wall to the woods. She wasn't in any rush to see her father. She pushed him to the back of her mind; just thinking of him was upsetting. She felt the air pressure change and quickly hid in the shadows of the trees lining the wall. Hinata appeared in a swirl of leaves a few feet from where she was. Hanabi wondered where she went. Since she hadn't seen her sister, face to face, in awhile she emerged from the shadows saying, "I smell failure."

Hinata spun around and studied her sister. She smirked and said, "You're home early. What, no one wants to rent the whore tonight?"

The smirk fell off of Hanabi's face. That really stung, not that she'd let it show. "Says the bitch that nobody ever needed or wanted." Hanabi retorted. She eyed her sister with disgust. "Is there anything you're good at besides being pathetic?" Hanabi didn't wait for her to retort. "Don't answer that. Maybe we'll ship you off to some feudal lord in the middle of nowhere, that way we'll never hear about the worthless Hyuuga again."

They started to circle each other. Hinata glared at her sister. "I wouldn't be surprised if that same feudal lord asked for you, knowing your reputation. Haiku says you're impressive on your back. I wondered if he heard that, could be. Then again, you are public property."

Hanabi fingered the kunai concealed under her skirt, on her thigh. "Touché, dear sister. Then again, all the unwanted Hyuuga band together. I suppose they only have each other to talk to. How does it feel to be a mistake – no - , Hiashi's only mistake?"

Hinata smirked. "You're his mistake. He should've saved mother instead of you."

Hanabi scowled, withdrawing her kunai. "Artifacts of value and worth often come with a high price. The same thing can't be said about you though."

Hinata scowled and threw the shuriken she had between her fingers. Hanabi deflected all of them with the kunai, and then threw it at Hinata, who dodged it by merely cocking her head to one side.

Byakugan, jyuken

The two sisters came together, channeling enough chakra at each other to cause the air and trees around them to shimmer. They separated, circled, and reunited, exchanging blows and profanities. Hanabi aimed low while Hinata simultaneously aimed high, and they cancelled each other out, rolling to the floor. Hanabi was faster getting up, and so charged at Hinata, aiming for her torso, a fatal blow if followed through. She would've connected too, if Neji hadn't appeared out of nowhere and deflected her with a small rotation.

Hanabi landed hard on her ass. Out of pure frustration she seized a rock and hefted at Neji's head. He dodged it and replied, "What were you thinking?"

Hanabi saw Hinata's smirk from behind Neji and turned her head. As if seeing through Hanabi's eyes, Neji whirled around to Hinata. "And you, you should know better."

Hinata lowered her eyes in embarrassment. Hanabi turned her back towards her sister.

"I will see the two of you tomorrow," Neji stated, "It is imperative that I talk to the two of you, especially you Hanabi." With that said, Neji disappeared into the night.

The two sisters stood there, with their backs to each other. "Hinata why must we dislike each other?" Hanabi asked softly. It was a thought that was always running through her mind.

Hinata stiffened. She'd never heard such regret in her sister's tone of voice. She sighed. She often wondered the same question too. While walking away, Hinata replied," Because, Hiashi demands that I do." The wind picked up and Hinata disappeared in a gust of leaves, leaving Hanabi pondering deeply about what she'd said. Hinata was tired of fighting with her, Hanabi heard it in the tiredness of her sigh.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the person dashing ahead of her on the rooftops.

Review please. I felt so bad that I took forever to pop this one out that id didn't even read it over. I hoped you liked it anyway. I'll try not to take forever with the next chapter.

Btw, this chapter was half done, I just threw in the ending cause I got stuck. If you didn't like it, I promise you, the next one will be better.

Shippu Jinraikyaku