Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto series.
Enjoy!
Chapter 16
Mi- Hinata
"I'm sorry, Mitsu."
"I'm going to save her, of course."
"So, you are letting her die?"
"Tell me where my Hime is or else, I'll kill you!"
"Very well."
As the Yang Guardian flashed himself onto the trees, the scroll heard his teammates from behind.
"Where is Sasuke going?!" Naruto stopped as he met eye to eye with their enemy.
"The Yang Guardian is off to save his Hime."
"But, the test-"
"You have no need to worry about that. We scrolls don't go down that easily."
Sakura stood still, mainly waiting for Naruto to give an order or do something. From the look in both their eyes, they seemed to be understanding each other. She heard Naruto thank him before sprinting onto a tree. "Come on, Sakura-chan!"
"Huh? Y-Yeah..."
"Naruto... do you know what's going on?" She asked worryingly. Again, she felt excluded from the team. And maybe, Naruto did too.
...
...
...
"NARUTO!"
"What! First Sasuke is being secretive and now he has a Hime?! When I find him, I'm gonna beat the crap out of him and make him explain everything!"
Slap!
"I'm his hime, shanaro!"
"H... Hai, hai..."
"I would much rather fight you when you are a full team."
Kiba exhaustingly charged at the scroll. It had been babbling about the lack of their kunoichi since they engaged in battle. "Perhaps, it would be a better idea to check up on her. She doesn't seem to be having a great time in the arms of an unknown man leading her far away from Konoha."
Shino and Kiba knew how deceiving and manipulating the scroll could be. And they weren't falling for him this time. "Aka... Akamaru..."
A sigh escaped their enemy's lips, he snapped his fingers. Chakra strings roped the two worn out ninjas.
"Is... Is this it?" Shino whispered to himself.
"No, I don't feel like fighting anyway. But it was a great stretch." He reached his arms out and gave them a picture of Hinata's current whereabouts.
"Is this for real?"
The scroll nodded and let them go of his chakra ropes. "This is what I've been trying to tell you."
Kiba eyed Shino. They nodded to each other before standing up. Akamaru jumped onto Kiba's head before they all ran into the woods.
Hinata, just you wait. We are coming to save you.
It had been a while since the genins ran into the Forest of Death. It had been quiet ever since. Kakashi was teamed with Gai, Kurenai and Asuma. And so far, they hadn't sensed any danger.
Kakashi spotted a blue flash flying into the forest. Sasuke?!
A second after, he saw Naruto and Sakura heading the same direction. "Naruto, Sakura?!"
"Huh? What's wrong Kakashi?" Gai asked, but he was soon interrupted by Asuma and Kurenai's gasp.
"What are Kiba and Shino doing here?" Kurenai found her feet moving on their own, following her team to wherever they were headed.
"Oi, Kurenai!" Gai nearly fell on his head as Kakashi copied Kurenai by heading another direction. "Kakashi!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
As Gai was about to follow Kakashi, he was stopped by Asuma who thought that it was for the better if the two remained. "They can handle it."
"B-But..."
"Trust them."
"Orochimaru-sama. I brought you the Yin guardian as asked for."
"Very well, Kabuto. Now, lure the remaining Guardians out here and kill them."
"I only need two more teams. Team 8 and Team 7 are on their way, already. In fact, the Yang guardian is probably the closest of them all." Kabuto smirked and bowed.
"Splendid! Let the Yang guardian come to me. Take care of the rest."
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama." As he turned around, a piece of clothes from their hostage had fallen off. He smirked to himself before picking it up and flashing himself away.
Orochimaru let his signature grin escape his lips as he carried the Yin guardian over to the perfect spot for his battle with Sasuke. He lay Hinata on the floor and brought a jar of chakra and let it stand in the middle.
"Your chakra is extraordinary, Yin guardian." He chuckled as the bluish chakra turned lavender.
Since Hinata felt comfort from the ground, she had been listening to the plans Orochimaru had in store for zSasuke and the other guardians which included her team. She felt tears wanting to run down her cheek, she was once again the burden for everyone. But she was mostly down about Sasuke, all he wanted from the start was to get stronger. But she had been his hindrance all along.
Sasuke, gomenasai... Gomenasai...
She wanted to fight Orochimaru, to at least weaken him until Sasuke comes and finishes him off. She knew she wasn't strong enough, and she didn't have enough chakra. Not even with the help of her crystal. As much as she tried, tears fell from her eyes and quietly wet the ground. She was scared, no, she was terrified. The chakra Orochimaru had was strong, but vicious. Something about him just freaked her out!
Sasuke, I'm scared...
Naruto spotted Sasuke nearby, calling him out. But as he expected, he only grew faster in speed. Sasuke jumped from a tree and onto the ground, where he launched deeper into the forest.
"Sasuke-kun..."
"Sakura-chan, lend me your ear."
"Huh?"
Akamaru's nose had caught a familiar scent which had him bark, making Team 8 stop. Kiba smelled the same fragrance coming not so far from where they were standing.
"Did you sense her?" Kiba nodded. He lead Shino to where the fragrance grew stronger. They soon saw their kunoichi standing with her back to them.
"Oi, Hinata!" Her head turned to the voice and smiled. Shino's eye twitched from that smile, something about it made him feel uncomfortable. Expecting her to wait for them to catch up, she ran away which confused her team. "Where is she going? Oi Hinata!"
They followed the Hyuga, they soon saw a figure who's attire resembled that of a guardian's. His outline was... glowing. Shino recognized the Clan symbol on the person. Isn't he the one who took care of Hinata while she was inactive?
Shino found it strange. First the unnatural smile, and now she lured them to the Uchiha. Shino stretched his arm to stop Kiba from going any closer. Kiba questioned Shino's sudden action. "That is not Hinata."
"Huh?"
Shino's explanation was interrupted by the sound of a wave nearing them. A gigantic hand made of water attacked Kiba, pulling him up. "What the?!" Shino backed away and looked at the direction the attack came from. Soon, he saw two shinobi's.
"Caught you, Sasuke!" The ninja had metal protectors around his shin and elbow-area. The black shirt looked rather thick, it was covered by an orange jacket which only reached upper-chest. His crystal was very vulnerable for any attacks as it hung from his neck. His pants were orange as well. Every guardian seemed to have adapted a brighter hair-color. Other than that, he bore onto the typical pouches at his arms and thighs.
The kuniochi revealed quite much. She wore shoulder- length boots. Her attire consisted of sleeve-less, cherry pink shirt that was covered by an armour. Lap-reaching tights, carmine arm warmers. And her crystal had been turned into a hair accessory to tie her long hair. Her forehead protector left of her bangs.
What Shino noticed with the forehead protectors on them both, was that it was from Konoha. But he was too late to inform Kiba as he and Akamaru performed Fang Over Fang.
"What was that for?!... Huh?" Kiba noticed the forehead protectors, and saw that they were from the same village.
"Well, well, well. I didn't expect the guardians to fight each other. This will make my job easier." The four turned to the male voice that came from the young kunoichi.
"Sasuke!"
"Sasuke-kun!"
"Huh?" Kiba looked at the figure behind Hinata. Is that Sasuke Uchiha? ... Wait a minute! He recalled the time Iruka assigned the teams. He then looked at the two ninjas who had called his name. Naruto, Sakura? They are Guardians?
"You two are guardians?" He asked, pointing his finger at them both. Naruto looked at the stranger pointing his finger at him, he noticed a fur figure on his head. It looked much like Akamaru, Kiba's partner.
"Don't tell me... KIBA?! Why are you dressed like that?! Don't tell me, are you a Guardian?!"
"I should be asking you the same! You're too stupid to be a Guardian!"
"Huh? I'm super strong! Stronger than you!"
"Oh really? Wanna bet?"
BAM!
SLAP!
"Stop it, you two!"
Both Hinata and Sasuke puffed and the smoke revealed a grey-haired guy with glasses. He smirked at them. "Let's begin the fun, shall we?"
Where am I going?
"Ngh!" His hand slapped his face and he uttered the words 'Hime' once again. Why am I doing this? Sasuke shook his head to shake the crystals control off of him. "Why are you doing this to me... Mitsu?!"
T-Thank y-you, erm..
How about I ask you first, I mean, I did treat your wound.
I-I-I'm not a-allowed to tell my name to people I d-don't fully k-k-know.
G-Gomenasai..
Stop apologizing. Well, I'll call you Mitsu then
M-Mitsu?
...
"Who knows? I'm not allowed to tell my name to people I d-don't fully k-k-know." A shy chuckle escaped her tiny lips from that sweet yet teasing imitation.
I will call you K-Kurai-kun.
He still couldn't tell what his body was making him do. Risking the test for a girl he thought was his only friend, but turned out to leave him because of the Clan he came from. Sasuke bit his lips hard, as the memories of the one he wanted to continue his future with flew through his mind. From the moment of their first encounter, to when they discussed their dreams and vowed to reach them. The long-hair talk, the husband joke. And their fall out...
The Uchiha felt his hand turn into a fist from the anger that slowly built up as he remembered the shame he felt when he couldn't protect her from the bullies that night. Not only was she left fragile ever since that fight with her father, yep, he was there too. Hiding while doing nothing. But she experienced loneliness, just like he did. But he continued to despise her even when she was clearly heart-broken by the news of the Uchiha massacre. And just wanted to plead for forgiveness. He even broke her once again by denying the fact that he was Kurai. Why do I keep doing this to her?
A-Ano-
He raised his head from the sweet voice that ran through his head. A picture of Hinata sitting on the bed looking at him, ready to open the door and leave for his training.
A-Arigato...
For what?
F-For b-being n-nice t-t-to m-me.
...
A malcontented outburst gave the birds a sense of danger, making them flee from their spot. Sasuke sprinted faster and faster, for each step he took he felt like flying several meters forward. He felt a strong strain on his eyes. He could imagine that it was his sharingan responding to his inner wrath.
Sasuke-kun, gomenasai... Gomenasai...
"That's... Mi- Hinata's voice." He felt her chakra, and it was growing stronger. He hurried and hurried, sensing 2 chakras. One being Hinata's, and the other belonging to... Orochimaru?!
I knew I couldn't trust him!
Sasuke, I'm scared...
Don't worry,
"Orochimaru!"
I'm here!
Hinata snapped her eyes open from the voice she was hoping to hear sooner or later. S-Sasuke!... Sasuke... Tears of joy happily ran down her cheeks from the sight of her friend.
"Ara, Sasuke-kun. Nice to see you again. Are you here to change your mind?" Orochimaru smirked from the clear fury that painted Sasuke's face. He was ready to kill, and he was ready to create a bloodbath.
"Your eyes are scary. I want them." He said and whispered the last bit to himself as he saw the shinobi stomped his feet on the floor. He unconsciously brought his sword and pointed it at the snake Sannin.
"Give her back," he said, letting a burst of chakra from below him send a mighty wind towards Orochimaru and removing the bangs from Hinata's face. "Or die!"
Sorry for the long wait :( School and job are the worst combination when you're trying to find the motivation to write. Hope you guys enjoyed ^^ I also hope that Sasuke wasn't too much OOC in this chapter. If he was, feel free to comment :3