An: Hey it's time for another update. I would just like to say that this story is winding down. If you have any ideas please tell me, otherwise in maybe like five chapters this story will be complete. Please review and Enjoy.
Betrayal?
Trapped. Her beloved was trapped in a cage of ice, of jagged razor edged mirrors. He was fighting against an impossible foe alone in order to protect her and to help his best friend.
Always on the sidelines she thought bitterly. Always watching as those around her got stronger. She always had to depend on her friends/ teammates to protect her because she wasn't ever strong enough to protect herself.
Never strong enough. She would do anything to be strong.
But we are strong enough. You can save Naruto! She recognized the inner voice she heard in her mind so clearly. It was her, at least, the other part of her. Hinata liked to think it was the strong part of her, the part that could be of help to Naruto.
"What can I do?" The tone in the response was quite anxious but patient.
I need you to trust me. When I say, relax, surrender control to me. Hinata broke into a dead sprint, her long violet tresses flowing out behind her. She knew she had only seconds. The masked assassin, Haku, was already charging up for another attack. She could tell by the way that the mirrors began to shine brighter and brighter. The vision of Naruto was before her. The orange and black of his jumpsuit was partially shredded from all the needles. Her unrequited love staggered from the loss of blood and she knew that his body could not take another attack. Her heart screamed in panic.
"Naruto!"
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Her pearl eyes flew open and her whole body jerked upward. Her vision was covered in black. Did I die? What happened? Where is Naruto? Is he alright?
"Hinata? Hinata, are you alright?"
Naruto? His voice was so close. Mortified, she realized that the darkness she was experiencing now was not due to unconsciousness or time of day, but because her face was nestled so tightly against a certain blonde hero's chest.
Immediately, she felt her face go up in flames and she wished that unconsciousness would visit her once again. Slowly, she felt her body being lifted away from that same chest.
"Hinata?" A calloused gentle finger lifted her chin upward, forcing her to disclose her state of consciousness. Hesitantly, her gaze met bright ocean blue. To be honest, in those short moments, that their eyes met, Hinata had been terrified of what she would find there. Would he be angry with her for not being helpful in the fight? Would he feel bitter for having to carry her because she had blacked out?
She really couldn't see how any positive feelings could be directed toward her. That privilege was reserved for Sakura. So it was quite a surprise to find him smiling at her…really smiling at her. Not in the overly energetic platonic sort of way that she was used to, but in a warm soft private smile that seemed oddly familiar though she was sure that he hadn't ever shown that smile to her before.
"You're awake." His voice was uncharacteristically soft, his tone full of relief and happiness? Who was this? What had they done with the real Naruto? To be honest, she wasn't complaining. She had never received this sort of attention from Naruto before.
Her apparent lack of response seemed to bother Naruto as a deep crease set into his brow. Hinata was terrified that she had upset him.
"Are you alright?" Hinata nodded. Naruto let out a long sigh of relief.
"That's good. When you screamed out like that, I got really worried."
Her mortification intensified. I screamed? But then suddenly, his words registered. Naruto was worried about…me?
"How many do you estimate are in there?" Sasuke's voice. It was low, sharp, and cold. Now Hinata was confused. So apparently they had won the skirmish against Haku if Naruto was okay and Sasuke was here. Hinata looked up and took a survey of her surroundings. They were still in a forest, at the edge of one apparently and Kakashi and Sasuke were ahead of them seemingly plotting out something.
"On estimate, maybe one hundred," Kakashi answered briefly. She could see Sasuke's fists clench. Naruto seemed to read her thoughts.
"Sakura's been captured. We're trying to figure out a plan to rescue her." The violet haired mermaid sat up rigidly in his arms. That's right they had been attacked in the woods. Sakura had been captured. What else had happened? Looking down, she saw that she now wore Sakura's skirt.
"Your pants were um kinda shredded in that last battle." Hinata's cheeks flamed.
I can't believe I was unconscious for that. Luckily, she mistook Naruto's horrible acting for embarrassment. Hinata looked around. Where was…
"Oh and Neji's gone. He went off trying to save Sakura on his own." The shy girl regained her composure at least her mentally. That does sound a lot like Neji… Sasuke's command called everyone's attention.
"Look. Someone's coming out. Get ready, we're going to ambush him."
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This foreign feeling, this emotion was strange to him. It was uncomfortable and made him feel ill at ease. Was the reason he felt this way because he had betrayed the trust of an innocent girl? And if so, what is this emotion called?
Unconsciously, Sai had exited the grand palace like building and was now venturing closer to the tree line of the forest. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his small self-help book. Diligently, he scanned through different emotions and their definitions until he settled on one that accurately described his state.
Guilt.
Was he feeling guilty? According to this book he was. So, like any other practical scholar, he skimmed the paragraph, looking for a solution to his problem. The best and most effective way of removing one's guilt is to address the situation, or person wronged, apologize and then make amends.
Sai paused just as he was about to enter the woods. At this point in time he could not personally give his apologies due to the fact that well…He would have to make amends. It was the only plausible option. But how…he barely knew the girl. He had no ideas in regards to her hopes and desires.
Thank you… but where are my friends? I mean there was…
You mean the girl with long violet hair?
Hinata! Yes! That's her! Is she here?
I… had to leave her behind.
What? No! I have to go back and save her!
I will be leaving shortly to search for your friend.
That's right. Her friend was important to her. That's why he would go now and search for her. But he would not bring her back. If she was comparable to Sakura in that regard, then he would warn her, protect her from his master's dishonorable intentions. Determined, he leapt into the trees hoping that this "Hinata" was okay.
!#&()(&#!!#&()&#!
Gotcha…
He had been waiting for his prey like the predator and natural hunter he was born to be. The second the human male had landed on the tree branch and out of sight for any of the palace guards, ha and Kakashi ambushed him.
"Don't move." Sasuke's deadly whisper was accompanied by the cool edge of a kunai against Sai's neck. His control on the kunai almost wavered effectively ending Sai's existence when he inhaled Sai's scent.
It was his.
This was the unique scent that belonged to the human male who had kidnapped Sakura. Immediately, his instincts roared for him to massacre the offending male. This was the one who took his mate away from him. No one took what was his. It took all of his willpower as a ninja not to slice Sai's throat. With the brief loss of coherent thought, aspects of his true heritage arose. A low growl escaped from behind tightly clenched teeth.
"Where is she?! Where is Sakura?! I know you have her!"
With his inhuman strength, he twisted and slammed Sai against a tree, with a response of a resounding crack.
"Tell me where she is! Tell me!" Kakashi placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. Hinata had unconsciously clung tighter to the safety of Naruto's arms.
"Sasuke." Sasuke shrugged him off.
"Shut up. He took Sakura. He will tell me where she is…regardless if he wants to live."
Kakashi backed away. It wasn't safe to be around Sasuke when he was like this. Naga males were inconsolable when it came to the safety of their mates, to the point that it made them reckless. For one not even properly mated yet, Sasuke's devotion to the mermaid princess was remarkable.
However, he noted that if indeed he did have to restrain the Uchiha prince, he would be better equipped to do so if he was a few feet away. Turning a quick glance to Naruto, he caught the nod of agreement that said the blond would aid him if such a circumstance were to occur.
Kakashi's sharp gaze fell heavily on the boy they had captured. It was odd. Standing so close together it was easy to see that this boy looked strikingly like Sasuke, the subtle differences giving them a contrast. Apparently, the naga prince was too blinded by his rage to see that. Was that why Sakura had been captured, because in a hazy moment of weakness, he looked so much like Sasuke that she lowered her guard?
"You're those snake creatures from the lake," Sai's blunt statement threw everyone by surprise, especially Hinata who was hearing this news for the first time.
Snake creatures…as in plural. She had known that Kakashi was a naga, but the stranger was looking directly at Sasuke. Did that mean that Sasuke was a naga? And what about Naruto? And if so, was she the only human in the group? Hinata was surprised when the inner voice she was so used to hearing was silent. Something had happened when she had been knocked out.
A lot of the answers to her questions lied with Naruto. Even Now, Sai's assumption seemed to be proven correct when she felt Naruto's whole body tense.
"How do you know that?" Sasuke pressed the blade closer. While Sai had no fear for his own life, the others cumulatively had more than enough for him. Sasuke wasn't going to kill the guy was he?
"I was the one who rescued Sakura."
"Rescued?" Sasuke's snarl was terrifying as the sharingan flamed to life. Sai seemed to realize that this was the last warning. The next indiscretion would cost him his life.
"Recently, there have been numerous snake-people that roam these woods. Generally, they are not very pleasant and act toward humans with malevolent intent. When I found your group at the lake I assumed that your intent was not honorable due to the girls' lack of dress.
Upon waking, Sakura implored me to let her go back to her friends. At the time, I thought she had misspoken and was only referring to the girl over there." Sai paused, his dead ebony gaze locking with Hinata's shocked pearl.
"I can see now that I was mistaken. As it is clear that that this girl is acting comfortably in your hold, I can assume that you are all her friends, as well as the fact that she is not human herself."
The tomoes in the bloody red began to whir faster and Sai continued on as a low growl reminded him that his life was on the line.
"I brought her to meet my master, the owner of the estate behind me; I had no idea of the intent he had towards her. I had no idea he valued the council of a certain man so much."
Sai could swear the immediate vicinity's temperature dropped dramatically. The reason being because of the icy dread rushing through their veins. Kakashi's question was slow and careful.
"Do you know the name of this man?" Sai remained emotionless.
"I believe his subordinates call him Lord Orochimaru." Sasuke's head dropped his bangs shielding his eyes from view.
"Tell me. Tell me what happened to her."
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"Orochimaru, are you going to show me what's so special about this girl or not?" Sasori was agitated and bored. How could this pathetic girl be of any use to him? Sai followed behind him, his head bowed in submission like the good servant he was.
Further ahead, Orochimaru snapped his jaws his long tongue slipping out past his chin. As soon as I have the sharingan, I will enjoy devouring that annoying human. Kabuto, who was at his side, merely smirked, but Sakura whom he held prisoner with a kunai held against her neck, shivered.
Orochimaru was a monster and if she didn't find a way of escape soon, she along with any other human would die or suffer a worse fate.
They had taken her outside, but instead of turning left, they led her straight to stand over a short wooden bridge. This bridge passed over the large expanse of water that consisted of Sasori's natural aquarium. As soon as they came to a stop on that bridge, Sakura knew what was going to happen to her.
"No! Please no don't!" A sadistic grin crossed Orochimaru's face as she pleaded.
"Oh, don't be like that princess. I know you'll love it here. Consider it a home away from home if you will." Sakura turned to Sai, her eyes shining with desperation.
"Sai, please, don't let them do this! Orochimaru is evil! You have to stop him! Please…I need your help." Sakura went still as the kunai pressed closer against her throat. Sai remained motionless.
"Master Sasori…"
"Silence, this doesn't concern you." Sai looked down completely obedient once more. Orochimaru motioned toward the lagoon aquarium. Kabuto instantly started moving Sakura closer to the railing.
"Oh come now, Sakura, we know you have to return to a water source every night. Why fight? You only have a minute left at the most anyways." He was right. The sun was setting as they spoke.
With a firm shove, Sakura was sent flying over the rope railing and into the lagoon. Upon making contact with the water Sakura felt that familiar stirring deep within her. The desire to shift form was intensifying with each passing second.
The girl is wet. I can hardly count this as a sight worthwhile." Orochimaru smirked.
"Patience my friend, patience." In response, the group of males all moved toward the railing to watch Sakura as she sank deeper into the water.
The urge to change was unbearable. The need pulsed within her until it had synchronized with the beat of her heart. It was too hard to concentrate on anything else but holding off the change. But soon her burning lungs reminded her that if she didn't focus on getting air soon, she would die.
I'm sorry…
The dam broke as she lost consciousness. The change was almost instantaneous, the whole process from fin to fin lasting all of three seconds.
Sasori's eyes widened as well as Sai's.
"A mermaid…She will…be the perfect addition to my collection." Sasori was entranced. The girl looked ethereal, even when she was still dressed only in the skimpy night gown that flowed about her. Her long sea foam tail and almost transparent fins glittered in the moonlight.
Orochimaru smirked. It wouldn't be long now.
Sai was speechless. Sakura wasn't human. She was a mermaid! That must be why she dreaded the water. Did he really just put her in serious danger? He certainly thought so as he watched her sink to the sandy bottom of the lagoon.
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"Orochimaru has her?!" Sasuke screamed in Sai's face. Suddenly Sasuke was pulled back by Kakashi, the kunai at Sai's throat dropping. This action probably saved the human's life.
"Sasuke, calm down. He didn't know about Orochimaru. We'll get Sakura back." Sasuke struggled to against his sensei.
"I can help you save her." The abnormally silent Naruto spoke trying to save the situation before he would have to intervene.
"And how do we know that we can trust you?" The artist with no emotions remained calm.
"Simple. If I do not, you will kill me, and because I'm the only one who can get you in."
Like it? To be honest, I had a heard time writing this chapter, not to mention the fact that I got food poisoning. UGH.
MaoAyanamipl: I would be honored if you would be my beta. You are an awesome reviewer! However, since this story if almost finished, I would like to ask you if you would beta my new sasusaku story instead. If interested please review!
PLEASE REVIEW! SASUSAKU FLUFF NEXT CHAPTER!