This is honestly my first time writing supernatural genre, so please bear with the fic. Anyway.
The Long Fall of Justice. Part Two
The day's a lovely revelry with little pale sunbeams; where disorder's an embellishment, too lucid for Hinata even her eyes exude that certain stain of uncertainty. She walks without grace, she speaks of the wealthiest silence; and the way she turns her back is discomforting, away now from the very village that kept her clan in a social podium of sort, a pedestal too high its splinters are readily to break apart.
Wherefore in this awkward cadence, crispness's on her audition with the foliage against her footwear. She hikes with vague strides, each step marked by oppositions of the heart, to go back, and but of the mind to take flight – marked too much that Neji recoils, shaping concerns with the slightest hints. "Hinata-sama... be alright, or the clan would unsettle me,"
"Ne-Neji-kun... I... I don't know what to do,"
He's a mute siren. "Neither do I, but we have to manage."
"I... I know,"
Brightness is a companion as the day washes itself anew with time, and they are taking glances at the anonymous fields hosting itself for their eyesight to feast, to travel as they follow the unclear tracks of walkways. Which, for those noble eyes, are furthered only by confusion; traversing now, going upwards, and the verdant hills are much taller than in Konoha. "Someone's already been here," Neji whispers, cautiously, taking steps forward – a human armor for the heiress.
"...stay at my back," he continues, taking more courageous and curious steps. The other flinches, unsure as always and but follows her cousin none the less, catching only a prying instinct with every pace. The grazing of their garbs against nature converts into loud sounds mounting at her earshot – she isn't even sure if it's her heart pulsating; or was it really beating at all?
"It's leading to another... village. The tracks're too vague from this point on."
He faces Hinata, taking her right hand, offering so awkwardly a weak smile for consolation. "Hiashi-sama gave me a map beforehand. We should look for others,"
"But – but we can't be in Konoha–"
"We're gonna look outside Konoha," he says, and a folded older leaf manifests itself with the gentlest reflex of his left sleeve, and they began to have analytical stares next. "The tracks can lead to Water Country,"
"Is it... a good idea to go there?"
"We can traverse westward and head to Suna. It'd be easier for us, we're allies after all."
"Wha-what about those tracks?"
"We'll mind that when we've found others. It's more... secure."
"What... whatever happened to Konoha..."
Hinata's words are honeyed with weakness, much feebler as she takes one beautiful look at the village's picturesque view of strife; the sun smiles too mockingly, too quaint for a charring village – at her farthest gaze and the village seems to fade ever so gradually. "Hiashi-sama has told me that this would happen. Retribution and all."
"...retribution?"
"Iwagakure lost too many times. Another attempt, and quite successful at that,"
"Why now?" She hears her inquisitive words.
"I'm still not sure about details. But from what I can see it's a well planned attack." He sighs.
"Let's go."
Highlighted Notice/s on Surveillance 05-1.1 RCHMR (01)
Other Sources to Follow
Initial Surveillance
6.55AM. Orochimaru has stayed beside Team Sarutobi's Tsunade's apartment, and is currently spacious; delivery of fixtures tomorrow morning. Apparent objects are scrolls, mattress, three chairs and one table. Surveillance target has left the building at 7AM, presumably en route to the Missions Office.
7.03AM. Target has received surveillance mission alongside his two teammates. Proceeding to check his former apartment as Motoko ensures to see them outside the village's terrains.
7.20AM. Owner of the apartment is missing, but still proceeded to examine the sealed door. Visible objects found in the place are mattress, three chairs and one table and one cabinet. Nothing suspicious about the usual provisions. Initial examination of the sealed portion of the southern walls is in stages.
7.30AM. The seal is high-level fuuinjutsu whose origins are derived from combining the light and wind elements. Unsealing it would leave tracks, and would require another sealing (whose workings are still unknown but can be studied), both of factors affected by time. Copying the justu's forms in a scroll at the moment. Would intend for a revisit after investigation of the fuuinjutsu.
8.30AM. Consulted with Homura regarding the seal (but did not disclose any information) and said it would take half a day to unseal it, although the fuuinjutsu works in a minute at the onset. Proceeding to study the seal. No other relevant information as of this time, with Motoko still observing.
The heiress is a long fall for confusion, rowdy; like the people of happy faces, minding their own business – too hectic for their own good and just passing their perplexity by. A fisherman wipes a sweat off of his temples, and his freckled-face daughter entices the hungry townsfolk with her voice's charm, mellow but confident at that. Merchandise stalls spring up at the sounds of cracking wood, selling what they think would give them practical life's convenience. The zephyr and dusts are encircling them all with each step, although with slightest movement it was, to some extent, a solace for their tired bodies. A thousand of faces for a crowd and nothing else can make them feel more alone.
"Everything here's... normal," she whispers, recoiled again.
"It's... plausible. They're not at war after all."
"...but this's the nearest country outside Konoha,"
"Well now that you've mention it... excuse me mister,"
"Hmm? You're... I can see you're from Leaf,"
"Yes we are, we think you're one the better persons to ask; we see you're shinobi, too,"
"Sand of the Sunagakure. What can I do for you?" The middle-aged man has amiably asked, scratching his forehead as sign for awkwardness.
"Have you seen any other Konoha shinobis around? This country is the nearest to our territory, we're thinking that there might be a refugee or something,"
"Refugee? What d'ya mean?"
"Uhm... haven't – haven't you heard... of the news?" It was Hinata who took the courage to speak this time around.
"What news?"
"We're at war with... with Iwagakure,"
"War? There was never a war four years since."
"...what?"
"But I've seen a couple of Konoha shinobis down by the sand bridge southwest from here. A white-haired one. Looking for someone, too."
"Maybe that's–"
"Thanks–"
And so it was their next mission, leaving the bearded man behind.
7.25AM. Team Sarutobi has left the village. Proceeding to take pursuit.
7.35AM. Team Sarutobi arguing about provisions, and decisions on what route to take. Orochimaru remains to be silent and submissive from the other two's decisions, but opted to vote for Tsunade's choice to travel westward crossing Water Country to minimize possibilities of being seen by roaming Iwagakure shinobis.
8.30AM. Has reached Water Country's northern territory and is proceeding westward towards Suna. Orochimaru still remains passive and seems to know they're being watched. Looking at various locations and seems to stare at my position on several occasions.
8.45AM. Orochimaru was first one to speak of someone watching over them to his teammates. Pursuing the emissary. Has refrained moving and disguised through genjutsu, but an Iwagakure shinobi soon was found fifty meters away from position. Has withdrawn from any more surveillance to avoid further suspicion. Proceeding to go back to village.
9.25AM. Has learned about the fuuinjutsu and is intending to unseal the fuuinjutsu tomorrow morning after Team Sarutobi receives another mission. Proceeding to observe Hatake Jinzou as of this moment.
Lethargy is food for their bodies each time their feet alight from one building to another tall foliage, not even bothering the confused but narrowed eyes from the supposedly bothered townsfolk. Hinata's movements're slower, more like journeying in her own world as her cousin's eyes peel the place layer by layer. The place they're in is known to lodge several bodies of water but undergrowth was more noticeable; when the Hyuuga members reach the grassy plains, scarecrows are amassing themselves beside an antiquated oak. It wasn't even dark and they were already frantically dancing from their ravenous appetite.
"It really is odd," Neji spoke with an alert mind while Hinata nods with a weak heart.
Both took their strides towards the scarecrows which're almost raven-haired when their feathers are frolic as they eat to their hearts' content. They soon realize the presence of the all-seeing nobilities, and with a time too slow their eyes begin to taper and flew to random directions.
"Neji… Neji-kun..."
Time was however too rapid for the heiress' eyes when she saw darkness immediately after the sight that even made the supposedly resilient branch member wince. A white-haired man, and his body surely has experienced better days: with dislocated bones by the thighs, bloodied and too open for view when some other frames, jagged and reaching to the nape, become signs of torture. Seemingly black whirls can be seen at the bloodied chest. "I'm guessing he's shinobi, too. But never from out village."
"Don't worry Hinata-san, he's no Kakashi-san," he continued, shifting his byakugan sight from the feeble lass to the distant and cloudy eyes of the very person they thought was a keystone to the mystery of violence and war. His mouth was dry open, his lower lip tormented by beaks; it seemed as if he was whispering something to the scarecrows.
"Let's go to Suna, Neji-kun..."
"Of course. We can't get conspicuous to other shinobis who're after us." Steps are taken away from the bloodied sight. The trees are rustling despite the day that's too warm even the breeze cannot help to soothe both of them – it wasn't even a gentle one. Some more steps, and they hear crackling bones; the scarecrows have resumed feasting on the corpse again.
"That's the farthest you can go," says a commanding voice, and thereupon the Hyuugas stopped their movements altogether but rousing their blood as veins on their temples become noticeable at side view. Their absolute sight renders the enemy's disguise futile while the Hyuugas trace an outline of tresses long enough to reach beyond the shoulders, a frame sustaining an average built, and energy coils housing sufficed chakra to battle two tired and hungry shinobis.
It was Neji who breaks the sighing silence, "Who are you?"
"My name... is not as flashy as yours, Hyuuga Neji."
"How did he know your name, Neji-kun?" the other whispers. The burning sun clears the winds away and the world took a psychedelic halt.
"State your business or we're leaving,"
"You can't leave… and you won't live long either. The corpse you saw tried to, and look at him now," whispers the man, loud enough to strike intimidation for Neji and prick Hinata's heart with needles of fear. Neji flexes his body in a defensive stance while the heiress of absolute sight takes hesitant steps when the man before them reveals himself, amongst the shadows creeping from the trees and with a sprawl of his palm water projectile flies in a blinding speed.
Kaiten. A dome of pure energy, enclosing both of them. A collision of techniques and the waters fly at all directions, sprinkles at sight but missiles upon impact. "Nice trick you have,"
"Hnn," he utters with intimidated eyes.
"Even a brave soul like you will suffer,"
"Cut with your chestnut, fight me and suffer your demise!" The soaring water soon appears, yet again, and Neji's own sprawled palms utter rejection to the ballistic torrent as the winds dance with his chakra; the waters spray themselves at the left, drenched soils and they turn into scacrecrows.
"Yes, that's right... I am Demise."
Highlighted Notice/s on Surveillance 05-1.1 RCHMR (02)
Other Sources to Follow
Initial Surveillance
11.45AM. Team Sarutobi entered the ramen house while Hatake Jinzou enters the same restaurant (with companion, supposed to be the spouse).
12.05PM. Team Sarutobi still arguing about the menu. Orochimaru still remains to be silent but with an apprehensive look. He seems to stare at the direction where Jinzou's table is although not a valid proof to create link between them.
1PM. Team Sarutobi sparring. Hatake Jinzou taking regular C-missions until the investigation herein clears him of any suspicions. It seems that Jinzou senses our surveillance but hasn't opened any discussion with us.
1.58PM. Orochimaru went to his apartment beside Tsunade's (fixtures are being delivered). Nothing suspicious as usual. Made discussions to the landowner (of Orochimaru's previous place) and scheduled things before the construction of Hyuuga mansion. Has two weeks before the construction.
2.35PM. Hatake Jinzou going to the City Hall with his spouse. Investigating his business at the moment.
If it wasn't for the sunbeams that're struggling for audience, Hinata would've concluded that nighttime was already embracing her. Raven-haired scarecrows have painted almost everything black; the more that the Hyuugas fight, more symbols of demise materialize before them. Time is too swift for her to know, even for her strength to muster – that Hyuuga Neji's also smearing the damp soils red. He fights. Demise lives up to his name. Hinata's participation in the skirmish did not alleviate the excruciation the beaks have been giving them.
A dashing body, gyrating against the earth as Neji breathes pain. Warfare is made of options chosen with only little time, and every option has an equivalent exchange of consequences. A sixty-four divinity strike, and the man before them had his energy sealed; they keep on re-opening nevertheless, a vicious circle and Hinata thinks they both can never cope.
The Hyuuga lad stands with only the resolute face as arsenal against the man, a hyena who doesn't even literally smile. The former releases his energy mid-air, trying to slow the birds down, purchasing enough seconds for escape; he runs for the heiress, and more water projectiles appear.
Kaiten. Hinata's own absolute defense metamorphoses the waters into ten scarecrows.
"Wha– I dunno what to do anymore," utters the heiress.
"I'll buy time for you to escape Hinata-sama," Neji has said between his breaths, and man designated as Demise slowly walks towards them.
"I can't–"
"Do what you're supposed to do... Hinata-sama!" and he's a loud siren of sorts as he unleashes waves of energy, coiling and jazzing with the breeze as they rip through the scarecrows. The supposed enemy only heaves an annoyed sigh. It was taking too long.
He rushes for the man. A vortex of metal against the wind and the scythe flies on a somersault of movement; furious and too swift even the almost impeccable sight of the youngster overlooked, realizing its presence only as it punctures through him. A cough of blood as it adds more red to the painting of death.
Hinata's steps are too slow for their own good meanwhile while her Byakugan deactivates gradually. The birds have started preying on his cousin and they fight for his flesh while the Hyuuga heiress deems herself dead even if her heartbeats pulsates like a frantic mantra. The man before her indeed was death personified.
"You're raw, Hinata. I shall spare you until you're sweet enough for us," were the last words she heard as the cadence between her sick heart and phobic mind turn into a rowdy halt.
3.07PM. Was given the necessary information regarding Hatake Jinzou's business in the City Hall. Team Sarutobi given a three-day mission in the war against Iwagakure to avoid suspicions from Orochimaru. As requested by the captain, surveillance team has prepared a three-man squad for the un-sealing.
3.35PM. Documents obtained reveal Hatake Jinzou's petition to change his name, as requested by the spouse's clan. "Jinzou" is "doll" and/or "automaton" when translated, and is deemed inappropriate for his bearing. Surveillance target requested for "Sakumo". No reasons are written in the form.
4.47PM. Unsealing the suspicious secret door as of this moment.
3.50AM. The sealed door opened as of the moment. Current observation included a pathway of some sort, and is preparing for full investigation once the reconnaissance bug (sent for the squad's safety) returns from its ANBU owner.
4.10AM. Preparing for full investigation. Initial report claims the pathway to be leading towards the southern foliage of Konoha territory.
"Take the heiress out! Protect her at all costs!" The double-doors of her room open. Hinata never thought of herself asleep but her eyes felt she took the longest slumber. Footpaths come violent at her earshot when her dreamy self awakens from the all-too familiar happenstance before her. Weakly now and the candle illumines the senior's haze of a face, something vulnerable her noble sight can do.
"I–what's... what's happening?" She asked, yet again.
"Hinata-san... the village is at war,"
"At... war?"
"The Earth Country, as the Hokage predicted," utters a main branch member.
She reckoned replying "why" but her silence replaced her thought. Hiashi seizes her arm, maneuvering her body. "We have shut down power in the mansion to minimize possibilities of seeing you. You shall go at the escape route, leading you southern. I've told your teammates about this and they shall be waiting, and you three shall come back when it's safe,"
"...is Hanabi dead?" She uttered in a thoughtless sort of prediction. A nod indicated an affirmation, and three kunais left the Hyuuga member beside her bleeding.
He sighs. "Concern yourself only with what you're supposed to do. Now go. Take this just in case," he whispers now that enemies located them. "...and be sure to make it alive," he shouts against the deafening rumbles of the earth before them and Hiashi thrusts her at such egress. With a confused psyche, she is a fearful soul trying to muster enough strength to run. Her body was too weak from reasons unknown to her, and the welling tears have appeared on her seemingly innocent eyes; and while Konoha struggled to free itself from all the violence, Hinata's hurdles are nothing more but indications of a well-remembered past and an uncertain future.
She remembers Neji's bloodied art which caused him his life. The scarecrows which glorified death, and the existence of a vaguely hooded man who certainly is a keystone for all these.
Her breaths pierce the unruly silence of the forest. A conscious soul but a body deprived of any nourishment and she forgot looking at the skies when Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino rush for their teammate, down for the count. Akamaru barks concern.
The sun was beginning to rise when her teammates told her that Uzumaki Naruto was dead.
tbc.