If I Should Die Before I Wake: Part 2
"Hinata! We should go back! They need our help!"
"Naruto-kun, Neji gave us an order. We should follow it and complete our mission."
"To hell with that! They need our help back there!"
"I don't think it would be good to do that, Naruto-kun. Neji and the others are holding off that criminal in order to get you to your destination. We would be making their efforts pointless if we didn't follow our part of the plan."
Naruto grumbled loudly. He knew she was right, but he didn't have to like it.
"I know, I know. You are right as usual Hina-chan."
She smiled at his use of her nickname, a signal that he was claming down. They had taken a shortcut across the grasslands and crossed the boarder an hour ago with Naruto hollering and screaming the entire time. He wanted to go back and help his teammates. Truthfully, Hinata wanted to go back and help as well, but she knew that the important thing was getting Naruto to the Sand. They were shinobi after all and the mission was above all else. She also had faith in her cousin, Lee and Ten-Ten. As a three-man team they had been very strong. She had done various missions with each of them and found them to be very capable shinobi. Also her cousin had recently ascended to the rank of Jounin. She had trained him once he announced to the clan that he intended to take the exam, so Hinata knew first hand how powerful Neji was and trusted his abilities and judgment. If he said they were able to handle things, then she would take his word for face value.
Hinata looked across the dunes as they flew by them. The dessert had greeted them well after nightfall and it appeared to them an endless sea of brown. The wind had picked up right after they reached the boarder and it was hitting with full force as they traveled across the sands. I hope they are alright. She thought to herself. She glanced over to Naruto who was moving at her right side. She could still see the will to fight in his eyes. I know you want to help, Naruto-kun, but we have to move on.
Naruto on the other hand, wasn't taking things quite was. He was seething with idea of running back towards his friends and fighting against Itachi. In fact, if not for Hinata, he would have turned back a long time ago. I'm getting sick of hiding, damnit! If they want to come for me, then let me give them something to take with them! The Kyuubi vessel thought as they traveled along. He didn't like the idea of leaving them alone with an S-Ranked criminal. Sure, Neji was a Jounin, but Itachi was one of the big three of the bingo book. He was one that bounty hunters didn't bother trying to catch; his reputation was more than enough to keep their greed in check. Either way, Naruto didn't want to let things go as they were. To him it didn't matter if it was now or years from now, he expected to fight the Akatsuki and the old pervert had trained him for that eventuality.
Both Leaf shinobi were so absorbed in their thoughts that they never noticed the flaming mass barreling down on them. Naruto felt the heat and noticed the change in light just in time.
"Hinata!" he gasped as he flung himself towards her. He managed to cover her just in time. The flame missed them, but exploded on the ground nearby. The explosion rocked them both, Naruto receiving the blunt of the punishment as he shielded his teammate. He wasn't able to prevent them from being flung apart.
Naruto found himself tasting sand. He had landed face first in a dune. His body felt numb and weak. Obviously the blast had taken more out of him than he imagined. "H-Hinata? Where are you?" he asked as he looked around. A monstrous crater was ablaze from the blast of the fireball that hit the ground. "Hinata?" he called out again as he saw a lone figure walk out of the darkness towards him.
"Wrong." A voice uttered.
Naruto didn't time to react as he found himself watching the black and crimson eyes of Uchiha Itachi dance in a pattern. The blonde shinobi felt an invisible jolt of some kind hit him in the chest. His mind told him to stand and fight, but he found his legs unresponsive. Move, legs! Damn you! He wanted to shout at himself. Fear, an emotion he rarely experienced, washed over him as the renegade shinobi approached. He was helpless to do anything but watch the wild spinning eyes of the Sharingan user.
"W-What. . . did you. . .do?" Naruto uttered.
"Paralysis Jutsu. A technique created by my clan." Itachi spat. "Don't bother with struggling. I have to remove the jutsu for you to move again. I don't think I will be doing that anytime soon. You know, you have proven to be more trouble than you're worth. However, this ends now." Naruto's eyes grew with each step the Uchiha took towards him. The young boy's mind flashed as he realized he was finally in a situation he couldn't handle. Thoughts of his own demise ran wildly through his head. I can't go out like this. I still haven't kept my promise. . .I have to protect everyone. . .
Itachi stood over the panic-stricken Naruto and shook his head. He couldn't believe that this young brat was the carrier of the nine-tailed demon. The most powerful demon in existence, the one that nearly demolished his home village, was housed in a mere child.
From Itachi's view the boy was an unworthy host. He didn't even put up a fight. Itachi thought as he looked at the young shinobi sitting in front of him. His friends were more trouble than he turned out to be. Ridding him of this demon will be doing him and the world a favor. .eh? What's . . .
Itachi couldn't finish his thought due to a whitish-blue blur blasting his way. His first reaction was to counterattack, but several blows to the mid-section quickly made that idea null and void. The elder Uchiha was sent flying, yet he quickly regained his balance in mid-air and landed gracefully on the ground.
"Oh, I forgot about you." He said with a slight smirk. Hyuuga Hinata blocked his path to Naruto, arms and legs posed in her family's fighting stance. She was breathing heavily but the look of determination in her eyes was unmistakable.
"I won't let you lay a finger on Naruto-kun." she stated.
"That stance . . . you must be part of the Hyuuga clan like that other one," Itachi said. "He put up a good fight you know. Last one standing. He managed a few good blows in the end but it still wasn't enough. And I can tell you aren't quite as good as your kin."
"What did you do to my cousin?"
"If he's lucky, not breathing. I tried to make things painless, but he was a stubborn one."
"Neji..." Hinata whispered. "Please be alive. . ."
Meanwhile Naruto watched this exchange in befuddlement. In all the time that he had known her, not even during her fight with her cousin during the Chuunin Exams, had Hinata looked so confident. He could tell by her posture that she meant every word of her threat to Itachi. Killer intent oozed off her and filled the air. But none of it changed the fact that he had just come face to face with the chakra level of Uchiha Itachi and he knew that the Hyuuga heiress was no match for him.
"Hinata! Get out of here! You're no match for him." Naruto pleaded. He struggled to move his arms but found his efforts futile. "Save yourself!" Because I can't protect you this time. . .
"Naruto-kun," she began without turning to face him. "You've saved me more times than I can count. I nearly lost my way once, but you, you showed me the right way. I'm not afraid to die protecting you."
"Hinata, please listen."
"I'm not going anywhere."
It was the most finite statement she ever made to anyone. Naruto knew it was useless to argue with her because he would have done the same thing. The four dead Hokage's would not have been able to drag him away if Hinata were in his position. Tears began to form in his eye.
"Hina-chan. . ." he said finally.
"Naruto-kun. Whatever happens, I have always and will forever love you." She turned her head for a moment and gave him the warmest smile he ever had the pleasure of seeing.
"L-love . . . me?" he stuttered. Her words hit him like a gut punch. She didn't mean it! She doesn't what I think she means. . . . no, I think she does. Wait-, "Oh no! Not now! Please don't do this now!"
"Sayonara . . . Naruto-kun." Naruto barely heard her speak as she turned back around to face her enemy. She took off towards Itachi with blinding quickness, her hands aglow with green chakra. Itachi easily dodged her first attack, but was instantly put on the offensive by her continuous combos.
From his vantage point, Naruto looked on in awe. Any time he witnessed Hinata fight, there was always a sense that she was not quite there. She had learned over the years to be more confident her abilities and her skills were still comparable the most of their team. But her moves seemed to lack . . . zeal. But now things were different. Her moves were definite, precise. The grace and fluidity of her movements were coupled with killer instinct. The combination was one that was both beautiful and frightening. The shy, quiet girl he knew and fought beside had morphed into a ferocious tigress. I knew Hinata was good, but this is incredible. The blonde boy thought. I can't believe I didn't see this before. . . She's so amazing, so strong and beautiful . . . . . and . . . . She loves me. Something inside Naruto warmed over as he watched her hands whirl and strike at the rogue ninja. Do I feel the same way? Can I return the feelings she has for me? Naruto pondered his own feelings he silently, but couldn't get past his own confusion. While all of this was going on, Naruto continued to fight the affects of Itachi's jutsu.
While Naruto focused on regaining control over his motor skills, the battle between the S-criminal and the Hyuuga heiress intensified. Itachi had quickened the pace of the fight, but found the girl still matched his tempo. His strikes were either blocked or dodged and while he managed to connect every so often, the girl would not go down. She's possessed. The Akatsuki member thought while forming hand seals. "Katon: Ryuuka No Jutsu!" his voice echoed before blowing a large flame towards the dark-haired girl. Hinata stunned him by blocking the attack with a whirling dome of chakra. She silently thanked her cousin for teaching her the more advanced techniques of their bloodline. As soon as she came out of her spin, she launched herself at her foe and took a swipe at his face. Her hands never hit him, but a split second later, a mark of blood appeared where her hand would have landed. Itachi took a moment to wipe away the trickle of blood from his face, and then hurled three kunai towards the girl. Hinata dodged the first two, but the third hit its mark and sunk into the flesh of her arm. Despite the hit, she never missed a beat; instead she landed directly in front of Itachi in the middle of a stance.
"Hand of the Eight Divinations: Sixty-four Palms." She shouted. With speed she never knew she possessed, the girl's first two strikes landed. "Two points!" The next two landed on the man's neck and chest "Four points!" Itachi staggered backwards as the flurry of strikes hit him. "Sixteen . . . twenty . . . thirty-two . . . sixty-four!" She accentuated the final blow with a rough thrust to his chest, the impact flinging him a few feet before he bounced on the ground. Hinata held the position for a few seconds. Her jacket and shirt were torn; bruises on her arms and body were evident. The girl's labored breathing was the only sound to be heard around the area. Did I do it? She thought as she allowed her body to relax for a moment.
"You only hit me the first four times." An ominous voice said from behind her.
The girl's eyes widened at the shock of the voice. Before she could compose herself, she felt a sharp pain in her back. She looked down and saw the tip of a blade sticking out of her chest with blood dripping off of it.
"HIIIIINNNNNNAAAAAAATTTTAAAAAAAAAAA!" Naruto screamed.
Itachi slid the blade out of her back and Hinata watched at Naruto as he screamed at her. Her expression was blank, as if her essence was draining out of her body by the second. Her shirt began to turn a dark maroon color as the blood from the wound spread. Hinata's pupil less eyes stared at the blonde boy as she reached out to him.
"N-Naruto. . . kun. . ." she breathlessly whispered. She never felt her body go limp, as everything went black to the young girl; the body of Hyuuga Hinata hit the ground with a soft thud and the sand below her turned a deep crimson.
"No. . . NO! …. NOOOOOOO!" Naruto agonized. She's not dead! She's only hurt! She can't be dead! Please don't let the one person in the world who loves me. . . . oh no. . . The young shinobi started to hyperventilate while he watched Hinata's body. His eyes shifted upwards to the man in black who was standing over her body. The kunai in his hand was soaked with blood. . . her blood. "You," Naruto spat venomously. "You, hurt Hina-chan." There was a deadly edge to the blonde boy's quiet words. Itachi looked at him and noticed a red glow forming around the Kyuubi vessel. "I'll going to send you to HELL!"
The red chakra around Naruto glowed dully and then burst from his body in a rage. A harsh wind blew around him and Itachi felt it whip his hair into his face. He held his hands over his face for a moment. The light died down and he looked again. For the first time in years, Itachi felt a twinge of fear. The demon chakra burned around the boy brightly, its aura flowing out of him in the form of nine tentacle-like tails that lashed out in a fury around his body. Naruto's face was looked more angular and the whisker scars from his birth looking more pronounced. Gone were his cerulean eyes; in their place were two orbs a demonic shade of red. His hands looked less human with his fingers looking longer and the nails appearing long and claw-like. Bent over slightly with his arms out, he didn't have any kind of proper fighting stance. The blonde looked more beast than man to Itachi. The S-class criminal cursed his luck; apparently the demon was active within the child. From the looks of things, it was apparent demons were not what his family had in mind when they created the paralysis jutsu.
"You hurt my friends," Naruto snarled at the man. "then you hurt Hina-chan. . . . I can never, ever, forgive you. I'll make sure you never hurt anyone again!" Itachi has been in a fighting stance the entire time, but he wasn't able to defend himself against what came next. In an instant, the young shinobi vanished and he felt something slash his chest. Nothing but red blurs were visible to him as his body was assaulted by a barrage of gashes. He felt blood rushing out of his wounds as he twisted around trying to catch the boy with his blade. But nothing stopped the Kyuubi carrier's onslaught. It simply looked like a man twisting around in circles wildly. Finally, Itachi crumpled to the ground, body torn and blood everywhere.
Naruto stopped in front of the fallen criminal. No longer did he have the look of pure rage from before. Instead, a blank, lifeless expression was on his face. He looked down at the Uchiha man and raised his clawed hand. "You've taken so much from me. . . ." he whispered. "You took a friend from me even before I knew your name. Your deeds have forfeited your life." Suddenly the wind began to pick up and the body of Itachi flickered as if it were about to disappear. "No. . ." Naruto whispered. He took a swing at the body, but he hit nothing but air. And like that, Uchiha Itachi was gone. "NOOOOOOO!" Naruto shouted. "I'll find you! I'll hunt you down even after I'm dead! Not even Hell will be able to hide you from me!"
Naruto heard of cough behind him. The blood-red orbs in his eyes flickered until they returned to their normal crystal azure hue. Quickly, his body reverted to its normal state, and Naruto blinked his eyes as if just waking up. He turned towards the coughing to see Hinata coughing up blood and struggling to turn herself over. The young shinobi rushed to her side and held her up in his lap.
"Naruto-kun," she managed weakly. "Is that you?"
"Hina-chan, you're still here! Don't worry I'll get you to someplace where you can get help."
"Did you beat him?" she asked.
"Yes, but he got away."
"At least we can accomplish the mission right?" she said.
"I don't care about the mission right now; I just want to make sure you are ok."
"It's alright, I did my job and I can be happy with that." She coughed up a bit of blood, but Naruto wiped it away. "You know what I've always admired about you, Naruto-kun?"
"What's that, Hina-chan?"
"You were always so ready to defend anyone who needed. I've never seen you backed down from a fight, especially when someone you cared about was in danger. I just wanted a chance to prove to someone I cared about that I could defend them."
"You did great, Hinata. I've never seen you fight like that before. You would have whipped Sakura and Ino's asses with those moves." The young girl chuckled at his crassness. It was charming sometimes and it always made her smile.
"Can you forgive me for worrying you?"
"Of course, Hina-chan. Anything you want." He wiped a hair from her face.
"Good, I couldn't die knowing you were mad at me."
"Don't talk like that! You're going to be fine, old lady Tsunade is going to fix you up and we will go have a big dinner and we will forget that this bullshit ever happened! Just tell me how to bandage you up and I'll take you . . . ."
Hinata placed her finger to his lips to quiet him.
"Naruto-kun?"
"Yes, Hina-chan?"
"Please. .. . would you kiss me? I want to know how it feels like to be kissed by the one I love."
With tears in his eyes, Naruto had his first kiss. It was soft and tender, but there was sadness as their lips met. He felt her warmth as she returned the kiss, and for a moment, nothing mattered to him. The whole world would have exploded and he would not have cared. Which made it all the harder when he felt her go completely limp in his arms.
"Oh no. ." he whispered. "Don't leave me, Hinata. . ." he said her name over and over as the tears flowed freely from his eyes. "Wake up, damnit, wake up." He held her face in his hands and looked at her, desperately trying to get her to respond, but nothing came of his efforts. His tears fell on her face and diluted the blood that had dried on her cheeks. The site of his tears on her face only made him sob louder.
"It appears we are too late." A raspy voice said. Naruto glanced up through red, burry eyes to see the Kazakage of the Sand, Gaara, standing above him. He was flanked on each side by his brother and sister. Temari and Kankuro each looked down at Naruto with expressions of pity. Gaara's expression appeared solemn and confused. He had never lost anyone close to him or seen them near death, but he could see that his friend was deeply hurt. That was enough for him to feel sorry for him, even if he didn't completely understand.
"We have to get her help," Naruto said weakly. He picked up the girl and held her limp body out towards the three of them. "Please help me." Gaara looked at Naruto and then looked at the body in his hands.
"Temari, run ahead to the village and tell the medics to prepare themselves," the sand leader spoke. "Kankuro, search the area." His brother and sister nodded before they scattered off to their appointed duties. Gaara looked at his friend and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I will do everything in my power to help save this girl."
"Thank you."
"I owe you this, and more. Think nothing of it."
*****************************
The elder Uchiha had managed to keep himself alive until he felt he was safe enough to stop moving. A few hours of travel had placed him in a relatively secluded spot in a forest near the boarder of the Wind Country. He had given himself ample time to rest up and treat his wounds well enough to travel the long distance to the Akatsuki lair. He would require extensive treatment and rest to fully heal, but it would be worth it in the long run. He had miscalculated when he chose to leave Kisame behind. He would bring him as the puppet master with him on his next attempt to capture the brat.
He leaned up against a tree to give himself a moment to rest. His tattered coat was soaked in blood and sweat. As he looked at his ripped clothing and scared body, he began to laugh. His years as the prodigy of the Uchiha clan and time as an Akatsuki member had numbed him to pain. Years had gone by without him been in any significant danger, so in a sense, he forgot what it felt like to feel physical pain. His power had put him in such a high class as a ninja Itachi had locked away any form of emotion. The fight with the demon carrier had given him a rush. There was a sense of urgency when he was being slashed by the boy's attacks. Itachi felt like he had woken up from a drowsy stupor.
His fingers lightly traced a slash mark over his arm. The dull soreness from the wound tingled and sent sensations across his body.
"So this is what pain feels like. . . I had forgotten." He pondered while rubbing a few drops of blood between his fingers. The rays of the sun filtered through the tree foliage and hit his face as he leaned against the large oak. As he contemplated his next move, thought of all the times he fought with thinking about what could have happened to him. It puzzled to him how he faced so many life-or-death struggles without wondering about the outcome. Was it possible that in his pursuit to becoming the perfect shinobi and obtaining an existence higher than he was given had made him into something other than human? Was it possible that all he truly needed was an opponent who pressed his skills beyond their known limit? A challenge, a danger that was greater than his own power; it was something he turned over in his head. It sat in his spot under the tree for a few minutes thinking of this until his attention was caught by a presence observing him from nearby.
"So you've found me, at last, little brother?"
Sasuke watched his elder sibling from his hiding place for a few moments before finally making his presence known. He knew his brother would sense his chakra eventually so he did nothing to suppress it. In fact, he wanted his brother to know who it was that was stalking him. He jumped down from his perch and landed in front of Itachi. His eyes held a deep scorn for the man he called his brother, and Sasuke wanted to make sure there was no mistaking his emotions.
"I'm come to settle an old debt, Itachi," Sasuke told his older brother.
"So this decides who will be the last of our clan, eh?" Itachi pulled out a kunai from under his cloak and brandished it towards his brother. He appraised his younger sibling from top to bottom and snickered. "It's like looking in a mirror." His younger brother sneered as his remark.
"I'm nothing like you," Sasuke spat. "And I'll prove it, by killing you."
"You'll have to take a number; several people want me to kill me today."
"Well, I had priority years ago. . . . Let's end this."
Sasuke jumped a few feet backward and landed in a ready position. The two Uchiha brothers watched each other intently, blades at the ready. They stood like this for what seemed like an eternity, each waiting for the other to make a move. Finally, both Uchida men rushed each other their eyes active with their clan's infamous bloodline. There was a clash of metal against metal, then the sound of flesh tearing. And as quickly as it began, it was over. The long feud between the two Uchiha survivors had finally come to an end.