Chapter 5: Wonderful way to die
Summary: Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata and Sakura...these four children fought to fit in, in their home and they succeeded. But their parents left them a keepsake…a country known as Country of Diamonds. Now these four must go to Diamond or risk losing Konoha forever.
Disclaimer: I no own Naruto
Bold means Author Notes
Italicized means character thoughts
Regular typing means character talking and actions
3 days later
Tsunade yelped and fell out of her chair as three angry young men and one angry old woman stomped in. She could have sworn Shizune knew better than to let people in when Tsunade was taking her drunk-let-me-sleep nap. Apparently, these four didn't know that. The 5th Hokage opened her brown-gold eyes, slowly getting up from the floor. Her eyes adjusted to the furious forms of Kakashi, Aivra, Hiashi and Iruka. Quietly, Hiashi hissed "Tsunade…where are our children…?"
Tsunade was quiet for a moment, processing what they said for a moment before she started fighting back laughs. "Um…where did you look?" "We checked Sakura's room, the entire Hyuuga mansion, the Uchiha mansion and Sasuke's apartment and Naruto's apartment! Where is my granddaughter?!" Aivra roared. Finally poor Tsunade couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing…hard. The woman's face turned bright red and tears ran down her cheeks.
"I-I told you!! I told you they would run! Did you listen?! Obviously n-not!" she yelled between laughter. Every one of them sat down and sighed deeply. "Well…" Kakashi sighed. "I trust my teammates. They are strong. They can take care of each other and Hinata…"
"Don't give up!" yelled Iruka. "We'll get them. We just need someone they wouldn't think would follow them…Oh! How about Neji…Ino…Tenten and…Lee! Naruto doesn't really know Ino and Team Gai's teammates so it would be okay!"
Tsunade quickly stopped laughing and looked up. Hiashi, Kakashi and Aivra were nodding and all of them strolled out proudly. Tsunade shook her head and laid it back down. "Whatever helps them have closure…Ladies Hinata and Sakura and Lords Naruto and Sasuke are not coming back to stay…"she said and promptly fell back to sleep.
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Four masked and cloaked teenagers, without hitae-ate (Ninja headbands), walked into a small town at the edge of the Land of Water. Ships and boats of all sizes bobbed at the docks on the gentle waves of the sea. The teenagers were dragging their feet as if they had walked a great distance. They looked like walking zombies.
One of the taller ones, a male, touched the shoulder of the other taller teenagers. "Please Sasuke…Can we stop...? Just for a few moments…we haven't eaten or drunken in 3 days… Sakura and Hinata haven't talked for days…You've collapsed twice and I have coughed up blood because my throat is so raw…please?" he asked quietly, his deep voice low and cracking dangerously.
Sasuke looked up sharply when Naruto said their names out loud. "Don't…say… our… names…Naruto…None of us…know who's…listening…" he whispered but he and Naruto started walking towards the closest all-round food stand they could find. They paused when they noticed Sakura and Hinata were still walking blindly forward. The two walked back, grabbed the girls and walked them to the stand, sitting them down between the boys. The teenagers sat quietly for a moment, just relishing the feel of sitting down for the first time in a while.
"Can I help you?" asked a pretty young waitress softly, seeing that the four were dead tired. Sakura and Hinata started blankly at the wood before them, Naruto was coughing again so Sasuke ordered. "Cold soup please…" he whispered. "Nothing to chew…and melted chocolate…warm melted chocolate please…in a cup. For all of us…"
Naruto and Sasuke lowered their masks and hoods, doing the same for the zombie-like girls. When the soup came, the boys gave one spoon full to each girl. Hinata and Sakura immediately gained some life in their bones and started greedily feeding themselves, as did the boys. They slurped the melted chocolate, loving the feel of the silky, thick chocolate sliding gently down their throats. 4 bowls of soup and 3 cups of chocolate later, the girls were smiling, all the color back into their faces and chattering to each other quietly. The boys were just smiling and sitting there, zoning out, listening to the girls' soft voices. The kind waitress let them sit there without bothering them at all besides taking up their dishes.
After about half an hour later, the four stood up, graciously accepting the on-the-house thermoses of soup and chocolate. They sighed and walked into the sun, towards the boats. They made the mistake of leaving their hoods down…
Sakura smiled for the first time in days and said softly "So what now? We rent a boat, go into a mysterious land we just learned of a few days ago and rule it until the 'leaves' need our help then return to this mysterious land?" Hinata laughed quietly, surprising the boys. Sounds about right yeah" she said grinning. Sakura smiled as Sasuke went up to an old woman. "Excuse me miss, do you know anything about the legend of the Country of Diamonds?" he asked politely. The woman nodded. "Yes…its said to be a beautiful place…untouched by the blood of war…"Sasuke waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes I know that. But what about the border that protects the Diamond?" he asked eagerly. The woman's eyes widened. "Oh you mean the Four Trees of Night and Day…they are the gates into the Land of the Diamonds. Anyone who tries to pass them only gets past the first tree before turning around and soon after, committing suicide. Hundreds of people have died…Your not going are you?" she asked, grabbing the Uchiha's arm. "Of course not, woman just wanted the information for a project. Thank you for the information" he said with a smile and went back to his friends.
They had changed over their time with each other. Sakura stopped being so loud and became quiet…more thoughtful. Hinata started talking more and rarely stuttered. Naruto had also gotten quieter but had a kind of quiet leadership. Sasuke had become trusting the other teenagers and finally had someone to put his faith in. Sakura ran her hand through her hair and froze. Her hair! "Sasuke…"
"Sakura…Sakura! Is that you Sakura?!" yelled a voice from a little ways back.
The teenager froze, a bad feeling dropping into their bellies. They literally froze, one foot in the air. After a few seconds of silence, they slowly turned around and came face to face with Ino, Neji, Lee and Tenten. While Ino and Team Gia jogged to the Konoha escapees just stared at them blankly, trying to process what they were seeing. While the four newcomers were held back by the crowds, Hinata stared at Sakura, Sasuke stared at Naruto. They all glanced quickly at each other, turned on their heels, and ran like hell towards the docks.
"Wait! Sasuke-kun! Sakura! Wait!" yelled Ino.
"Naruto! Where are you going? Stop!" yelled Lee.
"Hinata-sama! Where are you going Hinata-sama?! Stop!" called Neji.
"Naruto-kun! Where are you going?!" called Tenten.
"Oh…N-Neji-niisan looks angry…" she said, stuttering and forcing Naruto to run back and grab her hand, pulling her along.
"Sorry Lee! We really have to go! Sorry!" Sakura yelled, so scared they were gonna take them back to Konoha that adrenaline was making her powerful and dragging Sasuke roughly along. "But Sakura why?!" yelled Lee. Hinata, finally gaining some guts yelled "Because it's gonna save your life soon! Bye Neji-niisan! Ashiteru!" (Ashiteru is Japanese for I love you)
Sakura dragged Sasuke over to a ship the size of a yacht, quickly followed by Naruto and Hinata. Luckily the boat was empty and luckily, Sasuke had read books on how to use a boat. As it pulled away from the docks. "I'm really so Neji-niisan!" yelled Hinata. "Tell Kiba I'm sorry. I'm not interested!" Neji did an interesting face plant. Sasuke blinked. "Oh Ino! I never liked you as more than a friend…if even that!" Ino looked ready to cry. Sakura was quiet for a moment before "Sorry Lee!"
"We're gonna come after you!" yelled Neji.
Naruto smiled mischievously. "Good luck with that!"
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After a few hours of practicing the hand signs and studying the book, the beautiful yacht came to a pause at four trees that grew in the middle of the water. They were going on in front of the other, polished smooth from years of being rubbed by water. One white tree, behind it, a black one, behind that, a white one and the last is another black one. "Okay!" said Hinata, tying her long indigo hair up, like she often did when thinking. "So the first white tree is the tree of hopelessness. I do that one. The next tree is black, the tree or darkness, Sasuke does that one. The third tree, the white one, is the tree of pain. That's Naruto's one. The last tree, which is black, is the tree of death. That one is Sakura. Everyone knows their jutsu?" she asked
Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke nodded. "No pressure" Sasuke said. "But if any of us screws up…we all die. No pressure though!" he said with a rare grin. Naruto did a face plant and the two girls bowed their heads in defeat. In unison, the four said softly "Fear not the shadows. It only means there's a little light nearby!"
"Careful guys. These tress…they show you what you don't want to see…" warned Naruto quietly.
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The boat moved forward, towards the first white and Hinata moved to the bow of the yacht. 'Wait until you pass around the tree…then, when your comrades fall in agony, do your jutsu and call for you spirit animal' Hinata thought shakily. 'That's what mom's books said…' Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were at the steering wheel of the ship, watching Hinata, silently begging her not to let them down but forgiving her if she did.
Sasuke steered around the tree of hopelessness…and fell to his knees. He remembered his brother…Itachi was always better than he was. His mother loved Itachi more…his father expected more of Itachi. Sasuke wasn't worth this…he was only good enough for death. Sasuke's onyx eyes drifted towards his kunai pouch.
Naruto fell on his hands and knees, his head bowed in defeat. Naruto wasn't even good enough for parents. Fate, destiny, or Kami…he wasn't good enough for them. He was only good enough for a sensei with a scar who more than likely wanted him to die. Naruto choked. Death might accept him though…death.
Tears ran down Sakura's face. There was no way they could do this…Hinata was strong but not the strongest. And Sasuke…Sakura always loved Sasuke but…he loved Ino. Ino was prettier…love, friendship…they were worthless.
In the fog of hopelessness of their minds they heard a familiar voice yelling something. For some reason, their feelings of hopelessness eased a bit and they strained for the voice. After a few moments it was clear.
"Monkey, pig, tiger, dragon, ox! Haru!" yelled Hinata, her voice being echoed by howls of a wolf. Suddenly, the soft deep voice of Haru broke through the hopelessness.
"You are good enough! You are powerful enough! You are going to save the lives of your friends! You are going to lead the strongest country in the world! There is always hope in the sparkling of diamonds!"
When Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto looked up, Hinata was sobbing in front of them. "I did it guys! I did it! I am powerful enough! I was good enough! Hurry Sasuke! It's your turn!" she said between sobs.
Sasuke jumped to his feet as Hinata, who also read a few books on boating, took the wheel. Slowly she accelerated the boat around the tree of hopelessness towards the tree of darkness. As soon as the boat got around the smooth black tree, everything went black. Fear raced up Sakura, Naruto and Hinata's spines. They were blind! Hinata felt nothing... not the rock of the boat, the splash of the water, the touch of Naruto beside her. Nothing in the cold darkness. She screamed but choked. Unknown to her, Naruto and Sakura were going through the same things. 'Sasuke!'
"Rooster, Horse, Dog, Snake, Rat! Ai!"
The impatient croak of Ai rang through the darkness. "What did your forefathers say?! Darkness can only come of light! Look for the light that makes this darkness! Find your light! What makes you feel love is your light! Take it and destroy the darkness!" Hinata's mother's face flashed into her eyes, Iruka in Naruto's eyes, and a simple yellow daffodil in Sakura's eyes. They winced in the sunlight to come face-to-face with a grinning Sasuke. "I did it…Your up Naruto…" he said, taking the wheel again. Sakura gagged. "I can't take much more of this…" she groaned. They laughed nervously and slowly steered around the Tree of Pain.
Sakura was the first to scream. She saw nothing but darkness but it felt like thousands of white hot needle were being forced deeply into her skin. Her heart felt like it was ripping itself apart. She opened her mouth to beg for Naruto to go already but it felt like acid was sliding down her throat. Her heart started to beat harder and slower…slower…slower…
"Boar, dragon, horse, monkey, rat! Hotaru!" The loud, excited voice of Hotaru echoed through the pain.
"Don't give up! No pain lasts forever! Almost all pain can be healed by love! You are loved! So fight off the pain like the ninja you are! So that Haruno, Hyuuga and Uchiha are not families that fall at the feel of pain! Pain is like darkness! It can be fought off! Fight it!"
Immediately the pain stopped and Sakura and Sasuke fell to their knees. Hinata, not good with pain, fell to the floor of the dock, unconscious. Sasuke nudged Sakura weakly as Naruto laughed like a maniac on the deck. "I did it Hinata…I did it!"
Sasuke weakly steered around the tree towards the tree of death. Sasuke, Naruto and Hinata, who had awoken, huddled together in fear of pain. Before they came around the tree Hinata's wolf, Naruto's fox and Sasuke's crow appeared. "Lady Hinata…Lord Naruto and Lord Sasuke…this tree will show you the moment your at death's door. Be prepared. It does not hurt physically but sometimes it hurts worse without being physically…this is a warning" said a quiet Haru.
Suddenly, everything but darkness went over Hinata's eyes. She looked on as a vision hit her eyes. A beautiful version of Hinata came into view. Her hair was gorgeous, down to the back on her knees, her eyes were big and knowledgeable and a small beautiful wedding ring was on her slim finger. Hinata looked through this older Hinata's eyes. There was a flying arrow…and a little girl playing with her doll…the arrow was going to hit the little girl! Hinata jumped in front of the girl, ignoring the screaming of people behind her. It was all black for a moment before she saw Naruto's face. His eyes were wet and he was smiling sadly. "Oh Hinata…" Then blackness came again.
Naruto was looking through the eyes of his older self as well. He looked almost exactly like his father except with whiskers. Longish blond hair, striking blue eyes and wearing a white and yellow cloak. It looked like he was on a battlefield and he had a sword. It was strange by itself but Naruto saw Sakura laying over Hinata, both girls unconsciously…an enemy was heading towards them, his own sword raised to strike. Naruto looked up and saw Sasuke fighting his way towards the girls. But there was no way he could get there fast enough. Naruto jumped forward and felt a prick on his belly before darkness took over. The last thing he heard was Hinata, Hotaru and Sasuke screaming his name.
Sasuke was older. His wild black hair was pulled back like Itachi's and his Sharingan was activated, hiding his deep onyx eyes. The first thing he saw was Naruto being stabbed in the stomach while protecting a, now conscious, Hinata and unconscious Sakura. "Naruto!" he yelled. Naruto smiled weakly and collapsed, Hinata over him, a small fox unconscious beside him. He glared at the man who attacked Naruto and attacked him…but it was a trap…all the ninja surrounding him. He glanced back and saw Sakura, opening those beautiful green eyes, her hair still cropped short but bright pink against the battlefield ground. "Sakura…" Darkness took over but not after he heard "Don't give up Sasuke…it's not the end!"
"Rooster…Dog…Rabbit...Ox…Ram! Poplar!" Hinata blinked the sunlight. She looked at Naruto and Sasuke, both zoning out thoughtfully. Sakura was crying as she looked up from her mirror. "I saw how I was gonna die!" she sobbed. Hinata went to her side and held her. "They didn't say we would die, just we'd be a death's door…you okay?" she asked. Sakura smiled, "I'd want to die like that…"
Joanne- Thank you, Joanne, for my very first review. I love you more than the rest of them xp. If the rest of you want to be loved, review like this wonderful girl here!
I like this chapter. It makes me tickle inside. I know, I know sounds weird but it was longer than most. I think…This chapter made me thing. I don't like thinking! Whatever. Read and review
Blackiecatty