PART 9
It felt like the longest and most exhausting Sasuke had ever fought. He cut down endless numbers of No Faces, but they seemed to keep coming. He delivered a slice at one, and stabbed one through the heart. Soon ashes covered the ground beneath them.
Ken was also fighting hard, but he was panting with fatigue. Hinata danced among the army cutting many down. Summoning his chakra, he dug his sword into the earth and lightning ran along the ground, destroying countless No Faces. But more came.
Hinata used Kaiten, and other techniques, but they seemed to be endless.
Sasuke saw Neji's smirk in the distance. And suddenly, he was face to face with Sasuke.
"Let's see how strong the Uchiha is," Neji said with mocking tone.
Neji attempted a kick to the side, but Sasuke appeared behind him. A cut lashed out at Neji, but a log replaced him. Before Sasuke could react, Neji jabbed a finger into Sasuke's abdomen and legs. He used the 64-strike forcing in too much chakra, causing it to burn Sasuke.
Still, Sasuke forced himself up, and was about to release his cursed form when Hinata stepped between them. She kneeled beside him, and redirected the movement of his chakra, so Neji's attack had no effect on him.
A frown flashed over Neji's face, and when Hinata stood, her eyes reflected so much hatred.
Hinata said in a low voice, "Sasuke, please stay out of this. I want to settle this with Neji on my own. Please help Ken."
Sasuke glanced at Ken who was sitting among the ashes. His face was paler, if that was possible with his face. Sasuke reluctantly nodded, and watched the battle as a bystander.
Hinata spoke firmly, "Neji, let's settle this. You hate me because I killed the clan. Then we will see who is stronger."
Neji scowled, "Yes, I hate you." But then his mouth curled into a playful smirk, "No honorifics, Hinata?"
She retorted smartly, "You aren't Neji. You have no honor among humans."
"And do you consider yourself human? For someone who will go so far for strength, killing her family just to prove herself, is that human?"
Fury laced within her, and she lunged at her cousin. It's not him. He's not Neji. She repeated these words in her mind, and the two cousins fought with the Hyuuga style.
Memories of the Chuunin Exam were brought back. I won't lose this time! Hinata thought with determination.
She blocked his palm, and tried to kick him. The attack landed, and Neji grunted in surprised. Before he could recover, she struck her palm into his chest. He stumbled back, surprised for a while.
He hit the air with his palm, and Hinata was hit head on. Ken had to hold Sasuke back from entering the battle.
Hinata rose as if nothing had happened. Here, the battle changed. Seals flew across her hands, and suddenly lightning lashed out from the ceiling. Neji tried to avoid them all, but he was struck many times.
The girl was panting, because the jutsu took too much chakra. Neji smiled and then jabbed his fingers into her tenketsu. She gasped in pain as she struggled to stand up.
He spoke in a strong voice, "Let me show you my new jutsu."
Once he said that, Hinata felt the chakra in her sucked out and watched as it formed in his hand and shaped itself into a bladed scythe. He thrust it at her.
At that moment, everything slowed for Sasuke. He wrenched himself free from Ken's feeble grip.
A deep gash appeared at Saske's chest. He gritted his teeth in agony, and fell to his knees before Neji. Hinata cried out, and Neji smiled evilly.
Neji's scythe disappeared, and he formed complicated seals. He slammed his palm against Sasuke's blood. Sasuke cried out and a red symbol appeared on him.
The bloody puddle at the ground began to move it was changing shape, as if trying to stand up. While the white snake's power tried to heal the gash, Sasuke cried out more. The moving bloody puddle was absorbing most of the healing power.
Neji spoke in a low voice, "He's reviving from the blood of the one with the white snake's power."
The puddle was practically no longer a puddle anymore. It had taken a humanoid shape and was groaning in a horrible way.
Tears were streaming down Hinata's face, and she yelled, "Neji-nii!! Stop!!"
For a moment, Neji seemed to falter. Her voice brought back memories. Memories he had forgotten. Happy memories.
But then he snapped back, and quickened the pace of the ritual. Hinata gathered up all the energy she had left and snatched her katana. She thrust it into Neji, and time seemed to stop.
Neji dropped to the ground, his blood staining the ground. The shape screamed the most horrible scream ever heard, and Sasuke also cried out.
Hinata collapsed onto the ground panting in exhaustion. Neji's wide eyes stared into hers. His mouth moved slowly, and his voice came in rasped whispers.
"H-Hinata-sama…I'm sorry…for everything." His hands moved to his neck and Hinata saw a silver chain. A silver eagle pendant was hanging from the chain. Neji removed it and pushed it to Hinata.
"I-I'm glad y-you've gotten so strong…" His voice faded, his eyes closed and he didn't move anymore.
Hinata cried for her cousin, her brother, her foolish brother who had been manipulated. She gripped the necklace tightly, and dried her tears.
She tried to stand up, but found that her legs had no strength. She slowly crawled over to Sasuke's side, and was relieved to find that he was breathing. She touched his shoulder, and he opened his eyes and found Hinata staring back at him.
He sat up, and saw that the wound on his chest had stopped bleeding. Sasuke slowly stood up, stumbling a bit, and pulled Hinata into his arms. He carried her out of the cave, with Ken following behind.
Ken smiled behind them, and acknowledged the couple. He saw the loving looks that passed between them, and realized that their love was strong. And even though they had complicated lives, their love was simple.
He could tell that nothing would stand between them. It was simple.
A/N: I do NOT own Naruto. I had trouble with deciding between different possible endings, but I liked this one the best. I hope you guys enjoyed it. I'm sad to say that I won't be writing another sequel to this, but I'll continue to write sasuhina fanfics. Thanks for the support!