Hooray! Next Chapter!
This is going to be angsty, and is going to set up some relationship issues between our favorite couple. If you want action things you'll have to wait a bit, but I promise it's coming!
Naruto sat atop the head of the Yondaime Hokage, his heart in shattered pieces. His tears still flowed freely but he had stopped the loud, racking sobs… if only so people wouldn't find him. He clenched his fists until blood ran from between his fingers. She said she loved me. She said she loved me and I let myself feel the same way… and all that remains is pain. She was my first… well, everything! First girlfriend, first 'roommate', the first person I've been with physically. How could she do this to me? She always said that she didn't like Kiba, that she felt awkward when he looked at her. Why would she possibly choose him over me? Unless she was lying about her feelings toward Kiba…
Naruto remained immobile; his mind filled with bitterness and anguish as he mused over everything else that Hinata might have lied about. The most recurring memory and thought was that of her calling him, 'the Kyuubi kid.' She had always told him that he was not the demon, that he was its jailor and a hero because of it. Bullshit! She sees me as a monster just like the rest of them.
He looked down at the giant stone edifice below him. Dad, what do I do? What would you have done? Do I forgive Hinata? Do I break it off with her? As he felt resentment stirring in his heart the second option seemed more appealing.
Karuyaka fumed as she walked to Training Ground Eight with Sakura and Hinata in tow. I can't believe that Naruto-kun would go for someone like Hinata! She cheated on him! What kind of person does that? But… what if she isn't lying… and that really wasn't her? She felt her heart fill with relief as it sunk. I'll just be that much farther from Naruto-kun. But he'll be happy, and that's all that matters. If he's happy I can't complain.
That was one thing that set her apart from the other shallow fangirls that followed him around; while they thought he was attractive and strong, she thought that he was funny, kind and sweet. They lusted after him while she thought she loved him. And if she loved him, then his happiness was more important than hers even if it forced her to stop chasing him… but Kami help anyone who would hurt him. If Hinata couldn't produce anything to prove it was an imposter then the pale-eyed bitch was getting a mouthful of fist!
She tried to clear her mind and rein in control of her emotions. It's like Naruto-kun says, anger can only make you weaker. She had never really understood why he said that, because he was most powerful when angry… but maybe the strength comes at a price? Maybe it's better to rely on your own strength? For someone who everyone called a knucklehead, Naruto could be pretty deep. She thought back to what he had told her, like she had a lot of times.
Naruto walked next to her, looking around the village while she continued to talk. "So Naruto, why is it that you become stronger when you're angrier?"
"It gives me access to the fox's chakra, but it doesn't make me stronger."
"What do you mean?"
"Let me tell you something, Karuyaka. One of my friends –one of my precious people- believed what you just said. He thought that anger and hatred made him more powerful. But it didn't; it made him forsake the people who could have helped him and made him bitter. He had great skills, and was better at ninjutsu and taijutsu than almost every other gennin, but he was weak as a ninja. He was so focused on trying to improve himself that he was less than he could have been, as a warrior and as a person. So-"
"Naruto-kun, I just meant you, personally."
He laughed embarrassedly and scratched the back of his head. "Right, gomen. Just remember what I said Karu-chan, anger can only make you weaker. You can't let it control you."
She would have said something back but her mind was reeling from something far more important. He just called me Karu-chan! YES! Although she continued to move at the same pace externally, inside her head she was busy doing a happy dance while Naruto started to talk again.
She knew that the Academy instructors said that emotions could compromise a mission, but they also said that the bonds between friends made you strong… so maybe by holding anger against other people you not only lost focus in battle but you pushed away those around you. She wanted to slap herself in the forehead as she came to the glaringly obvious realization but thought better of it as they reached their destination.
(A/N; this was just to characterize Karuyaka, it's not important to the plot... or is it?)
She led them into the clearing to see a whining Akamaru standing over a sluggish Kiba. Hinata looked as if she was going to run up, before remembering the bad image that could give off to the irate brunette. When they reached him they saw that he was struggling to get up, and his eyes seemed to focus more when he saw Hinata. "Hinata, I needed to see you." His speech seemed slow, as if he had been drinking, but the scent of alcohol wasn't on the air.
"Kiba-kun, what happened to you?"
Before he could speak Sakura roughly shoved him back down and started using a medical jutsu to check for injuries. "You baka, lay back down. You shouldn't be doing anything until you're healed." She continued her examination before stopping. "Someone injected him with a strong sleeping agent, must have knocked him right out." She quickly laid her hands over his heart and chakra seeped from her hands into the boy's chest, eradicating the poison where she detected it.
The effects of the poison in his bloodstream starting to fade, Kiba spoke more clearly. "Hinata, earlier I was kissed by you… except it didn't smell right. It smelled completely different, and the aroma started to make me go dizzy. I don't know why but someone is impersonating you."
Maybe Hinata wasn't lying? I just have to make sure. "How do you know that Hinata hadn't just used something to mask her scent?"
He looked at her as if she had two heads. He laughed in disbelief as he said "Hinata's crazy about that knucklehead of hers! She'd never go for a guy like me! Besides, I don't think Hinata would stab me with a poisoned senbon needle."
Hinata gasped, while Karuyaka started to think out loud. "Maybe someone wanted Naruto-kun to see that, so that he might be separated from Hinata… but who? Some jealous fangirl?"
"So I did smell Naruto before I blacked out… shit. That can't end well.
Hinata stood up quickly and looked at Karuyaka. "Where did Naruto-kun go?"
"I don't know, he ran too fast and I couldn't catch up to him. That's why I went looking for you."
"So you have no idea where he is?"
You're his girlfriend, not to mention that you live with him, you shouldn't need me to tell you! "Where does he normally go when he's upset?"
The bluenette heiress had a grim look on her face as she said "Ano, I think I know where he went."
Hinata felt frantic as she ran toward the top of the Hokage Monument, her heart racing as she thought of how to explain it to him. How do I get Naruto to see that I'm not lying? Maybe if we got Kiba-kun to… no, no Naruto-kun would be furious if he saw him. But… Naruto-kun trusts me… right? He should be willing to sit down and at least listen…
She leapt from roof to roof, moving faster in her haste than she had in a long time. She was desperate to make sure that Naruto saw the truth; that she wouldn't lose the man she had loved for years due to the machinations of some mysterious person.
With the others lagging behind Hinata saw the blonde knucklehead sitting atop the Yondaime's head, gazing out over the city that he guarded and loved. "Naruto-kun!" She shouted, attracting his attention.
She felt like someone stabbed her in the heart when she saw Naruto's look of surprise turn to one of anger and loathing. He snapped at her, his voice having a fiery tone. "What do you want?"
"Naruto-kun, please let me explain what happened at the training ground-"
"What the hell is there to explain?"
"I know what you think you saw but please let me-"
"What I think I saw? I know what I saw; you making out with another guy! A guy I thought was my friend on top of that!" His voice took on a more demonic quality as he spoke, and his eyes were violent red slits as he glared at her.
"That wasn't me, Naruto-kun! Someone's trying to tear us apart! Why would I want to be with someone else when I have someone as amazing as you?"
"Why? Because you could see me just as the Kyuubi, just like I heard earlier. And say you're not lying, who would try and break us apart, 'Hime'?" He said his pet name for her with such condescension that it cause her to wince.
"I don't know, maybe someone who wanted to approach my father with a marriage proposal, or one of your fangirls who wants you available. Either way that was not me you saw kissing Kiba!"
"How do I know you're not lying?" His face was beginning to contort with anger
"Because you know me! Naruto-kun, how many times have we sat alone and talked, just the two of us. We said no secrets between us, and we shared everything! We do share everything! Naruto-kun, you have to believe me!"
His voice dripped with malice. "How do I know you're not lying?"
Hinata stood there as if she'd been struck, her mouth open in shock and her eyes starting to sting. Her voice came out as a whisper as she said "Naruto-kun, please… just listen"
"Get out of here, Hinata. I don't need to deal with this."
"No… no. Naruto-kun, let me-"
"Get out of here, Hinata!"
Hinata began to cry as she fell to her knees. "Naruto-kun, please! Listen to me! I love you, and I would never, ever, do anything to hurt you!"
He let out a feral growl as he walked towards her, his body being enveloped in red chakra. He stood above her with one claw-tipped hand poised to hit her away. "I SAID GET OUT OF HERE, HINATA!" He made to strike her when he was sent flying by a chakra-fuelled punch.
Sakura stood protectively in front of the sobbing chunin, yelling at her teammate. "What the hell is wrong with you, baka? Hinata's telling the truth; she was eating lunch with me the whole time! When you saw what you did she was out cold!"
The brunette that had led them to Kiba stepped up next to the pinkette. "Naruto-kun, they're telling the truth."
"Karuyaka? You saw the same thing I did, how can you believe them?"
"Because we talked to that Kiba kid, and he said he didn't think it was her. The girl he kissed stabbed him and drugged him! Would Hinata would do that? And on top of that she was at the restaurant when I went looking for her! I didn't believe them at first either, Naruto-kun, but Hinata's not lying!"
He looked at her in shock, and then he looked at Hinata in horror. "I… I… oh kami…" The red chakra faded in a heartbeat, and his eyes returned to a watery blue just as fast. Naruto looked at his hand, the one which he was going to strike her with, as if it were a murderous serpent. "Hinata… I didn't know… I'm…" He turned on the spot and ran, not wanting to face the girl he had just yelled at and nearly hit. He quickly headed into the surrounding trees as if the demons of hell were on his heels. Karuyaka made to follow after him but Sakura put a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Let him go for now. The baka needs to work this out on his own. Let's just bring Hinata-chan home for now."
Hinata knelt there for several more minutes, her disbelief and hurt clear to anyone around. Rain began to fall from the dark clouds above, a sad spectator to a sadder scene. The drops of cool rainwater mixed with the warm salty tears that stained her cheeks and soaked her jacket.
She felt two reassuring arms lift her off the ground and begin to drag her away from where the blonde had run. The other girls slowly walked her home, supporting her as she shook on unsteady legs. The whole time one thought was running through her mind. Naruto-kun doesn't trust me. Naruto-kun doesn't trust me enough to even listen to what I have to say.
After what seemed a painful eternity they reached the apartment, slowly opening the door and leading her inside. "Hinata, how about you go lie down? Just rest for a bit and when Naruto-kun's cooled down you two can talk, okay?"
Hinata just nodded dumbly, barely noticing her surroundings as she headed to the room she shared with Naruto. As she felt her knees touch the mattress she fell exhaustedly onto the bed, her face planted in the pillows as she began to sob quietly. Naruto-kun doesn't trust me.
(A/N; How many of you were expecting that?)
Sakura stared at Karuyaka with a raised eyebrow, the latter being completely oblivious as she was absorbed in her own thoughts. The two of them sat in Naruto's kitchen as they both tried to ignore the soft sobbing they heard through the bedroom door. "Karuyaka, was it?"
She suddenly seemed to snap to attention, looking directly at Sakura. "Hai?"
"It's obvious that you like Naruto, possibly even to him… so why are you helping Hinata?"
Without a moment's hesitation the girl said. "Because I love him."
Oh? "How does that make sense? If you love Naruto shouldn't you be excited that he and Hinata's relationship was going south?"
She shook her head fervently. "Ie. Hinata makes Naruto-kun happy, and that's all that matters. If he's happy with a life that doesn't involve me, then I have to accept that. Do I envy Hinata? Every day, I wake up and just wish that I could be in Hinata's shoes… but if it would hurt Naruto-kun for me to get there it would be far from worth it."
That sounds so much like something Hinata would say… "You have it for him bad."
She gave a wistful smile. "Hai… although I know he'll never feel the same way about me." That wistful smile turned into a pained frown.
Kuso! I did not mean for that to happen! Quick, say something to lift her spirits! We already have enough infatuated girls crying because of Naruto! "Karuyaka, I can easily say that if Hinata had not gotten to him first you could have had that boy in a heartbeat."
"I'm not so sure about that, but arigato."
"Not sure! Karuyaka, what does he do when his other fangirls talk to him?"
"He usually talks with this distant look like he wants to get away, and he reminds them that he loves Hinata so they can never be together."
"And with you?"
"I can tell he gets annoyed when I talk to him so much, but he's always really nice and lets me do stuff with him."
"And you're telling me that he wouldn't have liked you if you asked him before Hinata?" I don't think Hinata appreciates it, but it's probably true. This girl would have been good with him, and I think Naruto would have fallen for her.
The smile returned as she gave a quick "Arigato."
An awkward silence settled on the room as their conversation ended. There were only two things all kunoichi could talk about; their appearance and missions. "So Karuyaka, what kind of missions have you been on?"
"My team and I have been on one B rank, four C rank, and way too many D rank… it's kind of annoying how Tsunade-sama makes us do all of those boring missions when we could be off doing things that are more important."
"Kami, you sound like Naruto. Are the D rank missions really that bad?"
She seemed a bit shy and reluctant as she answered. "Ie, but if I don't do a lot of really tough missions how can I impress Naruto-kun? I want him to be proud of me."
Wow, and we're back on the topic of the knucklehead. "Did Naruto ever tell you about our first mission above D rank?"
"Hai, when you protected Tazuna-san from Zabuza Momochi. He told me about that one time when I got him ramen."
"What about our mission to protect Yukie Fujikaze?"
"You mean the Daimyo? Hai, he told me the story after I watched a Princess Gale movie for the first time."
Naruto! You're taking away everything I've got to talk about! "What about our Chunin exams?"
"He told me about the stupid written exam you had to take, and he told me about what happened in the Forest of Death. He never got around to talking about the preliminaries or the finals though."
Finally, some story I can tell! "Well, after we got to the tower…" Sakura began to tell the story, embellishing on her own fight in the preliminaries of course. They continued like this well after the crying had stopped.
Naruto had run some ways from his perch on the Hokage Monument, standing alone amidst the woods that surrounded the village. I can't believe that I did that! I almost hit Hinata!
Yes, kit, you did. It was quite amusing, by the way.
Shut the hell up you god damn fox! It wasn't 'amusing' it was terrible! I didn't even really listen to her because I was too stupid to believe her!
Ah, kit, if only you could see this from my point of view. It's actually quite hilarious.
SHUT THE HELL UP!
Naruto recklessly punched a nearby tree, tearing of some of the bark. He continued to attack it, venting his frustrations with every blow. What is wrong with me? I didn't even trust Hinata. It's Hinata for Kami's sake!
He shouted as he assaulted the wood with growing intensity. All of the thoughts that had earlier filled him with rage now filled him with sorrow. She was my first everything… and I was blind to what she was trying to tell me.
His heart leapt into his throat as he heard a soft "Naruto-kun?" He turned around and gave a smile as he saw her. "Hinata! I thought that you wouldn't come after me… that you wouldn't want to talk."
"Naruto-kun… I don't think that-"
Don't finish that sentence! "Hinata-hime, I am so sorry! I was the biggest teme to grace Konoha, and I was stupid, and… can you forgive me?"
The girl smiled and nodded her head. "Hai, Naruto-kun. I forgive you." She lightly stepped over to him and opened her arms for an embrace. He took a step toward her before he halted, hearing the Kyuubi's voice.
Something's not right kit.
What are you talking about? It's Hinata!
Listen to me kit, whatever you do keep that woman away from you!
Why the hell should I listen to you? You just want her to stay away so you can break free while I feel heartbroken!
Damn it kit! Shut up and listen to me for once! How many times have I saved your sorry ass, and more importantly mine through extension?
That doesn't matter!
Naruto saw the look of confusion and hurt on his girlfriend's face. He quickly rushed in with a bone-crushing hug to make up for the hesitation. He sniffed, wanting to breathe in her scent, and his vision suddenly seemed cloudy. "Hime, is this a new perfume or something?" He coughed harshly. "It's really strong."
He felt her amused smile and decided that it didn't really matter. He had his hime back, so he was happy. "Naruto-kun?"
"Hai, Hina-hime?"
"Good night." She shifted slightly in his grasp, her arms unwrapping themselves from around his back.
"What are you-" He felt a sharp pinprick in the side of his neck, quickly followed by another one. He turned sluggishly to his side to look at Hinata, and instead found and evilly grinning woman wearing an Otogakure headband. She roughly tossed him aside and he fell to the ground his body feeling like lead.
As his vision faded swiftly away Naruto heard the words "Mission accomplished. Now to return you to Orochimaru-sama."
Tsunade sat at her desk, tired from a long day of avoiding paperwork. She cast her eyes lazily about her dimly-lit office, only stopping once when she saw the painting of her kissing Shizune at the Christmas party. I knew I should have had Naruto Rasengan it before 'she' saw it.
Shizune had insisted on hanging the embarrassing painting in her office as a reminder why she shouldn't drink. Of course it didn't stop her, but the serious vibe of the room was thrown off by the image of the drunken Hokage and her assistant beneath the mistletoe.
She continued to look at it, hoping the intensity of her glaring could burn through and destroy it. Despite her best efforts it was to no avail, so she simply looked at the book in her hand. She frowned as she noticed the empty sake bottle inside the hollowed out pages. For once I wish the gaki would burst in here. At least that's amusing. Hell, I wish anything exciting would happen!
She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair when the door to her office burst open, and Raido Namiashi ran in. "Hokage-sama!"
"Hai?"
"Gai's team located an Oto nin when they were scouting through the trees. It was maybe a mile outside of Konoha."
Damn me and my thoughts. "Where are they?"
"They brought him back as a prisoner. They're waiting with Ibiki to hear your orders."
"Make the teme talk. I want to know what Orochimaru's lackey is doing here, and I want to know fast."
(Torture scene! It shouldn't be too bad compared to some things I've written, but you can skip it if you aren't keen on the idea.)
Ibiki Morino stood inside his Gomon Heya (Torture Chamber), staring impassively as the Oto nin winced from the pain of garrote wire constricting about his body. "Why were you hiding outside of Konoha?"
The prisoner's voice was strained as he spat out a reply. "Go to hell."
The wire tightened harder about his arms, stopping the flow of blood from the pressure and beginning to damage the muscles beneath. "Why were you hiding outside of Konoha?"
"I'm not going to tell you anything!"
Ibiki made a quick hand seal, causing the wire about his ankles to rapidly draw in before pulling out with painful slowness. The thick garrote tore the skin, the pressure applied causing even the semi-blunt object to penetrate. It quickly severed the tendons in his ankles through sheer force of constriction, causing his feet to hang limp amidst a swiftly growing pool of blood. The head of the ANBU Torture and Interrogation Force didn't bat an eyelash as he heard the sound of metal wire on bone; a sickening grinding sound that was audible through the loud screams that pierced the air. As the wire pulled out centimeter by centimeter the small shavings of bone rubbed against the flesh and muscle, causing extreme pain.
Ibiki grunted from the pain he shared with the prisoner, but asked his question. "Why were you hiding outside of Konoha?"
"I… I…"
"Too slow."
Making another hand seal, Ibiki tightened the wire around five of the prisoner's fingers. In an instant the fingers of the prisoner's right hand were crushed, the wire leaving gashes that leaked blood down the sleeves of the man's sweat-drenched shirt. His screams grew in volume, but there was no answer to his question amongst them. Deciding to be less merciful, Ibiki smashed the fingers of the other hand one at a time.
"Why were you hiding outside of Konoha?" He slowly moved his hands as if to form a seal.
"Stop! I'll tell you everything!"
Ibiki let out a sadistic smile as the tortured man told him everything he needed to know.
Tsunade listened solemnly as the scar-faced man told her everything he had forced out of the Oto nin. "He was part of a three man team sent to kidnap Naruto. The plan was to get him alone and then drug him until they could take him to one of Orochimaru's bases, where they would… experiment with him."
"So Team Gai ruined that plan when they caught their scout." It was a statement, but there was a hint of question and doubt. Please let that be the case. I don't want to have to worry about someone coming after the gaki while he's here in the village.
"That is the problem, Tsunade-sama… their plan worked."
"What do you mean their plan worked?"
"He was left behind to cover their escape… the other two are heading away from Konoha with Naruto as we speak."
She sat there in shock, immobile as she thought about what Ibiki had said. Kuso, gaki! I won't lose you like I lost Nawaki! "Get me the shinobi who formed the Sasuke Retrieval team. I want them out of here by the end of the day."
Hinata stood anxiously in the Hokage's office, looking around confusedly at the rest of the Konoha Eleven, minus Naruto and Tenten. Why didn't Naruto return home? Was he still angry, or did he go somewhere else or… did something happen to him? Please let Naruto-kun be okay.
The Hokage sat at her desk, letting out a sigh as she looked up at them. "I know you're all wondering why you're here-"
Kiba, loud-mouthed, impatient Kiba, interjected. "You have some awesome mission for us, right?" He shut up and visibly withered as he felt the full weight of Tsunade's ire.
"Yes, you all have a mission. I need you to track down and rescue and important hostage."
Sakura was the next one to speak. "Tsunade-sama, why isn't Naruto here."
"This is a very high priority target, and someone very close to me. I want him returned as soon as possible before he is taken to his destination. This is to be treated as a mission of at least A rank."
Why is Tsunade-sama ignoring Sakura? Why isn't Naruto-kun here?
Kiba, having regained some of his courage with equal parts brashness, asked his questions again. "Who is it? Is it someone related to the Daimyo? Or an important clan head or-"
"It's Naruto."
Hinata felt her knees go weak as a hushed silence blanketed the room. Her body going cold, she thought to herself Naruto-kun's been kidnapped?
She dimly heard the door slam open. "What do you mean Naruto-kun is a hostage?"
"Karuyaka? What are you doing here?" Hinata vaguely registered the voice as belonging to Sakura.
"I wanted to know why you were suddenly called here. Hokage-sama, I demand to be put on this mission!" She saw Karuyaka step in front of her and point at the busty blonde.
"You're demanding me?" If Hinata didn't feel so numb she would have been frightened by the look the Hokage was giving the young Gennin, but Karuyaka didn't back down.
"Yes! I'm not going to sit around while Naruto-kun's being carried off!"
Tsunade opened her mouth, a vein bulging on her forehead, when Ino spoke up. "Tsunade-sama, how did this happen? I mean, how could someone just kidnap Naruto in the middle of Konoha?"
He wasn't in Konoha… he was alone, and upset…
"Apparently they formulated some plan to get him away from everyone else, then they would drug him and take him."
Neji was the next to speak, his voice as cold as Hinata felt. "Tsunade-sama, who is 'they'?"
"A team of three shinobi from Otogakure."
"Then that means Orochimaru has Naruto."
"He will if you don't get moving soon. Are there any more questions?"
"How did they take down Naruto? He should have been able to make it back to Konoha before they got him."
"We are trying to figure that out. We have no idea so far."
They needed him alone… away from me. They needed some way to catch him with his guard down. He ran from me into the woods, because he caught Kiba kissing… "I know how."
"Hinata?"
"Naruto-kun was upset because he saw someone henged as me kissing Kiba-kun… someone who poisoned Kiba and knocked him unconscious. When I went to explain, Naruto got mad and nearly hit me before running away into the woods. Whoever it was must have disguised themselves as me to have him let his guard down while they poisoned him."
Tsunade nodded. "Since Hinata seems to know the most about the situation, and because she has the most reason to bring him back, I'm putting her in charge of this mission. I expect all of you," she gave a pointed look to Karuyaka that said 'You and I are going to chat later' "and I mean all of you, to be at the East gate in an hour. Dismissed."
Okay, chapter's done! I feel proud for updating so quickly.
Now, part of me likes this chapter, but the other part of me doesn't. It's choppy, but no matter how much I try and change it I can't tell what's happening properly while making it more fluid. Either way I hope you enjoyed it.
So, Naruto's on his way to Orochimaru. The Sasuke Retrieval team and Karuyaka are off to get him. You have about as much of an idea what will happen as I do! I just let the story evolve naturally and see how it goes unplanned. I only know part of how it ends, that's it. Everything in the middle is fair game to change and suggestions.
I promise there will be a fluffier, funnier and more lighthearted arc after this one, but you can't base a good story off of solely fluff. You have to have some important plot development.
Ja ne!