Assassin
Shino x Hinata
By Moonwitch and Blackdragonflower
Chapter 23
"What the hell happened here?!" One of the ANBU, easily a new member, called out. Shino let a strand of kikaichu slip from his skin to restrain Hanabi.
"Hiashi Hyuga killed this woman, the assassin he had hired to exterminate Hinata. He used his daughter Hanabi in the plot and she also tried to kill her sister just now." Shino walked over to Hinata and held her, as her knees were becoming unstable threatening to take her to the ground. He softly continued the explanation of what had occurred. "Hiashi also kidnapped our teammate Kiba Inuzuka as he was spying on the Hyuga estate due to the evidence we had collected about the assassin. He then used our teammate as bait to draw Hinata out so he could finish her off."
"But... how did the assassin escape the byakugan?" Another ANBU questioned behind his animal mask.
"She has a kekkei g-genki that a-allows her p-perfect camouflage... e-except the only d-downfall is K-Kiba and A-Akamaru could s-smell her..." One of the ANBU's looked at the leader of their party.
"Call Lady Tsunade... I don't have the authority to rule any decisions to the death of Hiashi Hyuga."
"And what about the assassin? We could have her bloodline trait copied! It would make the Leaf Village even more powerful!" The youngest ANBU member asked an excited tone in his voice.
"NO!" Hinata found herself protesting aloud. "You can't do that! It would be defiling her corpse!" Hinata bit her lip ashamed of her outburst but Shino just smiled. Kiba groaned beginning to wake.
"Oi... what hit me?!"
"Kiba!" Hinata hurried over to her teammate's side and put gentle hands on his shoulders. "D-don't move too much... you got hurt..."
"I kinda figured that Hinata..." Kiba whimpered holding his side.
"Is that any way to take a lady's concern?" Shino teased as he bent down next to his teammate's, eyebrow raised in mockery. Soon an angry Tsunade came stomping over to the three.
"What the hell were you thinking? I told you to stay put! Now I have to deal with the death of the leader of one of the most powerful clans in Konahagakure! Do you know how much political scandal this is going to cause me?" Tsunade's hands were on her hips, her voice gruff with agitation.
"Hokage Tsunade, Hiashi Hyuga attacked first. We merely came here to rescue our teammate, the Inuzuka, and acted to defend ourselves properly. If that is punishable by any means I will take that punishment, since I am the leader of my team." Shino answered professionally. Hinata looked at her lover with wide lavender eyes full of fear.
"Shino..."
"I'm taking you upon your word Aburame. You take responsibility for the Hyuga's death?" Tsunade questioned.
"No. The assassin killed Hiashi Hyuga, I was merely witness. If my team is to be punished for disobeying orders, that is what I will take responsibility for."
"Ebiki will come fetch you then. He will torture you for every detail you know of these events." Shino just chuckled.
"Tell him he may have to come up with new methods... genjutsu doesn't work on kikaichu." Tsunade nodded then walked off. She could be heard speaking to ANBU.
"Clean this up as soon as possible! All evidence is to be saved. Take nothing. 'A' squad, dispose of the Hyuga's body... we cannot let someone happen by and copy his kekkei genkai." There was only silent nods as the ANBU went about their work. "Former team 8, go." Shino, Hinata, and Kiba said nothing, only disappeared in flurries of leaves.
When they were back in town Shino stopped them. "We'll go to my home... its closer."
Kiba gave a toothy grin. "As much as I would love to see your house bug freak my mom's probably worried about me. Later!" Kiba waved and walked off Akamaru trotting faithfully by his side. Kiba was holding his rib, but it made the dog ninja look like a wounded hero returning from battle. His mom would take good care of him, and if she didn't Hana, his sister, would.
"Shino..."
"Hm?" Shino glanced at Hinata with a tilt of his head.
"They're going to hurt you... I-I can't stand the thought!" Hinata admitted. She latched onto Shino in a desperate hug afraid to let him go. She sobbed quietly, her body shaking from stress and weakness.
"I'll be fine. Ebiki won't kill me. I'm the only heir to the Aburame clan and that will bring instant retaliation from my clan if I die. Ebiki knows the limits of life and how to push it to the last line and stop before the thread snaps." Shino stroked Hinata's silk locks in an attempt to soothe her. "I'll be okay Hinata..." Slowly he managed to pry himself away, and led her to the base of a tree. He sat down and pulled her into his comforting embrace. "Don't worry about me... you have so much to deal with right now." He kissed the top of her head.
"Shino... I love you."
"I love you too Hinata." They sat there together in silence before Shino had to break the silence with a sigh.
"You'll be leader of your clan..."
"Yes..."
Shino smiled and stroked his lover's silken locks. "You can finally help the branch families and unite them. You can help your cousin Neji... I know how much you've wanted to..."
"But Shino what about you?!"
"Well... I'll be fine. And I'll be waiting for you. I'm always by your side, as long as you want me."
Hinata weakly smiled and hugged the kikaichu user as close as their bodies would allow. "Always."
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This chapt written by Blackdragonflower
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