Hello everyone! I'm back again! I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year a little early this time. I hope this chapter will be up to all of the readers' standards. Please don't hesitate to comment or correct my grammar mistakes, I don't have a beta reader so forgive me. Thanks for reading and remember, I don't own Naruto! XP
" Hinata-sama... " Neji sighed, throwing down his pencil and rubbing his temples.
The new clan leader was signing a ridiculous amount of paperwork. There were death confirmation to be made, payments to reconstruct the Hyuuga grounds, elders who didn't approve of him because he came from the Branch family... Oh, yeah. Neji really, really wanted to strangle someone now. To add on to his stress, his cousin, the only one that had ever been nothing but kind to him had left to slay Orochi. And... he had to look over Hanabi, who was acting like a shell. No life inside, just robotic movements and hardly eating anything since Hinata's announcement.
Flashback
" Neji-nii, I have to go slay Orochi. " Hinata spoke with steely determination.
" What I don't understand is why do you have to go alone. " the stoic Neji answered.
" I don't want anybody to be hurt, especially those that are close to me. " Hinata wrung her hands together.
" Don't we all want that? " Neji spat, eyes narrowing.
They were together in the clan leader's room. The room that was reserved for only the Hyuuga head. no one else were to go in unless permitted. The candles around them, the only source of light, flickered now and again as the wind blew in from the windows. Time was running out, the candles seemed to say.
I can't let anyone go with me... Only Tsunade-sama knows that I trained with the Akatsuki. If I let anyone else come, what will they think of me? Hinata thought, her eyes nearly filling with tears. Neji eyed her carefully, trying to read her mind.
" If you don't want me to come, or anyone else for that matter, why is Haku going? " Neji questioned.
" Because he specializes in targeting skills. I need them badly in order to seal Orochi and disable anyone who stands in the way. His aim is better than an ANBU, Neji-nii. " Hinata said.
Well, that's half of the truth. Hinata thought. I can't believe I lied so easily.
" Can't you let other people follow you to fight the Akatsuki while you kill Orochi? " Neji spoke.
Orochi. The very utter of the name made the wind stop and the birds freeze. It was a name as well as a curse. One should not use it lightly, for the name itself sounds evil. Hinata knew this and yet her cousin didn't listen to her.
" We don't want to kill. Haku-nii-san's senbon needles can render them unconcious silently and quickly. " Hinata gazed out the window. " I myself do not have that much skill in aiming. "
This was truth. No matter how many times Haku had tried to convince her that the Akatsuki were better off dead Hinata paid no heed to him. Her own personal rule - no killing. That was that.
" I have to go now, Neji-nii. I cannot wait any longer. " Hinata turned to leave than she froze.
Hanabi was standing at the door way.
" You're leaving? " Her voice came out in a whisper.
Hanabi was a cold and insensitive person, just like her father. She didn't care for the feelings of others. But when it came to Hinata, her walls she had built around herself broke down and she behaved like a normal 12-year old girl. When Hiashi wasn't around that is.
" I have to, Hanabi-chan. " Hinata bit her lip. " I might... " She stopped, not going any further, fearing it will hurt her sister more.
" It's OK. " Hanabi said bravely, even though her voice was trembling. One could tell she was trying her very hardest not to cry.
" Thank you. " Hinata smiled to Hanabi and gave a final pat on the head of her younger sibling. " Thank you to you too, Neji-nii. " She still held that gentle smile in place, her own vision fogging up a little.
" Be safe. " Was all Neji murmured. And she was gone.
At that very moment, Hanabi ran to her room and sobbed in anguish, not knowing whether her sister might return...
End of Flashback
Hinata had told him about Shadow. Their fellow ANBU agent. Not his. Not hers. But theirs. Maybe Hinata was planning to break another tradition by sharing the responsibilty with another Hyuuga for the clan leader. With a Branch family member at that. The elders were sure to complain. Apparently, Shadow told Neji that his niece, Rai Tomoko was following them to protect Hinata. Hinata wouldn't need protecting, Shadow stated but if caught in a pinch, Tomoko would probably step in. Not only that, she had all the info on the Golden Eyes, which she had learnt from the ancient Hyuuga scroll, which was now in Neji's possesion. He had met Tomoko, and she surprised him in many ways. However, Neji had yet to trust Shadow and Tomoko, for he was wary of anyone and everyone now, after what Hinata told him about the Akatsuki.
Meanwhile...
" He's almost ready, Kabuto... " Orochimaru chuckled, revealing his long tongue and dragging it across his pale lips. " Just a few more times. "
Kabuto knelt in front of his master, grinning sadistically as well, " Yes, Orochimaru-sama. That mind controlling technique you created out of the Yamanaka's blood was perfect. "
" Of course. " Orochimaru smiled, placing his fingertips together. " I do not want just a strong body, but a strong mind as well. That mind technique which resulted in me fusing your blood with the Yamanaka's allows you to freely control the mind of someone else in exchange of your own conciousness. " He rested his back on the stone chair he was sitting on. " If you use it repeatedly on someone, that someone will certainly resist each time. Then, after a few months of practice, you have a mind that is invulnerable against all mind jutsus because, Kabuto, the Yamanaka clan is most famous in their mind-controlling jutsu because theirs is the strongest in the world. "
" Sasuke's mind was incredibly weak at first, Orochimaru-sama. Now, he's almost able to block me out. " Kabuto smirked. " It was fun playing around with his mind and controlling his body. The Hyuuga, the one who was following her, and the rest of our minions didn't even notice the subtle changes in Sasuke's character when I took over. "
" Do you know why I lied, Kabuto? " Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with evil. The light from the lighted candles were reflected in Orochimaru's eyes, giving him an even more eerie look.
" To the Hyuuga? I am not sure. " Kabuto lowered his eyes.
" You will see, Kabuto. You will see. " Orochimaru chuckled again, eyes closed in laughter.
" This is terrible... " Hinata's eyes filled with tears as she, Haku, and Tomoko observed Shikamaru bending over Asuma's dying figure.
" I, too, came upon this scene. The killers have left long ago. " Tomoko whispered. " I heard a pigeon overhead as I passed by. I think they called for a backup platoon. "
Just as she spoke, Ino, Chouji and their other two teammates arrived at the scene. It looked like Asuma was going to say his last words, so without wasting another moment, the trio left. It felt wrong to look into their precious conversation. When they glided from branch to branch, Hinata's Byakugan, which had been activated earlier, spotted a very familiar symbol. She almost lost her balance as she remembered where it came from.
" Haku-nii-san, look. It's Hidan-sama and Kakuzu-sama. They did this. " Hinata hissed.
Haku gave a nod of confirmation. Tomoko raised her eyebrow but said nothing.
" What do we do now? " Haku asked, adjusting his mask.
" Sh! " Tomoko hushed.
The other two fell quiet, wondering what was wrong.
" Ninja, three hundred and two degrees to you right, five meters away. " Tomoko said, very softly.
Hinata nodded along with Haku. Tomoko's eyes acquired a feral look.
" They're Orochimaru's underlings. " She bared her teeth.
They tensed waiting for something, anything to happen. It did. A fire jutsu was suddenly shot at them, followed by a wind jutsu, combining both forces of nature together. Now, a tornado of fire rushed towards them, seconds from impact. The trio jumped. Hinata drew her puppet while Haku had his hands busy with senbon needles. Tomoko drew a regular kunai. All three of them waited again. The rogue ninja rushed toward the unprotected backs of the Konoha-nin gathered around Asuma. Hinata lunge forward and launched her puppet, spiraling into the air. Haku flicked two senbon needles, taking out the two lagging behind. Three more left.
" Sound-style : Thunder's Voice! " Tomoko said.
Right after that, a huge, and extremely loud shout erupted from Tomoko's mouth. It was so loud that you could actually see the soundwaves crashing through the trees and it tore cement off the ground. Funnily enough, Haku and Hinata were not affected. In fact, they only heard a normal shout. They looked questioningly at Tomoko. One more ninja crumpled to the ground, bleeding from the ears and head.
" When I fight with people, I cast sound barriers before combat. This protects you from my attacks and they usually last about half a day. " She grinned back at them. " The Konoha-nin should be fine, I directed my shout at the rogue ninja. "
They increased their speed and soon Hinata puppet rained poisoned senbon needles down at their enemies. Two dead. None left. Mission complete. At the price of all the Konoha-nin around Asuma's corpse knowing their existence. They stared and stared and stared. Then, Hinata, Haku and Tomoko were gone, just like that.
" Phew... " Tomoko sighed.
" Tomoko-chan, you said you cast barriers on us. How come I don't feel or see anything? " Hinata frowned.
" Oh, they're meant to be like that. However, they won't shield you from any other attack except my sound jutsus. Other people who can use sound jutsus will be able to attack you. "
" Oh. "
" Hinata, I'm not sure if I tell you this, but I heard the last ninja cough up something about Sasuke being ready to absorb? " Haku asked.
Hinata's eyes widened.
" I heard it too. " Tomoko nodded. " Orochimaru must be planning to take his body then. "
" How did you know? " Haku narrowed his eyes from under his mask.
" I spied on him before. " Tomoko answered. " For my uncle, in case he came along and attacked us, I would have the advantage of information. "
Haku looked away, still not quite believing her. Hinata smiled, " Thank you. "
" You're welcome! " Tomoko gave a thumbs up then turned serious again, " To Orochimaru or Orochi? "
" I think we should go for the first option. " Hinata chose, changing directions.
" What?! " Haku followed her, " You actually care for that bastard?! Who knows, even she might be leading us to a trap! "
" No. Whatever it is, I'm going, Haku-nii-san, whether you like it or not. " Hinata smiled.
Haku gave a sigh of defeat. The three of them rushed on, towards one of the many lairs of Orochimaru. The one where Hinata and Haku were first taken to...
Whew... done. Little talk now, it's 12. 30 am and I need to snooze. Thanks for readin'... Snore...