Okay people, here's the next Chapter. Though at the end of this arc, I'm wondering whether or not to go like the anime did after the retrieval mission and save them, or just let some of them die. Feel free to make suggestions on which you would like, but I won't garuntee anything on this one. But again thanks a lot for the reviews, and its nice too know other want Sakura dead like me. Enjoy the read.
Chapter 45: The Tiger and the flower. How could you do this to him?
Shikamaru noticed it was gone. One of Shino's Kikai had been following them so that Shino could catch up when he finished with his fight, however the bug was now gone. First Choiji, now Shino. Shikamaru, for the first time in his life, began to dought himself. I shouldn't have let them stay alone, if I had left others behind, would it have made a difference though? He shook the thought. This was no time to loose confidence.
"Stop," came a feminine voice a short distance in front of them.
"Sakura!" Naruto cried happily. Sakura only replied by throwing a kunai at Naruto. He easily dodged, but his face was full of surprise, "Sakura, why?"
"I'm sorry Naruto," She said almost in tears, "But I told Sasuke I would do anything for him. Even if it means turning on my village and fighting my comrades."
"You know you can't beat us Sakura," said Shikamaru.
"I know, but I can at least delay you enough so Sasuke gets to his destination," Sakura said.
"I won't let you!" said Hinata with an unusual vigor in her voice. She attacked Sakura by jumping to the branch she was on with her Byakuugen activated, "Please let me handle this."
"Hinata," Naruto said reaching one hand out, but dropped it down, "Alright, but please don't kill her."
Hinata stopped for just a brief moment, So, even now Naruto still cares for her, after that she quickly regained composure, "Okay, Naruto-kun."
"Thanks, lets go," Said Naruto.
"But Naruto!" Said Shikamaru, "Hinata is still injured, we can't leave her alone!" then Shikamaru realized he slipped up. Sakura smiled a little as she heard that, Shikamaru just let the enemy know that her opponent wasn't at full strength, giving her another advantage. Dammit, I have too keep focus.
"Don't worry Shikamaru, I believe in Hinata, Just like I believe in Shino and Choiji," Naruto smiled, "We'll see them all again."
Shikamaru only smiled, he didn't know why, but Naruto's words calmed him and settled his mind, "Thanks NAruto, lets go," and with that they took off leaving behind Sakura
"So Hinata," Said Sakura, "You're still hurt from Neji, aren't you?"
"Y-yes," said Hinata, remaining firm in her stance, "but as long as they go on it doesn't matter, you won't catch up to them."
"It wasn't my intention, I was only too stop at least one person from pursuing," Sakura said, "There is no way I could hold off multiple people, so I did this to help out in any way I could."
"J-just tell me how you could do this to Naruto," said Hinata, "he really cares for you."
"I know," said Sakura, "but I don't care for him, the one I love is Sasuke. You like Naruto, don't you Hinata?" Hinata only turned red when she said that, unable to say anything, "I knew it. Then you know how I feel, right?"
"Yes," said Hinata in reply. A feeling of wanting to do something for someone, regardless of what others will feel, she felt the same way for Naruto.
"Lets hurry this up then Hinata," said sakura preforming some hand seals, "Bushin no Jutsu!" and two more Sakura clones appeared. Sakura attacked Hinata with all three jumping from different branches, but Sakura didn't realize that Hinata could see the real one. Ignoring the fakes, Hinata went right for Sakura. Sakura avoided a palm to the shoulder and began jumping down the trees. Hinata quickly followed suite. They had landed on the ground and Sakura smiled.
"Seems my Bushin is useless, looks like we're fighting withought jutsu then" said Sakura nervously. The only Jutsu she really knew were Genjutsu, none of which were good enough to fool Hinata's eyes. And close range combat was out, and she didn't bring many tools with her. Sakura quickly jumped back to keep distance with Hinata, pulling out a Kunai. She threw it at Hinata, who easily dodged to the side. Hinata then quickly charged at Sakura however when she hit suddenly the body was replaced with a Kunai, the one thrown at hinata earlier. Hinata quickly moved the side seeing the Kunai flying at her back, and got a fairly deep wound in her right shoulder.
"All I need to do is slow your movement down, then this match is mine," said Sakura. Hinata knew she was right. She had practiced a new technique, but under the current surroundings and her condition she couldn't use it. Yet right now it was her only hope, so Hinata took off in a direction of a river. She needed a large amount of water for this.
Seeing Hinata run, Sakura took after her. Using what Kunai and Shuriken she had, she managed to put several minor cuts in the fleeing Hinata. She now moved much slower than normal, and Sakura thought now she could fight with Hinata safely at close range. However Hinata had stopped and turned around in front of a river, showing that she had finished a hand seal, "Hidden mist Justu!" she yelled. Quickly an extremely dense fog appeared throughout the area, completely blinding Sakura.
"How can you use a technique of the mist village?" Sakura asked, not sure how only a Genin is using another villages Jutsu.
"K-Kurenai-Sensei convinced K-Kakashi sensei to teach me," said Hinata.
"But why would he?" asked Sakura.
"Because, in my hands it is much more effective," Said Hinata, landing a blow directly on Sakura's shoulder. She quickly jumped back before Hinata could Strike again. Kakashi was usually for helping out any comrade in the village if he thought they were worth it, so what did he see in Hinata? She was probably one of the weakest Genin here. Sakura found it Ironic that her own Sensei is part of the reason she may loose now. She realized what Hinata meant when she said it was more effective with her. The Byakuugen sees all, even through darkness and a heavy mist, so here sight was uneffected by this Jutsu.
"I'm sorry Sakura," said Hinata moving in. Sakura tried in vain, but was struck time and time again at all of her Chakra openings, and in no time Sakura felt the effects. Her Chakra was almost completely cut off. She could no longer fight as she saw the mist clear. Hinata was there breathing heavily. Using such a technique had drained a lot of Chakra, and in her state it was taking a toll.
"G-go to him," Hinata said Weakly, "I told Naruto that I wouldn't hurt you."
"B-but why?" asked Hinata.
"The same reason you are going to Sasuke," said Hinata, "besides, right now you couldn't do anything to the others anyway."
Sakura smiled, "Thank you Hinata," and then took off after Sasuke.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said to herself sitting down against a tree, "Did I do the right thing?" Hinata couldn't move well now, so rather than follow and burden the others, she decided to await them to find her. She sat there, praying that Naruto would make it back safely.
Back at the Hokage tower Rock Lee arrived to Hayate to report their mission, "Hokage Sama, the mission I went on with Gai-Sensei was a success, however Gai stayed behind with Osaka to help with the villagers, as many were hurt by bandits before we arrived."
"Crap," said Hayate, "I was hoping Gai would have returned."
"Is there anything I can help you with then?" asked Lee, wondering what he needed Gai for.
"I wanted to send a stronger Ninja, but you'll have to do," said Hayate, "Shikamaru lead a team consisting of Uzamaki Naruto, Aburame Shino, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuki Kiba, and Akamichi Choiji to retrieve Sasuke. This is an extremely dangerous mission, and they need backup. Please get to them as soon as possible," and then Hayate gave Lee directions to where they went.
"I won't let you down Hokage Sama," Lee said as he took off.
Hayate had been worried about this decision from the beginning. Sending off Genin after a group of people from Orichimaru to get back someone who left of their own free will. This was not how he wanted to start off his career as Hokage.
I know this Chapter was kind of short, but It's the best I could think of. Again, please keep the reviews coming, Next up, Kiba Vs. Sakon.