The Light Within the Darkness
Part 5
Disclaimer: I don't own the show or any of the original characters.
Madara Uchiha was everything but pleased right now. For the first time since the organizations establishment, something had gone horribly wrong. Even worse yet, the cause of it was one of his best and his own blood, Itachi Uchiha. He was getting angrier by the second, the more he thought about it the worst his temper became.
It all started earlier that same day. Three members of the Hyuga clan had somehow managed to find top secret papers from Akatsuki based just outside the Leaf Village and almost took them back to the that very village. The papers were hidden in a remote location near the Leaf, and hidden well. They were kept in an abandoned shack that these three men managed to find the spot and raid it for the papers.
'When will the Hyuga clan learn that those Byakugan eyes see too much? Oh well, it will lead to their own destruction soon enough. The problem at hand, though, is the fact that Itachi made an error, and a critical one at that. He's supposed to be my right hand man, the one I can depend on when I need something done. This won't do at all. I'll have to pick up the slack now.'
Headquarters was in utter chaos since the discovery of those paper. Itachi had managed to kill the Hyuga members and retrieve the papers, but there were questions being asked now. Questions that would be hard to silence this time. Word was getting out now, and that wasn't good at all.
Someone had to intervene and fast…
Akatsuki members were running wild around the place, trying to get answers which only lead to more questions. Madara thought it was time to actually get something done around here.
"You," said Madara, motioning to one of the Akatsuki members who looked least busy at the time. "Where is Itachi Uchiha?"
The man was completely taken aback. Madara was known for his short temper and quickness to violence. It was necessary to choose ones words carefully around him. So it was natural that this man, who had never spoken to the leader before, was basically scared 'shitless.'
"Um…I think h-he left with Lord Kisame e-earlier. I think they w-went t-to silence some of the people s-spreading r-rumors. Do you w-want me to g-go get him back s-sir?" The man tried hard to hide the fact that he was shaking all over. No one dared say it out loud, but somehow it was always much colder when Madara was around.
"No, that won't be necessary. Send for Hidan and Kakuzu though. I could use them right now," said Madara who was laughing inwardly at the thought of ever needing those two.
The man straightened up and saluted Madara. "Y-yes sir, right away."
The man turned on his heel and walked quickly out of the room. Madara knew exactly what he was going to have Hidan and Kakuzu do, but it wouldn't be easy.
'I think it's time to flaunt a little power. Showing how strong the Akatsuki are will stop those rumors quicker than trying to kill off those who start them. After all, nothing quiets people quicker than sheer terror.'
Madara turned around and headed back towards his quarters. Soon, he thought, he'd put some fear into the people of Leaf.
Naruto and Hinata were almost finished putting up the decorations and getting food ready. Basically all the stuff others were supposed to do for him. He didn't mind though, work never killed anyone. Except maybe Rock Lee and his views on work, but Rock Lee was never one to view things 'normally.'
They finished up the last few minor details and hid all the things Naruto either didn't want people to find or break. Which mostly consisted of instant ramen cup, because he was worried someone would take them. Now all that was left was to wait until guests arrived. Naruto and Hinata sat down on his couch and talked for a little bit.
"Thank you so much Hinata for helping out, I really appreciate the help." Naruto, thought getting better, still felt awkward around Hinata.
"It's ok Naruto, I don't mind at all. I liked helping you and, ummm…yeah," said Hinata making the awkwardness even more awkward.
'Darn it!' Hinata thought scolding herself. 'Why can't I ever find the right words to say to him. It always seems so easy at a distance, but when it comes right down to it I can't say what I feel like saying. Right now I just want to scream 'NARUTO, I LOVE YOU AND I ALWAYS HAVE LOVED YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!' but it never comes out. All these years of training to prove to him how much stronger I've gotten means little when I can't even tell him how much he means to me.'
Oddly enough Naruto was suffering from an all to similar dilemma at the moment.
'What's wrong with me? I don't know what it is but there something different about the way I see Hinata now. I haven't been able to stop thinking about her since I got back. The even stranger thing is, I don't want to stop thinking about her. The closer I get to her never seems like enough, I just want to get closer and closer till there's no space between us at all.' Naruto shook his head in denial. 'Why do I torment myself with things that I know are out of my reach? Why do I always aim for unachievable goals that cause me to nearly kill myself to obtain? Even when I do those hopes and dreams never seem to get any closer, never any more reachable. So why would she be any different?'
From that point until guests arrived, Naruto and Hinata sat in total silence. Both pondering what the other was thinking…
First to arrive was Rock Lee (of course) with Sakura. Now Naruto was a little more than suspicious when they arrived together. He could have sworn that they'd been together when he saw them earlier that same day. After remembering that he did he had to ask Lee what was up.
"Hey Rock Lee, I have a question for you," said Naruto with a sly grin on his boy-like face.
The green jumpsuit clad shinobi smiled and put his arm around Naruto in a buddy-buddy sort of way.
"Sure Naruto, what is it?" asked Lee in his always sincere happy way.
"I was wondering if you and Sakura were…you know…together?"
Rock Lee threw his head back and laughed. Now Naruto was completely lost. Out of all the responses he thought he'd get, Naruto was not counting on this one.
"Naruto, are you jealous that I'm spending a lot of time with Sakura and your not?"
"HELL NO! I just wanted to know if you two were a pair now. You know, slake my curiosity," Naruto said, becoming a little more than defensive.
"Then yes, we're dating and she wants to see where it's going. So far I think it's going great."
Naruto smiled, because if anyone REALLY wanted Sakura, it was Lee. He deserved her more than anyone else he could think of… Scratch that, anyone else he wanted to think of.
"I'm glad for you bushy brow," said Naruto as he put his hand on Lee's shoulder. "There is no one that I can think of who could be a better man for Sakura. I look to you as a brother Lee, and I think you've finally got all that you deserve." Naruto smiled but noticed that Lee did not return his happiness. Tears were now forming in the corners of Lee's eyes. Such kindness to Lee was always returned one thousand fold…
But not always in the was you wished.
Lee wrapped both arms around Naruto and squeezed with a little too much might. Crying openly into Naruto's jacket and almost crushing his ribs.
"OH NAURTO, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME! I THINK OF YOU AS A BROTHER YOU KNOW? HEARING ALL THAT FROM YOU IT'S JUST TOO MUCH," said Lee as he slowly squeezed the life out of Naruto. And Naruto, not being the one to want to die of slow suffocation, tried to reason with the over-emotional Lee.
"Lee…can't…breath…killing…your…brother…gah!"
Lee quickly let go and apologized several times for his overreaction. Naruto just smiled and waved him off with a dismissive hand. Lee smiled back and headed into the other room where Hinata and Sakura were talking. He bent over like an old man as he headed toward the couch.
'It's going to be a long night. After seeing Lee and talking to him for no more than 5 minutes, I don't think I can survive the rest of my friends.'
Roughly one hour later everyone was there. Kakashi and Jiraiya showed up after Lee and Sakura, and the rest of the rookie 9 followed suit shortly after that. Naruto thought for the most part it was a pleasing experience, the hellos lost their meaning after awhile and he was getting really sick of telling people where he'd been these few years. After about an hour of small talk Jiraiya broke out with some party 'items'. Most of these 'items' were small round cups and a few bottles of sake just for the occasion.
Now the gang was mostly okay with it considering that someone else supplied it, because this was quality stuff. Rock Lee of course stayed away from the stuff for more than obvious reasons. Everyone else took in a little bit here and there, and even Hinata took a little sip which surprised the majority present, including Naruto.
"Wow Hinata, I didn't know that you drank," said Naruto who brushed his hand against her cheek as he made the comment. He did it mostly out of the sake and all around happy mood that was going on. She blushed a deep crimson, typical for her though, and touch his hand as it slid softly across her cheek.
"Only a little on special occasions when there is some around. I must say that this is the most special occasion I can think of for such a thing," said Hinata. 'Wow' Hinata thought. 'Did I really just say that!? Maybe being around him so much is starting to help me express how I feel.' Hinata giggled a little when she looked up and noticed that Naruto blushed slightly at her remark.
The mingling continued and the drinking pretty much came to a stop after awhile, for everyone except Neji. Neji had been sitting in the back corner for most of the party and didn't speak to almost anyone except Tenten. He was the only one there who never said 'hi' or 'nice to see you again' to Naruto. He just sat in the dark corner, his eyes glowering at the guest of honor. Mostly everyone knew that Neji, for one reason or another, was not pleased with Naruto, but no one really cared because he wasn't hurting anyone at the time.
But Naruto seemed to be, without fail, the only one who didn't take notice to Neji's loathing glance. So Sakura tried to keep him diverted from it by making conversation.
"So Naruto, what kind of training have you been doing over the past few years?"
Just before Naruto could answer, Neji got up from his seat in the corner and started clumsily over to where Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, and Lee were sitting.
"Yes Naruto, what kind of training have you been doing over the past few years? What kind of training is it that makes you think your so much damn better than the rest of us!?" said Neji, his anger showing more and more with each passing second.
Naruto, who was completely taken aback by this statement, had no idea how to respond. So he stuck with his usual innocent answer in hopes it would pacify the heated Hyuga.
"I never said I thought I was better than anybody Neji. I wish I knew what you were talking about so that I could answer you better, but-"
"Don't play stupid with me Naruto! I won't fall for such an act of humility any longer! You sit here talking about all the places you've been and all the things you've done while on this little 'trip' of yours as if it were nothing but a walk in the park! The rest of us have been bleeding for this fucking village that you preach you care so much about while you have been off having a god damn vacation!" Everyone there started to gather around and watched as the scene unfolded. Choji decided to step in and to try calm down Neji before things got out of control.
"Hey Neji, I thinks it's time you went home buddy." Neji cast Choji a cold look that stopped Choji dead in his tracks.
"Why don't you go back to your food Choji, before you hurt yourself," said Neji with a tone as cold as his gaze. Choji slowly stepped back and everyone there took note to try their best to leave Neji alone.
Tenten still got out of her seat, though, to try and placate the seething Neji, but to no avail. Jiraiya and Kakashi were standing together at a distance to keep a watchful eye on things incase something got out of hand.
"Don't you think we should be helping Naruto right now?" said Kakashi watching the angry scene unfold.
"No, Naruto can walk on his own to feet. If he can't handle this drunken joke, even being a Hyuga, then we ,my old friend, have done a poor job." said Jiraiya who was growing curious as to how this would all end.
Neji was still seething and getting more livid by the second.
"Not only that Naruto, but then you come along and have the balls to start hitting on my little cousin. Who are you to even think you have a chance with the Hyuga heiress? You, who have clawed your way to the top with fluke wins and that goofy grin of yours. No Naruto, I think this little trip has made you come too far out of your place."
Tenten was practically begging at this point for Neji to stop.
"Neji, please! You don't mean that stuff, you've just had a lot to drink is all. Let's go home so you can sleep and in the morning it will be all better." said Tenten who had tears forming in the corners of her eyes at this point. Naruto stood up and nodded in agreement with Tenten.
"Yeah Neji, I think its long since time you took your leave."
Neji scoffed and curled his hands into fists.
"Your telling me to leave as if your capable of making me. Maybe in your little trips you picked up a thing or two, but I have been training non-stop for this whole time. So let's see how you stack up now Naruto!" said Neji as his Byakugan kicked in.
Neji moved swiftly right up to Naruto and sent two hands flying at him in hopes of sealing two chakra point. Naruto easily sidestepped the maladroit attempts as if they were nothing and grabbed both of Neji's hands. Neji, taken aback by this swift turn of events, was completely unprepared for the kick Naruto delivered right into his face. Neji was sent flying backwards towards the wall, but before he could make an impact Naruto came right between him and the wall and delivered another kick right to the midsection of Neji's back. Neji started to go soaring across the room once again, but Naruto grabbed his leg and pulled him back. As Neji started in the oncoming direction once again, Naruto grabbed him by the back of his head and slammed Neji face first into the ground and partly into the floor below, knocking Neji out cold.
Everyone was in shock at how quickly Naruto disposed of the angry Hyuga, even Kakashi. The only people in the room who weren't surprised were Naruto and Jiraiya, who had known that it was due to Naruto's intense training over the years and also to the fact that Neji was very drunk. Jiraiya saw this as a fit time to send everyone home.
"Ok everybody listen up, it's past time you start heading back to your respective abodes. Naruto, Kakashi, and I will take care of everything, so just don't worry your little heads. We'll have everything fixed and Neji home without anymore harm."
Everyone nodded in silent agreement and left shortly after with their things and a respective pat on the back for Naruto for trying to keep violence to a minimum. After everyone but Hinata and Neji were gone, Jiraiya and Kakashi turned to Naruto with sly grins on their faces.
"Well Naruto, we'll be seeing you tomorrow probably, good luck with getting Neji home," said Jiraiya as he and Kakashi made a quick break for the door.
"Wait! I thought you said you were going to help me!" said Naruto in a pleading voice. Jiraiya was long gone but Kakashi poked his head back in the door for a quick response.
"Well, the thing is Naruto, we mostly said that so everybody leave. We don't really want to have to explain things to Lord Hiashi Hyuga why his star pupil is out cold at this hour, I never cared for dealing with him anyway."
And with that Kakashi left Hinata and Naruto to take the unconscious Neji home, and deal with the head of the Hyuga clan.
"Hinata, you can go home if you want to. I wouldn't blame you for it, and I can get all this cleaned up and get Neji back by myself. That way you won't have to face your dad or take any place in the situation."
Hinata shook her head in protest. That made Naruto feel a little better from all of Neji's hurtful comments. Even though Naruto didn't show any emotion the whole time Neji was talking, a lot of what he said to him really hit him hard. Hinata must have noticed that something was amiss, because she got up and walked over to Naruto and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok Naruto, I don't mind staying to help you with all this. I'd actually like a little extra time with you," said Hinata with that customary blush on her milky white cheeks. "Trust me when I say that Neji didn't mean all of that. He's just been a little on edge lately with all the extra missions and little down time. The village has been pressing us hard lately due to the lack of experienced shinobi. He has been drinking a great deal more though because of it, and we've been trying to get him to stop."
"We?" said Naruto with a perplexed look on his face.
"Well, by 'we' I mean Rock Lee, Tenten, Gai, and I have been more than concerned by Neji's drinking. We keep telling him to stop but he refuses to listen to us, we were running out of options to help him."
Naruto let a grin cross his face for the first time since the initial conflict. "Well, I think that I batted about as much sense into him as he's going to get in a while. If he keeps it up, I just hope he's ready for round two," said Naruto who looked at Neji laying on the floor with pity. " Because if he's going to be that way, then I'll show him how it affects his fighting abilities by beating him."
"Naruto," said Hinata with surprise, "Does it really have to be that way? I mean there has to be another way to solve this."
"There probably is, but it would take more time than my method. Pain is a great teacher, and believe me I know. He keeps getting hurt from the excess drinking and he'll learn quickly that it's something that needs to be stopped."
There was a long pause between the two before anyone said anything. Naruto decided to speak up first, thinking it was he who caused the initial silence.
"Look, we're not going to get anywhere by sitting here talking about him. Let's start cleaning up and get him home, ok?"
Hinata nodded and started off for the first mess that she saw.
After a while of cleaning Naruto picked up the still unconscious Neji and started off for the Hyuga Mansion with Hinata closely at his side. It wasn't long before they came to the house with an angry looking Hiashi standing outside.
"Hinata Hyuga, what in the world are you doing! I thought I told you that you were to get home before dark. Why don't you ever listen to me anymore? It's times like this Hinata I really wish you were more like your sister. Don't you know how dangerous out there it is for Hyu-" Hiashi stopped talking as he finally came to notice Neji being carried by Naruto. "What happened," gasped Hiashi as he ran over towards Neji and grabbed him form Naruto. He laid the comatose shinobi on the ground gently and looked at him for any wounds.
"He isn't hurt father, not badly at least."
"Who did this!? Was it the one who we feared?"
Hinata shook her head, "No father, Naruto did it but only to calm him down. He was getting angry for no good reason and attacked Naruto."
Hiashi stood up and glared at the young Uzumaki standing before him. "You did this? I always knew that you were trouble from the beginning. I could strike you down where you stand for such insolence to a royal member of the Hyuga clan. The very nerve of such a thing!" Now Hiashi was getting out of control, and Naruto was wondering what deity he pissed off that day to get such bad luck.
"Father please! You have to understand that-"
"I understand plenty daughter! If this abomination thinks he can lay hands upon a Hyuga, then he has another thing coming."
Hiashi walked swiftly next to Naruto and reached out to grab him by the neck. Just as his fingers went to clasp around Naruto's throat, a kunai went flying passed Hiashi, just barely grazing the tip of his nose. The three shinobi turned to see who it was that threw the kunai.
It was a man, late twenties Naruto would wager. He was a little taller than average and had a muscular build. He wore a black hooded cloak with green leafs painted all over with pants that matched and sandals. He was holding a kunai in his left hand and spinning it around his index finger.
"Lord Hiashi Hyuga," the stranger said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Why am I not surprised to see you out and about picking on shinobi younger yourself."
Hiashi wasn't sure if he knew the cloaked figure or not, but he did know that he didn't care for his tone of voice. "Who are you? I demand to know who you are and why you attacked me!"
The cloaked stranger walked slowly over to Hiashi. "Do you not remember me Hiashi? I know I've been gone awhile, but I think you'll recognize me." The man cast his hood back to reveal a rather handsome face. He had blue eyes and long dark blonde hair that came down to his shoulders, and he looked quite a lot like…
Hiashi's eyes widened in shock, even though Hinata and Naruto did not know why. He started to walk backwards towards Neji and Hinata. "Hinata, take Neji and go inside right now, and please don't question me!" Hinata, not wanting to anger her father did so quickly. As she headed in the front door she cast Naruto a confused and sorry look. He just nodded and motioned for her to go inside.
"I apologize," said Hiashi with sincerity, " I didn't know you were-"
"Were what?" the man said in an irritated tone, "That I was here, otherwise you wouldn't have done anything, right?" The man walked right up to Hiashi to wear the two men were almost eye to eye. "You better not try my patience again Lord Hiashi, because that kunai wasn't a warning shot…I missed!"
Naruto was at a loss for words. Even though he had only seen Lord Hiashi a few times in his entire life, he never would have guessed that there was a man out there that Hiashi was a little afraid of! Hiashi was stumbling around for his next words, this stranger seemed to have quite the impact on Lord Hyuga.
"I didn't mean anything by it, I was just a little over concerned for my student is all. I swear to you I didn't mean the young boy any harm. But you didn't have to throw the kunai, that was steeping over the line a bit."
The stranger stood back for a while to ponder Hiashi's words. After a minute or two he seemed to come to an conclusion.
"Like I said before, Lord Hiashi, I better not catch you giving Naruto here any more trouble, or you will look to your 'star pupil' with envy! Now leave us, I wish to have a private word with Naruto."
Hiashi looked the man up and down, then tried nothing to hide the scowl on his face. "You better watch your steps carefully, Daichi Namikaze, for even you are not so powerful as to stand up against the might of the Hyuga Clan."
And with that, Hiashi turned sharply towards his manor and walked swiftly to and through the front doors. Leaving Naruto and this stranger, Daichi, alone.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I never thought I live to see the day."
Naruto just stood there puzzled as to who this Daichi guy was. "Who are you and what do you want with me?"
The man walked over to Naruto and placed a hand on his shoulder. Naruto noticed a wide grin spread across his strangely similar features.
"Naruto, don't you know your own cousin when you see him?"
To Be continued…
Author's Notes: I AM BACK BABBY, OH YEAH! AND WITH ONE HELL-OF-A VENGANCE! SORRY TO ALL MY READERS FOR THE EXTENDED ABSENCE, I WAS ON SOME PRETTY HARD-CORE GROUNDING FOR GRADES AND I JUST GOT OFF THE HOOK! BUT I'M BACK AND MORE READY THAN EVER TO START SERVING UP SOME NARUTO-GOODNESS. TO ALL WHO HAVE THIS STORY UNDER FAVORITES OR ALERT YOU HAVE MY MOST HEARTFELT APPOLIGIES, I DIDN'T INTENED TO MAKE YOU WAIT SO LONG, BUT NOW AND BACK AND WE CAN CONTINUE WHERE WE LEFT OFF. SO HERE IT GOES, NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE PACKED WITH ANSWERS, AND FOR EVERY ANSWER I'LL GIVE YOU A MILLION QUESTIONS, SUCH AS "Why is Rock Lee in a banana hammock?" and "Why did I just think that? Now I can't get that image out of my head." Until Next time folks, which hopefully shouldn't be too long :D !