(A/N: Hi guys! I'm in a great mood today. I feel so well that I'm starting this the day after I posted the last chapter and getting a nice head start. Regular type is Zetsu's white side, and bold is his black side. I don't own Naruto.)
Mysterious Captivation: Chapter 9
Moving as stealthily as possible, Neji, Naruto, and Kakashi ghosted through the undergrowth. There were only two days left until the end of the week, and they wanted to reach Hinata as soon as they possibly could. There was no telling what the Akatsuki had done to her in the time the three had used getting permission to rescue her.
Neji had been told not to activate his Byakugan until they arrived near where the hideout was so that he could conserve his chakra and energy. He had aquiesced because it would merely waste even more time to argue with his cell leader. Kakashi had seemed adamant, and Neji knew nothing would change his mind. So why argue? He had thought.
"Are you sure the hideout is in this direction?" Naruto asked, already beginning to get caught up in the genjutsu.
Neji silently smacked his forehead in his mind before answering the blonde. "Kai," he whispered as he dispelled the tendrils of jutsu that had wrapped themselves around the blonde Kyuubi Jinchuriki.
The Uzumaki shook his head slightly. "Sorry, Neji. I wasn't paying attention," he said as rubbed the back of his head in shame.
The stoic Hyuuga merely sighed and nodded. "We need to keep our wits about us for this. Getting caught could be the difference between our lives and Hinata's death. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?" Hoping to scare him into paying attention, Neji decided to put the idea of Hinata's death into Naruto's head.
Eyes wide, the blonde glanced around him warily. "Iie, I'll do everything in my power to keep that from happening," he proclaimed.
Neji nodded, smirking grimly. Now he knew why Tsunade-sama had allowed Naruto to come on this mission. He was willing to give everything to save his friends, no matter that it might cost him his dreams. "We're getting closer. I can feel the genjutsu's chakra getting stronger. We should reach the base by tomorrow afternoon if we stop to rest tonight."
"We should keep going! You said it yourself that we need to get there as soon as possible," Naruto protested, keeping his voice quiet so that he didn't draw unwanted attention to their group.
"Think, Naruto. We will be worn down from travel and our chakra will be lower than it would if we sleep. How can we help Hinata if we aren't even at full strength? We are barely a match for the Akatsuki at full strength, so how could we save her if we are tired?" Kakashi questioned, knowing that Naruto would consent to resting if it meant he could be stronger to save his friend.
Understanding hit the blue eyed Jinchuriki as his mind processed those questions. "Then let's go as far as we can tonight, so we'll rest up and not use so much energy tomorrow," he enthusiastically suggested.
"Now you're thinking, Naruto," his sensei agreed.
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A knock at the door brought the girls from their chatting. The elder of the two stood, crossed the room, and opened the door a crack to peak out.
Zetsu stepped from the far wall, appearing as the door slid open. "The ninja should be here by tomorrow afternoon. Tell the girl she will need to be out by midmorning to stop them." He relayed the information.
"Good. You'll guide her to the correct spot, I assume? She is a terrible liar, so I will know if she does not meet with them," Konan warned.
"I'll take her to the right place, but the rest will be up to her. Wish her luck, because she is going to need it," his black side rudely finished.
Konan nodded as though it were an everyday occurance that she had a conversation with two people in one body. She shut the door as the strange ninja melted into the floor below him.
"Zetsu will take you to the location of your friends by midmorning tomorrow," Konan addressed the younger woman in the room as she returned to sitting by the Hyuuga's side.
"O-Okay. Do y-you have anymore b-black nail polish? I-I need to finish p-painting my nails, but this bottle i-is out," Hinata explained.
Before the knock, they had been prepping the young Hyuuga woman for the meeting with her friends the next day. They had started by finding an entire black wardrobe. Then, Konan went to Deidara to borrow a cloak with their symbolic red clouds. She would make the needed alterations to the cloak to make it fit the petite Hyuuga girl, but no adjustment would be needed for the height because they were so similar.
After the necessary clothes had been gathered, Konan sat down on her bed and motioned for Hinata to do the same. The elder bluenette bent to look for her make up kit under her bed.
Finding it and bringing it into her lap, she unclasped the lock on it and pulled out a small vial of black nail polish. "This is the final touch. All our members wear this shade, and we want your friends to think you are already a part of our organization. If they knew that they were your entrance test, they would never give up no matter what you said."
Hinata nodded and took the bottle from the older woman. "Th-Thank you, Konan-san." After spending the week with the only other female Akatsuki, Hinata's stuttering had nearly disappeared and they had become much closer.
"Have you figured out how you are going to get them to leave tomorrow?" The elder woman questioned, worrying about her neweset 'daughter'.
"I-I've been practicing my speech, b-but I'm not sure how I'll r-react to everyone." She paused for a moment, debating her next question. Eventually, she spoke it. "D-Do you know who is on the t-team that has come to rescue me?"
Konan sighed, knowing that two of the people were some who could potentially convince her to leave with them. "I believe, from what Zetsu has described to me and Pein, that the team consists of your cousin, Neji, the Kyuubi boy, Naruto, and the copy ninja, Kakashi." She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the expression she knew would follow.
Hinata's eyes widened in panic and sorrow. Unshed tears shimmered in her eyes for the moment before she closed them. "I see. I'll h-have to change things, then."
Konan knew her plan had originally been to drop from the trees into their paths and convince them that she was no longer on their side by attacking Neji, whom she knew would be on the team. She hadn't counted on Naruto, though, so the elder blunette was worried. She listened to the younger girl sigh, finishing with her nails and closing the bottle of polish. The young Hyuuga bowed her head in thought, crossing her legs on the bed.
"It is almost time for your training with Deidara." Konan broke into her thoughts several minutes later. "Would you like me to tell him you need to skip it to think over your plan?"
"No! Thank you, Konan-san, b-but I need to talk with him for a l-little while." She smiled at the older woman, then sat silently for a few moments. "A-Actually, I-I have a question. Don't answer if y-you feel I'm invading your p-privacy, but," she broke off, taking a deep breath, "are you and Leader-sama married?"
Konan's eyes narrowed as she debated whether to tell the girl or not. "If I tell you anything more about this organization than you already know, you will no longer have the option of leaving. If you fail your initiation, then you will lose your life. Are you okay with that?" She replied darkly, wishing that the choice did not have to be made.
It was an agreement she had made with her husband a few days after she had met the petit Hyuuga.
"Konan, if she knows too much about us, and we ransom her off, she could destroy our organization with just a word!" Pein had explained.
"Then we will keep that destructive information away from her until we know she wants to become a part of us."
"Yes, but if she fails her initiation? She will still have the choice to go home. We can't let her leave if she comes into contact with that information."
"Then we will simply tell her of the consequences, should she decide to ask dangerous questions." Konan's solution was agreed upon, and every member learned of it. If anyone were to disclose the information, they would be punished, though none knew what the punishment was, exactly.
A thoughtful look entered the Hyuuga heiress's eyes as she tried to decide whether it was worth knowing. Konan watched her eyes clear as her decision was made. "I don't ever want to forget my time here with you and the Akatsuki. There were many times when I was scared out of my mind, but there are so many good things here, too. Even if I did fail to convince my friends to leave, I don't think I could return to Konoha as peaceful, little Hinata." She closed her eyes, as though she didn't want to seen Konan's face when she spoke her last sentence. "I want to know. I am prepared for the death that may follow."
Konan nodded. "Are you sure?" When the other girl's head bobbed, Konan began to speak. "Pein and I married several years ago, but no one in the organization even knows about it other than Itachi, who found out through our carelessness. We should have realized that he would observe us and put two and two together. Especially with his eyes. I knew that you probably would too, but you needed to get away from both Itachi and Deidara for a little while. Which of them are you going to choose when you pass your initiation exam?"
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Hinata blinked at the sudden change in topic. "I don't know. Deidara is so kind to me, and I care for him so much, but Itachi saved my life and made me feel safe with him. I care for them both, but I don't know whom I love."
A knowing smile passed across the origami mistress's face. "You don't want to cause either of them pain. I understand completely, but you will hurt both of them by not deciding. Those boys are like children to me. I love them all as dearly as a mother, and whichever of them you chose, I know you will be a wonderful wife. When the time comes, that is."
A blushed chased the paleness from Hinata's face as Konan spoke. "I don't want to hurt them, especially since you think so fondly of them. Itachi-sama has already told me that he loves me, but Deidara-san kissed me. What do you think I should do, Konan-san?"
"Follow your heart in this. The Akatsuki are big boys. They can deal with pain in ways that normal men can't. I know whomever you choose will be very happy."
Hinata thought for a moment. "I'm glad I'm finally getting to see what's beneath the rocky exterior of the Akatsuki. You are all really kind people, but no one would ever know it."
"There's a reason we're S-class criminals, Hinata. Don't forget that." The blunette responded sharply. "Just a word of warning. We can't afford to be kind to the world because we are the rejects of civilization. We show our kindness here, but are otherwise heartless. Please remember that."
The Hyuuga nodded, slightly taken aback by the sudden change in her roommate. A knock on the door saved her from having to respond to that statement, however.
Taking her cue from Konan, Hinata stood to answer the door. Standing in the hall, Deidara motioned for her to get ready for training.
"I'll be r-right out." She responded, turning back to the origami mistress and relaying the message as she grabbed her weapon's pouch.
As she left the room and closed the door, Deidara greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. "You seem kind of downtrodden today, yeah. What's wrong, hm?" He asked, expertly reading her mood from her final moments of conversation with Konan.
"Ah, it's nothing. I was just thinking, and now I'm having trouble returning to real life." She lied. What else could I say? 'Oh, I was just reminded that you're all kind here, but actually, you're all heartless murderers.' I couldn't say that. It's really hard to believe about him.
The look on his face told Hinata that Deidara didn't believe her, but she supposed he was allowing her some privacy because he changed the subject. "I heard from Zetsu that your test will be tomorrow morning, mm. Is there anything you need to get or want to say before you go?"
"A-Anou… I want to hear your opinion on my plan. If that's okay with you, I mean." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other in apprehension.
"I'd love to hear it, yeah. That way we can make sure there are no flaws, right, hm?" He smiled enthusiastically, waiting for her to speak.
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Konan allowed a bitter smile to grace her lips. She knew that their possible new recruit had a long, difficult road ahead of her if she passed her admission test. Two of the most competitive men in the organization were potentially in love with her, and there was no way she would be given a choice.
Konan was no fool. She had known from the beginning that Hinata would have no choice in the matter of whom she loved. Her advice was ultimately useless to the younger girl.
The elder bluenette was more worried about how the one who lost her would react. It would mean that man had lost to his rival, and Konan didn't know how an outright loss, especially in love, would cause either of them to react.
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Itachi's anger was chilling. Despite Konan's claim that Hinata would be allowed to train with both himself and Deidara for only one hour a day and the rest of the time spent with her would be of her own volition, he knew Deidara wasn't playing by the rules.
Deidara walked by the girls' room every free moment he had, and everyone in the Akatsuki knew that Hinata would never say no to anyone.
Itachi's free time was usually far less than that of Deidara's, simply because the Uchiha was an older member. Every time Itachi walked by her room, she was no where to be found, and Konan gave him a pitying stare.
He hated that look. Dispised it, even. And far worse were the victorious grins on the blonde explosive expert's face every time they came into contact with one another.
It was simply infuriating to a point that Itachi had never before reached.
But, he reconcilled with himself, I will find a way to make her mine.
That vow allowed him to smirk as he watched Deidara pass him, Hinata walking animatedly by his side as she spoke.
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Hinata was exhausted. She had trained with Itachi earlier that day, and then proceeded to train with Deidara. He told her to go to her room and shower, then meet him back in the hall to grab some lunch.
When she walked into the room she shared with Konan, she noticed something was slightly amiss. The rug's corner was curled in on itself slightly, so she kicked it back with her foot. Wondering why Konan had allowed it to stay like that, Hinata noticed that that woman was not in the room.
Their trust in me must be growing. When I first got here, I would have been glad that I would have information for my village. Now, however, I feel honored. I could never betray them now. She thought to herself, marvelling at the change that had taken place in her heart.
Walking to the bathroom, she shed her clothes and showered, taking care not to scrub the black polish off her nails.
After allowing the water to cascade past her eyelids for a few extra moments, she shut off the water and stepped out of the watery encasement.
Her eyes flicked around the room in search of a towel, finding the pitch black one that Konan had indicated was the Hyuuga's.
She left the bathroom after donning her clothes, wondering where her elder could be when she found the room still empty.
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Sitting in her garden and inhaling the fragrant air, Konan pondered Hinata's situation. Right at that moment, Hinata was probably showering after her training and getting ready to go to the kitchen with Deidara.
The blonde had surely invited her before the Uchiha could even reach her.
Deidara was more experienced with emotions than Itachi. The latter was better at cold blooded murder than saying anything like an 'I love you'.
The bluenette knew it was Deidara whom the young Hyuuga would choose, but she didn't know if the girl would be allowed any choice at all. Earlier, the origami specialist would have assumed not, but now she wasn't so sure.
Had anyone bothered to read the rules of their hideout, they would have found that, stated under rule twelve, article three, any member of Akatsuki who falls in love with the same woman as another member of Akatsuki will rely on the choosing of that woman as to whom she would like to be with.
She had forced Pein to add that part, in case the need ever arose. Her husband had argued with her that they were all mass murderers. Who would be twisted enough to fall in love with them? He had been certain that none of the Akatsuki would ever even fall in love.
But he had added the rule as a precaution, just to make her happy.
When that memory suddenly hit her earlier that morning, after Hinata had left, Konan had to wonder whether it was fate that she had nearly forced her husband into making that a rule, whether she had somehow known that it would be needed. Whether it had been just for Deidara, Hinata, and Itachi that she was thinking, she hadn't a clue.
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Hinata's eyes flew open when she heard the door slide past its frame. She leapt from the bed, where she had taken an impromptu nap to get over her nervousness. Raising one hand, her right dropped to her kunai pouch. "Ah, Konan-san. I-I didn't realize it was y-you." She straightened as she saw her roommate standing in the doorway.
"I didn't mean to disturb you, Hinata-san. I just wanted to hand you our rulebook. Should you make it tomorrow, you may want to read the rules. You will be at a disadvantage because of your gender and your fighting capabilities, so you will need to find an upper hand with some of the more abrasive members. You do not, necessarily, need to memorize the rules to follow them, but more to threaten to tell Pein if you see someone else not following them."
"W-Why do you say that?" Hinata questioned, thinking she had caught the older woman's drift, but wanting to be sure.
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"If you deal with Zetsu any, you will be overpowered by him in all catagories except healing. Healers, to most of us, are more replacable than our fighters. They might attempt to bribe, maim, or harm you in some other way. How will you get out of that situation if neither I nor Pein are around? There is nothing we can do to anyone for harming you unless you have a witness or one of us. If they kill you, the entire organization will be punished. But how could you keep from getting hurt? Threaten to report any behavior inconsistant with the rules. You don't like to fight, so let us fight for you." Konan offered, ultimately knowing the girl would memorize the rules, but probably never threaten the other members.
She made a mental note to make sure Deidara or Itachi were with her for most of her stay in Akatsuki for her first several months after initiation.
"B-But why are you all b-bending over backwards to make s-sure I become a member? W-Why do you care so much?" The young ex-heiress demanded demurely.
Konan hadn't thought about that. Deciding that she would admit her own reasoning, she spoke. "Deidara loves you. If he lost you, what would happen? Do you think I'm eager to find out? Remember that I told you I think of myself as their mother, so I wouldn't want to harm my children. Actual mothers aquiesce to their children's demands more often than I, but in a matter this large, I would do countless things to keep them happy. Pein himself would also, because he wants me to be happy."
She watched Hinata nod, seemingly deep in thought. "And if I don't make it? How will you kill me and keep them happy?" She asked unguardedly, her eyes showing her fear of failure and hope of success.
"That's why I'm counting on you to pass." The elder blunette simply stated, motioning to the younger. "Were you napping?" She asked, wanting to change their conversation before it grew morbid.
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"Hai, I-I wanted to make tomorrow hurry up. Sleep is the b-best way to pass the time, as far as I'm c-concerned." The girl smiled softly, thinking back on the days when she would go to sleep at night, eager to dream of the Uzumaki boy.
Now her dreams were filled with a different blonde haired boy – or rather, man.
"It is nearly dinner time, so you should straighten your hair to head down to the kitchen." Konan urged.
"Okay." Running her brush through her midnight locks of hair, she proceeded past Konan down the hall. Her stride was more comfortable and confident than it had ever been in Konoha, she realized belatedly.
The Akatsuki was changing her, making her more assertive, and Hinata realized that she liked the new her. In several years' time, she struggled to picture herself as outgoing and loud as the men in the organization, but she thought it might be nice to be able to finally express herself.
It was nearing eight o'clock when Hinata and Konan made their way back to their rooms. The ones who cared for those two had all made themselves known at dinner, and soon after dinner Deidara, Itachi, Pein, and the girls had made their way to the lounge.
They had stayed in that room for an hour, the expressive ones among them laughing and joking around. It was a stark contrast to the Hyuuga Compound, and Hinata was thankful for it. That the expressionless ones even appeared at all made the night even better.
She knew she had the support of the leader, second in command, and two men who loved her. There was no way she could fail.
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Awakening in the grey hours before dawn, Hinata gathered her black clothes and cloudy cloak, ghosting swiftly into the bathroom and sliding the door silently shut.
She checked her nails, making sure the paint wasn't chipped, then donned the large brown hat she had been given. The simple tassels swayed as she moved, blocking bits of her vision, but she wouldn't need to fight in the hat, merely negotiate, and look the part of an Akatsuki.
Her hair, pulled into a high bun inside the hat, was hidden from view. Looking in the mirror, she didn't even recognize herself. The only thing that would define her as herself were her eyes. The Hyuuga nearly panicked when she realized, nearly missing the pair of sunglasses set on the sink.
Spotting them, though, she lifted them off the counter and slid them over her eyes. The world was only slightly darker than before, and she silently thanked Konan for their tinted, reflective lenses.
Making her way out of that room, Hinata was unsurprised to find Konan already awake and leaning against the wall. "Good luck today, Hinata-san," she said as she bowed her head for a short moment before looking her opposite in the eyes again.
"Thank you for everything, Konan-san. If I fail, I'd like you to tell Itachi and Deidara that I love them both. And that I wouldn't trade this time with you all for anything. Especially not to have my old life back or live longer. The time I spent with you all is so precious to me." Hinata bowed at the waist, her height cut in half.
Konan kicked off the wall, raising Hinata from the bow, and wrapped her arms around the surprised girl for a mere moment before disappearing to open the door.
Thoroughly surprised, Hinata all but missed her name being called. Nearing the door, she found Zetsu awaiting her presence.
"I am under orders to lead you to your ex-friends, and kill you if you try to escape. If you fail, I'll kill you. Only if you succeed in keeping them away from our organization will you live. I hope you fail."The dark side of Zetsu grinned, while his white side frowned. "That was rude," was his simple half-apology.
Konan also frowned, but seemed to brush the comment aside. "Are you ready, Hinata-san?"
"Hai," was the Hyuuga's stiff reply. "I'm ready."
Zetsu turned and began to walk away, expecting her to follow immediately. Pulling her hat down over her sunglasses, Hinata took one last look at Konan before she turned and followed her Zetsu away from the building.
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"We're getting closer!" Naruto whispered excitedly. They were so close to finding and rescuing their friend.
"Neji, about how much longer do you think we have before someone figures out we're near their hideout?" Kakashi questioned, relying on the other boy's Byakugan for the moment.
"They probably already know. I have a feeling we'll be meeting their welcoming party soon. Be prepared at all moments from here on out," the chocolate haired boy warned, specifically addressing Naruto with a glare.
"Right," both males agreed, moving into a more maneuverable traveling stance.
They moved closer to the far-off building, but Neji's warning gave them pause several minutes later. "Wait, I sense someone approaching," he quietly spoke.
"How many?" The nearly silent reply was given by Kakashi.
"Only one, it looks like. That must mean he's powerful. Get ready. He'll be here shortly."
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Hinata felt their chakra signatures ahead of her. As soon as Zetsu realized she could find them on her own, he sank into the ground. "Good luck, try not to die," he said as his body and chakra faded from her sight.
She took a deep breath, knowing she was heading toward her new enemies and trying to come to terms with that fact. She plunged through the undergrowth, knowing that Neji could now see her.
(A/N: Hehe! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry about the cliff hanger. These past weeks have been hectic. I thought I was getting a head start, but I wasn't. I still had to stay up to finish this. But at least it's out. Finals and my AP exam are coming up soon, so I won't have as much time to type, but I'll still get this next chapter out on time. Don't worry. (: Anyway. R&R if you'd care to, tell me what you liked or didn't like and whatnot. I'm sleepy, so goodnight all!)