EXTREMLY IMPORTANT--READ
Authors Note:Hi we made a new new record!! Over 5,000 word for this chapter! but Kitsunegirl2 and I will be going on a nice long vacation and will both have to spend time with families instead of writing... And i won't be able to get to a computer!! TT.TT Anyway we probably won't be able to update anything from the july 24 to august 7 and after that I promise we will try and write as much as possible! Ja ne! plz review!
p.s. I hope you like the nejisaku implications in this chapter
Chapter 7: Hormones, No-faces, and More Hormones.
Ok I know this was a bit weird... Ok so it was freakish when two teenagers burst out in to song in the middle of the street but hey at least it gives people something to talk about, and it like so freakin' fun. I mean seriously... anyway once the song ended we were laughing our asses off. We used to do this all the time with our gang. I just hope Neji thinks I have a good voice... wait n-no I d-don't my brain has been so over worked that I'm thinking strange things heh..hehe...
'Sure it has just keep telling yourself that mean while I'll just be waiting here when you want to confess and don't worry I won't go anywhere...' Just please shut up I've had enough trouble for one day... so please shut your mouth... 'Sakura you'll make this easier for both of us if you just confess your feelings... honestly it's nothing to be ashamed of he's hot and you are a teenage age girl with hormones...' giving a mental sigh I decided to just stop arguing; I really didn't need a headache tonight.
"You guys are just plain weird," Sasuke said to us. "No we're not," we replied. "Honestly you guys if you don't do spontaneous stuff at random times someday you'll look back on your life and say 'sometimes I wished I had done more when I was young,' besides your only young once why not make the most of it?" I said looking at my fellow ninja. "I guess you guys are right ... but I could never have enough courage to do that stuff, I'd be too embarrassed." Tenten said to us.
"Well you could always try...I mean I was embarrassed to at first but it's always good to have friends who look like an idiot with you," Naruto said grinning. From that point on it got quiet, as the others went there own separate ways, soon all that was left was me, Naruto, and Sasuke. He had remained quiet for the most part, uttering an insult to Naruto once in a while, and Naruto would usually think of some stupid thing to fire back and insult Sasuke with.
Shaking my head I gave a sigh, and grabbed Naruto and dragged him back to the apartment before he ended up following Sasuke to his home. We got home and Kyo-sensei asked how it went and we answered honestly telling him everything down to every last detail. Although he disapproved some of our actions, (Me letting Yasue attack Sasuke) he wasn't angry about what happened earlier today and I felt extremely relieved - I was so glad he wasn't mad at us.
I went with Naruto into his room and we spent most of the night listening to music and talking. We both decided that tomorrow we'd unpack everything and get our rooms set up. For the meantime though I decided to go to a local hot spring. I was really, really tense, and now would be a good time to go since it wasn't too early and it wasn't too late.
So telling Kyo-sensei where I was going I left and made my way to the hot springs. The water was extremely soothing and it felt nice the hot water washing over my sore muscles, loosened up my tense muscles and in no time I felt better than ever. I probably took like an hour bath at the hot springs, because when I got home Kyo-sensei told me that I should get to sleep soon. And I did falling asleep quickly do to my exhaustion...
Only to be woken up again by that torturous nightmare I had of Neji except this time it was way more intense. Kami do you hate me?! 'No he doesn't Sakura quite the opposite he just wants you to realize your feelings for Neji and get on with raping his sexy ass! Shannaro!' my inner told me in a sing-song voice.'I hate you...' I told her.
'That's what you say now but when you're lying in bed with Neji after making passionate love, you'll be thanking me!' Oh god that was just gross, my inner was feasting on the hot mental images she created of Neji and me... oh shit did I say HOT?! No I meant NOT they were not hot at all... yeah that's what I meant.
'Sure ya did... Oh god if he looked rape-able shirtless... imagine what he must look like in the nude!!' my inner had a huge nosebleed at the thought I however did not think thatNeji was "Rape-able" either way so I could control myself. I shook myself out of my thoughts and then wiped my nose, stopping when I saw red... holy fucking Shit I just had a nosebleed over Hyuuga Neji... the world must have ended. 'Or the more logical explanation - you looovvvveeeeeeeeeee him! Shannaro!'
A horrified expression came over my face and I began choking there was no way in hell that I could fall for someone with a stick shoved so far up their ass!A small groan escaped my throat and I dressed using chakra to heal my nosebleed and once again I had a little time before Kyo-sensei and Naruto got up. So leaving another note I left. Walking around the nearly empty streets while taking in the peaceful tranquility around me made me forget some of the happenings of the morning. I felt so relaxed.
Breathing a sigh of relief I tilted my head back looking at the sky. I don't know what exactly happened but the atmosphere suddenly changed and I felt a dangerous pressure behind me. So spinning around I clutched a kunai preparing to attack. I felt overwhelmed with panic as I realized what exactly was standing behind me. It was a no-face... it wasn't as though I had never seen one before it was that this was the first one I had faced that had such a powerful aura, such an evident killer intent.
It turned its head my way; there was no face on the shadow-like form (hence the name no-face). Then the black colored skin peeled apart to form a mouth and a siren like sound came from its new formed mouth. I knew in that moment that this no-face could kill me and from there it would try to devour my soul. It seemed so gruesome and I really should be running, crying, yelling or something but my body wouldn't move I felt as though I was being suffocated... like every part was being strangled... like my soul was being forced down. This was it... I would die here...
"Sakura-san my beautiful cherry blossom!" The sound of Lee's voice calling me out made my body snap out of its paralyzed trance and I turned around as fast as I could, running towards Lee and his team. "Hey Sakura I was wondering-" Tenten began but stop when she saw my legs give out and me tumble into the chest of Neji. My entire body was still trembling in fear as I dug my fingers into Neji's skin. "What the hell Haruno?!" He asked his voice held irritation and annoyance but I didn't move... well more like I couldn't.
All I could do was let out a small whimper and try to disappear farther into Neji's chest.
"Sakura-san my beautiful cherry blossom what happened? And why are you holding on to my rival Neji?" I shook my head and continued to press my face into Neji's chest. Then taking a few breaths I calmed myself before letting go of Neji, I turned my head to see if the no-face was still there. Thankfully it wasn't and I straightened myself up and said, "Sorry for just kind of breaking down on you..." I shuffled my feet slightly before giving them a weak smile.
"What the hell was your problem anyway Haruno?"
"Neji just drop it!" Tenten hissed, my eyes lowered, and I felt so stupid... I mean I pretty much just looked like a helpless damsel in distress. "Sorry... I just-" "Just what Haruno?" He asked obviously irritated, his voice was so cruel. It made my blood boil. "Stop it okay? Drop your whole 'I'm-better-than-you' crap okay? All you ever do is act so much better than everyone else and I'm getting so friggin' sick of it!" I yelled, "Well then maybe if you were stronger and not acting like you need someone to protect you, I wouldn't act the way you say!"
"I don't need someone to protect me!" My face was flushing in anger, and he gave me another arrogant look, before saying "Then why did you look like a little kid who was in trouble, before?" His question was so arrogant. Oh Kami was there never an end to his arrogance? So not thinking and still angry I yelled, "Well it's not my fault that the no-face scared the shit out of me!" I yelled at him, leaving him with a questioning look on his face.
Once I was far enough away I realized my mistake; he wouldn't know what a no-face is making me look even more like an idiot. I stormed away angrily, only to be met by Etsu. "Well it seems you just can't get enough of us huh, Sakura?" Etsu said, "Go crawl back into your hole, Etsu," I snapped before walking away. "Hey I'm talking to you!" She yelled I could feel the anger in her voice, but I didn't stop until she grabbed my shoulder it was then when I really snapped.
Grabbing her wrist I twisted it and threw her over my shoulder. Okito and Hideya charged at me, yelling profanities. The fight went for another ten minutes I felt so angry at myself and Neji; me for being weak and him for being a total ass. And I brought that into my fight.
Too bad that it made me suck. I was too focused on taking my anger out on one person that the other two would just disappear giving them another boost. So I forced my self to calm down and concentrate on everything around me.
--10 minutes before. Neji's P.O.V. --
I watched her storm away one question on my mind, what the hell was a no-face? I snapped out of my thoughts when some one slapped - me the sound of their skin hitting mine was loud. I glared at my attacker only to find that it was Tenten. "She's right Neji your always acting like your better than us and I'm getting tired of it! Stop acting like such a jerk. And quit being so mean to Sakura!" I was dumbfounded by Tenten's sudden courage, and I could only watch as she and Lee went out to find Sakura.
I wondered what she would think if I told her that I was always so "mean" to Sakura because she robbed me of my sleep, she invaded my thoughts during meditation, and how when I saw her I had an uncontrollable urge to grab her and hide her away so she'd be mine and mine alone. I didn't know what exactly she had done to make me feel this way but I did, even though I didn't want to... even though I didn't want to feel so bad about my earlier actions...even though I didn't want to feel the need to go to her. But I did feel all these things so I did end up following the path that my teammates had taken.
-- Sakura's P.O.V. --
I was beginning to get into the fight and was finally doing okay bringing out my switch blade I slit open some skin on Okito's calf, causing him to fall down clutching his leg. "One down two to go," I growled; Hideya let out a howl and attacked me. I blocked a few of his punches but my body was moving slower than it usually did making it easier for him to give me a few good blows.
"Hey get away from her!" I heard, jumping away as Tenten charged, ready to make a move on one of them but stopped when Hideya grabbed me from behind and dug a blade into my shoulder. "Back off or else I might feel the need to do some serious damage to our little friend here." I could almost feel the twisted grin on his face like I could smell the thick smell of alcohol on his breath.
"You bastard! You better let me go!" I yelled at him. "Oh? And what are you gonna do if I don't?" he asked pushing the blade farther into my shoulder. I gritted my teeth in pain - I wanted to scream out in pain but I wouldn't allow Etsu and these asses have the satisfaction of beating me.
My breathing was coming in ragged gulps, the pain in my shoulder burning, I felt as though someone had stuck a hot coal in my wound...shit, the blade was poisoned. Suddenly the affects of the poison began taking over my body. I felt woozy and my world was starting to black out but I did hear a yowl of pain behind me...I...f-feel so...sleepy.
--Neji's P.O.V--
I heard Tenten's voice come from this direction so I must be close... And soon enough I did find Sakura and my teammates. I began to pick up speed to hurry my arrival, and I got there just in time to see a boy stabbing Sakura in the shoulder - it made my chakra flare, and anger began to form inside me. So jumping down to him, I quickly shut down the boy's chakra system catching Sakura as he passed out.
"Well it seems Sakura has some new little friends," A pale boy with brown-red hair sneered preparing to attack me, "Okito stop being an idiot we got to get Hideya outta here," I turned to see a boy - or was it a girl? - Holding the boy I just knocked out. The other one - Okito growled at me again, before turning to leaving. "Tell the bitch we'll settle this later," And with that the last one left, his/her comrade slung over her shoulder. "Neji what are you doing here?" I looked over at Tenten to see her wearing a baffled expression.
"Hn," I said before shifting the girl in my arms so she was now laying bridal style in my arms. "Neji! What are you doing?" Tenten yelled at me again. This time I didn't bother to respond just took off. "Neji?! My rival filled with the Hyuuga youthfulness where do you think you're going?" Lee asked jumping after me. This was getting really annoying so instead of ignoring them as usual I finally said, "We should get her to her home for rest."
"But we don't even know where she lives!" Tenten said, "We don't need to," was my reply as I activated my Byakugan. I could see the small, faint traces of chakra that belonged to Sakura, and found the strongest of her chakra around an apartment building. Lee opened the door for me and I walked into the lobby only to be met by that Naruto kid, who immediately jumped at me, tearing Sakura from my arms and began screaming her name and shaking her relentlessly. "What did you do to her Hyuuga?!" He yelled accusingly at me.
"Naruto-san Neji has done nothing it was these not so youthful people!" Lee yelled in my defense taking a step forward. "Yeah Naruto I think one of their names was Okito..." Tenten said trailing of this however only seemed to get the blond even more upset. "Damn them!" He howled, then picked Sakura up bridal style and carried her up to a medium sized apartment. "Kyo-sensei we've got a problem!" He yelled and soon enough their caramel brown haired sensei came in.
Gently he took Sakura from Naruto and put her down on the couch. "Her wound is poisoned...we'll have to clean it out extremely well... oh and would you mind explaining why she's in this condition Hyuuga-san?" he looked over at me and slowly I told him what happened while Lee and Tenten would add a few things here and there. He nodded occasionally and stopped treating Sakura's wound to look at me. "Um...sir, what is a no-face?" Tenten asked wearily.
"They're the souls of deceased that are trapped here for different reasons. We from the Tenshi, Haruno, and Shinigami Tribes are trying to help you to open your eyes and see them." "Why?" Kyo-san took a deep breath and said, "Well you see some no-faces are dangerous and may try to devour your soul. Being able to see them might help you fight them and stop them from doing such things."
Tenten and Lee nodded, and I just stared at him impassively, when suddenly a groan came from the woman - I mean girl - that was lying on the couch. Slowly, Sakura stirred and slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, wincing at her shoulder. "Sakura, are you ok?" Naruto asked anxiously, starting towards her in concern. "Yea, I'm alright...ouch." Her hand went to her shoulder again – I guess it was really bugging her.
"You should rest," Kyo-san said to her. She let out a grunt of protest before flopping back to a laying position. While she was laying down again breathing slowly, my eyes caught the rise and fall of her developed chest - No! Damn, I'm a Hyuuga for Kami's sake, I should not be staring at a woman - girl - in such a way. I struggled to fight down a blush, which was harder than it sounds, before glancing to Lee and Tenten as a distraction.
"We should go. Thank you for clearing up the question of no-faces, Kyo-san." I stood; ready to leave, when Naruto interjected. "Hey, you guys should stay for lunch! As thanks for helping Sakura, if that's ok..." He glanced towards Kyo-san, who nodded. Great. Kami, please; kill me now. Before I could respectfully decline, Lee spoke up. "Why of course we would! It would be an honor to stay and eat with someone of your youthfulness." Kyo-san looked amused, but I was anything but. Stupid just had to open his mouth, and now I was stuck in the same room, at the same time, with Sakura. I sighed, nodding along to Lee's words. This day was going to be a lot longer than I expected.
--Sakura's P.O.V--
Stupid, stupid Naruto! He knew full well that Neji wasn't exactly my favorite person, and he just had to go and invite them for lunch. As soon as my shoulder was healed, the kid was going to get a good beating. Naruto and Kyo-sensei bustled off to make lunch, and I was left alone with Neji, Lee and Tenten. "So, Kyo-san said that if you wanted to see the no-faces, you had to have your eyes open...?" Tenten asked, trailing off.
"Well, yes, sort of. You see, think of your eyes having an imaginary barrier over them, limiting what you can see. When this barrier is broken, you can see the no-faces. For some people, the Sight comes easily and naturally, but for others, it takes a really long time. Back home, everybody gets it really quickly, right when you're just a baby. For others to get it, it usually takes a long time. Naruto picked up on it right after he came, which was a bit odd but not a bad thing." They all contemplated my words for a moment.
"Why do you need to see them anyways?" Neji asked. I tilted my head slightly and said, "Because, we've always known about the concept of the no-faces. However, you have no idea what these things are. Since we've been kids, we've been read stories, told legends, been introduced to these ideas. As Kyo-sensei mentioned before, some no-faces aren't exactly peaceful, and to ease their pain they try to devour the souls of the living, which is a bad thing. If you can see the no-faces, you can protect yourself against their attacks."
"You keep saying 'try'. So does that mean they're rarely ever successful?" Neji asked. "No, actually, they can be quite successful. They can even take down some of the strongest people I know. Sakura's father, for example." Kyo-sensei appeared in the doorway to the living room. I tensed – I didn't like talking about my father much. But Kyo-sensei gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze.
I had known since I was little that my father's death was not something to be angry or sad about – he was able to bring down the no-face with the loss of his soul. Part of the Sight is being able to control our feelings, like anger, jealousy, fear...they all obscured the true potential of the Sight. I cleared my thoughts and looked at Neji. He was now looking at his plate. Then Naruto came in. "The rice balls are ready!" He called loudly, bringing in a huge plate of rice balls. Kyo-sensei then left the room and retrieved a plate of sushi.
Lunch then went on quietly from here, small talk being made between different people. I had just finished when there was an impatient knocking on the door. Curious as to whom it was, I went and opened the door to see Sasuke staring back at me. "Why are you here?" I asked stupidly, holding the door. "Uh, training? Duh." He said, scowling at me. "Oh shit! I totally forgot! Hold on a sec," I said, turning back to the living room.
"Hey, Naruto! Sasuke is here, we have training! I glanced towards Lee, Tenten and Neji. "Sorry, but I'm going to have to kick you out, or you can come with us to training," I said. Damn, if they came, that meant that Neji would come too... But it wasn't like I could tell Lee and Tenten to come and not Neji. "We'll come," Tenten said, tossing her paper plate into the garbage. Neji and Lee followed, and Naruto and I barged out of the apartment, following Sasuke. We arrived at the training grounds to see a huge crowd.
"Hey, what's going on?" Naruto asked the nearest person he saw. "A match. Some kid challenged Miratashi Anko!" Struggling to see above the group of people, I gave up and settled for climbing onto Naruto's shoulders. Now that I could see the match, I was ready to see the kid get his butt kicked. A radio was sitting near the edge of the field, and I heard 'Hips Don't Lie' blasting loudly out of its speakers.
Suddenly Anko shot forward, going for the radio – presumably to either destroy it or change the volume. "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY FREAKING RADIO!" My mouth fell open when I recognized Ryouichi. I quickly jumped off Naruto, and using chakra in my feet, I jumped from peoples shoulders until I was at the edge of the training field, before I launched myself at Ryouichi, tackling him to the ground.
"Damn, Sakura! That hurts! What are you, horny or something?" Giving him a playful punch on the shoulder, I grinned. "You have to help me! Those jackasses Shadow Seekers are here and you have to kick their asses!" I rolled off of him and pulled him to his feet, turning to see Anko looking very confused. "We'll finish this later," Ryouichi promised with a glare, before snatching up his radio and following me back to where Naruto, Neji, Lee, Tenten and Sasuke were.
"Ryouichi!" Naruto's happy yell split the air, and he rushed forward to meet us. "What's up, Blondie?" He said. Naruto grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head before saying, "Nothing much. You doing something later?" He nodded and put an arm around my shoulders and said, "Yea, baby-doll and me are gonna hit some clubs, get a few drinks, you know; what I usually do." I punched him on the shoulder again.
"Ow! And I thought I was the violent one," Ryouichi grumbled, and I gave him a fake scowl. "Don't call me 'baby-doll'." "Whatever you say, baby-doll." I glared at him, but I was happy that he was here anyway. I grinned in glee – just wait until Kyo-sensei found out! "So, you wanna dance baby-doll?" I raised an eyebrow, and said, "To what song?"
"You know what song, my song! I'm hurt that you've already forgotten about it," He said, mocking sadness and anger. I grinned and shook my head before he blasted the radio on again. Once again, 'Hips Don't Lie' was playing, and he grabbed me, twirling me around, and occasionally I would break away, swinging my hips like those Spanish dancers did. I glanced back at the rest of the group, and laughed really hard when I saw Sasuke's expression. Naruto was just grinning like an idiot, and Neji and Sasuke both looked as if they were going to have a heart attack.
--Neji's P.O.V.--
Damn! It was hard enough trying to not pay attention to her when she was doing normal things, but now she had to swing her hips and dance?!
...I need a long, very cold shower.
--Sasuke's P.O.V.--
Holy shit. These two just keep getting weirder and weirder! But now I know for sure...I'm going to use Sakura to revive my clan.
--Sakura's P.O.V.--
Dancing with Ryouichi was always fun... shit, not that presence again! I broke away from Ryouichi abruptly, and began scanning the area. Naruto and Ryouichi must have recognized the presence too, because they too began to search the area. "What's going on?" Tenten must have picked up on our tense feelings. "Turn off the radio," Ryouichi ordered, and I quickly flipped the 'off' switch.
It soon got extremely quiet. My eyes went to a certain corner of the training field, and I yelled, pointing, "There!" It was the same no-face from before. The siren-like sounds from its mouth hung in the air, although no one else but us three could hear it. It stepped forward, and taking a deep breath I began chanting out words in the spirit tongue. I had gained this shortly after Yukihiko's death, and it was useful.
Suddenly Sasuke's hands went to his ears, and his face screwed up discomfort. "What..." His words stopped when he saw the no-face; his eyes went wide, and he froze. Wait, Sasuke could see and hear the no-face?! His hands slowly came away from his ears, and he looked around. "What...where...what was that thing?! Where did it go?!" I would have to answer his question after we took care of the no-face.
I kept up my chanting, but the no-face attacked; it didn't want to be soothed or sent on, which wasn't good. Damn! I was hoping to not have to deal with it. A growl escaped my lips, and I said, "Alright, you wanna play? Let's play." I dodged the no-face's massive claws. "Shinigami Style: Gripping Darkness!" I yelled, and then the dark black shadow-like chakra darted out of my hands and attacked the no-face.
Only moves in the Shinigami or Tenshi style could affect no-faces when they were at this level; otherwise, everything else just passed through its body. The black charka flew right at the no-face. The no-face vanished at the last moment, letting my chakra continue on until it collided with a tree and sent an explosion rocking the area. "Damn," I hissed, glancing towards Naruto. He was utterly still, his eyes searching for any sign of movement.
Suddenly, he leaped backwards, and I saw the no-face crash into the space where he just was. His eyes met mine and I nodded. He leaped forward yelling "Fox Fire Jutsu!" And this time the attack hit its target. The no-face howled even louder, but refused to pass on. "Ice Blade Jutsu!" Ryouichi yelled. He condensed the moisture in the air to for a sword like weapon out of ice. And then he charged the at the no-face slicing at its head.
It let out a roar and disappeared. We whipped around checking every corner to make sure it had really left. "What the hell was that?!" Sasuke asked again, his eyes still wide from shock. I tried to steady my breath then swallowed and looked at him "That was-" "Sakura look out!" Ryouichi yelled but it was to late the no-face was now holding me in mid air crushing my body.