A/N: Second Chapter of the week!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
What happened in the last chapter: Gaara was kidnapped by the Akatsuki. Hinata's marriage was decided. And Hinata found out that her younger sister was poisoning her!
Chapter: 40
"H-hanabi!" Hinata cried catching her younger sister's attention.
The younger Hyuuga gasped and turned the box of poison still in her hand. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Hanabi dropped the box, spilling it everywhere, and dashing outside.
"What's going on in here?" Shikamaru asked, bursting into the room alarmed.
Hinata turned to him, tears in her eyes before she too ran out the door. Shikamaru watched stunned until his eyes were drawn to the spilled box of rat poison and his mind quickly
calculated what had happened. He too soon dashed out the door, heading straight for the Hokage tower.
"Hanabi why?" Hinata sobbed falling to her knees after her sister stopped running.
Hanabi turned back to her sister, disgusted. Hinata's tears stopped when she saw the look on the younger girls face.
"Why?" Hanabi asked her sister.
Hinata nodded, her eyes producing more tears. Hanabi approached her sister this time and crouched down to her sibling's eye level.
"Because I hate you!" Hanabi hissed slapping her sister hard.
Hinata looked up in shock and hurt as one of her hands covered the slowly reddening spot on her cheek. Hanabi simply spat at her older sister.
"You're weak and useless! Not even worthy of being clan heir!" Hanabi continued.
"Why didn't say anything!?" Hinata cried. "Why does it have to be this way?"
"What would it have changed?" Hanabi asked.
Hinata sat there for a minute realizing her sister was right.
"But none of that matters now," Hannabi said as Hinata looked up at her. "Because now one of us is going to die, right here and right now."
"No!" Hinata cried. "I won't hurt you Hanabi."
Her sister didn't say anything as she approached. She grabbed her sister's loose hair and pulled her to her feet also loosening the bandages around her ears and making them fall to the ground.
"Well then it looks as if you'll be the one to die." Hanabi said sliding into her stance.
--Page Break--
"Neji you know that if you wanted to be included in the meeting I would have arranged it." Hiashi said calmly.
"I know uncle," Neji answered.
"But I am glad that I will be the first to tell you and Hinata of your engagement." Hiashi said smiling.
"Hiashi-sama," Neji began. "Hinata-sama is my younger cousin and I will always protect her, demo…" he began but was cut off by Hiashi.
"Exactly why I chose you," Hiashi said. "You have proved yourself more worthy than anyone else that you can take care of her."
"Yes but Hiashi-sama, I don't think I can take care of her like a husband would or should." Neji said.
"What are you trying to say Neji?" Hiashi asked all of the sudden.
"Well," Neji began swallowing hard. "I'm saying that I don't think that Hinata and I should be married."
"Do you not want this proposal?" Hiashi asked.
"Well, I don't want to be ungrateful Hiashi-sama…" Neji tried.
"Then don't be," Hiashi stated coldly. "You will marry the heiress to the Hyuuga clan and that's that."
Neji opened his mouth to speak again when he caught sight of the manor and his two cousins standing in the front yard. He activated his Byakugan catching the attention of his uncle. His keen eyes caught that Hannabi was the only one in a gentle fist stance while Hinata stood there sobbing.
"Uncle," Neji said suddenly. "There is something wrong."
"Yes I know, I have sensed it in the air." Hiashi said.
They both quickly sped up leaving the silent elder to walk the rest of the way at his own pace.
--Page Break--
"Oh no oh no oh no!" Kankurou said to himself as he sprinted for the gate where the Akatsuki just left.
When he got there however he stopped and looked on in horror at the dead bodies of Suna Jounin. He took a deep breath before he started to run again. Hoping that he would catch up with the Akatsuki and save his little brother.
--Page Break--
"Thank you Uchiha-san for answering all our questions," Tsunade remarked.
"My pleasure," Sasuke snorted.
Karin sat in silence next to him looking sadly up at him. However a fast moving chakra made itself known to her.
"Someone's coming," She said quietly.
"What was that?" Suigetsu asked loudly. "I can't hear you! You've never talked this quite before."
"Shut up," Jugo warned. "You're only going to make things worse."
"No! Because she needs to know that if she wants to fricken talk she needs to be loud!" Suigetsu said. "Hey KARIN BE LOUDER!!"
"Shut the hell up Suigetsu!" she screamed, losing her temper. "I said there's somebody fricken coming this WAY!!"
"Who?" Sasuke asked.
"Hmmm," Karin said closing her eyes. "Male, in his late teens, and he's anxious about something."
"Shikamaru," Natsu said.
"CLEAN!" the Hokage cried, as the four Jounin who had been eavesdropping quickly went back to cleaning Tsunade's office.
Just then the office door was banged open and Shikamaru dashed in just like Natsu and Karin predicted.
"What's wrong Shikamaru?" Tsunade asked.
"Hanabi's been poisoning Hinata," Shikamaru panted.
"What!?" Naruto and Natsu cried at once.
"Shut up and come on!" Tsunade said, standing and grabbing a small medical bag as she dashed out the door, Natsu, Naruto, Shikamaru, Sakura, Jugo Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Karin following her.
"Did Natsu just leave us to clean this up?" Genma asked.
"Looks that way," Ayame sighed.
"SON OF A!!" Genma cried.
--Page Break--
"Rejoice my children," Hiashi said, opening the gate, trying to ignore the tense atmosphere between the two sisters. "Hinata's marriage has been decided."
Hanabi turned to her father and cousin beaming while Hinata tried to dry her tears.
"W-what?" Hinata asked.
"We have picked your future husband," Hiashi said, glancing over at his nephew.
Neji took the hint and approached Hinata before bowing low before her and then standing straight.
"It will be an honor being your husband Hinata-sama." He said quietly, his tone slightly sad.
"What!?" Hinata cried, backing a step away from her cousin.
"I will be your husband Hinata-sama." Neji said looking at her.
Hinata shook her head slowly, but Neji nodded trying to prove to her that what he was saying was real. Suddenly her eyes caught the form of Hanabi racing towards them a chakra filled palm at the ready.
"Neji look out!" Hinata cried pushing her cousin away and getting hit in the ribs.
She felt them crack as unknown chakra scorched through her every nerve. The bracelet on her wrist immediately twisted protectively around her arm, distracting her.
--Page Break--
(A/N: Time for some comic relief!)
"Oh look Danna shiny un!" Deidara said pointing to the silver bracelet around the unconscious Kazekage's wrist.
"Don't touch it Deidara," Sasori warned.
The blonde pouted at his superior for a minute before sticking out his tongue (from the mouth on his face!) and touching it. He yelped and withdrew his hand quickly.
"I told you NOT to touch it." Sasori sighed.
--Page Break--
"Hinata-sama!" Neji cried as Hanabi aimed another attack at her sister.
Hinata barely dodged and she began to run from her sibling. Hiashi shouted commands at his youngest daughter but she didn't even spare him a glance. The elder girl continued running, leading her sister away from the Hyuuga compound and only stopping when she ran into Naruto.
"Hinata?" Naruto asked, as the rest of the group from the Hokage office tried to catch a glimpse of the Hyuuga. "Are you okay?"
Quickly she stood and turned just in time as Hanabi went to land another gentle fist attack at her sister.
"How dare you!" Hanabi growled as her sister quickly closed the chakra holes in her wrists.
"You took everything away from me! My title! My life! My husband! My father!"
"Hanabi Onegai!" Hinata begged, tears continuing to fall from her eyes.
"No! Hanabi cried aiming a kick at her sister's face.
Hinata quickly grabbed her foot with her hands and flipped Hanabi onto her stomach on the ground. Her younger sister got up, hate gleaming in her eyes.
"Will it make you happy if we fight Hanabi?" Hinata asked, just as her father and cousin arrived.
"More than anything!" Hanabi cried. "To prove that you're useless and that I deserve title of heiress!"
"Then," Hinata said slowly. "We'll fight."
"Good! Then we can be done with this quickly!" Hanabi snapped as the feeling was returning to her hands and wrists.
Hinata looked up at her sister, no more tears falling from her eyes, instead a determined look replacing them. Slowly both Hyuuga sisters went to their gentle fist stances and the battle began.
--Page Break--
Kankurou finally caught up with the Akatsuki. He noticed his brothers unconscious form slung over a bird not flying to far over his head.
"Who the heck are you un?" Deidara asked annoyed.
"Kankurou Sabuku and I want my brother back!" Kankurou shouted.
"Deidara," Sasori said from inside his scorpion like puppet. "Take the Kazekage ahead I will catch up with you momentarily."
"If you say so un," Deidara said shrugging, before turning away, the bird with Gaara on it following close behind.
Kankurou tried to make a dash for it but Sasori's scorpion tail lashed out at him.
"Now that's just rude," the young man said. "I told my partner to leave so we could have our own battle and you try to go off and fight him instead."
"This battle will be over quick anyway!" Kankurou scowled, revealing crow.
He sent his puppet out but it got easily knocked away. Kankurou growled in frustration and sent crow out once again. Once more it only took a few minutes for it to be knocked back.
"You are a foolish child," Sasori said as crow came to attack for the third time.
The scorpion tail poised up for a second before attacking crow in a particular spot. For a minute it stayed motionless before it fell apart. Kankurou gasped and pulled it back.
"What are you!?" he cried.
"A simple puppet master," Sasori chuckled. "Like yourself."
With a scowl Kankurou unveiled his next puppet. His alligator moved quickly trying to catch the scorpion puppet off guard. But again it was swatted away like a fly. Then in another split second that puppet also collapsed. Quickly Kankurou pulled out his next and last puppet.
"I'm done playing games," the scorpion puppet said bored, before striking the puppet and making it fall apart.
"Who the hell are you?" Kankurou asked alarmed.
"Sasori of the red sand," he replied simply, receiving a gasp from the other puppet wielder. "And the maker of all of those puppets."
Kankurou gasped just as the scorpion tail aimed for him. He was able to dodge it and dashed backwards. Sasori scoffed as the tip of the scorpion posed for another strike. Reaching into his kunai pouch Kankurou glanced back at the puppet. This time when the puppet stretched out its long tail, Kankurou dodged and tried to slice through it with the Kunai, but it was unsuccessful and he had to quickly roll away as it aimed at him again. The next stab came quite close but also gave Kankurou the time to cut off the tip of the scorpion tail.
"Ha!" Kankurou yelled in triumph.
Sasori then began to laugh, it started low but became louder and louder making Kankurou scowl.
"What are you laughing at creep!" Kankurou shouted.
But instead of being answered by a voice he felt a hot stinging pain in his back. He pitched forward and he saw the tip of the scorpion tail reattaching with the rest of the puppet.
"I'll be back with reinforcements!" Kankurou threatened as he backed away.
"I'm sure you will," Sasori answered calmly as Kankurou sped back towards his village.
Slowly Sasori turned and began to follow his partner, when he caught up the blonde looked at him wearily.
"Danna don't you think that was a little careless of you un?" Deidara asked.
"No why?" Sasori asked.
"Because we were supposed to do this without anyone following us un, isn't he going to tell everyone about us?" Deidara asked.
"No," Sasori answered.
"Why not un?" Deidara asked.
"Because he won't make it back alive," Sasori said.
That's when Deidara noticed the blood staining the tip of the scorpion tail and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Very clever Danna, very clever un."
--Page Break--
"Face it Hinata!" Hanabi said triumphantly. "You can't beat me at the gentle fist!"
Hinata skidded away from her sibling just as another blow had struck her gut. Thunder raged over the two sister's heads as rain clouds gathered. Hinata aimed a gentle fist attack at her sister's midsection but hanabi was able to dodge it easily. Everyone watched uneasily as the two sisters fought, no one daring to say a word. The elder girl was able to land a nice hit on Hanabi's side, only to be met with three more strikes for her trouble. Hanabi jumped back a few feet to examine her sister.
"Are you even trying to hit me?" she asked enraged.
Hinata didn't answer her and instead ran at her with another hit. This time Hanabi didn't move, and instead held her arms out, waiting for her sister to hit her in the chest. Hinata gasped at this and quickly swerved away from her younger sister.
"So you're not trying?!" Hanabi screamed. "What are you? Playing with me!?"
Hinata was about to say something when Hanabi ran at her slapping her in the face and striking her heart with a powerful hit. Just as if someone had rewound time blood spilled out of Hinata's lips and onto Hanabi's arm.
"I will not be made a fool of!" Hanabi cried again, backing away to give her sister a little room.
'Are you kidding me!' Hinata's inner demon growled. 'Why aren't you doing anything?'
'Hanabi is my little sister' Hinata defended. 'I can't hurt her.'
'She's hurting you! She doesn't seem to care that you are her older sister!' the demon roared back.
'I WILL NOT hurt my little sister.' Hinata said teary once again, as Hanabi came back for another attack. 'If it makes her happy I will let her destroy me.' With that her eyes closed.
'Kit if you will do nothing about it then I will!' the demon warned.
Hinata's eyes opened and her arms slowly and shakily rose before slowly forming hand signs. Sasuke recognized them immediately.
"Fireball jutsu," he said catching everyone's attention.
"What do you mean?" Hiashi asked worriedly.
"Hinata is about to perform a fireball jutsu and smoke her sister, that's what it means!" Suigetsu answered. "I wish I brought popcorn!"
The other sound ninja received glares from the rest of them before their attention was brought back to the battle when they heard Hinata's loud sobbing.
"Please! I beg….you don't!" Hinata sobbed her arms shaking as if she was fighting some unknown force.
The seals were completed and her hand was lifter to her mouth before it opened. And a large fireball came out.
"NO!!" Hinata screamed.
Luckily Hanabi was able to move out of the way just in time as the fireball hit a tree. The plant was immediately set ablaze and Hanabi smirked in triumph.
"Guys you need to stop this battle now!" Sakura cried.
"Yes Hinata I must check your injuries you might be really hurt!" Tsunade said.
When neither sister responded, Neji and Shikamaru tried to approach them and stop the fight but the fire seemed to leap from the tree and surround the two Hyuuga sisters in a blazing ring.
"Don't interfere!" Hanabi and Hinata said in unison.
"Hanabi," Hinata began. "I want you to answer a few of my questions, before the battle continues."
"Fine!" Hanabi spat. "It won't stop the fact that I'll still beat you!"
"When did you start poisoning me?" Hinata asked.
"Over two years ago," Hanabi said. "You probably only survived by puking it back up."
"How did you get it to me in Suna?" Hinata asked.
"Care Packages." Hanabi answered simply. "I even put some in some of Neji's care packages."
"Why not just kill me with a quicker poison?" Hinata asked again her voice still even.
"It would have been suspicious." Hanabi answered quickly.
"What did you mean when you said I stole father and I stole your husband?" Hinata finally asked.
"Father loves you so much more than me," Hanabi said, getting slightly choked up. "You're his eldest. His successor. He let you have so many things! You know what I get to look forward to when I'm 18? The cursed seal!" this time the tears also flowed down Hanabi's face."And I love Neji!"
Hinata looked completely stunned, leaving her composed mask with that last comment.
"Oh don't pretend like you don't know!" Hanabi spat. "Do you remember how long I stayed with him in the hospital after he fought that sound ninja? Do you remember how all those times you two would talk I would drag you away? Are you so blind? But you were even his favorite! Perfect little Hinata."
"Hanabi," Hinata said her tears beginning again. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you! I would never let them put the curse seal on you, and if I knew your feelings for Neji I…"
"Stop!" Hanabi roared, "I will not let you take pity on me! You're weak and worthless! And I am about to prove that!"
Hanabi charged but as he was about to hit her sister Hinata blocked with her leg and looked at Hanabi with fierce eyes. Suddenly she knocked Hanabi away.
"Hanabi I do love you and I would never wish harm onto you." Hinata said looking down at her sister. "But I am not weak, and I am not worthless." She said lifting Hanabi up by her wrist. "And it is my job as an older sister to show that to you."
Hanabi tried to hit Hinata with the other but her sister quickly grabbed that one as well.
"And I will admit that you are better at the gentle fist then I am," Hinata said. "However I will be better at Taijutsu then you will ever be!"
With that she lifted her leg and kicked Hanabi in the gut the force sending her flying backwards. Sasuke who watched from the side lines smirked proudly.
"Where did she learn that garish technique from?" Hiashi asked.
"From me," Sasuke responded quickly like a proud teacher should. "Do you have a problem?"
"No," the Hyuuga said turning away from the younger man.
Hanabi slowly got up with a little difficulty before pouncing back at her sister. Hinata no longer hesitated and punched her sister in the face using the force from the others attack. Hanabi backed away holding her nose that had started to bleed. This time Hinata went on the offensive and ran at her sister. Hanabi was able to deflect the first kick and even the second one, but she couldn't avoid the upper cut that hit her squarely in the jaw. A strange feeling suddenly overtook Hinata and the Heiress to the Hyuuga clan no longer took mercy on her younger sister. As Hanabi was trying to get up Hinata delivered a hard kick to her side before placing the other foot on her siblings head and grounding her face into the dirt. Then she leaned over and lifted her sibling punching her in the gut and preparing to end her sister's life with a final punch to the skull.
Suddenly a raindrop fell from the sky and landed on Hinata's ready fist and it shocked the Hyuuga back into reality. She looked down in horror at her sister's battered and bloody body and she couldn't help the tears that came to her eyes.
"Hanabi?" Hinata asked. "H-hanabi?"
But she received no answer from the barely conscious girl. The rain then began to pour down on the small battlefield. Hinata fell to her knees holding her sisters unconscious body and crying. Slowly the rain made the fire ring dissipate and everyone ran in to find out the results of the battle. Tsunade and Sakura ran over to them and the Hokage had to pry the girl away from Hinata's arms.
"No," Hanabi mumbled. "Let me die, I have brought dishonor to my family."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Tsunade said, knocking the girl unconscious so she could heal her easier.
Natsu ran to Hinata's side and tried to comfort her but Hinata continued on sobbing.
"Hinata," Neji said in awe and shock.
"Daughter," Hiashi said his voice the same as it has always been. "I am proud of you and I know you will make a great clan head."
"What are you talking about?" Hinata demanded standing. "I just beat my sister to a bloody pulp and you're congratulating me?"
"Hanabi was your enemy and she took the risk, you were able to look past your family bonds and defeat her." Hiashi stated.
"You've turned us into monsters!" Hinata cried, silencing everyone. "Look at her!" She said pointing at Hanabi. "You turned her into a monster that only cares about pleasing you and earning honor by hurting others! I'm even a monster! I was able to do that to my own younger sister! And you!" she shouted pointing at her father. "You are an even worse monster! Hanabi told me about the curse seal you were going to put on her when she turns 18!"
"But it is the Hyuuga way," Hiashi defended. "It cannot be changed!"
"Then I don't want to be a Hyuuga!" Hinata cried. "I will not be in a clan who treats its children like…this! I'm sorry father," Hinata continued. "I am grateful for all that you have done and given me and I will always bare the Hyuuga name with love and pride, but I will not be a part of this clan."
"W-what are you saying?" Hiashi asked stunned.
"I'm saying that I am no longer going to be the head of the clan," Hinata said. "Instead I turn it over to Neji, he's a better leader then me anyway." Hinata finished limping away from the group of stunned ninja's.
"Are you sure about this?" Hiashi questioned.
"I have never been more sure about anything in my entire life." Hinata said, before continuing to walk away.
"Wait Hinata!" Natsu said, hobbling over to her.
"Yes Natsu-san?" Hinata asked.
"Well now that you're no longer 'in' the Hyuuga clan, you'll need somewhere to stay right?" Natsu asked, smiling proudly at her comrade.
"Yes, thank you Natsu-san." Hinata said smiling.
"Hey if we're going to be roommates no more of that Natsu-san crap okay?" Natsu said leading the way towards said apartment.
"Whatever you say Natsu-chan," Hinata giggled following her.
--Page Break--
Kankurou barely made it to the Kazekage tower before he knew he would not be able to move anymore.
"Kankurou!" Temari cried as she found her brother passed out on the steps. "What happened to you?"
"Poisoned," he choked out. "Gaara taken by the Akatsuki."
Then the puppet master passed out, Temari tried shake her brother awake but that proved futile.
"I need a Medic over here!" she screamed.
As the hospital staff carried him into the ICU she ran to one of the Jounin's.
"Here!" she cried writing something quickly on a piece of paper. "Take this to Konoha as fast as you can, imagine the fires of hell chasing after you because that's what will happen if this doesn't get there by tomorrow!" she cried intimidating the Jounin. "GO NOW!!"
The Jounin quickly disappeared while Temari ran upstairs to collect the elders for an important last second meeting.
"What is the meaning of this Temari-san?" One elder asked frustrated as the council room slowly began to fill.
"The meaning shall become quite clear in due time," Chiyo answered for the blonde young woman.
"And how exactly do you know that?" another elder asked.
"Because I sensed my grandson here a few hours ago," the old woman answered calmly, making the whole room silent.
"That's exactly what I'm here to talk to you all about," Temari said, catching everyone's attention. "Our Kazekage has been taken by the Akatsuki."
A/N: Okay there we go. Second chapter of the week! (Does happy dance) See ya next time! And remember, if you love me and my story you will review like no one has ever reviewed before!