A/N: Hopefully I will be able to finish this story by the end of the week. I'm not sure but I will try! I know these chapters are long but the last chapter will be shorter and better for all the fans of my story.
Disclaimer: If I did own Naruto would you want this story to be in the actual show?
Chapter: 50
Hinata stared at the ceiling her face blank. It was only seven o'clock and her friends had been desperate to give her a party, since tomorrow was her wedding day, but she had refused. Natsu wasn't even in the house; she was being prepped for surgery and would miss Hinata's wedding tomorrow. However the Hyuuga didn't mind, instead she let her mind wander back to the reception of Shikamaru and Temari's wedding from a month ago.
Flash Back
"Hinata why don't you dance?" Temari asked her friend, ushering to the dance floor.
"Oh no Temari, really I'm good." Hinata excused as her blond friend pulled her away from her blond fiancée.
"Hinata what's wrong with you?" Temari asked worried.
"Nothing." The Hyuuga said, giving her a weak smile.
"Then you should have no problem dancing with my brother." She said.
The next thing Hinata knew she was being held up two strong arms. She stood up and looked into two passionate aqua eyes. She averted her own as they stood facing each other. There hands brushed and Hinata quickly looked up. A slow song started to play and everyone's eye's fell onto silent ninja.
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Everyday I love you more and more
Gaara grabbed her hands and swept her into one of the many waltz's he had been taught when he became Kazekage. Hinata kept her head down as the tears burned behind her eyes. It was one of the songs Gaara had allowed her to listen to while she was in Suna, it never had meant anything before, but now it was causing the young Hyuuga so much pain.
Listen to my heart can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change
Winter to spring
Hinata leaned towards his ear so that he was the only one who would hear her plea.
"Please stop, this isn't right." Hinata said, a tear falling onto his shoulder.
"But I love you, until the end of time." Gaara softly sang with the music, ignoring what she had told him
Come what may, come what may
I will love you, until my dying day
Temari bit her lip, Hinata's tears weren't invisible. She reached for Shikamaru, who allowed her to cling, but he wasn't able to stop the next statement that came out of his mouth.
"You shouldn't have done that."
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
Hinata looked at Gaara, neither one missed Temari and Shikamaru's exchange. His eyes weren't as dry as they had been when the song had started and Hinata could tell. Still the two continued to dance. Oblivious to the shocked stares from the onlookers.
And there's no mountain to high, no river too wide
Just sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
"But I love you." Hinata sang and the song echoed back. "Until the end of time."
Gaara broke away from her and turned away before beginning to walk away. Hinata stood on the dance floor hugging herself and letting the tears fall. Naruto rushed to her and wrapped her in a tight hug, but Hinata watched Gaara's retreating figure silently.
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you, until my dying day
End Flashback
A single tear slid down Hinata's cheek as she rolled over and pushed back the memory. Temari had apologized a thousand times after that but Hinata was numb to it. Looking on the night table she saw the kunai the leader gave her. She picked up the cool metal knife and her headband, and for a few minutes she actually thought about slicing her headband. After a few minutes she let the kunai fall from her hand and she rolled over, not moving again for the rest of the night.
---Page Break---
"Okay, just a little more powder on the nose and we're all done!" Sakura beamed as she suffocated Hinata with the large powder sponge in her hand.
"Is that it?" Temari emphasized from her place on the stool were the seamstress was making last minute arrangements.
"No." Sakura pouted. "But Ino called dibbs on her hair."
"Can you call her in then Sakura?" Hinata asked in a monotone.
The pinkette looked at the dark haired girls reflection worriedly before forcing a smile.
"Of course, I'll go get her now." She said before exiting.
"Hinata what's wrong?" Temari asked, trying to move off the stool. "OW!"
"Well if you don't want me to poke your butt." Tenten said from her spot on the ground. "Then stay STILL!"
The platinum haired girl bounced in and after quite a while of yanking and pulling at the Hyuuga's dark hair was officially done.
"Come on Tenten let's get ready!" Ino called excitedly behind her as she was leaving.
Both girls exited and Temari took the chance to pounce on Hinata.
"What's wrong?" Temari asked fluffing Hinata's buns and shifting her bangs to the right, covering a little of her pale eyes. "It's your wedding day you should be happy."
Hinata was still silent staring at her blank reflection. Temari leaned down and rested her chin on Hinata's shoulder.
"Naruto is your child hood sweet heart. It's the fairytale ending you've always dreamed of." Temari said sighing.
"Your right." Hinata answered. "Will you leave me alone for a few minutes?"
"But, are you sure your okay?" Temari asked warily.
"Of course." Hinata said cheerfully, turning and smiling at her best friend.
"Oh thank goodness." Temari said smiling. "The wedding starts in a few minutes, I'll see you then okay?"
The Hyuuga nodded and her friend stepped out the door, the smile melted and she reached into the drawer of her vanity and pulled the leaders kunai.
---Page Break---
"Hinata-sama!" Neji cried about to open the door to her dressing room.
As the door began to open it was slammed closed by a sudden weight from the other side.
"Hinata?" Neji asked worriedly.
"H-hai Neji-ni?" Hinata asked, her voice shaky.
"I've come to walk you down the aisle." Neji said.
"I'll be out in a few minutes." Hinata said, her head bowed.
"Okay I'll be waiting." Neji answered and stepped back from the door.
In a few moments the door's opened and Hinata stepped out. She walked slowly and even continued down the aisle when her cousin made no move to escort her. The bouquet of white roses was slowly being stained crimson. When the guests got a glance at the bride to be, they gasped. Hinata blinked every few seconds to keep the blood out of her eye. Carved onto the left side of her forehead was the kanji of love matching Gaara's, the kunai in her pouch, was still stained with fresh blood. Gaara who had been standing next to Matsuri and watching stepped forward and reached a hand out to her but the Hyuuga ducked away from him and stood facing her to be husband. Naruto looked at Hinata with concerned eyes but soon smiled and grabbed one of Hinata's hands and the ceremony began.
"Naruto do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?" Tsunade asked.
"I do," Naruto said, placing a gentle kiss on Hinata's hand.
"Hinata," Tsunade said smiling. "Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?"
She blinked at her ex-hokage through the dried blood caked on her face and opened her trembling lips.
"I'm glad we didn't miss the wedding." A familiar deep voice commented.
Hinata whipped around and let her eyes fall onto the leader of the Akatsuki. Everyone gave another collective gasp.
"I was hoping I could walk you down the aisle myself." He teased.
Hinata glared and stepped foreword.
"Get out." She glared.
"But we still want to see how it all turns out." Pein said.
"Lee, Gai, Kakashi." Naruto called and within moments the three ninja were at their Hokage's side. "Take the villagers and my wife and bring them somewhere safe."
"No!" Hinata cried, throwing her bouquet to the ground and stepping foreword toward the Akatsuki leader, glad Kunoichi were trained in heels. "This is MY battle and I will fight it myself."
Naruto nodded after a moment of hesitation and the three ninja rocketed away. Tsunade glanced at the young man.
"I have to get to the hospital, Natsu should be under and there are even worse patients." She said worried.
"Fine, then I will leave the protection of the hospital to you." Naruto said clenching his fist in frustration.
Hinata stepped closer to the leader before he flashed her a grin and sped off. The Hyuuga narrowed her eyes and ran after him yanking the ornaments out of her hair as she went.
"Hinata wait!" Naruto cried about to run after his to-be-wife but he stopped as Gaara raced past him after Hinata.
"Gaara-san…" Matsuri said at a loss after the red head disappeared through the door.
"Come on we'll go after him." Naruto said smiling.
Matsuri smiled back but anxiety still shone in her eyes.
"Oh no you two aren't going without me!" Kasumi cried walking towards them and linking arms with the two. "Let's go save your future spouses!"
"Ojou-sama." Yuki said softly.
The red head glanced at the black haired girl who was watching helplessly as Sasuke dashed out of the church alone.
"Go with him Yuki." Kasumi reassured. "That's an order."
Yuki looked back at her mistress concerned but the red head wouldn't be swayed.
"Go…NOW!" she stressed.
She nodded her head before following after Sasuke. Suigetsu, Karin, Jugo, and Sora all ran out before splitting into pairs and dashing in opposite directions. Shikamaru was dragged after Temari who tried to run out the door.
---Page Break---
Hidan grinned manically at Shikamaru and Temari, both dressed in formal kimonos. Quickly Shikamaru tied his long sleeves to reveal his tan arms, Temari untied her ornate kimono and let it fall to the dirt and instead took up a fighting position wearing her under kimono instead tearing the sleeves.
"I wonder if it would be easier for you to fight with something a little shorter on," Hidan mused staring at Temari with a large grin on his face.
"Temari get out of here!" Shikamaru cried angered as he tried to push his wife away from the raving immortal.
"No way!" Temari fumed.
"You're in a kimono which screws you over when it comes to Taijutsu, and you don't have your fan." Shikamaru cried.
"I'm not going to leave you here with this sadist!" Temari said, her eyes now locked on her husband brimming with worry.
"Don't worry about it!" Shikamaru said. "I'll be right with you in a few minutes."
"Why does no one seem to fuckin understand that I'm an immortal?" Hidan pondered out loud.
"Please Temari, just go, for me." Shikamaru said, eyes shining with emotion.
Without another word Temari sprinted away and Shikamaru turned back to his opponent. Hidan grabbed his scythe and swung it in front of him as if to test it.
"Well haven't you snagged an obedient bitch?" Hidan commented.
"Pfft, I doubt it." Shikamaru said before forming a few seals.
Hidan merely watched disinterested as Shikamaru shot his shadow towards him. Once caught Shikamaru made him throw the scythe across the ground and then take up his thinking pose.
'There must be a weak spot.' He thought. 'If he's immortal, he can't bleed to death, and
obviously his heart isn't his weak spot, then where is it?'
"Not that using your noggin isn't good but this is boring." Hidan said matching Shikamaru's pose. "Besides no matter how hard you scramble those brains of yours you wont find a way to defeat me."
'That's it!' Shikamaru thought as an epiphany washed over him. 'His brain!'
The shadow receded and Hidan stood there impatiently as he waited for Shikamaru to make the first move. When the lazy boy still didn't move he grumbled before glaring at the young man.
"Come on squirt." He said. "I'm making this real easy for you."
Still Shikamaru didn't respond. He remained bent over in his thinking position. Hidan got angry and would not wait anymore. He lunged at Shikamaru who was barely able to dodge the punch thrown by him. Unfortunately Shikamaru was to slow and when Hidan had retrieved his scythe and attacked him again. However the large man was blown back by a large gust of wind. Shikamaru's head whipped around and he felt his stomach drop as he saw Temari standing a few feet away her fan brandished.
"I told you to leave." Shikamaru huffed.
"I did leave." Temari said simply while shrugging. "I had to change my clothes."
He eyed her; she stood in her fighting stance wearing a pair of his dark brown pants and a green loose fitting top that he had bought her a while back.
"Fine." Shikamaru sighed. "I guess you can stay."
Temari bit back a smart comment about how she didn't NEED his permission to be there but instead stood next to her husband.
"Alright what's the plan?" she asked.
"Very simple." Shikamaru answered, glancing toward the blonde women as the Hidan struggled to get up. "We aim for the head."
Temari nodded slowly and pensively before preparing to whip her fan out. The married couple attacked the large man getting the occasional cut. Finally Shikamaru was able to slice off Hidan's head.
"Way to go!" Temari said pulling her husband into a tight embrace.
"What are you celebrating for?" Hidan's gruff voice snapped.
They both turned to see the lumbering, headless body of the immortal stumble over to where the severed head lay.
"I'm not that easy to kill!" the head cried as it was lifted towards his severed neck.
"Quick Temari!" Shikamaru cried.
Temari nodded at her husband and she let out a sharp gust of wind that cut his head vertically. Silence fell once again and the two young adults looked at each other in relief.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the head laughed from it's two split parts. "You can't kill me!"
Shikamaru looked on in horror while Temari clung to his arm tightly.
"Just like your pathetic sensei!" Hidan continued to mock him. "I'll kill your weak ass just like I did his!"
Shikamaru's fear evaporated and all that was left was anger. Forming a few hand signs he dashed forward, ducking under the outstretched arm of Hidan's lumbering form. He grabbed each half of Hidan's head, ignoring the blood that stained his hands, and using his jutsu he buried the mans head in the earth. The large body was about to attack Shikamaru when Temari quickly used one of her wind attacks to blow the large body away. Shikamaru stood and glared at the arm Temari had severed from the mans huge body.
"What are you crazy!" Temari yelled at her husband.
"Do you think you can do that again?" Shikamaru asked, standing straight and beginning the hand seals again.
"Do what again?" Temari asked aggravated.
"Cut him up." Shikamaru said, the anger evident in his voice.
"But w-why?" Temari asked taking a step back. "You're scaring me."
He buried the arm under the ground before turning on his wife, a furious glint in his chocolate brown eyes. The blonde slowly nodded and piece-by-piece the immortal was buried alive by the angry young man. When there was no more Shikamaru collapsed to the ground and sat, staring ahead not really seeing anything. Temari kneeled in front of him and gently held his face in her hands. He looked up at her slightly confused and more then a little dazed. She kissed him gently on the forehead while reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. She kneeled in front of him and waved the half empty cigarette pack in front of him.
"So now that Asuma's been avenged can we say good bye to the cancer sticks?" Temari asked.
"How long have you known?" Shikamaru asked lazily, scratching the back of his head.
"Since Asuma died." Temari answered.
"How…?" he asked dumbfounded.
"I do your laundry idiot!" Temari said smacking him lightly on the head.
He chuckled and pulled her onto his lap before resting his hands on her stomach. Temari froze as she felt something move inside her.
"Aww the baby kicked." Shikamaru said, keeping his hands on his wife's abdomen.
"When did you find out?" Temari asked.
"When I found out about the last minute alterations to your dress this morning." Shikamaru grinned.
"Idiot." Temari mumbled.
---Page Break---
"Well if this isn't a pleasant surprise." Kakazu said as he looked on at Sora and Jugo who stood facing the man. "It seems as if we will be battling again."
"Yeah and we'll finish you this time." Sora replied cocky.
"I'm sure one of us will." Kakazu answered.
"Sora." Jugo whispered as he continued to stare at the stitch man. "I've been doing some research on this guy."
"What did you find out?" Sora whispered back.
But before Jugo could answer her, a thick string of Kakazu cords shot at them; they fell away from each other at the same time letting the pointed tip stab the air. Sora landed and rolled away, avoiding a few more cords that Kakazu sent shooting from the ground while Jugo summoned a bird that would be able to carry both of them. Sora began to get to her feet a little late and Jugo had to dive and grab her or she would be stabbed.
"I see you have learned." Kakazu commented. "However my cords are not earth bound.
With that he shot thin strands up at them and the bird. Jugo swerved dodging most of the cords. Sora felt her stomach lurch.
"Oh God" she groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have eaten before the wedding."
She leaned over the side of the bird and vomited but she was quickly pulled back up as a cord grazed her cheek. Even though the cord barely grazed Sora's cheek, it caught the wing of the large bird. As the winged creature brought it's wings up to flap the cord quickly went to work and tied both wings together making the bird unable to fly. Jugo and Sora grabbed onto each other to guard each other from the harsh oncoming impact. They hit the ground running and Kakazu followed after them.
"Quick impart your knowledge upon me!" Sora gasped as they continued ducking and dodging tree limbs as they went.
"What?" Jugo asked confused.
"TELL ME WHAT YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT HIM!" Sora cried.
"Okay, okay!" Jugo said. "Alright well I found out that he has seven hearts."
"Seven!" Sora gasped.
"Yeah seven, which is why he doesn't die that easily." Jugo said. "So you take three and I'll take four."
"No way!" Sora said angrily. "Why do you get more then me?"
"Cause you're a girl." He snorted.
"WHAT!" Sora shrieked about to smack him.
"Fine! Then how do you suggest we fix this problem?" Jugo growled.
"I take four and you get three." Sora answered.
"No way!" he gritted his teeth.
"Fine, three each then whoever finishes their three first gets to take the fourth one." Sora compromised.
"Deal." Jugo smirked.
"Just don't die." Sora snapped.
They both jumped away from each other and began launching lethal attacks at Kakazu. The Akatsuki member was caught off guard, Sora was able to destroy one of his hearts with a kunai, while Jugo destroyed one by using one of his forbidden jutsu's by shoving his hand deep inside Kakazu and crushing the heart. Of course they were hit a few times but they moved fast enough so they weren't hurt to bad. Kakazu slowed down every time one of his hearts was destroyed. Sora used a fire jutsu to burn a hole threw Kakazu's chest and destroyed her final heart. She glanced over at Jugo while dodging an attack. He was still working on his third heart. Grinning she jumped over Kakazu to face him and smiled.
"Alright slowpoke, this is your last heart I'm about to destroy. Any last words?" she asked.
"Just four." He said knocking Jugo away into a tree.
Sora gasped as thick coils of thread wrapped themselves tightly around her ankle making her wince.
"Don't underestimate the Akatsuki." He said in a monotone flipping her upside down.
She felt the sharp point of a long thick cord he summoned start to dig into her back. The blood slowly began to drip down into her hair. Her vision swam and she bit her lip to keep from screaming. The stinging pain disappeared from her back for a moment before it lashed across her sensitive skin. She cried out this time, writhing as Kakazu hit her across the back, treating his cord like a whip. He stopped his onslaught for a moment and waited until the pain receded.
"Is that all y-you got, pansy?" she chocked out.
"No, I'm simply waiting for you to regain your grasp on reality so that the killing blow will be more painful and in a sense more meaningful." Kakazu replied.
Sora's heart sped up and she felt the very tip of the cords scrape into the already raw flesh of her back, before pulling away. She closed her eyes and couldn't help her body from shaking in fear.
Sora was yanked from her frightened reverie as Jugo tackled her to the ground dislocating her leg but saving her from the painful killing blow. Instead of the sharp cord killing Sora it penetrated Kakazu's body and ripped his final heart apart. His corpse collapsed cords splitting his skin and falling limp on the ground, the remaining piece of his heart trembling for a moment before stopping completely.
"Are you okay?" Jugo asked, trying to regain his breath as Sora pushed her leg back in its proper place with a sharp intake of breath.
"I had him right were I wanted!" she cried. "But you just had to be macho and save me!"
"FINE!" Jugo growled. "I won't be saving your ass anymore."
They glared at each other for a few minutes before Sora smiled softly.
"Thanks." She said before standing and reaching out a hand for Jugo to take.
"No problem, besides I couldn't let my partner die tight after I had found her." Jugo said wrapping an arm around her waist and escorting her back into Konoha.
---Page Break---
"We meet again." Suigetsu grinned at the shark man who was clashing swords with him.
"Chop suey right?" Kisame asked.
Suigetsu gritted his teeth and pushed hard on the sword before landing a fierce kick in
Kisame's groin. The shark mans face contorted in pain but he did not weaken his fighting stance.
"My name is Suigetsu." Suigetsu gritted his teeth.
"Aww did I h-hurt the little ones feelings?" Kisame asked pushing back on Suigetsu's sword.
"I only told you my name a million times!" Suigetsu snapped.
He jumped away before coming back with a hard vicious blow making the steel sing. Kisame grinned and they both began to clash and fight again. At the end of ten minutes Kisame sported quite a few cuts and bruises, while Suigetsu had chunks of shredded flesh hanging off his arms and stomach. They both stood their, winded, eyes focused on each other but neither making a move to attack.
"Damn your sword." Suigetsu panted ripping off a few distracting dangling pieces of skin.
"What are you upset about now? Does my technique with a blade astound you?" he asked good heartedly.
"Hell no," Suigetsu breathed. "I could beat you in a swordfight any day!"
"Really?" Kisame asked. "Then why did you just loose?"
"Because of that DAMN sword of yours!" Suigetsu growled. "It's not fair because it has special powers."
"I would still beat you with my hands behind my back!" Kisame snapped.
"No you wouldn't!" Suigetsu gritted out pushing harder on his blade.
"Yes…I would." Kisame said with a little less anticipation as frustration set in.
"Then I have a deal to make with you." Suigetsu said. "In order to prove which swordsman is better, we fight! No jutsu's, no tricks, no special swords with special abilities."
"Then what will we be fighting with?" Kisame asked.
"A plain katana will do." Suigetsu said.
"Alright then!" the shark man grinned and pulled a katana out of the recesses of his cloak and swung at Suigetsu.
"K-karin!" Suigetsu cried. "HELP!!"
The girl looked at him warily through her glasses, she had just sat down. She yawned.
"Can't YOU get it?" she asked.
"I'm a little busy at the moment!" he cried dodging another flurry of blows.
"Fine…whiner." She grumbled standing up and digging through the cloak Suigetsu had brought to the wedding. "Here you go, have fun with it." She said tossing the blade to him before plopping back down onto the grass.
Suigetsu caught it and turned just in time to get his cheek sliced open by a swift movement of his blade. The young man grimaced and smacked a hand onto his cheek to stifle the bleeding. The battle continued uselessly like that for a few moments, Suigetsu running and Kisame attacking. However the game of cat and mouse came to an end when Kisame tripped over a pretty large rock. When Suigetsu heard the deep 'oof' he spun around and couldn't hide his laughter.
"It's not funny!" Kisame defended.
"Y-yes it is!" Suigetsu gasped holding his side, while Karin who remained seated was trying to disguise her snorts of laughter as coughs. "An elite ninja tripping over a rock!"
"It wasn't a rock!" Kisame cried. "It was a freaking boulder!"
The shark man got up and tried to look threatening but he only succeeded in making Suigetsu laugh harder.
"You-you tripped on a rock!" Suigetsu said once he regained most opf his composure.
"It was a BOULDER!" Kisame cried pointing at the offending rock.
Suigetsu looked over to where the blue man was pointing and his laughter ceased immediately.
"You're right," he said slowly. "You didn't trip over a rock."
"See! I told you!" Kisame cried triumphantly.
"But it wasn't a boulder either." Suigetsu said giving him a weary look.
"Then what the heck was it?" Kisame turned and studied the 'rock' closer before his face became ashy.
"T-t-t-turtle!" he cried before shoving Suigetsu in front of him.
"A turtle?" He asked. "Are you seriously afraid of a turtle?"
"Hell yeah!" Kisame said. "Snapping turtles bite like a mofo!"
Suigetsu gave him a disbelieving look, before he sighed and readied his blade again. He flashed Kisame a confident smirk.
"What's that look for?" Kisame asked.
"At first, I was afraid of you." Suigetsu said.
"As you should be!" Kisame said puffing out his scaly chest.
"I hesitated, afraid that I would get killed." Suigetsu elaborated. "But now…" he grinned again. "That fear is gone."
He walked over to the turtle and lifted it off the ground with a grunt before walking towards Kisame who tried to scramble up a tree.
"Aww come on! He just wants to say hi." Suigetsu teased chasing Kisame with the large animal.
With a sickening crack Kisame crashed into a low branch and laid there dazed. Suigetsu dropped the poor turtle to the ground and held his blade against Kisame's neck.
"That was painful!" he sneered. "One of the men who call themselves the seven swordsmen of the mist, and wielder of Sameheda defeated by a turtle. It's an honor to die by me."
With one quick flick of his wrist Kisame's head was separated from his body. Suigetsu flailed the sword in the air a few times flinging blood in every direction before walking over to the turtle that was slowly try to make his way back to his spot in the sun.
"Hey there buddy." He said leaning close to its face. "Thanks for the help AHHHHHHHH!"
Suigetsu released a shrill scream as the turtle bit down hard on his nose. The mist ninja ran over to Karin who had risen from the ground.
"Oh my god! Is it bleeding? Is it bleeding? It's bleeding isn't it! IS IT BLEEDING!" he wailed. "Evil! Vile! Disgusting! Little Satan spawn of a creature I hate you!" he continued glaring at the turtle.
"Oh shut up Suigetsu." Karin sighed before hoisting the turtle herself and putting him back in his proper place. "There, see you're not mean at all are you mister turtle."
"No Karin don't! It'll give you cancer!" Suigetsu cried hiding behind a tree.
She sighed before patting the turtle's shell fondly and walking towards her cowering teammate.
---Page break---
Sasuke and Yuki dashed out of the glorious church hot on the tail of Itachi. The older Uchiha glanced back and smirked before speeding up a little. Sasuke was about to go into a full out sprint when Yuki crossed in front of him sliding a long Katana that had blended well with the back of her kimono. She was a very graceful fighter and even while running she was able to keep her arm and sword steady, poised to strike. What shocked Sasuke the most was when she sped up even more and slashed at Itachi as she flipped over him.
Itachi stopped, both exits being blocked by the two younger ninja. Yuki glanced at her silver blade before moving it swiftly to rid it of the blood that slowly dripped down it. Itachi touched the side of his face and lifted his pale fingers away to see crimson staining his hands. He glanced at the dark haired girl before turning to face Sasuke, aware of every movement the two ninja made.
"After all these years Sasuke." Itachi said his voice in a low monotone. "And the one to land a hit on me isn't you, but a girl. A girl I don't even know."
Sasuke gritted his teeth and clenched his fists before turning a glare at Yuki who bowed her head.
"Sasuke-san, don't listen to him, he is trying to turn us against each other." Yuki answered rationally.
"Oh Sasuke, how far have you fallen. Taking orders from a girl." Itachi said glancing back at Yuki and smirking.
"Shut up." Sasuke said, his eyes still focused on the girl across from him.
"Don't listen to him." Yuki said sternly.
"Don't take orders from a women." Itachi echoed.
"Yuki!" Sasuke snapped. "Don't lay another finger in him!"
The dark haired girl glanced at Itachi before nodding and putting away her katana. Itachi smirked at his little brother.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Yes…" Sasuke said.
"Then prepare little brother." Itachi said. "For the beating of a lifetime."
The two Uchiha brothers began to battle using only Taijutsu, but it soon escalated into a battle using every technique they have ever learned, forcing Yuki to watch from a safe place further away. Sasuke formed his chidori, but before he could even reach Itachi the ground exploded and it was quite apparent who had the upper hand. Yuki dashed foreword, and she gasped at what she saw. Itachi leaned up against a tree while Sasuke was gasping on his hands and knees. Itachi looked like a wreck, bruises and cuts marked his arms legs and face. His ponytail was gone and his hair was singed so he had a hairstyle resembling Sasuke's. Sasuke's face was covered in blood, however it all leaked from the same deep cut in his for head, his hair had also burned off in sections, so it was ultimately hard to recognize him. Slowly he stood before reaching into his kunai pouch.
"It's time to finish t-this." He said his hands shaking as he pulled out the scroll with Orochimaru's seal on it.
Itachi watched for a moment before he seemed to get angry. Tipping a little he was able to stand upright and he stomped over to Sasuke who tried to move out of the way but failed.
"I thought you wanted to avenge our clan!" Itachi snapped, twisting the young mans arm behind his back.
"I do!" He grunted. "That's why I need the scroll…to defeat you!"
Itachi ripped the scroll from his brother's hand before throwing him onto the ground.
"You're a fool." He hissed. "Orochimaru NEVER succeeded in defeating me with any of his jutsu's. But that's beside the point. These jutsu that he used, they're dangerous!"
"Don't pretend you start caring now!" Sasuke cried, glaring at his brother.
"Why do you have to be so weak Sasuke!" Itachi growled, grabbing Sasuke's wrist and pulling him up to eye level. "Why are you so stupid!"
Sasuke tried to wrench free but instead Itachi held tighter and reached into his kunai pouch.
"Prattling on about revenge, in yet not knowing anything about it!" he ranted shoving the cool metal weapon into his hand.
"Kill me Sasuke!" Itachi yelled. "Prove to me you've gotten stronger! Don't make the death of our family a waste."
Sasuke's anger boiled over, and with a loud battle cry he plunged the kunai deep into Itachi's chest.
"Sasuke-san!" Yuki cried running towards him.
"Don't worry Yuki." He said wiping the blood from his eyes. "It's over…my…revenge is complete."
"Not yet." Itachi coughed as he slid down the bark of the tree, leaving a trail of blood behind him. "I have something to tell you Sasuke."
Flashback
"Madara we can't." Itachi said softly as the two cousins waited.
"Itachi!" The other Uchiha's cold commanding voice bit out. "Stop being a baby."
Itachi wrung his hands nervously, looking around for anyone that could possibly over hear.
"The Hokage is going to have us all killed." Madara said, venom in his voice. "Imagine, the great Uchiha clan, gone…"
"Madara." Itachi said again. "If that's the case then what's the point of this plan?"
"If this plan works out, Itachi there will still be some Uchiha's left." Madara sighed in frustration at his cousins puzzled look. "You and me moron!"
There was a pause between the two young men, before Itachi spoke again.
"Alright, what is it I have to do?" he asked.
"Just kill everyone in the clan, then we can leave and restart our clan from scratch!" Madara said. "Keeping the bloodline…pure."
"Everyone!" Itachi cried out in alarm. "Father…? Mother! Even…"
"Yes, even Sasuke." Madara replied sternly.
Another long pause fell over the two before Itachi sighed and looked into his cousins eyes.
"I won't do it." He answered. "I won't kill my little brother."
"Itachi!" Madara snapped again. "So weak! So useless!"
"I- I won't do it…unless you let Sasuke live as well." Itachi stated firmly.
Madara sighed in exasperation before nodding.
"Fine! Fine! He can live, but remember." He said grinning. "He doesn't know the plan, just think what he'll say when he finds out his precious brother killed the entire family."
"He'll say nothing," Itachi said standing rigid. "It's what's best for you, it's what's best for me…its what's best…for Sasuke."
End flashback
"There's another Uchiha alive?" Sasuke asked stunned.
"Yes." Itachi said was blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. "Madara lied. The Hokage didn't want the clan dead, they asked for only one Uchiha head. And that was Madara. He was sentenced to death after selling secrets to the Raikage. After what I did I could never forgive myself. I wanted to die, that's why I begged you so many years ago, to kill me."
"Itachi." Sasuke said forlornly.
"Listen to me Sasuke!" Itachi said, making sure that the young mans eyes were on him. "You need to become stronger, in order to defeat Madara. After I die…you will receive the mangekyou sharringan. Use it to destroy him and avenge our family. But don't forget," he said with one last shuddering breath. "You mustn't let the Uchiha name, or pride die."
Itachi's body went limp and Sasuke was now the second to last Uchiha. A tear slid down his cheek as he silently watched the corpse of his brother. Yuki placed a hand on his shoulder, silently reassuring him that everything would be all right.
---Page break---
Naruto, Matsuri and Kasumi rushed out after their friends but stopped when they heard an obnoxious female voice.
"Children shouldn't be running around unsupervised." Konan's voice echoed around them. "It looks like I'll have to play babysitter again, don't worry I'll be there in a moment. Then we can have a nice game of tag, with Kunai."
Matsuri paled and Kasumi noticed. She bounded over to her quickly and began ushering her into the bushes.
"Okay Matsuri." Kasumi said pushing her down into a crouching position. "Hide here and watch , if it looks like we need help, go get someone, okay?"
However the girl did not respond. Kasumi snapped her fingers in front of her face.
"Matsuri!" Kasumi said seriously. "I need you to promise me that you'll go find help if we need it."
"I p-promise." She said blinking at her.
"Alright, now duck down and hide." Kasumi said before turning away and running back towards Naruto.
"Matsuri's in a safe place?" Naruto asked.
"Of course." Kasumi answered confidently.
"Ah if it isn't the daughter of the lord of fire and the container of the nine-tailed fox."
Konan said stepping out from the shadows. "This should be fun."
"You're the daughter of the lord of fire!?" Naruto cried.
"You're the vessel for the nine tailed fox!?" Kasumi shouted.
"Now now children," Konan chided. "Fighting isn't permitted."
A large origami dragon came form seemingly nowhere and dove at them. The two ninja looked at each other and began to run.
"Why are we running?" Naruto asked.
"So we don't die!" Kasumi snapped.
"Okay! Geez no need to get testy!" Naruto replied.
After a moment of silence Naruto smacked his head in utter frustration. With one quick movement he preformed the shadow clone jutsu.
"What are you doing?" Kasumi cried as he and his clones turned and prepared to attack.
"It's made out of paper right?" he asked.
"Yeah." Kasumi said stopping to watch as the dragon got closer.
"Then why don't we just cut it." He said, every single Naruto pulled out a kunai.
"DON'T!" Kasumi cried, dragging him away. "I've fought this thing before, if you cut it, it just multiplies!"
The two ninja began to run again, leading the dragon in large circles.
"I'm sick of running!" Naruto growled. "There has to be a way to destroy it!"
Kasumi's eyes widened as she saw him stop running, a large smile on his face as he formed a clone.
"No Naruto!" Kasumi cried.
However the blonde ignored her using his trademark move Rasengan he was able to destroy the dragon in a single hit.
"Ha! I did it!" Naruto beamed.
"Shame on you children!" Konan smirked. "You went and broke your toy! I'm afraid I'll have to put you in time out."
Kasumi watched closely as the petals of the paper rose in her hair began to open and a large cage made of paper fell around them.
"Aww crap!" Naruto cursed. "Now how are we going to get out."
"Wait." Kasumi said pulling a kunai out.
"Don't cut it!" Naruto said.
"Why not?" Kasumi asked. "It's not like it can multiply!"
"Your right…" Naruto trailed off. "Cut it! Cut it!"
With a swift movement she had cut through four of the flimsy paper bars. However they quickly mended themselves and the cage shrank.
"Naughty naughty." Konan said. "Trying to escape from time out. Too bad that the cage only opens from the outside."
"Ok, so we shouldn't cut our way out." Naruto said.
"Your right." Kasumi sighed.
"We should make things a little more interesting." Konan said. "Every breath you take will shrink the cage. The paper may look flimsy but I assure you, it will cut as well as any blade."
Konan walked over to a large tree and watched the proceedings from a low hanging branch.
"Oh well we've just put ourselves in a cluster fu…" Naruto began.
"Don't you even finish that sentence." Kasumi snapped. "I may be a ninja but I was still raised with manners!"
"Is it just me or did this cage get a little form fitting?" Naruto as the cage closed further in on them.
"How are we going to get out of this mess?" Kasumi asked, gasping as the cage sliced a piece of her shoe off and drawing the paper blades closer.
They were silent and trying to hold their breath so that the cage wouldn't advance any further.
"I've got it!" Kasumi cried throwing the kunai that was still in her hand out side the bars. "Matsuri! Help!"
From her spot in the bushes Matsuri couldn't help the tears running down her face. Flashes of her parents dieing ran through her head.
'Stop it Matsuri!' she berated herself. 'Your nakama (comrades), your friends…they need you!'
She reached out a shaking hand but pulled back when she saw her mother's dead eyes staring back at her in shock.
'Come on Matsuri…be brave.'
"It looks like this is the end." Kasumi said, her back pressed up against Naruto's.
"Don't worry Matsuri!" Naruto said, wincing as another paper blade sliced into his flesh. "We understand."
"It's ok." Kasumi echoed, holding her breath as she saw a blade pressed against Naruto's neck.
Matsuri burst from the bushes and trees, grabbing the kunai she ran around the cage slicing all the bars as she went. Naruto and Kasumi sighed in relief before rushing over to Matsuri who was kneeling on the ground shaking, the kunai on the ground in front of her. Kasumi wrapped an arm around the girl and reassured her as Naruto began proclaiming how brave she was.
"Ahh so we have a new playmate." Konan said. "I'll have fun torturing you."
A green blur went by and soon standing in front of the three ninja's was Gai, Kakashi, and Lee. In Kakashi's hand sat the paper rose.
"No!" Konan cried in alarm.
"Yes," Kakashi answered. "I know what the true source of your power really is."
Slowly the Chidori began to form in his hand.
"I'll make sure you never blacken the earth with your presence again." He dashed forward and struck the stunned Konan in the chest, killing her instantly.
Matsuri watched in silence, and in a few moments she picked up the kunai and put it in her pocket.
"Matsuri, you don't have to…" Kasumi began.
"I know." She said turning and smiling. "But I'm okay now."
"Your parent's, would be proud." Kakashi stated leading them away from the smoldering corpse.
---Page break---
"Poor poor Hinata." The leader repeated for the fourth time.
"Shut up," she hissed through gritted teeth.
For once she was glad she hadn't followed tradition and under her elaborate wedding kimono she wore her black training clothes. She blinked, avoiding activating her Byakugan in order to preserve her chakra. She gasped in shock once she reopened her eyes as the leader loomed over her. He placed a rough hand on her cheek and let his fingers run roughly over the fresh scar still open on her forehead.
"I see you put that Kunai I gave you to some use." He chuckled as she flinched away from him.
Getting into a fighting stance a new feeling overwhelmed her, blood pumped through her veins and a strange energy ran through her every limb.
'See Hinata' her demon hissed. `We aren't meant for a life of house work.'
Her mind began to go blank and a strange primeval thoughts were about to take action when a flash of red and aquamarine across her vision.
"Gaara!" Hinata gasped, before turning to see "I told you to get out of here! I told you to run!"
Gaara shook his head sternly and stood in a ready position to fight.
"This battle…" Hinata said, tears brimming in her eyes. "You won't be able to win…you'll d-d-die."
Silently the Kazekage approached her and held her cheeks gently in his hands before he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on one of her cheeks.
"I will never." He began before pausing and placing another kiss on her other cheek. "Ever." Pausing again to kiss the scar on her forehead. "Leave you." He pressed their noses together and gazed deeply into Hinata's pearly eyes.
"How sentimental," the leader said, rolling his eyes. "But Hinata-chan, this is your last chance. Do you remember what I offered you?"
Hinata turned toward the other red haired man and bit her lip as her head screamed go for it while her heart still rejected the idea. Gaara glanced at the Hyuuga before grasping her hand, even though he didn't know what they were talking about, letting her know that he was with her no matter what her decision was. Slowly her eyes drifted closed but quickly reopened the determination to beat him shining strong, and the veins around her eyes becoming more prominent.
"Never," was the only word she uttered, as she slid back into her fighting stance.
The leader simply shrugged and got ready to fight as well. Gaara, Hinata, and the leader clashed for a long ten minutes, none of them landed a hit on the other. Gaara fell back at that point, breathing heavier then he ever had before. His heart beat erratically in his chest and he fell to his knee to catch his breath.
"Gaara!" Hinata cried falling back and grasping the red heads shoulders.
"I'm fine," he answered, trying to stand up, but his knees became weak and he fell.
Hinata pulled him onto her lap and tried to get him to stop fighting, but the red head refused. The leader grew tired of waiting and walked over to the couple and lifted the red head from the dark haired girls grasp. Without hesitation he threw the boy away from them and into the surrounding forest. Hinata's eyes watered as she heard the bark of the trees splinter beneath the Kazekage's body. She leapt to her feet and launched her body in a fit of Taijutsu moves that the leader blocked while laughing. He finally got tired of blocking and instead knocked her to the ground. Jumping to her feet again, she glared.
"You picked the wrong day to mess with me!" she cried as she began to summon the demons power.
Her once pale and creamy eyes turned a light red and whiskers sprouted from her cheeks as her ears became like a cats and her teeth turned to fangs.
"Now Hinata-chan that's not fair," the leader said, in yet the smug smirk was still on his face. "Well at least I brought help this time."
He brought out a strange whistle, whittled out of bone; placing it tenderly to his lips he blew on it hard. Hinata grasped tightly onto her ears praying to block the high-pitched noise that was driving her crazy. Finally he pulled the whistle away and watched in smug satisfaction as Hinata let her arms fall to her sides. Her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to say something when a loud rumbling roar filled the air and shook the trees around them. The Hyuuga held her arms up in a cross block to keep herself from flying backwards due to the sheer force of the roar. Gasping, she caught sight of what the leader had called with his piercing whistle. Shukaku stood, towering over them in all his glory, but instead of his normal black and yellow, his eyes were now a vibrant red. With a signal from the leader the large demon stopped.
"Now I have Shukaku on my side." Pein smiled maliciously.
Hinata was at a loss of what to do, she lifted her hand to cover her mouth to stop herself from screaming. It was then she realized her hand was covered in red chakra that was slowly leaking out of her. Her body became weak and heavier then she ever remembered it being. The red chakra began pooling next to her and slowly building up. It was then she realized that the reason why she was feeling so weak was because her demons chakra was leaving her. It had been over a year since she had felt this weak, this useless, because of her demon she hadn't felt the need to over exert herself or train constantly. Now she realized she was paying for it, as she fell to her knees as the last bit of her demon's chakra left her. Next to her stood a large red chakra form of her demon, it stood on two of it's legs using it's arms to block and throw a few blows. Without a seconds hesitation it lunged at the Shukaku and the battle between the demons commenced.
"That should be impossible." Pein said astounded as the two monsters continues to fight.
"It's n-not." Hinata said getting to her feet. "Because it wasn't sealed inside of me."
"Strange how the leaf village would leave something so powerful unsealed. "The leader said.
"They don't know about it." Hinata whispered.
The leader nodded pensively before looking back at her.
"I'm afraid Hinata-chan I will need that demon back from you now." Pein said.
He appeared before her in an instant landing a hard punch to her gut and a kick to the side. Hinata was thrown backwards and she choked on the blood that began to rise from her throat. Gaara who had barely risen to his feet grabbed her before she could hit the ground, but the momentum sent both teens a few feet backwards. Gaara gently placed Hinata down on the ground before limping towards the leader of the Akatsuki, planning to do something. When Hinata regained consciousness she saw Gaara struggling against the leader in taijutsu. A hard kick to Gaara's chest sent the red head backwards and Pein began handsigns for a new jutsu. Looking around Hinata noticed that the two demons were still struggling, their large forms going closer and closer to the village. Her byakugan caught sight of the leader finishing his jutsu. Gaara was still on the ground, blood flowing steadily from the wound on his chest. Hinata sprang to her feet and ignored the pain that rocketed through her body as she ran to where the Kazekage was. Knowing that this blast would finish her Hinata threw herself in front of Gaara just as the large blast was shot at them. A strange tingly feeling spread through her body, cracking open one of her eyes she was met with a giant mass of red chakra. Confused, she spun in a full circle. Red surrounded her, so she realized that the demon didn't just protect her, she was inside it. Reactivating her byakugan she watched in wonderment the flows of chakra around her. Filling a few finger with her own chakra she poked one of the thousands of chakra points that surrounded her.
"Don't do that again." a loud voice roared in her ears.
"H-hai!" Hinata squeaked quickly.
Leaning in closer to the chakra she realized she could see through the chakra. Gaara sat on the ground in front of the demon, looking into the large chakra body. She waved at him, and slowly the red head waved back. She sighed, glad that he could see her and that she could see him. But a look of horror soon overcame her face as she saw the leader approach him. Quickly, fumbling a bit with the clasp she pulled out the kunai with the sutra attached. The chakra around her tightened and squeezed causing pain to erupt in every crevice of her body.
"Put that away!" her demon hissed in pain.
With struggling hands Hinata put the kunai back in her pouch. The chakra let up and the demon began to attack the Shukaku once again.
"Wait!" Hinata cried. "Protect Gaara! Please!"
"If he cannot protect himself then he deserves to die." the demon grunted as it continued to strike out at the Shukaku.
"If you wont protect him I'll take out the kunai again!" Hinata threatened her voice stern.
The demon gave a quivering sigh as it dropped it's guard to lift the Kazekage. After rushing away further into the forest the demon put Gaara down. The red head stood and tried to go with the demon back to the fight but Hinata signaled for him to stay, resorting to begging before he sat down like he was told. A few leaps and they were back to where the battle was, the leader stood next to the shukaku, petting it's leg as if it were his pet.
"It seems as if it is now two against two." Pein said looking straight at Hinata even though his veiw of her was clouded by the chakra. "But I'm sorry to say that I have the advantage."
His body began to meld with Shukaku being pulled into it's large mass but still his harsh voice continued with it's speech getting hysteric.
"Once I am absorbed into the Shukaku I will become the Shukaku! I will become the ultimate being! The ultimate monster!" Pein cried. "I will become invincible."
His mad cackle was silenced as he disappeared into the creature. Hinata's thoughts were interrupted when the walls of chakra around her shook from the force of one of Shukaku's newly enhanced attacks.
"Kit!" the demon cried as another powerful strike knock her off balance. "If you don't find a way to destroy him I wont be able to save you, let alone your precious Kazekage."
Hinata looked around frantically trying to formulate a plan. The leader took the place of the Shukaku's heart, if that was the case then if she could kill the leader then she would be able to stop the Shukaku. How the hell was she supposed to get through the thick outer layer of the demons chest? Her hands fell to her sides and her fingers brushed against her kunai pouch. The Kunai with the sutra might be able to cut through the large body of sand, it was a stretch but it was worth a try. But how was she going to get to his chest? Looking up the answer came to her, as well as a long forgotten memory.
flashback
It was the middle of summer and Hinata sat contently underneath the large sakura tree in the backyard of the Hyuuga compound. She played idly with her dolls, not a care in the world until she heard the cry from inside.
"Hinata-san! He's coming!" her nurse called from inside.
Hinata leapt to her feet and began to climb up the almost perfectly smooth bark of the tree. She had no idea why but climbing trees seemed to be her only talent. It was her place to hide when her father was on one of his drunken rampages which is why the bark on the tree had been stripped in order to prevent her from climbing. However nothing they tried ever stopped her. Within seconds she was up the tree. Her father came stumbling towards it a few moments later.
"Hinata!" his drunken voice slurred. "Get down here NOW!"
He had been having a drinking problem ever since Hizashi's death and it was sad to say he was an abusive drunk. He seemed to take all his anger and strength out on poor Hinata. After his desperate cry Hinata pushed against the trunk of the tree in order to hide herself further. Her father only became more angry and tried to scramble up the tree using his chakra. The young girl climbed even higher in order to avoid confrontation with her father. After sliding down the bark a few times he gave up and stormed inside. Later her mother would come and get her, coaxing her down from the tree, assuring that everything was okay and that her father would apologize. As they would walk back inside her mother would make an idle comment about how amazing she was, being able to climb smooth trees without an ounce of chakra. Hinata would barely listen thinking on other things. Her father never did apologize.
end flashback
Pulling the kunai from her pouch she grasped the steel between her teeth ignoring the demons pained hisses. Looking closer at the chakra in front of her she realized with much delight and relief that instead of a solid wall of chakra it was more like thousands of strings. Without anymore hesitation Hinata began to climb up the inside of the demon. Halfway up the body shook and the kunai cut through a bunch of chakra strings causing Hinata to slid down a few feet. After regaining her footing she continued to climb until she reached the arm. She ran down the arm until she reached the fingers, taking the kunai from her mouth.
"Alright." Hinata spoke for the first time in a little over a half an hour. "I need you to punch Shukaku in the chest as hard as you can."
The demon nodded before pulling it's fist back in preparation, with one last powerful thrust the demon punched Shukaku in the chest. Hinata then used the kunai to cut through the large red fist of her demon. It roared in pain but Hinata only focused on cutting through Shukaku's chest. To her surprise the kunai helped push through the chest easily however once she entered the body of this demon she found she couldn't breathe, only realizing now that the demon of the sand was made of sand. It felt as if her body was floating and her sensitive skin was lightly scratched as the sand shifted around her. She began to swim through the sand, using the kunai to cut through it at the same time. After what seemed like hours Hinata finally was able to see the leader. She got closer and tried to strike him with the kunai however the red haired man caught her arm. Struggling in his grasp Hinata was almost helpless as the leader turned the kunai on her. She had one last hope, something she learned in self-defense class when she was merely a child. Bracing herself Hinata gave a powerful kick, right in between the leaders legs. The mans eyes widened and his grip on the kunai loosened, Hinata wrenched the blade free from his grasp and shoved it deep into his chest.
---Page Break---
Gaara ran to where the battle was, his chest heaving, as he watched in astonishment as the great demon Shukaku began to fall to the ground. A large wave of sand rushed at him quickly but Gaara began to use it as a shield and let the larger amounts of sand pass over him. Once he was sure that no more sand was coming he let his barrier fall as he ran to Hinata and Pein who both lie in the sand next to each other.
"Hinata!" He cried as he slid to his knees.
Realizing that she probably swallowed some sand he forced his chakra into her body and infused it with the sand before pulling it out, little by little. Finally it was all gone and Hinata let out a shuddered breath. He lifted her head and cradled her against his chest rocking back and forth slightly.
"Is it gone?" Hinata asked weakly, not noticing the red chakra of her demon flooding back into her.
Gaara nodded and smiled slightly, but his smile disappeared as he saw the leader begin to move. Laying Hinata back down he stood and looked down on the leader who was still struggling to stay alive.
"I should let you die there." Gaara spat. "Slow and painful."
The leader laughed a few flecks of blood staining his lips. Gaara's eyes narrowed as he glared at the man, not noticing that the leader had wrenched the kunai from his chest.
"But you must let me give her a goodbye gift." he said.
Gaara could only watch in horror as Pein leaned over and jabbed the kunai in Hinata's abdomen. The Hyuuga writhed before becoming limp. The Kazekage kicked the leader in the head with a vicious cry but the man was already dead. He lifted Hinata into his arms again and began to limp back toward the village praying that Hinata would be okay.
---Page Break---
Tobi sat atop the Hokage monument swinging his legs back and forth in a child like fashion as Zetsu stood next to him.
"Like rats in a cage." Tobi said brightly as the great Shukaku crumbled.
"I feel Itachi's presence waning." Zetsu said. "Traitor?"
"No," Tobi said. "I'm pretty sure, little Sasuke killed him."
"Kakazu's presence is gone, Hidan's is scattered, and what little I could feel of Konan's is gone." Zetsu continued.
"Looks like we're all that's left Zetsu-san." Tobi said.
"Well what do we do now, Tobi-sama?" he asked.
"We start from scratch." He said standing and stretching
He pulled off his mask and let his sharringan eyes comb over the leaf village one last time before turning towards Zetsu again and smiling.
"From now on Zetsu-san, you can call me Madara"
---Page break---
"Kankurou-san," one elder spoke. "This is your last chance to turn back."
"Nah, I'm good." Kankurou said cockily.
"You know that elder hood means abstinence." Another spoke.
"Huh?" Kankurou said puzzled.
"It means no sex. EVER." One explained.
"I'm good with that." Kankurou said.
"It also means you may not get married." A female elder said.
Kankurou looked over at Rikku, after a moment of staring at each other she nodded. He turned back to the elders, not being able to hide his silent pain.
"I understand." He answered.
"Then you are now officially an elder." The head elder spoke. "And now, due to popular request the vote about whether Kazekage Gaara-sama and Hinata Hyuuga-sama should be able to marry is open."
A/N: Last chapter will be out tomorrow. I'm sorry it took so long! Family issues. Please review like the good people you are!