Ok... so... sorry I've been gone. Shit happens. I haven't stopped writing, but, well, LIFE, ya know? I have no excuse. But I will be more active from here on forward. So as an apology, this is a double chapter! 2 chapters into one!

This is the final chapter of this Visual Sensation thing. The next chapter goes into the new arc!

Enjoy.

General narration

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Narration

Bijuu talking

Last Time

As the drop of blood finally splatters on Naruto's hand, Hinata gasps. "W-w-wait, Naruto-kun! I-I j-just remembered something!"

Now

Naruto stares wide-eyed at the blood on his hand. He keeps his eyes firmly on it as if asking himself if his eyes are deceiving him. Knowing the answer to that, however, he looks away from the crimson spot and sighs. "What is it, Hinata?"

Hinata's mannerisms are as skittish as a shivering squirrel, and with her balance weak, her body sways in the wind, threatening to send her tumbling. "Th-there's th-this ancient technique in th-the clan that started the p-pr-practice of using b-blood as a sensory tool."

Naruto grins widely. "That's the one right there! Back to the basics is always the best course of action, dattebayo! Teach me, teach me, teach me!" His voice gets all giddy and the blond jumps up and down like a child on a sugar rush.

Hinata's face, neck, chest, and hands all erupt into a brilliant, and possibly dangerous red glow. Steam comes out of her ears, and her eyes nearly pop out of her skull.

Naruto becomes nervous. He knows Hinata can get a little shy sometimes, but this reaction doesn't seem all that healthy. 'Is she okay?'

"Come on, Hinata! Show me what you got!"

At that comment, Hinata gets lightheaded. 'Show me what you got…' She shudders in a mix of pleasure and fear. She gulps loudly after remembering the intimate, and frankly sexual nature of Shunsui and Saeko's strange ritual.

She knows the ritual itself is likely what gave them their sensory abilities and not the passionate lovemaking, but it doesn't change that the things they practiced were deeply intimate and vulnerable. Maybe a better word would be personal. She couldn't imagine doing something like that with anyone! She could never trust anyone with her life and her body like that!

But… Maybe she can trust her dear Naruto-kun…

After swallowing harshly, Hinata summons forth her inner steel. She reopens the wound on her right thumb with a quick stab of a chakra needle. "Wh-which is your dominant hand?"

Naruto presents her with his right hand. Hinata creates another chakra needle and stabs it into the digital pad of Naruto's thumb. She squeezes it, and the crimson elixir of life flowing in his veins is brought to the surface.

She presents her own bleeding digit to him. "S-su-suck on it u-until it st-stops bleeding."

Naruto recoils slightly and steps back in alarm. He scrutinizes the bleeding digit, unsure of the right course of action. But Naruto trusts Hinata. He trusts few people more than he trusts her. She would never do anything to hurt him.

So after mustering his steel, and fortifying his stomach with sheer will, he grabs her hand and brings it toward his lips. Licking his suddenly dry and flaky labrum, he parts them, waiting for a few heartbeats, reconsidering his next steps.

When he feels warm, delicate, plump lips on his thumb, lapping up his blood of all things, pleasant shivers run up his spine. It feels like invisible sparks of electricity are powering him, bringing him deeply carnal satisfaction. And with that, he latches on and suckles on the wound.

A few minutes later, both stop with their ministrations and step back, both flushing furiously and refusing to face the other. They stare, almost dead-eyed at their now wet, wrinkly, pruned thumbs.

Clearing his throat, Naruto knows it's up to him to move this along. "S-so." Mentally cursing his stuttering, Naruto chuckles humorlessly. "W-what's next?" He winces at yet another stutter.

Hinata activates her Byakugan. She looks into Naruto's body, running a quick diagnostic on him. "Oh." Is all she can say at the rather eye-opening surprise she sees. "You have Situs Inversus Totalis, Naruto-kun."

"Oh." He mutters, unsure of the significance of that. "W-what does that mean? Am I gonna die?"

Hinata giggles. Her previous embarrassment was forgotten. "No. It j-just means your organs are completely flipped, or mirrored. Instead of your liver being on the right side of your body and your spleen on the left, the opposite is true. And by extension, your heart is slightly toward the right side of your body, and not the left side, like with normal people."

"Oh." He still doesn't know what any of that means.

"Your body is unique. You'll live a completely healthy life, Naruto-kun, like any normal person. It's like being left-handed instead of right-handed. It's something that makes you unique."

Naruto laughs softly. That is quite an interesting fact. He never expected that, but, oh well. It doesn't change anything for him.

"S-since your heart is on the r-right side of your body, we'll work on your right carotid artery. M-my heart is closer to the l-left side of m-my body, s-so you'll work with my left carotid artery."

Naruto nods. "Okay. So, what do I do with your carotid artery?"

Hinata pokes her fingers together, the same way she used to back when they were children. "I-I trust you w-with my l-life, Naruto-kun. D-do you trust me with y-yours?"

"In a heartbeat." He admits without hesitation.

Smiling warmly, Hinata lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Then find my carotid artery, and slice a small cut just over it."

Horrified, Naruto shakily points a finger at Hinata. "Ehhh! B-But-"

"And be careful to not actually cut the artery. Get as close as you can without cutting the artery. Afterward, lick up and consume the blood flowing out until the bleeding becomes minimal. Don't waste a drop. I'll do the same to you."

Staring at the edge of his blade, Naruto approaches his friend. Placing his hand above her chest, Naruto feels Hinata's heartbeat. The slight, subtle thumping within can be felt through his palm, and past her skin. Using that same hand, he grabs her chin and forces Hinata to look away, giving him full access to the soft, pale, and fragile-looking skin of her neck.

Pressing his fingers along the side of her esophagus, he follows the natural contours of her neck, tracing lines along her pulse. Finding the spot with the strongest pulse, he brings his blade toward it, hesitating to proceed. He needs to cut past the skin, or else Hinata won't bleed, but he also needs to cut shallow enough that he doesn't cut the artery itself.

But no matter how hard he tries, he can't bring himself to do it. He could never forgive himself for killing his friend.

His lip quivers and his hands shake.

"D-don't worry about me, Naruto-kun. The C-carotid Artery is a-about one and a half inches b-below the skin. Simply b-be steady and you'll be fine." She reassures.

"It's not me I'm worried about! If I make a mistake, y-you could…" His breath becomes shallow.

"N-Naruto-kun. As a student of Tsunade-sama, th-there's no way I can die. I-if you do cut me too deep, I-I can always heal myself quickly b-before anything bad happens." Even though she stutters, her voice is confident and self-assured.

For some reason, Naruto chooses to believe in her.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto calms his nerves. When his hand stops shaking, he glares at the edge of the kunai, still contemplating. When he's ready, he exhales sharply, and fluidly cuts a thin, straight line on Hinata's neck, drawing blood.

She whimpers at the sharp pain but otherwise seems okay.

Watching the blood trickle down, Naruto brings his head down, chasing the drop as it sinks lower down her body. Naruto licks Hinata's collarbone, catching the drop. He follows the path it took, back to the cut. And at last, he drinks deeply, with a firm, yet tender suction on Hinata's skin.

Hearing Hinata hold back moans and resist shivering, Naruto bullheadedly does as he is supposed to. The last thing he wants is to make Hinata uncomfortable!

When Naruto laps at a sensitive spot on her neck, Hinata's strength of will weakens and shivers wrack her body. She bites her hand to hold in a moan.

When Naruto grips her shoulders tightly and sucks harder, Hinata's will crumbles. "A-ahhh! Naruto-kun…" She whispers huskily. Despite the gravelly nature of her voice from the strain, it still keeps its silky, velvety undertones.

When Naruto's tongue follows along the line of the cut, further irritating it, Hinata lets out a small wince.

"S-sorry, Hina-" Hinata pushes his head back down, shutting him up and keeping him focused.

Hinata is lost in the intense, yet subtle pleasure of Naruto sucking on her neck, nibbling at her flesh, consuming what she is. Marking her as his. Every once in a while, delightfully sultry moans escape from the mental blockade she put on her own voice. She rubs her thighs together, trying to ease her building tension.

When Naruto detaches, Hinata silently shivers as the cool evening time air chills her skin, now wet with Naruto's saliva. The cold on her neck serves to dull the pain on the now bruising mark tainting her clear, perfect form. A mark branded on her body by her beloved.

As her shaky breaths help bring her back down to the present, she watches with glazed-over eyes as Naruto licks the stray red spots on his lips. Approaching him, she tilts his head to the side, exposing the right side of his neck.

Not needing anything else besides her own chakra and her eyes, Hinata cuts a thin, long line into his neck, just barely missing the artery. Her eyes made this task easy enough.

Not even waiting for Naruto to mentally prepare himself, she greedily takes the opportunity to taste his flesh, his skin, his sweat, his blood. She drinks with gusto like she's trying to quench an insatiable thirst.

Naruto squirms, feeling a bit uncomfortable. An unknown feeling consumes his senses. It's a warmth both from within and without. It makes his body feel tingly and makes his heart beat faster. A light sheen of sweat envelops his skin and soaks his palms, yet he's not tired. His throat is suddenly dry, yet he isn't parched. He feels excitement, yet undertones of nervousness and fear. And every time Hinata's tongue strokes his skin with its gentle silken edge, it's like shocks of electricity sting his body in an oddly comforting way. He can't even begin to comprehend just what this new emotion is.

And Hinata thoroughly savors the opportunity. She enjoys the tingly feeling of Naruto's blood on her tongue. The strange spicy nature of it. It's a unique and pleasant experience.

But the intensity of everything makes her lose sight and get carried away by the moment. Lost in her own fantasies, she begins to lay small, chaste, kisses on Naruto's neck.

It's like a mother kissing her child's wounds to make it feel better. At least that's the impression Naruto is getting from all this. His face feels hot, and he feels embarrassed to be treated like a child by his friend, but the small curve of a hesitant smile is present on his face. Even at his mental protests, he feels happy and comforted.

When Hinata finally detaches, her eyes regain focus and then widen. She "eeps" loudly and hides her face in her jacket. She shakes her head wildly inside her clothing, ridding herself of indecent thoughts and attempting to retake the objective of whatever it was they were doing.

"Ne, Hinata. Is everything alright with you?" Asks the perplexed Naruto.

Hinata "eeps" again, and slaps both her cheeks at the same time. This draws a flinch from Naruto and he takes a step back.

"Yes, I'm okay. Let's continue."

Naruto nods dumbly.

"G-give me your d-dominant hand, Naruto." She stutters out.

Naruto presents her with his right hand once more. As Hinata gets ready for the final step, she realizes something.

"N-Naruto-kun, I… Th-there's a p-problem." She whispers.

Even straining to hear, Naruto didn't catch most of that, but he did hear 'problem.'

"Problem? There's a problem, Hinata?" Seeing her nod, he feels the need to ask. "What is it?"

"Th-the technique w-we are using is from a story. I know that in the s-story, Shunsui-san was right-handed and Saeko-san was left-handed, so when they c-cut their palms and h-h-held h-hands, they were able to lay side-by-side and st-still hold hands."

Naruto gestures for her to continue.

"B-but both Naruto-kun a-and I are right-handed. H-How do w-we stay c-comfortable while we h-ho-hold hands?" She asks rhetorically, not expecting a response.

Even though Hinata didn't tell him what exactly the next step is, Naruto was able to piece together it had something to do with holding cut hands together for a long time. But both of them were right-handed.

He knows that the logical way would be to do the common handshake, but standing until both their hands healed would suck, and sitting cross-legged, leaning into each other would make both their legs fall asleep long before they needed to stop. So what could they do?

Suddenly, Naruto grins as he got a fantastically super-awesome idea! "I know what we should do!"

Hinata looks at Naruto hopefully. She didn't expect an answer, but she's glad Naruto constantly subverts expectations. "Wh-what is it, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto runs behind Hinata. He brings his body flush to hers, almost hugging her. Her soft body contrasted nicely with his firmer body and hard muscles. 'W-wha-what a-are y-you doing N-N-Na-Na-Naruto-kun?" She screeches belligerently. Her heart pounds like a tribal drum in her chest, moving to its own rhythm.

Naruto wraps his arm around her waist, almost possessively, and then he falls back.

Hinata yells out in surprise as they begin falling, but quickly stops as instead of landing on the soft grass, she lands on a pair of toned legs. Naruto's toned legs. Her body stiffens and all the color drains from her face, making her complexion sickly pale.

Naruto grins widely. "I thought that this was the best choice, dattebayo!" He's sitting on the grass while Hinata makes herself comfortable on his lap.

When he taps her hand, showing her a kunai placed near his right hand, ready to cut, she understood the practicality of this idea.

She makes a small chakra blade with her fingers and points it to her hand. Looking back into Naruto's eyes, they test each other, trying to figure out each other's resolve. Knowing what was in their hearts, they nod at each other.

Naruto slides the blade along his palm, from the knuckle of his index finger to the lateral side of his wrist in a straight line. He leaves his palm face up.

Hinata slices the blade across her palm, from the joint of her pinky to the middle of her thumb pad. She turns her hand face down, perfectly mirroring Naruto's cut. They seek out each other's hands, feeling drawn to each other's warmth. They bind their hands together and put pressure on the cuts, restricting blood flow, and allowing them to heal.

Naruto groans uncomfortably, not enjoying the feel of a wound being irritated the way it is. Hinata winces at the sting but nonetheless remains mostly quiet.

They sit there for a few minutes in silence, simply enjoying each other's presence. Hinata feels peace within her soul. She's content with the moment.

At the same time, many thoughts swim within Naruto's head. There are many things he cannot make sense of. "Hey, Hinata. Earlier you mentioned the names of two people You named them Shunsui-san and Saeko-san. Who are they?"

Hinata finches awake. She was enjoying the tranquility of the moment but was awoken by the sound of Naruto's voice. After a few seconds, she recomposes herself. "Th-they are the main characters in an o-old Hyuuga folktale."

"Hmmm." Naruto hums. "What's the story about?"

Hinata shuffles awkwardly. "It's about how the Hyuuga Clan discovered the methods of our sensory training. The origin of it, I guess."

Naruto looks at his and Hinata's interlinked hands. "Can you tell me the story?"

Hinata looks back at him, eyes wide and face fiery. "U-Uhm, w-well…"

After Hinata retells the story, Naruto stares at the sky with a wide smile. "That was a nice story, dattebayo! Shunsui and Saeko seemed really happy with each other, huh?"

"Y-yeah." Hinata whispers meekly.

"But what do you think it means, dattebayo?" He inquires.

Hinata blinks, as if silently asking for clarification. "What do you mean?"

"The training, I mean. The blood, the story, the Hyuuga. Everything. What does it all mean?" Naruto can't really put his thoughts into words. He just wants to see for himself how Hinata's mind works. That, and the logic behind the training.

Hinata ponders this deeply. "Well, when we did the first method, you tried to get a feel of my chakra and become aware of it. This was all in the hope that you could complete the training and finally start using the Byakugan."

"And what about everything after?"

"Shunsui-san and Saeko-san discovered that blood was the most chakra-rich substance there is, other than pure chakra itself. With their discovery, new methods were developed to take blood into consideration. Sensing chakra in a drop of blood is easier than sensing chakra through the skin."

"And as for Shunsui-san and Saeko-san's method… I don't know. Maybe the reason it works is because of some blood exchange. By consuming and integrating so much of someone else's blood in your body, you are exposed to such a dense amount of foreign energy, making the difference easy to tell. Maybe the mixing of blood causes the two chakras to synchronize, and now beating as one, you develop such a deep connection with each other that the same connection can be made with anyone else. I don't know. That's just my theory."

Naruto contemplates this. It all makes some kind of sense. But there is one thing that has been bugging him this whole time. "But why? Why even go through so much effort just for sensory training? Why is it necessary at all?"

Hinata smiles coyly. "The Sharingan and the Byakugan are the two greatest Doujutsu in the world. The power of our eyes is unrivaled. The Sharingan is the most popular of the two, and for good reason. The Sharingan grants a wide range of abilities, and superhuman levels of enhanced and reactionary vision. Because of that, everyone assumes the Byakugan is the same. But that's a misconception."

Naruto quirks a brow. That caught his attention. "A misconception? What do you mean?"

"The Sharingan grants superhuman reactionary vision. It is a state of enhanced vision. But the Byakugan isn't."

Now Naruto feels truly intrigued. "If the Byakugan isn't some sort of visual buff, then how could it be considered a Doujutsu, dattebayo?"

Hinata giggles to herself. She expected the question, and she knows the truth of the matter, yet even she is still somewhat confused by it. "The truth is that the Byakugan isn't a visual state, but rather a sensory state. The Byakugan is a state of visual sensation. It's the unique ability to be able to sense with our eyes. We are sensors, thus we must train as sensors to even begin training the use of our eyes itself. That is our greatest kept secret. That is the true nature of the Byakugan."

Naruto expresses his awe and wonders at the revelation. It all makes perfect sense now!

"That is why Shunsui-san and Saeko-san's discovery was so significant. Now, everyone in the clan, regardless of birth, sex, age, and lineage was now able to embrace their birthright as a Hyuuga. Everyone had the chance to feel like they were part of the clan. To feel involved. Now everyone could be important to the cause. Everyone could serve the clan. Everyone could finally feel pride in who they were. Pride in their blood. Pride in their crest."

To Naruto, everything sounds incredible. It's a story of fixing the issues in a clan, and finally bringing a sense of unity to a broken family. It's a heartwarming if strange tale in his eyes.

But the crushed, agonized look in Hinata's eyes tells a different story.

"I-I wish that th-they never discovered their method."

Naruto's eyebrows rise up in shock and hide behind his bangs. "Why?"

Hinata looks down sadly at the ground. "There has always been a Main Family and a Branch Family in the Hyuuga Clan. Before Shunsui-san and Saeko-san, the Hyuuga chose who belonged to which house by the first sensory method. Those of us born as natural sensors and those who could learn were members of the Main Branch and seen as those of pure blood."

Naruto narrows his eyes in a mixture of slight anger and confusion. "How is that any different from the way the clan is now?"

Hinata expected that question. "Back then, it didn't matter to which house you were born in. If you could make use of your bloodline, then you were a true Hyuuga. Therefore, you belonged to the Main Family. If you couldn't be taught to use your ability, then you were of dirty, tainted blood. Those of tainted blood belonged to the Branch House. They became the slaves of the Main Family. Brothers born of the same womb, and the same mother were not equal. One would inevitably be enslaved to the other. That was how the Hyuuga operated. There was no such thing as blood rights, inheritance of status, or filial piety to segregate the clan. It was only split as those who could, and those who couldn't."

"But that sounds like a terrible fate, Hinata! Why would you say you never wish Shunsui and Saeko never discovered the other methods?" To Naruto, this is an outrage! A blasphemous statement in the eyes of someone who never had a family of their own.

Hinata gives a sad, broken smile. "Because today, nothing has changed. Everything is the same. Those of tainted blood are in the Branch House. They are slaves to those of the Main House. Brothers born from the same womb are cursed to inevitably compete, with one destined to be enslaved by the other. The only difference is that back then, those who belonged to the respective houses deserved to be there one way or another. Even though it was cruel, there was merit involved to determine a true Hyuuga from a pretender."

Tears start streaming down Hinata's cheeks. "But now with the second method, every Hyuuga was now able to awaken their Doujutsu and be of use to the clan. Shunsui-san and Saeko-san hoped that their discovery would bring peace and equality to the clan, but it didn't. There was still a divide. The two branches remained. Ever since then, it was determined by blood rights, birth order, and lineage. It didn't matter how powerful or talented a Hyuuga was, or how weak and incompetent they were. It was all predetermined by the time they were born. If you were born into the Branch family, you and your children would always be worthless in the eyes of the clan. If you were lucky to be born in the Main Branch and were of the right birth order, then, you were in the Main Branch. The past was horrible and vile, but there was still a sense of cruel merit and equality of opportunity within the clan. Nowadays, there is no such thing as merit, talent, or equality within the clan."

Naruto remains silent. He got a crash course on Hyuuga Clan politics from Neji back in the Chunin Exams all those years ago, but he didn't know things were this bad!

"That's why no one can know about what we do when we spend time together. If anyone knew what I was teaching you, or learned about your eyes, then you would join our clan. The last thing I want for you, Naruto-kun, is for you to be enslaved. To be subjected to the hatred of the clan and be unhappy. Even if you are a Jinchuriki, I don't know if Tsunade-sama can guarantee your safety." The heiress releases a loud sniffle. Her large, teary eyes bear down on Naruto's heart and consciousness.

Naruto remains silent for while. He's not sure what exactly to say. "I won't claim to understand you, but I am listening. I can understand that the state of your clan hurts you, the same way Neji was hurt and haunted by it. But why are you so affected by it?"

Hinata wipes a tear streaming down her cheek. "Remember when I told you my dream, Naruto-kun? How I wished one day I could finally earn the love of my beloved Imouto?"

Naruto smiles nostalgically. "Yeah. I do. You were so fragile back then. In many ways, you still are, but I can feel some kind of hidden strength deep inside you that didn't exist back then. It makes me happy to see how much you've grown, dattebayo." He gives her a thumbs up and his signature wide grin.

Hinata cracks a shy smile at Naruto's sincerity. It makes her feel warm inside, like she is truly the person Naruto thinks she is.

At that thought, her smile is wiped clean off her face. "I'm afraid that my dream is truly impossible."

Naruto gasps. "What?! No! You can't give up now! If you give up on your dreams, then what is your reason for living?"

"You don't get it!" She snaps, yelling at him. "I'm the first-born, Naruto-kun. I was chosen to be the heiress of my clan. But Hanabi-chan is more talented than I am. She has the strongest Baykugan in the clan behind Neji Nii-san. She's tough, strong, talented, and fierce. She's every bit a true Hyuuga. But since I'm the firstborn, I am the one meant to lead the clan.

Even so, in the eyes of my clan, I've proven to be incompetent. They were forced to pick Hanabi as the heiress to the clan. But her status is not set in stone because of our birth order."

Hinata pauses, trying to recollect herself. "My dream was to finally be accepted by my dear Imouto. And the only way I could gain her respect was through force. I had to defeat her in an honorable battle. But now… because of our situation and our birth order, if I defeat her, then I'll be renamed heiress of the clan."

"But that's good news for you, right?" Naruto asks hesitantly. He can feel that there is more to this, something heavy, but he can't quite make it out yet.

Hinata chokes back a sob. "Th-that'd be the worst thing that could p-possibly happen! If I defeat Hanabi, the clan will think I'm truly ready to embrace my fate. They will name me heiress, and Hanabi would no longer serve any use to them. She'd have outlived her usefulness, and will be discarded."

Eyes widening in horror, Naruto feels the sickening pit of dread weighing on his stomach. "You don't mean…"

Hinata nods. "Th-they'll cast her aside to the Branch Family and brand her with the Curse Mark. If I ever beat her, Hanabi's life is forfeit. She'll be enslaved, and she'll have e-ev-every reason to hate me for the rest of her life. For taking away her freedom. For stealing away the life she had deserved and a-always wanted. For humiliating her. For giving her false hope. I'd lose my sister forever. But if I never defeat her, then I'll never gain her respect. I'll always be looked at as beneath her. I-I will never feel my sister's love ever again."

Just then, the dread in Naruto's stomach reaches a breaking point. He feels sickened. Nauseous. He feels like vomiting at the terrible realization he dawned upon. "But if you never defeat her… then you… you will…"

Hinata smiles a broken, empty smile. No amount of willpower could ever convince anyone she was happy. Not with the large, bitter tears rushing down her cheeks. Her sickly, paper-white complexion. The visible, palpable heartbreak reeking in her aura, bringing a foul, soul-searing pain to anyone who bore witness. "I'll be the one to be cast aside. I'll be sent to the Branch Family, and branded with the Curse Mark."

"NO! I won't allow it!" Roars Naruto. "I will not let you be turned into some inhuman slave, or be treated as some disposable pawn! You are so much more than that, Hinata! You are precious to me! In my eyes, you are special and worthy of happiness, even if no one else can see it, dattebayo! You can't let them take you away!" Naruto's eyes burn with raw passion. His arm wraps even tighter around Hinata's waist, with his fingers pinching at her right hip.

Hinata blushes prettily at Naruto's raw emotions and heartfelt declarations. But with grim determination, she wills herself to push past his honey-sweet words. "There is nothing I wouldn't be willing to do for my Imouto. I love her more than I love myself. And I've thought long and hard about this, Naruto-kun. I know what I must do. If I need to give up my sister in order to protect her, th-then… then…." Hinata sobs loudly. Her soul-wrenching wails bring even Naruto to the verge of tears. "I-I'll g-give up my dreams, m-my love, and m-my h-happiness, all that I am if it means she is safe." She resolves.

Naruto remains silent. He swallows a tight lump forming in his throat. "S-so…" He stutters shakily. "Th-that's why you wish they never discovered what they did. In a better world, Hanabi-chan or Neji would be the heir to the clan, and all three of you would be happy. All three of you would love each other, regardless of who was in the Branch Familly, or who inherited the clan. Life wouldn't be perfect, but it'd be better. Better than it is now. Even if you lived a cruel fate, at least, you would still have your family by your side, and you at theirs."

Hinata remains silent. She leans back into Naruto and squeezes his arm.

"How long do you have?"

Hinata stays quiet for a while longer. She feels cozy in Naruto's arms. She doesn't feel the urgency to rush out an answer. "When I become of age, I'll have no further potential for growth. And as a commemoration, I'll be marked as a failure. My eighteenth birthday will be my last day of freedom. Like Neji Nii-san, I'll be nothing more than a caged bird unable to stretch its wings."

"So a little under two years, then." Naruto mumbles. They are sixteen now. They don't have much time left.

He wraps his free arm around Hinata's waist once again, pressing his chest flush with her back. "I won't allow it."

"Na-Naruto-kun?" She stutters out in a start.

"I won't let them take you away from me. I promise you, Hinata-chan, I will free you and your clan of that fate. I will find a way to break the Hyuuga Clan's Cursed Seal. None of you will have to live your lives as slaves ever again, dattebayo." States Naruto. By the sound of his voice, his words were not an attempt to comfort his friend. Or a form of pity. But rather, he casually stated his words, as if he was saying a simple fact of life.

Hinata smiles despite herself. But she still can't help but feel pessimistic. "B-but many have tried before. Wh-what if you can't find a solution?"

Naruto tightens his hold on Hinata. He lays his head on her shoulder. "Then I'll take you somewhere far away. Away from all the bad people coming to get you. I'll keep you safe forever. We'll run away to a distant land. We'll see the world together. It'll just be you and me, unburdened from all the evils in the world. I'll make you happy, Hinata-chan. That is the promise of a lifetime, dattebayo."

Hinata's eyes widen. To her, that sounded like… like… a declaration of… She can't help it. She's been broken. Tears fall unabated from her eyes. Loud, ugly sobs rasp at her throat. Her arms hold tightly at Naruto's own. Her back presses firmly to Naruto's chest.

Naruto's lip quivers. He meant to make things better, but all he did was make everything worse. "I'm sorry, Hinata-chan. I didn't mean to upset you."

Hinata giggles lightly, through all the loud, painful sobbing.

"What is it?"

Hinata chuckles softly. She smiles weakly and sincerely at Naruto with a tearful gaze. "I'm not crying because I'm sad, Naruto-kun. I'm just… so happy you care for me as much as you do. I'm so happy I feel like my heart is going to explode."

Suddenly, both stiffen and still. They could feel something link them together. Linking their bodies. Their minds. Their hearts. And their souls. Indefinitely. Forever. "Naruto-kun… wh-what is this?"

Naruto didn't feel the need to ask. He pulls their hands apart, marveling at the fully-healed scars on both of their palms.

He stares at Hinata in wonder. His eyes were wide, awestruck, and his gaze gentle, yet revering. He sees a glowing purple light flowing inside Hinata. The mixing and swirling of mauve, mulberry, magenta, plum, lavender, and amethyst all come together in dull, shimmering light, and are all-encompassed by a fittingly gentle lilac backdrop. It's so… Hinata.

"You told me that chakra comes from the soul. It is the representation of who that person is at their core. You are already really pretty, but if I could see your chakra, then I could know exactly how beautiful you are on the inside. How beautiful is Hyuuga Hinata's soul?"

Hinata stares at Naruto in bated breaths.

"Now I have no need to ask. Your soul is beautiful, Hinata-chan. You are so special. I wish you could see exactly what it is I see in you." Naruto strokes Hinata's cheek soothingly. Almost in admiration. "You are the most beautiful person I've ever met, Hinata-chan. Both inside and out. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Hinata's eyes water. 'He… he thinks I'm beautiful… the most beautiful… '

"Naruto-kun…"

'I love you.'

She hugs Naruto desperately. Naruto hugs back, just as tightly. They hold each other, relishing in each other's body heat. There's nothing else to it besides a deep understanding and admiration for the other.

They lay down on the grass, cuddling against one another to fend off the cool nighttime breeze. Nothing feels more right than cuddling alone in the middle of the forest with each other. It feels like they are the only two people in the world at that moment.

They are content.

They are happy.

And for Naruto, with those emotions also came confusion.

'What is this? What is this emotion I'm feeling, clenching in my chest? It's… so warm…'

Author's Note: That is the chapter. The end of Visual Sensation. I don't have much to say. The rest of this update is the beginning of the next arc. Here it is. The start of the new arc.

Chapter 21.5: The Land Of Demons; Prologue

A Week Later, Somewhere on Another Continent

It's nighttime, and a man is leading four of his disciples to an anticipated Holy Grail. He has long, flowing black hair. The irises in his eyes are a sulphuric yellow color. He has pale, alabaster skin, and thin, angry eyebrows. His facial hair is a goatee with a mustache consisting of a few stray strands of hair. He stares anxiously at an old temple in a valley.

"This is the purpose for which our dark Iryo-Ninjutsu was crafted. We shall awaken Moryo from his slumber, and return this world to order!" He bellows in a deep, raspy voice.

He eyes his followers with manic anticipation. "It's time for your prescriptions." The mad doctor spreads his arms out wide. "Chakra Infusion!" 4 tentacle-like things rise from the ground below their feet. These tentacles, tubes, whatever they are latch onto the necks of the followers. A strange, glowing purple fluid is pumped inside of them through the tentacles.

The followers jump off the cliff and run into the valley. When they get down there, they kill any defenders of the sacred ground with ease. The four followers then secure the grounds and leave their leader to go inside the temple to do his business.

The man walks deeper into the temple, and down a massive staircase. At the bottom, he finds a room with an assembly of five pillars glowing a soft blue, and streams of talismans hanging from the ceiling strategically. Surrounding the platform holding the central pillars is a ring, or a moat of odd boulders, each lined up in a specific formation like it's intended to be where it's supposed to be.

He walks toward the pillars and approaches the sealed gates inside. The gate is closed off by dozens, potentially hundreds of ancient talismans. He can feel his veins about to explode inside his body, but still, he approaches. He holds out his hand, and after chanting an unknown language, the talismans burn away, finally leaving the gate unimpeded.

Immediately, the gate cracks and explodes. Violent howling winds burst out from the gate, along with a visible foul, black aura. Inside the gate is the passageway to another plane of existence. The corridors or barrier of the interdimensional wormhole resembles an ocean of black ink diluting into a pool of water. Pitch, midnight black form a void, and streaks of purple slowly being drained of their color.

A deep, rumbling voice as ancient as it is graceful drones out of the gate. A noise similar to a moan and a dramatic sigh shakes the nerves of the man outside. "Ahhhh! How nostalgic. So I've returned to the world, have I?" The ancient being asks rhetorically.

The man prostrates himself on one knee for his Lord. "It's been a long time, Moryo-sama."

"And you are?" The booming, thunderous voice rattles the bones of his servant.

"Have you forgotten? It is I, Yomi." Despite the fact his words could appear snippy, Yomi's tone shows absolute loyalty and subservience.

"Yomi?" There's some recognition in Moryo's voice.

Yomi's focused eyes don't look at Moryo, but they still make their strength known. "I'm a survivor from a clan of shinobi that used your dark power to create the Ghost Army." It's a vague response, but informative where it's necessary.

Moryo remains silent for a second. "Why have you summoned me?"

Yomi's eyes brighten. Ambition fueled by madness, and rationality twisted by insanity stoke the flames of his darkened soul. "The stars are aligning, my Lord. The time has come for us to join forces and at last, create your Eternal Kingdom."

"But where is my physical form? With only my spirit intact, I will scatter to the winds!" Demands the offended Moryo with fury. "Everyone knows that Yin without Yang is incomplete. I am nowhere near my full power!" The demon felt affronted that one who claimed to serve him would offer not certain victory, but certain death.

Yomi bows his head lower. "Please, use my body as your vessel." Yomi stands up and begins stripping out of his clothes. In the process of pulling his arms out of his sleeves, he snatches a scalpel out of his pocket. "With my dark Iryo-Ninjutsu, I'll take hold of your soul and transfer it into the confines of my body."

Yomi stabs the scalpel into his body, starting directly above his sternum at the lowest point of his jugular notch. He cuts downward, slicing past his sternum and his pectoral muscles, past his diaphragm, splitting his linea alba to separate his abdominal muscles into their left and right sides, and finishing at his waistline creating, two perfectly even halves. Complete symmetry.

He digs into the cut and forcefully pulls his skin back, revealing not blood and guts, but instead, the same swirling ocean of ink that exists inside the gate. "Now come, my Lord. Please use my body!"

The spirit hums, seemingly lost in thought. "Hmm. Very well." Suddenly without warning, a condensed form of black chakra shoots out of the gate and into the body of Yomi. The aura surrounding the chakra are heavy lavender and navy-blue auras that clash against each other, and swirl in and out of the chakra blob for dominance. It takes a while, but at last, all the chakra enters Yomi.

Yomi's torso heals instantaneously thanks to the sudden overwhelming influx of new power. And in the blink of an eye, Yomi's mannerisms change. His hunched shoulders roll back and his spine straightens. His head is raised up high, and his eyes gleam in dark confidence. Instead of insanity, clarity shines, reflecting an ancient intelligence long forgotten.

Moryo turns around, his back to the gate he was trapped in for centuries. He raises his arms, and purple light shines between the pillars. "Arise, my army!" The ground shakes and a wave of navy-blue chakra spreads, soaking into the ground, and absorbed by the boulders surrounding the platform.

The entire valley rumbles from the release of power.

The stone surrounding the boulders crumbles and falls off, revealing the helmet heads underneath. Soon, the inanimate stone army is released. Clad in stone samurai armor, and wielding a wide assortment of weaponry, the ideal, supposed perfect army makes for an intimidating sight. Two beady lights shine inside their helmets, showing that they have finally awakened.

Moryo smiles sinisterly. "On your feet!" He commands. His army listens without hesitation. After all, an unfeeling army only knows to obey the will of their master and fight for their master.

"Let us embark for Oni no Kuni, on the Eastern outskirts of The Elemental Nations. There is an enemy there, a priestess. She alone has the power to undo me. And once I'm done, I'll destroy the Five Great Nations and establish a single kingdom to rule over the world." What spoke was not a man. It was a superior being with a goal. A goal it knew it had every chance in the world to accomplish.

…

It wasn't long after that an outpost on the border of Oni no Kuni was taken out by the Immortal Army. Nothing was left, only the bodies of those defending their land's border. However, not all hope was lost. One man clung to life long enough to send a message to his leader before he passed.

The thousands upon thousands of shinobi in Konohagakure no Sato are on high alert, preparing for war. Everyone is doing their duty, and taking their job seriously. They know it's a matter of life and death.

Tsunade stands up at her desk. Her face is sour, and her mood grave. "I received word last night that someone has revived the demon Moryo and freed him from the underground palace he was sealed away in." Tsunade bears all her focus on the four teenagers in front of her. Their role in this is more crucial than anyone else. "His Immortal Army is on the march. We'll be working with other Nations to put an end to this crisis. Naruto and Sakura. Lee here is your substitute for Sasuke on this mission." Both Naruto and Sakura resist the urge to wince. "Neji, as the only Jonin, you are the stand-in for Kakashi on this mission. Your job is to lead the team, and make this mission a success." Tsunade empowers her stare with her Hokage-level intimidation factor, making it a point that this is an order, not a request.

Neji nods compliantly. "As you wish, Hokage-sama."

Naruto furrows his brows. "I'm sorry for interrupting, Tsunade Baa-chan, but why can't Kakashi-sensei lead us on this mission?" It's an honest question. He doesn't see much harm in asking.

"I've already sent Kakashi and Guy out with a team of Elite Jonin. They are headed for the battlefront as we speak. So in the meantime, Neji will serve as Team Seven's Captain." Short, informative, and direct. As expected of the Hokage.

Neji steps up as the acting leader. "What mission will you have us take on, Hokage-sama?"

Tsunade folds her fingers over her face. "Despite your collective skill and power, I will not send you guys to the front lines. This is an escort mission for an exclusive VIP."

"What?! Are you kidding me?! This is not the time to do ordinary missions, dattebayo!" Naruto has matured considerably from when he first became a ninja, but at the end of the day, he's still Naruto, and this mission seems nonsensical and unnecessary.

Sakura grabs Naruto by the ear and pulls him to her mouth. She yanks at him, hard. "Quit your complaining and let the woman talk, you idiot!" She grinds out through grit teeth and harsh, loud whispers.

Naruto frowns, feeling irritated, but wisely decides to be quiet.

Tsunade clears her throat to continue. "The enemy has been on the move for several days now, leaving a steady trail of destruction in its wake. We know this Immortal Army is based on some sort of puppetmaster jutsu."

Sakura is able to connect the dots. "Meaning they're just lifeless bodies manipulated by someone, right?" She concludes.

"Correct. Unfortunately, Sunagakure is the furthest village from the origins of this jutsu, so they are not able to help, and we can't simply take out the user of this technique. The one controlling the army isn't human. Moryo is a very powerful demon, and he plans to take absolute control over the world." A collective chill crawls up the spine of the makeshift Team 7.

"And Moryo nearly succeeded, many centuries ago. Back then, a Priestess from Oni no Kuni named Miroku used a powerful Ninjutsu. She sealed Moryo's soul in an underground palace on an island off of Oni no Kuni, and the physical body in a temple on Numa no Kuni, averting disaster. Right now, the demon is making his way to the shrine."

Ah. Ok. There's history here, a defined end goal, and destination.

Tusande begins to frown. "If Moryo's body and soul become one, and his resurrection is completed, then this situation will get ugly. His army may not be too troublesome for an elite Jonin, but the problem is a Jonin is flesh and blood. A stone warrior cannot feel pain or be killed. When Moryo is complete, his stone soldiers will become self-repairing, becoming a truly Immortal Army."

That gave everyone an idea of what the grave outcome for the world will be if Moryo succeeds.

Tsunade points to the capital city of Oni no Kuni right on a map. "The Priestess of Oni no Kuni must be escorted to the temple where the body is sealed. She's the only one who can seal Moryo again. The fate of the world depends on it."

Everyone understood completely now. The fate of the world rests in their hands. They have no choice. They must not fail, no matter what. Everything they've ever known, and everyone they've ever loved, everything lies on this one mission.

No pressure.

At the gates of the village, Neji begins giving everyone a recap of their mission, and their roles. "Now listen, our mission is to ensure this woman's survival." He begins pacing back and forth as he formulates a plan.

Neji turns to the female in their group. "Sakura. You are to stay with our charge at all times. Understood?"

Sakura cheerfully nods. "Hai!"

Neji's eyes bore down on Sakura, putting pressure on her form. It isn't intentional, it's just that the power in his eyes casts a continuous presence on anyone in his range of view. "If anything should happen to her, we'll need your medical expertise."

Sakura nods dutifully. "Understood."

Neji turns to his teammate. "Lee. Your role is to fend off the enemy if and when they approach."

Lee salutes emphatically. "Roger that!"

"We don't know what we're up against, so your Taijutsu will be the best offensive and defensive option since it doesn't depend on chakra."

Lee gives Neji a thumbs up. "Leave it to me. I will protect you all with sheer, youthful will."

Naruto understood the unspoken words in Neji's comment clearly. "No risk for volatile elemental chakra clashes." It's the right call. Such an unpredictable situation is too dangerous to do with civilians nearby.

Neji turns on Naruto. "And you will run defense, same as Lee. But that's only a secondary job. Your main job is for your clones to do. You spent three years training with a master spy in Jiraiya-sama, of the Legendary Sannin."

Naruto chuckles uneasily. "Yeah. I'm nowhere near Ero-sennin's level when it comes to espionage and information gathering, but I can manage, dattebayo. I'm very stealthy." Naruto didn't sound as blindly confident as he usually does, but he sounded up for whatever. That is enough.

Neji smiles, pleasantly surprised that Naruto did more than just learn jutsu while away training. "That's good. Your clones will create a defensive barrier, where you will scout for approaching dangers, and create traps for anyone approaching. Your clones are our first line of defense, and your real self along with Lee will be our second line of defense."

Naruto grins, feeling satisfied with his job. Maybe taking orders from Neji won't be so bad, He seems competent enough.

Neji smiles, seemingly satisfied with his team. Everyone is on board with their roles. "It's time to head out." The makeshift Team 7 heads out for Nami no Kuni to get a ship to Oni no Kuni.

A new chapter is to be released later this month. Be ready.

Let me know your honest thoughts.

Thank you for reading. Review if you enjoyed it, or if you have requests or complaints. You can always P.M. me too.

Have a good day. This is Zippy, out.