A/N: Here is the next chappie! Please review for me. I know that after the last chapter there might be questions on what is going on, but stick with me and everything will be explained.
Also, just to clarify, Hinata x Sasuke are a main couple but so are Ino x Itachi, that is why both are mentioned in the summary. When the story starts progressing, both will have plenty of scenes together. I try to give equal amount of love if I have more than one couple in my fics. Besides, are four play a major role in my plot. As for the last chapter, I felt it needed to put a little (it was tiny due to them being chased/followed,) detail for Ino and Itachi seeing each other the first time.
Disclaimer: Don't own it!
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Chapter Eight
"Are you sure this thing has an exit?" Ino complained hearing the whimpering coming from behind them once more. The stupid animal wasn't attacking, just trailing behind while whining about their presence. This was the third shaft they had come to after leaving the gorge and she wanted some fresh air. The space was too camped, "Don't touch me."
"My apologies," Itachi spoke softly, figuring she was speaking loud enough for both of them. If he were cruel, he would have let her hip bump into the jagged rock that had been sticking out of the wall. The injury would only bruise and it might do something about that nasty temper, then again, she could likely fly off of the handle and become more irritable.
"Never thought I'd hear you say that to an attractive Uchiha," Sasuke smirked hearing the frustrated groan. Just a small jibe for all the times she used to flirt and hang all over him when they were younger.
"That wasn't very nice," Hinata spoke up hearing Ino at a loss for words at the accusation. The implication was that Ino was a loose female and it was wrong to suggest it. "Sh..she isn't Sakura and neither of you aren't that cute, besides most of the males in your clan were known not to be well-endowed."
What the hell was that? There were no such rumors and not every male was the same. Sasuke wanted to remind her that Naruto was said to have a small dick. Was she saying that he wasn't attractive? That was the first time someone of the opposite sex had the nerve to tell him that he wasn't physically appealing. He wanted to respond in kind but it would only make him look like an ass because the girl had to know that she was pretty enough.
Hinata wasn't sure what rumors there were about his clan, only her own. Many of the females in her clan said that their husbands had small ones. She had also heard that her ex had a small penis, via gossip caused by Sakura. "But then again, Sakura can overlook your personality, an inverted penis is easily forgiven."
Ouch, that had to hurt. Ino laughed when the cocky ass stopped moving and Hinata strolled by like she had every authority to insult his manhood. She scooted by but not without adding, "Ohhh, she just tried you."
Itachi halted next to his sibling who was glaring at the two departing backs. They were leaving with the little bit of light they had and weren't stopping. He wasn't sure what was more amazing, that the little girl had managed to derail Sasuke's masculinity without raising her voice, or that his brother seemed in awe at being so easily insulted. "She tried you, and they are also leaving with our only light source, so I suggest you pick up your jaw and move."
"I'm going," Sasuke didn't care for the way his own brother was trying not to smirk at his expense. What was so damn funny? It was also implying that Itachi was equipped like a toddler. Why did he even care what she said? As far as what Sakura forgave him for, it was none of her concern. One of the things hadn't been his lack of equipment simply because he had never shown it to her. He also didn't have small equipment to be ashamed of. He was shocked she even knew what a penis was and had found the nerve to utter the word.
"Is she your lover?" Itachi hung back to ask the question without either of them being able to hear. The comment implied that the blonde had already allowed a Uchiha to touch her. The only one that had been in Konoha to do any touching was his brother. Was the Yamanaka the reason why his brother had insisted upon bringing them along?
"If she were, she wouldn't have just accused me of having a small penis," Sasuke ground out the last two words. He didn't know about Itachi but he wasn't lacking in what made him a man. Granted he wasn't hung like a large animal but he had more than enough to get the job done. She had said it because she thought all men were like her irritating ex that she was in love with.
"I was referring to the blonde since she was the one you indicated you had already touched yourself," Itachi knew he hadn't slept with the other one. He would give up his eyes if that girl wasn't a virgin.
"I haven't touched either of them," Sasuke faltered hearing it had been taken another way. "I was merely trying to irritate her because she used to have the habit of constantly flirting and hanging on me when we were younger."
"And the Sakura comment? I assume they speak of your former teammate that now follows." Itachi noted that she wasn't too fond of his touching her. So the only Uchiha she must be interested in was his brother.
"That'd be the one," Sasuke didn't want to speak of her but answered the question the best he could without going into a lengthy detail. "One of the girls that has always chased me but she was also part of my team as a genin. Even after my defection, my plot to destroy Konoha, and two attempts at killing her, she still wants to be with me. Declares that she still loves me after all this time and has forgiven me."
"One would find it near impossible to kill the one they are in love with." Itachi knew what it was like to be faced with harming someone you had romantic feelings towards. He had only been seeing someone for a few months when he'd been given the order. When it came down to it, he hadn't been able to end her life, he had left her death in the hands of Tobi. After it was done, he realized that even if he could not do it himself, if he had truly loved the girl, he wouldn't have been able to accept the concept of her death. The depth of love for a lover could run just as deep as that of his brother, it was just another form of love but the outcome of those emotions would be the same. Wanting to protect, to cherish, and to always have that person in your life, which was the essence of loving another.
"And I wasn't in love with her, I'm still not in love with her." Sasuke wasn't confused about what he felt for her. There was no spark, nothing that made him want to claim the kunoichi as his. "Hinata was pointing out that Ino has matured enough to let go of childish crushes."
"And that she wouldn't want you to touch her either." Was that the reason for the ire he saw reflecting in eyes that use to be his own? "Not one of your fans I take it?"
"No, she's always been infatuated with the dobe." Sasuke didn't want to touch her so he didn't care how she felt. She could run back and make up with her beloved hero for all he cared, after they got him into this hideout.
Itachi laughed at that. Why the anger? Or was it confusion that had his little brother furrowing his brow? "Yet, she travels with you and is leaving behind the man she is infatuated with. I wonder why that is."
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"What do you mean we can't go right back out?" Naruto screamed at the frowning pair behind the desk. What were they thinking? They had to go back out and to do something about this. "Why did you make us return?"
"Naruto," Kakashi was ready to retire the position as Hokage to someone else. No wonder Tsunade had kept a stash of sake nearby. He wasn't cut out for all of this and having to argue with upset and hormonal teenagers made it worse. "I'm not saying that we are giving up the search. What I am saying is that the mission is being handed over to another team, one that is trained in tracking those that have gone missing."
"You mean a team that doesn't care about Sasuke. They will bring him back, and most likely will try to bring him back dead. I didn't even get the chase to talk to him," Naruto knew there had to be a reason behind all of this. Sasuke wouldn't just up and rush off again without a good reason. Something had to have happened while they were away.
"Isn't that because he ignored you and managed to lose us in the gas?" Sai asked, unsure of why Naruto was wanting another chance to try to speak to Sasuke. Twice they had gotten close enough for the other shinobi to hear his name being called. Sasuke hadn't bothered to acknowledge that they were behind him and he had gotten away, not the actions of someone that wanted to converse.
"That isn't the point," Sakura balled up her fist at the passive shrug. "He wasn't alone and we have no idea who was with him. Someone probably got to him and he's out there, we need to find him. If he left then he had no choice."
"Or he got pissed because someone accused him of sleeping with both Ino and Hinata." Kiba didn't falter when the kunoichi turned hate-filled eyes in his direction. He didn't care, it was absurd. Hinata loved Naruto and she dumped him because he was an idiot that was besotted with the flat-ass kunoichi beside him. He was glad that Hinata had gotten up the balls to dump him. If she ended up with Sasuke, he'd pat the Uchiha on the fucking back.
"It doesn't matter why he left because I called you all back for a reason, dammit!" Kakashi screamed at the group, getting the silence he longed for. "Another group is being sent out for a reason and if you would shut up long enough to let me explain, you might learn something."
"Okay, sorry." Naruto let it drop for now. His former sensei looked worried about something. "What is going on?"
"What is going on is that two more of my jonin are missing," Kakashi hadn't known what to think but after receiving the report from the Kazekage, he wasn't sure what to think. "Ten minutes after your group left the gate, Ino and Hinata left to join you. I knew the moment that I got your first report that they weren't with you. I for one can understand that Sasuke might find a reason to abandon the village but not these two. The guards reported their actions but before they could catch up to your group, they went missing. Did you by chance run into them or pick up their presence at any point?"
"No, Sasuke did meet up with someone but the scent belonged to a male. Up until the point of losing them, I only caught their scents." Kiba would have known it if Hinata would have been close by.
"But you didn't follow us all the way to the gorge and Sai is positive that he saw two other figures before they stepped into the gas." Shikamaru didn't think Ino would abandon her village, not even for Sasuke Uchiha. "What else aren't you telling us?"
"I got a report from Gaara earlier and there is some rising concern. His council addressed him about an ancient matter and after it was brought to his attention he thought it best to contact me." Kakashi was thankful for the heads up but it had come too late. "Some of the other villages are forming a movement against the surviving Uchiha."
"What?!" What did that even mean? Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What the hell does that mean?"
"It means that other villages are forming an alliance against Sasuke, but why?" Sakura pleaded with their sensei to be open and up front with them about it. "Why would they do that after he helped Naruto save us all? Is it possible that he got wind of this movement?"
"Yes, it is possible and I believe that might be his reason for fleeing BUT," Kakashi didn't have all the facts just yet and neither did the Kazekage. "The other Kage, and many of the elders from the villages have planned on a secret meeting, in which the Kazekage was invited to attend. He will be going along with his council, and he was kind enough to give me the time and location. I wasn't invited but I will be attending as well. I would also like to know why they wish to form a movement against him."
"Then we're going with you." Naruto wanted to know why also. Why would all of the villages be against Sasuke?
"And that is why I called your group back and sent another to try to find Sasuke for me. I also have another searching for Ino and Hinata, since they appear to be lost or perhaps they went another direction when they couldn't catch up. If they haven't returned by the time the meeting is over, I will decide on another course of action." That was if he could manage to keep her father from going overboard and sending his own people out to search for the girl. He was positive that they had simply taken another route to catch up and hadn't managed to join up. That or something had happened to them after leaving.
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"Is this really safe?" Hinata asked Ino, leaning over to whisper as the many people strolled by them. No one was looking at them but how long would that last? The village was large for a tourist location, but they didn't really look like tourists. "Do you really think we should stop?"
"Yes, Sasuke needs to rest," Itachi dared anyone to say otherwise. The constant moving was taking its toll on his brother and he wasn't going to risk it now that they had managed to lose the group. They were slightly off course but they could deal with that after Sasuke was better. "I have come up with a suitable cover, no one will think twice about us being in the village. Ino, come walk beside me, and Sasuke walk to accompany the other girl."
"Whatever," Ino hoped no one recognized any of them. Itachi Uchiha had been pronounced dead but he had still been infamous. She got beside the jerk that had appointed himself as their leader at some point. "What is the plan anyways?"
"You are my wife and she is his." Itachi wanted to remain for two days to give Sasuke time to recover more of his strength. "We will simply act accordingly and not give the villagers a reason to believe otherwise."
"Then let's hold hands," Ino exclaimed and snatched the hand resting at his side. From the peeved expression he had caught the sarcasm and the displeasure that oozed with each word. She'd done it to get a reaction, all she got was a nod. The long fingers remained straight, pointing towards the ground. "If I didn't know better I'd say you're related to Naruto with the way you hold hands."
"Oh my," Hinata saw what she meant and was slightly abashed that someone else had noticed one of their problems. Naruto had never returned the simple embrace of fingers, which had always made her feel like she was clinging to him. She tried to give a reassuring smile to the other Uchiha male, she was okay if they didn't go that far into pretending. A lot of spouses didn't hold hands and they could just be civil to one another.
Well, he wasn't the dobe and he wasn't his brother. Sasuke extended his hand, waiting for her to accept the offer. The pale hand hesitantly came forward to lace with his fingers, closing their palms together. His fingers gently folded over her own, finishing the connection. One didn't act like they were looking to bolt from their spouse. "Find an Inn that offers full service and a bath house."
Hinata tried to pay attention to their surroundings. The streets were filled with all kinds of people going about their evening. No one paid any attention to them as they went by. Sensing no threats, she let her gaze drop momentarily to where their hands were joined. It was all for deception sake but she realized that she was holding Sasuke's hand. Many times she had witnessed Sakura trying for this same form of affection but it had always been denied. The grip was light, his fingers applying enough force to keep her from accidently being pulled away. As hard as it was to navigate through the crowd, she realized that he was instantly alert when she became encased in bodies, the pushing threatening to part them. The pressure wasn't enough to crush her fingers but kept their hands linked together.
It was really soft, and nice. Sasuke would never accuse the hands of being lethal, they were just too small and fragile in his grip. He had never cared for the few times Sakura had grabbed his hands, the action had been annoying. And he had really hated it whenever Karin had tried to grab on him, if not for her usefulness, he might have cleaved out her heart. Also growing up, he had hated all the attention he had received from his fan club. Their pawing, shouting, and attempts to get his attention had been irritating. Then after returning and thoughts of his future were fresh in his mind, he had thought of getting a wife at some point, and had decided that it was what he would soon want. No matter if he had decided to get a wife, he hadn't cared for Sakura's attempts at vying for the position. It had stirred his anger every time she had caressed his arm, leaned in close to him, and had tried to grab onto his hand. So why did he find holding the hand of the girl that loved another to be pleasant?
"Let go," Ino snatched away her fingers. Didn't the idiot know how to hold hands? Crushing her knuckles wasn't going to prove that he couldn't bear to be parted from her. She already felt sorry for whatever idiot he might end up.
"Don't be foolish," Itachi tried for her hand again but it was too late. The large crowd had made it to them as she yanked further out of his reach. Sasuke was quick enough to react, grabbing the Hyuuga girl around the waist, and pulling out of the path of the stampede. He immediately shoved aside the closest male, but the blonde was already being maneuvered away from them. From the noise and throng of people, the village was having some kind of celebration and the occupants were starting the festivities early.
"Dammit," Ino swore as many hands went to touching her over the back and someone grabbed her ass. She was being propelled along with the crowd and further away from her own group. What was up with this drunken parade of men? People were screaming, yelling about something called a rebirth, and hands shoved her to keep her moving along. She almost stumbled forward to become a piece of carpet in the stampede. An arm suddenly wrapped around her from behind and a male voice screamed in pain.
"You should have chosen more wisely, my friend," Itachi saw the friends begin to part from the stampeding celebrators. Did they think their ploy was that clever? Possibly since the horde wouldn't have noticed that they were working on pushing an innocent female towards the upcoming alleyway. The intention had been clear when all six had closed around to circle the girl and one had the nerve to give her a slight shove in that direction.
"Let go," the man screamed in pain at having his wrist crushed. The grip made the bones give a snapping sound, making his legs give out.
"Hu…" Ino blinked seeing the large male trying not to hit his knees. Most of the crowd was gone, leaving the ass end of the train to go through before turning down another street. All but five others didn't care enough to what was happening. She turned to see that it was the eldest brother holding onto her and the screaming male. It was the firm hold that had kept her from being pushed onto her face and towards the dark alley. She blinked seeing that there was actually three males waiting in the darkness. What had almost happened rang clear hearing the others demanding that their friend be let go. Those assholes had been about to force her into an alley and away from the crowd. There could be only one reason why she had been targeted, they couldn't have known that she was actually a kunoichi.
Itachi tightened his hold around the slender waist, also realizing that their numbers were greater than he had first thought. The girl leaned closer towards him, she had to know that their intent had been rape. If not for Sasuke's speed, the other girl would have also been a victim. The group was actually bold enough to try to swipe the girl right in front of him. A genius plan; get the girl lost in the crowd, force her into a dark and secluded place, overpower her, and then take turns subduing her while the others had their fun. It was also disgusting and they had just made a grave error, "you should have picked another girl."
"Ew," Ino cringed when the arm bone snapped in half to break through the muscle and skin. Even as a med-nin, it was still gross to see chunks of skin torn apart. A foot kicked the next man to run at them in the jaw, the idiot fell back to the ground with a thud.
"Stop!" One spoke from the darkness before stepping out into the street. The man was over six feet, huge, and had no hair. "Pick them up and we are leaving. Obviously those two lovelies are already taken and we can't blame the man if he doesn't want to share."
"I'm not a piece of meat, asshole." Ino snapped when the eyes had lingered over her for too long to be considered innocent. What a coward! The big, tough guy had to get his men to drag the unwilling girls to him. Why had he interfered? She could handle herself and many of them would have ended up missing parts of their anatomy.
"Take him," Itachi let go of the crying man. "Next time your friend should think before groping a lady that is clearly with another, twice."
"Boss, I say we kill them and take the girls." One still hiding in the shadows spoke, making others nod at his suggestion.
"And that is why you are just a grunt because you are an idiot." Said Boss cracked his neck, never taking his eye off of them. "They may be beautiful, but they aren't worth dying for. Shinobi tend to be very territorial of their women, our mistake."
"Brother," Itachi warned off before the hilt could clear the sheath. It would cause unwanted attention to keep fighting, they were already drawing a crowd. There was no need to show a display of skill to start rumors. "Make sure it isn't repeated."
That was all? They should at least maim one of them. Sasuke released the hold on the hilt feeling the slight squeeze around his fingers. The girl was now holding onto his hand with both of her own, her look pleading. Didn't she realize that she too would have been caught up in the trap if he hadn't noticed at the last second? The fat one with grey hair had nodded a second before Ino had been barreled into. They had been targeted because they were both young and beautiful, easy prey.
Itachi took a step back, bringing her with him. She didn't argue or indicate that they weren't together. He kept an eye on the ones close enough to make a move. For show and not because he thought the girl needed any comforting, he placed a chaste kiss near the temple, "Come, they aren't stupid enough to approach you again."
And she was blushing! Ino couldn't prevent her cheeks from growing warm feeling the soft lips so close. Had he kissed her? She let him turn them, to walk towards Hinata and Sasuke. She noticed that Sasuke didn't take his eyes off of the group until they rejoined them. There was enough distance between them that all of them would have time to react if they proved to be too stupid. How much longer would he keep the arm latched around her? It made walking rather intimate with him pressed into her back.
The girl had a nice backside, no wonder the thug had groped it a second time. Itachi put a little space between them, leaving just his hand on the narrow waist. Later he would lecture her on being foolish and pulling away when he had been trying to keep her from getting lost in the crowd. He had tightened his grip seeing them approach but at the wrong moment she had yanked away from him.
"Thank you," Hinata spoke loud enough for her 'pretend' husband to hear. She had noticed the oncoming stampede but hadn't thought anything of it either. Her plan had been to not let go of his hand, believing it would be enough not to get caught up in the mass of bodies. The way they had propelled Ino away from them so fast, she probably would have gotten dragged along if not for his reaction. She didn't fear having to fight in order to prevent rape, but it kept her from exposing who she was. She didn't want to fight if she didn't have to.
Sasuke nodded acknowledging that he heard her. Both hands were still holding onto his own as she trailed beside him. He almost had a mind to tell his brother to let them have Ino, that would have been worse punishment than breaking an arm. She would have probably had them raping each other just to be spiteful. Yet, his brother still didn't know much about the two and wasn't aware that they could hold their own as kunoichi. It was simply in his brother's nature to assist someone, the person his elder brother had always been. The Uchiha that cared too much for others and not enough about his own well-being.
"We will rest here," Itachi led them through the open double doors of the Inn. The place was filled with people, the perfect place to hide. An elderly woman sat behind the front desk reading a book. "Do you have any rooms with two beds or one large enough for four bed rolls?"
"Nope, we five single rooms, each with a bed but each room comes with clean linen, free meals, and twenty-four hour access to the bathing house." The book was placed the book down, "Will you be staying with us?"
"Yes, we will take two of the rooms, preferably close together." Itachi withdrew what she was asking for, letting the girls be handed the keys. "How long before a tray can be sent to the rooms?"
"An hour, so your wives have plenty of time to freshen up beforehand, and please enjoy the festivities."
"Thank you," Itachi directed them towards the staircase to lead them to the second floor and away from the crowd. The room numbers were three apart but close enough they could look out for the other. "If you two wish to visit the bathhouse before dinner, I would advise doing so before the drunks return from the streets. We will wait for the dinner trays, so enjoy it as long as you wish."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Ino couldn't wait to soak in some hot water. It could be days or weeks before she got to enjoy the comforts of a real bath. "May I ask what the sleeping arrangements are going to be?"
"Hinata and I will take this room," Sasuke heard the soft gasp of surprise but there was no objection. It was best if they kept of pretenses while in the village and there was no way they could assume that the group from earlier didn't have a few morons in it. After scanning most of the females in this place, he could see why their two had been targeted.
"Ours is the one to the left on the other side of the hall. We'll let them deposit their belongings and I shall return to speak to you. Before you two head down, I suggest heading straight there and right back up. It might cause attention if we are forced to kill anyone and a few didn't look pleased to see that they wouldn't have the pleasure of your company this evening." Itachi was glad the Hyuuga girl nodded in understanding before following his brother into the unlocked door.
"Great," so she was stuck with him tonight? Ino wouldn't let it dampen her mood, "I hope you don't snore."
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Next Chapter: A tiny bed, a bonding moment, and some shopping! Please review if you wanna see what happens.
And NO, I wasn't trying to character bash Sakura. Hinata is defending the only friend she feels she can have now (also newly found family) by commenting that Ino obviously has more pride and self-respect than Sakura by not fawning over Sasuke. Don't like that sorry, but as far as I'm concerned the way her character ended up was extremely disappointing. Saw the episode again where the team comes together again finally and instead of working like a TEAM like Kakashi said to, she rushes out to prove hey, i'm no longer useless but oops, I just got stabbed! To me, that was clearly a way to say "Look Sasuke, look what I can do!" Then she gets disappointed that "Sasuke, isn't concerned about me at all." Hello, he hasn't spoken to you in years on good terms and has already tried to kill you twice during that time. Are we really shocked that he doesn't give a damn that you got an Owie? To me, it is like he took away her self-respect as a woman, so pbbbbtttttt... on that.
(Don't flame and argue she was being a decoy, you are only a decoy if you discuss it with the team, so they know to attack when you are distracting the enemy, she rushed out without any communication or planning, being reckless to try and prove she was just as good. Her inner thoughts seconds prior prove that much. and it is sad in itself that she felt the need to have to prove herself at ALL.)