Disclaimer: Along with not owning Naruto - as usual - I also do not own the song I used in this chapter...
Love & Truth
19. Tails, Wings
(Third Person's POV)
When Sasuke reached Suna's gate he was pretty much out of breath.
„I… I need to speak with Kazekage." He huffed, trying to steady his breathing.
It took about half of an hour of arguments before he was actually let to.
„Uchiha?" Neji asked with a quirked eyebrow, as he met the raven on the way to the village's head. „What are you doing here?"
„Emergency… Can I talk to Sand-… Sabaku?"
The Hyuuga looked at the raven curiously for a while, but then he only nodded and went for his red-headed spouse. He knew that the Uchiha was not the type to do stupid jokes after all.
L&T
„What's the matter, Uchiha?" Gaara asked once he was brought by Neji to the place where Sasuke sat.
„It's Naruto..." The rave started.
„What happened?"
„He's been kidnapped."
„WHAT?" the couple exclaimed together in response.
„I thought you'd look after your fiancé better, Uchiha." Gaara hissed, ready to strangle the raven in any second.
„I thought that you have some protecting issues also, Sabaku." Sasuke shot back.
That sentence the Kazekage did not understand the meaning of.
„What are you implying?"
„According to Naruto, with him and other two Jinchuurikis... there is a girl from Suna captured also... Does that ring a bell?"
While Gaara stood shocked by the news he had no information on Neji did a quick mathematics.
„Wait a minute... You say there are four Jinchuuriki captured already? How come no one noticed?"
„Don't ask me... I have no damned idea. If not for Naruto saying it, I wouldn't believe a word of it."
„Makes sense..." Neji nodded, looking at the red-head standing by his side. „What do you think?"
„I think that there are some serious trust issues between the villages... Come on, there is just no way that there would be four captured Jinchuuriki if villages' relationships were on more talk-able waves... Don't you agree?"
The two prodigies from Konoha nodded only.
„Where did the closeness from the Shinobi World war go?" Neji sighed.
„Where did all those who pretty much worshipped Naruto after the war? All those idiots returned back to how they were... Distrustful, hating and..." Suddenly Sasuke stopped as realization hit him. „That's it!"
The two of his listeners did not get what the raven was going on about.
„What is?" Gaara asked.
„All this shit started to escalate rapidly after Sakura's and Lee's engagement party, which equals to when me and Naruto got together... which equals few days before he was attacked for the first time on the way to Suna!" Sasuke explained. „I'd bet my shoes that this new group has roots in Konoha... They wanted to get rid of Naruto, but as they spread further they decided to take down all the Jinchuuriki."
„That actually – and unexpectedly – makes sense." Gaara nodded.
„Screw that Rengoku, really..." Sasuke sighed.
„Rengoku?" Neji asked.
„Ah yes, I did not tell you... that's what they're calling themselves." The raven said as he took out the belt he had from one of the dead members.
„This one was number eleven's... I'd bet we'd find the same thing on the belts of others if we thought to look closely enough."
„How many left of them are there now?" Gaara asked after a while.
„If I count correctly seven. We took down number four, number six and numbers ten to twelve already." Sasuke said after he searched his memory thoroughly.
„Which means that there are still more than we would wish for."
„Zero would suffice." Sasuke growled.
If not for the heaviness of the situation the Hyuuga would chuckle at the Uchiha's behaviour. However this was not the time for that.
L&T
(Tsunade's POV)
When I got to Konoha I immediately called all of those who – I was sure – would want to actively help Naruto.
I gathered few ninjas to go and get some more information about the Rengoku and to try and get some clues about their latest activity also.
When we discussed the situation for quite some time already a message from Sasuke arrived.
It was speaking about his latest conversation with Naruto and the information it held were alarming.
„Four Jinchuuriki? How could four Jinchuuriki slip between our fingers so easily?" I muttered to myself as we talked.
In the end we decided to wait how would the Kazekage react, though everyone expected positive response.
As for the other villages which I sent messages to...
... only stars knew.
L&T
(Naruto's POV)
Voices...
Everywhere...
Insulting. Judging. Hateful.
I ran through the darkness shielding my ears from them, by pressing my palms on them strongly, but as I did that it only seemed to make them resonate louder.
I so wanted them to disappear.
„SHUT UP ALREADY!" I screamed at the invisible offenders.
I could not see them, yet I knew exactly whose voices they were.
People from the village.
All of those who hated me just for being me.
„He's a slut."
„I'd bet he's selling himself."
„The demon."
„He's the one who..."
„You're unwanted here..."
„Disappear..."
I felt hot tears stream down my face as the different insults I heard throughout my life appeared on the imaginary list one by one.
„LEAVE ME ALONE!" I screamed trying to run further, even if I did not see a thing through the tears.
As I ran and ran I suddenly fell over a rock that I did not know was there. I did not stop crying though, even as I tried to gather myself from the ground I cried.
I curled into a ball, hugging my shivering body with my arms, whispering to myself softly.
„What did I ever do wrong?"
„What did I do to deserve this?"
„Why not me?"
„Why won't anyone help me?"
L&T
I woke up to being shaken with harshly.
„Naruto! Wake up!" I heard Amaya's voice say.
I only stared at her dumbly for a while then a light of realization lit.
„Ah... I'm sorry."
„What are you sorry about?" She asked not understanding. „I just thought that it was not a dream that you wanted to continue being in... besides... you were scaring Haku."
As Amaya said that I saw the small boy looking at me with his huge, teary eyes, worriedly.
„Naruto-nii?" He asked cautiously. „Are you all right?"
„Now? Yes... It's just... I haven't had that dream for some time now." I started, pulling Haku closer, to hug him for comfort.
I was not sure who was comforting who, though.
L&T
(Amaya's POV)
I was seriously starting to get worried.
And even though he did not show it too much, I knew that Naruto did also. He was probably even more afraid than I, who more or less came to terms with my fate, was. He was to live for three after all... and he was overemotional to boot.
The day he had the nightmare was the obvious outcome of it.
I woke up to a Haku poking at my face.
„Ama-nee?" He asked in a soft voice.
„Is it my turn yet?" I asked.
We took turns in staying awake, hoping for the captors to not catch us surprised like that.
However opposite from my expectations Haku shook his head.
„It's Naru-nii." He said worriedly.
It was only then that I realized that the blonde's been shivering furiously. That he was holding his head in a death grip, as if wanting to split his skull. On a top of that he was mumbling something under his breath.
I woke up and went closer to him to shake him awake, only to notice that he's crying.
'What is it that he has a nightmare about?' I had to wonder.
„What did I ever do wrong?." He whispered in his sleep, crying even more so.
„What did I do to deserve this?" He continued, his face getting a tortured expression.
„Why not me?"
At this sentence I stopped. I was not really sure what he meant by it until...
„Why won't anyone help me?"
That made up my resolve to wake him. He seemed to be in too much pain because of the dream and so I started shaking his shoulder. I had to increase on the intensity as he did not seem to had the intention of waking up at all.
„Naruto! Wake up!" I yelled at him in the end.
He only stared at me , eyes unfocused, for a while, then a light of realization lit in his eyes.
„Ah... I'm sorry." He whispered.
„What are you sorry about? I just thought that it was not a dream that you wanted to continue being in... besides... you were scaring Haku." I said softly.
Only then he seemed to notice who was looking at him with his huge, teary eyes, worriedly.
„Naruto-nii?" He asked cautiously. „Are you all right?"
„Now? Yes... It's just... I haven't had that dream for some time now." Naruto started, pulling Haku closer, to hug him for comfort.
He seemed so lost when he did that.
And now, as I watched Naruto sleep once again it only made me remember.
Remember, that he is the one who had the worst life out of us.
'It's not as if we had it easy it's just… All the three of us, others, are in the position of Jinchuuriki way shorter time. As for me it's almost two years, Haku for about a year and Hitomi has been put into the position only recently… I'm being taken care of quite fine, as the Land of Waves respects Naruto, being a Jinchuuriki. Hitomi is from Suna, and Kazekage being the Jinchuuriki also, I'm sure he's making sure that she's not hurting from the position… As for Haku I'm not too sure… he does not seem to be treated too well either, but he's a child… if we manage to get through this I'm sure he'll be all right, on a top of it Naruto grows very attached to him and will probably see to his well-being… but still… to be in Naruto's position… to be treated with hate most of his life… to be judged for something that he was not able to make a choice in… that's just… cruel.' I sighed.
„It's at times like these that I have to think that life is not fair."
L&T
(Haku's POV)
I could not really stop the thoughts that started to appear in increasing rate in my head. There really was not a stop to them.
'I'm really scared…
What if we don't get out of here?
What if we get killed before help can reach us?
What if there won't be anyone who would want to save us anyway?
What if those bad people just leave us here to die of starvation?
What if they decide to kill us in a few minutes?
I'm so, so afraid of every new second.'
L&T
(Naruto's POV)
I was calming Haku in my arms as he broke down in tears, all of sudden. I was more than sure that the cause of it has been the pressure of the place that finally caught up to him.
'Poor child…' I had to think, as his shivering did not stop.
I was at my wits end when I remembered something he said to me few days ago.
„I remember that when I was very small, mum used to sing to me, to calm me down… It's sad that I won't ever hear her singing again."
I played with the idea for a while then sighed.
'Well… it's not like I have a list of options to choose from.' I said to myself.
… and so I opened my mouth and sang softly.
„Darkness of white, you can,
Through the sadness take your flight
And become the wings
That pierce the veil
Spreading strong and true tonight.
Brought into the light at last
By the cold exposing sun.
I was granted freedom tamed
To become the chosen one.
Through the mirror,
Night reflected;
Miraculous to see.
My soul threw away the mask
That hides the deeper me.
Breaking the dark of night,
Piercing through the painted white.
Cut it all away
From yesterday
'Til an new era's in sight.
Unlock the heart within,
Let it spread its wings and soar.
Rising up in flight
Through the night of white
And fly on forever more..."
[This is True Light, an opening from anime called DN Angel, – English version, by Vic Mignogna.]
As I closed my mouth I did notice not only that Haku stopped crying, but also that Amaya and Hitomi were staring at me, wide-eyed. As did Haku at that moment.
„What?" I asked, „Was it really that bad?"
„Quite the opposite." Amaya said in response, shaking her head. „I'm quite impressed." She laughed. „I wouldn't expect singing from you."
„Ran out of ideas how to calm him." I admitted. „Seems to work though." I added, looking at Haku who was hugging me furiously.
„You know… he's grown really attached you." Hitomi pointed out. „You sure that is a good thing?"
„Creating bonds is always a good thing." I replied softly, hugging Haku back.
„Leaving that aside… why that song, out of all?"
„It's about freedom… what can be more soothing than the idea of freedom, given our situation?" I sighed.
„True."
Once that was said we fell into silence. As we did we noticed the underground being too lively compared to its usual noise.
„What is happening?" I asked, noting the sad expression in Amaya's eyes.
„They're going to drag another one of us here. Soon."
L&T
(Sasuke's POV)
Two weeks.
That was the time span of how long was I separated from dobe.
Knowing the situation, if I did not have the connection, through which he was giving us information and assuring me that he is fine at the moment, I would have gone mad already.
I paced back and forth in the room next to where all the Kage, along with the head of Land of Waves which had their Jinchuuriki taken also, were discussing the situation. I could hear what was going on though so I had no problems about not being in the room itself, the more so as I knew that it was messy enough without my presence.
This reasoning applied even more so after I heard the quarrel that took its place after Sabaku admitted that he reclaimed the position of Shukaku's carrier.
The quarrel was bad by itself, but then it only worsened as he admitted that he was able to carry a child thanks to the agreement he made with the one-tailed Bijuu.
The Raikage accused him of being soft which ended up in another argument that was calmed down by Tsunade, somehow.
„All the Kage are free to marry and have a child if they want, it is up to them whether they think that it will not weaken them… Said that, Raikage-sama, you have no right to assail Kazekage-sama's decision."
After that the room calmed down a bit, though the Raikage still mused about something to himself.
Once the question of saving the Jinchuuriki finally came up I was called to give the information.
I told them everything I knew, not talking too deeply about the Rengoku which was already discussed, and not mentioning the source. This, however, did not go unnoticed by the Mizukage.
„And who do you have the information from? Dare I ask?" She said in an overly sweetened voice.
„They come from the Jinchuuriki of the nine-tailed demon, from Uzukami Naruto himself."
„And how did you get them? Wasn't it said already, that he is imprisoned with the other missing Jinchuuriki?" The new, overly confident, Tsuchikage said.
„I am able to connect with him, leaving the distance and bars aside."
„How is that even possible?" Mizukage asked curious.
„We share a connection… A one that allows us to speak to each other in our dreams."
„How did you manage to create such a connection?" Mizukage continued in questioning.
„It's thanks to Kyuubi also, however, I would like to leave this for later if possible. I'll answer all your questions later, afterNaruto is brought back safely... Along with the others, of course."
I saw the Mizukage eying me curiously then smiling widely. „One more question then, what is your relationship to Uzumaki Naruto?"
„He is my dearly missed fiancé." I asked with no hesitation.
These words of mine resulted in another quarrel, which was started by the Tsuchikage.
I tried to ignore it, but by the time he said something about "Not being able to keep the beast on the leash." I wanted to strangle him, however before I was able to do that…
'Hey! Your blondie is trying to contact you!'
As much as I hated the voice in my head it was useful sometimes.
'And what should I do about it? It's not like I can go to sleep now!' I shot back in my mind.
'Easy thing to accomplish.' I heard the voice smirk.
And then, in front of all the people in the room, as embarrassing as it was for me, I collapsed.
L&T
When I appeared in the flowery field I wanted to scold Naruto for calling me so abruptly, however something in his expression stopped me.
„What's wrong?" I asked as I came closer to him.
„It's really bad! They just brought the Jinchuuriki of Sanbi!" Naruto panicked, throwing himself in my arms.
„That really is bad." I admitted, as I wrapped my arms around him. „So should I tell…"
„I still did not say everything… It's even worse than that!"
„What can be worse than that dobe?"
„They somehow managed to imprison the energies of Rokubi and Shichibi! They're going to go after Gaara and Killer Bee now!" Soon Naruto was crying hysterically.
„Shh, calm down, okay? We're going to come for all of you…" I said in soft voice, as I caressed his cheek, which had a trail of tears on it. „I will come and get you soon, okay?"
Naruto sniffled and nodded.
„But what if you don't come in time? What if they find out about our babies? What then?"
„That won't happen, don't think about it." I said confidently, still hugging him securely.
In my thoughts, however, I was not that sure. Not at all.
Done~
Hope you enjoyed~
It's going to get more interesting from here on, I dare to say xD
As always Reviews are Appreciated °(^O^)°
See ya~ ( "-.-)/