Chapter 23: Interweave

"Follow me."

Tenten leads them through winding halls into a quiet section in the back, chestnut hair loosely swishing out of the neat hair buns she had placed them in.

The music dies away the further they go, almost as if they've moved into another building altogether as glittery decorations and the sweet scents of seductive lotions and perfumes vanish into inky blackness.

"How did you even find out about Toneri?" She asks breezily, giving them a side glance over her shoulder.

"He's one of the top doctors at the hospital and…he was my mentor for a short time." Hinata replies.

Tenten hums, nodding. "He was still in the early stages of medical school/residency when I met him."

"And how exactly did you two meet?" Naruto brings up, unable to keep the curiosity out of his voice, of an uncertainty that Tenten won't reveal how much she truly knows.

But she scoffs, auburn eyes darkening as she flitted a hand up in the air. "The same way I've met a lot of guys. Through Jewel after Hours."

Hinata squirmed, but said nothing. It was hard to imagine the prim and proper Toneri paying late night visits to a call center to live out his dark fantasies.

'It's not too farfetched though.'

Tenten finally stops at a closed door, fishing out a golden key from her pocket and twisting at the knob open. The room it holds is bigger than what either Naruto or Hinata expect, decorative swords lining velvet red walls as she plops down into a plush mauve colored sofa.

"Well, make yourself at home." She breathes, smiling lightly at their shocked expressions.

"Madam Tsunade only gives out private rooms like this to the newest top girls that she trusts, the recent spaces she's purchased allowed for it. It's like a second home in a way, minus the grittiness and certain smells."

Hinata could only nod, admiring silk curtains as they ran over her fingers.

If she had had a room like this, she probably would've never left it until morning returned.

"Let's get down to business, if Toneri ever hurt you in a way. Would you be willing to testify against him?" Naruto questioned.

Tenten blinked, fidgeting as her expression clouded. "I don't need your help with that; thank you though."

Hinata frowned, moving to sit down beside her despite her freezing up and scooting away. "Tenten…"

Her lips parted at that, fists tightening as she sent her a steely glare. "No, don't give me that sad look! You, Ino, and Sakura know very well how these men can be! I don't recall you three ever caring about any of the issues other ladies were going through if it didn't affect you and that includes me!"

The outburst seems to startle even her, clamping a hand over her mouth as she sighed.

"Sorry, it's been a long night."

Naruto eyed the two carefully, Hinata who still had look of deep focus as her lavender orbs remained fixed on Tenten in concern and Tenten herself who had taken to busying herself picking at emerald threads of her qipao.

'Don't push too fast, you'll never get what you came for.'

"Toneri used to light up the room when he came in. His silver eyes would roam around the area and for some reason or another, his stare would always find mine. When I was with him…I don't know, I felt wanted; he called me his 'innocent flower bud.' That one day I would bloom and escape from this lifestyle."

"Do you know what red freesias mean Tenten?" He whispered by her ear, smirking at the wave of goosebumps that arose at her neck.

He reached up and twirled a hand through her hair, curled just for him to celebrate their 3 month anniversary. Later he would mangle and destroy all that precious work and time by dragging his fingers through it…

"No, tell me." She murmured back against his lips, pecking them lightly with a giggle when he didn't move away from her touch.

"Passion, that I want you." He replied, wrapping her up in his arms and carrying her back towards one of the empty rooms in the back.

She completely surrendered, toes curling in anticipation.

"Someday, I'll take you away from this way of life Tenten…" He murmured, pressing her down against a hard edge of the mattress.

The pain barely registered.

Nor did the lingering smell of dampness and mold blending around them stop her from reaching up to run her fingers through his hair.

All she could see, think, feel…was him.

Hinata ignored the sick sensation coiling into her gut, there's a warm nostalgia in Tenten's voice as she describes their past, the dates they went on and their talks of the future.

The calm before the storm.

"When did it all crash down?" Naruto muses, paying no mind to the flash of annoyance Tenten gives him.

It's past 2 am, they're all tired and he isn't leaving here without some actual proper answers.

"It 'crashed' as you put it when he no longer found my body desirable; is that what you wanted to know? I could no longer be his little plaything, he was getting ahead in medical school and too many companies were starting to notice him and want him to join their teams. Eventually, they would check into his background and find all the shady activities he partook in; like me." She spat.

But then her voice softened, twisting into a hollow emptiness as she peered slowly between the two.

"He gave me a 'goodbye' gift that night, to never speak of the moment again."

And then she pushed the neckline of her dress down, faded jagged scar coming to light.

The sight makes Naruto see crimson for a moment, looking away as he dug his sharpening nails into the palms of his hands.

"Tenten, we're sorry to be bringing up ugly memories, but this is an opportunity to get back at him. To make him pay for hurting you this way." Hinata speaks up, reaching out to clasp their hands together regardless of how much it seems like she'll wrench them back any second.

She swallows, staring at their embraced hands before gently pulling them back.

"As I said before, thanks but no thanks."

"Damn it, you can't just let him get away with hurting you!" Naruto growls out, calming himself when Hinata gave him a look.

Tenten shook her head, straightening up again. "You don't understand, I already have someone helping me deal with him and the way he threatened and hurt me. And no offense, but you two may ruin things by becoming involved."

Hinata looks confused, but Naruto stands up defiantly.

"Hinata, let's go. We're not going to get any more out of her. It's almost 3 in the morning and we need to get some sleep. At least if she has someone planning to get Toneri back for her then we don't really need to worry."

Tenten simply shrugged at his behavior, glancing over to Hinata with an amused grin.

"Interesting husband you have there."

Hinata reddened, laughing weakly. "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to come here and simply bombard you with questions, though could you at least tell us who it is helping you?"

She shook her head, brushing a finger against her lips. The glint in her eyes return, only now holding a more amused flair.

"Sorry, that secret stays with me."

-X-

'It can't be that late already; right? Maybe the batteries died overnight.'

Hinata blinks again, 11:02 am continues to stare back at her in bold red numbering.

Naruto snoozes beside her, Boruto tucked in his arms just as knocked out as he is. Morning sunlight illuminates over the duo, making their blonde hair shine even more so than usual. Even the way they sleep is similar, Boruto lightly drooling with his tiny hands stretched out in disarray.

On a Sunday, already so close to midday she should've normally been up by now and at least made breakfast.

'Maybe it's because of the long night we had, that must be it.'

Her shifting off the bed startles the pair awake, two sets of crystal blue eyes cracking open. Boruto yawns beside Naruto, rolling out of his grasp and stretching up his hands to her.

"Mama?" He questioned sleepily, already toddling to meet her at the edge of the bed.

"Good Morning, what do you two want for breakfast?" Hinata questions, smiling and picking up Bolt as he wanted.

"Hamburg!" Boruto states abruptly, though it comes out garbled from how deeply he's buried himself into Hinata's shirt.

"Bolt, hamburgers aren't a breakfast food." Naruto states, shaking his head at the very idea as he adjusted the covers off of himself. Who gave him hamburgers to try anyways? Maybe it was just a part of a series of foods he was learning about.

'I want hamburgers too.' Hinata mused at the thought, not that she could voice such an idea and encourage Boruto.

She opts for making a light meal of porridge and eggs considering how close it already is to lunchtime, the combination is warm and satisfying, and yet washing at her empty plate and bowl soon after makes her hungry all over again.

'I'll go back for seconds later…though I shouldn't feel this empty with how much I ate.'

"Any plans for the afternoon?" Naruto asks, distracting her from her craving, he sways a hand lightly down her back and her cheeks flush at feeling a tail wrap around her.

Well, she has an idea of what he wants to do.

"Hmm, no Sakura should be stopping by soon though. We have some homework we wanted to quiz each other over and finish up on notes from our adult health course."

"That can't wait?" Naruto almost whines and Hinata gulps at feeling his desire press closer into her. A familiar heat settles in her stomach as her whole body begins to feel on fire.

No, no…she can't give into him this time.

"Boruto will be down for his nap within an hour or so, you could always cancel…" He teased further, second tail coming out to lift her up against the counter and brush against her nether regions. He drops a kiss against the side of her neck, pulse point throbbing.

But Hinata pushed said tails away with practiced ease, shaking her head with a giggle.

"And what excuse could I tell her this time? Saying I'm having cramps or a bad headache only works once or twice."

Naruto shrugged, blueness of his eyes beginning to shine a vibrant red.

"Tell her we're about to have sex. She'll be too disgusted to ask for further details!"

Hinata pinched at his tails for that.

"No! She'll be here in a few minutes anyways."

The last time they spoke she had fussed over her health and the unfairness of her situation, however she was worried about her own wellness.

Sakura hadn't lately spoke of her own stress or fears.

Not aloud at least.

From Blossom to Sakura…she had handled the end of being a call girl the easiest of them.

Blossom was never real, an image that men chased and women envied.

"You three never did anything to help if it didn't involve each other!"

That's right, they were an iron fortress. Impenetrable to whispered sneers and cruelty that hid behind the sweetly plastered grins of their co-workers.

But it's a painful truth too, the iciness of Tenten's words still weighs deep in her chest. There are ugly thorns she, Sakura, and Ino had created as an unspoken ways/rules to survive the tougher nights, feigning ignorance was just easier.

It came with the business, the territory of avoiding disgusting callers/dates, low-paying men, and worst of all, shoving said callers onto the more unpopular girls to take…

'Who could she know willing to go so far to help her?'

This must be punishment for not trying to help when she saw her and others needed it, for turning the other away so often.

She doesn't dwell on it for long though, Sakura breezes up to their door as promised minutes later; jade eyes sparkling with mirth and a hint of nervousness.

Coral pink hair is damp, rich with the scent of her favorite strawberry and coconut shampoo as she steps forward.

And then it hits.

It's faint, a spicy odor of oak and fire that brings up images of forests or wild grasslands…

'A masculine aroma.'

Naruto wrinkles his nose in distaste as she passes by and Hinata's eyes widen in realization at his behavior.

'I can smell it just as much as Naruto.'

"Sorry, I'm not stopping by too early; am I?" Sakura questions, furrowing a brow at their state of dress.

Wrinkled clothes and timid gazes can usually only mean one thing.

Hinata reddened, smoothing out her dress, brushing her hair forward to cover her neck from any new forming bruises…

"No, come in." She smiled in spite of Sakura's hesitancy to move beyond the entrance.

Naruto only pouted, muttering under his breathe. "We had the perfect excuse."

'No we didn't!' Hinata wants to hiss back, poking him to not make a scene.

No matter how unlikely that will be.

The closer she approaches though, the more her underlying scent fills the air. She shouldn't be able to smell it this well, eyeing Naruto again who had already gone into sniffing mode.

Sakura blinks at his action and part of her hopes she'll pass it off as one of Naruto's weird fox quirks again or Naruto just being Naruto.

"Are you okay?"

Hinata quickly shakes her head at him not to say it, but Naruto doesn't notice it in time as he starts to break into a wide grin.

"Huh, I didn't know Sasuke knew what sex was; let alone paid the opposite sex any attention!"

-X-

'I need to cut Boruto's nails.' Hinata realizes, patting his head gently. His nails only cut further into her legs, thin trails of red probably left in his wake.

It does nothing to stop his flow of tears.

"Papa is hurt!" He cries, pointing to Naruto's bloody cheek.

He turns his stare onto Sakura, confusion marring his face and for a second Hinata sees a flash of far too familiar scarlet in his eyes.

"I'm okay! Bolt, you're a big boy so don't cry." Naruto tries to soothe him to little degree, Boruto sniffling and curling himself further against Hinata's leg while Hinata only breathes shakily.

'I'm just seeing things, I must be…'

"Crap. I didn't mean to hit you so hard or freak out Boruto!" Sakura apologizes frantically, gesturing for Boruto to come out from hiding behind Hinata.

It takes a few minutes of coaxing and Naruto sneaking up behind to nudge him for Boruto to reluctantly make himself known again.

"Is Auntie sorry?" He questions slowly.

Sakura stifled a laugh, he was attempting to be serious after all no matter how soft spoken he sounded with puffed out cheeks and stains of juice and food littered throughout his shirt.

"Yes, Auntie is sorry. Though you'll have to tell that Papa of yours to keep his dirty thoughts to himself!"

Boruto blinked before shrugging with a nod as he grinned back towards his parents, completely content again.

"He has no idea what you're even talking about." Naruto mused, watching as he went back over to his collection of books and toys.

Sakura keeps from him saying any more with another glare though, pulling out her notebook from her purse.

"Anyways, I did come here for an actual reason. Let's go someplace quieter Hinata, keep away from certain oversensitive ears and noses." She emphasized, opening the screen doors to the backyard.

Hinata moved to follow after her, stopped as Naruto blocked her way. He dangles out the very textbooks she'll need to study with, knowing smirk creeping along his face.

"W-What?" She whispered quickly.

"Don't pretend you couldn't smell it too."

A knot snaps and bursts in her stomach then, ringing loudly in her ears as she swallowed carefully.

Of course Naruto knew if anything was off with her, he could probably sense her little changes in behavior and patterns before even she herself truly realized she was doing them.

He takes a step closer and another coil explodes.

"If…if I start feeling sick again, you'll be the first to know." Hinata promises.

The first to see the change.

"Do you feel sick right now though?" He inquires.

"Hinata, you coming?" Sakura calls out to her.

She's taking far too long to just gather a few notes and her book, things she left on the living room table in clear view to easily grab.

"Be there in a minute!" She replies, surprised at how even she's able to keep her voice despite her steady gaze on Naruto.

Cobalt eyes sharpen while lavender darkens.

Finally, Naruto shakes his head as he brushes a hand through still messy violet locks.

"You worry me too much Hinata."

Sakura looks a cross between amused and concerned when Hinata finally takes a seat across from her. Her cheeks must surely look like there on fire as she buries her nose into a random section of the textbook.

"What was that all about?"

"Naruto's just concerned about my health, funny though I wanted to ask you how you were doing though I guess all is fine telling by that persistent cologne you brought with you."

Sakura blushes, cheeks beginning to match the color of her hair. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize the smell would be so powerful."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Sakura ventured.

From the corner of her eye she watches as Sasuke shakes his head. "The last thing I need is Naruto holding it against me for the next year that he smelled you on me."

A smile curled up her lips. "Oh come on, I know he has those fox abilities, but they can't be that good. I've covered it up well with two showers now."

"It won't be enough." He mused somewhere over her shoulder.

Not only had Naruto been able to pick up on it easily, Hinata had as well it seemed.

The two grew quiet, warm air breezing over them as the buzzing of dying cicadas filled in the silence. The rain that had sped by in the late hours of the night left the garden still damp, glittering murky little ponds having formed where they planted their late summer/early fall seeds.

"Is it true you scratched up Dr. Nomura's arms?" She suddenly asked.

Hinata paused, that conversation seemed like months ago. "Yes, I didn't appreciate how she was talking about Naruto."

Sakura chuckled then. "I wish I had been there to witness it!"

The curiosity of her gaze doesn't leave though and Hinata can feel her searching her up and down until the pressure makes her nearly snap.

"Something wrong?" She asks casually.

'Surely she doesn't notice anything off about me too?'

But Sakura clicks her tongue, waving it off as she flipped through her textbook to Chapter 9.

"Never mind."

-X-

"Here are your discharge instructions Dr. Otsutsuki, make sure to follow up with your own personal primary care doctor in 1 to 2 weeks and finish out the rest of the cardiologist's prescriptions he's sending you home with." His nurse read over, handing his paperwork over to him along with everywhere he needed to sign.

Home.

He would finally be able to sleep in his own bed tonight instead of among the scratchy and rough sheets he had been using for the past weeks.

"Ah, is your ride already waiting for you downstairs?" She questioned as he handed the signed copies back over to her.

Toneri nodded, barely casting a glance over to her as he stared out the window. "He should be up here shortly or I'll just meet him downstairs."

He figured she would leave then, but her voice returns and he grits his teeth not to lash out at the young woman.

"Will you need a wheelchair?"

He shook his head, tacking on a smile which seemed to help her relax or at least shut up and allow him to think.

"No my dear I'd rather walk and continue to build my strength back. Thank you for all the help you've been."

'Only 45 days left…'

October 10th can't get here any sooner.

The last week had been spent meticulously planning every last word of his speech, Momoshiki and Kinshiki dutifully gathering him details regarding everything they could find related to the Uzumaki clan and their history.

And why they no longer existed.

When all is said and done, Naruto will no longer be a threat.

Monsters like him, with such bizarre fox features and behavior that manifest with extreme emotions can't live in a modern society like today. He'll live to hurt again just like his ancestors did and soon it will be known to everyone.

"There was an experimental drug they used to give to members with Uzumaki blood back in the day to subdue them, though the side effects put it out of use." Kinshiki noted, reading from a book titled 'Treatments and Medicines during the Warring States Era.'

Toneri glanced up curiously too fast, head spinning from the last round of antibiotics and pain medicines he had received just minutes ago. He grudgingly shut back his eyes, ignoring the tiny spasms of pain rocketing throughout his body.

"Are you feeling alright sir? Should I call the nurse or doctor back in? Perhaps they can-"Momoshiki's voice questions somewhere from beside him and immediately he starts to scowl.

"Don't even think about calling either of them." He warns.

It was bad enough so many people had to see him in such a state.

Pitifully weak.

The last thing he needed was more sympathetic whispers floating over his head, nervous smiles or stern frowns when he asked about leaving this sickening room.

"Tell me about the drug." He croaks back out to Kinshiki.

"It really isn't a drug as it was plants or berries crushed down and ingested. Deadly monkshood or nightshade's toxins would cause what people described as extreme nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and even paralysis until the criminal or offender blacked out. But it says with the Uzumaki these herbal mixtures did not always work, that their bodies were unusual and able to ride out the pain and effects."

Toneri opened his eyes then, glancing over the worn book he was reading from. "Not always work?"

'Don't ever get near Hinata again…' Naruto's voice echoed back to him.

Taunting him. Testing him.

"Burn that." He hissed.

Kinshiki looked up, snapping back the book shut. "Pardon?"

"You heard me."

What use is there in poisoning Naruto if a chance remains he'll be fine in the end?

Besides, there's no need to stoop to such levels…not yet.

His phone buzzes from within his pocket and he smiles, sitting up and stretching.

'He's here.'

It feels good to walk down the halls again as if he owned them, people stepping aside to let him walk by. He waves as customary to the few nurses and staff who took care of him during his stay at the nurses' station, smile cracking apart as soon as he's in the elevators alone.

Neji greets him as soon as they open once more.

"Ah, thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to pick me up. I hope it truly wasn't too much of a problem for you to do all this." Toneri bows.

Liar.

He tries to picture what exactly it is that attracts woman to a man like him. Such malice barely concealed by a façade of sweet and polite mannerisms.

But then, Tenten had fallen for him at some point and his chest tightens in displeasure.

If Hinata and Naruto were to get too involved, he'd absolutely back out of this deal.

There's a reason after all why he asked him to be his representative, the Hyuga name is powerful in and around Konoha.

And for now, it's good to have Toneri keep believing he can use his influence to his advantage, no matter the rifts it's causing amongst the family.

To Hinata and Hanabi…

"It's no problem at all, I parked by the valet." He responds curtly, walking ahead of him without looking back.

'I'm doing this for you Tenten.'

-X-

'Don't get up again, fight it.

Hinata wiggled herself to the corner of the bed, pressing a hand against her stomach.

"Please be quiet."

Would Naruto hear her this time?

He'd been exhausted by the time he finished studying, preparing his lunch for tomorrow, and getting Boruto to bed. Not even his fox genes seemed to be waking him from his slumber this time.

Her stomach continues to gurgle and rumble in response to her light pushing before it all swishes back up and she's back on her feet to the bathroom.

There isn't anything left to vomit up anymore.

It's too early in the morning for this, she has 9 am class in just a few hours if she'll even be able to make it.

Dizzily, she stood back from the toilet and wiped at sweat lacing her forehead.

The room is misty from Naruto's late shower and she wipes away steam from the mirror, jumping back in shock.

Fox ears…right atop her head.

Same fuzzy midnight blue pair from months ago.

And her head starts pounding frantically as they twitch in response to her touch.

Slowly, she moved over to the sink and washed out the remnants of bile on her lips. Her canines too have gotten longer, shining in the dim light the moon provided through the top window.

"I can't deny these symptoms." She whispered, reaching out to touch a finger along her reflection.

'School, work, family, the threats Toneri has made, Neji's involvement…what am I going to do?'

She needed to relax, letting all this stress overwhelm her would only make matters worse.

If only her body would cooperate and listen though, stomach violently swirling again while her heartbeat amplified tenfold.

'These same signs and symptoms I had with Boruto…'

'They're back.'

-x-

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