Chapter 24: Insanity
Like tiny butterflies or perhaps moths fluttering incessantly, annoyingly.
The pits of her stomach absolutely refuse to rest.
Beads of sweat tickle at her nose she hurriedly swipes away. Through hazy vision she watches as those same pointy fox ears twitch then straighten in alert.
Naruto is awake.
"Hinata, where are you?" He questions, tone still thick with the lull of sleep, his footsteps move sluggishly against the carpet as his eyes roamed through the dark.
So much for being quiet.
'Just count to 10 and then tell him.' Hinata decided, mentally counting up slowly while trying to ease the tightness of her still very much coiled gut.
'1, 2, 3…'
"Did you go back to the kitchen to get a late night snack? Sorry, but the crumbs on your shirt gave you away the first time you did it." Naruto asked, laughing softly at the memory.
Hinata flustered, sinking against the side of the toilet. Not her favorite moment to have been caught red-handed eating cake at a little past one in the morning.
'4, 5, 6, 7…'
All he needed to do was sniff the air once and he would know.
He circles around the side of their closet and then abruptly twists his head in the direction of the bathroom, eyes suddenly sharp and pinpointed on her scent.
'8, 9, 10.'
"I'm in the bathroom." She croaked out gently, but Naruto is already crouched beside her and she falls easily into his chest.
"You could've woken me up." He murmured into the side of her neck, rubbing her back tenderly.
Hinata shook her head, shutting her eyes as she tried to calm her breathing. His body is perfectly warm in comparison to the coldness of the tiles and slowly she feels her heartbeat calming back down as he presses soft kisses against her head.
Eventually, he'll notice them.
And the startled gasp soon comes, halting his patting briefly to reach up and lightly brush fingers against the ears.
"Wait, when did you get these again? I knew you were starting to show some odd signs, but I wasn't for sure yet…" He questioned.
"A few minutes after I threw up, they look just like the ones I had with Boruto; don't they? My sense of smell and hearing seem to have increased again as well." Hinata mused tiredly, crawling her hand up slowly to grasp his.
Just a normal conversation for the two of them.
Naruto studied them for a moment longer before beaming, excitement lighting his face as all traces of sleepiness left him.
"We're going to need a real house now!"
"House?" Hinata repeated.
"Yup, you know this apartment and those little townhomes nearby won't be enough space for another baby! I heard they have a lot of new homes going up for sale and being built around the municipal district. It would be good to be closer to the city seeing as it's not too far away from the university or our jobs as well." Naruto went on.
She wishes she could share in his eagerness, but the churning in her stomach returns as new thoughts bubble up and she slides herself out of his grasp as the acidic taste of bile reaches her tongue.
Because a house means more expenses, added stress, and what would others think of them having a second child so soon?
Family and friends would adore the infant she was sure, though strangers…
Their coldness was the worse, the type she had the most trouble handling.
'Why does she have those strange ears sticking out of her head? Is that a new fashion statement or something?'
'I heard she got impregnated by a wild monster of some type and is experienced the effects of it, I didn't know people like her husband even still existed.'
If she retaliated, then it would only seem like she was proving them right. That their fears and concerns were justified all along.
"I'll be with you Hinata, no matter what people say or try to do. With Boruto, all I had to do was give them one mean look and they stopped!" Naruto joked despite the crack in his grin as he quieted.
Hinata smiled weakly back, this pain so far wasn't the same as it had been with Boruto though.
Her whole body felt sore as if she'd just ran for miles, biting at her lip to take her mind off the discomfort.
With the last of her stomach's contents being emptied out, the knotted sensation around her gut was finally beginning to subside at least.
She hoped.
Naruto carries her back to bed and she drops too easily back into their pillows, drifting off to the lingering smell of Naruto's earthy shampoos.
When she wakes again, Naruto is still in bed beside her; the two of them nestled in a sea of blankets and sheets. It's too cloudy out to see the sun, but telling by the bustling going on outside it must be beyond morning.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Hinata groans, attempting to sit up only to lay back at Naruto's coaxing.
The world spins above her and she shuts back her eyes quickly before it all becomes too much.
"After the night you had, you needed some rest. Missing one day of class won't be the end of the world. And besides that…" Naruto trailed off, hand pressing against her forehead.
Never has his touch burned and froze her at the same time.
"I think you have a fever."
-X-
'The first manuscript was better, I never should have thrown it away.' Toneri frowned, scratching another line through the paper so roughly until the edges began to tear.
That's the 3rd mistake already.
Black ink starts to bleed onto the pages below and his hands, but he hardly notices; brows crinkling in concentration.
Words start to blur together.
'I can't stop now, not yet. It isn't perfect…'
"Sir, don't you think you should take a break? You've been at this nearly all day and it's close to midnight now." A voice questions from behind him and he sits up, half turning to see Kinshiki hovering by him.
He reaches for the papers only for Toneri to roughly push him back, marring him with shadowy fingerprints and tussling various files to the ground.
"Get away from me." He snapped lowly.
All day they had been periodically taking turns coming in asking if he was okay or if he wanted something to eat and though he had accepted their small meals and glasses of water, nobody was going to stop him from making sure this speech was ready by next month.
"Are you sure you don't want to rest? This isn't good for your heart." Momoshiki supplies, Toneri ignoring him as he twists his metallic eyes back upon his notes.
The bruises and cuts may have healed, however the damage done to his heart…to his brain.
Those were permanent.
'It won't work the same again, the main vessels have been strained and hit too hard.' His cardiologist notes, watching as Toneri gazed upon the EKG monitor fixedly; a valley of constant spikes and hills that represented his heartbeat.
And according to him, an erratic pace.
"You'll have to take it easy, perhaps wearing a wrist monitor that can properly track your rhythm for when you're becoming too stressed or energized. I'm sure you've been experiencing some of the common signs, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pangs in your chest." He continues.
"I don't need such a thing. What would my patients think? My co-workers? How can they trust in a doctor that's sick themselves?" He hissed.
But Dr. Kondo isn't one to take no for an answer.
The watch feels cold and foreign on his arm and that very night he stuffs it into the deepest corners of his closet where even he can forget it exists.
The only thing that can soothe his heart, his mind now is completing this revenge.
"Let's leave him be. Nothing we say right now will get through to him it seems." Momoshiki whispers, nudging Kinshiki out the door despite his protests.
It's only when the door fully clicks shut does Toneri turn his attention back to the fallen papers, stacking them up neatly and letting out a low sigh.
'Hinata…'
She had been the trigger of this all, an infatuation he had let taken the best of him.
And yet he still felt his heart jump thinking of her, tiny pink lips that used to always give him the most reserved smiles during break times, pearl eyes that hardened with focus when discussing a patient's treatment plan, to her endless violet hair she always tied up before heading to rounds with the other doctors…
'Damn it.'
The woman was stubbornly in love with Naruto. It didn't matter what threats or warnings he'd gave; she would still always go back to him.
His chest tightened thinking of it as he read over his words.
Would this finally prove to her just how dangerous Naruto was?
Neji was helping him as well, it truly was advantageous to have a man of such high caliber on his side, though he couldn't stop the nagging feeling that even he would eventually turn against him.
Right, nobody could be trusted.
He scooted himself closer to his desk, ignoring the chill of his room as moonlight shifted over dark corners. The heat of summer nights was slowly fading, coldness returning as he cocooned himself in blankets before reaching back for his pen.
In the silence he could hear his heartbeat thumping faster as ink skidded unevenly out of the lines, the thrill of Naruto falling pushing him onward.
'This plan has to work; I don't think I've made any mistakes…'
Toneri paused then, bitter snicker escaping out as he shook his head.
Even his own thoughts were clouded with uncertainty.
'No, no. It will work.'
-X-
'Who're these two again?'
Naruto blinked, staring through the peephole in utter confusion.
It was Kiba (he recognized him enough by now) and…shoot he had no idea who the other guy beside him was in the shades.
Oh, dear. Hinata wouldn't like it that he forgot her friend's names.
Again!
"Hinata, were you expecting company?" Naruto questioned, loud enough for her to have heard from the bedroom.
She was still sick after all, fever heating her skin in a damp sweat. She had managed to keep down the broth he had given her earlier, but the bouts of nausea and sleep cycled back and forth in a seemingly never-ending pattern.
"Um, no. Though Kiba and Shino said they might stop by later on after all their classes were done since they sent a group text to me wondering where I was this morning." Hinata responded, trailing down the steps wearily one at a time.
Naruto only pointed to the door. "Huh, well they're here right now though."
And just like that, her fox ears popped back out.
"W-What?!"
He frowned at her spike of fear, maybe he would have to tell them to come back another time. "They're at the door right now, only two guys I know who smell like dogs and bugs so much."
'It's barely past 1:00 pm though, I'm sure their classes didn't end until 5 today.'
On the other hand, it's probably lunch break.
She gripped her hands against the ends of the old jacket Naruto had tossed on her at some point in the night over her pajamas, feeling her face start to grow uncomfortably hot.
It's just Kiba and Shino, they've all known each other for years now.
Fingers tremble in reaching for the door, warmth spreading to her neck.
The last time her fox features had been visible to her friends was at Bolt's baby shower, she hadn't wanted to do any get-togethers, birthdays, or celebrations after that and risk scaring anyone else…
Not until Boruto was born.
Her eyes slide over to Naruto, leaning back against the wall watching her.
This is her decision.
And Kiba marches in as soon as the door creaks open enough to push through.
"Geez Naruto, what's the big idea taking so long to get to the damn door! I know Hinata's sick, but that doesn't mean you can just ignore us!" He snaps, getting far too into his personal space.
Naruto only snorts, pushing him back. "Nice to see you too."
"Um…" Hinata wedges herself between them and the room quiets.
Fox ears tremor at the sharpness of Kiba's voice and she clutches at mangled edges of the jacket a bit harder as Kiba directs his attention to her.
Pink colors his cheeks then at her state of dress, at the realization of what's happened…
"It's not polite to enter without first getting permission." Shino points out, breaking the tension between them.
'They forgot I was here too I bet.' Displeasure masked in his usual stoic expression.
Kiba coughed, nodding as he stepped back. Naruto's scent was all over Hinata, stronger than usual and he swallowed as he felt a familiar knot beginning to press on his chest.
He was following through with Kurenai's advice, he couldn't put this off any longer.
"Don't let your friendship become anymore strained because of a few awkward moments."
"But things can never go back to the way they once were. It's always going to feel just a little bit weird, just a little bit uncomfortable because of how I acted. Saying 'I'm sorry' will never be enough." Kiba sighed, groaning into the palms of his hands.
Mirai laughs from somewhere in the distance, briefly poking her head in to wave before retreating back to her room. She's cut her wild dark hair into a style reminiscent of Asuma and he hears Kurenai sigh that she should at least sit down for a minute. To think she once used to be tiny enough for Akamaru to carry her around; that he, Shino, and Hinata used to take turns babysitting her…
When he looks forward once more, Kurenai has fixed him with a sharp gaze.
"So you don't think it was hard for them as well?"
"Dog man!" Boruto cried out before he could speak again, pouncing on to his leg with a grin.
Naruto snickered, for once Kiba was speechless.
He scowled, eyeing him as he let Boruto began to climb up him. "You taught him to call me that; didn't you?"
A far too innocent smile edges up his face. "What do you mean?"
Shino stepped forward then before Boruto could get beyond his knees, tugging him lightly into his lap.
"Now, now. Kiba isn't a jungle gym." He stated.
Hinata glanced on in awe, smiling as Boruto surprisingly sat still in his arms. Naruto nodded from beside her, just as amused with the scene.
Until his curiosity peaked.
He stared up at Shino with interest, hand reaching up towards his sunglasses. "Where are your eyes?"
"No, Boruto! Shino likes to keep his eyes covered!" Hinata came forward before he could yank them off, sighing as he started to fuss and cry at being taken away.
'I wanted to see what they looked like too.' Naruto mused, he imagined the only people who might know what his eyes truly looked really were Kiba, Hinata, and perhaps Kurenai.
"Are things okay with you?" Kiba abruptly asked, voice lowered to keep from Hinata hearing him as she wandered back towards the kitchen to find a snack to help Boruto calm down.
Naruto arched a brow, sure Hinata could probably hear them anyways with the return of her heightened senses.
He had noticed already since he came in that he had gazed upon him for any new scratches or bruises, for him to look as angry as that moment he cornered Toneri in his office.
"I…I heard that Toneri guy has something big planned against you. Not that I know for sure, Tamaki wanted me to warn you." He whispered on, trudging towards the couch. His stare turned towards outside, watching as rolls of gray clouds drifted by. His nose always acts up at this time of year, mixing of cool air and frost diminishing his smell.
Naruto follows after him, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Months ago he would've been growling at the thought of him being here in his home, but he hadn't turned him in even though he knew it was him, he was trying to help him…
'Or maybe he's afraid of me.'
He shook the thought away, because gone was that subdued affection for Hinata he used to always have trouble concealing, those flashes of jealousy in his ebony orbs whenever he would step into the room.
He had moved on from his old feelings and mistrust, he needed to as well.
"I know he's going to strike at some point." Naruto eventually muttered, plopping down beside him.
Kiba perked his head back towards him in interest, probably believing he had some sort of plan.
Of course though he doesn't! (Not that Kiba needs to know that.)
'But still, I'll be ready for anything.'
-X-
"What the hell is this Jiraiya?! I told you not to get distracted by the ladies!" Tsunade hissed, gazing at the photos littered upon her desk.
Surrounding her are hundreds of images of various breasts and butts.
"Is it my fault that the ladies wanted me to capture their good side with pictures that could lead them into the higher stardom? I mean, how else was I going to get answers without offering some type of incentive?" He cooed back.
"Yes! And you know damn well you could've thought of other methods!"
And of course Jiraiya has no shame over his behavior, rocking comfortably in his chair without a care in the world.
"Don't tell me you wanted to be a part of the photo shoot too Tsunade?" Jiraiya hummed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Because that could easily be arranged!
He narrowly misses the glass she tosses at him in response.
"You were supposed to be interviewing the ladies that Toneri once dated and reviewing over camera footage of the date spots he took them to. Not advertising for new characters to have in your porn novels!" She growled, rolling her eyes at his silly grin.
"I'm ashamed you think I didn't do it. Don't you think I can do my job and have a little bit of fun?" He questioned, pulling out a flash drive from his pocket.
Tsunade huffed, watching as the tiny device glittered in her lamp light. She had let him borrow it in order to save his data, every last note of information…
"You better return that flash drive back to me when all is said and done. It has too many other important files and reports personal to me." She grumbled.
Jiraiya simply nodded, waving off her concern. "Of course, either Kakashi or I will have it back in your medical office within a few days' time."
Weeks of waiting to hear back from his reports was finally coming to fruition.
His playful smile drops as he leans back into his chair.
"It turns out our little doctor was quite a ladies man too back in the day. Not sure how he was able to charm so many women, must've used money." He reasoned.
Tsunade shook her head, pouring herself another drink as she watched amber liquid shimmer up through the ice.
"Or blackmail."
"My call-girls aren't easy to trick, they're the ones who do the teasing and fooling in order to get a few dollars to pay the rent or get that release. Toneri was alluring, mysterious though and I'm sure he promised those girls he dated fantasies of fleeing these gloomy halls for something better. Once he got what he wanted, be it sex or whatever he would threaten exposing it all to family and friends. Perhaps that's why he got away with it for so long…"
She downed her drink then, it singed the back of her throat before the warmth finally began to spread.
But still she felt cold.
Jiraiya normally by now would've told her to stop, this was her 4th drink after all and he had only been here less than an hour.
Maybe his thoughts had drifted to them as well.
Her precious lost flowers.
"Do you really think that information will be enough to stop him honey?" 'Hibiscus' whispered in his ear, nibbling at the lobe.
"Why that name?" He had first asked when he had scoped her out from the crowd.
"Hibiscuses are commonly associated with vacations to tropical places, warm weather, and beauty. I wanted people to think of happy times and memories whenever they saw me."
Though now Jiraiya was giving her a half-hearted shove back, she didn't want to truly play anymore than he did.
The buzz was dying and really he had gotten all the information he needed from her plus enough to write at least enough Make-Out Paradise chapters to go into the next year and beyond.
But out of all the woman he had interviewed and fooled with a bit, this one was the most unique to him.
Wavy blonde hair stopped just past her shoulders, velvet red lipstick having long been smeared after their 'sessions'. She reddened under his stare, fidgeting and sinking back into the sofa.
If it weren't for her sea-green eyes he could've easily pictured he was talking with a younger Tsunade.
'I should pick my choices better…'
"What are you thinking about honey?" She asked gently.
Jiraiya shrugged, observing as she took to busying herself with hair and nails, anything to avoid his blatant staring.
Her eyes were slowly returning to a glassy state, dulling as they loss the shine of faux excitement.
"Nothing much really, merely about the travels you told me about; we've gone to some of the same areas. The places you've been to outside of Konoha though, did Toneri know about them?"
She stiffened at the mention of his name again, seeming to curl into a deeper ball. "Yes…"
"I wanted us to visit Iwa together next, but then our final date happened… Ah, but anyways that job gave me connections to agencies that allowed me to go to Suna, Kumo, Taki, anywhere you name it. He was one of the few guys here who actually truly treated me like an adult so I wanted to impress him. It didn't matter to him that I was so young, barely 19 then and now just reaching 20. Well, I guess I can't say the only guy now after tonight!" She winked, forcing on a small grin.
Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully, setting his glass down. "Do you still have the documents of your travels together? The photos?"
Hibiscus wrinkled her nose, gazing down. "I burned every photo I had of us, save for a few perhaps. The travel tickets are probably still sitting in that old box under my bed."
"That's fine; I'll take it all."
She blinked, watching as he moved to stand. "Will any of this really matter at the end of the day?"
It was said so softly he wondered for a moment if she even spoke.
"It may take some time, but every little bit like this helps."
"From what Kakashi told me, Neji's job is gathering together the PowerPoint of all the images that is supposed to capture the morning of the crime to go with Toneri's speech." Tsunade stated, bringing him back to the situation at hand.
"And that's where this will all come in with the switch, correct?" He could raise a glass to that.
Tsunade nodded, true smile etching up her lips as the clinking noise vibrated throughout the room.
'Toneri wants Naruto to be ruined when the complete opposite will happen.'
Society is about to see the cruel side of their beloved doctor.
-X-
11:00 pm.
In an hour, he can officially say he's 22.
'What do you want for your birthday?' Hinata inquired. She felt well enough now to insist on cooking them a small lunch, pushing him back whenever he stepped too close to boiling pots or the various meats and vegetables she had set aside.
Granted, ramen isn't very hard to make.
At the time he couldn't think of anything, telling her to simply surprise him.
"That tells me nothing! I can't keep getting you the same orange-themed attires, ramen coupons or colognes/lotions year after year!"
"Why not? I like those stuff!"
He rolls over to watch her sleep peacefully, tiny bump faintly visible around her stomach when edges of the streetlights come through the blinds.
"I just want this." He murmured.
She's given him all he's wanted over multiple birthdays: A family.
And really, it's hard to think of any present that can top this.
Besides maybe more 'cuddle' time!
For so long he had gotten used to the idea of being alone, he had to be prepared for anything Toneri threw at them.
'In any case, my birthday isn't usually associated with happiness anyways…'
He was more used to seeing frowns the closer it approached, the scent of tears, ashes irritating his nose, and an overall sick feeling settling into his stomach at leering stares.
The city became depressed and he or at least his family line were the storm that started it all.
But this year was different.
He heads into work as usual, the courthouse is bustling as typical for a weekday with morning cases having already started. Nobody knows it's his birthday, just as he wants…
Until he glances upon his desk and sees a lone envelope.
'To Naruto: Happy Birthday.'
His breathing stills for a second, his name and the letters are scrawled out so messily, and the 'ink' the sender used smells heavily of blood.
He finds some gloves before opening it, frowning at the simple message left.
'At approximately noon today, head to the center square of downtown Konoha. Everyone will know what you've done.'
-Toneri
Naruto glanced up again at the wall clock, there were only 5 minutes left until 9:00.
"You ready for another day Naruto? I heard you might be taking on that prominent ongoing settlement case between those two firms, the top lawyers and head judge have been looking at you." Yasuda questions, popping his head into his office with a smile.
'That's right, there's too much I have to lose.'
A quick sigh then a nod, tacking on a bright grin.
"Of course, the only place I can go is up!" He mused cheerfully.
But he continues to keep one eye on the clock, one eye watching as the minutes tick away…
The countdown.
And when noon strikes he's probably the first to burst out of the courthouse doors, sunlight beating him down as he races around corners and alleyways to get to the downtown section.
He clenches his fists together, willing his heartbeat to try and relax, for his breathing to not be so frantic…
The area is already congested with the lunch rush, though Toneri easily spots him coming in through the crowds and he positively beams, beckoning him forward.
"Ah, it's about time the guest of honor arrive."
A pristine white projector sits behind him, Neji standing to the side of it with laptop in hand.
"What's this all about?" A man whispers beside him.
"I don't know. I think that's the prominent doctor who was attacked a few months ago; I think he's going to announce who did it." Another man replies.
"Why today of all days?" He grumbles back.
Naruto swallows, trying to tune out the rest of the conversation as he looked forward. Neji meets his gaze for the briefest of seconds, mouthing out a quick 'trust me'.
'What? How can I trust you when you're standing up there beside him?!'
"I welcome one and all that could make it here today on this beautiful and warm fall day. I know picking October 10th to make this announcement may strike as odd to quite a few of you, however not only is today an anniversary of past wars Konoha has had with neighboring nations, but it is the anniversary as well of the birth of the man who attacked me." Toneri begins.
Naruto freezes, mutterings and whispers seemingly increasing by the minute around him. There's nowhere to run with the crowd steadily growing larger, eyes swerve to glance at him every few seconds, more and more people starting to realize Toneri is directly talking to him.
Toneri nods to Neji, indicating for the projection to start.
A woman's voice rolls out, giddy and high-pitched. "Ah, is it rolling?! This is so exciting, I've never been interviewed before!"
"This man Naruto Uzumaki comes from a long family line of-"Toneri paused, half-turning to the projection.
'What the?'
A woman with curly dark hair stares back at him, shiny hazel eyes glowing under the lights. "Toneri, he was one of my long-time callers. We went on a couple of dates before we broke things off. He could be very rough, as you can see." She mused, pulling down the collar of her neck to reveal faded scratch marks.
The crowd went into a complete hush, fingers pointing up in shock while others slowly began to take out their phones…
The screen soon cut to another woman, a cute brunette with a ponytail. "Yes, Toneri loved using this call-service. I think he saw it as some form of power-play moving from lady to lady. Little did he know, I personally like to keep track of the men who indulge in that type of behavior. Don't want to receive another woman's sloppy seconds." She giggled, holding up to the camera various photos of Toneri on dates at some of Konoha's exclusive restaurants or high-end bars with different woman each time.
"Eww, so this doctor is into dating prostitutes or something?" A woman from crowd questions, shivering in disgust.
"More like using these woman for his own ego. And it seems like he did more than just dates if those bruises are to go by." Her friend beside her grimaces as the next woman shows a variety of nasty purplish red marks for the camera.
"Neji what the hell is this?!" Toneri snaps, reaching violently for the laptop only for Neji to smoothly step out of his reach.
"This is payback, not only for Tenten and Hinata, but for all the woman you've wronged." He states.
"You're a pervert! I'm making sure none of the ladies I know ever get within 10 feet of you!" A man yells from the audience.
"Yeah! It's no wonder you were attacked if you're this much of a horrible person!" Another one shouts.
'No, no…why is this happening?! All my hard work, I'm not the person they should be booing.'
A stream of camera flashes distort his vision, no longer able to see Naruto among the mass of jeers and hisses.
It's too late now anyways, nothing matters…
His chest twists painfully as he hears his heart pound wildly, tearing up the rest of the papers, the wasted hours now and runs his way through the crowd, pushing everything and anything out of his way.
-X-
"You're much too nervous Hinata, I figured you would be happy with the latest news. Sure Naruto had to pay that fine, but that's a small price to pay versus jail time." Tsunade notes, wiping the gel off her stomach.
The media loves a good scandal.
'Disgraced doctor forced to flee own speech after shady past revealed!' Fall of the Otsutsuki's! What are there other family members hiding?'
The headlines are everywhere, no matter how much she tries to ignore it.
"Well at least the baby is maturing well, pretty soon we'll know if Bolt is going to have a little brother or sister."
Hinata smiled at that, sitting up. Naruto had already bought new books to read to him involving sharing and being a big brother.
He took it all in rather easily, probably because he still had no idea what being a 'big brother' truly meant.
"Remember to restart on those prenatal vitamins and supplements, same nutritious diet as well no matter what Naruto says." She advised, writing out her prescriptions with a nod.
Hinata laughed, accepting the papers. "Thank you for everything Madam um err Tsunade I mean."
Tsunade shook her head, ruffling with the ends of hair lightly as she turned to go. "Either one is fine, even Granny."
She glanced up at the clock as Hinata exited, small scowl edging up her lips.
'He's late.'
The pediatric wing is quiet, evening setting in as Hinata leaves out the main corridor of the waiting room.
'I should text Naruto and see what he made for dinner. Maybe I should pick up something on the way home.' Hinata mused, glancing down at her phone to see if he had sent her anything.
A figure bumps her as she heads towards the elevators, nearly tumbling her to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going or I would've-." She spoke apologetically, glancing up.
The barrel of a gun pierces back at her and her throat instantly dries.
Toneri doesn't respond, expression hollow in contrast to the glimmer of his gun in fading mixes of red and orange hues.
"You're sorry? You're the one who caused me to be in the mess. If you had just let that one little kiss go…and to think now you're bringing another potential fox monster into this world." He finally speaks, tone muted and dead as he stepped closer to her.
Hinata stiffened, Tsunade is too far away to hear them. Offices have already closed up for the day on this floor…
"That's right. Nobody will be around to hear you or me die. Not that damn cousin of yours who betrayed me or your crazy beast of a husband." He chuckled numbly.
But before he can make another move a shot breaks through the air and Hinata squeezes her eyes tight enough until the tears come, curling into a ball. Seconds pass as the smell of smoke and fire flood the room.
'There isn't any pain?'
Peeking back up she watches as Toneri descends rapidly to the ground, a bloom of red seeping out from his head.
-x-
This was a really intense and fun chapter to write, I left some small clues as to who shot Toneri so let me know your thoughts as to who you think it is and why! (I think the answer might be obvious, but who knows lol.)
It's my birthday weekend (Blessed to make it to another year!) I've been giddy all week about celebrating and getting this chapter out, this story is almost to 300 reviews; I never imagined when I first came up with this idea it would be so popular and I appreciate everyone who has taken time out to read and follow along with it. Till, next time!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!