Title: What could've been
Author: Kurotsuki-Tenchi
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: NaruXHina,
Genre: Action, Romance and a little bit of comedy.
Rated: M for Language, violence, and sexual content.
Disclaimer: All Naruto characters and stuff belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and therefore can only make make believe stories about them and dream about them being real. Sigh.
Authors Note: Oh God, this chapter was difficult. It didn't want to be finished, I swear I cursed at my screen at least fifty times while typing this. I'd type a sentence, glare at my screen, type another sentence, scream profanity, erase last sentence and then repeat. I almost drove myself loco on this chapter, so if it's not that good then oh well. Enjoy.
Hinata was tired, she was hurting and she wanted nothing more then to sit down and rest. However with a temperamental red headed girl coming at her with two bladed yo yo's she didn't have the time.
Her Byakugan had been disengaged for about five minutes now, she barely had the chakra to keep it going. So not only was she fighting injured, but she couldn't see or predict the blade's paths anymore.
Doing a full twirl Hinata dodged a blade that went flying towards her face, ducking to avoid the second. Her side screamed and her arm was tingling painfully. Most her body was wracked with pain, from bruises to cuts. She kept fighting however, knowing that she couldn't let the girl win.
She had to protect Naruto-Kun, no matter what! With that declaration in mind she shot forward, ducking and weaving past the blades that were intent on gutting her. She spun around the girl, aiming a palm at a tender part of her side, right under her arm.
"No you don't!" The girl suddenly shouted, twisting to avoid the arm. Hinata's hand grazed her side but didn't connect with a full hit. Ritsu jerked her arm and the weapon came flying back, aiming straight for Hinata.
With a move that she wasn't sure she could actually do, she bent backwards and the bladed toy went past her face. She then recovered before shifting her stance, moving forward again.
She managed to make one hit on the other's back, before she was forced to back off from the spinning blades. It wasn't a vital hit, but she knew the girl had to be feeling it.
"You're getting a little serious aren't you?" Ritsu asked with venom. "But I won't let some little mouse like you kill me!" She shot both her hands out, before crossing them with a powerful thrust of her arms.
The blades went flying, swinging around in a wide arch. They were on either side of her and if they crossed, not even Hinata's healing would help her.
Jumping into the air she hoped that she could outmaneuver them while in the air. They should have to finish their current paths, giving her an opening. However her plan didn't work as well as she hoped.
"Now you're screwed!" Ritsu shouted with a large smile, and she moved her arms up. Chakra glowed up the strings and the blades seemed to move unnaturally from their previous paths into a new one. Hinata only had about a millisecond before both blades hit her, one in the side and one on her right shoulder.
With a cry she fell, landing on the ground roughly. She coughed weakly, trying to dislodge the blood that had pooled in her throat. Pain was burning through her, and she knew that if she doesn't stop the bleeding soon then she would bleed out.
Moving her left hand she managed to stop the bleeding, but she couldn't move very well. Her arm slumped back down, almost going boneless. A cackle to her left had her looking up, over at the girl who had been watching her with an evil glint in her eye.
"Well well well," She said with a smirk. Approaching the downed Hyuuga, intent on rubbing her defeat into her face. "Looks like you're down for the count huh?" She asked maliciously, "Even at your best you still cannot defeat me."
Hinata glared up at her as much as she could, normally she didn't get angry enough to glare at anyone... But right now she didn't care.
"I wonder if I can get Chikara to let me have the blond, I haven't had fun with someone as stupid as him in a while." She spoke absently as she watched the orange ninja get knocked around as if he was a dodge ball.
She then looked down with a smirk, "How does it feel to know that your love is going to soon die?" She then cackled, "I'll make sure it's as long and painful as possible."
"yo..de..stake.." Hinata mumbled out quietly. Ritsu looked down at the bloodied girl, confusion on her face. She even kneeled down to see what the girl was saying.
"What did you say?" Ritsu asked as she leaned down closer, the girl's eyes were shadowed so she couldn't see the desperate anger in them.
"I said," Hinata started. "You made a mistake," Then Hinata was up faster then Ritsu could react. "You got to close." With that Hinata thrust her hands forward, putting as much chakra into her attack as she could spare.
Ritsu screamed in pain as her chakra points were hit viciously with a large pulse of chakra, her body convulsed and tears gathered in her eyes. Her body wasn't even standing on her own violation anymore, she was just unable to move.
She's never felt this much pain, and she felt herself whimper. Before she collapsed, her body literally folding in on itself. Nerves screaming, and skin burning she couldn't do more then lay there weakly.
She saw the girl standing beside her, lavender eyes rock hard. The mouse looked like a fighter, and she knew she pushed the wrong buttons with this one. "Please..." She managed to rasp, even her throat hurt. "Have... Mercy." She begged, but the girl just stared at her with those same cold eyes.
"Like the kind you were going to give Naruto-Kun?" The girl asked fiercely. That was when Ritsu discovered that she was screwed.
A jab to her chest had her blackening out, and the only thing she could think was that she was killed by some quiet mouse.
Hinata watched the pass out, and she let her expression fall. She had been determined to scare the girl, for what she was going to do to Naruto. But she couldn't kill her, not like this.
Hitting all the girl's chakra points she made sure she wouldn't wake for at least a day. Hopefully they were long gone before she awoke.
Suddenly the ground decided to come up and meet her and she found herself on the ground. She was weak, though at least she wasn't bleeding anymore. But she couldn't move, not anymore. She had used up ever bit of her energy to defeat the girl.
Turning to watch Naruto's fight she couldn't even help him, in this condition she'd do more harm then good. "Go Naruto-Kun," She whispered. "Show them what you're capable of."
o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o
Shino saw Hinata fall out of the corner of his eye, exhaustion taking it's toll on the dark headed girl. But she didn't look to be seriously injured, well at least she wasn't bleeding. He was glad that she was able to defeat the girl, now though all he had to worry about was him and Naruto.
"Distracted again I see," Shino ducked the blade heading for his throat. "I must congratulate your friend on defeating Ritsu," Misashi replied as Shino faced him once again. The green eyed ninja paused in his attack to open his eyes and stare Shino down. "I have warned her for years that bragging will be her downfall, yet she never believed me."
"How could you say that about your own teammate?" Shino asked curiously, he would never say that about Naruto nor Hinata. He couldn't see how anyone could treat their teammate like they weren't worth the space they occupied.
"She is not dead," Misashi replied with a shrug. "That Hyuuga girl is far too gentle to do that, so Ritsu will be fine." He then tilted his head, "But even if she had died I wouldn't have acted any different."
"Why would you say something like that?" Shino asked, his voice quiet. "You are suppose to care and protect your teammates, yet you act as if their lives mean nothing."
Misashi held his sword up again, "If they do not prove their worth then they are not worthy of living." He said before his eyelids dropped down, Shino braced himself. "She let her habit of kicking others while they were down to surface, and because of it was defeated. No weakness such as that should be allowed to remain, instead of trying to change it she let it continue. And it led to her downfall."
Shino then jumped back as a blade went slicing for his face, twisting to the left to avoid the kick that had been aiming for his stomach. "That point of view is flawed." He said quietly, but it still held the intensity of one shouting.
Misashi tilted his head in curiosity, though he kept his eyes closed. "How so?" He asked, "Do you not think the same way? If one outlives their usefulness, are they not obsolete?"
"My teammates are important to me," Shino replied quietly but with steel. "I don't let their limitations continue because I help them to overcome them, instead of ignoring them I help them work past any problems they may run into." Shino then drew a kunai and his chakra wire from his pocket stealthily. It had been there since he brought it a few weeks back. "They will never become obsolete, because I won't let them."
With that he threw a kunai at the ninja, who easily dodged it. The Kunai became imbedded in a tree behind him, and he dashed towards the Aburame. Shino darted to the left, and he rearranged his path to catch him. He chased the boy around in a random pattern, and he had to wonder what he was up to.
He didn't notice the chakra wire until it was too late, and Misashi suddenly found himself bound up tight. He opened his eyes and looked down at the wire, before back up at the reflective sunglasses the dark headed boy wore.
"Very good," He replied. Before closing his eyes, "But it won't work." With a move that seemed almost physically impossible he twisted his body, the short sword's blade coming in contact with the wire. The glowing black blade slicing through it like butter, and Shino was forced to let go as the blackness ate at it.
Shino went back on the defensive, his legs spread and braced. He didn't know how the other would attack, so he readied himself to jump in any direction.
He was panting from exertion, and he could see his enemy breathing heavily. It made the situation a little better that his enemy wasn't as smooth and powerful as he wanted to appear.
"Tell me Aburame," The boy started as he dashed forward. "Why do you protect your teammates?" He seemed truly puzzled by this, and he slashed his sword down as if to retaliate for the confusion he was experiencing.
Shino jumped to the left, his arm raised to block the roundhouse kick. Before dropping down and avoiding the blade that snapped back just as fast. "Because they are my friends and comrades."
"A very strange view from an Aburame," He commented randomly. Before lashing out, instead of swinging his blade he lunged forwards with a chakra charged kick. It caught Shino in the face, sending him rocketing to the ground were he impacted hard. "The Aburame are known for their cold, business views. So why is it you hold such a view?" Misashi asked as he watched Shino struggle to his feet.
Shino felt horrible, that kick had been particularly devastating. But he didn't let it deter him, he stood shakily. "Because it has been brought to my attention that I'm a human, as well as a ninja." Shino replied as he stood straight, "Without connections to others, we might as well not exist."
"A very naive view indeed," Misashi replied as he readied his blade. "Where did you learn it? From that jumpy blond friend of yours? Or was it the gentle but weak willed Hyuuga?"
"Neither," Shino replied. "I learned it from my mother, who was intent on reminding us all that we are allowed to feel." He said as he lashed out suddenly, catching Misashi by surprise. His leg shot out and hit Misashi straight in the stomach and sent him flying. "She taught all of the Aburame clan that we're human."
"It's pathetic," Misashi replied as he stood. His eyes were still closed, and he hadn't opened once during his flight. "Humanity is not allowed a place in the ninja world," He faced Shino with a passive face. "Ninja are merely tools used to fight, feelings are not allowed to interfere." He then pointed his sword at him, before lunging forward. "Only strength is truly important in the ninja world. Emotions are useless and messy. There is no place for them."
Shino dodged the blade and kick, swerving from the wide arch of the blade. He however miscalculated and was caught with a kick to his chest.
Landing on his back, he moved to get up but Misashi stepped on him. A black glowing blade held a mere millimeter above his chest. He couldn't move, at least not without cutting himself on the blade.
"You see," Misashi replied emotionlessly. "I don't waste energy on unnecessary things, such as emotions." He then tilted his head, "You lost because you worry about your teammates. Emotions bring nothing but distractions for ninja."
Shino's eyes couldn't be seen, so he couldn't see the determined glint in them. "There's were you're wrong," Shino said silently.
"Huh?" Misashi asked before his eyes snapped open, almost his entire body going limp. He stumbled back, trying to keep his footing. The short sword clattered to the ground beside Shino, where it laid silently.
Misashi followed not to long after, his entire body slumping to the ground. He laid there weakly, trying to figure out what was happening.
Shino stood up, dusting off his jacket. "Emotions bring strength to those who know how to use it properly." He said emotionlessly, "That is what you failed to comprehend."
"How?" Misashi asked weakly, his voice rasping as he spoke. "How did you do this to me?" That's when he noticed the back of his arm, where it laid beside him. Along the backside of his entire black cloak was a moving mass of darkness. "Your insects?"
"Your main weakness is your back side," Shino replied quietly. "Because your ability takes concentration you cannot keep your senses tuned to every area around you." Shino then adjusted his glasses, "Closing your eyes isn't even necessary is it?" The look in Misashi's eyes told him everything, and he knew he hit the nail on the head. "You just have to concentrate hard enough to kick in your bloodline limit. Which leaves your back completely unguarded."
"You put them on my cloak." He stated in shock, "When?" He had noticed the bugs had been gone after a while, he just figured that they retreated back into the Aburame.
"When we were conversing about our teammates," Shino replied. "It kept your attention enough that you didn't even notice them latch onto your cloak." He then looked down at him, "They fed on your chakra, and has drained you nearly dry. They will continue until you are dead. You let your flaw overcome you... Preaching about ninja being emotionless tools gave them just enough time to feed."
Misashi's eyes widened when his words were thrown back into his face, and he realized that he was flawed. Closing his eyes he smiled softly, "Looks like I'm the obsolete one now." With that he passed out, his body going limp completely.
Shino watched him for a second before calling his insects back, leaving the male to live. He wouldn't kill him, because he was better then that.
However at the rate in which he lost chakra, he should be out for at least a day. They should be able to get away before then.
Turning towards Naruto, he got ready to lend a hand to his blond teammate. When his legs buckled and he suddenly fell, and he was reminded how injured he truly was. He couldn't move very well, and a lot of his chakra was gone. From feeding his insects into helping him, so he didn't have much energy himself to help his teammate.
He'd rest, and then when he could he would rush in to help Naruto. Because at this point he was far too weak to help him.
o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o
Naruto was relieved when Hinata had defeated her opponent, but was immediately worried when she fell still. Shino had defeated his opponent as well, but had collapsed immediately afterwards. He only hoped that they were okay, because they looked as if they were both in bad condition.
He wasn't in such a good condition himself, all his bones ached and his skin was dotted with dark bruises. His entire body felt like he got hit by a wrecking ball, repeatedly. But he wouldn't give up, his teammates hadn't given up and neither will he.
"It seems like your friend managed to take out Misashi, that is very impressive indeed." Chikara said as he withdrew his fist from the ground. He had buried it while trying to hit the blond, but he was like a flea hoping around.
"Of course Shino beat him!" Naruto shouted, running forward with three clones flanking him. "I believe in him!"
"Tsk tsk," Chikara shook his head. "How many times do I have to tell you that attacking blindly will not help you?" He threw a fist, catching the first Naruto who disappeared before shooting out the other.
The clones were demolished quickly and it wasn't long before Naruto himself was sent flying with a punch to the face. He impacted another tree, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Ugg," Naruto managed to say as he extracted himself from the tree. "That really hurt," Naruto muttered as he gained his footing. His body was standing but it was listing either which way, it was hard to keep his balance.
"What are you made of?" Chikara asked as he approached, "You just won't break." He then smiled, "But it won't take much to finish you off at this point."
"I'll never give up!" Naruto shouted and more Kage Bunshins appeared, they all attacked at once. "I won't lose to you!"
Chikara sighed at the action, dispatching the clones quickly. He was surprised that someone could keep this up after so long. As the clones finally thinned out there was no one around him, with a quick look around he didn't spot his opponent.
"You sure are a slippery brat," He commented offhanded as he punched the ground. It erupted around him in a burst, and an orange blur went flying with it.
Naruto had hid in one of the holes Chikara had made earlier, in hopes of resting enough to continue fighting. However his hiding spot had been ousted quickly, giving him no time to recover.
"Just sit still brat and let me finish," Chikara growled out. "Your little friends are to injured to help you and you're on the verge of collapse. Just give up already!"
"No!" Naruto shouted as he gained his footing, picking himself up from the rubble he had been launched into. "I won't lose!" However he didn't move, his body far too battered to keep up his constant attacking. He had to come up with a plan, and fast.
"Are you seriously the weakest of your group?" Chikara asked after the blond hesitated to attack him, "I mean even your little shy friend was able to take down her opponent. I never figured such a small weak girl could take down Ritsu."
"I'm not the weakest, neither am I the strongest!" Naruto shouted at him. "Hinata isn't weak either!" Naruto shouted at him. "Neither of us are stronger or weaker then the other! We have different strengths, so we can't be measured like that!"
"Really?" Chikara asked sarcastically, "Because from where I'm standing the Aburame is the strongest and smartest among you. The Hyuuga is even stronger then you, because she can actually do something other then hit the ground."
Naruto glared at him, he knew it wasn't true... But that didn't stop it from making him angry. "No matter what you say, I won't believe you!" Naruto shouted, taking a stance and putting his hands together in his signature hand sign.
Chikara shook his head, launching himself at the blond. His arm cocked back and ready to strike. Naruto held still, eyes focused on him intently. The behemoth was shocked to see the boy remain in his spot, facing his charge head on.
He smirked. The boy wouldn't survive a full force charge, not at this speed. With a shattering blow he punched the boy, hitting him with all his strength.
The ground shuddered and buckled beneath him, raising and parting like a large wave. The sound was deafening, and Chikara smirked. He had finally caught the kid.
That was until he looked down, and saw nothing. Only broken and cracked earth lay beneath him. He jerked his head around, looking for the blond. Confused on how he had escaped from such a close attack, he looked up just in time to see a fist meet his face.
Naruto came down fast, just in time to hit Chikara with all his might. He put every bit of his strength into the hit, hoping it would be enough to at least knock him out.
As Chikara fell Naruto jumped away, in case he didn't knock out his enemy. He waited, standing just on top of the creator. Dust had billowed up during the attack so visibility was practically nil at this point.
"How did you do it brat?" A voice asked out of the dust and Naruto took a step back. "I know I caught you with my fist, so how in the hell are you alive?"
The dust settled and standing in the middle of the crater was Chikara, a very irritated look on his face. He looked up at the blond, fists clenched at his side.
"It was a Kage Bunshin," Naruto replied. "I switched with it while we were talking, you underestimated me."
"Well now that I know about your little strategy it won't work again," Chikara said as he jumped out of the hole. He was irritated now, hating the thought that he had been outsmarted by a dumb brat.
Naruto took a stance, knowing that in this mood the man was even more dangerous. He jumped to the left as a fist went barreling past at breakneck speed, Naruto could actually feel the air rush past his face. He barely had time to recover before another fist was heading for him, he ducked and almost felt the air shudder from the blow.
Jumping away Naruto dodged as best as he could, getting caught at this time could get him killed. As he dodged another fist he tried to think of something to do. He might not be smart like Hinata or Shino but that didn't mean he couldn't come up with a plan.
He's been told his entire life that he's creative from not only Iruka-sensei and the old man, but from Gram gram and Pops as well. He will think of something, because otherwise it could kill him.
His eyes caught sight of the large cliff side that had blocked their exit earlier, and a sudden thought came to mind. It would work, because Chikara didn't seem to be much smarter then Naruto. Now he only had to do was lead him there.
Jumping to his left he tried to draw the behemoth towards the wall, and he followed blindly. It felt odd to have a plan and go through with it, Naruto was so use to doing things by impulse that this was strange to him. As he felt his back hit the cliff, he knew that he only had one shot at this.
He had to get Chikara to hit the wall as hard as he could, like he did with the ground. So that mean he had to make him angry, and hope that he didn't get away from Naruto's trap.
"Trapped now aren't you?" Chikara asked with a dark smirk as Naruto stood plastered to the wall. The blond looked as if he was trying to meld himself with the cliff face.
"You're an ugly double chinned moron!" Naruto shouted at him before pulling down one of his eyelids and sticking his tongue out. "You couldn't even hit me if I were standing still!"
"For a punk that's gotten the crap beat out of him for the last ten minutes you're talking mighty arrogantly." Chikara growled, anger rising. "I'll erase your face from the face of the earth."
"Like you could," Naruto taunted while turning his nose up. He was shaking inside, knowing that if this didn't work then he was just digging his grave deeper.
"Why you!" Chikara shouted, running at the blond who looked as if he was shocked that he was attacking. He put every bit of his strength into his fist and let it fly.
Naruto watched almost slow motion while the man came barreling at him, his eyes closing instinctively. However a hand grabbing him by the arm jerked him away, just in time to avoid the massive hit. He knew who the hand belonged to, one of his clones that he had made just for that purpose.
As he slid across the ground from the sudden jerk, he heard the sound of a shout and the falling of thousands of pounds of rocks. Naruto recovered enough to look up, taking in the sight before him. He was almost too afraid to believe it worked.
With a pile of rocks about twenty feet high on top of him, Chikara was buried. Naruto cautiously approached the rubble, seeing a hand peeking out from the pile.
Touching it hesitantly, he almost jumped when he felt a pulse. So the guy wasn't dead?
Just unconscious then, probably for quite a while. Hopefully it will take a while before he wakes back up, because Naruto seriously didn't want to fight him anymore.
Turning he dragged his battered body towards his friends, the adrenaline from the fight was wearing off and he started to feel the wounds a lot more clearly then he did to begin with.
"Seems you were able to defeat my team," A voice begun and Naruto's head jerked up. There standing in the middle of the field was a man, with spiky green hair and emotionless eyes. "Very interesting indeed, no wonder the boss wanted you three gone."
"Who the hell are you!" Naruto demanded, already falling into a stance. He had said his 'team', that meant he was obviously hostile.
"My name is of no importance," He said holding up a silver sword that looked as if it was made of hair. However it was rigid and sharp, Naruto instinctively pulled out a kunai. "I am here to perform a job, hold still and your death will be as quick and painless as possible." With that the man attacked, his blade heading for Naruto's head at an alarming rate.
Naruto instinctively held up his kunai as the sword bore down on him. However as the blade cut straight through the kunai he barely had enough time to twist his body out of the way.
He looked down at his kunai handle, the rest of it was missing. "My sword can cut through anything," The man replied as quietly as he did earlier. There were no infliction in his voice what so ever, he was just doing his job.
He could hear Shino and Hinata yelling to him, but they were barely able to move. He spared them a glance to see their desperate faces, even Shino looked worried. The newcomer looked over at them before looking back at Naruto. "After I'm done with you, I will put your teammates out of their misery."
"Leave my friends alone!" Naruto shouted, knowing that in their current state they couldn't protect themselves. However before he could do anything he was suddenly paralyzed, he looked down to see himself covered in thin strings. "What the hell is this!" He shouted as he struggled.
But they held tight, they were thin but held him stronger then even chakra ropes. The man did not seemed surprised at Naruto's shock, "They are Diamond-Hair bonds. Made by the women of our clan who wash their hair in a secret well that strengthens their hair into Diamond-hair. The hair is then made into weapons for us to use, there is nothing that can cut it except other Diamond-hair weapons. Which I know for a fact you do not own." He explained, reading his weapon again. "Hold still and I will make sure to strike your vitals, that way you will die quicker."
"Why are you doing this!" Naruto shouted at him, still struggling. There was no way he wanted to be cut by a sword that had cut through his Kunai like butter. "Why are you trying to kill us!"
"It's just a job," He replied before thrusting the sword forward. A sudden black cloud of insects swarmed him and he was forced to back off, Shino stood unsteadily to the side.
"Leave Naruto alone," He stated coldly. He was rocking back and forth weakly, but his expression was determined. His insects were swarming around in agitation, as upset as their master.
The man looked at him with flat eyes, before disappearing. "You will have your turn," He replied as he suddenly appeared before the Aburame and slashed his sword to the left.
Shino grunted in pain as the blade bit into his side and sent him flying. As he hit the ground he fell still, the sudden shock of pain and the impact knocking him out cold. Blood begun to seep out around him, turning the ground into a reddish brown.
"Shino!" Naruto shouted, fighting even harder then before. He couldn't move though, his entire body was immobilized. "Shino!"
"Don't worry," The man replied as he turned back around and made his way over. "He is not dead yet, I was told to eliminate you first to avoid any problematic situations that may arise."
"LEAVE THEM ALONE!" Naruto shouted with all his strength, his muscles straining against his bonds. "Please just don't kill them!"
"Don't worry," The man replied as he held his blade up. "You won't be around to watch," With that he thrust the blade forward.
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, readying himself for the bite of the blade that was sure to come. He hissed as he felt a blade sink into him, but he paused as he realized it wasn't that deep. Maybe only about an inch of the blade had stabbed into him.
Opening his eyes slowly he was shocked to see a shadow over him, looking up he focused on the form standing in front of him. His eyes widened when he realized what had happened. Hinata had somehow threw herself in front of Naruto, the sword had went all the way through her body and out the other end. The tip of the sword was buried in his side, but right now his mind didn't even register it.
"Didn't expect that," The man stated as he withdrew his sword. "But it still eliminates one of my enemies." Naruto however didn't hear, too busy on watching Hinata fall to the ground limply. She lay there completely still, blood growing in a puddle around her.
"Hinata?" He asked quietly, blue eyes wide. There was moister in his eyes, his voice had a quiver to it. "Hinata?" But there was no answer, just silence. Naruto felt his head drop, and felt his heart shatter.
Suddenly he threw his head back, "HHHIIINNNAAATTTAAA!" With a scream that burned his throat the world shattered around him. Energy exploded around him, chakra so dense you can drown in wiping around him madly. And in the middle of the maelstrom was a deep laugh that held just a hint of cruelty to it.
END