DISCLAIMER: This story is solely written for fanservicing. All known characters and plot lines belong to Masashi Kishimoto and the publishers of the Naruto series. I am merely a fan who wishes to write her alternate story to the Naruto manga. The title "In The Name of Life" is taken from Joe Hisaishi's soundtrack of the film 'Spirited Away', by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. This fanfic is not intended for lucrative purposes.
In The Name of Life
Chapter XV
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
~Laurence Binyon
Neji had been retrieved from his Division in order to guard Turtle's Island. Since his uncle hadn't taken back Neji's position as representative of the Hyūga clan in the battlefield, it still proved that the young shinobi was one of the strongest in his bloodline. Yamanaka Inoichi had communicated with Neji's mind, giving him the new orders of going over to Turtle's Island and act as one of Bee's and Naruto's personal guards. He thought the decision was rather odd, considering that Neji was related to Hinata and that something might spur out of the situation. Nonetheless, Neji took his orders like any other jōnin, and was on his way to his new post.
Lee and Tenten had offered to escort him, seeing that Maito Gai was testing the recent graduates of the Academy for their chūnin exams. It made him remember Hanabi, who was supposed to join him in the battlefield hadn't his uncle decided to leave the Alliance and head over to Konoha's refugee camp. The help was needed over at the camp, so the Hyūgas' abilities would be put to use in guarding the innocent civilians. Nonetheless, their departure had been a steep loss to the Alliance. More importantly, it had been a steep loss to him.
Neji felt left behind. He understood his uncle's decision; he wanted to stay close to his two daughters in case anything happened. Nonetheless, Hiashi-sama had left him behind with the reason that he needed to act as a representative of the Hyūga clan. Neji still felt left behind; they were his family, even though he was just a nephew. They were the only family he had left. He felt closer to Hinata and Hanabi than the rest of the Hyūga clan, which was why he wished he could have gone with them.
But his duty as a shinobi came first. Neji looked at his two teammates, both sporting the same uniform he wore. Gai-sensei, Lee and Tenten were his family too, regardless of how delusional they might get. He wouldn't have achieved the jōnin rank if it wasn't because of these people.
"When this is all over, you and I will spar and show how strong we've gotten!" Lee said, directing his words at the Hyūga boy.
"Lee, we need to get him to Turtle's Island before the clones reach us," Tenten shook her head in disbelief. Even in the worst situation, Lee's eyes always shined with his youthful attitude.
Neji's Byakugan was activated, keeping guard on their surroundings. Fortunately, they haven't encountered any clones. He hated those creatures. He was glad that Hanabi didn't have to fight them; his cousin was too young to face such deadly opponents. He'd been caught off guard when the clones attacked him, and they were a difficult opponent when they were in a large group.
His eyes caught sight of a moving body 800 kilometres from where they were. Neji's brow frowned. It seemed that it was a large group of people, heading towards the same direction as Team Gai was. He wondered if it was wise to get near the group and find out who they were, but the memory of Zetsu's attack crawled back into his mind. It wouldn't be wise to send three skilled shinobi into the enemy's trap, knowing that the Alliance's numbers were diminishing.
"Neji, what did you see?" Tenten asked, noticing his serious expression.
"There is a group ahead, a large group."
Neji halted atop a tree branch, and his teammates imitated him, taking a place on each of his sides. Tenten was preparing her weapons, while Lee was tightening the bandages around his wrists. They were preparing to fight against whatever was coming ahead. Team Gai knew how to coordinate perfectly. Tenten took care of the long range attack with her weapons; Neji was the sensor and in charge of mid range attacks; and Lee was their taijutsu expert. They would take on any enemy with their skills, knowing them inside out.
"Let's move," Neji ordered, ensuring that his two teammates were in the right place just in case someone decided to attack them on his blind spot.
The Hyūga boy took the lead and directed the team towards the unknown moving body. He realized that it was directed towards Turtle's Island, much like they were. His expression changed, fearing that the moving group had discovered the jinchūrikis' hiding spot. He quickened his pace, with Lee and Tenten right behind him. The trees that surrounded the area they were traveling in started to make way to the Land of Lightning's signature hills. Mist and rock were more noticeable, showing that they were reaching their destination.
According to his Byakugan, they were nearing the large group. Once they were closer, Team Gai stood atop a hill that looked down a long trail path. Neji directed his Byakugan to the west, sensing the several chakras that were nearing him. He frowned deeper. Although the large group was about ten kilometres away, Neji sensed that most chakra signatures were too weak to be from ninjas.
"They're mostly civilians," he told his teammates, and then concentrated more in the incoming crowd, "But I do sense chakra from shinobi." There was the odd exception, of course. He quickly thought of the possibilities. It was most likely a group of nomads travelling accompanied with shinobi for protection. What nagged Neji's mind was the reason of this large diaspora. Why would a large group travel towards Turtle's Island, accompanied by shinobi, and risk passing by the battlefield?
Unless...
"Neji... are they from a refugee camp?" Lee asked with a weak tone, not wanting his question to be true.
Neji felt fear running up his spine. It shouldn't be possible; Konoha's refugee camp was tightly guarded by an ANBU squad. Unless they were refugees from another camp; however, the idea seemed impossible since the other refugee camps were too far away from the war zone. If this large group was in fact the refugees from Konoha, then that meant they'd been attacked. It meant that the ANBU squad, along with the other shinobi found in the camp, had been defeated. And among those shinobi were...
"NO!" Neji shouted, and then sprinted towards the moving body. His mind was racing; Hiashi, Hinata, and Hanabi. That was all he could think about. He heard Lee and Tenten yelling his name in question, and then follow him suit. They descended from the hill and ran on the trail path westward, towards the moving group.
He needed to get there immediately. Neji's legs were running like there was no tomorrow. He needed to see his family's faces, ensure they were still alive.
They were getting closer to the group; the chakra outline of the entire group was becoming more visible. With every step he took, Neji's eyes were defining the several walking bodies that were coming his way. He was feeling despaired, thinking that his family may not be in this crowd. It was obvious that the group was from Konoha's refugee camp; the presence of the ANBU squad confirmed his suspicions.
Four ANBU shinobi, who were leading the pack, also noticed his sudden presence. They decided to run towards him as well, in order to find out who was approaching them. Neji stopped at the moment that he and the four ANBU were able to see each other. His Byakugan was still activated; he wasn't going to let his guard down. The four shinobi were wearing their signature masks, and their stances showed that they were ready to attack. That only confirmed that Neji was right; they were still protecting the refugees from any further attack.
"Identify yourself!" one of the ANBU ordered, placing a kunai in front of his form.
Lee and Tenten had arrived at his side, also prepared to fighting. Neji tried sensing his family's chakra signatures, but the group was still too far for him to identify anybody. His fists clenched, feeling impatient towards the four ANBU shinobi who stood between him and the possibility of seeing his family again.
"I am Hyūga Neji of Konohagakure," he said, "These are my teammates Lee and Tenten. We come here in peace; we're not the enemy."
"How do we know you're not going to attack our refugees?" another ANBU questioned, taking a step closer to Team Gai.
Neji's breath started to take pace. These ANBU shinobi thought they were Zetsu's clones, seeing as it was difficult to decipher the Akatsuki member's chakra signature. It still frustrated him. He only wanted to see that his family was safe.
"Cheh, these guys may be the enemy too," Tenten murmured, preparing one of her chains. Neji halted her movements, placing an arm in front of her.
"My family was sent to Konohagakure's refugee camp. I only wish to confirm that they are safe," in order to prove his allegiance, Neji deactivated his Byakugan. The group was still moving towards them, but the pace had slowed down. If his family was found amongst the refugees, then they would sense Team Gai.
"Neji-niisan!"
After all, Neji was frequently called a genius. He saw Hanabi's small body frame running towards him, with her Byakugan activated. When he saw his young cousin coming his way, Neji wanted to forget about the ANBU in front of him and run towards her. She was safe, and in one piece. However, when Neji took a step, two of the ANBU shinobi decided to take a step towards his team and confront Tenten and Lee. Neji had to reactivate his Byakugan, in fear that the ANBU squad would injure his teammates without necessity. Nonetheless, he knew that Lee and Tenten would fare well.
Once he neared Hanabi, whose arms were open, waiting for him, the other two ANBU shinobi blocked him from reaching his cousin. In frustration, Neji wanted to express how unnecessary their intrusion was. He wanted to ensure that Hanabi was well, and these ANBU were restricting him from seeing his own family!
"He's my nephew, not an enemy."
Neji found the source of this voice. It was his uncle, accompanied by Hinata. They were nearing the party, with Hiashi showing his patronizing demeanour. As clan leader, he needed to act as a superior to the rest. It was a useful characteristic for situations like this one.
The four ANBU halted. Tenten and Lee stopped their defenses, watching the scene play out. The squad stood close to Hiashi and Hinata, who had reached Hanabi's side. His uncle looked at him intently, trying to decipher why he was there.
"Ojisama, I was on my way to Turtle's Island and I encounter this. What has happened?" Neji asked, once again taking a step towards his relatives. This time, the ANBU squad stood still.
"The refugee camp was sacked by Zetsu's army," Hiashi said, placing a hand on his youngest daughter's shoulder, "The attack was a surprise. We lost many civilians. This group is what we have left."
Team Gai witnessed how a group of about three hundred people appeared on the trail path. Many of them were injured, and they were being carried by the ones who were unharmed. There were many women, children, and elders. Everyone carried the same expression, the resilience that came with suffering a surprise attack. Many mothers clung to their children with tear stained faces, stroking their hair, trying to comfort them. The children looked lost, still trying to figure out what had happened.
"We are taking them to Turtle's Island" announced one of the ANBU. Neji looked at him, perplexed.
"I do not believe there is enough space in Turtle's Island for all these refugees," he said, estimating that the place wasn't very spacious.
"There is no other place, niisan," Hinata insisted. There were a few bruises on her face, but nothing serious. Her lower lip was slightly swollen, and it seemed that opening her mouth was difficult. "We're too far from the other refugee camps, and travelling any farther will weaken our numbers."
Lee and Tenten made their way towards the survivors of Zetsu's attack. They were helping two elders who had a hard time walking. Neji contemplated the scene, knowing that in times like this, one needed to take drastic measures. Taking the three hundred survivors to Turtle's Island was the most suitable option. He glanced over his uncle, whose stance was rigid. Hiashi knew that Naruto was also in Turtle's Island, and the possibility of his daughter approaching the jinchūriki was high.
"There is no better place," his uncle said, as if he was reading Neji's mind, "We must get there immediately."
'We have been informed that Kabuto had released his main attack. It's worse than what we expected,' Ino's tone was worrying him. 'He's... he's brought people back from the dead, Neji. We are still not sure how, but many resurrected bodies are making their way to the battlefield. We need reinforcements, immediately.'
Was she being serious? Playing with the dead was no fun game. Yakushi Kabuto, Orochimaru's right hand man, went as far as resurrecting shinobi. Neji was not familiar with Kabuto's tactics, but he'd been informed of his current affiliation with Akatsuki. He was behind the creation of Zetsu's clones. How he did it still remained a question among the Kages. The Hyūga boy realized that his place would no longer be guarding Naruto; he was needed in the frontlines.
Was his uncle going to join him as well...?
'He's summoned a lot of people. We only know that they are well known shinobi from every country, and the deceased members of the Akatsuki. He's trying to psychologically attack us by resurrecting all of those strong shinobi. My dad said that we should be prepared,' Ino took a pause, leaving Neji for his thoughts until she continued. 'You are now needed with your Division. Tsunade-sama will send her summons over to Turtle's Island. We need as many shinobi as we can get.'
'What about my uncle and cousins?'
'Due to their return, they are now required to fight as well. Shikamaru says that things are getting too troublesome. The Strategies Unit have yet to find a way of defeating the bodies. I can't communicate for much longer; the Hokage needs me. Transmit this information to your family and team. And good luck, Neji.'
"Luck is the last thing we need," he murmured aloud, ending his conversation with Ino.
What they needed was a miracle.
Neji walked away from Killer Bee's vacation home while another group of jōnins arrived. They were meant to act as Naruto's new guards. Just as Ino had told him, he made his way towards the room where all the refugees were settling. The victims were inside a large and square room with a high ceiling, giving them space, and air that could last for days. Several families were already holding sleeping bags and settling down on the floor, recovering from their traumatic experience. Neji spotted his teammates helping out a couple with a small baby settle in a corner, and then scanned the large room looking for his relatives.
Hiashi, Hinata, and Hanabi were sitting with Kurenai-sensei, who was holding a small bundle in her arms. They were conversing quietly while Kurenai rocked her arms back and forth. When Neji neared them, he made eye contact with his uncle. Hiashi immediately understood that something had happened, so he stood from seat and walked towards his nephew before he could reach the group. Neji's serious expression was also seen by Hinata, but she decided to stay with her sensei and Hanabi.
"There has been an emergency, ojisama" Neji announced, "We are all needed back in the battlefield."
Hiashi looked back at his daughters before turning again at Neji, with worry washing over his face.
"What happened?" he asked.
"The enemy has summoned dead shinobi," Hiashi's white eyes opened in shock while Neji spoke, "According to Yamanaka Ino, Yakushi Kabuto is the one who summoned them."
"He's using the Edo Tensei, a technique developed by the Second Hokage," his uncle concluded. Neji was not familiar with the jutsu, but it seemed that his uncle had basic knowledge about it. Although Hiashi said nothing else, the silence underlined what his message was: they were in big trouble.
"I came here to get my teammates and you. We must enter the frontlines immediately."
Hiashi remained silent. He took a deep breath, looked back at Hinata, and gestured her to join the conversation. Neji saw his cousin's serious expression. She was well aware that something was about to happen. After Neji and Hiashi explained to her the war's situation, Hinata's expression changed to one of fright and worry. They would be fighting the dead. Hiashi was going to let his eldest daughter re-enter the battlefield, risking her life. Well, Hinata was a shinobi after all. Hiashi couldn't keep her away from her duties for that long anyway.
"Hanabi will stay here and protect the refugees," his uncle declared.
Hinata touched his arm as a sign of support, "Kurenai-sensei will stay here too. She will keep watch."
Neji knew that his cousin meant that Kurenai was going to watch over Naruto. He also knew that Hinata didn't have the guts of saying his name in front of her father. It still stung too much for her.
Hiashi and Hinata went to speak with Hanabi and Kurenai-sensei in order to tell them about the situation, while Neji gathered Lee and Tenten, who were still helping the refugees settle. Although he was no longer near his relatives, Neji could still see his uncle embracing Hanabi dearly. The looks of worry and sadness washed over the group's face. Neji felt Tenten's hand on his shoulder, telling him to go back to his family and bid farewell to his youngest cousin. However, Hanabi chose to run to him instead.
She hugged him tightly, letting small tears prickle down her eyes. Neji felt a layer of nostalgia wash over him. He'd never realized how much his relationship with Hanabi meant, but he'd acted as an older brother. He placed a hand over her head, which was buried in his chest. Hanabi locked her crying eyes with his, while Hinata neared the pair and placed her hand on the young girl's shoulder.
"We will return," Hinata assured her.
"Promise it," Hanabi begged.
Neji finally wrapped his arms around the youngest Hyūga, "We do."
The last time he entered the battlefield, his farewell hadn't been so emotional. Perhaps it was because he wasn't familiar with the horrors of war, but returning to the frontlines strengthened the bond among his relatives. Now Hinata and Neji knew that death was around the corner, and that Hanabi could be left behind as the remaining living member of the Hyūga clan. Neji briefly recalled the fate that Sasuke chose when he'd become the last living Uchiha. He'd surrounded himself in darkness.
Neji wouldn't let that happen to Hanabi. No. He was going to come back to his cousin and his family.
With that final thought, he left the room accompanied by Tenten, Lee, Hiashi and Hinata. Now that they were out of the refugees' earshot, they could speak freely about the future turn of events. Tenten and Lee also showed worry, but they remained calm. A part of Neji was glad that he was surrounded by some of the most important people in his life.
"Hinata."
She ought to experience the same as well.
"Yes, Neji-niisan?"
Neji ensured that his uncle and teammates were already steps ahead before he took his cousin by the arm and dragged her to the side, "Come with me."
Maybe it was one of his last wishes before returning to the battlefield. Maybe he felt that Hinata also deserved to get a second chance, even if it was during a small amount of time. Neji guided her towards Killer Bee's vacation home, aware that Naruto was still inside the house. He also felt Bee's chakra accompanying Naruto's, but time was running out and this was Hinata's only chance. She'd also taken notice of the chakra signatures inside the house, and gave Neji a perplexed look.
"Do not inform him about the recent events and don't take too long. The others will notice," he said, and gave Hinata a slight push towards the entrance.
Hinata's cheeks turned into a rosy colour, realizing that her cousin was doing her another huge favour. She gave Neji a warm, thankful smile, and opened the house's entrance door.
"Thank you, Neji-niisan," she murmured quietly, but Neji was still able to hear her words. He nodded once at her in encouragement.
Once the girl had entered the house, Neji turned around and made his way towards the entrance of Turtle's Island. There, he saw his uncle and teammates, who were preparing themselves for the battlefield. Hiashi had tied the Alliance's hitai-ate around his forehead, showing his renowned allegiance. Tenten was looking over her arsenal of weapons while Lee was stretching his legs. The three shinobi took notice of Neji's return, but remained quiet. A part of him knew that Hiashi understood his daughter's brief absence, but said nothing in regards to it. Instead, they all silently focused on preparing themselves for what they were about to encounter.
They heard a loud 'poof' and a small slug appeared in front of them. Neji was familiar with it; it was one of Tsunade's summon. The slug slimed towards them, while another group of shinobi appeared behind it and joined the party. They were from several villages, and were most likely also called back to the battlefield.
"Is everyone here already?" the slug asked, surprising the other shinobi who'd never seen such a creature speak before.
"Yes," said a word beside Neji. Hinata had arrived sooner than he expected. He could make out the leftover trails of tears running down her cheeks, but her stance was still strong. At least she got to see Naruto before they were all dispatched.
"Excellent. The Strategies Unit has finally devised a way of stopping the resurrected bodies," the slug began, "Since it is impossible to kill them again, your only option is to bind them. You must restrict their movements as soon as you can, since the person behind the jutsu can easily control their actions. If they are confined, then they will not be able to attack you. The Unit is relying on your individual abilities in order to bind the resurrected bodies, giving you the freedom of planning the adequate attack according to the opponent. There are still no traces of Yakushi Kabuto's whereabouts, and we cannot risk sending out a search party when the numbers are needed in the frontlines. Therefore, bind as many resurrected bodies as you can so that we can send a party out to stop him!"
After the slug's speech, every shinobi gave one nod of approval, readying his or herself for the next battle. Although the creature had no facial features, Neji could feel that it was feeling confident with the group of shinobi in its presence.
"The Kages expect your best performances," it continued, "Yamanaka Inoichi will send you intel concerning your placements. You will head out to the coastline, where the First Division is, and wait for your orders. You are all dismissed."
The group of shinobi exited Turtle's Island and made its way towards the destination. Neji travelled alongside his teammates, keeping the same pace. He continuously gave glances to his relatives, who were a few steps ahead. Hiashi and Hinata kept giving each other looks, both with the Byakugan activated. Neji did the same, and he was already able to see the coastline of the Land of Lightning. There were several shionobi of the Alliance fighting against Zetsu's clones, and he felt anger at seeing those creatures once again.
With a loud scream as an introduction, Lee sent a roundhouse kick at a group of clones who were attacking ninjas from Sunagakure.
"Konoha's Beautiful Green Wild Beast has arrived!" he screamed, flying punches to the clones while Tenten shot several kunai with bomb seals attached. All the Alliance's shinobi retreated from the area right before the explosions went off, eliminating a large portion of the enemy's clones.
Crumbles and rubble flew in the air as the loud screams continued. With the arrival of reinforcements, the First Division was now at advantage. Neji spotted Darui, the Division's Commander, alongside other ninjas from Kumogakure. They were all fighting on the water, sending punches, weapons, and jutsus to Zetsu's clones.
That was when he noticed it.
Neji's eyes were deceiving him. He saw his father –his deceased father—ascend from the waters. His heart shrank at the sight of Hyūga Hizashi. His father looked just as Neji remembered him; his long hair, his stern expression, the curse seal on his forehead. The world froze in front of Neji as Hizashi walked towards the First Division. Although everyone else was taking notice of his arrival, Neji could only see his dad. The man who'd left him alone when he was just a child because of his duty. The man he'd never got to know that well, but whom he so wished to speak to.
"Tousan..." he muttered.
"Otouto," Hiashi said at the same time.
His uncle's voice took him out of his trance. Neji looked at Hiashi, who wore the same astonished expression as him. Hiashi looked more vulnerable than ever; he was encountering his deceased twin brother. Neji flickered his eyes back and forth between the brothers, taking notice of how his father and his uncle were like a mirror reflection. Hyūga Hizashi also looked shocked at seeing his family, but it wasn't soon before a team of the First Division's shinobi stood in front of the two living Hyūga and tried to attack the resurrected one.
Neji saw how his dad easily knocked them all out, with his Byakugan activated. He was being manipulated, Neji kept telling himself. Hizashi would've never harmed anyone that way. He'd given his life for the main house in order to protect his twin brother and niece. He would never willingly attack anyone who sided with Hiashi.
"Hizashi, listen to me!" his uncle's words seemed to change his father's expression. Hizashi finally looked over at his twin brother, taking notice of his current actions.
"Niisan."
Neji felt even more vulnerable hearing his father's voice. It reminded him of better times. Of times when he could cradle in Hizashi's arms, who would protect him of all the dangers of the outside world.
"I cannot believe the irony," Neji's dad continued, "I died in order to protect the main house, and look at me now. Here I stand, being manipulated in order to kill the people I meant to save."
Hinata's hand linked with Neji's. She was also shocked at seeing the deceased Hyūga coming back to the living world, and knew how much this meant to Neji.
"The lines between the branch and main house have blurred, brother of mine," Hiashi ran towards his brother, ready to attack, "Your son and my daughter are fighting alongside each other for a better future!"
The twins clashed, acting as a mirror reflection for one another. Neji witnessed his dad and uncle fight in the similar style. They had been most likely trained together during their youth. Hizashi's strikes were exactly the same as Hiashi's. If it wasn't because of the conditions of the fight, Neji would have chosen to observe his father's fighting style. However, Hinata called out his name and told him to prepare for their turn to attack. Reluctantly, Neji adopted the same stance as her.
The slug had ordered them to bind the resurrected body with the adequate attack. After years of training with Hinata, they'd both mastered one of the Hyūga clan's signature moves.
"Neji's here! He's a jōnin now!" Hiashi explained as he sent striking blows to his deceased twin.
Hizashi finally locked eyes with his only son. Neji had never felt so... so overwhelmed with emotions. He'd never expected to experience fighting in a war, let alone a war against his own father. Hizashi's stern expression softened at the sight of his son. He was shortly distracted by paying attention to Neji, and Hiashi took advantage of the situation. He quickly hit the right chakra points, disabling Hizashi to move any further. Then, he stood behind his twin brother and glanced over at Hinata and Neji.
"Do it now!" Hiashi ordered.
The young cousins prepared their clan's jutsu and were ready to attack when Hizashi spoke again.
"Neji... my son," he said, unable to move, "My one and only son. Look at you. You've grown into a respectable shinobi."
He wished he could sit down and speak with his father. They could talk about anything, it didn't matter. But Neji needed to bind him first, and the tears that stung his eyes would not deviate him from his duty as a shinobi. To hell with not showing emotions.
"Come on, niisan!" Hinata insisted.
Neji activated the Eight Trigrams Palm Revolving Heaven jutsu, creating a spinning dome around him. Hinata activated her Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, also creating a large dome around her body. The two cousins united their attacks and directed them to Hizashi, who received their combined efforts without defending himself. Hiashi ordered every shinobi who stood nearby to take steps back, as the cousins' Great Revolving Heaven took up a large radio. Neji gave his all with this attack, knowing that it would successfully bind his father from further attacking the Alliance's ninjas.
Perhaps he could still have a talk with him while the Strategy Unit figured out a plan to stop Kabuto's jutsu.
The Great Revolving Heaven left Hizashi in a weakened state. His skin was flaking off, as if it was make of paper. He looked physically degraded, but his eyes showed compassion to his only son.
"I am so proud of you, Neji," he said softly.
Darui reappeared with another group of shinobi who took care of encasing Hizashi inside a chakra binded glass cube. He would not be able to escape now.
Neji wished that everything would've been different. He wanted to know how it felt like having a father, but his duty to the Alliance was calling him. He glanced over at Hiashi, who looked just as saddened, and finally understood that his uncle had never despised his twin brother.
"The day when Hizashi sacrificed himself for our clan, you did not just lose your father. I also lost my brother."
Itachi said that they had to wait for a sign.
'Wait a few hours after we've departed Mountain's Graveyard.'
Sakura felt that chakra binding leather straps were no longer restricting her access to energy. With ease, she stripped them out of her wrists, once again feeling empowered by her own chakra. Oh, how she'd missed it flowing through her body! It was truly relieving, despite her current situation. She could still recall Sasuke's last words, and how desperate she'd gotten. He was going off to kill Naruto, and she was still stuck inside Madara's hideout. She needed to ignore her short-lived bliss and take action.
'Kabuto will most likely set up traps,' she remembered Itachi saying, 'You must be cautious when you travel out of the cave.'
Luckily, C was a highly skilled sensor type ninja. She grabbed his hand, interlacing their fingers. C gave her hand a squeeze, showing his support. They looked at each other's figures in the darkness, getting ready to escape the abandoned cave.
"I'm still not sure how you came up with this plan, but I trust you," he said.
'The path is simple. Rather than turning towards Kabuto's laboratory, turn to the opposite direction. It will lead you to a passageway that goes upwards.'
Sakura was not familiar with the Sharingan's greatness, but she would've never thought that Itachi could connect his vision with Sasuke's after the latter had taken possession of the former's eyes. She made a mental note of studying the kekkei genkai thoroughly once they escaped all of the horrors of the war. Her heartbeat was racing. She just wanted to get to Naruto before Sasuke, warn him about his former friend's upcoming arrival, and move on from kunoichi life.
"I trust you too, C," Sakura gave him a sincere smile.
C's idea of quitting their shinobi careers and becoming farmers had picked interest inside her mind. Sakura once told herself that she never wanted to experience the same amount of pain as her teammates, seeing how broken they'd gotten. This was her opportunity of running away from all the atrocities of being a kunoichi. She could start all over again, maybe finally fall in love with C and settle down with him. She could have the peace that her male teammates had always craved.
The darkened passageways had smoke lingering on their rock walls. She guessed that Sasuke had used his Fire Release jutsus with no reason, perhaps to test his newly acquired strength. Sakura guided C along the passageways, avoiding getting near the rock walls because they still felt hot.
'Once you find the passageway that goes up, follow it. You will end up in a large and spacious cave.'
Sakura's thighs were starting to feel sore from her constant running. She felt the ground tilting upwards, confirming Itachi's instructions. After many turns and twists, Sakura and C were finally leaving behind the place full of torture and nightmares. Her face adopted a nervous expression; she didn't know what else to expect. Itachi had warned her of the possibility that Kabuto had set up traps, but so far, they hand tencountered anything. Sasuke's flames had obviously taken care of several obstacles.
This whole task would have been much easier if Sasuke hadn't decided to tell her that he was off to kill Naruto. Sakura wouldn't have felt so desperate in saving her best friend. She needed to think everything thoroughly; Itachi had only given her the instructions once, how was she supposed to follow them when her mind was elsewhere? She could only think about the danger Naruto was going to be in when he encountered Sasuke. Her two former teammates, fighting to the death.
With that thought, Sakura tugged C's hand, telling him that they needed to hurry up. Time was going against them.
'Be careful in this cave. It is close to the exit, so Madara will most likely leave something in there.'
She halted in the middle of the hollow cave, taking full attention of all of her senses. If Itachi had been right, they were about to encounter their opponent. Sakura predicted several of Zetsu's clones, who seemed to never stop appearing. She looked around, her eyes still adjusted to the darkness of the Mountain's Graveyard. She;d never realized how deep inside the cave they'd been trapped in. Madara had chosen a good hideout; it was difficult finding a way out among the confusing passageways, but the main hollow cave indicated that one was near the exit.
Sakura's ears picked up the sound of something dripping on one corner. They were close to a water body, perhaps a lake or even the ocean. She still wasn't sure of the surroundings of Mountian's Graveyard; the memory of her studying the hideout was blurred. After the many torture sessions with Zetsu, she should've known that he fucked up with her memories. That bastard...
'You better be prepared for this part. Madara is unpredictable, and with Kabuto's help, they could be invincible. You and your cellmate hold valuable information. They will want to wipe you off the map mercilessly.'
The last time she'd felt the adrenalin of fighting an opponent had been with Chiyo-baasama. The old lady and she had worked amazingly together in order to defeat Sasori of Akatsuki. Sakura felt regret washing over her. She'd been forced into reincarnating the grandmother and grandson and to send them off to kill her loved ones. Biting her bottom lip, Sakura debated whether she should take her life at that moment, but C's interlaced fingers kept her from acting desperately.
No, she couldn't kill herself. She was supposed to survive this escape, give information to the Alliance, and then quit her life as a kunoichi and set up a hospital. The future was inviting her. She couldn't give up her opportunity. After all, it was Naruto the one who'd taught her to never give up. He had followed his nindo, and succeeded in saving their whole village.
"Sakura."
The alluded girl turned to look at her companion. His hand was still attached to hers, and his eyes were piercing through hers. Sakura noticed how she'd always been attracted to boys with dark eyes, how they contrasted with her colourful physical appearance. C took a step closer to her while she stood motionless. It was not the best time to let her guard down, but C was a sensor type and he could feel if anyone was approaching them, whether they were dead or alive.
"There's something I have to do," he continued, closing the space between the two.
Sakura had never thought that her first kiss was going to be with a guy from another village. Let alone, she'd never thought that it would happen inside the enemy's headquarters after spending an eternity incarcerated, tortured, and forced into labour. C's lips were warm over hers, inviting. She let go of his hand and embraced his torso, not fully knowing on how to properly kiss a guy. Sakura thought that her heart was also going to feel warm –or at least a little fuller. Feeling C's lips move on hers she'd known that it would take her time to get used to his intimate touch.
They would have a lot of time for that. Funny, she always imagined that Sasuke was going to be her first kiss. Although he'd already given his first kiss to Naruto back in the Academy, Sasuke was now too consumed in his darkness to give a damn about someone else. The only people he cared about were all dead, and he was soon going to join them.
There was no need of feeling this heavy weight on her chest. C would give her a brighter future, one where she could start all over again and learn how to love him. He would help her forget of all the horrors of Madara's hideout. Most of all, he would help her forget about her torn feelings towards Uchiha Sasuke.
Once their lips separated, Sakura's puzzled mind could not let her speak coherently. She, a chūnin, skilled medical ninja, the legendary Tsunade's apprentice, had been kissed in the least expected situation, "I... I..."
"Oh, how enchanting! The two cellmate lovers have finally taken another step!"
The taunting, disturbing voice interrupted the pair of young shinobi. Itachi had been right. A group of twenty of Zetsu's clones was making its way towards them, merging out of the dark rock walls. They all carried the same freaky grin that had haunted Sakura in so many of her nightmares. She was never going to forget those faces.
C took a protecting stance in front of her, pushing Sakura back a little and trying to cover her with his body. However, the girl heard a low chuckle coming from behind, and turned around to see another two bodies appearing from the cave's darkness. After working on their bodies, Sakura was already familiar with both their living and deceased selves.
"So we get to kill these too, hm," Deidara's blonde hair had returned to its original glow, but his skin was still a little decayed, "Doesn't matter. This place will blow up with my art."
"Your love for explosions hasn't changed, Deidara," Sasori was no longer covered up with his puppet body. He was standing beside the other Akatsuki member, both wearing dark cloaks that hid whatever techniques they had up their sleeves.
Sakura's blood froze. She was about to fight an opponent she'd defeated and then helped in bringing back to the living world. Her life could not take any more twists.
"Ah, it's Haruno Sakura," Sasori continued, taking steps towards the alluded girl.
"So this is who that Kabuto guy was referring to. Was she the one who killed you, hm?"
"Correct. It was her and the old Chiyo."
C's back touched hers. He could tell that she knew how to fight against the two deceased Akatsuki members based on their exchange of words.
'Beware. They may set one of us against you two. Be ready to fight strong opponents.'
The clones' ever-sounding chuckle was echoing loudly around the cave. Sakura knew –she just knew—that this was a set up. Kabuto would not just leave them to the mercy of some of Zetsu's clones and two reincarnated Akatsuki members. He'd probably planned something else to kill them.
C jumped on towards Zetsu's clones with a loud cry, ready to attack them. Sakura, whose back was still facing her companion, created a shadow clone that could act as her assistant. Her clone ran alongside C as well, aiming to attack the larger group. Her real self gathered enough amount of chakra on her palms –oh, how wonderful it felt to do this again!—and charged them towards the ground, causing a large crack that ran down to where Sasori and Deidara stood.
The two Akatsuki members jumped up as Deidara summoned a large clay bird. The material animal flew a few rounds around the top part of the cave. Sakura quickly charged chakra to her feet and ran up the rock walls, already preparing her next attack. She was low on weapons, so using them was out of the question. She needed to calculate her actions thoroughly in a short amount of time. Just as Deidara's clay bird neared the rock wall she was climbing, Sakura took a jump and landed on it.
She readied her right fist with enough chakra to punch Deidara out of his bird in order to take control, but the blond Akatsuki's smirk gave away his plan.
"It seems that this Kabuto guy knows our abilities, hm."
The clay bird flew down at a high speed, making Sakura lose balance and falling off, landing awkwardly on the ground. Her knees ached; she'd probably broken several bones in her legs. The pain that shot through her bottom half was almost unbearable. However, after Zetsu's torture sessions, Sakura had to remind herself that there were worse pains. She stood up, healing her broken bones with the right amount of chakra while trying to not waste her returned supply of energy. She watched as C had taken down several of Zetsu's group alongside her shadow clone; they were down to nine out of the twenty members. One of Zetsu's clones attacked her own, making it disappear in a 'poof.'
Dismissing her task of taking care of Deidara and Sasori, Sakura made her way to C and aided him in finishing off the last remains of Zetsu's clones. With her chakra scalpels, Sakura felt a rush of blood shooting through her veins. After an eternity, she was finally using her specialty again. Her arms were throwing punches to every direction, hitting the right spots to eliminate the opponent. C was also giving his full strength in this fight; she could hear his loud battle cries that accompanied every blow he sent.
"We need to bind them!" her voice shouted, sending one last punch to her opponent.
She was panting. Her body had lost the habit of being in battle after her time as a prisoner. Although Sakura was aware that her mind was losing some of its sanity, her intelligence was still intact. Kabuto had never mentioned her on how to stop the bodies of his Edo Tensei, but Itachi had.
'When –if— you end up fighting one of his reincarnated bodies, you know that they cannot die twice. Your best option is to seal them away by confining them in a place where they cannot escape.'
C nodded, understanding that after they were done with Zetsu's clones they should focus on sealing away Deidara and Sasori. Sakura was aware of the Akatsuki members' abilities; one focused on explosions, whereas the other on puppets. She figured that the ideal option would be to make Deidara cause a large explosion in the cave and leave them trapped inside it. It sounded like the simplest plans, but with the wort repercussions. She would be putting herself and C on the line.
"C, I have a plan!" she announced with a serious tone.
However, Kabuto had already thought about her plan. The next scene that unfolded in front of Sakura's eyes was the one that she would never forget.
'Fight to the best of your abilities and you two will come out alive.'
Deidara and Sasori flew towards them on the large clay bird. The young shinobi ducked, avoiding being touched by the animal. Then, Sakura felt C grab her by the arm and gesturing her to run towards a tunnel that was found amidst the darkness of the cave. He led the way, ignoring the last words she'd said about having a plan. Just as C was about to enter the tunnel and see the light of the outside world, Sakura noticed a thin string tied from one side to another.
She could not stop him before he stepped on it. Sakura heard the clay bird let out a loud cry, and she covered her head as the sound of explosions began.
BOOM!
Sasori specialized in controlling his puppets through his chakra strings. Deidara specialized in setting up explosives. No wonder they'd been teamed up in the living world; Sasori and Deidara made art out of their specialties. They made art out of controlling bombs.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A chain of explosives set off from the deeper end of the cave, making its way towards the tunnel where C and Sakura found themselves in. She channeled chakra to her feet again in order to run faster, and was about to tell C to do the same. However, the young shinobi had chosen to pick her up from the ground and throw her towards the end of the tunnel, where sunlight was visible. Then White Zetsu's clones appeared. They grabbed C by the arms, sporting the same sadistic smile that would eternally haunt Sakura. They held him back, made him get a larger impact from the explosions while she was thrown out of the cave's exit.
While her eyes were still open, she witness how the top of Mountain's Graveyard started to crumble down. Dust took over the air surrounding Madara's headquarters, so Sakura had to cover her nose with her forearm. Quickly, she stood up and noticed that C was beside her. The clones had thrown him out as well, just mere seconds after her. She took a hold of his hand and led him towards the trees to find protection from the crumbles that fell down the mountain. Sakura didn't want to look back; they weren't inside anymore, they didn't need to look back.
There was no sight of Deidara or Sasori, proving that they didn't get to escape from the cave.
A sense of relief washed over Sakura as she saw the place where torture, pain and nightmares fell down. Nonetheless, there was still a heavy weight on her heart and she could not help but think about the special bond she created inside that cave with the man who would bring her salvation. She could not forget the exchange of words shared with Sasuke, either. Sakura needed to stop him. She caught up to her breath, still holding on to C's hand. After a short pause, Sakura decided to continue escaping from the surrounding areas as debris would soon catch up to her and C.
However, her companion did not seem to want to keep running. Sakura turned around when C's legs hadn't moved, and was shocked at the sight she witnessed.
"No, no. C, we have to keep moving," she encouraged him desperately.
C's entire torso was covered in blood. His white flak jacket was stained in crimson red, exposing several bruises caused by the explosion. There were large injuries that traveled down, hitting every single one of his vital organs. His face was completely beaten up. He was having hard time breathing through his nose and mouth, as they were probably clogged with blood as well.
Knowing how much it hurt for C to move, she decided to carry him on her back. She quickly settled his arms around her neck and took a hold of his legs while he groaned in agonizing pain. The sound vaguely reminded her of when they first met, when he helped her escape from the leather straps that confined her to the ground. Sakura was trying to keep her mind neutral, but C's blood was soaking the back of her green flak jacket as life was draining away from him.
She ran a few miles straight, not entirely sure of where it would lead them. Once she was satisfied with the distance between them and the last remains of the Mountain's Graveyard, Sakura settled C down to the ground, propping his back against a tree. She quickly took the role of being the medic nin, even though she knew that he could heal himself. The injuries were extremely severe, though. A weak faint of green chakra glowed from her hands and she placed them near his chest, trying to heal his internal bruising.
"It's okay, it's okay," she repeated to herself and to C. The young man, on the other hand, unexpectedly showed a smirk on his bruised features. It looked out of place; that cheerful expression did not belong in a face full of pain like his.
C was not one of her several patients from the Medical Division back in the Shinobi Alliance. He was not one of her usual daily checkups from the Konoha Hospital. He was not Naruto, who could easily recuperate with the Kyūbi's chakra. He was not Sasuke, who had marked her past. C was meant to be her future. Her could-have, should-have.
But he was not going to make it.
"Heh, life is funny. I've spent all these years not liking you Konoha nin. And now look at me: I saved one of them. I saved her... I saved you because of all the hope you've brought to me for a better future, even though I won't make it. Sakura... Sakura, you... you brought me hope and love. I... I'm happy to die seeing the face of the one I love. Just—just don't look away. I want to s-see your eyes." C coughed up blood. His internal organs were failing him, and there was nothing Sakura could do.
"Don't cry, Sakura..."
She just cradled him in her weak arms. His heart was beating less and less, and Sakura held on to C's dying body. He was stroking her cheek with his bloodstained fingers, mixing the blood with Sakura's thick tears. She had to gulp her cries, but it was difficult trying to restrain her emotions. C was dying because of her. He sacrificed for her sake.
"I love you too! Please, please don't leave me, C. I beg you. Don't give up, please... don't..."
"Be happy. Promise me... you will find happiness. Find love like I found it in you," he continued speaking. Even in his deathbed, C knew that her words were not true. She had never loved him like she loved Sasuke.
"I can... I can s-save you! My chakra has returned... S-stay with me," she insisted. Speaking her words was becoming difficult with all the pain she felt inside. She was stroking his hair, like she'd done so many times before when they were together inside their cell. Sakura had known that those moments were soon to be over, but she never thought that they would end like this. C wasn't meant to die –she was. He was meant to live, to find a pretty wife, to survive. Sakura was meant to be in his place. She'd lost too much already.
"No. Save yourself, Sakura... We're shinobi. We're meant to die," C coughed out more blood. His eyes were drifting away from hers. She wanted to shake him, to insist on him staying awake. But he couldn't; once his eyes closed, he was never going to wake up again. "I've completed my mission... I served my village and my Raikage faithfully. I've become a strong shinobi who fought for what he believed... I'm leaving happy..."
C closed his eyes. And Sakura wailed a cry of pain. She'd lost a comrade, a friend, a partner. She held on to C's lifeless body, burying her tear stained face in the nape of his neck. His heart stopped beating while he lay there, sleeping. The enormous bruise in his stomach left his whole outfit stained with blood, and some of it stained Sakura's as well. She didn't care. She didn't care at all. She'd just lost one of her precious people. C was never coming back. His touch, his support, his protection, they were all gone.
Sakura was left alone. And she finally understood. She finally understood the pain Naruto and Sasuke lived with. It consumed her insides, making her want to rip her skin away from her bones. Sakura could now understand why dying was not so frightening for her teammates; they'd suffered so much during their lives that dying would only bring them peace. Yet, she didn't want to die. She didn't want them to die, either. Her eyes went over C's lifeless features; his face had a peaceful expression, like as if he died without pain. He'd been strong until his last breath.
She laid a small kiss on his cold lips, remembering the time when they imagined a life together, away from the Shinobi world. He'd been her first kiss. Even though their relationship had been born out of the desperate need of having another human being, C was her first kiss and he would never stop living in her memories.
She slowly stood up, and carefully picked up C's body from the remains near the Mountain's Graveyard. With tears still running down from her eyes, she moved him away from the cave. Away from the destruction; from war; from the explosives that took away his life. Sakura walked, walked, and walked. Her arms carried C's heavy corpse ignoring the soreness that appeared. She walked, crying, broken, until she reached the sea. It was a trip that she did without knowing where she was going. Nonetheless, once the air of the ocean filled her lungs, Sakura knew that she was in the right spot.
Although her chakra channels worked perfectly now, she couldn't bring herself to prepare an elaborate shrine for her fallen friend. She wasn't Yamato; her wood release abilities weren't that developed. After she placed C's body beside a small rock that was near the ocean, she grabbed another, sharp stone that lay on the sand. It had the perfect edge. Sakura glanced over at C's bloodstained corpse, hoping that he would open his eyes and give her one of his arrogant smirks.
It didn't happen. And she hated herself for not being able to save him.
'You can't save them all, Sakura,' Tsunade had once told her. But the pain was still there. And so, she started carving on the large rock.
Here lies a shinobi who died protecting what he treasured.
His body was taken away by the waves. It's in a better place now.
Never forget what you stand for. Save it with your life.
In loving memory of C of Kumogakure.
Sakura's trembling arms started pushing C's body towards the water, while the waves rocked back and forth. After many pushes, C was finally taken in by the calm ocean. His body floated, getting cleaned with the purity of the water. Sakura tried cleaning her tears with the back of her forearm, but there was no use; the blood from her bruises only stained her face. Her eyes never left C's floating figure until he was far gone.
"You can't save them all, Sakura," she told herself, "But you can save their legacy."
Sakura started walking along the coastline, with a new destiny. With a determined expression, she took off her flak jacket, knowing that she will need to travel lightly. All the necessary weapons and materials were placed inside her thigh pouch. She took her leather gloves out of the pouch as well, putting them on her crimson hands. She knew who to find. Who was next.
Naruto's destiny was to be the Hokage and die his village protecting his loved ones. Sasuke's destiny was to purify his fallen clan, even if it meant killing himself in the process. Sakura's heart tugged at the thought of losing another two of her most important people, but she couldn't guarantee to survive this war either.
Her destiny was to kill Zetsu, and avenge all the pain he'd inflicted on C and on her.
But before that, she needed to see two old friends who were about to set a battle that was embedded in their relationship.
With that thought, Sakura started to run towards the forest. It would take her a few days before reaching the headquarters of the Shinobi Alliance, she needed to find shortcut to where Naruto and Sasuke would be. However, she didn't know where they were going to meet, or how they were going to meet. Naruto would most likely still be inside Turtle's Island under protection, but Sasuke would not want to make a grand entrance in front of the five Kages and an army of chunnin and jōnin level shinobi.
She had to think. Judging by the vegetation, the Land of Fire was far, far away from where Madara's hideout had been. There was no way that they would carry their fighting near the territory of the newly built Konoha. They were meant to meet in another place that held meaning to them both. Her legs started to run faster, finally leaving behind the sight of the soft waves that had taken C's body away from the atrocities of the living world. She suddenly remembered the close distance between Mountain's Graveyard and the Land of Sound.
Oto had been founded by Orochimaru. For two and a half years, Sasuke had done all of his training there. If Sasuke still had a trace of his old mentality, then he would've chosen the Land of Sound as their battlefield. However, the country was still too large to explore in such a short amount of time. Sakura needed to get to Naruto quickly. Before Sasuke did.
She decided to follow her intuition. It would take her towards the two boys.
HELLOOOOO EVERYBODY. You have NO idea how messed up my life has gotten, really. I am so thankful of being back in ffnet after a two month break due to school and work. It's been so long since I last updated, and it has given me time to think about this story as well. With the way the manga is going, I thought that there was no point in continuing this but I'd really like to have my alternate version of the ending :') Nevertheless, Kishimoto-sensei is the one with the final word -my writing is just for fan purposes and I do not make a living out of this.
The Neji part is a smaller version of the whoooole chapter I had written for him. I don't know what came into my senses when I wrote it, but it turned out TOO long! So I decided to take the important parts only and add them on to a more important chapter. As for the chapter based on Team Asuma, I will touch upon that later on, once we get over the main parts.
I know a lot of you guessed that C was going to die. It wasn't the original plan. At first, he was supposed to survive with Sakura and try to start a relationship with her but I figured that making him die will bring Sakura closer to Naruto and Sasuke. She's the only member of Team 7 who hasn't experienced the death of a loved one, or who hasn't suffered to the same degree. I found that by making her care about someone as much as C, whom she thought of sharing a bright future in spite of not being romantically attached to him, she would grow as a character and human being; she would understand Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi much better. She will not turn OOC though, trust me, I'm working on keeping her in character! This is such a fun challenge, haha.
A part of me is afraid of losing followers due to C's death, but you know what? War is war; the people we want to see survive never do. The saviours have to go. Otherwise Minato and Kushina, Itachi, and Rin would still be alive, right?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this massive chapter! Oh, and look up the poem by Laurence Binyon :)
sincerely,
MSM
Ps: PM me if you find any mistakes!