White Kunai
Chapter 27- Poison
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A few hours ago
Light streamed through the cracks in the blinds and Hinata shut her eyes tighter in an attempt to stop sleep from leaving her. She blindly stretched out her hand across the bed, searching for familiar warmth. Finding none she let out a deep sigh before slowly opening her eyes. The pillow beside her was just that- a pillow.
Hinata sat up, stretching and glancing around for her husband. She heard the sounds of clasps being shut and zippers being zipped and everything clicked into place.
"The mission!" she whispered with a gasp. Immediately she flung herself out of bed, hastily fixing her shirt as she threw open the bedroom door and rushed into the living room, breathing quite heavily.
Naruto looked up from where he was positioned on a single knee as he tightened his shoes. He gave her a grin so lovely that Hinata felt all the disappointment of his not waking her to say goodbye leave her.
"Morning, Hinata," he said, standing up to his full height.
She tried to recompose herself and held her arms at her sides, her hands curled into small fists, her mouth set into a frown. Naruto couldn't help but smile at the sight of his petite wife's bed hair messily draped behind her, his shirt hanging loosely and precariously off one of her shoulders, and her lips looking oh-so-kissable.
"I see you're awake," he said with a chuckle.
"No thanks to you," she said softly, her voice laced with just a hint of irritation.
"You were sleeping so peacefully," he said, making his way slowly towards her. "I didn't want to bother you," he said, his voice deep. Now he was standing right in front of her, their bodies close but not touching.
"You still should have woke me," she said, trying to keep up her angry façade. He could see her slipping.
He leaned down so he could feel the breath leaving her mouth. "I shouldn't be gone long," he said, staring into her eyes, and giving her what he hoped to be a seductive smirk.
He saw her eyes wander to his lips and it took most of his self control to not kiss her senseless then and there. The rest of his self-control was to make sure he didn't start laughing.
"Oh," she said quietly, suddenly unable to remember why she was standing so stiffly and angrily before her husband. Naruto finally broke, the humble syllable she uttered pushing away his self-control like simple dominos.
"I love you," Naruto said firmly, this time pushing himself against her completely, wrapping his arms around her tightly. Hinata immediately responded to the embrace, pressing her face into his chest and holding onto Naruto.
"Please come back safely," she mumbled into his vest.
He ran his fingers through her silky but tangled hair. "Hey, c'mon Hinata," he said but she refused to let go of him, shaking her head. He laughed but loved having her in his embrace. "Aren't you at least going to let me say goodbye to the baby?" he asked softly, rubbing small circles on her back with his hands.
She let out a defeated sigh before pulling away slightly, looking up at him with sad eyes. "No matter how many days we have before one of us leaves for a mission, they never seem long enough do they?" she asked.
"No, they don't," he admitted, kissing her on the forehead before getting down onto his knees and gently caressing her rounded stomach, whispering kind words of goodbye to his growing child. "I'll see you soon," he finished, looking up at her.
"You better," she said resolutely.
"Do I get a kiss before I go?" he asked teasingly.
"I'm not sure you deserve one," she said with a hint of a smile. "After all you were going to leave without waking me."
He chuckled. "I would have come to say goodbye, you know that."
She smiled before entwining her arms around his waist and standing on tiptoes to reach his lips. He leaned down slightly to meet her halfway, kissing her soundly. They stood there for a few minutes, their lips moving against each other's before Naruto reluctantly pulled away.
"I should get going," he said with a grimace.
She only nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She looked away, surprised to feel tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. He placed a finger on her chin and gently turned her head so she was looking at him once more.
"Hinata…"
"I know, I know," she said, letting out a forced laugh. "I can't help but get like this before missions. Especially when I know how horrible that…that stupid village is," she said with a stomp of her foot.
"I lov-"
"I love you," she interrupted, pulling him down to a fierce kiss, sending sparks down to his toes, rooting him to the spot. As soon as the shock left he gathered her into his arms, kissing her back with just as much fire. She felt a flame burning inside her. A hot, burning heat, spreading through her body.
She felt a kick from her growing baby, which quickly extinguished the fire. She pulled away, breathing heavily. "I don't think he wants you to leave either," Hinata said, her breathing ragged, as she placed a hand on the curve of her stomach.
Naruto laughed, before kissing her softly once more. "I have a feeling this isn't the last time this kid is going to stop us when it's starting to get all hot and heavy," Naruto said bluntly causing Hinata's face to light up. He held her face in his hands, rubbing his thumb against her reddened cheeks. "I should really get going," he repeated.
"Stay out of trouble," she said.
"You too," Naruto said, as he turned to the door. She stood where she was, her arms wrapped around her body. The cold air hit her as soon as Naruto left.
"Good bye," she said with a soft smile.
He smiled at her, the image of Hinata standing there, with mussed up hair and a wrinkled shirt, looking, to him, radiant as ever. "Bye Hinata, see you soon."
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It was late in the afternoon now and Hinata was spending some time tending to the garden she shared with Naruto. She hoped this would be a good way to get her mind off of the fact that her husband was probably far away in some dangerous situation and that she was sitting at home doing absolutely nothing of importance.
Well, that's what she thought at least.
Hinata huffed, thrusting the tool she was holding into the soft dirt. It stood tall, almost like a flag and she stared at the little wooden handle, her mind whirling. She picked up a clump of dirt between two fingers, crumbling it, not caring if it dirtied her clothes.
She shouldn't be here. She glared at the trowel as if it were the source of her current misery. As if it was forcing her to remain in the village. Stuck here like it was stuck in the dirt.
She should be fighting side by side with Naruto, facing troubles together.
A nudge in her stomach reminded her of why that was not so.
She brought her slightly soiled fingers to her already grass stained shirt. She was wearing another one of Naruto's old black shirts adorned with an orange spiral. It was familiar and comfortable and she paired it with slightly loose and worn pants. She placed the palm of her hand lightly on the spot she felt her child kick.
"Hey there," she cooed. "Are you worried about your daddy too?" Hinata didn't expect a response but sometimes it was very calming for her to know there was another life growing inside of her. A life she created with Naruto.
A warm breeze made her plants sway gently in the wind and some of her hair tickle her cheek. Suddenly she perked up, hands on her thighs, eyes alert.
She could have swore she heard someone say her name. It sounded far off and muffled and she tried to listen harder.
"Hello?" she called out to no one, feeling silly. It was probably nothing. Maybe one of the neighbors or some person walking by. There was no response and she sat still for a few more seconds in case someone did call for her.
No one did.
She blew some of her bangs up and slouched slightly. Maybe she was just feeling lonely. She thought about visiting one of her friends.
Maybe Sakura-chan? She shook her head. She was most likely busy with Sarada and Sasuke. She thought about her teammates, Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru, but was pretty sure they were off on a mission. She knew Ino and Sai were busy with the baby coming along, the same going for Choji and Karui.
Hinata leaned forward and took a few of her flowering plants into her hand, running her thumb across the soft petals.
Shikamaru was busy with things having to do with the village and his pregnant wife. Hinata laughed softly. It was as though all of her friends decided to have kids at the same time. Her thoughts wandered to Neji's team. She was pretty sure Lee was free but didn't feel particularly up to keeping up with his enthusiastic self. She smiled. It would be a good way to keep her mind from worrying. Perhaps Tenten would be with him. She was just about decided on that when she remembered that Hanabi would be returning from a mission later this day.
"Would you like to visit your aunt sometime today?" Hinata spoke aloud once more. "We can go tonight for dinner." She moved aside a few of her tools and pushed a few plants aside to look at some of the herbs she planted. They were peppered with dark spots and the leaves were hanging flaccidly.
"Do you know why mommy's plants are all wilted?" Hinata questioned, hand resting on her stomach once more.
"No, your kid probably doesn't but I sure do."
Hinata whipped around, heart thundering in her chest and stared at the two strangers before her. She turned around, still on the ground and inched her fingers towards her gardening tools. She had to remain calm.
"Who are you?"
Before her stood a slender woman with dark red hair, wearing long sleeved, tight black clothes and long boots. There was a crescent moon shaped insignia on her chest that triggered a memory in her head.
"You were the woman that attacked Naruto-kun and-" Hinata started.
"Yes, yes," she waved her off. "I attacked you two when you guys were on your way to the Village of Ash. With a few other men at my command." She placed her hands on her hips. "Let's get past all the formalities shall we?"
Hinata remained silent, fingers wrapping around what she thought were shears but she dared not look.
The woman gestured towards the dark haired man standing behind her. He too was dressed in all black but was not wearing any insignia. No he wasn't wearing anything that would identify him with a clan. "This here is Jiyuu," she said. "Does he look familiar?"
Hinata stared at his expressionless face, eyes partially hidden by a pair of glasses. He did look familiar but she couldn't place it.
The man scoffed. "That's fine. I didn't expect you to remember. No one gives much notice to people like me, let alone use up precious brain power to remember me."
"No, I…" Hinata trailed off. "I'm sorry?" She winced. She was sure her tone of voice wouldn't go unnoticed. She could feel a dark aura upon the two before her. They had malicious intentions in mind and she hoped that one of her friends would be nearby. Someone Naruto ordered to watch her. Maybe even a passing neighbor would decide to visit.
Hinata swallowed. She hated feeling this vulnerable.
One hand lay on the bump of her stomach and the other clenched tightly around the only weapon she could think of. Right now she had to buy time with words. As much as she wished she could fight through this she knew it would be futile. Fighting would only increase the chance that some type of harm would befall her child or herself. She would not allow that to happen.
Before she could speak the woman answered the question she hadn't expected a response to. "You asked why your plants were wilted, eh Hyuga?"
Hinata swallowed and gave one stiff nod. "Uzumaki," she whispered heatedly.
The woman chuckled. "Mm, well your husband isn't here to protect you at the moment right? I've done research on you. You could hold your own just fine against a small army I'm sure, but how's the baby?" Hinata clenched her teeth. "Don't want to over exert yourself, huh? Harm might befall the kid." She smirked and the man beside her chuckled as if sharing an unspoken joke. It made Hinata's blood run cold. "Miscarriages…can be more common than you'd hope."
That was a threat if she ever heard one. Her words pierced her like knives but they rang true. She felt so frustrated. She was confident she could have taken this talkative woman in front of her. She felt slight movement in her stomach and she closed her eyes briefly. No harm would befall the child she had growing inside of her. Not if she could help it.
Naruto had to have told someone to watch over her. Her husband had complained for the past few months about the lack of Anbu but she knew he would have had at least one of their friends watching over her. She bit her bottom lip, trying to keep her breathing steady whilst her heart continued to beat hard in her chest.
Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened.
The moment she thought she heard someone call her name…
"What did you do to my friend?" Hinata asked, her voice peppered with malice.
"Ah, you're smart," Scarlett said. "No one's coming to help you."
Hinata said nothing. She wanted to ask more but in a way she didn't want to know what they did to the person that was supposed to be watching her. She waited for an explanation. Waited for anything that wasn't this.
"Well, you see I have this weird ability," the woman named Scarlett said, plopping down suddenly on the ground. She crossed her legs and stared at Hinata, her eyes piercing and holding no tenderness. "My body can produce this poison in small amounts," she went on, acting as though they were old friends having a normal conversation. "It's a bit complicated. Something to do with my genes. It's this rare protein or enzymatic disorder, I forget exactly," she rolled her eyes. "You'd think I'd do more research on this huh?" she laughed. "We tested out the poison on a few Konoha ninja some time back. Was it two years ago, Jiyuu?" she asked, turning to look at her companion. He shrugged. "Well, anyway, it was a team of three and I was able to slip the poison into one of their water containers," she sat up straighter, a triumphant look on her face. "I might have used a bigger dose than needed but it doesn't matter. All you need to know is I've used the poison on your family as well."
Hinata felt her body go cold. She felt her grip loosen on the shears as the impact of what the words uttered by this Scarlett woman meant hit her. "You poisoned us?"
"Exactly," she said with a smile. "Well, indirectly. I didn't give you or your husband the poison in its fully concentrated amount," she laughed. "After all, you are still standing, aren't you?"
Hinata remained silent. Her thoughts wandered to all the times she felt sick. She thought it might have been because of the pregnancy but even then she had an inkling it was something else. Each time she felt sick she would be…she would be…
Hinata's eyes widened.
Hey dying plants.
"You poisoned the soil…" she whispered.
Scarlett clapped happily. "Wow, good job. We have an intelligent one here, Jiyuu," she said, sounding impressed. Hinata briefly wondered why the man called Jiyuu was so silent. He was casually walking on top of her plants without a care in the world, leaving footprints in the soil. Scarlett turned and looked at Hinata once again, her hands clasping her knees. "So, what else did you figure out?"
Hinata swallowed but her throat suddenly felt very dry. She shook her head. "That's all."
Scarlett pouted. "Pity."
"Get on with it," Jiyuu spoke. "We don't know how much time we have. Her husband could be coming back at any moment. We wasted enough time taking out the weapons master."
Hinata couldn't suppress a gasp. "Tenten?" She knew Naruto had someone following her but now putting a name to the person…
"Is that her name?" Scarlett asked. "Brunette? Wears a cute little dress? Braid?"
"What did you do to her?" Hinata said with a shaky voice, blood running cold.
"She's still alive if that's what you're asking," Scarlett informed. "She was lingering around and we couldn't have that. I didn't want to cause a ruckus though and was able to inject her with enough poison so her chakra would fall. She's unconscious." Scarlett laughed. "Let me tell you, it was difficult to sneak up on that girl. That's why it took so long. It's just chakra exhaustion. She should live."
"You poisoned her too?" Hinata said, her voice getting louder. "How-how could you!" she felt a surge of anger flow through her body and threw the object she held in her hand, quickly grabbing the other one and scrambling to her feet as fast as she could, stumbling slightly onto her plants.
Unsurprisingly the two before her dodged the projectiles and they landed haphazardly around the garden.
"How rude!" Scarlett said, watching the pregnant woman breathe heavily, her face a mask of hurt, worry, and anger. "We aren't here to hurt you."
"That's a laugh," Hinata said, voice icy.
"It's true," Jiyuu spoke. "I have no intention in harming you if you come along quietly."
"Like I haven't heard that before," Hinata whispered with a hiss. "And what happens if I do come quietly? You may not be lying but words can hide true motives. They can be dressed up to conceal their malevolence. You say you won't hurt me here. You won't hurt me if I don't fight to get away. But what happens when I am in your mercy? What then?"
She saw the mans eyebrows rise.
"Oh she has a fire, this one," Scarlett said, looking impressed.
Jiyuu ignored his partner. "My goal is to punish your husband."
Hinata curled her hands into fists, staring at the foes before her angrily. "Why?"
Scarlett giggled. "Husband a touchy subject?"
Hinata didn't respond.
"You're loyal," Jiyuu said. "I admire that. But there is something I want him to suffer for."
"I'm going to just guess here," Hinata said, voice laced with sarcasm. "This has to do with the killings back in the Village of Ash?"
"But of course," Jiyuu said. "One killing in particular." He was silent as if waiting for HInata to ask which. But she refused to give him that satisfaction. "Tsuma."
Hinata looked at him incredulously. "Otto's wife? How- what-?"
"He'll explain all that later," Scarlett said. "Aren't you worried about the poison coursing through your body?"
Hinata clenched her teeth. "What are you going to do to Naruto?"
"As I said before, I intend to punish him," Jiyuu said vaguely.
"How do you know Tsuma?" Hinata tried again.
Scarlett let out an exasperated breath. "I'm sure your husband will have the same questions when we're all reunited and stuff," the woman said, waving her hands as if the things going on were no big deal. "Why should Jiyuu waste his breath, not to mention his time, having to explain things twice? And anyway, you really aren't acting as though the poison is the pressing matter," Scarlett said, looking a faint bit offended. "It was hard work sneaking in here when no one was around."
"Fine," Hinata relented. "Tell me more about this poison." She hoped to waste as much time as she could. Even if she could only save a few seconds, those few seconds could be precious. She didn't know Naruto's condition but she knew as soon as he figured out that she was in danger he would return to their home in a flash.
Scarlett smiled. "You're pregnant, am I right?"
Hinata almost rolled her eyes. She placed a hand on her stomach.
Scarlett laughed. "Well, care to explain where a kunoichi's chakra gets concentrated while she's carrying a baby?"
Hinata felt herself go cold, hoping what she was thinking would not come true. "It's around the child," she murmured.
Scarlett smirked. "Well the poison doesn't travel singularly through blood. Remember when I said I poisoned your friend Tonton or whoever? I said it did something to her chakra? No, no. This poison doesn't only travel through blood…it primarily travels by chakra."
Hinata's breath hitched. My baby.
"T-tell me what the antidote is," she didn't even care that she stuttered before an enemy. Her child's life was on the line. The danger was no longer an external one. No…this time she was the danger.
Scarlett laughed. "Like we would make it that easy."
"Please-" Hinata said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll-"
"And this is why you will come quietly," Jiyuu said, finally speaking once more. "We are your only hope at obtaining the cure. Fighting us-excuse me. Trying to fight us would be futile as well as a pointless waste of time. Both mine, and yours. The longer you wait the closer you are to killing your child."
Hinata shivered but there was no breeze. She felt as though the world had simply stopped. She stared at the ground with unseeing eyes, trying to think of anything that could get her out of this situation. She felt a burning in her eyes and she blinked away tears. Nothing. She could think of nothing.
"What do you want me to do?" she said so quietly the other two people before her had to lean in to here.
"Well, just for fun I want you to leave your dear Naruto a short letter saying good bye," Scarlett said looking mischievous.
"I thought time was of the essence," Hinata said stiffly.
"That's why I said 'short letter,'" Scarlett said, rolling her eyes as though it were obvious. "Well, come on," Scarlett said, gesturing towards the door. "No need to waste too much time." Scarlett made her way to the back door, stomping purposefully on some of Hinata's plants.
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"Yea, that's good," Scarlett said, looking over Hinata's shoulder as she wrote Naruto a note with shaky hands. "Good, good, don't give anything away. We don't want to spoil the surprise, right?"
Hinata kept her mouth shut tightly and finished off signing the letter. Her sight was blurry because of the unshed tears in her eyes but the paper she held in her hands was already running with ink in spots where her tears fell.
Scarlett slipped Hinata an envelope and Hinata gently folded the paper with care before snuggly placing the letter inside.
Scarlett paused. "You know what? Leave your ring."
Hinata frowned. "What?"
"Your ring, your ring," Scarlett said with a roll of her eyes. "Leave it behind. Next to the letter. I think it'll make your husband more upset."
Hinata clenched her teeth and stared at the woman with hard eyes. She gently worked the band wrapped off her finger, struggling slightly because it hadn't been removed in so long. When it finally slipped off she stared at the strip of skin lighter than the rest before running a finger gently across the metal, the engravings feeling slightly rough against the rest of the smooth, cold material. No one other than herself and her husband knew about the engraving in her wedding band. Naruto wanted to be sure he could be at her side in case anything went wrong.
I'm sorry, Naruto. Hinata sadly placed the ring inside the envelope unwillingly. She arranged the envelope neatly on the table before wiping her eyes and glancing around the kitchen.
Jiyuu was nowhere to be seen.
Before she could voice her observation the said man walked in through the back door. Hinata briefly wondered what he could have been doing there but the thought was quickly erased from her mind.
"Ready?" he asked the two women, one smiling broadly and the other trembling. He shut the backyard door gently behind himself.
"Ready," Scarlett said, grasping Hinata on the arm and hoisting her to her feet. "Well, now we should really get going."
"The antidote?" Hinata dared to ask.
"Really determined, huh?" Scarlett asked.
Hinata thought this would be obvious and easily understood but said nothing once again.
"Anyway, no antidote for you right now," Scarlett said. "We have to start trekking through that damned forest. I hope you're a talker because Jiyuu really isn't and I don't want to get bored."
Hinata remained quiet as the two lead her out of her home, still neat and pristine. Almost as though nothing happened in it.
"Maybe we can try and figure out why the poison didn't work on your husband," Scarlett went on.
Hinata turned her head sharply. "Naruto-kun's poisoned as well?"
Scarlet looked at her confused. "I thought you were smart. The poison was in your soil and in turn in your plants. I'm sure you used it in your cooking. So yes, he was poisoned as well. Did he feel no symptoms?"
Hinata fell silent and Scarlett didn't push the inquiry.
No, no he didn't feel symptoms, Hinata thought to herself. She stared up at the sky as they walked towards the forest. The sky was blue. Why was it blue? Hinata thought they should be gray and hazy. That's how she felt. How could the world be so cheerful when her family was in danger? How could it be so indifferent to her suffering? Her friend was somewhere unconscious from chakra exhaustion. Her husband was in one of the places she hated most in the world. And the baby she was supposed to be nurturing was trying to thrive in her diseased body.
"Don't worry, we'll get you over that wall easily," Scarlett went on, pulling Hinata back to reality. What the red haired woman was talking about she didn't care to figure out.
She placed her hand on a spot she felt slight movement from her child.
Naruto's child.
Their child.
She bit her lip. She would do whatever she had to do to protect the life growing inside her.
And she knew Naruto would do the same but for some reason that thought wasn't as comforting as it should have been.
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-Magma
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Up Next: Falling
"The dark haired woman before her looked dead. Her face was streaked with tears but her expression was despairingly empty."