White Kunai
Chapter 28- Falling
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Naruto stared at his garden in disbelief. The sun was starting to just set beyond the horizon casting shadows into his heart. His wife and unborn child were gone.
His hands curled into fists and he clenched his teeth together.
Like hell he would let someone take his family away.
That's right kit, Kurama hissed in his mind. Never allow a predator to threaten your skulk.
Naruto looked closer at the trowel stuck in the dirt. He walked closer and noticed two holes in the dirt. It was stabbed there twice and now it pierced through a parchment of paper. He carefully picked it up with narrowed eyes.
Let me take the rein, said Kurama before Naruto could read what was written. I'll be sure to punish-
"No," Naruto said harshly. He could feel Kurama's lust for blood…or maybe it was his own feeling seeping into the fox. He wasn't sure and he didn't care. "No," he repeated. "I'll get her back. We'll get them back."
Naruto returned his attention to the scrap of paper in his hands and squinted trying to make out the rushed writing under the last of the receding sunlight.
If you find this paper then good. It'll save you mindless hours of searching for your wife. And child, lest I forget.
We have taken her into the forest, due west of your home.
Do not bring reinforcements.
I reckon that you may not heed my words so I'll let you know that the life of your child is in great peril. (It was here that Naruto's eyes flashed red with the influence of Kurama's power).
Do not concern yourself too much. No blood was spilt.
But the danger does lie in blood. The blood coursing through your wife's veins and the chakra in her body is infected with a special kind of poison that my…acquaintance Scarlet (woman with red hair, perhaps you've seen her?) produces. (At this point Naruto's hands were shaking in fury and grief). And I feel confident in saying she is the only one with the antidote.
So I'll repeat: do not bring reinforcements.
If I have the slightest inkling of betrayal I'll be sure to dispose of ALL sources of the antidote personally. That is no empty threat.
The life of your lover and unborn child rests in your hands.
So make your way to the forest. I'm sure you will be able to sense the chakra of your wife and child as you come closer.
Jiyuu
Near the end of the note Naruto's hands were shaking so badly he had trouble reading the words.
Naruto, said Kurama, pulling Naruto out of his melancholy.
Naruto dropped the paper on the ground and whipped around, storming back inside the house only to stop at the kitchen table and pick up the envelope with Hinata's writing inside. He folded it gingerly and slipped it snugly inside his pocket.
"We're going to save her, Kurama," Naruto said, walking into his garden again, shutting the door tightly behind him. He closed his eyes briefly, allowing energy to flow inside of him. When he opened his eyes they were orange, with rectangular slits. Finding her chakra was easy. He would be able to pick it apart in an army of thousands. Then he immediately set off at a run, heading in the direction of the forest.
In a matter of seconds Naruto reached the border of the village and easily ran up the side of the wall, briefly wondering how they got Hinata over the barrier. He knew Hinata would have been able to climb it if she wasn't pregnant but… Naruto clenched his fist. But she was and he was determined to save her and the baby.
Blinded by his fury and his thoughts set on just saving his family, Naruto failed to see where the wall had started to crumble. Naruto felt his heart skip a beat when he felt his foot get caught in a gap as he reached the very top of the wall and, face red with a mixture of anger and humiliation, he tumbled off the side of the wall and fell head first to the approaching ground below.
Naruto fell with a large thump and he groaned as a jolt of pain zipped through his body.
Idiot, Kurama growled.
I'm distracted, Naruto mumbled but he could feel no hostility in the fox's words. Suddenly he felt an onslaught of memories. This wasn't the first time he had stumbled at an inopportune time.
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Some time three years ago
Naruto slipped his hand into Hinata's as they walked down the busy streets of Konoha. He felt the slight coldness of her engagement ring wrapped around her finger press against his skin. He smiled proudly to himself. He felt giddy at the thought that the woman walking beside him would soon become his wife.
Naruto remembered fondly of their kiss illuminated by the moon (fondly but with slight disdain when he recalled the presence of that bastard Toneri trying to marry Hinata). He remembered the words he had said to her…that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He tightened the grip he had on her hand when he concluded that that promise was one step closer to becoming official to the rest of the world.
Inside his heart he knew they were bound to each other forever but he knew there were still people out in the ninja world that didn't know of their relationship and Naruto couldn't have that! Hinata was his and this ring was further proof of that.
His face darkened at the thought of Hinata's suitors, many who failed to get the message that she was taken.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Hinata's voice broke him out of her reverie. She was looking up at him curiously, her eyebrows knitted together. He grinned because of the lack of honorific. She winced slightly.
"Oh my god, Hinata," Naruto yelped, immediately letting go of her hand when he realized he had been squeezing it too hard. "I'm so sorry!"
Hinata rubbed her hands together. "It's alright, but is there anything wrong?"
Naruto pouted his signature pout and stuffed his hands in his pocket. "No."
Hinata stared at his profile as they continued their leisurely trek through the village. "Are you sure?"
"Do you still have suitors?" he blurted out the last word with so much venom that Hinata jumped.
She hesitated.
"You do!" he exclaimed, looking angry.
"I'm sorry!" Hinata started. "I-"
"Why are you sorry?" Naruto asked surprised. "You can't help being perfect." Hinata blushed. "And anyway," Naruto went on, unaware of the effect his compliment had on his fiancé. "Maybe people will be less likely to pursue you now that you're engaged."
Hinata smiled at him fondly as they entered the park. They strayed off the path and instead made their way through the grass where the trees provided nice sources of shade from the unrelenting sun.
"Good day for a picnic," said Hinata, looking up at the light filtering through the leaves.
"A picnic sounds great!" Naruto agreed. "This is a good spot as any to have one," he said. They could still see a few people lumbering around the path some distance away. "I can go grab the leftovers we have from yesterday."
Hinata nodded. "The Hyuga compound isn't too far from here. I can go get a blanket and stuff."
"Meet you back here in ten minutes?"
"Perfect," she said.
Their lips touched for a mere second before both turned and headed off to their respective destinations.
Naruto weaved through the streets, taking in the scents of cooking food. A goofy smile formed on his face as he thought of Hinata's cooking. The smile vanished when he saw a group of women gathered around his favorite ramen place. Naruto groaned and tried to blend in with the crowd as he walked past the place.
"Naruto!"
Naruto cursed under his breath before turning around with a fake smile plastered on his face. His fangirls (Naruto winced at the thought) approached him eagerly with flirtatious smiles and mischievous looks.
"Uh, hi," Naruto said with a forced laugh.
"Where are you going?" a girl with brown hair asked.
Naruto flinched when he felt an arm wrap around his. He tried to gently pull away but the black haired girl had a vice grip on him. "Just back to my place to get some stuff," he said, trying to sidle away.
"What stuff?" another girl piped.
"Food," said Naruto, finally breaking free. He backed off a little but the group of girls followed like a wave. "For Hinata and myself." There was a flurry of emotions. Some girls cried out in despair, others just looked sad or angry and some gave him an encouraging nod.
"Naruto!"
Naruto turned towards the familiar voice and breathed out a sigh of relief when he saw his pink haired friend walking towards him.
"Sakura-chan!" he exclaimed. He glanced nervously at the gathering of women and back at the kunoichi. She was looking at the other girls with a raised eyebrow.
"I thought you were spending the day with Hinata today?" she asked him. "She was telling me about it yesterday." There was a hint of iciness in her tone. "She seemed excited." His teammate placed her hands on her hips and frowned at him as if daring him to say he had done something to disappoint Hinata.
Naruto held up his hands defensively. "I know, I was!"
"Was?"
"We just split up temporarily to get stuff for a picnic," he quickly explained. Naruto's eyes widened. "And I promised to meet her back at the park in ten minutes. I'll be late!" he was ready to take off in a run before one of his fan girls caught his eye. He bent down to whisper in Sakura's ears. "Yeah, take care of them for me will you?" Sakura looked scandalized and opened her mouth to give him a stern retort but Naruto didn't allow her to speak. Instead he gave her an apologetic grin. "I don't know how to handle these things."
And he was off.
"NARUTO, YOU BAKA!"
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Happily weighed down with a basket of food Naruto made his way back to the park.
"Hey Hinata, sorry I'm late!" he called as he neared the clearing they had decided on. "I got into som-" He stopped in his tracks as he looked at the scene before him.
The picnic blanket was spread out on the ground and Hinata stood beside it, facing away from him but she wasn't alone.
No she was with her stupid suitors.
It was no secret that Naruto had fans. Girls followed him around snapping pictures and handing him gifts all the time. Sure, Naruto was told by his friends about the many interruptions they had to face while spending time with Hinata due to some of the rude, unbridled advanced by some of Hinata's…wooers. But never did he really have to face the situation himself. The thought that Hinata had other men vying for her love was only a whisper in his mind.
No, most people didn't know Hinata's hand was sought very frequently as well. The eldest daughter of the resilient Hyuga Clan. A strong, well trained ninja, brought up with the polite mannerisms many sons of the elite looked for in their future spouses. She was kind, generous, and strong. She had many of the qualities these men found attractive.
Oh yes, she had suitors. Rare was it when they approached her directly. Most approved of the more roundabout method. First they would get their fathers to contact her father, proposing a meeting to unite their clans. Hiashi resolutely refused the offers, knowing full well his daughter's happiness lay, not within these rich, pampered, sons of leaders, entrepreneurs, and lords, but with Naruto Uzumaki. Well renowned prankster and hero of the world.
But there were always a stubborn few who didn't follow the masses. The sons that fell off the well-paved path lay before them. The sons who wanted some more freedom and were a bit more…rebellious. Their attempts were weak but bothersome nonetheless.
And now here we are again. Naruto watching with narrowed eyes as Hinata politely tried to refuse their advances.
"I'm very busy at the moment," he heard her address the three well dressed men before her. "I'm actually waiting for someone."
"Oh, wonderful," one man said, unbuttoning his suit jacket as sat down gracefully on the blanket laid out before him. "We can keep you company as you wait."
Hinata pursed her lips as the two other men joined their friend on the ground. "I don't think that's a very good idea," she started.
"Oye!"
All heads turns toward the blonde haired man that was rapidly approaching them. His broad shoulders taut with anger and his eyes dark with annoyance were almost enough to scare the men away if the image wasn't ruined by the straw basket adorned with flowers held tightly in his right hand.
"Who do you guys think you-"
It was as if everything happened in slow motion. Naruto tripped over who knows what and the pretty, floral, embarrassing basket flew out of his hand. Food scattered over the grassy floor and Naruto fell right down with it. He saw something creamy and white on the ground getting closer and closer.
Squish.
There was absolute silence in the clearing.
Hinata's hand was raised to her mouth open in shock. The men's eyes were wide with surprise, glinting with joy at the sight before them.
Hero of the Hidden Leaf with his face in a pile of potato salad.
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Present
Quite a stumble, Kurama said, referring to both his fall from the wall and the memory he pulled Naruto out of. But this is far worse than getting your face stuck in a pile of root vegetables.
Naruto remained silent, still flat on the ground.
Get yourself together, kit, Kurama snarled. He knew his container was feeling an onslaught of all kinds of emotions. They were lurking around in the corners of his mindscape. The dark shadows that normally bordered the land seemed darker and larger than before. Kurama wasn't going to sugarcoat this. Get up.
Naruto groaned as he got on all fours. His fingers were splayed out on the dirt and his eyes stared resolutely at the ground before him. His face was still tinged with red. A mixture of anger and embarrassment. He slowly clenched his hand into a fist, dirt and grime getting under his fingernails.
"I want blood," Naruto said darkly. He was tired of this. He will continue with the chase soon enough. He'll get the answers he wants but he will make sure these people that dare try to harm his family are punished.
Kurama smirked. Glad we are on the same level.
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Some time three years ago
Naruto stared at the ground before him. Well, he stared at the white, white food pressed against his face. He quickly scrambled back to his feet with a yelp, blowing potato chunks out of his nose and wiping as much of the humiliation in the form of potato salad off his face as he could.
Seriously? He thought. This was the absolute worst time he could trip. Then he heard a deep laughter coming from inside his head. Kurama! He thought with exasperation. The stupid fox should be on his side. Stupid, betraying, beast. That's when the ninja realized that there was laughter outside of his head as well.
He glared as best as he could at the group of men chortling before him. Hinata had her hand to her mouth opened in a gasp. She was immediately at his side, helping to clean his face with a soft wad of napkins she had brought along with the blanket. The men coughed and their chuckles died down slowly as they watched the Hyuga princess gently wipe away food from the whiskered man.
"Naruto-kun, are you alright?" she asked, picking a view stray pieces of potato out of his short, spiky hair.
'M'fine," he said gruffly, his eyes still trained on the men before him, as if daring them to try laughing again. Their faces were tinged with a slight pink as if holding in laughter but he tried to ignore it. He didn't think Hinata would like it if he beat up these helpless men. They weren't trained killers like he was. He clenched his hands and swallowed. Damn, did he want to wipe the smug grins on their faces though.
Hinata had cleaned up her boyfriend as best she could and she laid a hand on his chest tenderly. At the gesture he turned to look at her and she gave him a small smile that relayed her message. Don't.
He sighed.
"Well, I don't know who you guys are but I'd appreciate it if you would be kind enough to allow Hinata and I to enjoy our lunch alone," Naruto said politely, sort of proud of himself for maintaining his composure. He could tell (but frankly didn't care) these were some well-groomed men.
Two of the men frowned but clearly got the message. Naruto was not to be messed with right now. Hinata Hyuga was not available for the taking. They made as to leave but the last man continued smiling at the couple. "Oh, there seems to be enough potato salad for the rest of us, no?"
Naruto's face went red and he took a threatening step forward but Hinata stopped him by gripping his upper arm. Naruto turned to frown at her but her eyes were trained on the other men.
"You have overstepped your welcome," she said. "I've humored your advances long enough. I am sure my father has declined your proposals and yet you are persistently…annoying." Hinata bit her lip but Naruto's frown turned to a smirk. "I'd advise you to leave me and my fiancé alone or else he will be the one restraining me."
Kami, he loved her. Heat stirred inside of him and he painfully resisted the temptation of kissing her after this display of assertiveness.
"Hy-Hyga-san," the man uttered, looking shocked at her display of disrespect. "How dare-"
"How dare you," she said with the utmost calm. "As I've said, you've overstepped your boundary. I am a woman of respect and I will not be charmed by your honey laced words and lecherous smiles. Many people in my life holds pieces of my heart but there is only one man that I have given the entirety to and it is not you."
Naruto melted. This time he gave in to the temptation of kissing the dark haired woman. It was brief but filled with passion and promises.
The men quivered. They were both embarrassed and scared by the prowess emanating from the beauty before them. One almost forgets that she too was a highly skilled ninja, more than capable of getting what she wants…or resisting what she doesn't.
The men were up on their feet, backs straight and, Naruto was happy to notice, they were trembling just the slightest with what he hoped was fear.
"Mhm," Naruto said, nodding. He wrapped his un-bandaged arm around Hinata's shoulders and held her close. "Did you know the last man to actively try and win Hinata's hand in marriage had his eyes ripped out?" Naruto watched their scared expressions with a strange feeling of glee. "By none other than my beautiful fiancé."
"Naruto," she playfully swatted his arm, a light blush on her cheeks.
The other men were speechless.
"I guess we might be being rude," Naruto said, laughing loudly. "Would you guys like to join us for lunch?"
With stuttering no's and never's and goodbye's Hinata's suitors fled the scene.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata exclaimed once all was quiet. "How could you tell them about what I did to Toneri?"
He chuckled. "I just wanted to see 'em squirm," he said. "Anyway, you're right. You were handling it perfectly well yourself."
Hinata smiled. "You were my knight in shining potato."
Naruto groaned, covering his reddening face. "That was so embarrassing."
She stood on tiptoes to give him a sweet kiss. "Never embarrassing when you're doing something to help me."
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Present
"He's coming," Scarlett said as she reentered the room. "Even though my sensory skills are highly developed it's safer to assume he'd have sensed her by now as well. We don't have much time."
Jiyuu nodded and got up from his seat at his desk and approached Hinata who was nervously standing near the wall.
"Stay away from me," Hinata said darkly. "I did what you said. I came with you."
"That's right, and I thank you for being so cooperative," the man said, stopping a few feet in front of her. "But your husband is on his way and I'm not stupid. He could easily swipe you from us and what would I do with the lost leverage? There would be no reason he would stop from hurting us."
"I don't like how that last part sounds," Scarlett mumbled, walking over to a bowl of wrapped candy situated on a coffee table. She unwrapped one and popped the treat in her mouth. "Candy?" She motioned to Hinata.
Hinata frowned at the woman but turned to scowl at the man when he started chuckling. "What's so funny?" she asked. He just shook his head and walked closer to her. Hinata backed away but he grabbed her upper arm tightly, his fingernails sinking into her skin. She hissed in pain. "I said stay away from me!"
Hinata lashed out, kicking his legs out from underneath him. Jiyuu fell to his knees with a yelp. Hinata had removed his hand from her arm and held it behind his back. "Scarlett!" he exclaimed.
"Stay where you are," Hinata ordered. "I'll break it," she promised, putting more pressure on his arms. He groaned. "I swear, I will."
Scarlett stared at the woman with narrowed eyes. "Jeez, Jiyuu. I thought you were better than that."
The man chuckled through the pain. "I may not be a fighter. I'm nowhere near a ninja. I have no chakra whatsoever. It's easy to be invisible when no one cares about the simple people," he said. "But I got what I wanted."
Hinata hesitated. "What do you mean?"
"Look at your arm, sweetheart," he said.
Hinata almost didn't want to look. She turned and looked at the marks in her arm where he had clawed at her. There were five distinct puncture wounds. Hinata snapped her head back to the arm she was holding. She twisted his hand, ignoring his cry of pain, to look at his fingernails in detail. Small, almost undetectable needles were attached to the tips of his nails.
"What was in there?" she whispered, knowing the answer.
Jiyuu grinned. "Heavy doses of Scarlett's poison."
Hinata's eyes widened and she felt her breathing slow.
Scarlett's laughter broke the silence. "I gave you a vial of that to use on her."
Jiyuu nodded. "And I split them equally on the needles I glued to my nails," he explained. "I'm no ninja. I know I can't fight her, no matter how normally human she is in this pregnant state. So I thought of a way around it."
Hinata felt tears run down her cheeks. "How long?" she asked.
"Only Scarlett knows the answer to that," Jiyuu answered.
Hinata looked at the red haired woman in the room. "How long?" she repeated desperately.
"Well, untreated I'd give you half an hour. Tops," Scarlett informed, sucking on her candy. "That was a highly concentrated dose."
"And my baby?" Hinata croaked, fingers tightening around Jiyuu's arm.
"Less," Scarlett said, almost frowning. The dark haired woman before her looked dead. Her face was streaked with tears but her expression was despairingly empty. "Much less time. Ten minutes? Maybe fifteen?"
Hinata shut her eyes and let out a heartbreaking scream, raising her foot to Jiyuu's back for leverage she held his arm firmly and, before Scarlett even had a chance to react, the spine tingling sound of bone breaking echoed in the room.
The man's scream of pain mixed with her cries of anguish.
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Authors Note:
Oh, Hinata. I'm so sorry.
One more chapter left.
-Magma
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