Notes: Woo! I live! XD I'm really, truly sorry guys. The story was on hold so long for many personal reasons that decided to all come up and bite me in the ass simultaneously. I had to re-read both Different Seasons and this one in order to re-immerse myself in the Naruto world. Still, it wasn't until I got a reader comment from Romi Leigh that I really buckled down and got to writing again. Romi, you expressed your concerns with the previous two chapters, and I'm sorry that they knocked the story out of sync for you. I didn't quite know how to incorporate the reason for Haku's visions and Hana's identical dream in-story, but I hope I can clarify it here in the notes:
Haku's Byakugan has Sharingan influence. He can see things that are happening currently from the events around him. To clarify, because everyone was so concerned with the Raikage, Haku's subconscious made him "see" what was happening to her at the moment. That's why he kept having the "dreams" or visions of her being chased.
Hana's Sharingan has Byakugan influence. She can see current happenings internally. Meaning, when the children found out about the dangerous mission, Hana's subconscious became more receptive to thoughts and feelings concerning her father. So when Naruto had the nightmare about Sasuke dying, her mind felt it and "relayed" the dream to her, causing her to see it. However, she thought it was a premonition dream, like she assumed Haku's was, and made a wrongful accusation.
I hope this note has clarifyed the iffy parts of the story, concerning the "visions" and the children's eyes. I'll try harder to finish this story for you all. ^_^ Thank you for your continued patience.
8
The floorboards outside the room creaked. Haku's little hand froze, making a slight splotch on the tiny paper. Beside him under the coverlet, Hana held her breath, the pale yellow-orange light from the lantern she held illuminated her face with a sickly glow. They waited. After tense seconds they simultaneously relaxed.
"It was the house," Hana muttered.
"I'm almost done," Haku nodded, continuing his ink-dipped brush along the interrupted stroke, completing the kanji. "Just a few more characters."
"...Do you think it'll work?" she asked him nervoulsy.
"It's not like you to doubt, Hana," he said to her tenderly as he concentrated, feeling his sister's anxiety building with each ticking minute of the bedside clock.
"I don't doubt you, Haku," she shook her head. "But... I mean... We're only going to be seven. Seven. What can we do on a battlefield?"
"We have to try," he shook his head, licking his lips as he worked on the final stroke. "We can't just do nothing, and let Daddy die."
"I know..." she tried to voice her argument but found she didn't really have one. Just insecurity. Instead of interrupting her brother again, she bit her lip and swallowed her doubts as best as she could. She watched hard as he finally finished the drawing.
"There," he breathed, setting the pen down on an inky scrap of paper. He held up the tiny scroll to inspect it. "I think all we need now is our blood."
"Where?" Hana inched even closer, grabbing the kunai she had taken from their father's room earlier.
"You, here," he pointed below the first drawing, "and me, here." He gestured for the kunai. She gave it to him. He inhaled sharply through his nose and then pierced the pad of his right thumb with the razor sharp point of the weapon. He didn't cry out, but he did flinch hard and hurriedly pressed his thumb down onto the small scroll where tiny lettering indicated. He pulled it away and stuck it in his mouth, putting the kunai down and reaching for the lamp. Hana didn't hesitate. She passed him the lamp, picked up the kunai, and made a small slash on the pad of her left thumb. She pressed it beneath the drawing he'd indiacted and then withdrew her hand, absentmindedly wiping the kunai's tip on her bedshirt.
"Done," she sighed. Haku passed her back the lamp and began to roll up the scroll, having to remove his thumb from his mouth to get it the perfect size. Hana was already waiting with the necklace. He slipped the miniscule paper inside the cylinder and she capped it, screwing it securely shut. Haku gave a heavy sigh, looking drained.
"That's all we can do," he shook his head. "I'm sorry. I wish I could come up with more."
"This is enough," she patted his head and smiled at him. He smiled back tiredly. "Let's get sleep, or else we'll miss Daddy leaving."
"Yeah," he nodded, taking the kunai and sliding it under his pillow. "Goodnight, Hana."
"Goodnight, Haku," she kissed his forehead and wiggled out from under the blankets, taking the lantern with her and leaving Haku alone in blackness. He heard her footsteps disappear into her room and removed the coverlet from over his head, pulling out the still-wet brush and ink bottle. He put both on the floor and slid them under his bed, then turned onto his side, pulled the covers up to his waist, and tried to sleep.
"Weird," the other man grunted.
"What is?" Uzumaki Naruto looked up from his seat on the edge of the bed.
"I think I'm missing a kunai," Uchiha Sasuke's forehead creased slightly. "I thought I packed thriteen."
"Isn't that an unlucky number?"
"Whatever, I'm still missing one," he frowned.
"Oh, who cares, Sasuke?" Naruto stood and stretched, his back popping satisfyingly. "This is like, the fifth time you go through your stuff. Enough already!"
"Unlike you," Sasuke wrinkled his nose, "I always like being prepared."
Naruto sighed. "Okay, Sasuke, okay. You can borrow one of mine, how's that?"
"Not the point," Sasuke shook his head and Naruto made a frustrated sound in his throat.
"Fine. Look for your dumb kunai. I'm going to the office to wrap up any last minute details," he strode to his closet and pulled out a clean jounin uniform, then went into the bathroom to shower and change. Sasuke had come to Naruto's apartment early that morning to make sure the blond had everything he should, seeing as this would be the dobe's first mission in quite some time. He was right in thinking he should have shown; the hokage had filled half his pack with instant ramen cups. The idiot.
"Where is my damn kunai?" Sasuke scowled at the empty room.
"Thanks, Shikamaru," Naruto grinned at his old friend.
"No problem," Nara Shikamaru waved off the hokage's words. "Just be careful, huh?"
"You know I always am!" Naruto laughed.
"Yeah, I stress 'careful'," Shikamaru muttered so Naruto couldn't hear him. It didn't matter, the blonde was rummaging in one of his desk drawers.
"Hey, Shikamaru?" he called.
"Nn?"
"Here," Naruto tossed him a scroll. He lifted one hand and caught it with ease. It had the Hokage's Official Seal stamped on the top.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Instructions."
"Instructions for...?"
"Nara," Naruto spoke to him, not in the casual manner of two friends talking but in the commanding voice of the Sixth Hokage, "that is your next mission."
"Mission, sir?" Shikamaru lifted himself slightly, instantly noticing the change in the blonde's demeanor.
"If, by some chance, I don't return to Konoha--"
"Sir--"
"Nara, I'm giving you your commands," the Rokudaime raised an unamused eyebrow. Shikamaru stopped protesting, but already knew what was going to be said next. "If for some unforseen reason I don't return to Konoha, your mission is to open that scroll and follow its content to the letter, is that understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," he bowed slightly. "What do I do with it if you do return?"
"Burn it," Naruto said flatly. "Destroy it. If I come back then that scroll has no purpose."
"Understood, sir," Shikamaru held the scroll tighter. He knew almost exactly what was in it.
"Dismissed," Naruto turned away, to the large full-length pictureglass window behind his desk. Shikamaru turned to leave. "Shikamaru..." The authorative tone had left him, and now Uzumaki Naruto sounded high-strung and a little nervous. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah," Nara Shikamaru gave a rare grin. "See you when you get back."
The impatient knock came again. His sister finally answered it. After a few moments and muttered voices (he heard the voice influctions and knew the visitor was male), she called to him: "Kiba! You have a visitor!"
A visitor? Only Shino came to visit him here, and only when the other man had absolutely nothing better to do. It annoyed him that he had to be someone else's entertainment. Grunting, leaving Akamaru where he lay sleeping on the sun-soaked back porch, Inuzuka Kiba shuffled through his house and came to the foyer, where his guest was swapping shoes for house slippers. Their eyes met.
"You!" Kiba growled.
"Yes," Uchiha Sasuke grinned humorlessly. "Me."
Hyuuga Neji fidgeted. Hinata stared strangely at her cousin. Neji did not fidget. It just wasn't what he did. So, instead of prying and making him feel even more uncomfortable than he seemed to be, Hinata simply played a good hostess and served him more tea, even though he hadn't touched the first cup she'd given him. Handing him the steaming ceramic cup, she smiled at him. Neji's forehead creased.
"Hinata..." he tried.
"Yes?" she prompted simply.
"...Have you considdered the possibility..." He stopped, shaking his head.
"Go on, Neji," she encouraged.
He took a deep breath and gripped his cup almost like a weapon. He leaned toward her, looking over his shoudler for--she assumed--the children. They were sleeping in late today. "Have you considdered the possibility that Sasuke-san might...not..."
"Come back?" she finished for him. He nodded. "Yes, of course."
"You don't seem upset by this," he frowned at her.
"Should I be?" she shrugged.
"Normally, a wife should be concerned for her husband, yes," he looked a little confused.
Hinata sipped her tea slowly, considdering her answer. "Well," she lowered the cup from her lips, "it's not like this is his first dangerous mission. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't care if he lived or died. However," she set the cup on the table and laced her hands gently in her lap, "I'm not worried."
"Can I ask why?" Neji seemed slightly confused.
Hinata smiled. "Because Sasuke has things to live for now," she answered. "Precious things that he must protect with everything he has. He promised he would come back to his family, and I believe him."
"Why are you here?" Kiba snarled. Beside him, Akamaru growled in distaste. Sasuke opted to stand for their meeting in case he had to make a run for it.
"I want to talk to you about Hinata," he offered.
"What about her?" Kiba eyed him warily.
"Kiba, you already know what kind of mision I'm going on," Sasuke explained. "I might not come back alive. And I can't leave Hinata and the children alone. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I guess," Kiba relaxed a little, shoving his hands in his pockets. Akamaru instantly quieted. Sasuke took a second to marvel at the bond between human and animal. "What does your dying have to do with me?"
"If I do die, Kiba," Sasuke sighed, "I want you to marry Hinata."
"WHAT!" Kiba nearly shrieked.
"Shh," Sasuke frowned. "Why are you so loud?"
"You bastard!" the other man growled deeply in his throat. Akamaru tensed and growled instantly. "You think you can just come to my house and tell me that after you stole her!"
"Look, Kiba," Sasuke held up his hands in self-defense. "I didn't say I was right in doing what I did. But it's done and I'm sorry I didn't take your feelings into account earlier. But--" His eyes narrowed a bit. "--I want better for her now. If I die, I want to know she and the children will be taken care of. I want to know that someone will love her and support her. I want to die knowing that my family will be in good hands."
Kiba stopped and shook his head, looking angry but also slightly resigned. "If you care about her so much, then don't die," he spat.
"I'll try not to," he smiled thinly. "But, Kiba, please..."
It was the 'please' that finally sold him. He placed a hand on Akamaru's head, calming his friend. "Yeah, yeah, Uchiha. I'll look after them, okay? Are you happy now, you selfish bastard?"
"Yes," Uchiha nodded and turned to leave. "I'll let myself out so you won't have to bother with me anymore."
"Che," Kiba wrinkled his nose. "Good. Get out of here."
Sasuke reached the door leading back into the main house. He opened it and paused. "Kiba..."
"What?" the other man sighed in impatience.
"...Thank you," he said, "and I'm sorry." He left.
"Baa-chan, I can't thank you enough," Naruto sighed.
"Honestly, you brat," she frowned at him, "calling on me only when it's convenient for you."
"I'm sorry," he bowed his head.
"I don't care. Just don't die out there." Her hard eyes flickered softly in concern.
"I won't," he grinned. "I just need you to do one more favor for me."
"More?" she rolled her eyes. "Fine, what?"
"I need you to take care of Sakura."
"Sakura?" she raised a pencilled eyebrow.
"Yes," Naruto nodded. "She almost threw her life away for Sasuke that time..." Naruto's eyes clouded at the painful memories of his past. "I'm afraid to take her with us. What if one of us dies? What's she going to do then?"
"I see your point," she winced
"So, please, Tsunande-sama?" He grinned sheepishly. "Whatever it takes, keep Sakura in this village."
"I'll have an Anbu guard posted on her right away," she nodded. "Anything else?"
"Yeah," he laughed but it sounded very forced. "Wish me luck!"
"Good luck, Uzumaki Naruto," she nodded to him. He waved, turned, and left the office. His flame-edged robe lay over the backrest of the small couch. She stared at it achingly as the pain in her chest tightened. Then she buzzed for an assistant. Konohamaru responded. "Have an Anbu team posted on Haruno Sakura. On the double."
"Tsunade-baachan?" he blinked in confusion. "Where's Naruto?"
"Do it now, Konohamaru, or you'll be held personally responsible if something happens to her."
With a meek and confused nod, he left. Tsunande sighed and rubbed her temples. She was (admittedly) getting too old for this.
They said their goodbyes at the edge of the Uchiha residence.
"Daddy, this is for you," Hana reached up with both hands. He took the necklace from her palm and inspected it.
"What is it?" he asked suspiciously.
"A good luck charm for you," she insisted.
"It will protect you, Daddy," Haku spoke up. "Please, take it."
Still unsure, but not wanting to hurt his children, Sasuke put on the necklace witht the cylindrical charm. It felt oddly heavy.
"Be careful, Sasuke," Hinata placed her hands on the children's shoulders. "Come home safely, please."
"I will," he looked up into her eyes. "I promise, I'll come home as soon as I can."
"Don't die, Daddy!" Hana wailed, tears springing into her eyes. She threw herself against his legs and clutched at him. He stroked her hair back and smiled tenderly.
"I won't die," he said. "I'll be home as quick as I can."
"Be careful, Daddy," Haku attached himself to his father's legs as well. Sasuke chuckled softly and patted their heads, kissed their foreheads, and hugged them tight.
"I'll be careful. And I'll return as fast as I can. I love you." He looked up at his wife. "You be careful too."
"Thank you, but we'll be fine," she shook her head. "Take care."
"Thanks," he stood and reached for her, taking her into a warm embrace. Hinata blushed. She hugged him back. "If I don't come back," he whispered softly to her, "take good care of them."
"I will," she whispered back, squeezing him tight. They parted. Hana and Haku released his legs. He waved to his family. They waved back. He turned his face away so they wouldn't see the few tears that escaped and fell from his eyes and left them standing there.