~Chapter 25~
Forceful Egress
"Where are we going?" Her voice wasn't shaky at all, despite how she was feeling. Her training was kicking in, and her senses were now sharpened due to her adrenaline. They were moving closer to Konoha's gates. No response to her question.
"Why are we heading towards the borders of the village rather than the Interrogation building by the Hokage's Office?" This caught all of their attention finally, besides the ANBU man, who ignored all of them, continuing to stroll onwards.
"How did you know where that building was?" Iruka-sensei asked, looking down at her with shock. She shrugged.
"Our punishment after our last prank, painting the Hokage's building, I noticed it then." He nodded, dumbfounded.
"Sowhere are we going, Iruka-sensei?" She figured she'd have better luck with him, but he only gave an apologetic glance her way.
"I wish I knew. I may be your teacher, but I'm still only at chuunin level. All that they told me was to help escort you from the Academy." She nodded, slightly depressed by the news. He was her only chance.
Finally, they made it to the gates. To her horror, two figures she'd rather have never laid eyes upon, stood before them. The man had a furious expression, while the woman next to him seemed disturbed, holding two bags as the man held one. Kinata froze, dread filling her stomach.
"What do you mean she's leaving!?" Sasuke stood swiftly up from his chair, infuriated beyond belief. The Hokage sat calmly in his chair, a pipe hanging in his left mouth. He scrutinized the Uchiha boy before him. They were in his office and after some idle chit-chat about Kinata, Sasuke had bluntly made it to the point, wanting to know just what the hell was going on. Before the Hokage could explain further, the boy tried to turn around and run out. The village leader guessed that he was about to chase after the girl, and his heart throbbed at such a young, heroic stunt. However, three ANBU officers stood in front of the blazing Uchiha's way.
"Move." He growled. They ignored him.
"Enough Sasuke. I ask you to please sit down." The boy whipped around, glaring daggers. He looked ready to pounce.
"Kinata is of the Ryukotse clan. There is too much at risk for all here in Konoha to allow her a home." He kept steady eye contact with the fuming child before him.
"That means NOTHING to me. She…she means EVERYTHING to me!" He swung his hand out to let out some of the pent up aggression, not giving a care in the world to how childish and silly he sounded. This was reminding him too much of having no choice when those of his own clan that he'd loved had been mercilessly taken away.
The Hokage remained quiet for a minute, hoping it'd give the boy the chance to calm down. It didn't.
"Let me go after her. If she can't stay in the village, then I'll leave with her!" His voice had desperation in it, even to his own ears. And it shamed him to have higher-ups seem him like this, but the thought of Kinata leaving him forever bore holes into his heart. The idea of her gone from his home, his bed, absent completely from seeing her smile, pained him so much that he could hardly bare it. The Hokage took a deep breath.
"I understand you care for the girl but she," Sasuke cut him off.
"I love her! I was going to tell her today!" For the first time, his voice cracked. He felt like such a kid, but he was losing it. They'd already spent enough time uselessly talking. She could easily be out of the village by now.
The Hokage sat stunned. It took quite a bit to shock the experienced shinobi. He stood up, walking over to the shaking Uchiha who had his eyes clenched shut, most likely to hold back tears. The old man had to remind himself that this was still a young boy before him, who'd already suffered so much in his past.
"I am deeply sorry, Sasuke. There is far more involved here that a young mind such as yours cannot yet comprehend. Perhaps you will see her again one day. However, for now, you must remain here in the Leaf Village. You are the last member of our proud Uchiha clan, and thus you have duties to uphold the very memories and values that your family and friends did. Chasing after a girl branded a threat to the village would end that name and honor in disgrace."
Sasuke felt both angry and deflated at once. His shoulders slumped an inch down in defeat. The Hokage's words had been soft at first but were scolding at the last of his lecture.
What could he, a kid, do?
"You'll have me under surveillance, won't you?" He was staring harshly at the ground, his fists now ghostly white from his grip.
The Hokage nodded to him, his face sad but grim.
"Yes. And if you try to leave, they will trail you, and bring you back."
The boy took a deep gulp, trying to free the tightening in his throat. He couldn't.
"Fine." He managed to spit out, spinning around to exit.
Before he left, the Hokage called out, "I wish this could have been her home. But Sasuke, others all agreed it was not possible. I truly tried." He paused, glancing back at the old man, his hand on the knob of the door as the officers stood aside.
The Hokage was being genuine and the boy had to realize that this wasn't just the old man's fault. But it didn't change the circumstances. He frowned.
"You didn't try hard enough." He muttered darkly, leaving the Hokage's corridors. He knew now why the old man had kept him so long. Kinata would be completely out of his reach by now.
Instead of heading back to the Academy, which was the last place he wanted to be, he went straight for their secret spot on the shrine that he wanted to bring Kinata to at the end of the day. That was no longer going to happen though.
His body felt numb.
Once he made it to the top, he scanned the forest below. He knew there would be no luck in spotting her, but he couldn't help himself.
After a good five minutes, he sank to his knees, his black bangs covering his eyes as at last he let the assailing water fall. It'd been so very long since he'd cried like this. The previous time was when he'd awakened the next few days after the Uchiha massacre. Sasuke had always held it in – for the most part. Some nightmares had made his eyes wet, but with no lasting tears, none that would dramatically drop.
Now, he couldn't control it. His shoulders were shaking. His breathing quickly became erratic.
Her confident smile broke through his thoughts. He bit hard on his lip.
"My name is Kinata Iwatsuru. I hope to graduate alongside of all of you!"
The memory, the same from this morning that he'd cooked her that elaborate breakfast, floated clear in his mind again. She'd stood up for Ino against Iruka-sensei, arguing her own faults against the shameful move the blonde girl had used against her. She had held her ground when he taken her out on their first technical date to question her skills, playing dumb but inevitably answering with bravery and as much honesty as possible. She'd dealt with her abusive foster parents, doing no harm to them when she easily could have. All of these times she'd earned more respect from him.
Sasuke's blurry vision finally noticed the lowering sun. The day had passed without him even realizing it. He'd been so caught up with the scenes of Kinata that the hours had switched into minutes. He felt his body tensing again, his stomach cramping horrible. Now was the moment he had hoped to have Kinata in his arms, declaring something he never believed he'd ever say to anyone…
"Kinata…" His voice was scratched from the heavy breathing and crying. He clawed at his gut, the place where the most pain resided. Fuck…why does it hurt this much? His mind screamed. He held his abs as the raw stinging continued.
He saw her hair tangled loosely all over his bed beneath him, her face in absolute pleasure. Her eyes had an exhilarating life of their own, naked beneath him, showing him all of her pain overcome with the love he had given her that night. Kinata…I love you…the voice inside his head stated.
His jaw tightened and it immediately felt like he couldn't breath.
No. He suddenly thought.
"Sasuke! Please, calm down. I'll be fine, okay…" He took a deep breath.
No, Kinata needs me. She WON'T be fine. Not if she has to leave, to be alone and on her own again.
He felt his sanity slowly receding back.
"I'll always protect you." He cringed, his heart throbbing as he realized that those had been the last words he'd told her.
He stood up, his legs shaky.
He would find her again and bring her back.
He had to.
Kinata tried to hide how overwhelmed she felt. There stood Mura and Kigetsu, not even able to make eye contact with her. That's when the scar-faced jounin turned around to look down at her.
"You are being order to leave the Leaf Village, directly from the Council and the Hokage himself. If you return, you will be killed." His voice was strong and evenly toned. She stared up to him, taking a deep breath. She could feel herself trembling.
"What!? This is insane! For what reason?" Iruka-sensei practically yelled, shocked to finally hear what exactly was happening to his student. The jounin glared at the chuunin.
"If you are so curious Iruka, then ask the Hokage. I have no permission to disclose information to a lower-ranked shinobi." Her teacher growled but held his tongue. Kinata grabbed her teacher's hand, causing him to stare down at her. She felt major comfort that her sensei cared so much. She thought back to when he'd taken her to the movies with Naruto, allowing her the chance to have her first true friend. This in turn brought up memories of Naruto and his cheeky smile.
"I already like you Kinata! You're different than most girls. You're not nasty like them."
"I guess it's cuz ya talk to me like I'm normal…"
"I'm gonna be Hokage someday! And that means I cannot lose…"
"…I wish one day I can walk alongside you, addressing you as Hokage." She had said in high hopes.
Her heart throbbed, knowing she'd never see him again…she would never get to witness his achieving greatness, as she was sure he would do. Nor would she set eyes on Hinata, her quiet and shy yet trustworthy friend, who had opened up about the Hyuga clan on so many occasions.
Kinata's eyes closed, the wetness forming at the corners.
And Sasuke…
She let the tears fall but decided she had to give Sasuke parting words before they'd never see each other again, even if it had to be through Iruka-sensei.
"Iruka-sensei, I have to ask you, to do me a favor. Please." She had to pause as her throat clenched. He gave her a saddened and hopeless look. She gulped.
"Make sure, please, that Sasuke knows," Her eyes closed shut at the emotions flowing uncontrollably inside, "I love him. I always will."
When she stared back up to her sensei, he had a strained expression. She gave him a weak smile.
"And that Naruto, just tell him he'll become Hokage, even without me walking by his side." She looked away, his eyes too intense with sympathy.
"Let Hinata know too, that she was an amazing friend to me, and that I wish I could be there when times get rough." Finally, taking a deep breath to control her scrambled thoughts, she turned her attention to him. He had tears in his own eyes. He wanted to stop this, she could read it there in front of her.
She smiled encouragingly to him.
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei, for being such a kind teacher, even when, I guess when I was acting out of place. Especially with Naruto. I'll have fond memories of those times, forever." She sounded cheesy to even herself, but she couldn't help the truth of her words. He nodded, unable to speak.
His student had to endure such immense troubles and he – her teacher – could do nothing to prevent it. He felt like a failure.
"Promise me?" She mumbled, and then repeated it more loudly when he didn't reply. He eyed her admirably. At least she was trying to stay strong, in so many ways.
"I promise." His voice didn't waver, giving Kinata huge relief. She gave him a quick hug, taking her sensei off guard, though he returned it immediately.
"You will persevere, at whatever life throws at you. Kinata, you are a leaf shinobi, no matter what who will try to convince you otherwise. And leaf shinobi always endure. This will not be the last time you see me, or any of your friends. As long as you never forget us. Understand?"
He released his grip on the crying child.
That's all she was…just a child. And that now she would have to go through so much pained Iruka-sensei even more. Kinata stepped back, wiping away the tears that she had tried to hold back, giving him a lopsided smile.
"I know. I just had to be reminded. Thank you, so very much, Iruka-sensei. For everything," she bowed, not sure why she did, "and I look forward, to seeing you, and everyone again!" When she stood up, her teacher had to give it his all to keep it together.
The young girl had such bravery and potential that it nearly took his breath away. He nodded.
"Take care, for now, Kinata. Till we see one another again." He returned sincerely. She gave one last grin his way, quickly turning to run passed her guardians, through the gates, and away from her one true home, Konoha.
Three days and two nights passed. Kinata was in no better mood, lying on her make-shift mattress in the middle of the forest. They were nearly over the borders of the Land of Fire. Mura and Kigetsu, for the most part, had ignored her. If they did acknowledge her existence, it was to treat her like a dog, not a human. She didn't let it bother her. There were too many thoughts of her life that held so many memories of Konoha that wouldn't let up. Mainly of course concerning Sasuke Uchiha.
She wondered how he had taken the news of her departure.
That was when she heard the rustling of leaves to her far off left.
Her guardians were already sleeping by the dying fire.
She sat up, only to see several kunai knives thrown passed her, hearing the ominous 'whoosh.'
Her body tensed instinctively and she went to reach for her weapons.
It was too late. As she did, so much had happened in seconds.
Mura and Kigetsu had the knives embedded in their chest and throats. They hadn't even the time to wake up or make noise. Kinata hesitated at the scene of her last guardians (though they were the worst) dead.
Just as her senses kicked in, a man in all black came rushing towards her. She dodged a paper bomb, under-attacking the man's gut with her right sai knife. He grunted, crumbling over. She could hear three more surrounding her, and in her peripheral vision she tried to calculate their locations but she was too slow. Her hair was being pulled upwards, bringing her body above the ground so that her legs were dangling in the air.
"Gotchya, Ryukotse brat." She struggled to no avail.
"Told ya she was trouble. Killed Tochi in seconds." She wanted to say something but a harsh impact to the back of her head had her losing all vision and consciousness.
As she blacked out, the image of a cocky raven haired-boy smiled at her.
"I'll always protect you…"
When she woke up, she had iron clasps around her wrists. It was semi-dark, but she could tell that she was barred behind metal doors and that she could barely sense a strong chakra barrier.
She felt weak and sore as hell.
She dragged herself up to the small opening to see a man standing with his back to her.
"Wh…whe…where am…I?" Her voice was hoarse and she could hardly manage any words.
The man turned his head. He wore no head band, only a black garment. He looked young, perhaps 7 or so years older than she.
"Hn." And he left. She let her head fall onto the bars, listening as his footsteps echoed against the walls. She sunk to her knees, dread filling her stomach.
How…?
Why…?
She covered her face with her hands, unsure of what to do.