Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto or any of its respective characters. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only. (Mostly my amusement.) However, if I DID own Naruto, it would be called "Neji and Hinata: Byakugan Babies Galore!" That has a nice ring to it...
Author's Note:Well, here we go again! I'm back, everyone, with lots of inspiration, so hopefully we can get this fic finished in next few weeks! Sorry about the six month (or more) delay, though I'm not sorry I spent some time working on Gifts. That backstory needed to be written, and I needed to hash out the character development. Anyhow, Thank you so much, everyone! Just knowing that you are reading makes it all worthwhile for me! ::grins:: But... I love reviews, so don't forget! Happy Reading!
Oh, and as usual, the jutsu contained herein are a product of my imagination. I don't care if it could (or couldn't) really happen. This is my story, and I'll write what I want.
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Possession - Chapter Seventeen
The heavy blanket of darkness weighed upon Neji's shoulders as he slunk through the hollow corridors of the Branch House. He kept to the walls, concealed within long stretches of shadow, for there was no light, only what shone through narrow cracks in the shutters. His mind was like a wheel, turning over his orders again, and again. Kill them all, she had said. Every last one.
Neji battled with his own conscience as footsteps approached. Around the corner. Close. He stopped, poised to strike as soon as the victim appeared. How could Hinata-sama ask him to commit such a crime? He didn't know. He didn't want to know, so he pushed the thought away again. The unsuspecting Branch member stepped in front of him, and it was over before the man could even blink. The blood was immediate, spraying forth from the slash wound in his uncle's throat.
As the body slunk to the floor, Neji closed his eyes, inhaling a long, coarse breath. The first step had been taken, and the only way out now was to wade in the blood of his relatives. He shuddered, then let his eyes glide open as he accepted divine retribution. From this moment on, he would carry the burden of his beloved's sins, as well as his own. He swallowed. It was just. After what he'd done, he was lucky to still have his sorry life, let alone a place by her side...
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"Hurry up, Sasuke-kun!" Haruno Sakura shouted from a little ways up the trail. He and his annoying pink-haired teammate had come to the Hyuuga compound seeking their other wayward comrade. Not that they were worried or anything. Well, Sakura was worried, which was why he found himself staring ahead at the huge gate barring their entrance. "Sasuke-kun!" She shrieked, and he bared his teeth.
"Shut your mouth, Sakura, or do you want the guards to find us lurking around?"
"You could at least pretend to care about Naruto," she huffed, hands on her narrow hips. Then, she sighed. "You're too slow!" Her jade eyes smoldered in irritation. "After everything he's done for you!" Which was precisely the reason why he was dragging his feet down this secluded trail. For Naruto. And...
Sasuke's lips tightened across his face. How fortunate that Sakura was too far ahead to see the pain and anger roll through him. If she had seen... Well, let's just say he didn't think even the feel of the heavy diamond ring on her finger would keep her from demanding an explanation. And he would give her one, because Uchiha Sasuke was tired of pretending.
"I care," the last of the Uchiha whispered into the night. It was true. He did care, but Naruto wasn't the only one he cared about.
Sakura's hands tightened around the heavy wrought iron gate. "I could--"
"Don't be stupid," Sasuke scolded. "And don't leave any hand-prints," he hissed, walking up behind her.
"Yeah, well..." She frowned. "How are we supposed to get inside, then, genius?" Sakura turned, tapping his hitai-ate with her all too presumptuous index finger.
Sasuke's face didn't change. He wore no expression. He clasped onto her hand so fast Sakura lost her balance, then found herself dangling in his arms, before slamming down, flat on her ass.
"Owww! Sasuke-kun!" She growled.
He stepped over her. "Get up." Then, the Uchiha began a steady pace into the forest bordering the compound. "Follow me," he said.
Sakura gathered herself from the moist forest floor, wiping the soil from her shapeless red dress. No sooner than their shadows had disappeared into the trees, did they hear that familiar, obnoxious voice boasting of impossibilities that weren't impossible, only because they were shouted from his big mouth. Then, the wrought iron gate creaked open.
"I'm gonna be Hokage someday, so you won't be able to push me around forever! I'll be back here, one way or another, and you'd better take care of Hinata-chan!" The kyuubi vessel soared through the air, propelled by the irate Hyuuga guards.
The gate slammed shut, and was locked for good measure. Then, Sasuke felt the familiar genjutsu stretch out to envelope the gate and the stone wall surrounding the Hyuuga compound. Dammit! Fucking Naruto had to go and piss them off. Eventually, the Kyuubi vessel, sulking and distraught, began to shiver with frustration while sitting on the forest floor.
"Hinata-chan..." His teeth were locked together like a vice.
"Dobe!" Sasuke spat. Naruto stood, brushing away the dirt and leaves.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" The blonde asked.
"I could ask you the same question." Sasuke stalked toward him, arms folded together. "What'd you do to get thrown out?" He demanded.
"Nothing!" Naruto yelled. "I was just trying to talk to Hinata-chan, and Kakashi-sensei was on her side, and then she was all like: 'Perhaps you should leave now, Naruto-kun...'" He frowned deeply, recalling the exchange. "I'm tellin' you, she's gone nuts!" He ran up to the gate. "I gotta get back in there!"
"Hey, slow down, Naruto!" Sakura followed after him. "Take a deep breath and tell us what happened."
"Wait," Sasuke interrupted. "You said sensei was inside?"
"Yeah," Naruto turned back around. "He's like her right hand or something." He tapped his chin with a finger. "No, maybe more like her yes man. Neji's her right hand now..."
"What!?" The Uchiha snarled. He began to fume, and Sakura began to shiver. "I thought you were gonna kill him!"
"I tried, Sasuke-teme! But, Hinata-chan doesn't want him hurt!" He snarled, baring his teeth threateningly. "She sent him on a mission to kill her own family!"
The kunoichi among them gasped, eyes wide with shock. "No... she couldn't have," she whispered.
Sasuke peered at her briefly, then returned his attention toward the gate and the wall. "You'd be surprised at what Hinata can do," he said, which only caused her frown to deepen.
"Well, that doesn't solve our problem," she snapped. Sakura's hand fell to cover the ring on her left hand, feeling its five carats scrape against her palm. Then, she grasped it with her fingers, twisting back and forth. "We all want to help Hinata-chan. So, let's just go in there."
"It's not that simple," Sasuke said. "If you'd have been paying attention, you would have noticed."
She went to inspect the gate again. "Nothing seems unusual."
"Touch the gate," he said.
Sakura's hand reached forward, before she abruptly stopped. "What's going to happen to me?"
"Touch the gate and find out," he answered with a smirk.
Her jade eyes narrowed. "Naruto! Come touch this gate," she ordered.
"What? Why me?" The blonde demanded.
"Because you've got a thick head!" She hissed. "Just do it, Naruto!"
"Fine," he stomped over to the heavy gate, planting both of his hands on the cool metal. After a moment, he felt a tingle in his palms that became an unpleasant itch, before bursting into red-hot flames! Naruto opened his mouth, and the air was ripped from his lungs. His body was on fire! He wailed, snatching his hands away from the gate. He fell onto his back, panting heavily. "Holy shit!" He swore.
Sakura's eyes were wide with the horror of what she had just seen. Naruto looked like he'd been burned to a crisp! But, now he was laying on the ground, flopping around like a fish. So, it was genjutsu, then...
"You could have just told me," she glared at Sasuke.
"Come on," the Uchiha started walking along the wall. "There's a flaw in the genjutsu. It's this way."
Haruno Sakura followed after her fiance, eyeing him with suspicious perception. She couldn't say he wasn't acting like himself, because he was. It was just... something was off about this whole situation. He was so focused on Hinata that he'd barely spared her a glance, nor had he any kind words to offer. Not that she'd expected any, but he'd been so attentive while convincing her to marry him that she'd thought... Her frown slowly morphed into a pout. What exactly did she think? It was true that Sasuke had been engaged to Hinata in the past, but that was ancient history, right? So, why was her stomach turning like this...
"Sasuke-kun?" She reached for his hand. The Uchiha shrugged away from her. Sakura didn't say anything else, but her fingers continued to pull and prod at the ring on her left hand.
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"What was that about being a real Hyuuga?" The cloud ANBU clutched Hanabi's throat, staring deep into her Byakugan eyes. He lifted her from the ground beside the old woman's trembling form. "A real Hyuuga never runs, you said. Is that because you know escape is impossible?"
Hanabi forced a hiss from her throat as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. The other ANBU pulled Tomomori onto wobbly feet, and the elder's knees buckled, sending him crashing back to the ground.
"Fucking bastard..." Hanabi wheezed. Her captor followed the angle of her eyes, toward Tomomori as he fumbled around haplessly.
"Still more concerned about that piece of trash?" He whispered. "Don't worry, Hyuuga-hime. He'll get what he deserves." Hanabi looked through his mask and saw his crooked smile. "As will you," he threatened.
"You wanna... bet... your life... on that," she goaded. She would strike with everything she had left, even if her only weapons were a sharp tongue and an insolent disposition. "Neechan... is gonna... hang you... by your balls..."
"Hn," he grunted. "If she gets anywhere near my balls, I guarantee that will be the least of her worries." He forced a hand between Hanabi's legs, grabbing what should not be rightly touched until her wedding night. "But what about you, Hyuuga-hime? You want to see my balls?"
Hanabi bucked violently, kicking his stomach in her struggle. "Let go!" She screeched. When she got out of this (and she would), she was going to rip that hand right off.
"Oh!" He cupped her harder. I can see you're going to be a lot of fun, hime," he laughed, while tightening his grip around her throat.
The young Hyuuga began to grow lightheaded as her blood's flow was stifled. Her limbs went slack while the tall ANBU's other hand groped relentlessly. Then, like a beacon of light in the darkness, she heard her name in a cry of rage.
"Hanabi-hime!" The wail was furious, like nothing she'd ever heard. The ninja who bore the voice appeared behind her captor. With outstretched arms, his kunai grazed their enemy's mask, leaving behind a deep slash as the ANBU turned to face him.
Relief filled Hanabi briefly, as she recognized the boy who was the Main House's most recent Academy graduate. She saw him often, though admittedly hadn't payed enough attention to cast his name into her memory.
The boy ninja, who was but a few years older than herself, followed up his kunai thrust with a magnificent Jyuuken barrage. He struck her captor's wrists and arms, causing him to drop the kunoichi. Once freed, Hanabi rolled onto her feet, swaying as her blood began to flow again.
"A-Arigatou," she thanked him, rubbing the bruise on her neck. He dropped back to defend her, kunai drawn in each hand.
"Can you fight, Hanabi-hime?"
She took a deep breath, refocusing her chakra. "Hai." She answered, and he handed her one of the kunai.
"Well," the ANBU sucked in a long, hissing breath. "Where did you come from, little boy?"
"I'm a Konoha ninja!" The boy sneered. "Don't underestimate me!" His eyes darted toward the old woman, and she caught the worry, as well as the disgust in his pale eyes. "Step away from the woman," he ordered.
The ANBU snickered, planting his heel on the old crone's shoulder. "Is she important to you?" He bore his weight down-- but the Main House elder still wouldn't scream. Hanabi couldn't help but admire that small fraction of shinobi pride.
"Get off the witch," Hanabi spat. "She belongs to me."
"I'm afraid not," the other ANBU said as he approached. Tomomori crawled toward the corpse of his brother, and Hanabi felt rage flow through her again, feeding her, filling her, willing her onward.
"You all belong to me!" She shouted.
"Hanabi-hime," her rescuer whispered back at her. "We need to escape," he said.
"No," she answered. "I won't run." Her Byakugan eyes scanned the clearing, and she noticed the other Hyuuga shinobi quietly waiting to strike from the foliage in front of Tomomori. "And neither will you," she ordered the boy.
He sighed, casting away the air of defeat surrounding him. "Hai, Hanabi-hime," he said. He would fight for her... and die for her, if that was her wish.
"Get ready..." Her voice dropped so low, he had to tilt his head slightly in order to hear her clearly. "Do you see him?" She asked. He grunted his response. "When he strikes..." The boy nodded.
No sooner than they'd finished their exchange, did the older Hyuuga leap from the trees. Tomomori saw him too late, but would have been too weak to stop him, anyway. The shinobi thrust his palm forward, striking the traitor's solar plexus. The Branch elder doubled over, clutching his gut. His attacker stomped him into the ground, then quickly subdued him with the cursed jutsu.
Both ANBU turned to face the new threat, leaving their backs exposed.
Hanabi and the boy ninja sped forward, slicing and striking at the closest ANBU. He matched them expertly, tossing their blows aside like so many irritating gnats.
"Nice try!" He backhanded the Hyuuga princess, and she skidded across the ground.
The young ninja at her side wailed furiously. "Hanabi-hime!" He launched himself, ducking under the ANBU's powerful kick. He pressed the chakra points behind his knee and at the back of the thigh, then swung his leg around, tripping the Cloud shinobi. As his enemy sailed to the ground, he dove back toward him, slicing upward with his kunai to sever the ANBU's achilles tendon. The elite ninja grabbed the boy by the arm then, snapping the bone with much ease. The Hyuuga dropped his weapon, screaming.
"God damned brat!" The Cloud ninja hissed. He tried to stand, but found it impossible. He fell back down in a heap of pain, while the boy managed to scramble to his feet and back to Hanabi's side.
The other ANBU rushed the older Hyuuga, as he held Tomomori with the cursed jutsu. The young man released the jutsu quickly, before flinging what looked like a paper bomb onto the writhing man. The symbols began to glow, and at once, electric blue chakra sizzled around the traitor, snaring him in its painful net.
The ANBU drew his sword, coming in for the kill, but the Hyuuga was prepared, meeting his enemy with a technique Hanabi had never seen.
His hands flew through the seals like lightning. "Hyuuga Art! Chakra Blades!" He shouted, and his hands began to glow that same sizzling blue as the chakra was transformed into two, long blades stretching from the fingers on both of his hands. He met the steel of his opponent's weapon unflinchingly.
Their dance of death was magnificent, as they twirled and spun, each striking with the full force of his strength. The Hyuuga was faster, ducking and weaving to avoid more blows than he seemed capable of landing. As the seconds passed, frustration began to chip away at his calm mask.
They stopped briefly, catching their breath while their minds calculated the next pass.
The younger brother gripped his broken arm. "What do we do now, Hanabi-hime?" He asked. The kunoichi only wished she knew. Unfortunately, any thought of a plan was erased from her mind with the shout of the lame Cloud ninja.
His teeth tore into his thumb, and he immediatlely pressed the bloody digit onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!" He shouted.
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Shizune wiped the sweat from her brow, and onto the sleeve of her white surgical coat. Her left hand scanned the opened corpse lain before her, chakra glowing softly. The inside of Hyuuga Hiashi's body looked like it had gone through a meat grinder. Whatever this substance was that killed the former Leader of the Hyuuga, it was beyond dangerous. She'd scoured her extensive medical knowledge, searching her memory for anything that even remotely resembled this effect. But, she was at a loss. As far as she knew, there was nothing short of Jyuuken attacks that could produce this kind of internal damage.
She grimaced, drawing her lips back in a thin line. It wasn't plant based, she knew that much. And it left a disticint chakra signature, as if it were but some small piece of someone, sent to work its destructive properties upon the victim. No, it definitely wasn't plant based... but human? She wondered. Who had the skills, the means and the imagination to create something so abhorrent? Two names came to mind, but she would have to consult the Godaime about it before she reached any proper conclusion...
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The three Branch elders huddled together, whispering their displeasure toward the one Main elder calling the shots.
"Look at where listening to him has gotten us," one of them sneered. "He's going to get us killed."
Another raked a hand through his thinning hair. "Well, what do you suppose we do about it? Have you got a plan, or are you just one of those people who likes to complain, but never puts forth any option to the contrary?"
"Shut up, fool!"
The third Branch elder stood, no longer willing to listen to the two argue about nothing. He brushed the dust from his robes, then pulled an old, worn out hitai-ate from his sleeve. He polished the metal, then stared into his own reflection. He'd loved the Leaf Village once, and had shed much blood in its defense. All those years ago, when he still believed in loyalty and friendship. Of course, that was before he'd come to terms with his Hyuuga destiny-- a destiny that prevented him from ascending past the rank of chuunin. His face contorted in hatred. He was needed to defend the Hyuuga, they had said. So, he resigned his commission and fell into the expected role of the loyal Branch House guard. But he never forgot, and never stopped yearning for more. After a few years, there was an opening on the Branch Council, and he was voted in.
"Where are you going?" One of the others demanded. He looked down on them both, shivering even despite the heavy blankets draped over their hunched shoulders. They looked so empty and defeated, while his eyes burned with hate. No. He would never look like that. He would go down in a blaze of glory before he allowed himself to sink into despair.
"Stay here if you want to," he tied the hitai-ate around his head. "I have people to kill," he said. He may not be able to claim loyalty to the village anymore, but at least he could still feel like a ninja.
On his way to the hidden door leading to the back corridors, he stepped over the trembling hostages, sparing a quick wink to the Branch House woman as she huddled the children closer together. Insurance, their Main House counterpart had told them. Bullshit, he'd thought to himself. They were all going to die. The only difference between he and the others, was that he would decide when, and how it happened.
"Let the children go," the woman spoke, her hard eyes thundering like a raging storm. The little ones clutched onto her, fear swirling in their wide, white eyes.
"My dear," he said to her. "You and the children have nothing to worry about. You see, we've killed Hyuuga Hiashi, and his daughter is on a rampage. Soon, she will make her presence known here, and you will be discovered." He smiled at the children, making some small effort to comfort them. The woman scowled. He then swung his arm to indicate the few dozen unlucky fools who'd chosen to collaborate with them, for whatever reasons. "They will be slaughtered."
"That's supposed to make them feel better? Because of you, these children will witness that slaughter." His gaze faltered. "Coward!" She spat.
His face twisted in insult, before sending her a scathing glare. "I am no coward! I am going to face my enemy, while they wait only for their execution!"
She breathed deeply, puffing her chest out as she spoke again. "Do you know why you never made jounin? It's not because of the Hyuuga, I assure you."
His eyes bulged, and veins began to stretch across his face. "What do you know?" He carefully forced through clenched teeth.
"My husband was a jounin, so I know a great deal."
"Lucky was all he was, to be so close to the Leader!"
She smiled. "You never made jounin because you are a coward. You've always been a coward." Her eyes sparkled in cruel satisfaction. "And now? Well," she chuckled. "Go ahead and walk out that hidden door."
The Branch elder seethed, wishing her dead with his narrowed eyes. He left her and the children then, heaving the air in and out of his lungs. Stupid god-damned bitch! He knew they should have killed her from the start! Her death would have been a far heavier blow than a mere kidnapping! But they hadn't listened to him, and he didn't protest. He slumped forward, as his hand found the small lamp that was also the latch mechanism that opened up the false wall. Was that what she had meant by cowardice? His teeth began to chatter, and the wall slowly inched forward, allowing a narrow passage. The elder slipped inside, and as the wall closed behind him, he could still clearly hear the woman's ominous laughter.
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"Hinata-chan?" Kakashi placed both hands upon the shoulders of the brooding Hyuuga Leader. She stood, still as a statue, blankly staring at the rubble surrounding the entrance into the Branch House.
"Niisan..." She whispered.
Kakashi began to knead her shoulders, working the stress out of her tired muscles. "Won't you take a rest now, little cherry," he quietly offered, while one finger trailed up her neck and into the silken indigo strands at her nape. He pressed his fingertips onto the tense flesh, further relaxing the quiet young woman below him.
Hinata sighed, feeling herself melt against him. "Ka- Kakashi-sensei..."
"Hmm?" The jounin leaned down toward her pale throat. His breath spread over her skin, warming and comforting at once.
"That feels really good, sensei..." She purred. "Don't stop..."
He chuckled in her ear. "I could go for hours, sweet little cherry." His voice was subtle and intoxicating. Hinata found her pulse quickening and her heart racing, but not painfully like before. Now, the sensation was thrilling, and the prospect of the Copy-Ninja's hot lips upon her skin were ever more appealing.
"Sensei?" She turned her head, looking over her shoulder to face him. He stared at her with his one good eye. "D- Do you w- want to... um..." His eye was roaming her rounded cheeks, brow arching in amusement at her scarlet blush. She looked away. "Well, I... what I m-mean is..." Oh! Why was this so hard? "A- Are you... um..." She chomped into her bottom lip.
"If you get any redder, I'm going to have to think of a new nickname." He grazed his masked lips across her earlobe. "And I don't think I'll find one sweeter than little cherry," he hissed brazenly against her ear, and her eyes widened, brightly.
"Hyuuga-sama!" She heard her name being called somewhere far in the distance. She would so much rather stay here, lost in Kakashi-sensei's voice... "Hyuuga-sama!" That damned calling again!
"What do you want!?" Lady Hyuuga snapped at the shinobi approaching them.
The man was snared by her diamond glare, caught in the quiet maelstrom. "There's someone coming," he tried to explain. "The door," he pointed toward the Branch House.
Hinata's gaze flew to the darkened threshold. She'd been so distracted by the Copy-Ninja that she'd failed to notice the rise in chakra. That just wouldn't do.
"Kakashi-sensei," she said, as his hands fell away from her. "We'll continue this... whatever this is... another time."
"My thoughts exactly," the jounin answered.
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Hyuuga Neji stalked low to the floor, following the fearful whispers to the back of the house. Were these traitors so sloppy as to leave themselves exposed like this? He smirked. All the better for him-- and the Leader's sword.
The prodigy crouched down, back pressed against the closed door. "We have to find a way out of here!" He listened to their pointless argument. "There is no way out!" Another shouted. Indeed, there would be no escape. Neji flung his unbound hair behind his back, though a few locks slid back over his shoulders. He stood then, activating his Byakugan, as his face became an impenetrable mask of death.
"Let this be the end..." He pleaded into the cold, cold shadows that were now more a part of him than any beacon of light. He'd already killed ten people. Ten Hyuuga Branch House members, whose laughing, smiling faces he remembered from lighthearted family gatherings during his childhood. Ten people who had once spent time training and schooling the young genius on Hyuuga protocol. Nine older cousins, and one uncle whom he would miss terribly. "Please... let there be no more killing after this."
Then, the Branch leader, right hand of Hyuuga-sama, thrust open the door-- and the real slaughter began...
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"Summoning Jutsu!"
The giant nightcrawler erupted from the soggy ground, its gaping mouth ready to swallow up anything in its path. The lame Cloud ANBU clung to the worm as it rose, high in the air.
"What do you think of me now, Hyuuga-hime?" He shouted. Hanabi grabbed the boy beside her, launching them into the treetops. "You won't escape!"
"I'm not trying to escape, asshole!" She shouted back.
"Well, that's too bad." The worm swung its front end around. "Because it's really your only hope!" The enemy ninja ordered the worm forward, and Hanabi had finally run out of ideas...
The older Hyuuga shinobi abandoned his opponent, rushing to block the advancing worm. "Hanabi-sama!" His voice was desperate, as he dove forward, ripping a stack of paper bombs from the pouch at his hip. He stuck them through with a wire-threaded senbon needle, then tied them off to a kunai. He thumbed through the bombs like a stack of dollar bills, activating each one to explode in timed intervals. He flung the stack of bombs, and the kunai sank into the worm's front end.
"Brother!" The young ninja shouted from the foliage.
"Quiet!" Hanabi scolded, dragging him to a different tree. They watched with quiet awe as the bombs exploded, one after another, driving the creature back with the scorching heat. "Wow," the kunoichi whispered. "That's your brother?"
"Yeah," he answered. "He's really something, isn't he?"
"Is he training anybody right now?" Hanabi inquired. No matter how dire the situation, there was always time to talk about training.
"Just me," the boy looked at her, as the explosions continued to rock the forest around them.
She smiled slyly. "Looks like you've got yourself a rival," she said.
"You two!" The older Hyuuga motioned them down from their high perch. "Get going! There's not much time!"
"What about my corpse!?" Hanabi yelled. She wasn't about to leave empty-handed. "And I'm not done with that worm-summoning bastard!" She still wanted that groping hand of his, after all.
"There's no time for any of that!" The shinobi shouted. "Please, Hanabi-sama, just get out of here while you still can!"
"Hanabi-hime..." The boy pleaded with concerned white eyes.
"I'm not trying to escape!" She hissed.
The shinobi narrowed his eyes toward his younger brother. The boy swallowed hard, but understood the message.
"Please forgive me, Hanabi-hime," he whispered.
"Huh?" Then, she fell over, unconcious from the sharp blow to the base of her skull.
The young ninja draped her over his good shoulder, while his brother shouted one last time.
"Protect the princess!" He sneered, as the last of his bombs blasted through the trees. They'd be all used up soon, and if Hanabi-sama wasn't gone by then... there would be nothing he could do to save her.
His little brother nodded once-- and disappeared, precious cargo safely in hand.
End Chapter Seventeen