Stepping into the room where Itachi rests, Hinata looks around at all the machines and other efforts that have been made to keep the man alive on a constant chakra flow. She then looks to Itachi, seeming almost confused. …Why are they trying to keep this man alive…? For a trial? Why…bother if he's dying… And Sasuke has been so worried about him… Maybe he didn't really do anything wrong…
Itachi rests in the hospital bed; there are seal marks drawn onto his temples that block the chakra from reaching his eyes, and his hands are contained in odd metal gloves. Hearing Hinata, Itachi's eyes slowly open; dark, black, and tired and they turn to look at her with a pitiful expression that begs for release; not from his confines, but from his life. By the salt stains that adorn his face and the redness of his eyes atop the black, it's obvious he's spent a lot of his time in tears.
Flinching and squinting back an empathetic expression, Hinata stares at the older man, seeming honestly hurt. …He looks like…he wants to die… …He doesn't seem like a horrible criminal to me… But maybe he only looks so sad because of everything that's been done to keep him from hurting anyone… "…U-…Uchiha…Itachi…?"
"Hyuuga-sama…" The pallid shinobi utters tiredly, but respectfully. "…to what do I… owe this…?" He takes in a ragged breath as he closes his eyes painfully a moment and tries to steel himself.
Furrowing her brows deeper before she hesitantly steps up to him, the raven haired woman puts out a hand, placing the pale, glowing hand upon his forehead, relieving his pain; at least for awhile. "…Uchiha-san…I…want to talk to you…please…"
Keeping his eyes upward now, Itachi slowly opens them and gives a small sigh of relief that rattles oddly in his throat. "…Don't… come too close…"
"…Why…?" She asks a bit boldly, furrowing her brows gently in worry, though she steps back slightly.
"I am ill; and it can be infectious…" Sighing gently he admits. "…The disease is terminal; do you see the efforts they're taking to keep me alive…? But… for what…?"
"…I was…wondering that myself…" She admits before biting her lip and asking boldly. "…a-aren't you a… …didn't you murder…y-your family…?"
Barely seeming to flinch, Itachi just closes his eyes once more. "That day will haunt me for the rest of my life… no matter who tries to prolong it… I… I didn't want to …die this way…my death, was supposed to make Sasuke a hero…" I don't see why I should bother hiding anything anymore… Despite his thoughts, his answer is vague as is his wont.
Frowning as she dwells over his words, the Hyuuga female only urges further. "…did you kill them…?"
Glancing to her questioningly, Itachi then turns back to the ceiling again and utters. "…I killed… only who I was assigned to kill…" Then he sags more into the mattress and lets his eyes close once more. "…In reality, I hate killing… I hate the sight of blood so much, that I don't even eat meat… and that night… I… lied and told the person who committed the murders that Sasuke was dead. …It was my hope one day that with all this blame rested on me, he would kill me and become a hero to this village… but now… now you see what he's let to become of me…"
Taking in his words with a soft frown, Hinata offers hopefully. …If all that's true…m-maybe he just…wants you to be alright…clear your name and be a family… …he's…so lonely…"
"…you've spent more time with me since I've returned than he has already…" The adult Uchiha utters bluntly. "…I'm not sure I want that for myself… I can't see the future that far ahead anymore…" Turning to her, his eyes open, he squints softly and then informs. "…and from here… I can barely make out the details of your face…" Then turning away completely he sighs again. "…Sasuke is ambitious… and he has all the potential to be just like our father; ruthless and strict. I… I want peace… for myself and for him… I want to… watch the clouds and let my life pass but… instead I'm in here; thinking constantly over what's happened. How I let it happen, how I let him rule me through fear and let me lose my faith in the so called 'prideful' Uchiha name… It's a name of hatred and vengeance…"
"…I…think I understand…I-in a way what you mean…" The younger female offers, frowning sadly before offering innocently. "But…if you're scared of him being like that…why don't you want to be here to help guide him…? …that's…wh-….what older brothers do…isn't it…?"
"…Because I worry that I can't stop it… I couldn't stop my father from… what he was doing in any way aside from…." But he trails off before finishing the sentence and shivers noticeably. "…my ideal would probably be too radical for him to accept, and I'm tired of fighting… if I do actually survive this treatment, then I will never walk the path of a shinobi again. That decision might further discredit me with my brother… but it is my only option for peace…"
"…couldn't you come to a compromise…? …I…I just…think that….th-that…if he wants you to be here so much that he's going through all of this, that…he can't want you to be alive just….a-as…a trophy…" She urges, seating herself in a nearby chair. "..He's here…I-in this building… right at your side sometimes…in ways…"
Seeming thoughtful for a moment, Itachi then offers. "…He probably doesn't want to grow attached… just incase…" Attempting to shift he then sighs in frustration and points out. "…This rack is so uncomfortable… I barely have the chakra to roll over, and they have my arms and hands pinned down to keep me from using jutsu…"
Frowning deeper, the young kunoichi asks softly. "…you swear…you have no intention of leaving this place…or hurting anyone…?"
Chuckling bitterly, Itachi then states simply. "…I would die before reaching the door… besides, at this rate… a genin wouldn't break a sweat to defeat me…"
"..a-and you won't do anything to hurt yourself..?" She pushes further, clasping her hands to her knees nervously. …I can't stand to see someone like this…and if what he says is true….
"…if you will do one other thing for me; get Sasuke to talk to me, even once." The black haired male utters gently.
Gasping, as if struck, Hinata nods one before standing without another word, making her way from the room quickly. Time goes by slowly and over half an hour later, the lavender-grey eyed girl walks back in with a small group of four medics; all seeming apprehensive as they walk towards Itachi, a fifth moving to her side.
"…You realize, Hyuuga-sama…if anything happens-"
"I'm taking full responsibility of his actions from now on. If he harms anyone or runs, you can punish me instead.." She answers, using her best professional air, her arms at her sides as the group of medics proceed to remove his gloves and straps; though his chakra inhibiters remain in tact. Watching this, Hinata points out quickly. "He can't see well without his Sharingan."
"…Hinata-sama, with all due respect…we can't remove those. His genjutsu are too much of a threat." The male raven haired medic by her side states, shaking his head, only making her nod and look back towards Itachi.
"I understand. Thank you." She finishes as they leave.
Moving his fingers around experimentally, an odd sort of discomfort makes Itachi blink in confusion before lifting his right hand close to his face and suddenly frowns as he gasps. "M-my ring… where is…?"
"..it was taken…for evidence…and because it's an Akatsuki ring…" Hinata answers, biting her bottom lip gently before slowly seating herself.
Flinching more visibly this time, the Uchiha man then sighs defeatedly as he lowers his hand shakily. "…of course it was… and they don't understand…"
"…understand..?" She echoes, seeming confused.
"…The rings… the ten that make up Akatsuki are not just jewelry… they have… a power… not just anyone can put on any ring; if you find the ring you're meant to wear… you know it…" Then seeming thoughtful Itachi utters. "The Hyuuga clan deals heavily with the art of yin and yang… in essence, these ten rings apply the same concept… four yin rings, and four yang rings… with the thumbs being the opposite on either hand…there is a saying among Akatsuki that once you become Akatsuki, you will always be Akatsuki… it is because of these rings… it is why even Orochimaru, when he attacked me years ago… an attack that cost him his ring hand… took the arm with him as he fled… the ring tethers itself to the wearer… it almost feels like a part of your own body… being without it now, there's an emptiness I'm just trying to ignore…" Finally sighing and shaking his head slowly after his explanation, Itachi then adds. "…but don't go trying to get it back for me… you would… never be able to convince them of those things…"
"…do you at least feel m-more comfortable now…?" She asks, suddenly worried her efforts were in vain.
"..Yes… thank you…" He says with a sigh before closing his eyes.
"Hey, Daisuke. When are you gonna teach me how to walk on walls and do that Sharingan thing?" Seiji asks enthusiastically.
"I can't teach you the sharingan." His older brother returns, shaking his head. "It's just kinda something that happens. You've got to go through a lot of stress and then it just opens up on it's own. As for the chakra concentration, you're still an academy student, and chakra concentration is a genin level technique. Whatever Jonin you end up being taught by will probably teach you that."
Blinking alittle, Seiji then just grins coaxingly. "But you're my brother. You're supposed to be there for me like that, Dai."
"I can't, Seiji. I'm not allowed to teach academy students that I'm not certified to teach." Then seeming thoughtful he scratches his head and shrugs. "You've only been in the academy for a week, right? Can you even do all the hand signs?"
"Well, I don't have them memorized, but I can do them if I see them." The younger brunette says with a shrug.
"Hmm… well, that's at least something I can help you with." Moving his hands, Daisuke makes several of the twelve hand signs. Inu, Ousu-buta, Tora. These three are one of the techniques they've probably already went over. The purpose of the hand signs is to mold your chakra in a certain way so that you get the necessary result. Now, when I actually apply my chakra and mold it properly…."He performs the hand signs faster while concentrating. "Henge!" A cloud erupts around Daisuke's form and instead of his brother, Seiji is now looking into the face of Kakashi.
"Whoa…" Raising his brows Seiji then grins. "Ever used that technique to turn into a girl so you could see what she looked like naked?"
Blinking and raising a brow, Daisuke cancels the jutsu and returns to normal. "You can only transform with as much detail as you know about the person you're transforming into. So you should be careful. If you ever see the guy I just used, Kakashi-sensei, you'll notice that his forehead protector covers his left eye, not his right like I did. If you screw it up like that on a mission and someone who knows the person notices, you'll blow your cover."
Sighing a bit, Seiji just mutters. "You're way too serious about this, Dai…"
"Uh… it is serious, Seiji." Daisuke responds, raising his brows. "People your age and younger sometimes get killed because of this stuff."
"….Well I won't because I'm an Uchiha! Not only that but I'm gonna be awesome." The younger male boasts while Daisuke just sighs.
"Don't get too full on yourself, okay? I don't want to see anything happen to you." Now standing he informs. "I'm gonna go back home for a few and see what Senka's doing."
"Hey, Senka!" Daisuke announces himself as he walks in the door.
"Hmm? Oh, hey, Dai." The brunette female answers, seeming distracted as she talks with Kiba. It's now been over a month since Shikamaru's left Konoha, three since she learned of her pregnancy. She's obviously gained a bit of weight as her sister worked with Kakashi, Jiraya, Tsunade and Naruto on her 'campaign trail'.
"Hi, Kiba." Daisuke waves as well and when Akamaru lifts his head, the brunette chortles and adds. "You, too." Walking over, to where the pair sit next to each other, Daisuke sits at Senka's opposite side with his back up against the tomboyish young woman. "My brother's got a long way to go before he's ready for this… but it was his decision so…"
"He's an idiot. You already knew that. He's over zealous and I personally hope he just doesn't die in the chunin exam. …He's gonna do nothing but get himself in trouble." She states, letting out a sigh as she shifts one leg up onto Kiba's lap. "…my feet hurt…"
"Hmm…" Kiba murmurs thoughtfully before starting to rub at Senka's foot. "…Hey, Daisuke? It's fine if you're stressed out or something, but do you need to lean on Senka like that?"
When the two of them just turn to blink at the Inuzuka male, Daisuke then raises his brows and crosses his arms. Hrm… Senka and I already had to have this talk with Ino, looks like it's Kiba's turn. The problem never came up with Shikamaru… funny because I'd assume the pack-animal to be better understanding. "…What? …Uh, Kiba… it's really nothing. Things between me and Senka are just… it's a special circumstance and it always has been."
"What does that mean?" The dark eyed brunette returns, furrowing his brows slightly.
"We have a really close relationship… Kinda like siblings or something. We talked with Ino about it, too… And Shikamaru…well, he…" Turning to Daisuke, she raises a brow. "…well…"
Raising both brows as he looks back at Senka, Daisuke then shrugs. "I don't think Shikamaru ever expressed a problem with it. I asked him about it once, because I got concerned, and he said it was pretty obvious so he didn't bother complaining."
Frowning discreetly, Kiba sighs. "…Alright, alright… fine… sorry…" Damnit, I can't believe they just compared me to Shikamaru… When am I gonna be able to stop hearin' about that guy?
Ruffling his hair, the female grins slightly before nuzzling his ear. "You'll get used to it. I have faith in you. Besides; we don't handle jealous significant others very well."
"…Guess I didn't realize where that line was, exactly…" Kiba mutters before Kiyoko storms in and up the stairs.
Blinking a few times, Daisuke groans loudly and feigns a sob as he puts his hands over his face. "…this reeks of another argument with Sasuke…. Damnit, I hate being the oldest sometimes…"
"What's with Kiyoko and Sasuke?" Kiba furrows his brows before Daisuke waves a hand.
"….She gets like this whenever she gets dumped…"
"She was dating Sasuke? I though-"
"No! God… she was… well you know…" Daisuke then shrugs and Kiba blinks.
"…Oh right, that! ….Still pissed about it, huh?"
"Yep. So she takes it out on people that irritate her since she knows it wouldn't be fair to get upset with Ino or me." The hazel eyed chunin explains before he slowly stands. "…Senka, I might end up needing your help with her… Sorry…."
"Damn… I was avoiding the stress…" She grumbles, rubbing her forehead before reaching up to caress Kiba's ear. "Please don't stop… That feels really good…"
"Sure…" Kiba nods a few times while Daisuke retreats up the stairs after his sister.
Coming up to Kiyoko's room, Daisuke invites himself in where the medic nin is using her magnet ball jutsu to pick up random objects scattered over the floor. "Kiyoko? What happened now…?"
"Sasuke's a dick, that's what happened now." She returns quickly.
"What did he say to you?" I told him to just leave her alone and let me handle things…
"Nothing! That's what I mean! He does things and ignores I'm even in the same room. I was going to get Raito and Kazuya ready for a nap, and he picked them up and walked out! He didn't even say anything, I had no idea what he was doing." Kiyoko grumbles while Daisuke whines alittle and rubs his temples. "On top of that, he tried to have Sakura talk me into … or out of… living life the way I want."
Scratching his neck and frowning in frustration, Daisuke closes his eyes and sighs before waving a hand. "…I'll…handle this… Look, for now just don't go around Sasuke until it's all figured out…"