I apologize profusely for my lack of updating. I broke my arm about two days after I posted my last chapter. I slipped on some loose gravel and caught my wrist on the curb. It was only a minor fracture but it is way hard to write with a cast on. Im glad to see you all enjoyed the last chapter! It's about time I added some real action to this story. Many of you were concerned about the way I ended the last chapter and I assure you everything will make sense after the beginning of this chapter! Hidiki is much more of an evil mastermind than you all gave him credit for! I will post the last bit of the last chapter so everyone can understand what is happening. I will also switch perspectives after a minute. Please read carefully.
Hinata's world went dark and time seemed to slow as she watched Asuka pull a long knife out of his jacket. She opened her mouth to scream, but her voice caught in her throat. Fear gripped her heart as she wrestled with Hidiki's tight grip. She was completely helpless as she watched Asuka drive the blade into Naruto's chest, piercing his heart. Naruto's feet suddenly stopped kicking and his arms fell to his sides. He slowly turned his head to look at Hinata as blood dribbled out of his mouth. He mouthed Hinata's name before completely going limp.
"NARUTOOOO!" Hinata screamed as Asuka threw Naruto's lifeless body to the ground. Pain and horror flooded into her as tears poured from her eyes. Hidiki let go of her and she sank to her knees. She outstretched her hand trying to reach Naruto, but her world suddenly went black.
1 minute earlier
"What are you doing here, Hidiki? I thought I said I wanted nothing to do with you!" Hinata said strongly.
Naruto felt Hinata's hand grab his and he squeezed her hand reassuringly. He had never heard Hinata talk like that. These men must really be making her nervous. The heavy feeling in his stomach got worse. There was something very bad about these men.
"That's why I'm here. I plan on fixing that." Hidiki took a menacing step toward Hinata and Naruto had had enough. He stepped in front of Hinata and blocked Hidiki's advance.
"I think it's time for you to leave." Naruto said as he stared coldly into Hidiki's yellow eyes. Hidiki broke his gaze and looked towards Hinata. Naruto saw a small flash and he blinked in surprise. Naruto took a defensive step back and refocused his gaze. Hidiki was still standing in the exact same spot. He hadn't even moved a muscle. Naruto turned to look at the older man. He, also, hadn't moved. Then… what had just happened?
Naruto turned around to look at Hinata and his stomach dropped. She was staring straight ahead, but her eyes were filled with fear. Her muscles were clenched and sweat was glistening on her skin.
"Hinata? Are you okay?" Naruto grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly. She didn't respond at all. She just kept staring past Naruto. He froze and a cold sweat broke out on his skin as he suddenly realized that she was shaking in fear. Just what had Hidiki done to her?
Naruto turned to Hidiki in a rage. "What did you do to her!" He shouted without taking his hands off of Hinata. Hinata, meanwhile, continued to tremble in fear.
Hidiki smiled a crooked smile. "Just wait. You will see in a moment."
Naruto's breath caught in his throat and he slowly turned to face Hinata. Something was different in her eyes. She had been terrified before, but now it was even worse. Suddenly tears began to flow from her eyes and her arm jerked forward. "NARUTO!" She cried out as she sank to her knees.
Fear gripped Naruto's heart as he caught Hinata before she fell onto her back. He cradled her softly in his arms as he whispered her name.
"H-Hinata? Hinata, please wake up. Come on, Hinata. HINATA!" Naruto yelled as he desperately tried to shake Hinata awake.
Hidiki laughed hysterically. "She couldn't even withstand the lowest layer!"
Naruto gently laid Hinata on her back and slowly stood up. He turned towards Hidiki again, his blood boiling. "What did you do to her?" He said in a calm, quiet voice.
"I used my clan's special genjustu on her. It makes her experience her worst nightmate. I really wasn't expecting that kind of reaction though. She must have seen something terrible." Hidiki said with an antagonizing grin.
Naruto exploded. He suddenly flew towards Hidiki and slammed his right fist into Hidiki's face. Hidiki was thrown back onto the ground next to Asuka. Naruto's teeth had sharpened and his eyes were glowing red.
Asuka stepped forward, but Hidiki held him back with a wave of his hand. He picked himself up off the ground and dusted his clothes off. He wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled. "Your anger is indeed quite demon-like. I think it's about time I showed you your worst nightmare."
Naruto quickly tried to avert his eyes, but it was too late. There was a flash of light and his world grew dark. Suddenly he was looking at his village from a bird's eye view. But it was not his usual village. Building lay in ruin and houses were on fire. Women and children were buried beneath piles of rubble and his friends lay dead in the streets.
Naruto screamed in pain. He tried to block out the images, but they seemed all too real. Naruto's gaze shifted towards the village as a large explosion sounded. His stomach froze in terror as he recognized his own form in the middle of the chaos. He was in the demon's cloak and he was wrecking havoc. Suddenly, his perspective changed so that he was inside his own body. He had become the demon that was destroying the village.
He cringed as he felt his own hands cut into other ninja. He could feel everything as his nine-tails chakra erupted from him and blew back the surrounding environment. The worst part was that he could feel anger and hate deep inside of him. He was feeling the hate for the village as if it was his own hated. As if he wanted, no, needed to destroy the village. It wasn't a dream. It felt too real and it was almost too much for Naruto to bear.
But then, it got ten times worse.
Through the rubble and the smoke Naruto saw a person emerge. The screams of pain grew silent as a battle-ready Hinata approached him. He could feel the concern for her in his body, but his mind told him it was wrong. This was an enemy. And enemies needed to die.
Naruto screamed out in a deepest corner of his mind, but he was powerless to stop himself as he raised his chakra-infused claw. Naruto tried to close his eyes, but he couldn't. He was forced to watch as he brought his claws down towards Hinata's vulnerable body.
She didn't even try to dodge it. She just looked up into Naruto's eyes as his claw rushed towards her. The look was almost pleading. As if she were begging Naruto to return to normal. To return to the Naruto that she knew and cared for. Naruto screeched in pain as he felt his claw pierce her body.
Suddenly, Hinata's bloody body was replaced with his living room floor. Naruto sat up, back in his own living room. Tears were flowing down his cheeks and bile burned at the back of his throat. He slowly stood up and looked towards Hidiki.
Except Hidiki wasn't there.
Naruto quickly turned to face Asuka, but he was also nowhere to be found. Panic washed into Naruto and he spun around towards Hinata. Terror hit him like an anvil as he realized that she, too, was missing.
Naruto sunk to his knees and whimpered. "H-Hinata…" He choked out between sobs. I failed. I couldn't protect you…. I'm such a…such a….. "IDIOT!" Naruto screamed as he pounded the floor with his fists.
Naruto let himself give in for a minute. He let himself drown in fear and the pain. Tears flooded down his face as images of Hinata poured into his head. Her smile when he woke up, the smell of her hair when she was close, the feel of her lips when they kissed….
Naruto sat up slowly and wiped the tears from his face. He focused his mind and shook all the fear from his heart. This wasn't the time to anguish over Hinata. This was the time to go after her. Naruto quickly ran upstairs and grabbed his ninja gear. Once he was dressed, he headed outside and towards the Hokage's office.
Tsunade and Shizune were signing some official documents when the door to the room suddenly slammed open.
"Grandma Tsunade! It's Hinata! She was taken!" Naruto cried out, breathless.
Tsunade blinked in surprise. "What? Naruto, calm down. Tell me what happened."
"Hinata! She was kidnapped by these two guys. One was about my age and the other was much older. We need to go after her!
Tsunade frowned and was quiet for a moment. "Did you see where they were going?"
"No. I was under some sort of genjutsu." Naruto felt a bit of bile creep up this throat as he remembered his vision.
"Shizune! Go and inform the Hyuuga clan of Naruto's news. Naruto… I need you to calm down and listen to what I am about to say."
Shizune ran out of the room while Naruto took a deep breath and stilled his frantic body.
"Tomorrow morning, at dawn, you will join Kiba and Shino on a tracking mission to locate and rescue Hinata. I want you to go home and prepare for-"
"Tomorrow morning? Why aren't we going now!" Naruto interrupted angrily.
Tsunade sighed. "Because we have no idea which way they went or where they are going. Plus it is getting dark and the chances of finding a trial are slim. And if you went out blindly you would only disrupt any traces of a trail they might have left. We need to wait until morning."
Naruto's temper flared. "Are you joking? Hinata was kidnapped! We need to follow after her before they get a chance to-"
Tsunade slammed her fist down on the table. "Naruto! Trust me! I want Hinata to be safe as much as you do! This is the best way!"
Naruto blinked and his face went blank. "Understood. I will wait until morning." Naruto turned swiftly and walked out of the room. He exited the building and stared off into the setting sun.
Hinata…. I will rescue you. I promise!
Naruto let out a deep sigh and ran off towards the Hyuuga main complex. If Tsunade wasn't going to help him then there was still one other person…
When Naruto arrived at the Hyuuga main complex he found Hiashi seated in the main courtyard burning a strand of incense. He seemed to be in some kind of meditating position.
He approached Hiashi with a small sliver of anxiety. "Um… Hiashi, sir?"
"I assume this is about Hinata." Hiashi said without looking up.
"Yes. I am going after her."
Hiashi almost cracked a smile. Always straight to the point. "Could you tell me about the people who took my daughter?"
Naruto closed his eyes. The image of those yellow eyes was burned into his memory. "There were two of them. One young and one old. They had these yellow eyes….. these burning yellow eyes…" Naruto spoke softly without opening his eyes.
Hiashi bolted upright knocking over his incense. "Yellow eyes? Were their names Hidiki and Asuka perhaps?"
Naruto remembered Hinata calling one of them Hidiki. "Yes. I think so."
Hiashi swore under his breath. "I know who is responsible for this. And I also know where they are going."
"You know them?
"Unfortunately. The man is named Asuka and he is the clan leader of a very wealthy clan: the Kenji Clan. And the boy is named Hidiki. He is soon to become the clan leader and he has taken an inappropriate interest in my daughter. He has requested Hinata's hand in marriage several times, but I have always refused. I fear this is the reason they have kidnapped her…"
Naruto smiled. "You were just being protective…"
Hiashi blushed slightly and cleared his throat. "I refuse to allow any Hyuuga to become subservient to that filthy family.
Naruto blinked suddenly as something occurred to him. "Hey… Do you know anything about that eye jutsu they used?"
Hiashi frowned as he tried to think. "I believe it is some kind of genjutsu. And I am afraid that it is quite powerful in terms of ocular jutsu. I don't really know the details, but it would be best to not get hit by that jutsu."
"They used it once… on me. It made me experience my worst nightmare… or something like that." Naruto restrained himself from telling Hiashi that Hidiki had used that same technique on Hinata as well. He doubted Hiashi would have taken it well.
Hiashi was silent for a moment. "Hinata was kidnapped once before. It happened when she was very young."
Naruto was stunned. "What happened?"
"I killed the man responsible and took my daughter back. Unfortunately, my actions caused our clan much distress. I won't be able to do anything to help my daughter this time. The Kenji clan would see it as an attack against their clan and would seek vengeance. Our two clans have a tenacious relationship as it is and we cannot afford to engage in a vicious vendetta."
Hiashi sighed and stepped closer to Naruto. "It seems that you have the greatest chance of rescuing my daughter.
"Me? But Tsunade said-"
"Tsunade is just thinking like a Hokage. However, she does not completely understand the situation. We need to recover Hinata as soon as possible and you are the only one who can do it. You are the only one who knows what he is going up against. And since you are not part of the Hyuuga clan….yet, your actions are not representative of the clan. The Kenji clan cannot blame us for the actions of a single misguided boy."
Naruto ignored the 'misguided' comment and closed his eyes. He hated to admit it, but he needed Hiashi's help. He had planned to rescue Hinata by himself anyways, but he was terrible at tracking and would probably have just messed up the trail.
"You do know where they are taking Hinata, right?" Naruto asked.
Hiashi nodded. "If you left now you could get there by morning."
"Then give me those directions. I'm leaving now."
Meanwhile, Hinata was just waking up. She was lying on her stomach on a dirt floor. She propped herself up onto her knees and rubbed the dirt from her hands and face. She looked around slowly and found that she was in some kind of prison cell. She was in a small square cell with a locked door and outside the cell there was a small hallway with another locked door.
Naruto! An image of a bloody Naruto suddenly flashed across her eyes. Hinata felt pain grip her heart as she remembered the events of Naruto's death. Tears filled her eyes once again as she sunk back to the ground. It was becoming painful to breath. "Naruto…" Hinata whispered softly, choking on her tears.
"Hello, Hinata."
Hinata snapped her head up to stare into the blazing eyes of Hidiki Kenji. She dashed instantly to the door of her cell trying to grab Hidiki through the spaces of the bars.
Hidiki smoothly stepped back dodging Hinata's hands. "Calm down, Hinata. I am not here to hurt you!" He said with concern in his voice. The caring look in his eyes made Hinata want to vomit.
"What do you want with me?" Hinata whispered. Her spirit was slowly breaking down. Her sudden outburst and overwhelming sadness was beginning to have its effects on her. And the situation wasn't helping her any, either.
"You should be thanking me!" Hidiki shouted incredulously as he started pacing in front of Hinata's cell. "I just saved you!"
"Saved me? You kidnapped me! And now you are holding me in this cell! And… you k-killed the man I lo….." Hinata's eyes watered up again and she sank to the ground.
Hidiki grew quiet. "I did not put you in this cell. That was my father's decision. He believes you are dangerous. And that man was not who you think he was….. " Hidiki crouched down to be at Hinata's level. His voice lowered to barely a whisper. "Tell me, Hinata…. How does it feel to kiss a demon?"
"D-Demon….?"
"That's right. Naruto is the host for the Nine Tailed Fox. "
Hinata's heart skipped a beat and she felt her stomach drop. She didn't want to believe it, but it all made sense. She had several flashbacks of the villagers and how they would react whenever they saw him. They called him a monster and now Hinata understood why.
Naruto must be in so much pain… Hinata shuddered at the thought. She couldn't even imagine what it must have been like to grow up labeled as a monster. She felt more tears swell up in her eyes and spill down her cheeks.
That was the final straw for Hinata. Losing Naruto had taken so much from her, but now it was even worse. Her body just couldn't take any more stress and she promptly passed out.
Hidiki smiled to himself as he watched Hinata shudder and faint. I have her. Just hearing the Nine-Tails' name was enough to make her pass out. It won't be long before she becomes completely mine.
Hidiki checked the lock on Hinata's door and walked out of the room. Once he was outside the prison he turned to his father who had listening to the whole conversation.
"Well?" His father asked.
Hidiki smiled. "My plan is working. She sees you as the evil man who locked her up and killed her fiancée. She also knows that he was the host for a demon. A few more visits and I'll be able to convince her that I'm the only good thing in her life. She will practically be begging me to save her. We will be wed within the month."
Asuka nodded. He was actually quite impressed with his son. He never expected the plan to be so complex. "When do we begin Phase Two?"
Hidiki turned to face his father. "As soon as she wakes up. And Father….? Please be gentle with her. I do plan on marrying this girl after all. I do not want there to be any long term effects."
Asuka smiled and strode into the prison cell, leaving the door open behind him.
Hidiki frowned and stared at the prison door for a moment before stepping closer and slamming it shut. He really didn't want to hear what was going to happen behind those prison doors. He turned around and headed towards the kitchen to begin his part of Phase Two.
About an hour later, Hinata began to stir into consciousness. She looked around her empty cell and sighed with relief. At least she could be alone for a few moments to sort out her thoughts.
"It's about time you woke up." Asuka said as he emerged from a dark corner.
Hinata gasped as her heart shot up into her throat. She held her hands up to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. She wiped the fear from her face and looked up into Asuka's eyes. "What do you want?"
Asuka smiled and took off his silk jacket, revealing a thin, sleeveless undershirt. He unlocked Hinata's cell and stepped inside, locking the door behind him. He took a menacing step towards Hinata, backing her into the corner of her cell.
"My son is really fond of you. And I must admit you are not displeasing to look upon. But you're not quite deserving of him yet. You see….An heiress like yourself leads such a pampered life. I am going to have to roughen you up a bit to… prepare you for your life with my son."
Hinata broke out into a cold panic. She began to frantically flail her arms at her attacker trying to knock him back. But Asuka was a more much powerful man. He caught her arms and deftly threw her to the ground.
Hinata sputtered loudly as the wind was knocked out of her. She propped herself up on her hands and knees and tried to catch her breath.
Asuka came up behind her and snorted. "What a sight to behold. A Hyuuga on her knees gasping for breath." Asuka quickly brought up his foot catching Hinata in the stomach again. Asuka picked up Hinata's limp body and pressed it against the cell wall.
"Do you want the pain to stop, Hyuuga? " Asuka sneered as he pulled Hinata's hair until his face was inches from hers.
Ignoring the pain from her hair, Hinata summoned the last bit of strength left in her body and brought her forehead down upon Asuka's nose tearing the hair in his grip from her head. Asuka reeled back in pain, holding his bleeding nose. Hinata smiled smugly as tears welled up in her eyes from the pain from her hair.
Asuka wiped the blood from his face and slapped Hinata to the ground. "I was going to be gentle with you, but now I'm angry. I am going to revel in your anguish." Asuka held his foot over Hinata's hand. He slowly pressed his heel into the palm of Hinata's hand, smashing the back of her hand into the ground.
Hinata screamed and clutched at her wrist with her free hand. She could feel the bones in her hand begin to break.
Suddenly, the prison door slammed open and Hidiki strode in with two plates of barbequed meat. He froze as his gaze landed upon his father standing over a bloody Hinata. His nostrils flared and Asuka stepped away from Hinata quickly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hidiki shouted.
"I-I was just trying to help …." Asuka stuttered meekly as his enraged son burst into the cell.
"Get out." Hidiki said coldly. "Get out before I lose my temper."
Asuka dashed past Hidiki and sauntered his way out of the prison. Hidiki took a deep breath and set the plates of food on the ground. He then bent over to help Hinata sit up. He took several medical bandages out his jacket and dressed Hinata's wounds.
`Hinata naturally turned away from Hidiki, but the pain from her hand and head was making it hard for her to turn away treatment. Hidiki advanced once and, this time, Hinata just sat there and let Hidiki wrap up her injuries.
"There. Does that feel any better?" Hidiki asked when he finished bandaging Hinata up. Hinata just inched herself away from Hidiki to the corner of her cell.
Hidiki frowned and picked up a plate of food. "That's no good, Hinata. I spent a lot of time preparing this meal for us. I would appreciate it if you came over here and ate it with me."
Hinata was about to tell him to leave, but the smell of the barbequed meat wafted in front of her and her stomach growled loudly. It was really hard to ignore a warm meal after suffering through that brutal assault, but Hinata refused to accept help from Hidiki. She stayed put in her dark corner.
Hidiki frowned. "I'm not my father, Hinata. I am not going to beat you or force you to do something you don't want to do. I will leave this food here for when you get hungry." Hidiki set the two plates on the ground and walked out of the cell.
"You know…" Hidiki said turning around. "If you acted more obedient I'm sure I could convince my father to let you sleep in my private chamber instead of this cold cell."
Hinata stared at the food for awhile before slowly crawling over to it. She searched the plates for some kind of make-shift weapon. She was dismayed to find that she had been given no knife or utensils to eat with. Hidiki had even made sure to remove all of the bones from the chunk of meat.
Hinata's stomach growled again and she peeked around the corner to make sure she was alone. She quickly sat down and tore into the meat with her hands.
Meanwhile, Hidiki approached his father in the main courtyard of their large estate.
"How is Phase Two coming along, my son?" Asuka said turning to Hidiki.
"Slower than I had anticipated. She still has a bit of defiance in her. That little stunt you pulled was perfect though. She should be ripe for the picking in a matter of days. We should be ready for Phase Three by tonight."
"Tonight? Why so soon?"
Hidiki grinned. "Naruto Uzumaki is on his way here. His part in Phase Three is essential. It has to be executed perfectly. We need to make sure everything is prepared perfectly. The Nine-Tails is not a threat to be taken lightly. And we do intend to unleash its full power tonight."
Hidiki bowed and vanished into the darkness. Asuka gazed out into his forlorn courtyard with a heavy sigh. This was probably going to be the last time he saw it in one piece. Tonight was going to be an interesting night…
I really hope you guys are beginning to see the intricate parts of Hidiki's plan! Everything will be revealed in the next climatic chapter! Please remember to review with your ideas and opinions! Now that I finally have my cast off I should be able to post the next chapter rather soon!