Okay all, here is the next chapter of The Prince and The Slave. I hope you all enjoy it and all that jazz. Thanks to those who read and reviewed, and added me to their faves and alerts lists. I really appreciate it.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Thirty-Three.
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Ino was searching along the deep, inner, underground dungeons. She'd never been down here before. Shikamaru had always asked her not to explore the dungeons. He didn't think that the guards were safe for her to be associating herself with. Ino had come across a few cells. Deidara had gone in the other direction and she heard the clamour of released prisoners running off, to find their freedom outside the palace walls. Ino had found very few prisoners as of yet. She'd released two old men, and a starving woman, who ran out of the cell like a woman possessed. Ino felt sorry for her and handed the woman a piece of bread from her bag. The woman had smiled and thanked her many times, blessing her for giving away her scraps. The next cell she came across, she saw a man sat on the ground, leaning against the wall. He looked half starved and terribly weak. His hair was long and blonde. In fact his hair was the same shade of blonde as her brother's hair. Ino opened the door. "Sir?" Ino questioned softly. She hoped that this man wasn't dead.
"Yes kid?" The man replied. His voice, though throaty, most likely from thirst, sounded very familiar. Ino grabbed her water flask and sat next to the prisoner. She gently tipped some water into his mouth and he drank it, choking on the liquid, that he hadn't been given for a while, by the looks of him.
"Take it easy sir. You'll be sick if you drink too fast." Ino told him. The man gave Ino a soft smile.
"Who are you?" He asked. Ino smiled back before she replied.
"We're from Akatsuki, we're freeing the prisoners." Ino answered.
"Oh? What's your name?" The man asked gently. He looked up at her, and Ino knew she recognised his face. His eyes were the same colour as her own. She licked at her dry lips nervously.
"My name is Ino, sir. Ino Yamanaka." Ino replied.
"Ino? Could it really be?" The man asked weakly. Ino felt confusion well up within her. "Do you have a brother? A sister?" The man asked. Ino nodded.
"Yes sir. I have an older brother, his name is Deidara, and I have a younger sister called Moegi." Ino replied. The man staggered to his feet.
"My God! You're my Ino! My own daughter, Ino!" The man exclaimed gently. Ino recognised him then. She couldn't help but remember when the face before had been healthy with colour, when this man had been muscular and athletic. Now she didn't care, she had found her Father, and she felt herself rush to stand and hug him tightly. He hugged her back. At last, Ino's family was complete.
"What happened to you Daddy?" Ino asked. Inoichi Yamanaka smiled sadly at his eldest daughter.
"After I was captured, the King wanted to use my skills, to find out whether his men, were traitors or not. My ability to read people's thoughts through body language is, apparently, incomparable. I refused and so I was placed in this cell with very little water and food. I vowed to stay alive, at least so I could see you all again one last time." Inoichi replied sadly.
"We're together now Daddy. You, me, Deidara and Moegi. We'll all be fine. Somehow, we'll make it through, now that we'll be together again." Ino stated firmly. Her Father couldn't help the smile that came across his face.
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Sasuke looked between Itachi and his Father. Itachi quickly cut through Sasuke's bonds and pushed his little brother behind him. "You dare to defy me? Just for that... that..." Fugaku couldn't get out what he wanted to say in his anger.
"That is my brother. Your hate for him is irrational." Itachi stated. Sasuke rubbed at his rope burned wrists, as he tried to work the feeling back into his fingers and palms.
"You are my son and heir Itachi. You will not interfere." Fugaku stated.
"He isn't your son." The trio all turned to see a figure in a black cloak. The removal of a hood revealed Mikoto Uchiha. "Itachi is not your son." Mikoto said again. Fugaku's face went pale as Mikoto came further into the room.
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The Kazekage of Suna had kept his word. His soldiers were with Akatsuki, to make sure that they won. Now, as he was fighting, he saw Gaara was up against someone. As Gaara fought, his Father saw someone sneaking up behind him. The Kazekage leapt forward, diving in between the soldier and his own son. As the man's blade ran through the Kazekage's chest, he lifted his own sword and ran the soldier through. "Father!" Gaara, barely registered crying out, as he looked on, in horror, whilst his Father fell to the ground. Gaara knew the injury was fatal. There was no saving his Father. That was when Shikaku appeared and seemed to take over Gaara's fight for him. The red head couldn't help but be grateful to the man. He might just have a chance to say goodbye to his Father. Gaara knelt by the man's side, and gently raised his head. Before Gaara could think, Temari and Kankuro were also by his side. Temari placed her Father's head on her lap, and Kankuro knelt on the opposite side of Gaara. The older man smiled up at his three children.
"I'm sorry, I won't live, to see you all happy and living in peace." He said softly.
"Father, why?" Gaara asked softly.
"You are my son. We have never seen eye to eye, but you have always been my son. I have always loved you, no matter what disagreements we have had. Just as I love Temari and Kankuro. Kankuro, you and Gaara must look after Temari when she can't look after herself. Temari, you must always make sure your brothers are thinking rationally, after all they both have my temper." Gaara's Father replied. He was fading fast and the siblings knew it.
"We'll look after each other and Suna, Father." Gaara told his Father gently. The Kazekage gave a weak nod, and then coughed harshly. When he fell silent, the trio could see his eyes had glazed over. Their Father was dead.
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Minato was still facing off against Hiashi. Hinata had moved Hanabi out of the way. "Hinata I missed you so much!" Hanabi exclaimed happily. She hugged Hinata tightly. Hinata hugged Hanabi back. She watched as Minato quickly gained the upper hand. This wasn't her fight any longer. This was between Minato and Hiashi.
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Sakura and Ten Ten were making their way towards the upper levels of the castle, fighting all the way. Somehow, Suna soldiers were very quick, to stampede over any Fire Country soldier in their way, and with Akatsuki fighting in the mix, the Fire Country soldiers were becoming overwhelmed. As they got closer to one room, they heard the voice of Mikoto. "I thought she was still at our base?" Ten Ten asked softly.
"I thought so too." Sakura affirmed. The pair crept closer to the door as they listened to the conversation going on within.
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Kakashi, Rin and Obito had made their way to one of the halls, where they saw their Sensei, Minato, fighting against Hiashi Hyuga. Obito looked over at Hinata. "What's going on?" Obito asked.
"My Father challenged Minato-San, so now they're fighting." Hinata stated.
"What about that guy?" Rin asked, as she pointed to the dead Hyuga, with her foot.
"He interfered in the fight." Hinata replied stiffly. Rin, Kakashi and Obito didn't ask any more questions.
"We'll keep a look out for any more interruptions." Kakashi quipped.
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Deidara came to find out what Ino was doing, and finally came across her speaking to a man in one cell. "Ino! What are you doing? There's a battle going on outside un!" Deidara stated. Ino looked at Deidara and beckoned him over, her eyes shone with unshed tears. That was when Deidara recognised their Father. "Father?" Deidara questioned gently. Inoichi Yamanaka nodded and Deidara couldn't help but feel the need to hug this man, his Father who had been gone for so long. No words could describe how he was feeling at that moment except for joy, pure, unadulterated joy. Deidara, would never have to worry again, about something happening to his family, because he'd finally found them all again. Deidara flung one of his Father's arms over his shoulder and with Ino's help, Deidara supported his Father's weight and helped him to leave his cell for the first time in many years.
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Minato was tired, but he could tell that Hiashi was far more exhausted then he was. It was in one instant that the battle ended, when Minato spotted a fatal weakness. Hiashi had left himself open as he swung at Minato, and Minato grasped the opportunity with both hands. He lunged and his sword went straight through Hiashi's stomach, and came out through his back. The man gasped in pain as Minato removed his sword, and before Hiashi hit the ground, Minato ran Hiashi straight through his heart. This one killer blow was all the mercy that Minato could muster. Hinata stepped forward with Hanabi. Hanabi was shaken. "It's alright Hanabi. We're free now." Hinata told her younger sister.
"But I'm not old enough to look after the clan, and you won't do it." Hanabi said softly.
"Of course, I will Hanabi. You, me and Neji Nii-San. We will look after the clan as a family Hanabi." Hinata told Hanabi gently. Hanabi nodded and hugged on to Hinata tightly, not wanting to let her sister go again.
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Fugaku stared at Mikoto. A look of pure hatred and malevolence shone in his eyes. "What are you talking about woman? Everyone has always said that Itachi is my image!" Fugaku yelled.
"People would tell you that. He's more my image, then he could ever be yours, just as Sasuke is. I was carrying Itachi the day we married. He is not your son." Mikoto stated bravely. Itachi and Sasuke stared at their Mother in shock.
"Oh, he's not my son? Then whose son is he, my dear? I'd like to know who had the gall to sleep with my bride and give me a false heir." Fugaku asked sarcastically.
"His Father was your own Father, Madara Uchiha. Not by choice I can assure you. It's no wonder people always said that Itachi was your image. You always looked like your Father as well." Mikoto said seriously. Fugaku's hands shook as he clenched them into fists.
"My Father would never do such a thing! You are a filthy lying whore!" Fugaku screamed. Mikoto stood firm.
"I've never been a whore. A whore would've accepted the advances of their future Father-in-law, and may God be praised that the bastard is rotting in the ground!" Mikoto shot back. Fugaku let out a snarling scream of rage and rushed at Mikoto with his knife. But as Mikoto threw her arms over her face and chest to protect herself, and Fugaku lunged forward, the knife glinting in the dim light of the room, neither of them noticed Itachi. Itachi dived forwards, propelled by the only thing that mattered, his Mother's life was in danger and he had to save her. As Fugaku's knife came down, Itachi dived in front of it, shielding his Mother from harm.
"No!" Sasuke cried out in horror, as his Father's knife sunk down into Itachi's back. He heard the choked-out gasp of his brother and the terrified, grief filled, scream of his Mother. That was when the doors were flung open and Sakura and Ten Ten came into the room. Itachi fell to the ground, sliding from Fugaku's knife and laying completely still. It was Sakura who rushed forward to turn Itachi onto his side. She grabbed the nearest thing she had to hand, the end of Mikoto's black cloak, and pressed it on to Itachi's wound. Mikoto removed her cloak and Sakura bunched it up, trying to press down on the wound and keep it compressed. The wound the knife had left was large, wide and deep. Fugaku saw the bloody knife in his hands and dropped it to the floor. His hands covered in the blood of the man he'd thought to be his son, but was his own half brother. He looked at Mikoto and then at Sasuke and Itachi. He saw Sakura tending to Itachi.
"You! You're the one who turned my son against me! He disobeyed me to free you!" Fugaku yelled. Sakura couldn't move. If she moved then Itachi would bleed to death. Sasuke came to stand by Sakura's side.
"Maybe Father, you should lay the blame where it belongs. You turned me against you. You were the one who insisted on my keeping a slave. You were the one who insisted on having me followed like a criminal. You're the one who wanted to execute me, when you found out I'd let my slave go. You're the one who ordered the death of my closest friends and their families. You did this Father." Sasuke stated. Fugaku didn't answer. Sasuke wasn't sure whether or not to be worried, when he saw his Father's face go from red to pure white. That was the moment that Fugaku jumped forward and wrapped his hands around Sasuke's throat. He squeezed, and Sasuke started gasping as the air was forced from his throat. Sasuke bought up his hands to pull his Father's hands from his throat, but Fugaku couldn't be budged. "Stop! You'll kill him!" Sakura exclaimed, wanting to run to Sasuke's side. Fugaku only squeezed harder, as Sasuke tried to push his Father's hands, from his throat.
"Let him go!" Mikoto screamed, but it was as though the man no longer heard anyone. He just carried on squeezing, and as Sasuke kicked out, Sakura wanted to jump to his defence. Before she could move, Fugaku suddenly let go. He was grasping behind him, and it was when Sakura took her eyes from Sasuke that she realised Mikoto was no longer in the place she'd occupied before. She was a few steps behind Fugaku. Fugaku gasped and fell to the floor. That was when Sakura saw the knife, embedded all the way up to hilt, in Fugaku's back. It was surely deep within the King's heart now. That was when Sakura realised it, the King was dead. It was Itachi or Sasuke who was to be the heir to the throne now.
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Okay all. That was the end of this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please R&R and let me know what you think. But hey! What a twisty turny bunch of craziness this was. See you all next chapter.