A/N: I do not own Naruto or its characters. Also this is 2.0 of this chapter due to a kind reader pointing out a mistake I made. Thanks!
Weapon Part 5: Waking The Demon
Helpless!
My eyes are bleeding from the fear that's inside!
You sealed your demise when you
Took what was mine
Shikamaru knitted his eyebrows together and let his gaze focus on Tsunade's own intense ones.
"Gaara? Why?"
Tsunade kept a steady gaze, a piece of blonde hair falling past her cheekbone. She had been wondering the same but this scheme had made sense to her. Many had sought the Tailed Demons, the Jinchuriki, for power and based on Jiraiya's information, it was happening once more. But this wasn't even related to what he had been sending her by hawk…
"Who knows? The goal is a challenge to Sabaku No Gaara. The hostage is a ninja school student. The enemy is escaping in the direction of the Land of Fire, from the Land of Rivers. The Sand Siblings are chasing after them. At this point, that's all the intelligence we have."
Shikamaru huffed and closed his eyes. "So you're telling me to set up an operation to stop the overconfident gang who challenged Gaara with just that information only?"
This isn't good. If she is serious, and this is all we have to go on, then this will need a strong strategy and the right people to pick. I need to choose wisely and quickly. How bothersome… Shikamaru thought silently to himself.
"Yes, we are allies of Sunagakure. So go and get your team together then leave immediately."Tsunade clipped quickly.
"You're not telling me everything, Lady Hokage…"
Clever boy, Tsunade grinned before opening her mouth.
XXXXXX
"All right, Hinata. You got this in the bag. One more," Sakura whispered firmly. Her pink bangs fell over her broad forehead, now covered with a light sheen of sweat. Her pouch of medicinal herbs and liquids lay on the floor next to her. It had been opened and spread out, revealing all her tools Tsunade had supplied her with.
Sakura lifted a thin eyebrow and cast her green eyes over to Hinata, whose own pale eyes were zeroed in on the patient before them. The chakra filled veins were throbbing along her temples and pulsing into her sharp eyes. Her eyes were shot with white veins and the irises whirled, like a storm inside a fog. Sakura would never forget what it was like to be among any Hyuga member, particularly Hinata. They had become something like friends over the last several months, secretly working together on patients at the hospital and on the field.
Sakura thought of how easy it was to befriend Hinata, even if it took sometime to get past that shy exterior. Sakura and Ino had eventually worn that down after many, many rambling chats with mostly the two of them talking and one day of being out among the flowers picking them. I never knew Hinata liked flowers so much or even how familiar she was with the knowledge about them. She definitely won Ino over with her 'totally amazing' skill at flower pressing, Sakura thought nostalgically.
Now Sakura watched the shy, fragile Hyuga turn into a focused and incredibly skilled kunoichi. It was like watching two different people. Hyuga eyes normally were the same, pale and bland. Each member from the Hyuga compound Sakura had ever seen had eyes that mimicked each other's: stoic and almost lifeless. Sakura never felt too comfortable around the Hyugas, except Hinata. Hinata's eyes were brimming with warmth and this determination she had only seen once before. Naruto, Sakura grinned.
Hinata, how you have changed over the months since the Exam. I wonder how you will fair over the rest of us girls. You're even impressing Lady Tsunade with how great you are doing with medical nin duties.
"Hey, Hinata? Why won't your father let you become a medical ninja? You never miss a tenketsu point and you just know how to calm the patients every time. You'd be perfect."
Hinata blushed, letting the veins relax in her temples. She flexed her small hands after brushing a palm along the patient's forehead. Her eyes crinkled as a smile brushed her lips. She whispered kinds words of reassurance to the small boy they had been helping.
"You will b-be fine now. P-please be c-careful when using y-your chakra." She spoke softly to the boy after patting his shoulder before facing Sakura.
"My father f-feels that, as a Hyuga, I-I should be a warrior. A fighting kunoichi…"
Sakura gasped. "That's so silly. Well, one day you're going to be a medical ninja or at least show how great your skill is. Tsunade has been impressed by your latest ability with pinpointing when someone's chakra is unbalanced or damaged. You're really going to be a great asset one day with that skill, Hinata."
"But for now Hinata will be a scout. Sakura, you and Hinata have been assigned to a very important mission along with the Konoha 11, including myself."
Both girls turned quickly to see a brooding Shikamaru in the doorway.
Sakura scrunched her nose. "What's the mission, Shikamaru? It must be serious."
Shikamaru leaned along the doorframe to the room they occupied. He watched Hinata and Sakura stand, both facing him with different expressions. He noted Sakura had an air of curiosity while Hinata had an air of mild timidity and determination. Curioser and curioser, Shikamaru thought wryly.
"Everyone of Konoha 11 has been called up for a mission in answer to an emergency request from Suna. A lunatic gang has challenged Sabaku No Gaara and decided to steal one of the Suna students. I think its one of his own, based on the decision by the siblings to go after the group. We are providing backup and to help, in Hinata's case, clear up the areas and provide scouting."
A gasp resonated in the room.
Shikamaru and Sakura both snapped their heads to look at a visibly shaken Hinata. Her hands were pressed on her face, covering the lower half. Her pale eyelids were closed tightly, the long dark lashes skirting the tips of small fingertips. Minutes seemed to pass before she opened her eyes slowly and removed her hands from her face.
Hinata's lips trembled before she cleared her voice to speak.
"What do you need me to do? I-I can do it."
XXXXXXX
"Everyone of Konoha 11 has been called up for a mission in answer to an emergency request from Suna. A lunatic gang has challenged Sabaku No Gaara and decided to steal one of the Suna students. I think its one of his own, based on the decision by the siblings to go after the group. We are providing backup and to help, in Hinata's case, clear up the areas and provide scouting."
Hinata felt her heart drop and a pain rip into her stomach. For some reason her eyes stung and breathing became painful. Her hands snapped up to her face, covering her trembling lips and near gasps for air. She would not cry, she would not fall apart.
Why am I feeling like this? Yes, Gaara is almost something like a friend. He isn't a monster or a weapon. He helped me. If he had not then I wouldn't have made the progress I have made. Why then? Why? Why?
You know why, a voice deep down replied.
Green eyes with shades of blue, how she saw them so clearly now.
I know why.
I've always known since even before you helped me with the chakra. I knew when you tried to hand me the ointment.
I care for you, Gaara.
I will do whatever it takes to help.
I c-can do this! Self-confidence!
Hinata opened her eyes.
"What do you need me to do? I-I can do it."
I would help you Gaara.
You aren't a monster.
You aren't a weapon.
You are my friend.
Gaara….
XXXXXXX
Hinata….
Gaara opened his eyes and looked blankly at his opponent. He kept his arms crossed tightly and his sandaled feet shoulder width apart. The enemy in front was a large man, almost a giant compared to his own body. It seemed the man relied on weapons, but something seemed unusual about this enemy…
Gaara had split from Temari and Kankuro awhile back, each of his siblings following after separate enemies. Gaara happened upon this one near the edge of a forest into an open area of some sort of field of high grass and the occasional grouping of flowers.
Snow and lilies…
"Release the Shukaku or we will sacrifice the girl and all those close to you, demon!"
So that's how it would be then…
Blood, I want blood.
I know this.
You have felt the same, young Gaara. Since Suna, I have felt your longing return.
Gaara touched his temple and groaned, the pain ripping through his skull. He felt his nose scrunch up and blood fill his mouth as he bit his lip. He couldn't have this happen now…
Give us blood! They will not take what is ours!
"Hey demon! Did you hear me? Release the One Tail or we will kill all those precious to you one by one until you do!"
Gaara opened his eyes and felt them narrow darkly.
For once you are right, Shukaku. They will not take her.
Gaara stood and stiffened, a light smirk on his face.
"Is that so?
A/N: I am very sorry for the long wait on the update. I've been sick and lots of events happened at once. I decided to break what would have been a long chapter into two instead, this being the first of the two. This has been the most difficult part because I want to get to the seductive parts all ready, but slow build! Oh the song lyrics at the beginning are from Waking The Demon by Bullet For My Valentine. I hope the grammar and spelling came out fine. I looked over it. Read and enjoy this chapter! The next one is going to be...interesting. BTW I fixed one error so this is 2.0.