Chapter 27: First Blood, Last Blood

Muffled voices reached Obito's ears as he tried to force his brain to accept consciousness once again. Slowly the muddled noise became annoying whimpers as he recognized the pleading of his client. Had his eyes been open he would have rolled them in irritation. He was half tempted to just leave the man in the predicament he was in. It was Kazahana's fault that he was injured in the first place. Still, Obito reasoned with himself, if the man died he didn't get paid. And just imagine how upset Rin would be if you returned injured and penniless.

Obito sighed inwardly before he focused all his remaining energy. He reached out with his senses, testing the opposition before he managed to locate the exact person to strike.

Now!

His eyes shot open and the girl above him squealed in surprise as Obito suddenly reappeared behind her holding a kunai to her soft throat.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! HEY!" she said. "That's no fair! I was distracted! Kaemon tell him he cheated!"

Obito stared down at the girl, baffled by her idiocy. Didn't she realize he held a knife to her throat? He could very easily slit it, even if he did feel slightly weak.

"I know that my girlfriend can be a bit irritating but I really do love her and, if you don't mind, would actually like to keep her."

Obito glanced over at the man who spoke and lowered his knife in surprise at the monkey-like features he possessed. "Who are you?"

The monkey man bowed politely. "I am Yamazaru Kaemon. Formerly of the late Konokigakure no Sato. And you?"

Obito stared at Kaemon searchingly for a moment before he extended his hand. Uchiha Obito. Formerly of the late Konohagakure no Sato."

"Pleased to meet you."

"Yes. I am pleased to meet you as well."

"We have much to speak of."

Obito's eyes moved up to rest on Kaemon's tree hatai-ate. "Yes," he said. "We do."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Itachi gently stroked Hikari's hair and she took a soft shuddering breath in her sleep. She had cried herself into a fitful sleep almost two hours ago but Itachi still found it nearly impossible for him to lay her down so he could doze off as well. He felt almost like her anchor. If he where to release her now, who knows how far she would drift from him? She needed him. She needed to be held. And even if she was asleep she needed to feel his conscious comfort.

Itachi's grip tightened around her shoulders and he slid one of his hands down to rest on her stomach. They both needed him.

He shifted his back against the wall in an attempt to get more comfortable. As he moved his breath brushed Hikari's soft hair gently and she finally smiled in her sleep.

"Itachi…kun…"

The corner of his lips turned up slightly and he placed a feather soft kiss on her forehead. Somehow, he found it rather reviving not to fall asleep that night.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Zabuza scowled beneath his mask as the pink haired girl before him continued to smirk mockingly.

"You really aren't as strong or frightening as 'the book' made you out to be."

He growled and viciously ripped his head cleaver sword from its bindings on his back. "You are beginning to irritate me wench."

"Really?" The girl pouted. "And I've been trying so hard too!"

Sick of being made a fool Zabuza struck out at the girl with his weapon.

It swept through the air where both Sakura and Tazuna had been but met with no resistance as the young konoichi had grasped Tazuna by his waist and leapt high out of the way of the sword's path. She landed several meters back; on the side of the bridge that led to mainland.

"Go back to your house Sir," Sakura whispered. "Get Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun. Hurry!"

"But what about you and-?"

"Go!"

"H-hai. You two, be careful."

"Heh. Of course Tazuna-san." Sakura put her hands together in a new set of seals. "Tajuu! Kage bushin no jutsu!"

Hundreds of Sakura's filled the area around Tazuna before they all formed seals an identical set of seals.

"Henge no jutsu!"

Zabuza's left eye twitched madly as 250 Tazunas appeared on the bridge.

"Well?" One demanded. "Are you coming at me or what? You do want to see me dead right?"

The identical men all glanced at each other and laughed.

"He doesn't have the guts!"

"Or the eyes!"

"Yeah, he'll never be able to see that I'm the real one!"

"You? No way! It's me! Any moron could tell!"

More laughter and taunts filled the air but Zabuza blocked them out and scanned the crowed of men, searching for the two real bodies among dozens of fakes. Finally he spotted two of the men inching almost un-noticeably towards the back edge of the group. A crazed grin crossed his face and he charged forward into the mass of shadow clones. Grunts of pain replaced the previous mirth as clouds of smoke and the 'poof' of fake bodies littered the Demon Ninja's path.

At long last he neared the end of the group and he leapt high above the heads of the remaining clones. Zabuza's shadow fell heavy over the frame of his two targets and their eyes widened in shock and fear as they shot heaven ward. A mad laugh tore from the nin's throat as he landed in a crouch on the bridge and swung his blade. It ripped through the flesh of both figures at once and he smirked in triumph…until those disappeared in a puff of smoke as well.

The sharp point of a kunai pressed lightly against the back of his neck as the remaining clones disappeared as well. An amused chuckle floated to his ears as the person holding the knife leaned over his shoulder to whisper in his ear.

"You guessed wrong."

As the smoke cleared he just managed a glimpse of pink hair before a sharp pain struck his neck and everything went dark.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Konoha was dark. Painfully dark. The walls where higher as well. Not that he cared. He never really did hold any firm feelings for this place. Well, except for…His eyes shot to the top of the Hokage Tower before he returned them forward with a scowl. Of course, now that she was locked up there with him. Stupid freak. Who does he think he is? Holed up in that rot awful prison with the most beautiful girl in Konoha.

No doubt the Uchiha had tainted her. Her beautiful innocence. What was rightfully his for the taking. After all, she was his ghost girl right? No one had the right to touch her but him. Especially not that freak.

"Oi, Makoto-kun."

"Now, what is it Shishini-kun?"

"Someone is approaching the east wall. Three, maybe four people at most."

Makoto smirked. "Well. Now it seems we have some visitors. Let's go greet our guests properly Shishini-kun."

Shishini's eyes glinted with malicious pleasure. "Of course Makoto-kun."

The two vanished in a puff of smoke. Headed in the direction of the intruders.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Yume panted heavily as he grinned down at first his fingers and then the wall. Three two inch holes in a row and he was still conscious. Progress is invigorating. Of course the pain he had to endure to make those three small holes was excruciating, it was worth it for this. It was a huge victory.

Once again he focused his healing chakra into the tips of his first two fingers. The light pink energy slowly thinned out until it was sharper then the blade of a new kunai.

"Now to connect them." Yume's voice was hoarse from disuse. Of course seeing as the only companion he had was his shadow he didn't use it much. He did speak his thoughts every so often just to make sure he could still use his voice. Surprisingly enough talking to himself, along with his experiments with his chakra, is what kept him sane in the dark hole that was his prison.

His eyes moved up to the narrow beam of light high above his head. The only window in his cell. It was over fifteen feet over flat, bare wall and covered by thick iron bars. It was also his only means to escape.

His determination set once more, Yume returned his attention to his chakra blade and began to slowly, steadily, and precisely slice a thin line between the first two holes.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hinata kept her attention firmly focused on the masked boy before her. He was surprisingly strong and very agile and, after he had over come his shock at her unexpected abilities, was more then a worthy opponent. Every blow she delivered was blocked by a strike of his own. He was also very good at seeing through an enemies form. It only took him one small strike from her jyuken to adjust his style to combat hers.

Hinata gritted her teeth in irritation as he blocked her palm once again with his senbon. He was so quick. She almost couldn't keep up with him. Her eyes narrowed. She couldn't be distracted. Not even a flinch. If she moved even just slightly the wrong way…

"HINA-CHAAAAN!"

The girl jumped and in her moment of disorientation Haku shoved three senbon harshly into the left side of her chest. Drawing the first, and last, blood.

End Chapter 27

Kaliea: Poor, poor Hinata-chan. And poor, poor Hikari. Ah well, no where to go from here but down (evil grin).
Review Answers:

Icygal237: I like to think that my characters aren't out of character, but more actually the way they would really be if they had developed under these types of circumstances. I'm glad you like it though.

Bailin: That's alright. Honestly I feel flattered that you think you need to apologize for not reading my fic. Really it's not any better then a lot of the others I've read. Still, I greatly appreciate you reading it. Please continue to do so!

grim reaper sakura: Thank-you. I'm trying to keep the story line together. Hopefully it's working out. ;)

Jays Arravan: Oh no! I'm not saying that I don't want you to ask questions! Not at all. I'm just sorry that I can't answer them yet. But really feel free to keep asking questions. You never know. I may actually be able to answer one.

Princess Ren: I'm sorry. This probably isn't as soon as you had hoped. I'll try to do better next time but no promises.

fuzzzor: Thanks so much! I hope you enjoyed this one too!

krista :I'll try my best. I don't really know when I'll have time to update though. It's really a play it by ear thing.

kellyvan5543: Yeah, I thought it would be fun to add. Shows that even though Sasuke can't understand him they still have a bit in common.

Hiei-Touya-icedemon: Actually, right now the corner kids are the same age as they are in the manga. So is Itachi (Hikari is the same age as him) and everyone else. Later though it will jump time again and then they will be older. Not by much though. Maybe…

Denisen: I'm glad you enjoy it! I hope you continue to do so!

wolfs: Hmm. Curiosity? Hormones?...Plot development? I can't really say for sure. Sorry. It just seemed to fit.

Danny-171984: Aw, you're sweet. I'm fine about not going really. My mom needed my help and hey, she's raised me for almost nineteen years. I think I can give her one day right? ;)

A Crazy Girl of Many Names: Thank-you very much.

Suki dah Turdle: Hee, hee. A bit late but yes. : )

Dearie: I know. Poor girl. And it doesn't help that none of the guys ever really let her fight. They're always jumping in to save her (mostly Sasuke he,he)

Silver Warrior: Hey, as long as the job gets done right? ; )

Tears like Crystals: Thank-you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Shinobi Darkbeak: I'll try my best.

So-kun: No, not really. And as you can see from above he has a bit of a knack for making things worse. Just like in the anime. Poor kid.

sharingan-x-blossom: Thanks. I hope you liked this one too.

Dragon Man 180: Or more like arrives in time to help Haku kill Hinata. Either way.

Kaliea: Thank-you all so much for your reviews! Please review again if you liked this chapter at all! And 'til next time, ja ne!