Journey of the Three Failures Chapter 17: A Study in Contrast, a naruto fanfic

J3F\\\ Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter Seventeen

On time!!1

Hehe… Okay, so maybe my crappy estimating said I was almost done with the chapter and I could have it up in two weeks (when in fact I was roughly halfway done) a month is good time, right? Not to mention this chapter (which I also thought would be short) is huge!

…I woke up Sunday morning, and I felt old. Remember what I said a year ago? I was wrong – fifteen isn't really that old, but sixteen… Meh… I feel old. Again. Not old, but you know… T-T

Anyways, thanks a million for your awesome reviews OnGuard, Malix2, ShadowSage99, Shinobiscribe, Omega the darkness, Electrified by Evil, narutos vixen, The Laughing Phoenix, amethystfirechik, Universal Hope, 1WiththeButterfly, Rena-san, Bluesv20, hinata-fan2, Zack-kun, hinafanboy08, SaphireShade, NarutoFanBoy4Life, Chakram Soldier, FullStop, Stygian Styx, Shizuka Taiyou, lil ramen lover, ShadowFaux, Okami Kage Hachi, and anon who signed Rusty! Your support stokes the flames of youth and writing! Yes, you heard me. Flames. Of. Writing. :) Though that brings to mind an image of burnt paper... Okay, flames of writing spirit! Yeah, that's it!

I keep forgetting to say it, but I've added more pictures on my deviantART! The Hanabi pic is pretty crappy (it looked good in my mind T-T), but there's a pretty cool one of Hinata and Neji, and Naruto and Shikamaru pictures now. After I post this, I'll also add a Hinata pic (containing spoilers from this chapter). Links are on my profile!

Phew… How 'bout that Naruto Shippuden on Disney XD?

Naruto: Jiraiya-sensei! (Okay, okay, so we don't want ten-year-olds asking 'Mommy, what does pervy mean?')

Itachi: (flashback) You must defeat your closest friend. You must destroy him! (O.O)

Konohamaru: Cutie Jutsu!

Sasori: I'm gonna stab y– MAYBE I'll just slash instead or something!! (Okay, he doesn't say this, but still)

…Need I say more? It's depressing. I mean, can we get a 'viewer discretion is advised'? I've never watched One Piece, but I get the feeling this is worse than 4Kids One Piece. Apparently ten-year-olds will be scarred for life if they see ANY cartoon blood whatsoever. There's a lot of implied injury. Blood? Bad. (I've been poisoned! How? I'm injured! You can't see it, but I've been seriously injured in some way!) The words kill, die, or blood? Bad. Injection needles? We can't show people getting stabbed with antidote, oh heck no! (Seriously? I would figure most two-year-olds have gotten a shot at the doctor's before. And they're probably pretty frickin confused to see someone (imply!) getting a shot with no apparent needle.) Puppet violence? Bad. Kanji? Bad. (Our American children will be confused! No, children, there aren't other writing systems out there!) Punching? Bad, bad, bad! (They cut out Sakura hitting Sasori. Too violent an impact, I guess.) They demolished the masterpiece that was 10 Puppets vs. 100 Puppets, and butchered Impossible Dream. (Seriously, try to catch either of those on Disney. They're hilarious. In a bad way. In viewing the latter, if I hadn't seen the original already, I think I would have been pretty darned confused.)

And if we can't just put a 'viewer discretion is advised', at the very least why not put something in the range of an informative 'this program has been edited from its original version'? That might help to clarify to new watchers that Naruto isn't simply sucky and confusing, it's just been watered down. The way it is, they're desecrating the good anime based on Kishimoto-sensei's excellent manga and letting whoever doesn't know better believe that it was made this way and the show. Just. Sucks.

I guess some anime have probably been screwed up worse…

Let's be thankful they kept the opening theme. Mostly. Kanji replaced with idiotic white flash… (I liked that part of the opening! It looked cool!) Right, thankful! They kept the Japanese audio! That's good!

XD Rant over. It's chapter time! Enjoy!

WARNING: Language, and one scene of strong violence!

Disclaimer: I don't own NARUTO. No, really, I don't! None of us do, I swear it!

Journey of the Three Failures

Seventeen: Winding Paths - A Study in Contrasts

Part One: Crumble

Hanabi ハナビ

What…? Where … am I…?

I wonder if…

Am I…?

I am…

I'm alive…

My entire body seemed to ache with each beat of my heart. I figured dead people didn't ache, and I knew their hearts didn't beat.

My eyes cracked open, and I fully woke with a start – trying unwisely to sit up, clutching my belly, thudding onto my back again.

"Lady Hanabi… How are you feeling?"

Awful, I thought.

"I've felt worse," I said, looking to see Harumi and Hikujaku knelt at my futon-side. The woman's left arm hung in a sling, and in the neck of her shirt I could see a layer of bandages that likely covered her torso. Hikujaku's arms held a few stretches of bandaging – sealed chakra points, probably – and a square of cotton was taped to his cheek.

With the solemn distance in the ninja's eyes as they stood motionless sentry, the remorse and the pain, and their dress as always in the typical black of New Konoha… I realized they could just as easily skulk undetected through a soundless night as they could attend a funeral.

"Please forgive us," Hikujaku said slowly. "We failed to protect you from harm. Our performance was unacceptable."

I shook my head slightly. What had happened to me, really? I'd been hit once by Hireiki, I was a little sore with chakra exhaustion … they were more badly hurt than I was!

I noticed the single crutch lying at Harumi's side. "Oba-san," I said, recent memory coming to mind, "sit however you'd like to. Isn't it painful to kneel with that leg injury?"

She was surprised momentarily, but then gingerly shifted to sit with her legs straightened, revealing the cast plastered on her right foot to upper shin.

I sat up carefully. They're waiting for a tongue-lashing, I realized, when they all got hurt because of me…

My eyes widened.

"What is it, Lady Hanabi?" the kunoichi asked.

"…H-Hitaka-kun," I breathed.

"P-please – do not cry for me."

I turned my head to see another futon not far from mine. There he was. His upper torso was wrapped up tight, like the bandaging was holding him together. His breath was soft, and his face pale, but he was alive. His eyes were weak as he managed a sad, sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do m-more, m'lady. I had never been hit by an arrow before; I'm ashamed to admit the pain proved enough to quickly knock me out…"

I rubbed my eyes furiously. "St-st-stop apologizing!" I said, fighting a smile of relief. "I'm just glad you're okay…"

"My lady is so selfless…" he said admiratively.

I looked back to the other Hyuuga. "So, where are Hiryuu and Hiyuki?" I said, wincing at a thought. "She was hurt pretty badly … but the medics were able to fix her up, right?" I looked from Hikujaku to Harumi. "……Right?"

My throat was dry; my eyes rounded on Hitaka. "Okay, what happened?! Sh-she wasn't – she didn't…?" I failed to gulp down a knot in my dry throat. "Hiyuki-nee-san … didn't make it?"

"We don't know," Harumi explained finally. "She was abducted by Neji … stolen right out of my hands…"

Something seemed to clench up in me. Why are you so matter-of-fact about it?

"Hiryuu-oji-san is at an emergency council meeting now," Hikujaku said monotonously, "because among other things, they'll discuss the possibility of a rescue attempt to recover the hostage."

"What's wrong with you? Aren't you worried, or are you just too busy sulking? Hiyuki could be – Hiyuki is in danger!"

Though I could see the sorrow in her eyes, Harumi smiled softly at me as one would a confused child. The trapped tears she refrained from shedding with practiced ease made me start crying even though she wasn't. For a moment, I hated her for that.

"If Hiyuki dies, she will have died in service of the Main House, and thereby achieved the Branch's highest and most esteemed honor. You are more important than any … than all of us, Lady Hanabi."

My tongue felt thick. "Wh-…why?" I blubbered out, my voice tight. "Th-that way of thinking…" I knew it was true, I'd been brought up learning such was true, but now… Why?!

The door slid open. After a moment's silence, the age-old incantation rolled into the air.

"Hyuuga do not cry."

I flinched, eyes snapping shut as I clutched at my heart. Oh… You…!

"Hiryuu-san. The meeting has already ended?"

"No. I left."

"Then…?"

"Clan Hyuuga has executed the hostage on charges of treason."

I bawled.

"Hanabi-sama, Hyuuga do not cry."

"What the hell is a Hyuuga?!" I screeched. "What's wrong with u-u-us?!!"

For a minute the man left me to my sobbing. Then:

"If you're so upset now, why didn't you do anything then?"

I flinched. "H-huh?"

"Why didn't you do anything?" he repeated lowly.

"Hiryuu," Hikujaku warned, but was cut off.

"You didn't even try to fight off Hireiki, did you–?"

"She should not be required to defend herself from foes–!"

"At the very least you could have ordered my niece to flee and fried my sister's brain…"

"Oi, Uncle–!" Hikujaku said, rising.

A vicious backhand dropped him back to the ground.

"But these thoughts never crossed your mind, did they?" he continued as if uninterrupted, his voice a barely contained growl.

I didn't know whether to answer or not. Numbly I shook my head a little.

"Why didn't you try?" Each hissed word was a sentence in itself. His words tore through me, prying out the answer.

"There was … bl-blood…"

His face turned severe. And suddenly there was a knife in his hand.

The others shouted as he strode toward me, but I could hardly hear a thing. Especially not after he sliced his palm open.

"Look at this!" he boomed, holding out the dripping hand. I shrieked in terror, scrambling backwards, but he kept coming closer.

"Stay back – dammit, get away from me–!!"

In one swift lunge he grabbed my arm in a hand gloved in warm crimson. I screeched and kicked to no avail. Soon my arm was dripping, too.

"Look at it! This is blood! It runs through every f&ァク&# body of every goddam person you've ever seen!!"

"Stop it!" I screamed, choking on tears and snot. "Let go!!" I was looking away, pulling away, body thrashing, feet scrambling and slipping, fighting desperately with all my strength. I couldn't break free. I hardly registered the pain clawing sickeningly into my shoulder, nor did I care. I could feel it on my arm. On my arm. My struggles had smeared it around, wet and sticky and warm as fresh spilt life. All I could see was a whole lot of nothing. My shoulder seared some more. Suddenly excruciating. I howled. I kept fighting and screaming and writhing in a wild panic.

Energy sparked down my arm, and I was free. I stumbled, flopping limply onto my side, gasping groggily for air.

I heard a loud thud, and turned my head a bit, blinking. Hikujaku had slammed the man to the wall, and Harumi planted an unforgiving fist firmly in his stomach. He grunted and started to retaliate – and she rammed the heel of her palm on his chin, knocking his head on the wall, before punching him cruelly again. At the well-placed blow he ducked his head, spitting crimson, and the bloody kunai was stolen from his hand and pressed to his throat.

"St-stop!" I cried. "Hitaka, don't shoot! Don't!!"

The boy was threateningly poised to fire, his eyes frighteningly fierce. A slip of the fingers would be Hiryuu's life. And Hitaka's innocence.

There was still blood thick on my arm.

The door burst open. "What the hell's going on in here…?"

"H-Hakage-sama … sir…" Harumi murmured.

Shikamaru glared disapprovingly, his hawk eyes analyzing the scene. At his side were Sasuke and Anko, and nearby and further back Sakura, Kiba, Chouji, Genma-sensei, Suzume-sensei, Raido-sensei… All who could see were peering bewildered into the doorway.

The council hall – this building was right next to the council hall. The meeting must have ended.

Hiryuu hacked out a wet cough, and as Harumi lowered the knife and Hikujaku released him he slid to the ground. Hitaka lied down his bow, breathing softly and fitfully through his mouth, his face tight and even paler from his effort.

The Nara's eyes landed on me, and widened a hare as they caught sight of my arm. Which was still smeared with crimson. My stomach quaked.

"Hanabi…"

I stood up and ran toward and past the leader, past the villagers, on into the night, sobbing like mad.

Why … why is it like this…?

Seventeen, Part Two: Beasts Collide

Lee リー

"GWOOOOAAAAAAAARRRR…!"

An unreal sound roared deafeningly from the wolf's throat. The fox pawed belligerently at the desert floor. The tanuki's belly swelled enormously.

It lashed its arm out, flinging a storm of sand bullets toward Kurohi. The wolf darted nimbly aside with stunning grace.

They are quick!

The fox lurched suddenly as the ground kicked under us. Then it swiftly regained its feet and sprang skyward, avoiding a trio of powerful wind bullets fired our way. Teeth clenched, I flattened myself to the purple giant's back as we fell; it growled and extended a vicious claw, maw gaping wide.

The Ichibi lifted its arm; fangs and claws latched into it, but the beast's head – on which rested Gaara – was much too far away.

"Got you!!" it yelled, head rearing back as it began to inhale deeply.

"Got who?!" Kurohi snarled, leaping to plow a crushing shoulder dead into the center of the Shukaku's back. It yowled, spitting the Air Bullet accidentally into the sky. The kitsune ducked aside as the sturdy tanuki actually stumbled a short way forward.

And the ookami, as a battering ram, came driving in with the opposite shoulder, striking its back in the same place. The bijuu gagged, wincing slightly – and its bulky tail crashed angrily into the wolf's side, throwing it off and sending it tumbling hundreds of meters over the dunes.

"Play dead, ya' mangy runt!!" Shukaku bellowed.

"Hinata-san! Kurogiba-san!" I cried. "Look out!!"

A massive ball of compressed air went hurtling toward the wolf beast, glowing with chakra. The wolf opened its mouth, and a spinning sphere of glossy crimson light rapidly took form as it rolled agilely onto its feet and sprang forward.

Very near the ookami, fire met air.

And as the lupine beast reeled and yelped, a tremendous beam of fire exploded into the tanuki's monstrous form.

"YEAAAOOOWW!!!" it screamed, one arm flailing as it staggered backwards. "Hot! That's HOT!!!"

"This is our chance!!" I proclaimed.

The purple fox growled, in two swift motions darting in front of the bijuu and lunging to sink fangs in its neck and claws in the hip and remaining arm.

Here I go, I thought, crouching a moment before leaping strongly from the fox's head. I pulled back a tightly clenched fist as the gaping air between the slumbering Gaara and I was rapidly cleared.

"WAKE UP!!!"

BAM!

"Urg…!"

I withdrew my hand, knuckles bleeding from striking an abruptly erected, solid shield of sand. Kuso!

"I'm not going back in there, stupid – not after being free the first time in so long! You can't make me!!" the sand spirit shrieked, beginning to raise its good arm.

A massive shadow cast from above and smokily vanished. An arrow zipped into the top of the beast's shoulder.

I looked up, gasping as I caught sight of Hinata hovering momentarily above before the light of the moon, knees bent, bow in hand, and pupil-less eyes lit a piercing and deadly crimson. She landed near me on the bijuu's head, wincing and forming a shaky handseal. She lurched as if to vomit, but spewed instead a red river of flame; it spun violently in place before her, darkening and shaping into Kurogiba, who briefly shook himself from nose to tail.

"Hinata-san…" I began in concern.

"A-almost out of chakra," she panted. Her eyes opened, and were their natural white.

"Baka – you think your little arrows have an effect on ME, wolf-pup?!" The beast's hand rose high up into the air.

"No," Hinata admitted simply, straightening. "Not the arrows."

"Your powerful blood won't help you now! I'LL CRUSH YOU!!!"

I frowned as the Shukaku's hand lurched toward her from behind, ready to squash her like any unsuspecting fly. "Hinata–,"

"Relax," she said, smirking subtly with a devilish glint in her eye, and I noticed a seated Kurogiba yawning at her side. Eyes closed, she raised a handseal. "You're right again, you know," she called louder, "It's my human blood – and chakra – that'll save me now.

"Four-Pronged Strike! Unite!"

My eyes caught a few glinting sparks of light, on the top of the titan's shoulder and on the front and back of the arm – and the line of runes that suddenly sprang to stretch between them. The arrows from a few minutes ago…! Her hands shifted deftly.

"Barrier!"

A halo of soft white light projected outward from the ring of markings. The demon's plummeting hand was a scant few meters from her head.

"Release! Purification Sever!"

CRACK!

A snapping-sharp noise cracked resoundingly into the air, and Shukaku's arm froze. Crackling and popping, the enormous appendage's texture turned dark and grainy as it was riddled with spiderwebs racing from where the seals had been all the way to the fingertips. Then in its fragility it collapsed entirely, from the shoulder down; with a light hum of chakra Hinata, eyes still shut, released from her tenketsu a film of energy as a snug umbrella against the cascading deluge of tumbling, lifeless sand.

"Embarrassing?" Hinata asked.

"Yes," Kurogiba muttered snappishly.

"In…Incredible," I whispered.

The Ichibi screamed, tossing its head furiously. "Dumb mutt! What've ya' done?!!"

"A beast of darkness can't bear the sting of my human chakra. And against seals infused with this power, one such demon composed of nothing but sand and dark energy doesn't stand a chance…"

I see… I thought, looking at the clean cut through where the shoulder had been. The seals disrupted, barred its chakra flow… It should not even be capable of regenerating for now.

"Again, that blood humiliates me…! CURSE YOU, DESCENDANT OF HOUKOU!!!"

I frowned. Descendant of… How would it make that sort of mistake?

"And what are you going to do, Shukaku?" Kurogiba snorted in sarcasm, "Claw us to death?"

"Oi, I thought you disapproved of fuinjutsu," Hinata said, Byakugan activated as she approached Gaara's pyramidal shell of sand.

"I do," Kurogiba said, looking away. The Shukaku cursed up a storm.

Hinata blurred with speed, methodically jabbing a number of points with her left hand before punching with her right as she danced rapidly about the prism of sand – striking at weak points in the systems of chakra controlling it. Her claws sprang out.

"Lee-kun! Strike here!" she said, scratching a nail across the sand and backing away.

"YOSH!!" I exclaimed, whirling and slamming a crushing fist into the solid sand. The weakened shield was blown back, instantly obliterated before the force.

And now…!

I heard the sound of a henge dispelled, and Naruto flowed into existence connecting a fist squarely to Gaara's face.

"Can't let you two have all the fun," he muttered smoothly.

"Hmph!" I complained halfheartedly. He beat me to the punch.

"Noooo!! I wuz just getting started, kuso…!!"

Even as the monster's howl faded, the boy's eyes burst open.

"You … you broke my jutsu…?!" he growled murderously.

"We did," Naruto said, unafraid. He tapped his naginata on his shoulder. "Give it up, Gaara. You sicked your demon on us, and it failed. You're at your limit, too, aren't you?"

"Shut up!" he spat, eyes dark and furious. "I will not c-cease to exist, I won't…!"

"You don't need to worry about that," Hinata said, "We're not going to kill you."

"That is right – you have our word."

"Liars!!" he shrieked, "You expect me to BELIEVE that?! Everyone wants me dead – EVERYONE is infuriated by my existence!! All of you filthy, insignificant people…!"

"Please," Hinata said gently, "Just try to calm down…"

His teeth were grinding; his face was twisted in a scowl. "You… SHUT UUUUUP!!!"

Her hand flashed for her tool pouch, but was too slow. Her feet sank momentarily, and the next instant a band of sand extended twenty feet above us, holding the girl by her ankle.

"Hinata!" Naruto cried.

Gaara swung his arm, savage. "Just DIE already!!"

The sand swung and lashed, flinging her off the Shukaku's head, through empty air, into the ground. A cloud of dust blossomed on the desert floor.

"Shimatta!" I swore.

Naruto ナルト

"She's alive," Kurogiba muttered quickly, "but stunned."

"Go to her," I said to the wolf.

"You sure about that?"

"Positive. We've got this."

"You think sooo?!!" Gaara launched a spear of sand; using the naginata for balance, I curtly side-flipped to avoid it.

"Get going," I grunted, and the wolf nodded and jumped.

Gaara's eyes were bloodshot, glazed and raging. "You're next. I'll obliterate you from the face of the earth!"

"Not likely." The ground tried to suck me in, and I substituted to safety. "What, same trick?"

He yelled wordlessly, and I kicked chakra from my feet, leapt swiftly toward him.

Sand sprang to ensnare my arms, stopping me just a yard short of him.

"Now you die…"

I gave an inquisitive look. "I do, huh?"

THAM!!!

Too focused on killing me to even see it coming, I mused after Lee's fist slammed down upon Gaara's head.

"You forgot about me," the older boy noted coolly. "That is never wise."

It's over.

As the Shukaku's arm had not minutes ago, the entire massive beast now crackled, crumbled, dissolved into sand.

"Bunta! Thanks for all the help!"

"Yeah, yeah. You can just owe me one for now," Gamabunta croaked. "Catch ya' later!" he called, and he burst into smoke.

Gaara landed not far away, and Hinata…

"Hinata! Where is she?!"

My eyes found Kurogiba pawing at a dune, and I ran to him.

"Wolf–!" I started.

"Ah, that didn't take you very long. Good job," he remarked, digging and in the process showering Lee and I with sand. I blinked as I noticed a foot sticking out of the sand where he was working.

"Hurry it up, you stupid dog!" I barked.

"Yeah, I'm trying," he said, unearthing more of a leg that kicked blindly at him in annoyance. He sniffed, and grabbed her ankle in his teeth to yank her from the sand; as he dropped her Hinata hit the ground and tumbled a bit, hissing in pain.

I blinked.

My eyes grew.

"Ita…!" she whimpered, rubbing her backside – or more accurately, the base of a silky, dark blue and white-tipped projection protruding from just above her backside. "I can't believe I let him catch me off-guard like that…!" Two similarly colored triangular ears that sat at the crown of her head fluttered briefly, shaking away some sand.

Kurogiba looked toward mine and Lee's nonplussed faces, dismayed. "Pup, you're showing!" he grunted under his breath.

Hinata turned her head toward us and gasped, standing to conceal the tail behind her back. She formed three swift handseals, and with a pop she was lightly shrouded in thin smoke … which faded to leave her standing before us, unchanged.

"I-I'm out of chakra…!" she gasped, mortified, hands rising to cup her drooping ears as her face flushed in embarrassment. She took a tiny step back, her face downcast as she looked fearfully toward us.

"I thought you had been hiding something…" Lee remarked in wonder.

"I'm sorry," she squeaked, her voice small. She shook her head, repeating, "I'm sorry…!"

"Well," I said, catching everyone's attention. "That's pretty interesting, but while I don't really see why you felt the need to hide it, now isn't really the time."

"Naruto-kun…"

I gave her a smile, and then my face calmed. I turned my head. "Isn't it about time we checked up on Gaara?"

Her hands slowly fell. With a moment's hesitance, she nodded.

An expert … at walking the razor's edge, huh…?

"C-c-curse you… I can still fight… I will n-never be destroyed…!"

He was lying in the sand, eyes distraught, trembling badly. He struggled to his knees over many seconds' time.

"They all w-want me gone, they despise my existence … but I'll show th-them … all of them…!"

My brow furrowed as he smiled at the notion, eyes huge. He looked up toward us.

"You…" he croaked out, raising a hand and reaching desperately toward Hinata, but the sand at his feet only stirred feebly. He coughed out a few droplets of blood. His voice grew high. "I h-have to kill you… I must…!"

He was shaken by a dry sob. Temari and Kankurou were silent behind us.

"My existence in this world … is supreme…"

I sighed, shutting my eyes. "So you wanna keep fighting, huh…?"

I lifted my hands and formed a seal. By now, I ought to be safe to…

"Murasaki!" I snapped, and a shockwave hit the air as my body was cloaked in a translucent aura of purple. I felt my teeth and nails point slightly, and knew the splash of purple in my hair would by now have flecked color throughout my blond spikes as my eyes were lit red-violet.

"Release!" Hinata snarled, and a burst of demonic energy blazed from her as her hair, ears, tail, and all turned inky, and jagged stripes of black patterned her body though her skin did not turn sheet white, but remained unchanged. Sinking into a crouch, she flexed black-clawed fingers and slightly bared dark fangs.

"Gate of Pain!" Lee bellowed, standing tall as chakra danced wildly around him, denting the sand at his feet and kicking up his hair as his robes flapped and fluttered. Dark irises and pupils faded, skin darkening to red.

"Then you wouldn't mind fighting us like this, would you?" I asked coolly. "To keep holding back … would be an insult to your efforts."

Gaara's face was incredulous. "Wh-what?! You – you were withholding s-such reserves of power … the entire time?!"

I nodded. "And none of us are quite at full power even now."

"Impossible…! It can't be true…"

"It is true. I think it's possible … that if push came to shove, any one of us might have defeated you single-handed."

Something new was in Gaara's eyes now: fear. He shivered, and lowered his head.

I shut my eyes, relaxing my power; the intensity of fox chakra faded. Hinata and Lee followed suit, returning to normal as well.

"H-how…? How are y-you people … so strong…? What makes your existence so great…?"

"Our existence, huh?" I glanced to the other two, meeting their eyes. "Let's see now… We fight, we exist, largely for the sake of others … and a fine existence it is."

"What… do you mean?"

I looked up at the half-moon in the sky, rubbing my neck and tapping one foot behind the other's heel. "Well… Before my friends came along, I didn't know who I was; I didn't know why I even existed. But now I know. For my goals and dreams, for my village, for all my friends and comrades who believe in me… Fighting to defend all these truly important things that I hold precious, I'll become as strong as I have to be."

The boy's brow furrowed. "Things … people … that are precious…?"

I nodded. "These two are just the same. They found a cause, a reason for living, in people who matter to them. To help these people … to do them proud… We chose our path together, and from it we'll never waver or stray."

His eyes narrowed in confusion. "I don't… Why not… then why not end my inferior existence here…?"

"That'd be a waste," I said, "because you can find your path, too."

He flinched, gasping quietly.

"Look around," I said, nodding to his brother and sister. "There're people who care about you right here."

A single tear arced down his cheek, glistening in moonlight, dripping from his chin.

"Uzumaki Naruto… All of you, I-I……"

His eyelids drifted shut, and with a weary breath he slumped onto his side.

"He's losing consciousness," Hinata said. "Does that mean…?"

"I doubt it," Temari answered. "You three did a number on the Shukaku. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't bother Gaara for a while…"

Lee nodded. "That is good to hear–,"

In the corner of my eye, Hinata's ears twitched.

We whirled, Lee pushing Temari and Kankurou toward Gaara. Hinata's demonic characteristics returned, I drew out a fair bit of the Kyuubi's power and readied my naginata, and Lee's chakra spiked as he drew his katana.

With a blast of wind, two dozen armed ninja flickered into existence before us, their hitai-ate bearing the mark of the hourglass.

"What do you want?" I asked the Sand ninja.

"What do we want?" a man sneered. "Who are you, and what are you doing so near our village?"

"Temari? Kankurou? Is that you?" another Suna-nin muttered, surprised.

"Yeah, and calm down! These three aren't enemies!"

"Oh my god, look! It's Gaara, and he's…!"

"Who is it that managed to reduce Gaara to this state?" one shinobi asked coldly, striding forward. That's their sensei … or at least, their squad leader in the chuunin exam…

"Baki!" Temari gasped. "Tell them to stand down!"

The jounin frowned. "The Shukaku was sighted a few minutes ago. Answer my question…"

"We defeated him," I said. "What of it?"

The man's eyes studied us. "Thank you for your help. Now, stand aside; we of his village will deal with him now…"

"You mean to kill him while he is defenseless?" Lee asked.

"What we mean to do to him is none of your concern. He belongs to our village–,"

"You banished him from your village–!"

"It had to be done – he is a threat to everyone around him! If you brats don't move, we're attacking! We won't ask again!"

"Sorry, but you're not laying a hand on Gaara. We won't let you," I stated calmly.

Temari stepped forward at Lee's side, fully opening her battle fan. Beside Hinata, Kankurou released a pair of puppets and made them to pose with hostility.

"…What's this?" Baki asked, glowering. "You intend to betray your village?"

Kankurou glared back. "You're making a mistake!" he said, urgently. "These three mean us no harm! They just risked life and limb fighting for Gaara – and they saved Temari and me more than once!"

"What are you saying…?"

"These three 'brats,' as you so aptly put it, are the same three nukenin Orochimaru so badly wants dead," Temari went on pointedly. "Do you want to work in that guy's favor? I've not a doubt in my mind they would be glad to share with us what they know, if we gave them the chance. They're friendly, and they won't kill unless forced to … but do you think it would be wise to attack the warriors who took down Ichibi no Shukaku and came out unscathed?"

He clenched his teeth. "I'm not too fond of killing Gaara either, but he's a menace to–,"

"He's not."

"What?"

"He'll be no danger to you now," Hinata reiterated. "His spirit, his chakra… He's a little confused, but far and away more at ease than he was when we first came across him. What if I told you … that when he wakes up, he'll no longer be the indiscriminate murderer you knew?"

"That's a big statement. How sure are you of that?"

The girl nodded. "That's my word. You can hold me to it."

Seventeen, Part Two: Under Light of One Moon

Hanabi ハナビ

The moon winked down at me, staring, glaring, I decided, like a tremendous, half-lidded, disapproving white eye. But whose eye was it, I wondered? Was it Neji's, snide and superior? Was it Nee-chan's, disappointed? Did it contain the scalding detestation of a clan majority that hated me, or the unease and trepidation of the minority that had to count on me? Was it all of those?

…Was it the regret of a cousin that she had lost her life for me? For my sorry hide?

Huddled against the strong tree as I gazed at the moon, my freshly scrubbed arm cradled close for the shoulder ached throbbingly, I parted my lips.

"What do you want with me?"

He ignored the question as he slowly approached. "Aren't you afraid that you may be in danger here?"

I still didn't look at him. "I'll die no later than the day Neji wants me dead, after all."

He knelt at my side, fingers of a thickly bandaged hand slowly, carefully touching my arm. "I hurt you."

"I hurt myself."

"'Twas my fault."

"I zapped you. If I weren't so low on juice, I could've killed you."

"I deserve death. I … should not have done that."

"Damn right you shouldn't've." It was childish, but I was being cruel, letting him hate himself a little.

"Allow me to set it…?"

"Go for it."

I shuddered, but mostly suppressed a cry as he shortly popped the shoulder I'd dislocated back into place.

"Thank you," I said tonelessly.

"M'lady, I am unworthy of your forgiveness…"

I didn't say anything. He was moving somehow, but I still hadn't looked at him yet.

I glanced in the corner of my eye to catch him bowing lowly, humbling himself, curse seal bared to me.

"Please punish me."

I looked at him a long moment, while his eyes were on the ground. I imagined him helpless, thrashing and screaming in pain.

"I won't do it."

"Please, my lady. You must."

"I won't," I said firmly. The tempting thought flickered up that if I did now, he would be caught totally off guard. I was disgusted with myself as I shoved the thought away, but Hiryuu's insistence wasn't helping with the urge to inflict cruelty.

"I have used my power to bring harm to you, whom I've sworn to protect, in a fit of emotional rage. This is a transgression fit for death, but I request you attempt to leave me alive so that I may continue to serve you."

I frowned. That way of thinking again…

He ducked his head lower. "Please! We are regressing, Lady Hanabi, do you not see?! We are falling from the order of the clan! The Branch exists to serve the Main, and the Main family must exert unwavering control over its subjects! We must be conditioned into subservience by a leader's firm hand! I beg of you! You, and the four of us – we are all that remains to retain and preserve the way of the Clan. As the heir to the Main Family, it is your right and duty, here and now, to discipline me for my error!"

He was dead serious.

My face expressionless, I rose to my feet. He wanted it. I could make him eat those words. I could make him writhe in pain, as he had made me. I formed the seal.

"You are doing the right thing," he said, a proud smile in his voice. "Do not allow us to crumble. Uphold our ways, my leader and master."

I gritted my teeth.

My foot lashed hard across his face.

The man toppled onto his side, and his white eyes met mine with confusion. Breathing hard through clenched teeth for a furious moment, fitfully I shook my head and threw down my shuddering hand, dropping the sign.

"Why…?" he whispered. "Why won't you…?"

"Why do I have to do this?! It was an accident! She didn't mean to, and she's already a-a-apologized!"

Father, angered by Nee-chan's words, grabbing her by the arm. The elder who called him here, who explained the situation, has a harsh, harsh look in his eye.

Amid this a five-year-old, not completely sure what is happening.

"You will do as I tell you, Hinata, or suffer the consequences!"

"B-but it was just a clumsy mistake!" the ten-year-old pleads.

"No, Hinata-sama, he is right." An older girl, knelt submissively, gives her friend a sad smile. "I have erred, and must be punished."

"Hiyuki-nee-chan…"

The father, impatient. "If you will not obey me, Hanabi will…"

"No! I'll… I'll do it…"

The cold-eyed man nods. "Be thorough, or you will discipline her again."

"Nee-chan…?"

The older sister, forming a handseal, mouthing two words.

I'm sorry.

"AAIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!"

The younger sister, staring in horror. Seizurous thrashing, whitening eyes, a drooling mouth.

The elder sister pulls the younger in, a one-armed embrace, hand cupping the back of her head. The younger readily tucks her face against her sister's body, blinding herself.

"WAAAAHAAAAAA!! STOP I-I-IT!! PLEASE! PLEASE!! I'M SORRYYYYY!!!"

Over this the child can hear only her sister's heartbeat and the whisper she repeats.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry…"

"Hanabi-sama… Why…?"

I looked up, meeting his eyes blankly, silencing the argument on his lips.

"What the Hell … are we 'upholding' here…?"

"Oji-san…?"

"Yes, m'lady."

"What … what was Hiyuki to you?"

"…She was my precious niece. And after I learned that my daughter was killed by – that my daughter had died in the Land of Waves … she was…"

"…I see… Gomennasai…"

"You feel responsible for what's happened now?"

"I am responsible; there's no pretending I'm not."

"Hiyuki fought for you to the end… She gave her life to see you live to fight another day. At that moment, she placed all her hope for the future in you, Hanabi-sama; I truly believe that, from the bottom of my heart."

I looked down from the scoop of moon in the sky. "Hiyuki…"

"I don't think she left with any regrets in her heart. Hiyuki died protecting you … you, not as a leader or a master to serve, but as family … as an innocent child … and as Hyuuga Hinata's younger sister."

I flinched. "So that's why…" I looked down miserably, biting my lip. "Hiryuu-oji-san … there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I … I don't think I'm the one – the one of pure spirit and rightful blood."

"If not, then who is? What are you saying?"

"It's not me. It's probably my sister… Hinata-nee-chan."

Surprisingly, he merely shook his head. "In all respect, Hinata-sama is talentless, m'lady. If Fate intended her to be the one to fight for us, I would honestly have to feel Fate had screwed us over."

I chuckled a little at that. "Y-yeah … you're probably right…" It's no use … if he and the clan did believe me, they'd only be disheartened… I have to do this, I realized silently. If she's to have any sort of clan to return to, I need to hold our supporters … to keep hope alive…

"Where would you pick up such a notion?" he asked.

"I've just been thinking … that maybe I'm not that special after all. Rare or not, this 'power' of mine … all it is is an affinity to Raiton."

Hiryuu sighed out deeply, his eyes in the stars. "You're too emotional, milady," he remarked out of nowhere. "Your true power has a tendency not to shine through until you're frustrated, angry, afraid… Do you remember what happened the night that the Brach swore its allegiance to Orochimaru?"

"That?" I blinked in confusion. "Neji sent four of them after me for spying on you all, and…" The powerful memory was a blurred mixture of roiling fear and distress. I furrowed my brow in concentration. "I ran, but they caught up before long… They were b-beating me … but I guess they eventually left me alone, and I went to Kiba."

"How many people have you killed, Lady Hanabi?"

I started. Where had this come from all of a sudden? I began to say 'none' and froze, eyes widening.

The blood … that wasn't mine…

"Four," Hiryuu corrected quietly.

"That's impossible…" But I knew it was true.

"You were slowly being killed, and you fought for survival. Adrenaline may have provided a little help … but from what Neji and his Hyuuga were able to gather the next morning, you were cornered, beaten … and then snapped, leaving one genin and three chuunin splayed in death within ten feet of each other on the village streets. Little struggle was evident; you destroyed them."

I shuddered. I blotted the memory out… Eyes wet, I shook my head with a nervous little smile. Bad habit of doing that…

"Do not feel guilty; those were the four who leapt to Neji's call to harm a seven-year-old girl, and they were punished well. The sight of your victims, laced with chakra burns, smitten by cardiac arrest… this ominous testament to the power of the Main House, a reminder of the consequence for crossing it, planted the first seeds of dissent in the new Hyuuga Clan. While Raiton is extremely valuable, your talent itself is unquestionable. This is what it has always meant to be the Hyuuga of Lightning."

I massaged my forehead with a hand.

His Byakugan activated and deactivated; I followed his gaze to the nonchalant figure hanging upside-down from a branch above us, gazing off at the moon.

"Sasuke-san?" How long has he…?

"Yo." He fell from the branch, turning to land lightly on his feet and sink into a sitting position next to me. "I wanted to show you something, little Hyuuga."

"Paper?" I said as he held up the two blank tags.

"Affinity indication," Hiryuu clarified knowledgeably, "but we already know her chakra type."

"I know that," the Uchiha shot back lightly. "Just look for a second. I'm aligned to the elements Fire and Lightning, but if I focus hard enough on only my Lightning nature and channel it into this thing…"

The single paper slip crinkled up in his hand, as if it had invisibly been crumpled up a little and spread again.

"That signifies Lightning nature," Hiryuu agreed, not seeing where this was going any more than I was.

Sasuke nodded. "My old sensei told me I was an upper-mid level Raiton type. Hanabi, I want you to channel your chakra into this one." He held out the second tag, and I reached to take it.

The moment I started to tap my chakra, I dropped the tag with a surprised yelp as it crinkled violently and instantly. The entire slip had been drawn jaggedly inward, left with not one flat section more than a centimeter across. It took up half the flat space Sasuke's paper did.

"Just as I thought. I got a hunch earlier – or, yesterday – when I shocked myself trying to shock you."

"Superb," Hiryuu breathed reverently.

"Kakashi has a remarkably strong Lightning affinity, but even the paper he demonstrated it on to me didn't suffer this drastic an effect." His palm smacked onto my shoulder. "Congrats – you're a freak of nature."

I blushed. "Sasuke-san…"

"You still convinced you're nothing special?" he asked.

Hiryuu spoke. "You're brimming with raw power and skill. If you were to truly unlock your potential, and hone your skill as a sharpened blade … in ten years, you might be unstoppable. But time is something we do not have a surfeit of at our disposal, and that is why I've been training you so hard. In addition to ability, however, you needed to be confident but had already been handed an abundance of unearned confidence. So you were thoroughly humbled, and made to build up a substantial confidence over again. With the amount of strength you've accumulated, I can't see why you're beginning to doubt yourself now."

"But… Neji defeated even you, Hiryuu-oji-san. Do you really think there's a chance I…?"

He looked up. "It's true; that boy is a rare genius. And as he continues to flourish under Orochimaru's tutelage, a spent old man like me can never hope to compare… If I trained for the next ten years, I might be easily as strong as Neji is now … but catching up to him is beyond possibility for me. It would seem Fate is telling us that your generation, so rife with potential, must settle this dispute on its own."

I frowned. "So you think … I can surpass you?"

"Seriously," Sasuke groaned, "Did you hear a word he just said?"

"I know you can surpass me, m'lady; the question is, can you do it in time. You are a prodigy … the likes of which can compare to Neji's genius. If I don't think you can defeat him, I won't send you to your death. Listen to me, Hanabi-sama. I can train you into a true fighter. It will be neither fun nor easy. It will be trying and painful. I can guarantee you that you will frequently feel you hate me, and perhaps as often wish you were dead. But if you can tell me now that you want me to do whatever I must to make you stronger, I will do everything in my power to transform you into a ninja capable of combating Neji."

I gulped quietly. This is serious. He's asking for my permission ahead of time. I don't know how much tougher his training could get, but … if I'm reduced to begging him to go easy on me, or trying to order him to let me stop and rest, he'll be able to bypass my authority…

"Who knows?" Hiryuu said. "Though I don't find it likely, your sister – the supposed 'Kurouga' we've been hearing so much about lately – may be the one meant to face Neji after all … but should anything happen to her, it would be preferable that you possessed the ability to fill her place. Still, as we've seen today, in this day and age a member of the Main House has no place being weak.

"Please, take your time to think carefully on this. Only you know if you are ready to commit yourself–,"

"I don't need any more time to see if I'll try to change my mind, sensei," I said. "Make me a ninja."

He took up a rare, fond smile, and when he met my eyes his expression was one of pride. "You are brave, m'lady."

"But I'm not," I said. "I'm a determined coward."

"It makes no difference to me. Rest well; your training begins tomorrow."

"You mean 'continues,' right?"

"I'm afraid you don't yet know the meaning of the word 'training.'"

My eyebrow twitched. I knew it…

"Little Hyuuga," Sasuke said with a smirk, "I get the feeling you just made a dire mistake."

"No; I don't think I did, actually…"

I looked up at the moon, and decided it didn't look so angry anymore.

"Hiyuki … your sacrifice won't have been in vain."

Neji ネジ

Though usually scrubbed clean shortly after a session, interrogation cells in the village nowadays seemed to reek perpetually of blood. Although when fresh or even relatively fresh my sensitive nose found its scent quite delectable, the cracked staleness that hung in here was the mind-dulling dreariness of old death, not attractive in the least. One debated, then, with a messy task as this one, whether to use the room already rank with acrid stench so that the effects would balance out, or the room less horrible an offender so that the prisoner's slowly spilling life could be fully appreciated, at the cost of tainting that cell indefinitely and having less appealing a selection the next time one found oneself here. Typically only the first one or two, but on occasion as many as the first four cells on the hallway were put into use, and all of those were thoroughly rancid. The remainder, then, were used primarily only by myself, as I had come to prove quite skillful an interrogator and was the only one of the lot who cared about – or much noticed – the odor of blood. I knew it was a self-trumping cycle; whichever cell was the cleanest was saved for a relatively unimportant prisoner, briefly prodded for information and then allowed to bleed out just slowly enough, in just controlled enough a manner, that they could be convinced that if they decided to cough up anything useful the bleeding would be staunched and they would be spared, but if they fell beyond saving and realized it or fell unconscious could be granted a swift execution – and in that the quality of room selections continued to decline. For this particular prisoner, therefore, I had reluctantly picked a cell that reeked and thus would negate the stimulating scent of the dripping blood, ensuring me solidity of focus.

"You know, no one's coming for you. We told them you're dead."

"G-g-go to Hell," she whimpered out, sounding by no stretch of the imagination any bit formidable or threatening. I smiled cheerfully.

"Come on, now, cousin Hiyuki," I said, a few times smacking the back of my hand lightly, almost playfully, at the sobbing girl's tear-streaked cheek. "Your mother was quite unhappy with your behavior, and she hurt you very badly. Just answer the question for me, cous, please? Why make this so difficult? You look a bloody mess. Why ya' being so hard on yourself? There are medics ready to help you right upstairs, but if you don't hurry up and cooperate you'll surely get an infection and die."

"I hate you!" she cried, sobbing and shaking in the embrace of the chair to which she was shackled. "I hate you, I hate you, I–!"

The CRACK of impact resonated in the small room as the back of my fist was bloodied on her face. She wailed helplessly as I jammed the sole of my boot in her defenseless abdomen, and my hand snapped firmly to the underside of her jaw, forcing her to look into my eyes as I held a feeble hand in mine. I lifted the hand to hold it beside her face, so she could see it; her arms were no longer bound, for they were broken. "You don't want the rest of your fingers to break, do you?" I asked as a rivulet of blood dribbled anew from her still broken nose.

As of yet, only one finger had broken.

"Y-you're a monster," she blubbered, her voice breathless and stupid with the obstruction of her nose. "You're insane–,"

SNAP.

"Focus, Hiyuki," I said calmly as she screeched. "We're not talking about me, are we? Do you know who we're talking about?"

"I'm telling you n-nothing about L-Lady Hanabi–!"

SNAP.

"You're really bringing the conversation down, cousin; I simply wanted to check the accuracy of something a friend of mine reported. Fine, then – why don't we talk about where New Konoha gets its food supply from? I'm quite curious, you see, because they clearly don't produce a yield in those fields great enough to sustain their entire population. Come on, cous, big sis, tell me, will you?"

"How about you t-take a guess, otouto-chan…?"

"How about you tell me in five seconds, or I break two fingers at once? Sound like more fun? Five… four–,"

SN-SNAP!

"Oh dear, my hand slipped." I released the mangled hand carelessly and took a firm grip of her recently wounded shoulders. She tried to resist, but ultimately failed to stifle a groaning cry as I massaged and worked the damaged joints, none too gently pressing on tender, stretched muscle and inflamed sinew.

"U-uuunh…! Stop it! S-stop…!"

"Huh? Why should I?" I asked, my voice innocent, my hands harsh. "You didn't want to talk about Hanabi-chan, so we're talking about New Konoha. What's wrong with that? Why don't you want to talk to me, Hiyuki-chan?"

"I won't b-be-tray my l-leader!" she shrieked pathetically, her face contorted and sweating in pain, voice piercingly high. "Hanabi-sama belongs to New K-Konoha – if Leaf is endangered, m'lady is as w-well…!"

"Huuh?" I prodded a tenketsu dangerously near her heart, and another at a lung. She shuddered stiffly, not daring to writhe in pain for fear of irritating an array of other wounds, and spewed blood once, and then again, further dirtying her ensanguined robes. Eyes wide, she gasped shallowly, tumultuously for air. "My, you don't look so good! You must be running low on blood. If only I was so inclined as to have those medics see you; they could clean you up, and put you back together in one piece, and make all the pain go away…"

She fought not to cry as I rubbed her shoulder, slapped a hand on it. "I have no words for traitors!! A ninja does not betray her village!!"

I rested my shoe atop her knee, pressing down lightly. "A ninja, huh…?"

I stomped.

CRAK!

"AAAAAHAAHAAHHH!!!" she bawled, pitifully.

"Did that hurt? Aw, Hiyuki, why're you hurting yourself? You're making yourself so miserable here…"

Her chest heaved shudderingly, her eyes closed. I pushed up a bruised eyelid with a thumb – and my hand jerked away as she tried to snap at me.

"Do you hate me now, Hiyuki?"

She ignored my question. "I w-wish that… the clan could see their great, noble s-savior here and now… Their elite H-Hyuuga Neji-sama…! Beating up someone t-tied to a chair…"

"It's not like I'm scared to fight you or anything. You're tied down for convenience."

"What's become of you, c-cousin? Wh-what's become of … the noble cause you claimed you were fighting for…?"

"Do you detect a flaw in my cause? I am preserving the peace of the village Orochimaru-sama is trying to create. The only way we can hope to bring perfection to New Oto… is through the eradication of dangerous renegades like you."

"You're out of your mind, my brother… What of Lady Hanabi? What is her crime?"

"Hanabi supports your rebel faction. By taking part in the resistance, she encourages dissent and tension throughout our family, dividing what could be by now a new and peaceful clan of equals living equally."

She laughed feebly; it clearly pained her, but she did so regardless. "Promote equality through the elimination of those of higher rank… So that is y-your warrant to kill her… Let me tell you something about L-Lady Hanabi… You will never in your life see a display of such raw and horrifying power. That girl … can defeat you … and she w-will…"

I raised an unamused brow.

A clawed nail flashed across her wrist. "Oops."

There was a dull shrug in her eyes. "Was about t'… bite my tongue…"

"Were you, now?" I said, watching what life she had left bleeding out of her wrist. Bummer. If she had panicked, I could have tried 'I'll stop the bleeding if you answer me.'

"Dying f-for … my Lady H-Hanabi … I have no … regrets…"

"Like a true, old-fashioned Hyuuga," I said as her eyes began to dim. "What a disgustingly honorable way to go…"

But… then, again…

I walked slowly behind the chair, brushed my cousin's hair to one side.

It would be such a waste…

"Wh… whaddrya' doing…?" she slurred weakly as I pushed the neck of her robe a few inches aside. My fingers brushed over bared flesh.

"After all … you share my blood, Hiyuki."

"What…?"

"If I told you this isn't going to hurt, I'd be lying."

Hiyuki's jaw dropped as I bit savagely into the base of her neck, seized her from the encroaching grip of death.

A groan escaped her. She cried weakly, and then almost yelled.

I stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind me, waiting to the sound of the first screams.

Hanabi ハナビ

"Hey… Sasuke-san?"

The two of us were walking behind Hiryuu, heading back to the tunnels. "What's up?"

"…Thank you … for what you did, I mean. It helped save my life earlier."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about."

I smiled. "Oh, I see. Sumimasen."

"Hanabi… There's something I'd like to tell you."

"Like what?"

"Lately, I've started to notice a few Hyuuga that have been acting strange. Like … not like your average Hyuuga. Instead of their typical arrogant, pretentious selves – no offense – there are some who're aggressively short-tempered, quick to violence, like they can't control themselves. And they're weirdly reverent toward Neji…"

"A lot of his followers are."

"Not like this; take my word for it. Just watch out, will ya'?"

"Yeah…"

Naruto ナルト

Almost like our Hokage stone faces… Man, those statues are impressive…

"So what you're saying," Baki, the interim village leader, said from across the round councilroom table, "is that a true Konoha still survives and opposes the conqueror's rule?"

"That is correct," Lee said. "Orochimaru has had concealed the fact that any part of Konoha was capable of defying him."

Hinata nodded. "He's cut off the resistance force's contact with the outside, and tried to convince the world that the village is his completely – an intimidation factor, perhaps, in claiming that one of the greatest villages of the Godaikoku crumbled swiftly and entirely before his might."

"In fact," I picked up, my eyes shifting from the statues, "what used to be Konoha has become two villages in one wall, locked in civil war. New Oto, comprised of the usurper's Sound ninja and the Leaf ninja who gave in to him, is the dominant of the two; New Konoha is made up of the remains of the village once allied to you, the loyal shinobi who wouldn't so easily be broken plus some civilians who've joined or supported them, and it's long declared independence from the Sound."

"He's fighting a war within his own walls…" a councilor remarked. "That would explain the shifting in the mission market; New Oto must be turning down a fair number of requests…"

Baki's fist thudded down onto the table. "Damn that Orochimaru… He had the nerve to extend a hand to us in alliance just months after he used us to conquer Konohagakure…"

An elderly councilman noted, "Quite possibly with the intent to use us to help quash this opposition…"

"It would seem we have no quarrel," Lee observed. "What with the loss of our Sandaime Hokage and your Yondaime Kazekage… Konoha and Suna both are victims of the same snake's conniving and deceptions…"

"And just where do you fit into all of this?" a councilman asked. "Three children only barely into their teens…?"

"What, us?" I said. "We may be children, admittedly, but we are shinobi – and we know where our loyalty belongs. The better part of a year ago, we were simply three genin escaping the first, subtle signs of the havoc erupting in the village, with the full intention to live as nukenin for a time; soon enough, though, it became evident we were just lucky enough to get away from the village before this pandemonium broke out. As among the only loyal Leaf ninja walking freely in the outside world, we've taken it upon ourselves to work toward freeing our comrades and taking back our village."

"So in a way, you are New Konoha's strongest voice … its channel to the outside world. You have become the rebellion's advocates, and its diplomats," an ancient-looking fellow mused. "A dangerous path, and one to which you've adapted well. Clear cause for the tyrant to throw a price over your heads…"

I smirked sharply. The most recent we'd seen of the posters, my head was worth the most. That might have been as much for feats as attribute to a certain nine-tailed kitsune, but had still been fun to start a round of jeering over.

Hinata piped up. "You said Orochimaru proposed to reforge an alliance with Suna. What was your response to his offer?"

"We did not respond," Baki said. "Not directly, at least. All this time we've been almost completely silent with New Otogakure no Sato, ignoring most of Orochimaru's attempts to strike up communication. I think the silent message is clear enough."

"A considerable slight, indeed," Lee said, "but likely the wisest course of action. As we have all seen, dealing with Orochimaru is always a dangerous affair. It tends to bring about calamity…"

"Aye," a councilor seated near him said, "That man is merciless and decisive…"

"Exactly," I agreed, "and thirsty for power. I'm sure you've heard of his strike on Kirigakure half a year ago…?" Though I treaded deftly around our involvement in said incident, at this several pairs of eyes were lit with realization. "That was a fortunately avoided disaster. Orochimaru's goal seems to be, in essence, power; he'll do anything to attain it, even tamper with the balance, risk upsetting the peace and prosperity, of the Five Great Nations."

Baki rubbed his temple, on the side of his tattooed face that was not obscured by his mask. "This confirms we made the right decision in turning him down; that man must be stopped. Allying ourselves to New Oto is clearly out of the question, but the New Hidden Leaf Village, on the other hand…" His visible eye glared intently at the table before him over a loose bridge of his fingers. He sighed. "We have learned much this night. Council – let us deliberate." He looked up at us. "You three must be tired; you are free to go. Temari, Kankurou, you may leave as well; show our guests to their rooms."

About as clear a dismissal as they came without the common 'You're dismissed,' which contained a risk of interpretation as disrespect. I nodded, and the three of us stood. Together we bowed generously at the waist.

"Doumo arigatou gozaimasu. We thank you for lending us your council's ear, Lord Baki of Sand," I said, smooth but sincere.

"Thank you, our friends of New Konohagakure no Sato."

'Friends.' Never a bad sign.

Lee リー

"I have to say, I'm impressed with Suna's hospitality."

"You shouldn't be surprised," Temari snorted at Hinata's remark, "You did a good thing for us, and you did have me and Kankurou to vouch for you."

"Still," Hinata said as we walked down the hall, "Some hidden villages want nothing to do with outsiders."

"So you do a lot of traveling, then?" Kankurou asked the girl curiously.

Naruto rolled his eyes. Well, all three of us did do a lot of traveling.

"Yes," Hinata answered, "Just two months ago I went to the Hidden Grass. Or, I was stopped a few miles from the village. 'What do you want?' 'There's a band of twenty-three nukenin approaching your village.' 'Are you one of 'em?' 'No… Why would I–?' 'Get out. We'll look into the matter.' So after Kusa confirms this and intercepts them, and I pitch in and help out: 'So, I was actually coming this way to ask if you've seen this person recently–,' 'What if we have?' 'Look, will you just take a look at her picture?' 'We haven't seen her. You can leave now.' Honestly…"

Kankurou laughed heartily. "Those paranoid Kusa-nin, huh?"

"But then, I guess a larger village like Suna has enough strength that it doesn't need to be overly strict of visitors," the girl noted.

The puppeteer chuckled again. "True, true!"

On the other side of Hinata, Naruto flapped his hand like a yapping mouth. I fought not to giggle.

"But here we were allowed a trip to the bath and left clean clothes, then provided a hot meal before we met with the council, and now we're receiving generous accommodations – and though policy understandably doesn't allow us to carry bladed weapons, there are only three black ops tailing us…"

Temari started. "How…?"

Hinata's mouth cut to a puppyish grin, showing off unusual canines. "The same two adult human male scents and one female scent have been tiptoeing around us since we entered the village, never coming into sight. If I can pin a scent to each of the people I see, and it's the ones I don't see that are constantly hanging around – well, that would be our hidden ANBU escorts. The female scent even followed Temari-san and I into the bath, whereas the males gained distance for a while whilst I presume they were watching Naruto-kun and Lee-kun, and all three were outside the window when we ate and hidden behind the second Kazekage's statue, on the ceiling, and under the table during the council meeting."

"Haha! Brilliant, Hinata-san!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, dear," Temari said, blushing as she smacked her forehead. "Well, that's embarrassing."

"Of course, the tails are a necessary precaution. Their scent was the only giveaway – other than that – great job, guys!" she called.

I smiled. It was refreshing to see her in such a rare cheerful mood.

Kankurou's laughter roared down the hall. "You're pretty sharp, lovely lady, and you seem like a nice girl. I like that!"

Naruto's gaze snapped to the puppetmaster.

Oh, brother…

Hinata giggled. "Why, thank you!" she said politely, brushing off the flirtation.

"Say, how'd you like me to show you around town tomorrow? Just me, you, and your shadow!"

Hinata laughed pleasantly. "I don't see why not…"

"Great!" Kankurou chirped. "Let's call it a date–!"

"AHEM-HERM-HA-HER-HERM–!" Naruto cleared his throat loudly and repeatedly, and just as every eye landed on him 'cleared' it once more and substituted with Hinata so that she half began to stumble in surprise and he was now standing between she and Kankurou as we walked. "Oops," he deadpanned.

I sweatdropped. He could be quite suave when he wanted to, but when he did not feel like it…

"Uh…?" Kankurou muttered.

Still gazing ahead, Naruto presented a debonair smile. "Please excuse me, good chap. Though I realize that any man can agree that Hinata-chan is 'lovely'…"

"Oh," the older boy realized, deflating. "Taken. Naturally..."

Eyes shut, Naruto nodded happily, his smile urbane, his step pert. Hinata socked him lightly on the shoulder with an affectionate "You!"

"That's cool, then. Maybe someday, huh?" the Suna-nin said with a friendly grin toward the young Hyuuga.

"I'm sorry to tell you that it's just not all that likely," she said apologetically, taking Naruto's hand. The boy nodded pertly again, practically glowing under the beaming rays of her affection. He could have been doing a victory dance. Therefore, Kankurou's jab was rather understandable.

"Hey, little man, you're pretty good with the ladies, ne?" he teased, ruffling the (much) shorter boy's hair and inflaming him with annoyance, knocking the urbane smugness from his face. "I guess you're pretty cute with her." Fingers drumming Naruto's blond tufts, he leaned down to direct a perfectly audible whisper toward his ear. "Should we have set you and Hinata-chan up with a room for two?"

Naruto jumped, flabbergasted. "Wh-wha-what are you insinuating, you perv?!!" he cried, pointing a trembling finger at the puppetmaster.

"Easy, buddy, I just thought you and your g-f might want to have a little fun–!"

"'Fun?!' 'FUN?!' What the heck's that supposed to mean?!" Naruto barked, one fist raised at Kankurou and the other arm extended as if to shield Hinata's innocence from uncouth innuendo.

I laughed awkwardly, patting the beet-red kunoichi on the shoulder and clutching at it as she seemed to begin to tip over. "You somewhat had that coming, Naruto-kun – just because you have one of the most wonderful girls in the world at your side does not mean you must flaunt your good fortune! But do you not in fact need a room together? After all, every night you two sleep with each–,"

"Next to each other!!" he shot back in protest, rounding on me and waving his arms. "Not 'with,' NEXT TO each other! There's a DIFFERENCE! C'mon, Lee, work with me here! You already know we wouldn't do s-something!!"

THUD.

"Is she okay?" Temari whispered.

"It happens with startling regularity," I remarked.

"Sleeping 'next to' each other? Oh yeah, that's not suspicious!" Kankurou jeered.

"It's not! I cure her nightmares–!"

"Aw, ain't that sweet!"

"I mean, we snuggle a little, but–!"

"Snuggling?!!"

"Like puppies, or–!"

"You snuggle like dogs?"

"No, PUPPIES! Cute, innocent little cuddly puppies that lie next to each other and SLEEP, y'know?!!"

"Chill, spaz!"

"I will NOT chill, ero-neko-freak!"

Temari sighed in exasperation. "Boys…"

I shook my head. "Our invisible escorts must be getting a kick out of this."

Naruto ナルト

Dressed in my nightclothes, I opened the door of my room and stepped out into the hallway. I glanced at Lee's door, the next down the hallway from mine; the light was off, so he was asleep. I looked then at the door across the hall from mine; the light was on, so Hinata was awake.

Pillow in hand, I crossed the hall and knocked a light pattern on the door.

"Come in."

"Waiting up for me, Hinata-chan?" I asked with a smile, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind me.

"Of course," she said, sitting up on the edge of the bed. "It seems like it's been forever since we had a bit of private time…"

I chuckled. "There aren't any ANBU hidden in the room, right?"

"Outside the window," she said, "but I think I can put up with that."

I sat down beside her, and we shared a crisp, chaste kiss.

"Hinata-chan…" I cupped her cheek gently in my hand; my finger began to play at her bangs. "Why did you think you needed to hide who you are?"

She blushed guiltily. "I'm a freak … hanjin, han'you, half human, half demon. I… I went to Okaa-sama – to the Gobi, in the Domain of Demons … and of my own volition, I completed the Ookami's trials and underwent the Ceremony of the Full Moon to be changed into this. I'm an honorary sister of the wolves, now and forever. This change wasn't forced on me, and it's no power sealed inside me or into the mark on my neck. I, myself … made the choice to forfeit half of my humanity, and become a true monst– a true han'you."

"And how do you feel about your choice?" I asked, two fingers lightly brushing a seemingly real and solid, rounded human ear as I gazed into her pastel eyes.

"…I feel … happy," she said, as if she were admitting to sin. "I'm closer than ever to Kurogiba and the other ookami. I'm proud to have survived their trials as a human, and been deemed worthy of joining them. I'm proud of the strong wildness inside of me, of the youki, the demonic energy, I've learned to control… and of the struggle that's made my mastery over the curse surer than ever."

–"I love that I can be confident I won't hurt you now. We can be close like this, and I can fully enjoy the strong rhythm of your heart without fearing the sound might drive me feral…"–

"So you're not 'completely' human. So what? You're still Hyuuga Hinata, and your friends love you for who you are."

"Naruto-kun…"

"So maybe in public you don't want to draw ignorant folks' weird looks, and maybe in battle you don't want your weakness exposed, but you never had to keep secrets from Lee and me. You're unique, Hinata; there's nothing wrong with that, and your friends will always accept you."

"Naruto…" she said, meeting me in an embrace and resting her head on my shoulder. "But I don't see you as a friend."

"Huh?"

"You're more."

Wispy smoke rolled over her body, and when it cleared I caught sight of a midnight blue tail, tipped in white, flicking out along the bedspread. We separated, and with hands on her shoulders my eyes drank in her face, her soft smile, her scarred cheek, her pale lavender orbs, her delicate nose, her pointed canine teeth, her dark blue wolfish ears, lined inside with cottony white, that poked from her hair at the crown of her head – perfect, perfect as ever.

"You're beautiful…" I murmured.

With a tiny whimper of joy she threw her arms around me again, nuzzling her nose fondly at my neck. "Thank you, Naruto-kun…!"

Breathing in the freshness of her hair, I cupped her head in my hand, feeling her soft, short locks, and planted a kiss on her jawline. I kissed her again, my hand testing a downy ear, thumbing gently, rubbing its base, and she purred contently, her tail wagging in lazy peace. My other hand brushed over her shoulder, clenching briefly before sliding on down her strong back, fingers prodding searchingly.

"Hinata-chan," I chided softly, "You really need to stretch more often. Your shoulders are stiff, and your back muscles tense…"

"What would you recommend, doc?" she murmured, warm breath a caress to my neck.

"I think I'll have to administer a therapeutic massage, stat," I said, moving back and slipping behind her on the bed. On my knees, I ran through a few seals that converted the chakra in my hands to a soothing form. I ran my palms slowly over her lithe, toned back, prodding, analyzing.

"I think I ought to stretch less often…" she whispered blissfully.

"Nuh-uh," I teased, "Human, han'you, demon – you better take care of yourself." Proving the point, I suddenly squeezed the muscle above her shoulder blades with expert hands; she flinched with a quick intake of breath.

"O-oh, I'll take better care of myself…" she surrendered, transitioning from a yelp to a sigh, grunting as I softened up and prodded again, circling my fingers on a pair of tense spots. I rubbed with my palms, lowered my hands, rubbed again; she hissed quietly and melted under my touch as I pressed the heels of soothing palms in two firm, rhythmic circles, slowly, methodically working the tightness out of her back.

She turned, climbing onto the bed, pushing my arms aside, capturing my lips in a loving kiss. A hand found my shoulder and grasped in mimicry, while another arm wrapped across my back, hand tenderly brushing my side. I pressed my fingers, my palm to her back, and she gasped as the kiss broke.

"I love you," I murmured as she kissed my cheek, my chin, my nose, and I tried then to kiss her more than she did me, but this was forgotten as our lips found each other's again and yearnings were quenched. Our tongues brushed and explored each other in the security of our mouths, eager but neither harsh nor forceful as we gave our affection, tasting, tenderly searching, each appreciating the other's sweet reciprocating feelings, the living vibrancy, the smooth, joyous warmth, as it flowed endlessly between us. It could have gone on forever. If it did, I felt, that would be just fine.

My hand searched her shoulder learnedly and squeezed, and muffled sound rose up in her throat. Encouraged, I continued, working and caressing, my other hand rubbing a slow circle on her back. The sound rolled out again, a small, gentle sound, a murmur sometimes poking out when our lips routinely parted at the corners before meshing together again. Her arms were under mine, one hand still massaging my shoulder, the other petting, stroking my arm. My hand lowered.

Finding something soft and silky.

I stroked her tail, and a new, throaty sound was elicited from her. She kissed harder, her body shivering slightly as I stroked it again, and again…

"O-a-a-aah…! Not there!!" she yelped suddenly, breaking away as our lips parted. Claws bit harshly into the shoulder she held as a hand sharply smacked mine away from her tail.

Her eyes were wide, surprised, embarrassed. I blinked, and gasped in realization. "H-Hinata, I'm sorry–!"

The door slammed open.

Lee had never looked so mad.

Lee リー

"A-aah…! Not there!!"

At this moan and cry I slammed the door open. I took one look at the younger ninja, both panting lightly for breath; at Hinata, blushing red, her claws buried in Naruto's shoulder as she held the boy's body against her own, apparently unable to control her tail's spasmodic wagging at intervals; at Naruto's guilty, shocked face, the hand that still clutched the girl's shoulder, the other hand that had just been slapped away, as he gaped at me like a deer.

"Get out," I said quietly.

"L-Lee-kun," Hinata said, about to stand up for him.

"I come back from the bathroom to see you two doing this?" I hissed.

Naruto pulled away from her. "Lee, it's not how it looks–!"

"You!" I snarled. "Out. Of this. Room. NOW!"

"Just let us explain–,"

"You have three seconds before I kick your a–,"

"Leaving!" he cried, scrambling to his feet and substituting past me to duck into his own room.

"L-Lee-kun, we were–,"

The girl shrank under my disappointed glare. Tearing my eyes away, I shut the door.

Naruto ナルト

I messed up…

He totally overreacted…

But I still messed up…

God…! The timing couldn't have been worse. I needed to talk to her, to apologize…!

Coming back from the bathroom. My dumb luck. Lee would have to be passing by right then, to stop and hear… well, that. I could see why he'd freaked out, but still… times like this really made you want to kill someone–

I blinked. 'FOX! Out of my head!'

'You caught me…'

'That was the lamest attempt ever. How could I not catch that?'

'I thought with your emotions in such disarray, it shouldn't be too hard… and you know I can't waste an opportunity to try … not at times like these, when you've wearied down your mind … your defenses … with those marvelous shadow tricks of yours…'

'So you thought to sidle on up while I'm sleepy and suggestible? You could try harder than that; honestly, I'm insulted … My mental fortification isn't that weak. Attacks this pathetic, and I won't even stay sharp…'

'Ah, perhaps … but it just infuriates me… The nerve of that boy, forcing you away from your Hinata-chan, and even threatening us… Come on, my gaki, couldn't you just give me a minute or so…? He'll learn not to come between you two … I can break a few of his bones for you, hmm…? Maybe? I won't even kill him. I can give you my word–,'

'Nice – better try, anyways, but no.'

'A demon cannot break its word–,'

'So you can't kill him, but you can kill anyone else. Oh yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Super.'

'But you know you're tempted… Deep down … aren't you angry–?'

'Dang it, fox! Shove off already!' I snapped, banishing its presence again. I'm not in the mood…

I took a deep breath. Without noticing it, I'd mulled over and stirred up enough negative energy to draw the dumb kitsune up to surface. It didn't need darkness or anything to talk to me – it was simply attracted to it, and also saw in it an opportunity to try its claw at persuasion. …And apparently I was so sad I'd actually chatted with the demon for a few minutes. Talk about lonely…

Again I breathed in, breathed out, very deeply. My mind was sharp; many a long hour had been spent working to ensure this. It was because of that that I'd been able to increase the Kageken's efficiency, smooth out and improve it; it was also how I had taught myself to stay in control of my mind, and keep a certain vulpine visitor at bay. To an extent…

Sleep. The Shadow Megaton Kick in particular had taken a minor toll, and I hadn't slept since. My defense could almost be classified as slack. Right now I needed to clear my head and sleep.

Hinata ヒナタ

Where am I?

Black, in all directions. Above. Below. Black.

"Who's there?!" I whirl, eyes wide.

"Hinata-ssssama…" Distant figure, walking closer, step by swaying step.

"H-Hi…Hizashi-oji-san…? How…?"

They're coming from the water, the bottom of the sea. Black ground ripples, figures rising.

"H-Hina…ta…"

"Hiken-kun?" I squeak. They're everywhere, rising from the water, everywhere.

"Why won't you die?!"

"Damn you!!"

"You know where little demons go, don't you?"

My hands, covering my ears. Too many voices, relentless, deafening, the voices of the dead. "Leave me alone…!" My ears bleeding, my tears bleeding. I can't shut my eyes. Can't block out the sound. I'm all alone. "Leave me alone!"

Risen from a murky grave. The woman who tried to run. The man whose chest was crushed. The woman whose skull was bashed in. Her little sister, whose throat was torn out, maybe spat out, maybe swallowed, I honestly can't remember. The two men who used the swords. The man whose jaw was crushed. The one whose throat was scooped out. The woman sucked dry of blood. So many swirling voices. Screams of pain. Air thick and coppery as the slaughtered converge on the slaughterer.

"Stop! Stay away!"

A distant face, glimpsed in the crowd. That one didn't make sense. Hiyuki-nee…?

Second of distraction. Watery hand grasping my ankle. The woman rises, hand roughly grabbing the neck of my shirt. Bloodshot eyes, cracked and deranged.

"Why did you kill Aka-nee-chan?"

I didn't kill her.

My lips move, but for me there is no sound.

Midori's head rams tremendously against mine, my bleeding body is blown back spectacularly, moving in slow motion, suspended.

The corpses are grabbing me, tearing, kicking, stabbing, stamping, beating out of me all the lives they lost. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Now they are wolves, hundreds of hungry wolves, biting my ankles, wrists, neck, pulling me apart, stripping away my flesh.

"Why do you betray me?! Stop! Okaa-sama, help me!"

"You two have failed me…" The Gobi's voice, cold and disgusted.

Long-dead Kurogiba, above me, floating impossibly.

"Ani-ue, help! Please!"

"I should never have put faith in someone…"

Huge black paw crashing down, bludgeoning force twisting and pushing back, cleanly snapping my neck.

I land on my feet, surrounded by black, looking frantically right, left–

"Nee-chan."

I stumble back in surprise. Ten feet from my right.

"Imouto-chan!" Stepping toward her. "Why are you here? You're not…!"

But her eyes are the milky eyes of that first stupid blood-soaked hare. Her mouth drops open.

Hanabi's scream is long and unreal, piercing my soul. She hits the nonexistent black ground, vivid crimson pooling from invisible wounds.

Behind her, the figure of the one responsible.

"Do you still love me, Imouto-chan?" he intones, grinning hugely.

I run to him in tears, crying out in rage. He charges toward me.

"Nejiiii!!"

I punch, and he punches, our fists halted by an invisible wall between us. I pound the barrier, lean against it, beat a furious fist desperately at it, and he does the same, all exactly the same.

I stop, and he stops. Looking into icy eyes, then past them to see my sister's corpse.

Turning around. The same is behind me, but more. Imouto-chan, Naruto-kun, Lee-kun, Hiashi-sama, Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, Shikamaru-kun, Sakura-chan, Chouji-kun, Sister Inoriko, thirteen orphans, dead. My arms absolutely soaked, hands dripping with blood.

I look back to the mirror, and there is me, smiling wildly back in full demonic form, skin white with fur, hair black, body streaked with crimson.

I yell, striking. My hand slips through the mirror, rather than strike simply latching onto the neck of her shirt as the demonic side's hand does, latches onto mine.

We pull, and my forehead slams concussively into the glass, exploding with pain, gushing thick gouts of blood.

I open my eyes, and it is Neji standing there again, a demon smiling back at me, bleeding in the mirror. "Hina-chan…"

His other clawed hand shoots out, shattering through the glass with a great crash, smashing straight through my heart. I'm hacking out blood, stunned.

"Elite … Failure."

I hit the ground as he releases me, a feeble, twitching heap of flesh coughing and gasping and dying. I look helplessly up at him as my lifeblood pours out, the young man standing in the shattered crimson glass, and I blink, and his laughing eyes are golden and evil.

"This will never change………………………………"

Waking came in a rush of emotion, a hard gasp as I jolted upright, arms jerking out, legs kicking in the darkness. I fought my way from a clinging sheet, inefficient and tangling with franticness, and had smacked and kicked it only to my knees when I fell from the bed, toppling clumsily to the floor. Gasping, I kicked the blanket off amid scrambling to a waste bin, drawing myself up and hunching over it and vomiting convulsively.

For a moment I took a few shallow, rapid breaths, abruptly wiped away with the back of my hand a trail of spilt tears. I shut my eyes and yelled, in anger, despair, or frustration, I couldn't be sure.

Eventually I shakily stood, dug a bottle from the bottom of my bag, and left the room.

If I had expected to run into anyone at four AM, I might have disguised my lupine features; luckily this person had already seen them, though, so he didn't freak out.

On second thought, entertaining the notion of this boy freaking out over such a thing would be a bit of a trial to anyone's imagination.

So they've deemed him safe enough to let walk around, but … he's got a considerable ANBU tail of his own…

I offered a kindly smile. "Hello. It's good to see you're already back on your feet."

His eyes were wide – awed, even timid – as he opened his mouth, perhaps beginning with intent to speak but losing resolve before any sound was uttered.

Instead he raised his hand and, with an almost infantile curiosity and innocence, he reached to touch my left ear.

It's like he's a whole different person, I thought in amazement as the ring-eyed redhead who'd not ten hours ago crushed my arm in sadistic brutality felt gently about my ookami ear as if in a daze of fascination.

I began to blush self-consciously. "So, Gaara-san, how are you feeling?"

He flinched away startlingly, stepping back to place several yards' safety between us; his glare and body language projected confused hostility, which then cautiously melted off into confusion. He seemed to try again to speak, but ultimately wavered with wariness and glared half-heartedly at the wall beside us.

It was understandable; he was, literally, socially retarded. He didn't know how to interact peacefully with someone. But he cared enough to try to.

I smiled sadly. "It's alright; I just wanted to know if you feel better. I'm …concerned for you."

His bitter eyes met mine, guarded. "Why do you feel … 'concern' for me…?"

I sighed softly, not quite exasperated. The opaque bottle in my hand was shaken anxiously, giving the sloshing promise of the liquid inside. Here I was, still shivering nervously, reduced to my broken self and balancing humoring this even more broken fellow with trying not to cry. I would have liked to be with Naruto-kun, embraced in the safety of his warmth and gentle strength and serene, solid presence. If not then I would have liked to at least be near Lee-kun, who wouldn't mind being woken this late if I was in dire need of someone to talk to – but while I didn't quite blame him for my present state a confrontation now would simply prove awkward in too many ways. Kurogiba was tired, and I didn't feel up to summoning him either way. I needed company, and I was clinging to it.

"Do I need a reason to feel concern for someone? We're humans, aren't we? We're certainly not enemies, if that's what you're asking. I'm hoping you're in good shape. That's all."

He blinked strangely. "…I'm … fine."

The moonlight was nice, and the fresh air consoling. Gazing out at the sleeping village, I sucked relative blandness from the minor vein I'd split in my wrist. Lifting the bottle, I chased the rich blood down with a sharp, heavy swig. I sighed.

"This isn't normal, by the way," I informed my companion, tipping the bottle lightly. "Don't … learn from it or something."

Seated beside me on the rooftop, Gaara eyed me oddly, the slightest furrow in his brow. "How old are you?"

I smiled. Sarcasm, almost. "Not old enough. It's pretty strong, but it still doesn't affect me like it would a regular human. I'd have to drink a lot more than this, anyways."

"Maybe it, alone," he observed, "but you're taking blood with it…"

"Sharp," I conceded, swirling the bottle's contents with a lazy flick of my wrist. I drew into my mouth another warm splash of blood, lacking in flavor in that it was my own, and accentuated it with a nice, cool draught from the bottle. "Not like I'm flat-out stoned or anything; just a bit of a buzz. Steadies my nerves."

And it was true. A shot of, say, Naruto's strong, full-human blood would invigorate my spirit in a heartbeat. A shot of my blood held dramatically milder effect. A shot of alcohol was a shot of water. Unless taken with blood, in which case the blood's energy rush was capped and the alcohol's intoxication was brought out. But I wasn't drunk.

Not drunk drunk.

"I think I might… I feel concern for … you."

I laughed a little. "What – you mean becuzza' this?"

He shook his head. "You had been crying … before. I could tell. Why do you need that liquor?"

"Oh…" I rubbed my neck. "Actually … I have trouble with some pretty colorful nightmares."

The boy blinked incredulously at me. "You… even someone so strong is afraid of something?"

Finishing a swig, I chuckled. "Everyone has fears, no matter how strong they are. I walk a dangerous path and so I worry about myself, yes; but even more so, I can't help worrying about the people who matter ta' me."

"People who matter…?"

"I have a little sister, back in the Leaf Village, who I think about every single day. I worry for my village, and all my friends 'n' comrades, and I worry that I might fail to protect the people that're precious to me…"

"That sounds like a lot of worrying…" he said sadly.

I shook my head again. "I worry because I care. You expressed concern for me, but it wasn't altogether a bad feeling, wuzzit?"

"I guess not…"

I nodded. "See, when people're precious to you, you care about 'em. You might hafta worry sometimes, but the love that you feel for them – that connects ya' to them – is what really matters most."

"Love…"

"Love's what connects you to all the people you hold dear, and when you're connected this way … the suffering, and the pain in life can somehow become bearable again; the joy can be shared, and spread. Learning, understanding, growing … living alongside my precious people, is not an experience I'd readily forfeit."

"And so you fight for them… That's why…"

"Yup. It's because of them – all of them – that I'm able ta keep fighting. Even if we're not physically together we're still tied, by love…" I chuckled. "But since Naruto-kun 'nd Lee-kun and I got t'gether again, I haven't had to count on this particular remedy in a while. But even just talking to you like this has made me feel better, actually; I might not have needed to drain this bottle after all."

I heard a small, subtle laugh. "I'm … glad."

I smiled, looking out at the village nestled under the watchful eye of the moon.

"Thank you."

Seventeen, Part Three: Sand and Leaves

Lee リー

I had hoped I would not run into him this morning, but as fate would have it he woke only minutes after I.

I neglected to look his way as he shuffled in sleepily. His footsteps hesitated, and then continued as he passed me, passed the second of three sinks, and planted himself at the third. I spoke no word of greeting as he rested an elbow on the counter and began brushing his teeth.

I kept silently about my chore. The patterned scratching of the toothbrush at work was the only sound in the restroom. Eventually he spat and rinsed.

"Hey… Lee?"

"What is it?" I caught him with a sidelong look, but the expression on his face was to say the least a surprising one. He held up an air of cautious distance, yes, and with head tilted slightly downward he averted his gaze momentarily in second thought before meeting my own gaze once more, mouth mildly stubborn in a way that inevitably procured the trace suggestion of a pout; still foremost in his bright eyes, however, was the boyish curiosity he was trying so fruitlessly to hide.

"What're you … doing?" he asked tentatively, and at his genuine befuddlement I began to regret the glare I was shooting.

This boy… I overreacted last night, did I not…?

"Shaving," I answered. "I have not in a few days."

"Hm… Why?" he asked, blinking.

I kind of hated myself as I looked back to the mirror. "Different fellows' facial hair will begin to become noticeable at different times; mine happened to arrive relatively early. But Master Washi taught me that the swordsman must always be dignified and well-kempt, and until I can grow out a decent mustache or beard I must be clean-shaven. Even at that point, however, I believe I will continue to shave; I find facial hair on the unyouthful side and most undesirable."

"I see…"

I … may have been just a bit too harsh…

His purple eyes were practically sparkling as he watched me finish up, locked on with earnestly innocent fascination.

Under the scrutiny of a reverent younger brother, I rubbed my smooth chin and sighed.

"Naruto-kun… We need to talk."

He shrank guiltily, his eyes wandering to the floor. "Lee, I swear it wasn't…"

I covered the distance between us, laying a hand on the shorter boy's head. Bending down a bit and peering closely at his face, I spotted a few delicate blond hairs on his upper lip.

"You are beginning to sprout a bit of peach-fuzz as well. Tell you what – let us see if we can find a razor to buy. I will teach you."

Hinata ヒナタ

It's morning…

I sat up slowly, surprisingly refreshed. My gaze drifted to the window, and I found myself briefly surprised to see it empty.

–"What, are you planning to watch over me all night?"

"It's interesting … to see people sleep … if you don't mind…"–

He left…

Yawning contentedly, I stepped out of my room. I looked down.

"Meeeeoow!! Mrrrr-rrr-rr…!"

No more than a violent growl sent the tawny feline scrambling frantically from my sight.

I sighed; my mood couldn't be spoiled. It's a new day…

"Morning, sweet thing!"

I looked up as I saw Kankurou and Temari approaching, smiling amiably. The puppeteer had left off his cat-eared hood, and I almost didn't recognize him with his makeup having yet to be applied.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Temari-san, Kankurou-san," I said, bowing slightly.

"Oh, please – what's up with the formality, Hinata-chan?" Temari laughed good-naturedly, patting my shoulder.

I blinked in surprise. "-Chan?"

"We never quite got to know each other properly," Kankurou pointed out. "How about taking me up on that offer – Just you, me, Temari, and your shadow! We can give you a guided tour of the Hidden Sand, show you the business district, and the park…"

"You broke your bow in that fall yesterday," Temari mentioned, "Our craftsmen are among the most skillful you can find."

"Oh!" I remembered, blushing. "That's right, it snapped in two…" I'd yet to keep any one bow for longer than three weeks; in fact the one broken yesterday was not the one gambled off of the Kusa-nukenin nor its immediate replacement. Upon my telling them of this astounding string of bad luck, Naruto and Lee had teased me to no end. "Wait… What about…?"

"You just missed your buddies; they went out for a walk on their own a couple of minutes ago," Kankurou supplied.

"Hurry and wash up," Temari said with a smirk. "We can show you the best place to get breakfast."

In truth, as I had hunted yesterday and one good hunt could easily last me three or four days, a meal now was like snacking ten minutes after dinner. It would be rude to turn down their offer, however, and I had burned a large deal of energy the day before. I smiled.

"Sure!"

Sand and Leaves - A Man to Man Conversation

Lee リー

"Lee–,"

"Naruto-kun–,"

We remained silent for five or so seconds as we continued down the street, each waiting for the other to speak. He cleared his throat. "Go ahead."

I sighed."Having feelings for each other is fine, but … you do know where to draw the line…?"

He rounded on me, indignant. "I've never touched her – not in that way. And I don't intend to anytime soon."

I met his eyes seriously, my voice stern. "Naruto-kun … do not lie to me. I understand that kissing may become rather intense, but when passion degenerates into lust…"

"Lee, whatever you head last night – it was an accident, a one-time mistake. So maybe in the heat of the moment I wasn't thinking about how … sensitive her tail is. I only petted it a few times, but I think she started getting a little turned on… I didn't notice right away that she was liking it too much, but before it went any further she realized the effect it was having on her and stopped me." At this I saw two unspoken thoughts on the boy's face. He was as intent on defending Hinata's moral character as he was his own; and he was glad she had stopped him, and more than regretful to have started it in the first place.

"Ah… I see," I said, nodding. "Forgive me; it was harsh not to allow you to explain then…"

"It's fine; you were right to flip out, for what you thought was going on…" He looked up into the cloudless blue sky above. "You know … a notable cultural aspect of the Village Hidden in the Sky, and the entire Land of Mountains in general … is the strong belief in a certain unwritten code of morality and conduct that defines the appropriate relationship between people. The women teach the girls, the men teach the boys… I know how to treat a lady, Lee. Not long after I became his apprentice, Matsuzuki-sempai drilled it into me."

I blinked, curiosity piqued. "Such as…?"

"Let's see here… For instance, 'A man is respectful and polite toward women.' 'A man does not flaunt or boast his natural strength over a woman.' 'A man does not strike or harm a woman in any way' – well, they say that, but of course there're exceptions for, say, a trained enemy or a friend who's agreed to spar with you, y'know? 'A man listens attentively when a woman speaks to him…' 'A man uses no profanity in a woman's presence.' Then there's the more relationship oriented stuff; 'A man and woman do not overtly display their affections in public, for such implies that the man does not respect his companion and that the woman has no self-respect.' 'A man is dignified and strong to the world, but to his companion may be tender and loving.' 'A man respects his companion's personal space…'

"And," he continued with a straight face, eyes now on the sandy street, "I learned how I am to treat a woman's body. I essentially can't touch a girl I don't know – well, unless it's to help her in some way – and an acquaintance can be touched on the hand, arm, perhaps the shoulder, for example. For a 'couple' there are certain guidelines as to how far displays of affection should go, depending on whether in public or private, certain benchmarks in age, closeness, marriage… There are a certain few regions of a woman's body that are sacred and inviolable. I know that I can't touch Hinata in these places, Lee; and now I know that the tail is off-limits as well."

Even as accustomed as I had grown to his changes over the five months we had been apart, the simple, calm maturity in his voice quite nearly frightened me. He has changed so much … from the goofy kid he was… Even as I further came to terms with this, what he said next all but blew me away.

"A relationship should be fostered and cherished over time on a spiritual level, through expression of tenderness and affection – not bodily lust. I would never violate Hinata's decency. If this or that happens, it happens at the appropriate time … in the future, after and only after we've saved the village, settled down … and been joined in marriage."

A thirteen-year-old boy had just said 'marriage.' And implied strict abstinence from sex until after said marriage. And he was dead serious.

I spent a moment taking this in as we continued to walk. "That is good to hear," I said honestly, halting. It was great to hear. He stopped, and I rested a hand on his shoulder, smiled, and spoke to the younger boy very quietly and very clearly. "You are the last person I would expect to, but all the same … if you hurt Hinata-san, I will hurt you."

He knew I was speaking of two very different 'hurts.' He nodded, holding my gaze squarely. "I got it; you won't have to worry. 'Protective older brother' much?" he added lightly.

My eyes softened. "Were it any other way, you know you would do the same."

"I guess so… I'm holding you to that, by the way."

"Huh?" I said, looking back to him as we continued on. He tipped his head back, enjoying a soft, warm breeze as it rolled by.

"Kami forbid I should handle her inappropriately … if I ever violate her space or make her uncomfortable … if I ever say to her anything dirty … if I touch her without her consent, if I ever pressure her into anything – you'd better beat the crap out of me, y'know?"

"Understood. I am glad we could have this conversation."

Sand and Leaves - Coming Together

Hinata ヒナタ

"Itadakimasu."

I felt two pairs of eyes on me as I reached first for the dried pork on my plate. My hand swerved, picking up my spoon.

I knew it! I thought, scooping a spoonful of grain cereal and innately scowling as I heard Kankurou's breath catch. Naruto-kun, Lee-kun, what did you tell them while I was hunting?

Not looking at the two watching me from across the small table, I brought the spoon to my mouth. Slowly I chewed, and swallowed.

"Ooishi," I remarked, smiling brightly at the two Suna-nin. They gawked.

"B-but…" Kankurou began. "I mean, I thought you…"

He was silenced by a sharp elbow from his sister. I took another bite.

"I can eat and digest regular, human food, you know. My body just doesn't derive quite as much nourishment from grains and vegetables and such. In case you're wondering," I added, testing a chip of the dried meat and smiling. "But even cooked, meat just tastes better to me."

"Cooked as opposed to…?"

"Don't you ever get sick?" Temari asked, taking a spoonful of a pasty soup.

The siblings weren't being particularly rude – just letting out some curiosity. I blushed sheepishly, ducking my head a bit. "Once – I think it had drunk water from a river contaminated by humans, ironically."

"You don't say?" Kankurou said interestedly, biting into a roll.

"Oh," I remembered.

"What is it?"

"When we finish breakfast – there's something I wanted to do. Would it be okay if I sniffed around town a bit?"

I sniffed intently.

"Tsunade-sama was here. And the younger female that usually accompanies her … and a pig. Four days ago." Apparently they arrived four days ago and left the day before yesterday…

"Uh… Hey, Hinata-chan?" Temari asked.

"Hm?"

"Not to say that isn't impressive and all, but people are staring."

I looked up at the people passing in the market district around us. Noticing I was drawing a fair deal of weird looks, I blushed hotly. In this village it wasn't common to see an off-duty kunoichi wearing pants rather than a long skirt or robe; it was even rarer, I would suppose, to spot a white-eyed foreigner wearing the headband of a village thought to be long fallen, crouched down and practically rubbing her nose in the street. Not to mention in the company of the eldest children of the late Yondaime Kazekage, two who were known to have run away and had not been seen since more than a week ago.

I fought down my blush, forming three seals. In a burst of smoke I was left an average-sized, dark blue wolf. "Better?" I asked.

The older kunoichi was a bit disgruntled. "I mean, if you're alright with that…"

"Just act like I'm a ninja dog. We'll draw less attention that way. It's fine," I said. "This is no more an Advanced Transformation than my 'human' form is, and a comfortable one at that." I had taken this form often in the past; it let me stretch my tail, and freed up my real ears.

"It is?" Kankurou retorted. "Whether it's comfortable or not – why hide in the first place?"

My white-tipped tail dipped down. "My…"

"Ears? Tail?" He waved his arm. "Who cares if people wanna judge? They'll just have to put up with it. Instead of trying to be 'normal' – a normal human, a normal mutt – just be yourself, will ya?"

I hesitated, and then dispelled my henge. A man who'd stopped to haggle at a nearby market stall and the trader he was dealing with seemed to look my way.

Temari stepped up at my side, a hand on her hip as she cast a chilly look back at them. The gawkers got hurriedly back to business.

"A-arigatou," I muttered, ducking my head and proceeding to sort out the sannin's scent yet again.

"Don't mention it," she said, grinning widely.

I need to trace her path in this village – hers and the other's if they split up, I thought. This I had done a few times before. Every shop, inn, establishment they visited… I need to see who they talked to, what they said, what sort of supplies they bought … and based on that, I should be able to determine where she's headed.

Lee リー

We had not asked for directions before we left, and so had whittled away much time checking around different shops and stores before finding what we were looking for. I placed on the checkout counter the razor Naruto had selected. Where had he gotten off to, anyways? He had just been next to me…

"Wait," he said, and I turned to see him approaching at a hurried walk. Cradled delicately in his hands, as if he thought it was alive, was a small, fluffy, black plush wolf. I blinked in surprise.

"For Hinata-san?" I asked, and behind the counter the shopkeeper sniggered good-naturedly.

Naruto nodded, blushing lightly as he deposited the doll on the counter.

"Your girlfriend likes dogs, huh?" the shopkeeper asked as he wrote up a short receipt and bagged the items.

"Yeah – she's a real dog person!" Naruto answered with a grin – and it was true in more ways than one.

We paid and left with our purchase of a razor and a plush doll. Naruto was smiling cheerily, perhaps looking forward to learning to shave (though in all honesty, for a while he would probably need to do so at most once a month), perhaps already looking forward to presenting Hinata the gift. I wondered briefly how affectionate a display would likely ensue. I shook my head.

"Still – a stuffed animal?" I said as we started down the road.

He lowered his head slightly, a fond look in his eye. "I know we don't have a lot of time for presents and stuff like that, but I haven't seen her since … last night. I hope she can forgive me."

I was not sure how to feel about the depth of the remorse in his eyes. I found I was shocked, but should not be; he had cared for and respected Hinata, since well before we had ever split up. But the degree to which he had matured remained astounding…

I ruffled his hair a bit. "You are sorry, right? If you are, Hinata-san will know. I would not be surprised if she has already forgiven you."

He brightened, and it brought a smile to my face. These two were truly fortunate to have each other. I chuckled. "And you have bought her a plushie. All you need now are some chocolates."

"I thought about that actually – but I think she'd prefer jerky, if I could find some anyway."

I blinked. I had not thought of that, but he was probably right.

"Hm?"

"What is it?" I asked as he halted, concentration on his face.

Naruto grinned, turning to look back the way we had come. "You can come out, y'know."

For several seconds nothing happened. Then a shock of fiery hair and a wide, black-ringed teal eye hesitantly edged past the corner of a shop ten meters away.

Such stealth… I did not even detect him…

The boy shuffled silently into full view, eyes troubled and downcast in guilt.

"How long were you following us?" Naruto asked. I noticed that the world around us – the busy street – was petrified in terror. No one moved, no one so much as whispered. No one could take their eyes from the Sand's Jinchuuriki.

"About fifteen minutes…" Gaara muttered with an abashed scowl, scuffing a sandal inexpressively at the street. Perhaps it was in trepidation, but the moderate wideness of his eyes as he glared at the ground seemed to project that he was in constant awe of something.

Naruto and I hid our surprise well. "Fifteen minutes? You don't say…?" Naruto remarked, walking toward him.

As the redhead's brow furrowed alertly, the people of Suna seemed to think the blonde was moments away from an early death.

"That's impressive, alright," Naruto said, his hand clapping over Gaara's shoulder.

When Gaara flinched, the entire street flinched.

He started suddenly at the contact, arms flailing once to smack the hand away. "Wh-what're you…?!"

Naruto waved a hand, assuaging. "It's just a sort of friendly gesture, y'know? Gomen – didn't mean to scare you."

Gaara's mouth opened and closed silently; his expression was glum as ever as he turned his gaze back to the earth. Sensing awkward regret, Naruto reached again to rest his hand on the other boy's shoulder. Gaara winced, shying away only very slightly before he calmed. Slowly his gaze lifted from the hand to meet Naruto's eyes.

"It's pretty impressive you were able to follow us so closely without being noticed."

"I… It's… It interests me, to observe people…"

"I see… Well, if that's the case, you didn't have to sneak around behind us. Why don't you walk with us – try to interact with people yourself, y'know? Lee doesn't bite!" he joked, taking up his brightest grin.

Gaara was able to relax a bit. Then, as he looked at the beaming blond, on his own face surfaced the smallest smile.

Hinata ヒナタ

Forty-seven…

Forty-eight…

F…Forty-nine…!

A few drops of sweat were flicked from my nose, contributing to the darkened splotch of sand under my face, as I shivered slightly. I willed my arm to straighten under me.

"Fifty!" I grunted, pushing off the hand to spring onto my feet.

Temari snorted. "What, do you and your friends really exercise constantly?" A few hours had passed; she and Kankurou were snacking at a teahouse for lunch, seated at an outdoor table situated under a shaded area. I had ordered a small cup of tea, but nothing to eat, and so had finished before them.

"Sort of," I answered her, seating myself in the third chair at the table, "but not as much when we're on 'business.'"

"You're not gonna do the other arm?" Kankurou asked, and I shook my head.

"That's the thing. You saw what happened to this arm, right?"

Kankurou gasped lightly. "Gaara…"

"Destroyed it," Temari finished flatly.

I nodded. "The regeneration technique is and advanced Ookami Art that involves projecting energy to a wound in a form that can synchronize with what remains. In other words, I directed a beam of energy down my arm, centered on the medium of the bones and the closest undamaged tissues around them… The energy is synchronized to the genetic information, the memory of the living cells, and pulsates outward to map out what's left … and eventually refine a framework of what's missing. Then, once the living flesh is fully infused with the charged energy and harmonized with the energy frame…" I brushed two fingers down my arm. "'Substance and ether are split together, and in turn united.' I think that's how the saying went, at least," I said with a blush.

"So that's how you restored it," Temari muttered. "I've never heard of such a medical ninjutsu…"

"You keep saying 'energy' instead of chakra," the puppet user noted. "Why is that?"

I thought a moment, and motioned to their teacups. "Are you done?" I asked. They nodded, and I took both from their saucers. "Of course we all know chakra is composed of physical energy–," I set down a cup at the center of the small table, "and spiritual energy." I set down the other next to it, its handle pointed in the opposite direction. "These energies balance each other and are intertwined, producing chakra. However…" Speaking more quietly now, I slid a saucer over the table to place it between the cups. "Within a lesser demon is a distinct, new wellspring of power – one both spiritual and physical in and of itself."

I placed my cup on the saucer. "This is the proud power carried in one's blood – that of one's race, one's ancestors, one's innate connection to every last trace of kin. The combination of the spiritual, the physical, and the ancestral would be more accurately termed 'youki' – demonic energy – rather than chakra.

"My youki is derived from the name Ookami, a family even more proficient than many youkai in healing and regeneration. By focusing and manipulating my youki I was able to fix my arm. It's not perfect; a true demon would have been able to do the same in seconds. Still, done poorly enough, I guess I might have wound up regenerating the lost tissue fresh and new, as if it had never before been exercised; that would have caused a debilitating incongruity in the old and new cells, and taken weeks or longer to fully rehabilitate from. But I'm not too bad at manipulating my youki flow, and with Kurogiba's support I pulled off the regeneration fairly well, so it'll only take a little extra exercise for a few days for this arm to fully synchronize its cells again. Fifty inverted pushups is really somewhat pathetic for me!" I finished with a small smile, a blush lighting my cheeks.

"You're kidding…?" Temari said.

My ears perked up, and I looked across the street. Excusing myself, I stood up.

The little boy was staring forlornly up into the tree, almost in tears for the paper airplane caught in its spindly branches.

I stopped at his side, eyeing the catastrophe. "It took your plane?"

He nodded, eyes watery. "Mm-hm…"

I crouched down. "Hey – don't cry, okay?"

"H-huh?"

I took one stride on all fours and sprang toward the tree, touching hands then feet briefly to the trunk. A nimble hop later, I snatched the crashed plane carefully from where it had been caught. I landed in a crouch, and turned as the tot hurried toward me.

"Here you go!" I said, offering his treasure with a soft smile. He took the plane and looked at me, eyes bright.

"…Kitty?"

My eyebrow twitched; I didn't lose my smile, though. I ruffled his short, sandy hair lightly. "Uh, yeah, something like that!"

He reached out, chubby fingers patting my ear. "Thanks, kitty!" he said, and scampered off.

A short way down the road, he ran into a woman with similar sandy blonde hair. "There you are," she sighed, taking his hand.

"Mommy, mommy! The kitty saved my glider from the tree!" He waved happily at me, and I returned the gesture. His mother was startled upon sighting me, but in a second managed a slight smile in acknowledgement before they walked away. I beamed.

"Your tail's wagging," Kankurou noted as he and Temari approached. I looked to see that my tail was, indeed, lightly flicking back and forth.

I shrugged. "I like to help people…"

Neji ネジ

When she sat down next to me, she didn't say a word. So neither did I.

I didn't look at her, but continued to peer down at my village. At one point in time, those streets would have been teeming with life, the market abuzz and bustling with this time of day. From here atop the Fifth Hokage's stone face, I saw an occasional antlike speck or two flit hurriedly down a street, take the most direct route from one building to another, scurrying to perhaps pick up the week's rations, and slip from sight once more. This was not without some degree of personal risk. Skirmishes were known to break out anywhere, at potentially any time. All the more reasons that New Konoha needed to be disposed of as swiftly as possible.

"You couldn't even come and see us face-to-face. That's why you sent someone else to let us out, right?" Her voice held no tone of any kind.

I ignored her. "Hanabi is alive."

She looked to me. "What?"

"It seems Destiny doesn't wish her to die yet."

Even from the corner of my eye, I didn't miss her subtle shiver. She didn't seem to like the word 'Destiny' very much. Then again, she never had.

"I presume you still think I was wrong to attempt it?"

Her gaze met mine fully. "Neji…"

My arm slipped behind her back. Though her eyes remained firm, stubbornly distant, her face was flushed pink as I slowly stroked her back.

I unfastened her kunai pouch, placing it on my other side.

"What did you come here to do, Tenten?" I asked. She was stunned silent as, still holding her eyes, I withdrew from the confiscated pouch a syringe. "Knock me out?" I broke the needle against stone, and shortly crushed the remainder in my fingers before flicking it aside.

She slouched, defeated. "I…"

"You're too naïve," I said simply, draping a fond arm around her shoulders. I took her prematurely weathered right hand in my left, massaging her palm with a thumb. Unaccustomed to such attention, she was helpless to fight down her blush as I lifted her hand and lowered my head, touching my lips lightly to her palm and inhaling deeply, letting my nose drink her in. Her heartbeat hastened. Once more I met her eyes.

"I know your scent, Tenten. If you abandon our village, I will hunt you down and swiftly kill you."

She stiffened under the arm that enfolded her.

"I like you, Tenten." I pressed my lips now to her temple. She didn't move. "So I would sooner kill you than turn you over to Orochimaru's torture, and a traitor's death."

I kissed her lips.

In a few seconds she stiffly began to respond, her desire strong, her action still forced. She had wanted me for too long. She soon shut her eyes, and she returned the embrace I wrapped around her, shivering, digging one hand's fingers into my hair, seizing it almost painfully. Her kiss was hard and passionate, bursting violently with unrestrained anger, roiling with turmoil. It was an attack. It was shocking. She loved me, she hated me. She slammed it all through her tongue and lips.

Tenten broke away with a thick sob, and pounded her fist hard against my chest. One arm still wrapped around me, she yelled and struck again. I shushed and crooned soothingly, cradling the girl in my arms. I gently rocked her trembling frame as the hits weakened, as she melted against me and succumbed, as my shirt was made moist and moister with tears.

Naruto ナルト

He's not looking too good…

I stole a glance at the Jinchuuriki seated between Lee and I on the park bench. The redhead's face was blank again, his eyes glum and unreadable, his mouth a thin frown as he glared at the ground before us.

I sighed, leaning back and looking up at the park. A good distance away, parents looked on as small children milled about a playground situated in a lowered area of sand; a similar playplace closer by was curiously devoid of occupants. A half-finished sand castle and shovel and pail stood very near us, deserted and lonesome. Civilians got their exercise on the walking trail, but upon nearing the portion that passed in front of our bench, with various shows of freaking out (I think one man who got too close before noticing just about had a heart attack), unfailingly spun around to head briskly away, in fear for their lives.

Kuso! I thought, glaring at yet another fleer's retreating back. This isn't helping; he's getting worse. All they'll do is turn him back to the way he was. Even if someone were to inform them, how long would it take the citizens of Suna to trust he wasn't dangerous anymore?

Brow furrowed in sympathy, I looked again to Gaara. His head hung darkly; he was completely still. I opened my mouth–

"Heads up!"

A ball bonked him square on the head. He was moved not an inch, and if not for his eyes narrowing on the plaything that fell to his feet, I might have thought he hadn't noticed. I grimaced. Lee stared. In a few seconds the moodily silent boy looked up.

"Hey! I'm really sorry about that, mister!" a ten- or eleven-year-old boy called out as he came running up to us. "Are you okay–?"

He froze five yards away as he met Gaara's eyes. Eyes still emotionless, still unreadable. Further away, several boys and a few girls stared on in horror as they realized who the stray ball had hit.

The boy jumped as some sand on the ground kicked the ball into Gaara's hand.

"I'm fine…" He held it out, offering it back. "Thank you … for your concern…"

"U-u-u-uhh…" The boy took a step back, not reassured by the awkward monotone and cold demeanor. "Y-you know what, you can keep it…!" He took another step back.

Gaara blinked narrowly. "I don't want to keep it. It's yours."

"Yeah, w-well…"

He finally tossed the ball, moodily averting his eyes. His aim wasn't great, but it was close enough; the kid caught it with a yelp.

"Uh, th-thanks!!" he said, and turned to hurry off. I stood up.

"Wait."

"Huh?" The way he was running, I was almost surprised he stopped.

I swept my eyes over the ones waiting in the field; all of them seemed to be around ten or twelve. "Do you go to the ninja academy here?"

His fear was momentarily abated, perhaps at the prospect of talking to a different, strangely dressed foreigner who was still in his age range. He nodded. "School just got out."

I smiled. "I see," I said, and nodded to the two beside me. "You're playing soccer, right? Think we could join in?"

At this the nervousness returned to his stance. His eyes darted briefly to Gaara's motionless form. "I mean … the teams'd be uneven…"

A shadow clone (its attire orange to contrast my purple) popped up next to Lee, hooking its arm through his; I did the same, dragging a greatly disgruntled Gaara to his feet. "How about now? Problem solved!"

"I… I guess that's fine, then."

"Splendid!" I said, slapping my other hand on Gaara's shoulder.

The redhead's eyes were almost comically huge. "W-wait, we're–?"

"Yes, we are playing some soccer. We're kids. Even a ninja's got to relax every now and then, y'know."

He tried to pull away when I stepped forward. "B-but…!"

I rounded on him. "Look here, pal." I jabbed a finger against his chest. "You're about to have some fun whether you like it or not. 'Kay?" I chirped with a grin, dropping the faux-seriousness.

He eyed me oddly for a few moments, and hesitantly he nodded. "A… alright…"

"Okay, let's go!!"

"Oi, then let go of my arm now! Oi!"

Hinata ヒナタ

"Arigatou gozaimasu!" I said softly, bowing slightly at the waist. "I appreciate your time, ma'am."

"You're very welcome, dear! I hope you can find who you're looking for!"

Once we were outside the shop, Temari and Kankurou watched as I took note of my findings. Finished, I rested the end of the brush thoughtfully at my chin and scanned over all the notes. I nodded.

"Well?"

"That confirms it. I know where Tsunade-sama is headed."

Neji ネジ

Our hands were entwined as we walked down a staircase of the Hokage tower.

"Will you stay by my side, Tenten?" I gave her hand a firm squeeze. "Always?"

"…Yes."

"Good."

I looked up.

"Neji-sama."

We halted as they neared; the three stopped a respectful distance back, but only one did not bow to me. Smirking, Hireiki slapped her hand on this one's shoulder. "As you can see, my lord, she has awakened."

"Good, good…" I said, nodding and eyeing the girl. What had been a pathetic, strengthless, bloody mess was now clean, fresh and new. She stood easily on her own power, her body strong but her posture, her eyes on the ground, reflecting innate weakness. Yet she was much improved. Cleansed. Fresh and new. Finally I picked out her scent; it, too, had changed nicely. It was like ours now.

–"You will drive this clan to Hell."–

"It's wonderful to see you back on your feet, Hiyuki. Are you feeling better?"

"Hai." She lifted her head, meeting my gaze. Her face was blank. Once strikingly lavender pools were pale and watery, diluted and dazed – even awed. Her mouth hung open to the smallest degree, and slowly, steadily, it produced words. "Much better. Thank you for your concern… Neji…sama…" As the words slowed her brow wrinkled only very slightly. Promptly it smoothed over again.

I smiled. "I'm glad. Hireiki, Haritsu, take Hiyuki back to the clan estate. I will join you shortly."

Together, the two bowed once more. "Hai, Neji-sama."

I raised an eyebrow. "Hiyuki? I will be seeing you shortly."

She opened her mouth. Her mother's hand snapped to the back of her head, roughly forcing her to incline her back. "You bow to your leader," the woman grunted.

"Now, now, that's enough of that," I said, waving a hand. "You may go now."

"Yes, sir."

The three flickered from our sight. I continued down the hallway. With the briefest reluctance, Tenten followed. It was a success. I need to inform Orochimaru-sama…

"Neji… Isn't she one of your 'defectors'?"

I nodded. "Yes. She was."

Seventeen, Part Four: A Heated Discussion

Hinata ヒナタ

This bow was four-and-a-half inches taller than the last; placed on the ground, it came to a height a few inches above my waist. The wood and string alike were studier. This one wouldn't be quite so easy to draw. Power and range would increase; firing speed would be hampered. The bow's curvature was less. I tested the bowstring, and then briefly sized up and weighed the practice arrow in my hand.

"I still don't get why the heck you'd buy that thing without trying it out first," Kankurou remarked behind me.

"If I'm bad with it, I'll practice to get better," I said, notching the arrow and drawing back slowly. "I think that having gone through so many different bows … bows I've made, bows I've bought, bows I've gambled off people … short, long, symmetrical, asymmetrical, heavy, light … the diversity of the experience can only make me a better archer."

Tnng–thunk!

Forty yards away, the arrow planted itself some seven inches from the bull's-eye. I nodded.

"I'll have to practice with this one…"

"Th-that was your first shot!"

But seven inches' inaccuracy is enough to aim for an enemy's heart and miss them entirely.

Tnng–thunk!

Even two inches is plenty to aim for a nonvital point … and accidentally end a life.

I knew this only too well.

I was drawing back a third time when I sensed the unfamiliar presence behind me. A hand slapped hard against the shooting arm's shoulder.

Tnng–thunk!

He whistled as the arrow landed just under an inch from the bull's-eye of the target. Byakugan fading, I glared back at the young man behind me. He looked about sixteen or seventeen, and his dark hair was just shy of shoulder length. He held a longbow in his hand, and a quiver of arrows was strapped to his back. The hitai-ate of Suna gleamed on his forehead. He was well-dressed and bore some clan insignia on his shoulder, and though certainly not ugly the snobbery on his face was anything but attractive. Two more shinobi neared, following his sneery gaze to the arrows in the target.

"That's dangerous, you, know," I said, shrugging his hand off my shoulder. At least, I tried to; he slapped it right back down again. I hid my discomfort behind a scowl. I still didn't like being touched – particularly not by this sort of person.

He ignored me. "You're a new face around this practice range, huh? I must say, though, you're not half-bad for such a pipsqueak-ish type. It's really a wonder a girl your size can draw a bow."

"Why thank you. Now if you don't mind, I'll just get back to minding my own business here–," I shrugged again. This time he gripped my shoulder.

"Huh? What's wrong? I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?" he asked in a sugary voice. Behind him, the ones I presumed were his teammates hooted and guffawed quietly as I felt the blush rising on my cheeks. A whispered "Kawaii!" found my ears. If we weren't in your village…!

"Who wouldn't be uncomfortable with some random cocky stranger touching her–!"

"Come on, babe, don't be like that…"

"Back off, Shouta," Kankurou warned. "She's not into your type."

He finally let the hell go of my shoulder, shoving lightly when he did so, to round on Kankurou. "Darn, so she's into the type that plays with dolls and makeup?"

"Ch! What was that, ya' scumbag?!"

"Sorry, kid, I must've misheard that. Do you know who I am–?"

"Ikemi Shouta," Temari sighed, waving her hand in indifference, "grandson of Councilman Ikemi Kenta, heir to the great Ikemi Clan – yeah, yeah, we know already. Spare us the theatrics."

His face lit up. "Ah, so my beautiful Temari-chan remembers my name!"

"She ain't your nothing, bud, and I remembered it first!" Kankurou fumed, pointing at him.

Is this guy for real? I thought, blinking as he swept to Temari and snatched up her hand in his. She glared daggers.

"You want a taste of this fan?"

"All I want a taste of is you, Temari-chan," he sang, a low note in his voice. Just from a feminine viewpoint here – he was beginning to look less and less attractive.

"I'm not interested in slime like you, Shouta. Maybe you ought to learn you can't always have what you want." She tried to pull away. He didn't let her. A street passed behind us; I realized quite a few passerby had become standerby.

He gave that nasty sneer, lifting his free hand to stroke her cheek. "Always that bitchy personality with you, Tema-chan. In my family proper ladies know their place…"

"Your family's old-fashioned…"

"You should be grateful the heir of such a clan has an interest in you. Not like there aren't plenty of other chicks to choose from – girls who'd fall over themselves to marry me – but the old Kazekage's daughter would make a nice matchup." I frowned when his hand brushed her neck. "You know my old man had been talking about it with yours – well, until Yondaime went and got duped by Orochimaru and pitched to the buzzards."

Temari shuddered. His hand began to sneak lower.

Kankurou and I both moved – I was just a bit faster.

A forceful two-finger jab got him to free Temari's hand. My right hand snapped to his other hand's wrist, securing it above my head and forcing it back to an angle I knew was a bit more than uncomfortable. He stifled a grunt, scowling in surprise and indignation.

"I'm afraid I can't allow that," I said, gaze resting before me. I turned my head slowly. "So I'll warn you now… Back off," I growled, meeting his eyes coldly.

Unease flashed briefly in his eyes – then he smirked it away again. He waggled his free hand in the air, showing off the ugly red welt that had blossomed on it. "You're cute, but not that cute, doll face." He tried – and failed – to yank his captured hand loose. He frowned. "Who is this Leaf-brat, anyway?"

Kankurou stood at my side, arms crossed. "Something of a diplomat, I suppose…"

"Seriously? This little bit–?"

It wasn't difficult to tilt his wrist just a tad further back.

"If there's one thing I absolutely can't stand…"

A small 'pop' was produced this time. A whimper seized up in his throat.

"It's chauvinistic, pretentiuos fellows like you."

I lowered our hands slightly, forcing the angle to worsen further still. His face was going red.

"What you don't seem to realize, Ikemi Shouta, is that this hand of yours…" 'Pop' for emphasis. His other hand, darting to the rescue, froze. "…has no right to touch Temari where you just intended to touch her."

"I'll touch her wherever the hell I feel like touching 'er–!!"

This time pain reflex almost made him drop to his knees. Pride wouldn't let him.

"You picked the wrong person to mess with. You can bother me … but when you harass my friends, I really can't help but get a little irritated."

The second he was released, he shuddered and yelped and cradled his wrist. He didn't seem to notice my hand on his chest until he was shoved off his feet, sliding a short distance along the sandy ground. One of his teammates, a less aggressive-looking young man, knelt to his side in concern; the other, as outraged as Shouta, glared angrily with a whispered "You just gonna take that…?"

I looked away. "Temari-chan, Kankurou-kun … let's head back now."

The two smiled. "Alright."

"Sure."

I threw a glance to the fuming boy. "Sayonara – Ikemi Shouta-kun."

"Grr – you freak! You're gonna pull a lucky shot like that and run away?!"

"Wanna fight?"

That was probably exactly what he was leading into, and that I beat him to it threw him for a loop. He shrugged off the teammate who'd helped him up. "You're even dumber than I thought, but now that you've said it there's no backing out. Let's go!"

Naruto ナルト

Magnificent, Hinata-chan! I thought, snickering from where we observed the scene. The soccer game had ended, and the sun would soon begin to set. Our party of three had decided to see if we could find out what Hinata was up to – and here she was, making a scene, telling off a local, with that rare degree of strength in her eyes.

It was hot.

I struggled to contain another bout of mirthful laughter. "That guy doesn't have a clue what he just got himself into," I whispered. "Lee – I think if I ever 'hurt' Hinata-chan, she'll hurt me."

"Mattaku," Lee sighed, "Honestly, who would have thought Hinata-san would be the one getting into trouble here? And a street fight at that?"

"Come on, Bushy Brow, it's harmless! A little spar's not about to hurt anyone!"

"Shouldn't … well…"

"Huh?"

Gaara's face was troubled as he peered intently at the two standing a short three yards apart on the street. A fair crowd of spectators, many of them genin and teenage chuunin, had formed a safe radius away, some cheering for the Suna fellow, some starting a silly chant of 'Fo-reign-er! Fo-reign-er!' The young man, tall for his age and significantly well-built, stood easily a foot taller than Hinata, and hit her calm gaze with a look to kill. "Shouldn't we … do something?"

Arms crossed as I leaned against the wall, I grinned and looked again to the girl. Her beautiful face, her pearly eyes, were cool and serious; her posture and the firm set of her jaw, and the slightly lowered angle at which she held her head as well as her tail noble and self-assured as she regarded her foe with something perhaps most akin to distaste but not the smallest ounce of hatred nor malice. The aura she exuded was one of easy strength – confidence. "Hinata … doesn't look scared over there, does she?"

"…No," Gaara said.

I nodded. "At one time Hinata-chan was a person who couldn't fight or stand up for anything or anyone at all – not even herself. Her opinion was curbed to what it was supposed to be, her words whatever she might feel she was expected to say, and she fought because the Hyuuga Clan told her she needed to fight. But she is her own person now. She doesn't need people to tell her what to do or say or why to fight. She doesn't waver or shrink back from the world. She doesn't depend on others to constantly support her and protect her. The little girl I used to know has blossomed brilliantly into the whole person she can be, and into a kunoichi with substantial confidence behind her power. Anyways – that's what I see."

"Hm…"

As she said something a smirk played at the corner of her mouth, setting my heart racing. I smiled, nodding slightly to myself.

That's the way, Hinata.

"Seeing this lovely young lady tell off someone in the wrong because she's deemed him in the wrong … and decisively prepare to use her power of her own accordance, for her own intent to stand up for someone who's become her friend… Nothing could make me happier than the pride I'm feeling right now."

Hinata-chan… I'm watching you.

Hinata ヒナタ

"How does first to, say, five points sound to you?" he asked, sneeringly.

A sporting smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. I cocked my head slightly. Five instead of three? And not even a mention of any other rules – so you can legally keep 'fighting' to five points even if I'm down, hunh? "That sounds just swell, Ikemi Shouta-kun."

Malice glinted in his eyes. He spoke down so that only I could hear. "You're gonna eat those words, and all the rest … when I put you in a world of hurt."

"We shall see."

On the 'sidelines,' and enthusiastic Kankurou waved a hand to each of us in turn. "In the blue corner, we have the hometown hotshot, prettyboy Ikemi Shouta!"

"Take that back, cat-boy–!"

"And in the red corner, a visitor with origins all the way in the Village Hidden in the Leaves – Hyuuga Hinata, the Kuuuroooougaaaaaaa!!"

There are as many rooting for me as for him, I mused as the crowd cheered.

Kankurou raised his hand. "If both competitors are ready–!"

BAM!

The crowd fell silent, like the noise had been cut off.

My fist was up – I had to swing fairly high to hit his face. His head was turned aside, his eyes wide and stunned, a purplish splotch darkening on his cheek.

Shouta's arms fell as he started to tip back; narrowly catching himself, he staggered and recovered, blinking rapidly and touching a shocked hand to his face.

"Point!" Kankurou called.

"Th-that was a cheap shot! You never said 'start'–!"

"She threw a hook, but oddly enough her feet didn't move an inch," Temari noted sagely. "You attacked first."

I nodded. "Trying to catch me by surprise – Ikemi-kun?"

"I-I – I wasn't ready!!"

"Neither was I." I nodded at my lowered fist. "Reflex."

Lee リー

Naruto-kun … you will get cramps if you keep sniggering so much…

Naruto ナルト

Ah! Cramp!

I wiped a laughter-induced tear from the corner of my eye, sighing.

Anyways – she's got this thing won.

At his unwise insistence, she conceded the point she'd earned; the score was 0-0.

"Look at that," Lee whispered. "She is not taking him seriously…?"

I watched as Hinata raised her fists, lazily took up a boxer's stance. Well… it looked more like something of a drunken boxer's stance.

Her eyes were dull and bored. "Come at me."

Hinata ヒナタ

"Well – what're you waiting for? Weren't you about to, oh, I don't know, teach me a lesson? Put me in a world of hurt?"

He was shaking in rage. "KUSO!!"

I shifted right. His fist absolutely pulverized that air next to my head.

He growled and struck again; I shifted, shifted, ducked a kick, leaned outside a swing. I ducked forward under another, neatly slipping behind his back. A heavy punch was blocked by the back of my forearm, near the wrist; my palm caught a jab, my forearms another few, my hands and wrists snapped to and fro, knocking blow after blow aside. He yelled, striking as fast as he could, intent on burying me in a bombardment of fists.

Fwoosh-tmp-tmp-tmp-smat-fwo-tmp-smat-fw-fwo–

In twenty seconds of this he not once hit my head, my body. Only my forearms, wrists, palms. The crowd was going nuts.

"Look at the kid go!"

"Woohoo!"

"He can't touch her!"

"Show him, cat-girl!"

"Shouta, the hell're you doing?! Hit her!"

"Go foreigner–!"

WHAM!!

This time the noise cut out only for an instant; then an appalled sort of "Oh!" issued sharply from a horrified crowd.

"P–point!" Kankurou called, shocked.

My chin pointed skyward, almost perfectly aligned from my neck. My teeth were clenched; a single drop of blood dribbled from the corner of my mouth, slid back toward my ear. The uppercut had slipped right between my arms, plowed clean into my jaw.

"……That's the hardest you can hit?"

"HUH–?!"

I righted my head, arms slipping around his extended one, wrists crossing over it near his shoulder and pushing down sharply while his elbow rested on my shoulder. He yelped and jerked forward, and my knee kicked into his jaw.

Kankurou was first to find his voice. "Point!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

I spat aside a globule of blood as my foot returned to the ground, as Shouta rolled sloppily back and staggered away, a fresh splotch of purple dusting his chin. He choked, having inhaled it, and coughed a few drops of crimson onto the ground. He blinked a few times, gasping. "Y-you freakin' monster! What the hell's wrong with you?!"

"You get hit and there's something wrong with me?"

"Stupid bイ$#&!!"

Here we go…

Tmp-smat-smat-shmp-fwo-tmp-tmp-fwo-fwoosh-fwo–

"Fight back–!"

I drew back my right fist. He prepared to block his left.

But I kept on drawing back, and my left foot connected solidly across the right side of his face.

"Point!"

He reeled; I spun out of it, advanced again, brought left foot forward, swinging with my right fist. He ducked his head back – and my right foot lashed around, landed hard at his gut.

"Point!"

Shouta gagged, sharply doubling up under the force and hacking spittle onto the ground before he was knocked back. When his feet met the sand again he staggered, holding his midriff.

I leapt off my left foot, launching myself forward in such a sharp way that my body, roughly parallel to the ground, rotated more than once in its flight. I landed at his feet, left hand touching down first, then promptly right hand and left foot; then my right foot touched the left. Our eyes locked.

Ookami style!!

"HYA!"

My right foot surged upward atop all the coiled force and momentum stored in my body, crashing with a great THAM! Into Shouta's jaw.

"Point!"

"What a hit!!"

"But it's only four…!"

The boy's feet were lifted a good few inches from the earth; he went sailing back and crashed to the sand. My bent left leg and straightened right leg fell, and I vaulted swiftly onto my feet.

The older teen shivered, whimpering slightly and rolling onto his side. I didn't break it, but … I might've gone a little overboard. I looked to Kankurou. "Want to start counting?" I asked, nodding to Shouta's downed form. "To … ten, I guess?"

"Right! One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight–!"

"W-we didn't settle on a count, b-baka…! It's t-to five points!"

"Then please surrender. You're bleeding."

"Don't tell me what to do!" he grunted, getting shakily to his feet. "You ain't won yet!"

The instant he moved to charge, I was behind him – facing away, a slightly bent arm raised high and holding him by a handful of the back of his shirt, pulling him off of his feet. Stance lowering, I ducked my head, yelled, and swung him over myself to throw his back into the dirt. He lost his wind.

"Can we please call that a point?"

"Point!" Kankurou happily agreed. "That's game–!"

Shoot–!

I lifted my arm, catching a furious jump kick beside my head. A second attacker struck from the other side, and my arm snapped to block a punch. The first ninja landed to strike again, and I caught his fist in my palm; I shifted my bare foot as the other assailant tried to stomp on it, and kicked hard at his shin. He grunted, grabbing my arm.

It's his teammates–!

And that's when one of them thought to step on my tail.

I screeched in pain. Kuso!! When my stance is low enough – my tail hangs to the ground…!

Ikemi Shouta was on his feet, eyes wide with malice, drawing a fist back.

I ground my teeth, moving my head just a bit…

"Take this, bakemono–!!"

"Fuuton: Pressure Breaker!"

He appeared before me, hands pushing together against a seemingly invisible resistance in front of him. He turned his palms forward, ducking his head as an equally invisible wall of force cracked out, caught the older boy and kicked him back.

The two on either side of me started in surprise, and in this my tail was released. Strength rushing back to me, I placed my hands on my savior's shoulders and pushed off the ground in a split-kick, nailing both surprise attackers in the face.

"Much fun as it'd be to see that fellow bust his knuckles open on your forehead, I'm afraid I just can't allow someone to upset one hair on that pretty head of yours."

"My hero," I sighed, smiling at the blond. Naruto-kun grinned dashingly back at me.

"Hello, love."

Naruto ナルト

"Wh-who are you…?!"

"Me? Right about now I would be one very ticked off boyfriend." Shadow Matter: Bō. The practiced form appeared, and I caught the polearm to hit its end firmly against the ground. "In the last ten minutes, you have trodden on everything I believe in in regards to how to treat a lady. Vulgar, superior, disrespectful, abusive… You're a disgrace to men everywhere."

"What did you say, midget–?!"

"You make a bad stereotype!"

"Indeed." Lee blurred to our side. "Teaming up on her after Hinata-san defeated you fair and square… Well, I do not think you can penalize us for intervening. We are her 'teammates.'"

"That's right," I said, "and heads up: Hinata's our tracker-sensor type. Lee here is our main offense specialist."

Of course all three of us were exceptionally battle-capable – nukenin had to be – but these morons didn't need to know it. It worked, anyways; Ikemi's lackeys practically melted in their shoes when they heard that. "Sh-Shouta, maybe we should…"

"You're not going anywhere until we annihilate them!"

"Y-yes!"

"Hai!"

I took Hinata's hand, bowing to plant on it a quick kiss. "You needn't worry your hands on these hooligans, m'lady. You battled marvelously, but your cavalry can take it from here.

She blushed cutely. "Naruto-kun… Look out!"

Shouta swung – and blinked at where I figured my head had just been. I touched the end of my bō staff to the back of his head. "It becomes apparent your dishonor knows no bounds."

"Brat – I'll kill you…"

"Let's see if you can…"

Lee リー

"GUH–!!"

The chuunin's eyes rolled as he toppled to the ground, clutching at his stomach. I turned, coolly eyeing the other ten yards away. I held his gaze for twelve and a half seconds. Then he began to move his foot.

My eyes sparkled.

"BEAUTIFUL FLYING GREEN WHIRLWIND!!!"

I slid to a stop on one knee, inches from a few children in the crowd, and raised my head to flash a full smile.

Behind me, the young man's arms and legs flailed once at the air in confusion before his forehead smacked into the ground.

Naruto ナルト

"You and your friends are really good at running away, aren't you?" he grunted under his breath.

I quit Shadow Swapping. "You're already in bad shape, and I really could defeat you the moment I felt like it," I informed him factually at a mutter, warding off his strikes with curt movements of the shadow bō. "But I suppose I can humor your fantasies of annihilating me for a minute." He growled as I jabbed the staff at a point on his foot.

I doubted the crowd heard us for how low we spoke. "Humor me?" he sneered. I blocked a kick with the staff held vertically at my side by both arms. "So you're doin' me a favor now. Why's that?!"

Solid yet pliant, as the supple wood from which the bō is made… I maneuvered the staff deftly to catch a forceful kunai strike. The clone held out. "I know it's unbecoming to duel someone significantly weaker than oneself, but an immoral scoundrel like you troubled the valuable time of my sweet Hinata-chan." He drew back; I blocked another strike. "Don't ask me why I feel inclined to fight you. I simply must!"

I jumped, turned the staff and swung down. He blocked high with the kunai knife. "All that equality and noble-gallant crapfest, and the bōjutsu tendency…" I whirled, lashing the staff around as I landed. He blocked low. "You seem more like a Sky ninja than Leaf."

"Is this knowledge I'm sensing in that thick skull of yours?" I nailed the back of his knee. "Still, I'm honored one would recognize in me traits of the land in which I studied–," I reversed, sweeping it for the taller boy's brow as he fell. He leaned back, dodging.

"You're honored? To be seen as one among those sentimental saps?" He rolled to his feet and lunged. "Then again, they are said to accomplish incredible feats of vengeance if their companions fall in battle. Sounds pretty interesting–!" I dodged and countered furiously. Narrowly, he blocked the downward strike above his head. "I'd say it's worth killing off some random chick to see that happen. Wonder what their trick is–,"

"It's no trick, you fool!" I sharply maneuvered the staff end over end; the knife, holding it off, slipped upward, and I firmly thrust the pole's end into his gut, whacked up at his jaw, jabbed his abdomen again. "Do you even know what words like 'tenderness' and 'devotion' mean? Have you ever been in love with a girl?!"

He dodged aside a third jab; I turned, blocking a knife blow as I passed and jumping away. "Building some kind of 'relationship' or what have you is a waste of time," he scoffed. "Women are good for marrying off and bearing children – producing heirs. And in the meantime a woman should be quiet and subservient, mindful of her place–!"

My staff connected loudly with his face, barely restrained. "You talk about women like objects, you sorry piece of $#!&," I hissed rapidly. "Though the knowledge you'll never know love should console me as punishment enough in itself, for some reason I can't help but find myself still wanting to hit you." I knocked his knife-hand firmly, disarming him.

He blocked a swing with his forearms. "Looks like you can't study in Soragakure without getting their principles whipped into ya'."

I withdrew, spinning the staff and striking again. "Au contraire – I'm a guy who enjoys thinking for himself. I wouldn't support their ideals if I didn't care for them–," I struck and was dodged. "And most importantly, what I picked up has helped me grow that much closer to Hinata-chan – that much better a guy for the perfect girl she is."

"No one's perfect, kid."

"Of course not, but no matter our imperfections we always remain perfect to each other!" I swept at his ankles, and he jumped. I swept at his shins, and hit. "That's just the beauty of it!"

"Th-then tell me, since you have so much experience with them–," He kicked violently at my face, and I whirled in nimble evasion, "–are all the Sora shinobi as soft and effeminate as you are?"

"Oh, so it's getting personal now?"

"It was from the start!" He repelled the staff with a forearm. "You excel in bōjutsu…"

"I usually wield a naginata, but–,"

"Cannot carry bladed weapons, of course – but even the naginata is a female's weapon, as a woman cannot fight up close with her fists–,"

He barely managed to duck back from a swing. "I seem to recall a certain incident three minutes ago in which a woman a foot shorter and three years younger than–,"

"What with your finesse and light feet and delicate, graceful moves, your teleportation defense and your twirling staff tricks – your wolf-bitch fights more like a man than you do–,"

Thamp! "Don't call her that," I said dangerously, staff clipping his chin.

"W-wouldja' prefer wolf-bitch or wolf-slut–?!" THAM!

"So being strong and independent makes her a whore?!"

"Y-you don't even hit as hard–!"

"These hits are a far cry from my hardest; see, we can tell because you're still conscious and able to stand–!" I dealt him a nice wallop on the ribs, earning a cry of pain. "–Though to be completely honest she beats me at arm wrestle–,"

"What kind of disgusting wenches you hang out with–?" He blocked, and this time seized the staff. "Then again, maybe she's not such a freak and you're just a pansy–!"

He tried to wrench the staff from my hands, and I successfully pulled it back and drove a boot into his gut. "But then again I'm stronger than you, so she'd probably slam your pathetic #$$ in arm wrestle…"

He grunted. "So if the ookami-girl wonder is your sensor type kunoichi and that other one is your strongest offense, what do you specialize in, little man?"

I struck again and again, dancing sharply yet smoothly through a series of kata, barely giving him time to block anymore. I bruised his hip, slammed his shoulder, rammed his sternum, batted the crown of his head. "Defense – strategy – Fuuton manipulation – something of 'genjutsu' – longrange taijutsu – and top-notch medical ninjutsu!"

"You're the team medical specialist?!" he panted. "Does your circus freak lick your wounds if you heal her–?"

"I'm warning you one more time. Do not call Hinata–,"

"This is too rich! Talk about one helluva pair! What are you, the wolf-slut's bitch?"

"You…"

"I what, little–?"

The staff, whirled at furious speed in my hands, was gracefully flung forward. He shifted to just barely dodge, and while his eyes were on it I jumped back and appeared behind him, hands poised and ready.

"I cannot forgive!!" I yelled dramatically, catching the bō and clocking him over the head.

Hinata ヒナタ

That was so sweet … and anticlimactic. But hey, what can you expect when you spend an entire fight/argument holding back to the opponent's level?

"No one insults my Hinata-chan," he muttered coolly. "You don't understand what love is. Never speak of people as if you do…"

I doubted he had intended me to hear every word – he had probably forgotten I would – but still…

I smiled warmly, clasping a hand over my heart as the wind blew and tousled up his sharp blond locks, as with that suave look on his face he gracefully cast his staff into the breeze just before it vanished.

Naruto-kun… I thought happily as the crowd clapped and applauded; he swept elegantly into a bow for the fight he'd shown them, earning another round of cheer. Then my valiant champion righted himself, and as though he'd never looked away his dancing eyes drifted easily to mine.

It was true; in every way, dazzling in his imperfection, in his crooked, easy grin, his brash forthrightness, his messy hair and vibrant eyes and whisker-emblazoned cheeks – he was perfect.

Seventeen, Part Five: A Heart to Heart Conversation

–"Care to go for a walk? Just the two of us?"–

Suna was quiet at this hour; the sun had slipped from view behind the village wall. The sky was a serene, luminous plethora of oranges and pinks and purples, the land softly dimmed and lukewarm. In ten minutes not a word had been spoken. Our snugly intertwined hands were a comfortable, content mingling of presence between us as we walked.

I looked to Naruto when he reached with his free hand into a pocket within his vest. From it he produced a pint-sized plushie and a small bag of something.

"It's for you," he said, and added jokingly, "Anyway, I really hope I didn't sweat on it too much."

"It's adorable!" I said, taking them in my free hand; I was reluctant to have our hands separated. The plush wolf was black, with a white belly, paws, muzzle, eyes, and ears. "And…" I looked to the little baggie, which contained a few strips of something that smelled delicious.

"Gourmet jerky," he said, rubbing his neck with a grin. "Assorted. Local specialty."

"Thank you…" I gave his hand an affectionate squeeze. "You shouldn't have gone to the trouble…" I trailed off upon looking up and seeing the remorse on his face. His hand squeezed back, lightly.

"I wanted to say… I'm really sorry – about last night, y'know?"

"About last… oh," I said, blushing as I realized to what he was referring. "You thought I'd be angry about that, Naruto-kun?"

"I'd understand it if you were… You have every right to be…"

I shook my head. "I know you didn't mean to … and you would never take advantage of me. You're not that type of person, Naruto-kun – you never have been…" I flicked my tail around, taking it lightly in my free hand. "It's funny…" I rubbed my thumb against it; it felt no different than it might if I had touched my arm or whatnot. "In the months I've had it, my tail never … made me feel like that before. It's hurt easily, but other than that it's almost like another limb."

"Like monkeys' tails?" he asked curiously.

I giggled. "Okay, a slightly less maneuverable limb. Though it is pretty helpful for balance and leverage when I'm fighting."

"Like earlier … but conversely, it's also your weakness."

I nodded. "The pain is … like nothing you've ever felt. My strength disappears, and I can hardly move my body – but that's only if my tail is attacked. Simple contact generally doesn't have any significant effect, but last night your touch…" I figured that 'was crazy amazing' wouldn't be the best choice of words. I cleared my throat. "It was unexpected, that's all; I shouldn't have gotten … excited so easily. It just felt … weird."

"I'll be more careful next time," he said, smiling.

I returned the look. "Thank you, Naruto-kun… It really means a lot to me that we can talk about things like this."

"I know what you mean. And…"

"What is it?"

"Hinata … there's kind of something else I've been wondering – I mean, that I'm just curious about really…"

I blinked; the air around him had changed. He was nervous. "We can talk about anything, Naruto-kun." I caressed his hand in mine. "You know that."

"R-right, well… I don't know how to say this, e-eeto…… Okay, but don't think you have to answer if you don't want to, 'kay? I mean, it's not like I'm wondering for anytime soon, anyway. But I'm not going to see you any differently no matter what the answer is – I promise–,"

"Naruto, I get it. Ask already." All this reassurance was scaring me.

He took a deep breath. "I … okay. Just … for future reference. Being han'you and all, can you… I mean, is your body still capable of … doing…" He coughed. "Certain … things, like…" He vaguely gestured with one arm. "This-or-that … with humans…?" He kept a straight face and slightly narrowed eyes trained ahead even as he fumbled for words, but despite his best efforts at 'this-or-that' a blush crept onto his cheeks.

I looked away, eyes wide, face burning bright in embarrassment. I stopped walking. Breathe in… Breathe ou– Don't you dare faint!!!

"H-Hinata?"

I met his eyes. "Don't worry about it; you have a right to be curious. That was…" With you in mind… "–actually one of the things I asked Okaa-sama before I agreed to be changed. I…" I cleared my throat, averting my gaze. My cheeks were on fire. "That is, my reproductive system is still perfectly compatible with – humans'."

He sighed in relief, but I hadn't missed what he'd said. He wouldn't have seen me differently either way… He wouldn't have minded, just to stay with me?

I stepped in front of him to face him, a tentative palm lying on the center of his chest. "But…" I lowered my gaze to the ground at our feet, not meeting his eyes. "There is one thing … Naruto…"

"You can tell me," he said, without hesitation.

"Our offspring … will be like me." My tail flicked, and I briefly wiggled my ears in clarification. A note of urgency rose in my voice; all of a sudden I wanted to cry. I just wished I could do more for him. "I mean – it doesn't have to be that way – if it's done on the night of a new moon, when I'm completely human again, then I think–!"

I gasped, uttering a tiny "Oh!" as he stepped up to me, breaking the distance between us; automatically my head seemed to rest itself on his strong chest, the crook of his neck. I felt a small pang as his hand pulled away from mine, but promptly his hands slid smoothly onto my arms, round my elbows, up to rest a few inches below my shoulders.

"Naruto…" I lied my other palm on his chest; he rubbed my arms very slowly, very lightly. Encompassed in his gentle hold, his cozy warmth and greenery smell, and the steady rhythm of his strong heart, I suddenly found it much harder to worry about anything. I felt safe and secure. Treasured.

"Shh…" When he first spoke, there was almost a chuckle in his voice. "Our kids'll be like you, will they? I didn't quite realize that was such a problem. I dunno … somehow, I get the feeling I can manage to put up with it."

"N-Naruto…" I met his eyes, overcome with joy. I was good enough for him; he accepted me. What more could I ask?

He returned a subtle smile, his indigo orbs deep and breathtaking. My eyes would never weary of watching that face. If they could drink it up forever they would never know thirst, never be sated to look away. "Sometimes I really wish you wouldn't trouble yourself so much. I love you, Hinata, for who you are. It'll work out. Whatever happens, we'll have all the time in the world to decide what we'll do … after you and I have been married."

I kissed him then.

It was modest and faithful; never had so much been expressed, I felt, in a kiss of such gentle simplicity. When our tongues met, the interaction was warmly slow and melodic, itself beyond eager hunger, emanating feeling without need for aggression and sensation and force. My hands slid up from his chest, draping my arms about his neck; his hands fell then from my arms to the sides of my ribcage, and too were content to remain where they were.

Content – we were content to just cherish each other like this. Trading emotion, floating on a ribbon of delicate bliss. This kiss was harmony, and it was beautiful.

When we separated, no words were spoken; by then, not a one was needed. When we separated and I nuzzled my head against the crook of his neck and he rested his cheek against my hair, I halfway wished he would just hold me that way forever. But it was when we separated that I first detected the presence at the edge of the training field.

Lee was covering his ears even though barely within earshot, sitting with his back to us so as to grant privacy. He hadn't been there before we stopped here, at least, but had suppressed his chakra and seated himself just far away enough to avoid immediate detection – interruption. Silently I thanked him, and cherished the feel of Naruto's warm body against mine a moment longer before I pulled away, slipping my hands down into his, and nodded toward the older boy.

As said young man's ears were covered, Naruto spiked his chakra briefly. Lee turned his head to glance back, and then got to his feet and dusted himself off. His eyes darted momentarily to our entwined hands; his blushing smile as he looked at something to his distant left was more awkward than anything.

"We have been summoned by the Council of Sand."

Seventeen, Part Six: Ties

"Let us hope that after all of this has passed … the Sand and Leaf may start anew."

We appeared before the council after that to hear its verdict, and an hour of discussion, a formal dinner, and a night of rest later soon enough found us at the village gate early the next morning, our bags packed and our previously confiscated weapons only then returned to us. Lord Baki, followed by a line of some councilmen, higher-up shinobi, and officials, and finally the Sand siblings, came to see us off. After passing through an endless blur of formal and friendly handshakes and hugs and shoulder-punches (but by far more formal handshakes), saluting and bowing, and exchanging of regards and farewells and safe travelses and wishes of prosperity, our time in Sunagakure no Sato was at last ready to draw to a close.

One councilman Ikemi Kenta was the only one to hold a particularly sour face. After she hugged me, Temari's hearty whack on my back just about knocked the wind out of me; gasping, I returned the gesture. She and Kankurou were sad to see us go, but wore smiles and had us promise to come back sometime – before Orochimaru was overthrown, or after.

Amid all this, only the one person at the end of the line said not a word. Neglecting to look up once at us or the mild commotion around him, he held an expression blank and glum as ever and opted to stare obliviously at one grain of sand or other at his feet. Until he was spoken to.

"Gaara-kun?"

He looked up and blinked, as if waking up. "Hyuuga-san…?"

"Be sure to find the people you can fight for – ne?"

Something flickered behind the indifference in his stony eyes. "You…?"

"What?" I glanced to Naruto butting heads with Kankurou while Lee looked on and laughed. I spoke behind a hand cupped against them. "Don't tell me you thought it was all drunken gibberish? I told you already, I wasn't drunk." I straightened – and caught him in a hug.

"H-hey…" he complained, freezing up.

"It might take a little while … but if you keep trying hard enough, I'm sure you'll understand what I mean." I released him. "Take care of yourself – for me, okay?"

He nodded slowly.

Lee's exchange with Gaara was shorter. Naruto socked at the redhead's shoulder but was impeded by a burst of protective sand; trying again – softly enough so as not to trigger its defensive action – he offered from the heart his own words of encouragement.

"You three…"

"Hm?" Naruto asked.

The Sand Jinchuuriki was silent a long few seconds. "…Thank you … for everything…"

Naruto grinned. "Don't mention it. See you around."

And with that, the Village Hidden in the Sand was left behind us.

"The Land of Rivers. That's where … we'll finally catch Tsunade!"

"Catch?" Lee asked.

"Huh? Hey, get off my back! She's evaded us–,"

"Me," I pointed out absently, busily scouting for a trace of scent.

"She's evaded Hinata-chan up until now, but this time she'll sit down and hear us out even if we have to tie her down to do it!"

"Oi, but is that anything for a gentleman to say?"

"Not literally! But this is a woman significantly older and stronger than myself, so if it comes to a fight I'm allowed to hit her."

"Ah… Okay, then," Lee chirped.

"But just sitting here – what if she's done with Kawa no Kuni by the time we get there?!" Naruto complained.

"Of course that is a possibility," I admitted, lifting my nose from the sand. "I can understand your impatience. What with Mist and Sand behind us…"

The other two returned my grin.

"…Now would certainly seem just the time to forge ahead – bust out Jiraiya-sama, round up our own Leaf jounin… Just try to bear with us, Naruto-kun," I said. "You know as well as I do – get in a rush now, and we risk losing everything. The very first thing is to catch up to Tsunade-sama – and I might add that the last thing we want is for it to come to a fight. Tracking out here isn't easy…" I scanned the desert sands with the Byakugan. "The scent is faint and scattered with the sand… I need to confirm every once in a while that we're headed in the right direction…"

"I understand. The most important thing now … is that we don't lose the trail here."

"Right." I trotted fifteen yards on all fours. "She generally moves at walking speed, anyways – and as soon as the sand thins out we'll be able to move faster." I dug a hole, Byakugan spotting something odd buried under the sand.

"If you look at it that way, we're bound to catch up–!"

"Eeek!!"

"Eh…? Ah! Hinata-chan, daijoubu?!"

Shivering on my knees a good few yards from the hole I'd dug, I lied one hand over the back of my head and with the other pinched my nose. My forehead touched the sand; tail was tucked between my legs. Kusooo! I just had to take a whiff of…!

"Pig droppings," I muttered. "That's her pet … at least, we are going in the right direction … huh?" I lifted my head, surprised.

"What is it?" Lee asked seriously.

I stood up, sniffing numbly. "I hear someone…" I said, looking to the west. I gasped. "No way…"

Naruto ナルト

"Ooooooiii!! Matte yooooo!"

"His shouting voice … is kind of awkward," Hinata chuckled.

The boy traversed the desert floor as if ice skating in long, powerful strides, jetting a spray of billowing sand out behind him as he moved. His mouth was open slightly, and at first glance his face was the same blank mask as always; as he neared, however, closer inspection picked out a hint of something like urgency in his (only slightly) wide eyes.

And in addition to the massive gourd on his back, a light bag and water bottle were fastened at his belt.

Would you look at that…

Gliding up a particularly elevated mound of sand, he left the earth. Arms cycling, knees bent, he landed and resumed stride. When he was some twenty yards back he crouched and turned slightly, 'braking' to a screeching halt before us. The redhead bent over, hands on his knees, gasping and hacking for breath.

He really pushed himself to catch up to us…

I stuck my tongue in my cheek, scuffing one foot at the sand behind the other's heel. "Where ya' headed, Sabaku no Gaara?"

He coughed a little and got himself to straighten; though obviously tired and uncomfortable, he hardly seemed to mind. The set of his mouth was dispassionate, but his eyes were telltale bright as he spoke.

"I want to go with you."

I had thought as much, but that look… Are you perhaps exhilarated … to be doing something of your own accord? "Please don't tell me you ran away."

He shook his head – expressive, perhaps, with weariness – and dug a roll of parchment from a pocket. "I got Baki to offer me to you … as an envoy of the Sand."

I took the document and whistled. A brief paragraph of detail, five signatures, and at the bottom a hastily added 'Take care of him – Kankurou and Temari.' I chuckled innately at the lattermost. "Your old sensei I can understand … but how'd you convince four councilmen to sign this?"

"They're glad to be rid of me," was his simple conclusion. "No persuasion was required. If you accept the offer, I shall carry out a long-term mission to aid you in your quest … as a show of Suna's support."

Lee shook his head beside me. "Should you not, well … spend some time reacquainting yourself with your village?"

"He's got a point," I seconded. "It's your home…"

"The villagers despise me…"

"They despise what's inside of you and who you used to be, but you've changed. If you work hard enough to become a part of Sunagakure, and show them you're not dangerous anymore–,"

"I'm not … sure about that."

"What do you mean?"

He looked down, touching a hand to his belly. "Since you defeated me … Shukaku has felt like he's resting … in a sense. The seal that binds the sand spirit is weak, and when he recovers … I will be forced to live in fear that he may tempt and claim me again at any time… But I … don't wish to return to the state I drowned in for so long … and I don't want the Shukaku to be able to hurt the people around me…"

He looked up, eyes falling on Hinata. "But you … you can control me!"

She blinked. "Watashi?"

"Your chakra is like fire to him … and you used a fuinjutsu that suppressed the sand spirit…!" He said it like it was really impressive to him – he just didn't know how to say so. "And all of you…" He flailed for words. "I'm not strong enough to control Shukaku, but you three are… You're stronger than him. Just being around you yesterday … made him stay out of my head… And I could learn – from you–," he looked at me, "–who so easily tames a greater demon … and you…" Again his eyes met Hinata's, "…who battles so masterfully against the darkness within you… I just… I want to learn control … and I truly feel there's no safer a place I could be at this time…"

"Hm…" I looked to the others.

"This … this excitement I'm feeling…" He met our eyes brightly, hopefully, seeming not quite sure his expressions were right and trying to emphasize the point he was getting across, see if he was connecting. "Excitement was once something I could find only in killing … but you people fought for me, unconditionally … you reached out to me, with no other incentive than to help me. You told me to find people worth fighting for … and I think I already have. I want to go with you, to see what you see … to interact with others … I want to experience what it means to fight … for someone…"

"And I would be of use to you! I may not possess quite as much power, but I'm no weakling…" Desperation was suppressed in his voice as he tumbled on. "I'm an ideal night lookout… My stealth is jounin level, and I'm not easily wounded – I would be no liability… And…" He looked down, gazing into the palm of an opened hand. "I was created to be a weapon … but deemed a failed experiment, unstable, and was discarded. But I think I understand now… Why should the path, the meaning of my life, be predestined by those around me? Is there not more I can do?" He met my eyes. "I want to do this. I want to help you."

An outcast … just looking for a place in the world, huh? Thrilled to feel determination for something new and good… He's already made his decision … and his logic points are sound… I exchanged glances with Lee and Hinata in turn.

"Sabaku no Gaara, envoy of the Hidden Sand," I said firmly, arms crossed, in my most official-sounding tone. "The road we walk is one fraught with peril. We may be forced to run for days on end. We may face enemies far stronger than ourselves. You may be in frequent exposure to danger. You'll have to build up your stamina a little more for travel. This journey will not be an easy one, and it is not for the faint of heart. Are you prepared?"

"I am," he said, meeting my cool gaze certainly.

I continued to glare, and he glared resolutely back. "In addition – you'll be expected to work hard, not to give up, and not to go back on your word. Can you hold firm to this?"

"I can. I will."

I cracked a grin. "Welcome to the team."

On that day, we picked up an envoy – and a lifelong friend.

Neji ネジ

"Hm…"

I pulled down the neck of her shirt, studying a lone black diamond. Orochimaru-sama's mark was truly magnificent. Like a starfish cut in half – within two weeks, the second diamond would form, and another week or so after that it would complete and thereby balance itself again.

"How are you settling in, Hiyuki? Is it nice to be back in your old room again?" I asked, patting her shirt neck back into place.

"Hai. It's very nice … Neji…sama."

Still a bit of reluctance there… I noted, moving around to study her face. For now it cycled only through a narrow range between a watery daze and confusion; she was the first to be changed who didn't already possess ingrained loyalty to me. I was confident, however, that this feeble resistance could be purged soon enough.

She stood still as I circled and inspected her. I kicked lightly at the ankle that last night had been broken, and she gave no indication of pain. The back of my hand clipped her shoulder with the same result. I placed a hand on her back and sharply punched her ribs; force that would suffice to break someone else wrought only a wince and grunt. I took her arm to see that her wrist was not scarred, without even a blemish. Her fingers were healthy; I asked her to form a fist, and she did. I touched her nose, feeling carefully about its base to find it firm and well-aligned. She remained still and cooperative. Suggestible.

"Magnificent," I breathed. "Even with the medics' help, it's incredible, really. She changed gracefully. Perhaps more smooth a transition than even yours, Haritsu."

"Hmph," the boy muttered, wilting.

Her face was in the blank state when I finished the examination. Now was as good a time as any.

"Hiyuki, will you bow to me?"

I observed as her placid expression clouded and grew troubled, her happy daze evaporating. Defiance. Asking of her something so backwards, so well outside her former norm, brought her guard up and triggered resistance. Her mouth worked silently for a second, and then: "……No."

Hireiki, another among the other six in the room, began to growl dangerously. I held up a hand, silencing her.

"Why not, cousin Hiyuki?"

Her mind looked to be racing on empty, wheels turning, going nowhere. Stress worried her brow as she searched desperately in confusion, groping in darkness, perplexed. "I … do not … bow to you…"

"I believe we've already established that," I said coolly, brushing claws back over her cheek so as to draw no blood. I stoked the defiance further still. "Who do you bow to, Hiyuki?"

The light flicked on behind her eyes. "Hanabi-sama–!"

"Bow to me!!"

The command was a snarl, fierce and terrible. She jerked forward at the waist as if struck there, knees striking the floor as though simultaneously kicked out from behind. She whimpered, and with a shudder pressed her forehead to the ground, clawed hands trembling.

I felt a brief, unpleasant pang. Briefly.

"Raise your head, Hiyuki."

She rose to her hands and knees, looking up at me. Her black and white eyes were pained. "Wh-what have you … done to m-me…?"

"I have done nothing, Hiyuki. I am your leader."

"N-no," she whimpered in a tiny voice, shaking her head, scared and confused. "My leader … my leader is–!"

"I am your leader."

Her jaw fell a degree further, eyes leaking tears.

I brought my claws to my left hand, touching sharp nails to the fingers. Hiyuki watched intently as I sliced my hand, carving four clean lines of crimson into my fingers, down my palm. A murmur of envy stirred in the room.

"Hiyuki – do you know who I am?"

Her eyes were transfixed on my bleeding hand. She inhaled, losing herself in the scent. "My leader … Neji-sama."

"And will you follow me, Hiyuki…?" I lowered my hand, presenting a pool of dark crimson. "Always?"

"Y-yes," she breathed, urgently. "Yes…!"

"Good."

Tentatively she lifted her hands, hesitating just shy of cradling my own extended one. With an effort just to tear her eyes away, she looked reverently up at me, her breath soft and unsteady, eyes hungry and pleading.

I nodded. Her mouth opened, so grateful as to be stricken incapable of speech.

Hiyuki grasped my hand and lowered her lips, and she drank. Clumsily at first, sipping and lapping and licking, she washed my hand of blood.

ナルト / リー / ヒナタ \ ハナビ \ ネジ

End Chapter Seventeen

Naruto: Team colors! Violet!

Lee: Azure!

Hinata: Black!

Gaara: Crimson!

Neji: W-wow, that's…

Hanabi: Really ugly…

(static-)

Hinata: Gah! Every time I get close, she disappears and it's like she freaking teleports across the world or something! Does that even make any sense?!

Naruto: You're more annoying than Latios and Latias!

Lee: Or Cresselia!

Neji: Or Mesprit!

Hanabi: Or–!

Tsunade: I get it already!

Neji: Cue music! Tsunade, Shizune, and Spoink appeared!

Tonton: Oiiin??!

Naruto: Shoot, where's my Wobbufet? Oh, Misdreavus – Use Mean Look!

Hanabi: The enemy can't escape!

Lee used Swords Dance! Lee's attack rose!

Lee: What, that is it–?!

Shizune used Poison Sting! Hinata was poisoned!

Hinata's Natural Cure heals poison!

Naruto used Shadow Punch! Naruto's attack missed!

Naruto: Oi, that's not supposed to miss–!

Hinata: 'Fight,' 'Bag,' 'Pokémon,' or 'Run' – there isn't a Talk option?! What do I use, Will-o'-Wisp, Flamethrower, Howl, or Crunch?

Naruto: Will-o'-Wisp, so they get a stat problem!

Lee: No, she will only recover with Heal Bell–!

Tsunade used Earthquake!

It's super effective! Hinata fainted!

Lee fainted!

It doesn't affect Naruto…

Naruto: Sweet, am I a flying type–?

Hanabi: Just hurry up and use Brave Bird–!

Tsunade used Dynamicpunch!

Naruto fainted!

…The Three Failures blacked out!

Lee: Ow… What… happened–?

Naruto: Oh, son of a #&$* she took half our money!

(–static–)

Hinata: Maybe I've been focusing on the wrong scent all along! The stronger scent is left by the pet pig!

Naruto: Aha! The trail ends – here?!

Lee: Here is the pig, but where is Tsunade-sama?

Hinata: Seriously?! How do you lose your pet pig?!

Naruto: Who cares how, she's not going anywhere until she finds it! It's our lucky day – grab that pig!

Hinata: Stop right there – don't move! I will cut this pig!

Naruto: Or bite it!

Hinata: I will not!

Lee: The great hog fiasco has begun!

Gaara: Um… Next time: Chapter Eighteen…?

Naruto: Doesn't that fresh porker just look succulent?

Hinata: Mouthwateri– Not funny!!

XD Okay… I guess this is sort of the type of chapter I'd normally cut in half, but… Meh, it's your end of spring break present. Sort of. Hope you enjoyed! I also got Pokemon Soulsilver for my birthday ... and it's time to train up for another tournament!!! ...So in short, this might have to hold you over for a while. Gomen!

Youkai -妖怪 – Demon, sprite

Han'you - 半妖 – Half demon

Youki - 妖気 – demon spirit/essence

Ooishi - delicious

Daijoubu – all right

Kawa no Kuni – Land of Rivers

Mattaku – good grief

Watashi - me

Fuinjutsu - seal technique

Ah! It happened again! A huge chapter? Well, that too. But apparently there's a Soragakure in one of the new Shippuden movies? As with this fic's Land of Demons, no relation!

How was the chapter? The character bonding? Was the NaruHina too weird, or did it work? What did you think of Neji's character development? The 'NejiTen' (which is in quotes for a reason) moment? How about the Hyuuga drama, and the plot twist? Again, was Gaara's character done okay? Feel free to comment, and if you have a question - ask!

Huge or not, I think this chapter turned out pretty nice! Please review and tell me what you think! Come on, review for the author's birthday? Please?

:D See ya!

:o)Hinata0321:o)