J3F\\\ Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter Eighteen

I've never been this late, have I? Man, time just flew.

I've hit a sort of rough spot in my life, if a teenager's allowed to. It's probably a stupid thing to fall into a depression over, but the basketball thing really affected me more than I let on. I've somewhat shifted from a happy, optimistic kid to … I don't know. I realized the last week of school that I didn't mind for once that I didn't have a yearbook. I had a perfectly good composition notebook that I could have gotten signatures in, but I didn't really have people sign it unless they asked to. I made some good friends, I had an awesome English teacher, and other than that this was a year I'd rather forget.

On another note – I lost in the Pokemon tournament, if anyone's wondering. I can't bring myself to use legendaries; that's like a shortcut to power (maybe I sympathize with REAL Pokemon that are well-trained to be as powerful as they can be, over ubers that are automatically powerful). Still, the majority of competitors took full advantage of the loosened legendary restrictions, creating a tournament essentially degenerated into a legendary slugfest. My Swampert, Luxray, Salamence, and Alakazam got through two rounds before we fell to a team of two restricted legendaries and two non-restricted legendaries – a team of all legendaries, even though it had no EV training and didn't seem to have any strategy whatsoever. Naturally.

In other news – Disney Naruto forgot to cut out blood once so far! In a flashback of the sannin fight, Naruto's still bleeding at the mouth. The second opening, they cut the blood off Naruto's hand, but it seems the blood you can see through the tear in his sleeve was missed as well, though it could be mistaken for a shadow. At the end of the opening, Naruto and Sasuke just stare at each other instead of holding their weapons to each other's throats XD

DragonBall Z Kai is airing on Nicktoons Network. What the crap? Anyways, it doesn't seem to be edited nearly as hard.

I know I didn't get back to all your reviews this time, but I really appreciate your feedback ShadowFaux, Malix2, digitalflame192, amethystfirechik, OnGuard, hinata-fan2, Afalstein, The Laughing Phoenix, lil ramen lover, doraemax, An Absurdist, Aryk von Straln, Loui roui, Skull Reaper, Omega the darkness, Blizzard of love, Stygian Styx, ShadowSage99, Shizuka Taiyou, Bluesv20, 1WiththeButterfly, U. May, Rena the pirate jedi wizard, Ace of Spades216, JDWhite, BlackBlueSilver, Master Incalu, taiga-tan1000, Jman12394, KoreanGal5, kunoichibythesea, Zack-kun and the anons who signed Hiashih8er5, skidmcmarx, I lol'd and crusader5643!

Check out my profile for more deviantArt pics! There're some new ones, and some in color now and whatnot. There's now Neji's outfit, and Shodai and Kuroshin, and the line for the 'cover', and some good Naruto pics ;)

This chapter… isn't so great in my opinion. I guess I was a little off this time.

Disclaimer: I don't own NARUTO.

Oh yeah. Why - why would they make it to where - okay, according to fanfiction dot net it would seem it's now impossible to exclaim a question. Like, (blank voice) 'Why did you kill my father?' Bad enough they cut it down to no more than two, and now just one exclamation point (while 20's ridiculous, I think up to three are perfectly acceptable!), but the question mark-exclamation point is literally essential! So while I left most supposed-to-be-multiple exclamation points alone, if you see (? !) with a stupid-looking space, well, that's why. Gosh, you can't even put two ellipses next to each other T-T.

Journey of the Three Failures

Eighteen: Queen of Slugs

Naruto ナルト

"I am TOKUGAWA IEYASU, of the LAND of RIVERS, son of Matsudaira Hirotada, WARRIOR of the Matsudaira CLAN!"

"I am ROCK LEE, student of Maito Gai-sensei and Master Washi of Mist and Iron, and the valiant GREEN BEAST of the VILLAGE Hidden in the LEAVES!"

"ROCK LEE, I hereby challenge you!"

"TOKUGAWA IEYASU, I gladly ACCEPT your CHALLENGE!"

"Very well then! Let us cross blades!"

Hinata shook her head. "These swordsmen…"

I only chuckled. "That's the thing about the 'ninja' of Kawa no Kuni. The country's a step behind, in a sense; with no hidden village, it's home to a number of clans that ally and clash among themselves, rarely involved in the affairs of the outside world. It's really not too surprising that this fellow wants to test himself against Lee's reputation."

"So we're … not going to help him?"

I glanced to Gaara's nearly impassive face, and then to the pair of darting forms and dancing, ringing blades. "Then we'd outnumber the guy."

"They're using swords…"

My eyes traced flurry after flurry of rapid motion. I shrugged. "What can you do?"

"Aren't you concerned at all…?"

"I'm scared out of my wits. But that guy…"

CLANG!

"He fights as easily as he breathes," Hinata picked up at a murmur, eyes trained ahead.

I nodded. "We've got faith in him, too."

Kin-kin!

I swung my arm back; sand sprang to arrest my hand inches in front of Gaara's face.

"H-hey!" he said, offended, and gave a startled glare.

"Not everyone has an automatic absolute defense protecting them, but us regular humans aren't quite as fragile as you might think. Besides…"

Chink! Ten yards away, a sword plunged into the earth. Tokugawa Ieyasu, just beginning to sit up, halted under the steel of Lee's blade as it rested at his throat.

"I-I submit…"

Lee smiled, withdrawing a step and curtly stowing the katana away. "Very well. Thank you for the fight."

Neji ネジ

I bowed my head as I finished the report.

"Good… You are dismissed. Unless…"

"…'Unless,' Lord Orochimaru?" I echoed inquisitively, looking up to meet the Hokage's serpentine eyes.

"Unless there might be something more you would like to discusss…?"

I averted my gaze. My mouth opened briefly, and closed again. "No; it's nothing…"

A soft smirk tugged at his lips as he took me in with that knowing, golden gaze. "Come, now; tell me what troubles you, Neji-kun…"

Head down, I passed a moment in quiet thought. "The Hyuuga I've selected … were all loyal and devoted followers. With the change this was only … intensified, so to speak. But now, with Hiyuki…" I shook my head. "It's a bit startling…"

"You're unsettled…?"

"I have her complete obedience; she hasn't the capability to so much as question my word. But if she had any choice in the matter she would be back in New Konoha right now, serving Hanabi." I was silent another few moments. "I just…"

"This, from the man who's so tirelessly worked to smother the smoldering remains of the Leaf? From so gifted an interrogator, at that…?" he mused.

"I have no quarrel with prying information out of them." Them carried a touch of disdain. The rebels who suffered through a losing battle, the prisoners who enjoyed thinking they could not be broken – but oh, could they be broken. "But sitting down with an enemy, telling her to give you the information she so recently guarded, and receiving it just like that… It's strange, m'lord. I feel almost dirty, like a Hyuuga of the Main House exerting his will. There are times when I feel like … I'm not myself."

"So you prefer breaking people to see your way," he noted. "You place lesser a value in a forced enlightenment, for it's hardly to be regarded an enlightenment at all…"

"I suppose so…"

"Ah, my poor child… I can see you're quite confused." He leaned forward in his chair. "Tell me, Neji-kun … is Hiyuki-chan happy?"

"'Happy,' my lord…?"

"Yes – happy."

Through my mind flickered a look of motherly pride on Hireiki's face – though it was a sharp, ambitious pride; the girl's newfound comfort, even fondness toward her mother, that could never have been in a different life; and foremost of all, the melting euphoria that overcame her, set her joyously aglow and seemingly made her life complete whenever I offered a few words of praise.

"I… I suppose she is…"

"Is she or is she not…?"

"Yes – she is quite happy."

"Is she not enjoying being in her home again?

"She seems quite glad to be back in familiar surroundings…"

"Hiyuki the Leaf-nin was half-emaciated, wasn't she…? Isn't she better off having three balanced meals a day? Eating real food again…?"

"Of course, m'lord."

"Don't you see, Neji-kun…?" He stood up and began walking around his desk. "Left as she was, Hiyuki-chan would die a useless, miserable death with New Konoha, struggling up to its bitter end. As it is, she shall join us in bringing peace to this village, and in the new age she will bask with us in the glory of the perfect village – the perfect world we create. Does that no longer strike you a worthwhile vision…?"

I quickly met his eyes as he stopped before me. "Of course it does, my lord! That is what I've been fighting for all this time!" I gasped.

"Kukukuku… Well, that's reassuring to hear…"

He reached out, lied his palm on the crown of my head and lightly mussed my hair. Still holding my gaze, he presented a thin, charming smile.

"Remember this, Neji-kun. The means are irrelevant; the end result shall be the same. These delusional people who resist us will bring on themselves untold quantities of prolonged suffering, and pain, and desolation in pursuit of their impossible dreams… We must save as many of these deplorable people from themselves as we possibly can. I pity them, really…"

His fingers ran through my hair.

"Those who can be freed should be… Wouldn't you agree, Neji-kun?"

I nodded. "Without question, Lord Orochimaru…"

His hand settled on my shoulder. "It's not altogether uncommon, what you feel; people with power quite often find themselves afear of it…"

"I see…"

"Would you like to talk about anything else, Neji-kun? Anything at all…?"

I wondered, briefly, if he ever feared his power sometimes. But perhaps that was a question for another day. I shook my head no.

"I marked you because I knew you were worthy of this power, and you continue to wield it impressively. You and your Chosen, Neji-kun … will do great things for this village."

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

Hinata ヒナタ

I chewed my lip, eyes narrowed in thought as I stared ahead.

Naruto tilted his head a bit, resting the side of his chin on the back of a hand. He opened his mouth, shut it, and tapped two fingers across his lips as he stared ahead.

Lee stuck his tongue in his cheek and propped his chin on a bridge of fingers as he stared ahead.

Gaara stared ahead.

"Ne… Hinata-chan?"

"Yes, Naruto-kun?"

"I think your nose messed up somewhere."

"Hm…"

–"I don't know how I didn't think of this sooner! Human scents are everywhere … but instead of trying to pick out Tsunade-sama's scent all the time, we can just follow the more distinctive scent of her pet pig!"–

The trail ended, well, here. So here we were, four ninja crouching silently in the grass outside a fence of a River Country farm, staring into a pig pen. I'd scanned with the Byakugan; the sannin was nowhere to be seen.

"Think you, well, mixed it up with a different pig's scent somewhere along the way?" Naruto asked.

I shook my head, pointing. "That's the one," I whispered, watching the small, pinkish one amble among the crowd. "I'm sorry; I should have been paying more attention and noticed sooner that Tsunade-sama's scent was no longer present…"

"Hey, it's just a little mistake," Naruto said, looking to me. "All we have to do is backtrack, see where the trails split up…"

"Um…"

"Hold on. The two of you are missing something crucial here."

"Like what, Bushy Brow?"

"While it is possible that Tsunade-sama merely gave the poor creature away or abandoned it because it was becoming too much trouble for a ninja on the run to care for… what if she happened to lose her pet?"

"I guess it's a possibility, but how do you misplace a pet pig?" I wondered quietly.

"Have I ever told you about my pet turtle Inazuma-kun?"

"Lee-kun, what does that have to do with…?"

"Hey! If she's looking for the porker, this could be our big chance…!"

"Uh…"

"I loved Inazuma-kun like a brother I never had."

"I mean, just think! She's evaded Hinata-chan by running away, but if we have something she wants…!"

"When I was five years old, however, Inazuma-kun ran away."

"…Yeah… Lee-kun, I think–,"

"It a-always brings me to tears, picturing m-my poor, defenseless Inazuma-kun fending for himself in the cold, wide world out th-there!"

"Okay, shh…" He accepted the hug offered. "There, there, it's alright. Aw, Lee, I'm sure he's in a better pl– I'm sure he found a beautiful home, a nice little pond with sunlight and flowers and…"

"Eeto… You three. Oi."

"It's perfect! A lucky break! If she really did just up and lose the darned thing…!"

"Hey…"

"Wh-what I am saying is that I do not think someone who loved her precious pet enough to keep it all this time could be c-c-capable of willingly discarding it n-now!"

"There, I understand, Lee-kun…"

"But… Just to be a little more sure, one of us ought to check with the farmer – see how they obtained Tsunade's pig, y'know?"

"Listen…"

"But we have to keep a low profile…"

"We'll use Transformation Jutsu – problem solved!"

"But…"

"I-Inazuma-kun…!"

"Yatta! We have a plan–!"

"Guys!"

"Huh? What's up, Gaara?"

"In the last town we passed through… we walked by a 'lost pig' sign … on a lamppost…"

"You're kidding."

His brow wrinkled. "But I'm not…"

"No, I know you're not, but … wow. Wait, where were you when I announced we were following the pig's scent instead?"

His face fell darkly. "I'm sorry…"

"No, it's no big deal!" I assured him.

"Alright!" Naruto whispered, smacking jovially for Gaara's shoulder. His hand was swatted back by some sand, but the boy went on without missing a beat. "This is a huge time-saver! Now we just have to snatch that pig and…"

"Wait, we are stealing it?" Lee sniffed.

"For a good cause!"

"With a pinch of bribery," I muttered as Naruto was going on about an autograph.

"…I guess. Yosh, then one of us must snag it!"

I blinked twice. "You say that, but why do you both look at me when you say it?"

"Well, you do know which pig it is…"

I looked back to the pig pen, sighing. "Stealing livestock?"

"Oh, come on, Hinata-chan, I'm sure your ookami cousins do it all the time!"

"When they're starving!" I defended, and Naruto lifted his hands sheepishly.

Pop-pop.

The blond's form blurred, and suddenly flailing and squealing in his hands was a startled little pig. "Okay, okay, I got it! Ta-da!" He grinned, holding her out. I sniffed. It smelled nice, in an edible sort of way – not that I would eat it! – and more importantly, it was Tsunade's pet.

"That's the one."

"Naruto-kun!" Lee snapped, taking the terrified swine. Delicately the deadly ninja swordsman held her against his body like an infant. "You must be gentle with animals, and sensitive to their feelings! You have frightened the poor girl half to death!"

Behind said deadly ninja swordsman, Gaara stared, mouth slightly open, with an expression of mild (for his expressions were scarcely extreme) shock frozen on his face.

Lee-kun has always had a soft spot for small animals, I thought, looking at the shivering ball of meat in his strong arms as it snuggled at his chest. I sighed.

"Gaara-kun, do you remember about where you saw that flyer?"

"Hai," he said, nodding curtly as he snapped out of his daze.

I nodded, biting my lip. "We need to get moving."

"This can't be the place…" Naruto said, exiting the ramshackle old slumside warehouse to step once more into the light of day. "There's nothing in there … well, bar a few little critters."

"It's the address on the flyer…" Gaara murmured.

"Hinata-san…?"

I shook my head, Byakugan fading. "I don't detect any notable chakra signatures around here, and I can hardly pick up even traces of Tsunade-sama's scent even though she's been through here recently." She's hiding it somehow, but is it from me … or the possibility of other trackers? She had put up flyers to recover her lost pig, a considerable risk for someone keeping a low profile and trying her best to disappear. In that light, we shouldn't have been surprised she wasn't simply waiting around at the address provided.

The three of them were watching me; when it came to tracking, I was the leader. I thought quietly.

"We should stay here for the night."

Neji ネジ

Look at the time…

I shut the tome I was poring over, and the one sitting across from me, who had accompanied me to the library, promptly shut his book as well. I was about to stand and shelve the book when a thought struck me. I sat again, placed my elbows on the table, and said quite simply:

"Haritsu, what would you do if I called you a #$^= $?&#ing )~x$#?"

The look on the boy's face, however, said he had swiftly forgotten it was a hypothetical question. "Have I done something to displease you, m'lord?" he asked, eyebrows drawing inward as he stared in incomprehension. A terrific display of grief worried his face, and the usually cold young man seemed moments from tears.

"No!" I said, gripping his forearms. "You have done nothing wrong…" Before my eyes the pain melted from Haritsu's features. I shook my head, startled by the reaction, and nodded at the volume in front of him. "Were you done reading?"

He blinked. "Yes."

"Okay. We're leaving."

Naruto ナルト

It was the middle of the night when the ninja showed up.

The door opened silently. As Hinata had noticed, the door of an abandoned old building should have creaked; it had likely been oiled ahead of time for just this purpose. Retrieval. How about that…

Probably a kunoichi; in the darkness of the building I made out a figure clothed in black, a long, side-slit skirt falling over her pants. Even as she skulked by in a quick, stealthy crouch, I could tell she was a safe few inches taller than Tsunade-sama was supposed to be.

When the masked kunoichi opened a second door and passed into an interior room, I slipped from the wall and followed. She crept to 'our' four sleeping forms, narrowing in on 'Lee' as she spotted the portly pink bugger tucked snugly under his arm.

Walking up behind her, my feet light on the floor, I watched her crouch and carefully try to ease the pig away from him, but though he hardly stirred in sleep his protective arm wouldn't budge. Promptly she produced a syringe and stuck him right in the neck – yeesh, someone was in a hurry – and waited eight seconds before taking the pig from under a limply relaxed arm and tucking it under her own. Not bad, not bad at all.

"A-hem."

Her head whipped around. Her dark eyes were huge as they met those inquisitive purples of the naginata-wielder standing two feet behind her. Four sleeping kage bunshin went up in smoke.

I hopped a sweep-kick, ducked a high kick, and blocked a punch before we sprang apart. I lunged swiftly, swapping forward, touching a hand to the pig without touching the woman, swapping forward again. I caught the porker in my arm as I turned, sandals skidding to a halt.

"After we rescued your pet and all, you were just planning to take it back without a word of thanks?"

The kunoichi glared, but was concealing fear. "…Thank you," she grunted. "Now can I have her?"

"Gomen," I said, "Not really our style, but she's the only bargaining chip we've got. We need to talk to Lady Tsunade. Could you get her?"

The woman spewed at me a cloud of purple in reply. I was blinded.

Poison Mist–? !

Sharply I turned my naginata in front of me, with the use of only one hand. Four senbon were deflected, and two punctured my stomach and left lung.

"Ita!" I yelped, and in the moment I flinched my naginata was kicked away and the pig out of my hands before a boot rammed into my gut.

Thrown into the wall, I slipped into it and out of the adjacent once, flowing onto my feet right next to the door as she reached to open it.

A hand morphed out of the doorknob, latched onto her wrist. Another two sprang up from the floor, seizing her ankles.

"Nani? !"

"You should have noticed … that this second room didn't exist the last time you were here." I met her eyes, catching my naginata as it appeared at my side. "Sorry, but you're already in the Demon Illusionist's lair."

"Kai!"

"And I should probably point out…" Shadow Matter: Trick Room. The walls, floor, and ceiling began to glow with chakra. The coming pressure surge would knock her out. "…This isn't the type of genjutsu you can release…"

She hung her head. "You… had better catch Tonton!" she cried, and tossed the pig over my head.

So that's its name…

She had thrown it high enough that that it was easy for me and clone that sprang from the floor to catch it together.

Behind me a smoke bomb went off and was promptly dispersed by an explosive paper bomb, just as the chakra surge was released. Well, most paper bombs were 'explosive', but this one – ah, forget it. A chunk of 'wall' had been dispelled, and the kunoichi was nowhere to be seen.

Kuso! I dispelled the remainder of the room and bolted out of the warehouse. Careless – naturally, she'd set a tripwire before entering. With a quick kage-kawarimi I evaded the paper bomb explosion at my feet – and practically jumped into the glowing fingers the kunoichi jammed into my gut.

My stomach clenched sharply and painfully, and I dropped Tonton as I doubled up, crimson shooting past my lips. What the–? !

Even as my knees were giving out, a foot caught the side of my neck. I flopped to the ground.

She made for the forest thirty meters off. In that direction…

A blast of sand was narrowly avoided; Hinata's shoulder blow was not. Lee caught the pig as it was released. Hinata dodged a quick trio of senbon, and Lee, behind her, was caught in the arm. She squeaked what I could assume was an apology as she avoided darting strikes from the kunoichi's hands.

It looks like the pig's going to the last side standing… I ground my teeth, wincing as I got to my knees, and then to my feet. Come on – you can move. I pulled a senbon of my own from my tool pouch and secured it in my teeth as I ran through a flurry of seals. Holding the needle between fore and middle fingers, I brushed my other palm against it. A tiny, rotating column of wind chakra extended forward, projecting itself into a thin, nearly invisible strand. I pulled back my hand, drawing the needle further back against a tangible, almost elastic pull.

The masked kunoichi, barely fending off Lee's taijutsu, managed to break away from him.

She looked suddenly to her shoulder, almost as though she felt the tickle of an insect crawling on it. Sand ensnared her feet.

"Sorry," I muttered.

Fuuton: Shinkuu Happou.

Vacuum Shot.

The blink of an eye – and the released senbon was thrust into the kunoichi's shoulder, sticking out the other side. She cried out, her arm locking up rigidly.

Lee's hand thumped curtly against her back. He caught her carefully around the waist when she swayed and began to fall.

I tipped back with a sigh, dropping onto my rear. Then I clenched my teeth and removed the poisoned needle sort of unpleasantly sticking between my ribs.

Hinata ヒナタ

"You're Tsunade-sama's apprentice, aren't you?"

The dark-haired woman glared up at me, teeth clenched in defiance as if she was prepared for an interrogation. She was seated on the grass, her hands restrained behind her back, as Naruto fixed up her shoulder.

"Look, we're not going to hurt you," I went on. "Okay, so we tied your hands, but we don't want to fight you and we really need to speak with Tsunade-sama."

She looked away. "You people … don't seem like trackers of Orochimaru…"

"Is that what this is about?" Naruto asked, surprised. "Look at our headbands! We're just trying to save the village, if Tsunade-sama cares about stuff like that."

"So that's it…" she said, eyes downcast. "I wish she would consider it … but unfortunately, m'lady won't want to hear you out either way."

"What do you mean–?"

The wind blew. My nose twitched. I looked up.

The four of us jumped back as a figure crashed to the ground; the earth quailed violently, crackling like so many snapping bones under her fist.

My Byakugan awakened as the dust settled, as the newcomer rose to full height.

"Shizune…" the woman said, almost at a snarl. "You let yourself be beaten by four brats?"

"I'm sorry, milady…"

"It's her," Naruto whispered. I nodded dumbly.

Dressed in black pants, a grey top that frankly showed too much cleavage, and a dark, knee-length over robe, the amber-eyed, blonde kunoichi surveyed our group with a scowl of annoyance. Naruto was nervous, awed even; Lee's stance was defensive, a frown set on his face; Gaara's expression was impassive as ever, his arms crossed, but something in his eye said he understood the extent of this person's power. The woman's eyes landed on mine.

"You brought your friends this time."

Swallowing emptily, I nodded and spoke in a level tone. "We three are ninja of Konohagakure. Gaara-san here is an envoy of our allies in Sunagakure."

"And what the hell do you want with me?" she said dangerously, eyes dark.

"Tsunade-sama, you must know of the state the village is in. You are one of the Leaf's Legendary Three Ninja, and right now you alone hold the power to save it! We don't wish to fight you. Please – let's just talk about this…"

"I have no desire to return to that place," she hissed. "If you don't want to fight me, I would strongly suggest you release my pet and get out of my sight…"

She took one step forward. I stepped back. "You're being unreasonable here!" I cried. The weight of her murderous intent was bearing down on me; the slashing rage in her eyes was making me shake, but I refused to look away. "Are you or a-are you not a ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves–? !"

She blurred. Lee shoved the pig into my arms and reached for a blade. His fingers had barely brushed the hilt when Tsunade's arm caught across his neck; the young man was hurled and slammed to the ground with a sharp crash, sending spiderwebbing cracks blossoming from under his back.

Tsunade's eyes met mine.

シ$####&…!

A Naruto clone grabbed my arm and flung me back as the true one lunged forward behind me; we switched, and he thrust the blunt end of his naginata for our foe. She dodged and swung dangerously for his face; he appeared behind her and swung the staff for the top of her shoulder. Without turning she caught it in her hand, yanked upward to disarm him, and shoved the heel of a sandal dead into the center of his chest. He sputtered momentarily in pain – and went shooting into the trees.

A sharp backfist vaporized an incoming blast of sand. My eyes grew.

"Gaara, get back–!"

The sannin flickered past me. Her fist met the shield of sand that sprang up in defense, and said shield vibrated, rippled, and exploded backwards, wholly disintegrated. Gaara, arms raised before his face, looked up and cried out in shock.

"What–? !"

With no break in stride Tsunade's other fist now contacted his face. He smacked into a tree, splintering it behind him.

"Stop!" I shouted, holding the pig against me and touching claws to its neck. "Don't you dare move!"

The pig kicked and squealed in terror. I wouldn't really have done it, but…

Tsunade smirked.

"Are you ordering me around, kid?"

"H-huh?"

WHAM!

She's faster … than Lee-kun… I thought with a grimace, one eye huge and the other squinted shut, eyebrows drawn in with confusion, as a manicured fist bludgeoned into my stomach.

The world flared white.

Until my back cracked into something – then it snapped black.

With sheer willpower I fought the darkness off, forced my eyes open. My stomach was a wad of pain; my torso felt like it could fall apart. My knees turned inward, legs trembling feebly and hands bracing against tree bark behind me as, choking brokenly for breath, I managed not to slide to the ground.

The sannin was walking away, pig trotting at her heels. She vanished briefly, appearing a few yards past Shizune; the younger woman's hands were suddenly free.

"G-get back here!" I wheezed weakly. My eyes were watering; I shook in effort, shoulders quavering, staying on my feet. After we came this close…! "Kuso!" I wailed. "I won't … let you g-g-get away…!"

Tsunade cast a sidelong glance, eyes narrowed in distaste. She kicked a stone into the air, caught it, lashed back her arm. Pain crashed below my kneecap; I shortly toppled to the dirt.

"Stop following me," she called flatly, "and tell your little friends to do the same."

"N-no! Don't walk … away from th-this! Don't you care about the Leaf–? !"

"Just be quiet, will you? ! You don't understand! Do you think you brats can be some sort of heroes? You can try all you want; I have no intention of dying a useless death…"

"So you're doing something so much more m-meaningful out here, is it? ! That what you're saying? !" My voice weakened to a whimper. I ground my teeth. "What kind of legendary ninja a-are you? What–?"

"What about Master Jiraiya? !" Naruto shouted fiercely, limping into view. His breath was unsteady, but his eyes intense.

"What of him?"

"That old sennin … scraped your name in desperation into the cold stone floor of his prison cell, with nothing but his nails and blood!" He paused, shaking his head. "What a waste of time! You're not looking for him! You don't even care! All you're doing … is running away from it all!"

Silence fell into the night air.

"…You're right. I don't care."

Naruto flinched.

"Lady Tsunade…"

"Shut up, Shizune."

She vanished. Shizune glanced uncertainly back at us a moment, and then scooped up the pig and followed.

I grunted. We … failed…

"Hinata – you alright?"

"I'm fi–," His eyes grew in alarm as I hacked blood onto the ground. "No, really, I'm fine." I hope. "Check on Lee-kun."

With brief hesitance he nodded.

I got to my knees and crawled over to Gaara. The redhead was slouched on the ground, his back to a tree, head down, arms and legs splayed clumsily before him. I reached out, touching a hand to his forehead.

"Gaara-kun–?"

His eyes were big and unfocused, and blood dripped from a scowling mouth. Upon catching sight of me, his expression grew murderous. A growl hissed up his throat.

My hand darted to my tool pouch. Byakugan.

The sand around him sprang to life. I slapped a small seal tag onto his belly, injecting through it a precise burst of chakra from my fingertips. The sand fell lifeless again; a band that had been creeping around my neck faltered, but then it too crumbled away as the Shukaku's presence shrank back and faded. I sighed as Gaara groaned quietly, shaking his head.

"Gaara-kun, are you okay?"

"I think so…" A slight whimper escaped him, and he touched a shaky hand to his darkly bruised cheek.

He's not used to pain…

"Hinata … did I…?"

I nodded.

"I'm sorry…"

"It's fine. You can't help it just yet, but that's why we're here. We'll work on it."

He looked up; I turned to see Naruto approaching, one hand using the naginata as a walking stick, the other steadying the limp form draped over his shoulder.

"He's out cold," he said. "Can you guys stand?"

Against the tree's support, I clambered to my feet and gave Gaara a hand up. He tentatively accepted, and between me and the tree he managed to stand. Naruto nodded.

"We've got to keep moving."

Naruto ナルト

"I thought I told you to stop following us."

I shrugged. We were trailing a safe fifteen meters behind them. "We'll get to you by sheer persistence if that's what it takes."

Hinata nodded. "The fate of the village hinges on your shoulders."

"Capable but unwilling shoulders," Kurogiba pitched in. The wolf walked with us, carrying Lee's unconscious body on his back.

"Why do you care so much about the village?"

"Isn't it second nature for a ninja to fight for his village?" I asked.

"Not missing-ninja."

"Are you calling yourself a fugitive ninja?"

"What are you?"

"Ninja of New Konoha, nukenin of New Oto."

"And you don't have anything better to do with your time than pester me?"

"Well, what else can we do?" I asked. "Can you think of anything, Hinata?"

"Nope; without Tsunade-sama's help, our journey ends here."

"But wait! We could try to free Jiraiya-sama from his prison!"

"Remember? We tried that already on our own, and it didn't work out."

"Oh, right! And that's when Jiraiya gave me the mission to find Tsunade and come back for him!"

"Though I'm pretty sure we're supposed to actually bring Tsunade with us, not just find her and try again on our own."

"True, true. Well then, we could rescue some of our jounin!"

"But if we do that, they'll surely amp up the security of all the other prisons."

"Which wouldn't be a problem if we at least had Jiraiya-sama's help."

"So we just need to free Jiraiya-sama – but wait, we can't!"

"Right, Gaara?"

"Um… Yes!"

"So you're not even taking my feelings into consideration?"

"Are you kidding?" I snorted. "Sorry, but if the entire village and its shinobi are suffering gravely every minute because one person refuses to step up – well, I think that warrants just a bit of 'pestering'."

"If we could help them on our own, we would have by now. But we can't. We need you."

"When it comes down to this, I don't care how important a person, how awesome a kunoichi and medical ninja you are. Even you're not that great."

She fired a look over her shoulder. I glared back stubbornly.

"Beat us up again if you want. We're not giving up."

Wordlessly she continued forward.

"Why're we walking right now, anyways? It's kind of the middle of the night, y'know."

"No one's making you walk anywhere."

"Then why are you walking in the middle of the night?" I replied.

"We were trying to get some distance from four certain someones…"

"That's not gonna happen."

She halted.

"Lady Tsunade…?" Shizune began nervously.

"We're setting up camp."

Four minutes later we were settled in a forest clearing – four teens and a demon fire wolf spirit on one side, two women and a pig on the other. But see, it wasn't a very large clearing; we were still within easy talking distance of each other. If anyone, though, I hardly expected they would be first to talk.

"Girl," Tsunade called degradingly over at Hinata.

"Yes?" she answered indifferently, unrolling her sleeping bag.

The woman's eyes were trained calculatingly on her. "…You're also making use of an Advanced Transformation Jutsu; that much I can tell. But there's also something off about you, something I can't quite place. Something's wrong with your physiology, the very composition of your body. Your physical constitution … the slightest deviations in your skeletal structure, the set of your bones, the alignment of your joints… You're an enigma. Nothing I can sense about you seems to make a great deal of sense. Just what are you hiding under that henge?"

"If only you knew… Fine. If you're really that curious…"

POOF!

"What … the hell…?"

"Tsunade-sama…"

"You're joking, right?"

Hinata blushed, ears pinning down against her head. "Does it look like I'm joking?"

"Th-they move!" Shizune squeaked.

"That's right…" Hinata remarked after a tiny yawn, stretching lazily. "Doctor's curiosity, isn't it? After all, how often will you cross paths with an ally who's half human, half ookami youkai?" She slinked onto her sleeping bag, tail swishing silkily with the movement. "Met any in the last fifty years?"

Some bright glint in the sannin's eyes had already thought up a question or twenty, but she put on her poker face and hid it well.

"No," Hinata continued nonchalantly, propping up again to briefly cuff and scuff her pillow with claws. "I can answer that one for you. Even your grandfather and great-uncle – history's only other two human wolf-kin though they were – never did choose to take the next step and undergo the change. Anyways, I don't really feel like talking to you. You haven't decided yet, after all – if we're allies or not."

With that she folded her blanket over herself and transformed again, disguising her canine ears, and shut her eyes. I lied down, my sleeping bag right beside hers, and our hands joined comfortably between us; eyes shut, she snuck me a smile. As much as I disliked Hinata showcasing herself as a freak, it just might have been effective; however slightly, Tsunade's curiosity had been piqued.

I looked up and noticed that Shizune, though sitting on a sleeping bag, was still sitting up, reading a small book. Gaara, of course, owned no sleeping bag.

"Just wondering," I asked, chuckling inwardly, "Y'all aren't planning to ditch us as soon as we all fall asleep, are you?"

"Of course not," Tsunade called flatly from where she lied on her side, facing away from us. "If we really felt like losing you, we wouldn't need to put that much effort into doing it…"

"Okay," I said innocently.

The next morning, we woke to see a cloudy-eyed Shizune having a staring contest across the camp with a stone-faced Gaara.

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched as she glared at the insomniac. "Get up, Shizune! We're going!"

"Hu-what?"

"Time to wake up, guys," I announced, "We're leaving."

The woman shot me a look.

"Nani? It is morning…?"

"Bushy Brow – good to have you back!" I jeered.

"What? Oh, no, do not tell me I was unconscious the longest…? !"

"I can 'not tell you' if you want, but…"

"Oh…"

"We're just glad you're okay, Lee-kun," Hinata said.

"Still, I must… okay, a thousand inverted push-ups!"

"Save it for later; we've gotta move!"

Tsunade had watched our exchange silently. "…You really do intend to keep following me, don't you?"

"Well, yes," I said. "How many times do we need to say it?"

"Even if it took years?"

"I guess we're hoping it doesn't, but…"

"Why?"

"Are you going to have me repeat myself?"

She shook her head. "You're young – young enough to turn your backs on this, to start over someplace new…"

I blinked. "I guess we could. We were practically run out of the village, y'know; I don't think anyone could much blame us if we chose not to come rushing to the rescue now that it's in deep. But… Our actions are dictated by the folks who matter to us; they define us. Maybe that's something too emotional for a shinobi to say. Maybe we could – maybe it would be easier to turn a blind eye to our precious people, go somewhere else, stop thinking about them until they fade away and we forge new bonds … but for now, that's just not possible.

"And besides," I added, "that'd be nothing for a future Hokage to do."

The woman flinched. "What did you just say…?"

I smirked. I nodded to Hinata. "Future leader of the Hyuuga Clan…" To Lee. "A loyal and splendid ninja, through and through…" To Gaara. "And a great comrade and friend… But me? Orochimaru'll have to shove off, because I intend to become the greatest Hokage the Leaf has ever seen. To be Hokage… That's my dream!"

"…You… You fool…"

"What?"

A strange look lit her eyes as she stared at me. I glanced over my shoulder. Yep, she was looking at me.

"…Why would someone want to be Hokage?"

"Are you kidding? I'd lay down my life to protect my home! Any of us would! To be Hokage–!"

"It's a fool's dream."

My eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to say?"

She snorted and turned her back. "Hey – tell you what. How'd you like to place a little wager?"

"What, you mean like a bet?"

"I'll give you until midnight, three days from now; that's about how long it'll take to walk to the next town. If you four together can defeat me, in any way you can possibly manage, I'll admit I was wrong and join you on your madman escapade to save the village. Heck – if you can beat me, I'll even throw in my necklace."

"L-Lady Tsunade–!"

"But if you can't do it, you'll never bother me again. I don't care what you do, but you'll stay away from me. And I'll be taking all the money you have on you."

I frowned. "We'll think about it."

"Sorry, brat – now or never. Do we or don't we have a deal?"

I briefly met the others' eyes. Who knows how long it could take otherwise…?

But … with all of us, together…

This might be the best opportunity we can get.

"Deal."

"Great!" she said, smiling pleasantly. "During this time, I won't hesitate to attack you on sight. Starting now."

Shunshin no Jutsu!

Fwsh-fwt-fwn-fwssh!

Neji ネジ

Consciousness returned to the sound of deep breathing, slowly flowing air, and the rhythmic beep of a heart monitor. My sight refocused promptly on the white ceiling above.

"Welcome back, Neji-kun…" he said, pulling off the now fogged-up mask covering my nose and mouth. I sat up slowly, plucking vital sign monitoring electrodes from my chest, my legs, my arms.

"Orochimaru-sa–,"

I gagged and grunted, back arching, grasping at my forehead and throat.

"Drink this." He guided a vial to my lips, tipping my head back, and I downed the sharp potion.

"Th-thank you," I said, and loosed a small cough. "M'lord – how did it go?"

"Unsuccessful, I'm afraid … but I'm certainly learning more about it with each test."

"I see." I pulled my shirt over my head, and went on the secure my headband in place. "Thank you for this, Orochimaru-sama. I appreciate the effort…" I swung my legs over the edge of the bed.

The man smirked. He steadied me as I stepped to the ground and began to stumble; the large dose of anesthetic needed to sedate me, though already rapidly thinning out of my system, still weighed heavily on me. "You're invaluable to me, Neji-kun … my precious disciple."

Disciple … and eventually… I shook my head. It was an odd prospect to contemplate. Besides, what was there for contemplation?

"Should I have someone walk you to the Hyuuga compound?" he asked, a thin, supportive arm draped around my shoulders as he guided me to the door. "The village streets are never completely safe…"

"I'll be fine in a few minutes," I said. "You know that."

"Kukuku… I suppose so. I'll see you soon, Neji-kun."

Lee リー

Chilled night had fallen once more over the forest; owl and cricketsong interspersed themselves in the tranquil air. I crouched patiently in a thicket, four sets of weights lying on the earth at my sides.

I cannot help but begin to wonder … whether we should have accepted this challenge… Two days remained still, but at this point it had become clear enough. Tsunade intended to break us, and it grew evident it was within the realm of possibility she would need not even three days to do it.

My eyes flickered to where I knew Gaara was hidden.

Gaara-kun … simply has not attained the level of skill, of speed required to defend against an adversary of this caliber. Even we have not. And if he were to draw on more strength … well, the result could be unfavorable.

My eyes darted to the side. Hinata-san… at highest form, though she can now refrain from targeting her allies, she is still virtually incapable of teamwork…

Naruto-kun's full power… I pictured the ensuing clash, and just did not see him coming out victorious. Well, we do not want to level the forest either way…

And my maximum strength … can last only seconds. Seconds in which I might certainly be able to equal a sannin, but would not likely overpower one.

Not to mention, the more serious we were, the more dangerous this could get; if Tsunade found herself truly threatened, she would not hold back either. So we would wait. On the last day, once time was running out, we would strike with everything we had. But at present…

I tensed. Here they come.

A duo of distant figures took form as they headed up the path at casual pace. When they were not far away, I flung my weights high into the air so that they would land a short way ahead of the target of our ambush.

Tsunade blurred forward as they fell. She plucked them from the air.

Impossible…!

A lunging Naruto – who was supposed to have been provided the cover of a dust cloud through which to attack – was knocked back as a cruelly thrown weight slammed against his gut. With great speed I was on the opposite side of the path, and then in the air, one foot extended before me.

Painfully silent DYNAMIC ENTRY!

The woman shifted ever so slightly. I sailed past her, and cringed as my foot cracked hardened earth and pain popped in my knee. The fist I swung back was blocked, and I rapidly followed with two consecutive kicks, both of which were dodged. The firm fist that planted itself on my back may or may not have fractured a rib; I grunted and was turned by the shoulder, struck a glancing blow to the temple, and blown back by a palm to my forehead. I hit the ground hard, and with one painful bounce slid to a halt.

Kuso! I shoved to my knees. M-my body…!

Tsunade dodged and blocked expressionlessly, probably not breaking a sweat as Hinata and three bands of sand struck and lashed a furious offensive. The woman ducked a strike, jerking a low elbow into the girl's gut even as her other fist smashed into the earth; she swung her hand sharply up, and the back of her knuckles clipped Hinata's jaw, flinging her off her feet and dispelling her in a burst of flame.

Hinata blurred down into existence behind Tsunade, a fist rearing back, and…

THUMP.

…Froze as Tsunade's fist tucked itself up under her ribcage.

She was lifted onto her toes, eyes wide, clenched fist frozen inches from Tsunade's face. The girl trembled as her knees began to give, teeth locked as she defiantly urged her fisted hand forward – but it could not clear the distance before she sank to her knees, hands planted on the earth barely steadying her as her hunched form quietly gasped and shook, fighting for breath.

Tsunade sneered down at her. "Pathetic…"

The girl whimpered tinily in pain, ducked her head, threw up on the dirt.

The woman took a step toward her enfeebled form as Hinata collapsed on her side.

"Wait, time out!" Naruto cried, running toward them. Tsunade caught him with a look, stopping him. Then she knelt by Hinata, pushed her onto her back, touched a hand to her stomach.

"For the love of…" She frowned, and her hand was cloaked in chakra.

My brow furrowed. Why would she…?

Most of the tension had left Naruto's stance as he walked to them, kneeling at her other side. He held up his hand; promptly it emanated a soft green light. Focused on the Hyuuga's prone form, he did not meet Tsunade's eyes. "Thanks, but no thanks."

The sannin raised an eyebrow, but backed off.

"You know…" Naruto said as he took over, letting his hand rest on the unconscious girl's belly. "I find it a little odd how you can pound us into the dirt one minute and then patch up some of the damage the next. Why, if I didn't know better I might even think you're starting to feel bad over beating up on a bunch of kids."

"Don't expect much of it," Tsunade muttered, her eyes passively critical on Naruto's work. "I don't feel like being held accountable for some brat's death."

By now Shizune, Gaara, and I had neared them. Naruto smirked fondly. "Even if it is a blow from you, Tsunade-baa-sama, I don't think she'd be done in that easily."

"What did you just call me…?"

"Elder Tsunade. You are my elder, are you not?"

Not answering, Tsunade observed a few silent seconds longer. "…She's hot."

"I didn't know you swung that way, Granny, but either way–,"

"That's not what I meant. Her body temperature ought to be roasting her…"

"Oh, that. Funny thing – her average hovers around 103, or 104. To run a 98 like us humans … well, I guess something would have to be wrong with her." He lifted his hand as the jutsu subsided. "But then again, we're not talking about this. After all, we can't go divulging secrets to someone whose loyalty at the moment's just a bit shaky."

"You won't have to worry about that. This momentary truce of ours will be ending shortly," Tsunade bit back with a scowl. Naruto held her glaring eyes stubbornly for several seconds; then Hinata, oblivious to the tension, slowly sat up between them. The sannin apparently forgotten, Naruto's attention was immediately on the girl.

"How do you feel?" he asked, an arm around her shoulders. "Can you breathe alright? Is there a lot of pain here? How about here…?"

She answered him, blushing under the attention and concern; when he was satisfied the girl was a-ok, he sighed in relief.

The sannin silently scrutinized the teens from where she stood. "Sorry to say, but something about you really doesn't quite seem to strike me as the medical ninja type."

"I didn't quite realize a 'type' was required to help people. After all – aren't most people with the power to save lives instinctively driven to use it?"

Tsunade's eyes turned cold.

"I don't know; maybe that's just me," Naruto went on levelly. "But it begs the question – why are you a medical ninja, Tsunade-sama? After all, you've said it yourself that you don't care either way."

"That's enough!" Shizune cried, "You have no idea–!"

"Boy," Tsunade said dangerously, "If you know what's good for you, you won't try me."

"Excuse me, but I have a name; it's Uzumaki Naruto. And I told you already. We won't give up – I won't give up. Sorry, but I made a promise to protect that village and I never go back on my word."

"Because you'll be Hokage someday?" Tsunade sneered.

"That's right – I will. And I for one would lay down my life in a heartbeat if it was for the good of the Leaf."

"That's the problem with you…" Tsunade smirked darkly. "Sacrificing your life for the sake of the village? Life's not like money, kid; to risk and gamble it off at the drop of a hat … it's a fool's bet!"

My teeth clenched. "What did you just say…?"

"Have you ever taken a good look at the Hokage of the past? The earliest wanted nothing more than to end hostilities and bring prosperity to the village … and for all the good they may have done, in the end they died young and in vain for the village, for the village, still in the midst of chasing after their dreams…"

A rare chill was settling in Naruto's harsh eyes; his mouth was set in an even frown.

"Same with Sarutobi-sensei. A teetering old fart was compelled to try and act heroic, and look at what happened to him!"

How dare she…!

Naruto shuddered at the words. It was clearly growing very difficult for him to remain calm.

"And here you brats are, going for glory in some big vigilante quest to free the village from Orochimaru. You'll lay down your life for it, you say, anything for the village, you say – a fat lot of good you'll do the village when you're dead."

"So we'd be better off like you, then? Doing absolutely nothing but roaming around and cowering in the dark? Better to give up beforehand than to have faith and risk disappointment, right?"

At the calm words, all eyes fell on the new speaker. Hinata-san…

"Sorry, Konoha, you'll have to continue suffering who knows how much longer because, lo and behold, the great Tsunade-sama is afraid to have hope."

"What are you getting at…?"

Hinata looked the woman in the eye. "Pardon me for saying it, Lady Tsunade, but Naruto-kun is too good a gentleman to say it. To be frank you seem a lot like them – that is, the rare brand of coward who, presented the circumstances, would sooner join Orochimaru than oppose him."

Amber eyes narrowed on unreadable white as Hinata got to her feet.

"But on second thought, as far as intent goes most New Oto-nin do claim to believe they're saving lives, in the best interest of the village, through their lack of resistance. The difference between New Oto and New Konoha shinobi is whether they're willing to live for the village or die for it. But you're – well, running away, messing around, hiding out, waiting for whatever happens to happen. If you look at it that way, you're actually worse–,"

Not another word was allowed to leave her lips. In the blink of an eye Tsunade had her by the neck of her jacket, pinning the girl's back to a tree with a solid thwack! Hinata winced slightly at the impact; her arms hung calmly at her sides.

"Say one more word…"

"And you'll what?"

KRACK!

Naruto, Gaara, and I could only stare in hidden terror as Tsunade's fist punched cleanly through the tree very near Hinata's head.

"I'm warning you…"

"Lord Founder must be rolling in his grave. Even you wouldn't kill the children of your village – or would you, Tsunade-sama?"

She hit the girl in the stomach – and I quickly looked away as she rammed her knee up against her groin. Hinata jerked and squeaked in surprise and pain. Tsunade threw her to the ground. The girl lied shivering, teeth clenched, a hand clutching her stomach and her knees pressed tightly together. I stifled a grimace. I obviously did not know how painful such a blow was to a girl, but I knew too well that in training Master Washi had no qualm with resorting to such a tactic if and whenever a careless opportunity presented itself.

"You'll shut your mouth…" Tsunade growled.

She was blushing in embarrassment. "S-so when we're losing an argument and c-can't think up a comeback we reimburse our esteem with a little physical payback and good old-fashioned humiliation, huh? Very mature, Tsunade-sama–ack!" …There was a shoe on her neck.

Are you trying to get yourself killed? ! My hand went for a sword hilt.

"Don't move," Tsunade said flatly, pressing harder; eyes wide, Hinata kicked in alarm.

Under her foot rested the life of the only one of us capable of tracking a sannin. Still, she would not… she could not…

I glowered, and the sword slid back into its sheath. Naruto, also ready to spring, raised his hands in submission. Stirring sand retreated into Gaara's gourd as he followed suit. Shizune, though disapproval was stark on her scowling face, did not act. Tsunade smirked.

"Tell you what. How about we place the same stakes on a different wager? I don't really feel like toting you around for another two days anymore."

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked coldly. "We already made a deal."

Tsunade waggled a finger, casting him a sidelong glance. "Oh? But you haven't even heard my offer yet. Instead of the four of you defeating me, this girl…"

Hinata loosed a strangled cry, face becoming tinged with blue.

"…Simply needs to land one solid blow."

I gasped. It is likely we all did.

"Well?" She released Hinata. "What do you say?"

Naruto glowered. "We have to–,"

"No thinking about it. Answer in the next fifteen seconds, or the offer expires. But if the girl fails … don't think you can fall back on your former challenge and try to defeat me all together."

Which were the better odds? All of us defeating a sannin, or one of us landing a single blow? We had not even had a chance yet – we had been planning to try at higher power later…!

"If it's just one, let me do it," Naruto demanded.

Not a bad idea. Not only does he have that power, but Hinata-san… She still is not the type of person that can handle so much pressure on her own.

"I don't think so," Tsunade sang, seeming to be thoroughly enjoying the situation. "You heard my offer. I'll go one-on-one with our little tough talker here."

Kuso…!

"I need an answer from someone. Five … four … three…"

I met Naruto's eyes. Teeth clenched, he looked down and shook his head.

"Two…O–,"

"I-I'll do it…!"

Naruto looked up, eyes huge.

Gaara frowned anxiously.

My jaw dropped.

Tsunade grinned sharply. "Deal."

Naruto ナルト

This was bad. This was bad-bad-bad-bad-b-a-d-bad.

When women fight, they always seem to want to tear each other to pieces…! Okay, so maybe that wasn't true of Hinata – she was too sweet to want to tear someone to pieces – but this Tsunade… Any compassion she might have felt a few minutes before was long gone, as proven by her little demonstration. I mean, of all the people to get on the bad side of, Hinata just had to pick this really. Scary. Lady!

"My throat feels fine now, Naruto-kun…"

I looked up at her quiet voice; the girl's eyes were downcast, perhaps troubled. Justly so. "O-oh, right," I said, fingers slipping from where they ever so lightly framed her trachea.

She shut her eyes as she smiled meekly at me. "Naruto-kun, your hands are shaking. D-don't worry. I won't fail the village; I won't fail you."

Fool, I'm not worried about–! Well, of course I was worried about the village and all, too, but more immediately… Okay, let's just say I recognized an excuse to beat someone down when I heard one. "Right. I know you can do it, Hinata-chan."

"Yes," Lee agreed.

Gaara subtly nodded.

"Are you ready over there, or what?" Tsunade called cheerfully, handing her cloak to Shizune. The younger woman, in contrast, looked very unhappy about the entire affair.

"Just about," Hinata replied, running through a quick string of seals and summoning up Kurogiba. She lied a hand on his shoulder, meeting his eyes and no doubt mentally filling him in as to the current situation.

"Your summoned beast, huh?" Tsunade said. "I thought we were fighting one-on-one."

"A summoning jutsu is another ninja art, isn't it? And besides – the two of us are practically one."

"Perhaps … but if you're using the Art of Summoning, I might just be tempted to do the same. I might even choose to make use of all of my ninjutsu."

Hinata hissed a quick intake of breath. She shook her head at a silent question from the wolf. "Stay back, Ani-ue."

"Hm…" Glaring demonic daggers at the sannin, the wolf was seated beside us.

"I'm ready whenever you are," Tsunade called. "I'll even grant you the first move, so long as you get this show on the road sometime today."

I scowled.

"Ano … Naruto-kun…"

I looked to see Hinata's eyes were again trained on the ground before her; pink dusted her cheeks. She turned her head slightly, barely daring meet my eyes before averting her gaze again. In the space of a small few moments, the line of her mouth wrinkled uncertainly, and then her lips parted, faltered, shut.

I blinked in confusion. "What's up?"

She met my eyes slightly again, fingers prodding nervously together. "D-do you think I c-could have … maybe…?"

Understanding clicked. I formed a wind scalpel on my pointer finger, and shortly flicked an incision into my other forearm.

Hinata smiled gratefully. "I won't need much."

"Take as much as you need."

She took my arm and lapped eagerly at the spilling blood. My eyes instantly began to lose focus. It was a task for her to hold in check, I knew, to restrain herself and look dignified as possible as she began to gently suckle the wound; a couple of times before she had slipped and bitten me, but never caused any serious damage. Warmth spread in my cheeks, and I inhaled as a sense of serenity blossomed in my chest; I felt like I was floating on air.

The … the demon's bite…

I feel almost dirty, but … I can't help it…

When Hinata feeds from me…

It feels too good…

I shivered, giving in to a painfully audible sigh. But despite the happy butterflies dancing in my stomach, I didn't miss the gasp Shizune emitted as her eyes cut fearfully to her master, nor did I fail to catch the way that vicious, cocky boastfulness of moments before had evaporated from Tsunade's face. Instead of mocking us for our strange transaction or complaining that we needed to hurry up, she just stared – stock still – eyes wide.

A drop of my blood hit the ground.

Is Baa-sama … trembling…?

Then the seconds of feeding were done, and Hinata's tongue lapped over the cut; already it was knitting together, sealed.

The girl stepped forward.

Her shoulders were slightly hunched; her hands shook. Her tongue darted out, cleaning crimson from her stained lips, and her body shuddered. Head down, she snickered lowly in pleasure, a blood-chilling demon's laugh. When she raised her head, a fang-boasting smile shone excitedly on her wide-eyed face. If she had felt any apprehension before, she didn't now. She raised her hands, arms crossing in an X before her.

"Youki… RELEASE!" she barked, spreading her arms as her claws sprang out, as her hair darkened, as jagged stripes of black flew to pattern her skin. She lowered to a crouch, and an animal growl blared from deep in her throat. The floodgates were open. For a short while her demon essence would be running full force, and she was raring to use it. "Here goes…" she whispered, blurring forward.

"Lady Tsunade!"

Hinata ヒナタ

"Lady Tsunade!"

I mentally swore, eyes huge as outstretched claws just barely brushed the side of her shirt; she nearly stumbled as she landed from the narrow evasion. I swatted down an urge to go on the attack. Something was wrong. I assumed I'd have to strike with intent to kill to have any hope of maybe grazing her, but her reaction was so late… a bit slower, and I might've…!

I located my voice. "Are you awake over there? ! If you're not going to take me seriously we need to call this off, for your sake!"

A fraction of a second later, and I might have shredded her side wide open.

"Lady Tsunade…" Shizune said, eyeing me uncertainly.

"I'm fine," the sannin assured her, brushing it off. "She was a bit faster than I anticipated, and got a little lucky. It won't happen again…" Her eyes were cocky as before when she looked to me. She held out her hand and beckoned. "Get over here, girl."

I did – and swiftly my arm was twisted behind me, force met my back, I smacked harshly into a tree. She's fast…! I thought with a whimper, staggering back and shaking my head a bit. I'd seen her move – I was still just a little too slow to do much of anything about it. Focus… I thought, growling as I charged.

I took a bound on all fours and sprang up, launching into something of a Leaf Hurricane kick. The woman ducked and spun to cleanly evade me, and the moment I landed I was blocking a knee strike at my face; the force knocked my hands against my face and shot me into the ground.

Landing on my back, I backflipped swiftly onto my feet and charged again, lunging to slash. A furiously rapid storm of claws and fists and palms were dodged and blocked and parried as she backpedalled at a controlled pace. I lashed out with a kick, and my ankle was caught in front of her face. I lashed the other foot up, aiming for the back of her shoulder, and she turned the ankle she held and ducked; my foot sailed over her head, and I struck back with the heel. This blow she caught, and, holding both my ankles, crossed them and shoved in such a way that I was thrown spinning away from her. My side connected sharply with the ground, and from the bounce I sprang into a crouch on all fours. I cringed, and a knee hit the ground.

"What, that's it?" Tsunade taunted. "And you thought you could hit me?"

My teeth clenched. "I will!"

I attacked at a ferocious pace, with focused wildness leaping and striking and darting and slashing and flowing and kicking and punching and once tossing in an attempt at biting, Byakugan ablaze, moving as fast as I could. She shifted and blocked and dodged and evaded and blurred and intercepted and parried and slapped me across the face. I threw out everything I had, and she moved right along with me, keeping pace and countering with calculated precision.

One hit – I just need one hit–!

Her hand caught and firmly gripped my wrist.

"My turn."

"Huh–?"

A kick crashed tremendously into the side of my ribs. It all flashed white.

–"You've done well so far, Hinata…"

"Ah – th-thank you very much, Houkou-sama."–

I hit the ground and yowled in pain. It was – something – something had to be broken. God, the pain! H-how long had it been since I'd been broken…? !

No – I had to get up. I had to get up, now. It was for the village…!

"I can't fail here!" I shouted, lunging strongly to slash. I saw her slipping aside, a hand touching my upper arm, a knee rising – and lost my wind in a too-sharp grunt, halted against the vicious force slamming into my gut.

"AH–!"

–"Your final trial will be a simple battle."–

Sh-she's too… strong…

Force rocketed into my jaw, throwing my head back.

The foot she'd kicked with lashed down, crushing, into my gut. It shot into my jaw again.

My gut.

My jaw.

But this time there was an extra 'kick' of force, her chakra, and it lifted my feet from the earth, sent me sailing up and back – and she clutched my shoulder and wrenched me from the air and threw me to the ground. My back broke the earth under it, and force rang in my ears. White.

–"Kuroshin-sama, Kurochi-sama, you're my opponents?"

"No…"–

I was on my front now; the heel of her sandal was digging cruelly at a pressure point on my back. I cried brokenly in pain.

"Give in."

"I c-can't…!"

The heel twisted. My pain flared exponentially.

–"Return to me, my summoner."

"Return, my summoner."

"What… What is this?"–

She picked me up by my jacket, and threw me onto my feet. I stumbled clumsily.

"Hinata, watch out–!"

BAM! went Tsunade's fist, crashing across my face. Another drove in, cracked into my stomach. I hacked out my breath.

She's holding back somehow, but she's still…!

A third blow planted itself on my breastbone. My body glanced off one tree, spun, and crashed full force into another; my transformation shattered at the impact, and I clung to the trunk for support.

I can't…

I jumped away. Tsunade's finishing punch broke the tree in two, as a twig. She freaking caught it before it fell, slamming it down toward me as I stumbled away; catching my footing, I lowered, whirled, and rose up with a yell, arms crossed at the wrists above my head meeting the force, breaking the descending trunk apart. I dodged a flurry of punches as Tsunade advanced, ducked under her arm to slip behind her; with chakra on the surface of my left palm I lifted a segment of the broken tree trunk heavy as I was and lashed it savagely for the sannin. She met it with a fist, it disintegrated to splinters, and narrowed amber eyes sliced through my shocked white.

–"Kurochi and Kuroshin aren't your opponents. They are."

"Right. If you wish to become a wolf-sister… Prepare to face history's only two wolf-brothers."

"Sh-Sh-Shodai-sama … Nidaime-sama…"–

I screeched, flinging myself aside as a monstrous heel drop devastated the earth. My eyes were huge as I leaned back; a chakra-charged fist nearly clipped the tip of my nose.

I can't … do this…!

–"Urg… I can't go o-on… My b-body … won't move anymore…!"

"Is this the extent of your determination? Did you think earning the name Ookami would be easy? !"–

I could only dodge, for blocking was too painful. I scrambled desperately. Running, hiding.

The fate of Konoha … could hinge on what happens here and now…!

B-but I…!

I threw a punch, and when one of her hands blocked the other sharply nailed me in the gut. Tears welled up in my eyes as I recoiled with a sound of pain.

–I-I've never felt … so much pain…

"Get up!"

"Th-this is i-impossible!"

"What is this pitiful display? ! One so pathetic dares to insult this House of youkai? You dare to shame us with this feeble attempt? !"–

Teardrops flecked off my chin as I shifted. A fist brushed my cheek, and bruised it.

But I…

–"If you believe you are worthy of bearing the name Ookami, stand up and show us…"–

I dodged narrowly.

I've been through worse!

–"Show us, Hyuuga Hinata. What is the strength of your resolve?"

"I…"–

What the hell am I doing…?

Running away … that wouldn't get me anywhere. Hadn't we just said we would lay down our lives for that place?

My teeth clenched hard as I leapt far back, avoiding a swing. She lunged again; I prepared to dodge.

Didn't I just say it myself? When it came down to a divide, there were two types of Leaf ninja – those who live for the village, and those who could die for it!

I instead set my feet, squared my stance, meeting the sannin's eyes head-on.

–"I w-will…!"–

The woman yelled out as she drew back her fist.

I am Hyuuga Hinata, kunoichi of Konohagakure no Sato, rightful heiress of Clan Hyuuga, and through my veins flows the proud blood of the Ookami! I will…!

–"I will…!"–

"Stand and FIGHT!" I roared, rooting my feet with chakra and crossing my forearms in defense.

Tsunade's punch was blocked.

For an instant nothing seemed to happen. I was painfully certain my forearm had fractured on contact. My snarl-locked teeth vibrated as my wide eyes determinedly stared her down, first slightly, then growing steadily in intensity until my teeth chattered as if with cold–

BOOM! ! !

The earth exploded at my feet – fracturing with a tremor-jolt into slabs and blocks and chunks of stone, the recently level surface thrown into jagged disarray.

Tsunade's mouth popped open, her eyes wide and disbelieving. My arms shifted, hand wasting no time in latching firmly onto her wrist.

"I've got you!" I growled, drawing back a fist.

I proceeded to punch her face as hard as I possibly could.

She grunted, and her body smacked into a tree, crackling its bark. Then she crumbled into stone.

"Shoot!" A substitution…!

My hands clapped together. Where was she? !

No time – I have to go to Curse Level Two–!

'Sis, behind you! !'

'Wh–?' "Unh–!"

I fell strengthless to my hands and knees, face hot.

My mouth was dry as I shakily turned my head. My voice was quiet, carrying a very slight tremble and a stony seriousness tinged with terror.

"Let go."

"Hm?" the woman said, a smug look on her face. "Quite the weakness you have here. Does this hurt?"

"It's freakin' annoying – GYAAAAAH! Now it hurts!" I shrieked as her grip on my tail tightened.

"Stop it – Let her go!" Naruto cried. "Not liking her is one thing, but you have no idea how much pain you're causing her right now!"

"That bad, huh?" Tsunade mused lightly. I was lying flat now, hands over my head, shivering and gasping and scarcely daring blink. "Tell you what. Before I let go, I want your word that you and your little troop of pals'll stop following me. Go find someone else to bother if you want – but you'll leave me alone."

"I c-can't do that!" I squeaked shrilly, sweating in pain. I might have been foaming at the mouth. My head felt ready to explode.

"Must not be that bad after all."

Her grip strengthened brutally.

"AAAAAAAAAAAGGHHH! ! STOP IT!"

"Give in!"

"NO!"

"You're asking for it!"

"MOTHERXXXXXX! You freakin' psychopath! $(&#! &$ヰ#$&^$゠Xヴ$#! ! Let go! God, stop it! STOP!"

"Scream for your mom!"

"MOMMYYYYYYY–!"

CRAK–!

Naruto ナルト

I stared, dumbstruck, after Tsunade broke Hinata's tail. The girl's scream broke off abruptly; within the instant she flopped completely limp.

"Ought to teach you."

"Lady Tsunade, that was cruel…"

I shook my head, shock giving way to rage. "What the hell did you just do? !"

Beside me, Kurogiba's eyes were huge. "She…"

Tsunade flickered ten meters away, and a blaze of dark energy exploded from Hinata's unconscious form. My jaw dropped. The air became frozen, brittle. My stomach wrung itself unpleasantly at the palpable darkness in the air; beside me, Lee stumbled a step back, teeth clenched, grabbing at his belly. My soul was rattled at the pressure.

Then it was over. Kurogiba swore, racing to the motionless girl, and I hurriedly followed; Lee and Gaara weren't far behind.

"Pup – can you hear me?" he asked, nudging her face with his muzzle. I knelt, hands already aglow, searching for abnormality.

Gaara gasped. "How…?"

"What is it?" Lee asked.

"Her tail … it's disappeared…"

"I-it did!" I yelped, surprised. And her ears – her ears were human, but she was under no transformation…

"…What just happened?" Tsunade asked, watching quietly behind us. Kurogiba looked up, glaring icily.

"Don't act concerned now. The tail is the han'you's link to the youkai realm, the spirits of our ancestors – and when you oh-so-smugly decided to snap it, you ruptured that bond."

"So what happens now, mongrel?" the sannin shot back, like she was in any position to get all offended over his taking a tone with her.

"Let's just say that when she underwent the ordeal and became an honorary sister of the wolves, she transformed inside and out. Her chakra … is comprised primarily of youki, the demon essence she possesses because of her ties. With all this suddenly wrenched away, she'll be lucky to wake up with a quarter of the power she might wield if she were still a regular human."

"But – she will change back to normal, right? !" Lee asked.

"For a few days she will be 'normal,' if not pathetically vulnerable. Hopefully it won't be long."

Hinata… My hand shook as it rested on the forehead, the cheek of a fatigued, sickly white face. She was already ninety-nine degrees.

Teeth clenching hard, I found Tsunade's eyes. She frowned indifferently down at me.

"Well?" I growled. "Don't you have anything to say about this? ! !"

'Heheheheheee… My, kit, aren't you getting angry…?'

I started to stand up; I probably would have caught myself anyway, but Lee's hands gripped my shoulders.

'How dare she reduce Hinata to this state–!'

Stop it. You're putting words in my head.

"Come on – what is done is done," Lee said, oblivious to the silent conflict. "Hinata-san is injured…"

I frowned, looking down again. "Yeah."

The girl was limp as the dead; this notion alone spiked a flare of anger, but it was lost under concern as I began to really examine her. Two of her ribs were cracked, and, under a grotesque, darkened bruise, the radius bone of her left forearm had sustained quite a fracture. She had bruises like freaking chickenpox.

My eyes shifted again to my warrior's porcelain face; palely sallow in complexion, mouth hung slightly open, her sad face was weary as her body, like all the life, every last measly ounce of vitality had been drained out of her. It was relaxed, at rest, but not at ease, and this time not even my touch could soothe her. Oh, Hinata… It hasn't changed, y'know.

–"It hurts me to see the fighter, the warrior Hinata."–

I still wish you didn't have to fight so much…

I looked up as Shizune approached and knelt at Hinata's other side. Face glum, the woman didn't meet my eyes.

"What are you doing?" Tsunade asked, eyes narrowing. "You don't have to clean up after me."

"In all respect, Lady Tsunade, what you just did was…"

"So what, you think we owe something to them–? !"

"Lady Tsunade, let me do what I want to do!" she cried, ducking her head. The older woman was stunned silent.

"You don't have to…" I began quietly.

She looked up, offering a sad smile. "There's a fracture toward the distal extremity of her left radius, right?"

Toward the lower end of one of the two forearm bones? "Yes…"

"I can handle it. You try to work with those ribs."

She identified the wounds by sight alone… "Okay," I said, getting to work. "Arigatou."

The next morning, we woke up around noon. Well, most of us woke up. Gaara was already awake, and Hinata was comatose.

Alas, when Lee, Gaara, Kurogiba, and I with Hinata on my back set off for the town, Tsunade and Shizune were more or less walking with us.

"We failed your little challenge," I muttered. 'We' was technically a she, but I wouldn't have felt right blaming Hinata for this. "What are you tagging around for if you hate us so strongly?"

Tsunade scowled down at me. "Since it is my fault she's in that state…"

No way – what was this? Responsibility for her actions, perhaps?

"I can't just leave an unconscious girl in the hands of three teenage boys."

"What…?"

Me. Lee. Gaara.

"We're hardly the type–!"

"Why are you suddenly so keen on getting me to leave?"

"You have a dirty mind, Obaa-sama!"

Hinata ヒナタ

"Koinu… What is the source of your power? Do you know it?"

I open my mouth. "Well–,"

"But not something sappy like 'the people who matter' or what have you. I'm talking about your demonic power. Can you tell me where it comes from? What allows for something so unnatural as a being originally human to hold her own demon essence?"

I think for a few seconds. "What do you mean?"

Ani-ue sighs, drawing up some patience. "What do you have that a regular human doesn't? What physical difference do you possess?"

"Fangs and claws … and, then, my ears and…"

"That a human doesn't have in any way, shape, or form."

"A tail?"

"Exactly. The han'you's tail embodies its bond to the realm of youkai – the link that connects one to the ancestors. Your tail … is the prime manifestation of your demon essence, koinu, and it is what draws unto you the strength of the Ookami."

"I never realized…"

"It's a part of your very essence, Hinata. For that reason, an attack to the tail … is a direct assault on the spirit…"

From the moment I skirted the edges of consciousness, I knew something was wrong. Anxiety twinged inside me.

–"Take pride in it, but always – always – protect it well."

"Yes, Ani-ue."–

I was empty and numb. The feeling brought on a sickening sensation. I stirred weakly, my brow furrowing.

What's happened? Where…? !

Terror swirled around in the emptiness. Was it hot or cold? I didn't know. It was too quiet. It was never this quiet. I loosed a tiny whimper.

Wake up… Wake up!

I woke with a shudder. I was under an unfamiliar polished wood ceiling, under a blanket, on a futon. Chilled moisture flicked from my brow as I turned over and clambered to my hands and knees. I looked quickly left and right, gasping, sweeping frantic eyes about the lightly furnished room. The world was distorted, everything dull and rounded and indistinct in the dim light – like it was being viewed through a lens that didn't suit me.

I shook my head, grasping at my pounding heart, shrinking as fear and nausea and cold sweat twisted together. Where the hell was I? ! I spotted something – recognized my bag – and scrambled to it, tore fruitlessly at it with too-round nails, and searched, checked one side, the other – there – tugged at the zipper. Clumsily grasping hands withdrew spare clothes, a plushie, a flask of ink – upturned it, dumped it over on the floor, flung things aside. My arms dragged heavily; gasping at a dash of color, I found, fumbled intently at, shakily clenched the hilt and sheath of a thin dagger. Some droplet of solace clenched as I flashed an inch of a glinting, obsidian blade.

"Hinata?"

"Aiiieek!"

I shrieked at the contact to my shoulder, rising to my feet and lashing the blade round. The boy's hand snapped securely onto my wrist.

"Easy, Hinata–!" He caught my other fist. "Calm down – oi!" He shifted to avoid an underhanded kick, and in an effortless motion by his grip on my hands the blond swept me off my feet. My frail back thudded to the floor, and despite my fighting and kicking and spitting in his eye he had in moments wrestled and pinned me firmly down.

"Let go of me!" I wailed.

"Calm yourself! I'm your friend!"

"Why the hell would you sneak into the room? !"

"I didn't! I knocked and opened the door!"

"I would've heard it! !"

"Hinata, look! It's me! It's Naruto, y'know? !"

My huge eyes blinked after a few more rapid breaths. Above my head, the dagger dropped to the floor from a trembling hand. "N-N-Naruto-kun…?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Wh-what's wrong w-w-with m-me? !" I squeaked.

He released me; I picked up the dagger and sheathed it, then stuck it in a pocket as I got to my feet, twitching nervously. He snatched the pocketed weapon, shaking his head as I started to protest. He spoke quietly. "Tsunade … broke your tail, remember?" I felt above my backside, confirming the absence. Oh, $&/#! "You've been out a couple of days. We're in an inn in town that's run by a friend of Grandma's."

"O-o-ohh…" This totally freakin' random teardrop slid down my cheek. I paced back and forth and back and made for the door, trudging as fast as my heavy feet would carry me down the hall outside.

"Where are you going?" Naruto called, coming apprehensively to my side.

"I'm gonna b-be sick – I n-need some fr-fresh air – I g-gotta go out-s-side – it's s-so dark in here–," For no reason at all I lifted my hand and bit sharply into it, and blunt as they were my teeth did the job. Still striding purposefully, I sucked and lapped the blood as it fell – it tasted horrible, actually – but I drank it up anyways.

"Hinata…? !"

Oh gods. Oh my gods. Why was my body so goddam heavy? ! Was – no, my backpack wasn't on! This was worse than a new moon. Not blocked off – gone – couldn't feel it – youki, gone – nowhere to be found. I bit down into two of my fingers this time. #$X&, did it hurt. Still tasted awful, too.

Now imagine my surprise when throbbing pain fluttered in my skull, when iciness engulfed me, when my vision rapidly unfocused and refocused and I found myself looking at the back of my head.

Oh, dear…

It was already going black as my body finished one more step and collapsed.

"You're lucky to be surrounded by such good medical ninja. It would've scarred."

'See, your soul's not currently firmly rooted to your body as it's used to.'

I was lying down again; I wasn't all that capable of moving at the moment. 'So I slipped. Out of my &#$X&ヶ# body.' I hadn't needed to summon Kurogiba again; he simply hadn't dispelled.

'Don't talk about your body that way. Just because it's weaker than you're accustomed to doesn't mean you need to attack it, either. Especially, even.' He was talking about the hand that lied bandaged at my side. 'Listen, your mate's talking.'

'Ani-ue…' "Arigatou, Naruto-kun…" I muttered weakly. It all felt like the flu, but it wasn't. I certainly didn't have the fever I should've. "I'm sorry … for attacking you."

"Don't worry about it. Just try not to freak out like that, y'know? You really scared me…"

"Gomen…"

So my spirit was usually well more firmly connected to my body. It made sense. Almost as in the second level of the curse seal, the full moon state, a couple of fatal wounds were brushed off – my soul wouldn't be upturned and vacated that easily – and rapidly organs were restored, blood replenished, all while I remained conscious.

But now… I could die just as easily as any human. My youki was gone, and my chakra, chakra that had adjusted itself to pairing with youki, laughably weak with the absence. If I were stabbed, I could be history in seconds. I was vulnerable – more so than I'd been in a long time. Maybe not as killable as the average human – the curse's physical effects, some general hardiness lingered still – but being in no state to defend myself, it was practically the same. I shivered, at the thought and at yet another painful surge of nausea.

Naruto seemed to read my thoughts. "You don't need to worry." He patted a fisted hand onto his breastbone. Even against a world dulled in my sight, his eyes were brilliant and serious. "I'll protect you; that's never changed. If anything does come our way, you can just sit back and get your rest; I won't let it touch you. You have my word." His other hand closed, gently firm, on my uninjured one.

I managed a smile. "Then I d-don't have anything to worry about…"

Kurogiba nodded and spoke up. "Rest, and as soon as you're able, meditate. Five more days, and you should be able to change back to normal."

"Hai…" I turned my head slightly, looking past my friends. "And … what is she doing here?"

Naruto shrugged as behind him Tsunade's eyebrow twitched. "Probably wants to study you or something."

"I have no such intention!"

"You said you couldn't trust three teenage boys with an unconscious girl. She's conscious, isn't she? Why are you still hanging around, then?"

"Boy, you've got some nerve…"

He turned his head to face her. "Aren't you satisfied? You've done enough damage already. Please leave our room – Hinata needs peace and quiet now."

Hard golden eyes glowered back at him. The woman turned and left the room.

Neji ネジ

"Satisfied? You're weaker than me. This hasn't changed," I said quietly.

"Teme…" he muttered, eyes livid, face red.

"Don't fault me for your humiliation. You have none to blame but yourself," I said simply, releasing him from the hold by which I had pinned him to the ground. I offered him a hand up, which he arrogantly decided was beneath him and sourly declined. I shook my head. "You chose to disregard Lord Orochimaru's judgment and challenge me for the right to learn the jutsu, and you lost. The least you could do is swallow your pride and accept defeat. Then again," I said offhandedly, "I suppose pride is all you've got at this point."

He started, dark eyes flashing dangerously.

"Kukukukuku… Excellent work, Neji-kun…"

I turned dismissively from my subordinate, bowing deeply with a fist crossed over my chest. "Thank you, my lord," I said, and rose again. The corners of my mouth turned up as I met Hokage-sama's proud golden eyes, and a pleased, lofty smirk was reinforced on his face.

"Hey, Hyuuga." A hand landed on my shoulder, gripping firmly.

"Hm?" I said with a raised eyebrow, unfazed and neglecting to spare a look his way. I could have stopped him easily, but decided against it and allowed myself to be pulled to face him – and I found myself looking directly into a pair of blazing Sharingan eyes a short few inches away.

"You're mine…" Three tomoe revolved with a thick slowness around each pupil, swimming through a crimson pool of molasses, moving at a surely constant speed but somehow nonetheless lilting, staggering dizzily, and my sense of equilibrium began to crumble as the rest of the world started to melt away.

"Pathetic!" I growled, my hand latching strongly onto his shoulder, and my Byakugan flared to life to break cleanly through the illusion that was taking root in my mind.

The following result was surprising.

The Uchiha flinched away with a small, startled gasp, his eyes growing wide. The pressure on my shoulder weakened and fell away, and his bloodline faded. Trembling, he lost balance and slumped to his hands and knees.

An alarm went off inside me. I didn't know how, but what had just happened held some manner of significance. Orochimaru-sama observed silently as I knelt beside the boy.

"Uchiha!" I said, with a hand on his back, and he gave no response. I lifted his chin to see unfocused dark eyes sitting dull and idle in a white face. I formed a one-handed seal. "Kai!"

Consciousness sparked into his eyes – and he pushed away from me to vomit heavily onto the floor.

"You fool…" I muttered as my mind raced.

"Ah… A reverse genjutsu?" Orochimaru-sama mused.

No, I thought, staring on as Sasuke coughed weakly. I utilized nothing of the sort. All I did was…

The Hyuuga eyes were tinted lavender, but upon activation of the Byakugan they cleared to a blank white.

With our eyes inches apart … if he had chanced to focus on…

"Maybe not reversed … so much as…" I began faintly, and the Uchiha started, wide fearful eyes sharply landing on my face. Then the instant had passed, and he rose just too abruptly to his feet.

"My apologies, Lord Orochimaru. I'll find someone to clean this up."

"Sasuke-kun…" he said icily, stopping the boy in his tracks. My breath caught.

"Sir…?"

Though his face was displeased, his tone softened in something near amusement. "A bit of anger is fine, and I encourage the two of you to remain competitive … however, I do not approve of such childish behavior."

Face flushed, he ducked his head in shame. "I understand, my lord."

He nodded. "You're dismissed, Sasuke-kun… Neji-kun shall begin work on this technique. This one is far better suited to him, either way…"

"Hai, Orochimaru-sama."

Hinata ヒナタ

I meandered across the inn's rooftop and found a suitable place to plop myself down under the light of the moon. Then I noticed what's-er-name was here, too, sitting not all that far away, actually, but by the time I noticed I didn't really feel like moving again. A touch of vertigo; I lied back, resting the back of my skull on the cool rooftop, sighing as I gazed contentedly skyward. The moon was all shiny and shimmery, real pretty and stuff…

"What are you doing?" the lady asked. Su-, no, Tsu-something. Tsu-Tsu-Tsu… Tsubasa? Tsuki…?

I shook my head a little. She'd asked something; I shrugged meekly, propping up a bit on my elbow and bringing the bottle to my lips. I wouldn't even bother say I was just steadying the nerves. A little drizzle found its way out from the corner of my mouth, getting on my neck, my shirt; I cursed at a mutter, wiping my sleeve over my mouth as I finished the swig.

"I asked you a question, girl–,"

"Wuzzit look like'm during…?" I complained loosely. I'd used the wrong word somewhere in there, but figured I'd gotten close enough. I smiled, giggling quietly as another wave of woozy strangeness tumbled over my body like shoreline ocean waves. Somewhere in some annoying part of me I knew this was wrong – I'd gone way further than ever – but I'd convinced it to shut up some five or fifty minutes ago. "I fel' like total bullspits earlierrr…" Wrong word again. Whatever.

"Do you do this often?"

"Useta, kinda … but I never use-a… had'a drink – hic – azza huuman b'fore…" I sighed at the tingly fuzzy butterflies fizzing around me. "It's daff… dam… def… different," I enunciated, and smiled at the feat.

She hadn't moved from where she was some seven or fifteen feet off, but I think she was looking at me as I promptly rewarded myself by choking down another generous swig. All staring at me – it was kinda creeping me out. "…Your 'brother' prescribed rest and meditation. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think this is all that vital in expediting your recovery." I scowled at her reasonable voice, and she sighed. "How'd you even get your hands on that?"

"Trazzermation Judzu… Nowun knowza differnce… Look oldenuf', they don'even check'a ID…" I remembered feeling pretty damn cruddy about it earlier – tricking people, I mean – but I'd gotten over it by now. I slurped and slopped down another sip of the stuff, unsteady hand spilling some all over my chin and shirt; I grunted a curse at the waste, but my heavy arms needed a rest at my sides and I forgot to try and wipe it up. I lied there, arms out, embracing the sliver of moon up there as it kissed me with its glow.

"You don't think you've had a bit much?" she said flatly. Was that – yeah, I thought it was. Prob'ly sarcasm.

"Hey – hey, Baa-chan," I spoke up spontaneously when the thought surfaced. "I wuz kinda thinkering eary-earlierr … I mean, uh sat – naw, sed – yeah, so I sayed somethingsa problaby shouldn't'a…"

"So you're apologizing." She had her doubts.

I shrugged sort of.

"I don' keepuh grudge… Ah meen, figger you been threw'a lottsa &?$# in yertime, tooo… M-me… my guess waz, like, she been threw somma' traumatick'in er youth … ain't 'er fault, may-bee, tha' she's a screwdup ol' bat don'wanna helpa village… Much as I wanna to sayed Get the XXXX off yer XXX witha self-pity parry, cuzz'a past izza past and'a villige needsya – wellll, can't reely jes demand it when'a don-know how bad-a dramaticky insuhdent XXXXed'cha up innah past…"

I guess she didn't know whether to say thanks for the apology or not. To be fair, I probably wouldn't have, either. I was already forgetting what we were talking about anyways. Brow furrowed, I opted to sit up and tackle the dilemma with a fresh shot of juice. Dilemma gone. Poof…

"I … was a bit out of line, too, I guess. I shouldn't have let a few brats get under my skin, to say the least … and I guess I really didn't need to say all of that."

"An'ya breakuh friggin' tail – like, who XXXXin' doez that? Godsdammer, had'a breakuh tail. That hurtah hella lot…" I downed some more. "An'now looka me … fragile littah humannn…" My focus blurred.

"Brat…"

I chuckled. "There's thezzah orphans sorta' lookup't'mee… I picked'em all up from destroyered towns'n wha'not crap, broughtem-a thissah sweet lil' abbey in Prairie…"

My hand was really trembling now; a splash of the bottle landed half in my mouth, half on my person. A droplet of water broke from my eye, slid down the mess of alcohol on my dirty face and chin.

"None've bin adoptered, th-tho– hic – Even tha' far from Fire … nowun wantsa 'dopta kid when'a worl's lookin' dark a'thiss." My shoulders shuddered. "'N longer it takes, olders they git, lessah chance they 'ave… Bu' them kids – Why they hafta' put up w'that? Ain' done nuthin' wronga dezzervit… They needsa' s-sumwun's light in theirr lives, yeah…?"

"At least they've got their guardian demon… Hey – are you crying–?"

I bawled.

"Hey – you'll wake people up–!"

"Whyza' evverthing like th-thisss, kussoooo? ! !" I yelled at the unresponsive moon above, free hand fisted at my side. The woman was by me, snatching the bottle away. "Heyy…!"

Her arm effortlessly held me off as I flailed stupidly at her, slurring profanities in protest. She took one whiff of the rim and started.

"Son of a– This is strong!"

"Givvah back, you XXXXin' ol' XXXXX! !"

"Listen to me! A girl your size–!"

"Leggo a' me!"

"I'm not kidding! How much did you drink–? !"

"None-ah yer bizznesss!" I spat, breaking away from her. The moon and stars quivered, spun; I folded an arm across my middle, glaring darkly at her. "'M going back'ah m'room…" With this declaration, I stepped forward.

To say the least, unexpectedly falling, flailing, and jolting to an upside-down halt by an iron grip on my ankle did not bode well for my stomach.

O-o-oh… …

She pulled me back on the roof, and I turned from her and tossed my cookies, so to speak. When I paused, precise fingers firmly prodded into my abdomen and lower neck in a way that, in my current position, swiftly got me to heave more out, again and again. From there I can remember only more puking and choking and coughing and eventual darkness.

Naruto ナルト

Knock-knock-knock.

What the…? What time was it? It was still dark, so who in the world–?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Yeah, I'm coming," I groaned, yawning and fumbling for the room key. I made my way to the door.

KNOCK. KNOCK–

"Gosh dang, what is it–? !"

I blinked. I looked back to our empty bed, then at the figure limp in the woman's arms.

"What'd you do to her? !"

Tsunade scowled at me. "I didn't do anything. Your friend here…"

The sour stench of alcohol met my nose strong. "Aw, no…"

"Can I come in?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Y-yeah…"

"I'll clean her up in the bathroom. You get her some fresh nightclothes – can you slip them in without peeking, or do I need to have you leave them outside the door?"

"Wh-what do you think, grandma? !"

"Oh, Hinata…" I murmured. The girl dozed on one of the room's beds, curled on her side and tucked neatly under the blanket from shoulder down. She was shivering at intervals, whimpering like a sad, sick little pup; I lightly brushed hair out of her flushed, pale face.

Behind me, Tsunade spoke. "For kami's sake… Getting wasted enough to almost waltz off a third-story rooftop… Is your friend always such a reckless idiot?"

I clutched the girl's hand. "No…"

"She's obviously got a drinking problem. She could've killed herself tonight…"

"This isn't her!" I protested. It killed me to voice it. "Hinata's not usually like this; she has a bad habit, sure, but she would never have tried to get herself seriously drunk… She's no hardcore alcohol abuser or anything…" This self-destructive behavior wasn't her; she wasn't herself, and it was scary.

"Then why the sudden change…?"

"This girl…" Stroking her hand briefly, I sighed and shut my eyes. "She always tries to take everything on herself… She tries to look strong enough to take it, to show she can hold her own so she won't concern anyone else. She wants to take responsibility somehow for what she feels is her duty, I guess – so she bottles up and buckles down and faces it all alone, what she can handle and what she can't, even though it destroys her inside…" Baka… Even while I'm right here waiting to help you… "She just can't handle that much pressure."

"So she's taken to punishing herself this way?"

I shot the woman a look, but was too concerned and wearied by all this to be seriously angered. "Hinata… shouldn't have to be a fighter, but she chooses it anyway with no hesitation. We weren't born lucky; people like us have to make our own luck. She's always struggling, battling diligently against what she would probably call her destiny… But now feeling like she's just failed the entire village, coupled with having half her spirit crushed out of her – can you really blame her for tripping over the edge?"

She shut her mouth at that.

"Her demon power … it's another strength she's stacked as fortification on her shell, but in one decisive stroke of inconsiderate brutality it's been stripped away." I looked back to Hinata. "But Obaa-sama, you … I don't really get it."

"What do you mean?"

"You've done it again; you mercilessly break her tail one day, and a couple later here you are saving her skin, showing up at our door like a mother cradling a small child in her arms… Got a soft spot for kids?"

She snorted. "What, I was supposed to just let her die?"

"Well, no…" My face was hot. I turned and sat down on the edge of the bed, eyes downcast in thought. "Tsunade-sama…" I bit my lip uncertainly, catching my tongue.

She crossed her arms, leaned against the wall behind her. "The girl said you're too good a gentleman to voice what you think about me. If that's so, just go ahead – spill it."

"See, I read your book…"

"What?"

"Introduction to Medical Ninjutsu – I read it months ago, just hoping to maybe pick up a few tricks, but it's what inspired me to pursue and learn more about the field. You're – amazing. I mean, you're a genius, a living legend – you established the Leaf medical corps – and you've done loads of other great things for the village, for the entire world of medicine. That's how I saw you, anyways. Matsuzuki-sempai, in Sky, practically worships you. But now that I've met this awesome, idolized kunoichi who every medical ninja strives futilely to be, all that awe and respect, well… You're like some sad, wandering, moping bum, a sour old crone … who doesn't mind crotching a thirteen-year-old girl for disagreeing with her," I added at a mutter.

"Aw, so I broke a bright-eyed kid's little heart, did I?"

"You have the power to do so much! Why wouldn't you use it–?"

"It's not my concern anymore!" she shouted. Quieting, she averted her gaze and clenched a hand at the crystalline blue pendant of her necklace. "I told you already … you four can try at it as long as you please, but count me out. I'm no hero…"

She walked to the door, and left the room. I looked after her a moment, and sighed.

"'Ey, Nawrudo-kunn… izzat you…?"

I glanced back at the small voice; Hinata's eyes were groggy and without an earthly care. "Sorry – did we wake you up?"

"It dozzen matter," she said softly, sitting up behind me. She wrapped her arms loosely around my shoulders and nuzzled fondly at my neck, resting her chin on my shoulder and giggling oddly.

"Hinata, you need to rest–," The words broke off in a murmur as she nibbled playfully at my ear; pleasant warmth rippled in my chest, rich and deep and intoxicating as she wetly lapped and nipped and kissed at the top of the ear, down its curved edge…

I turned a bit, slipping an arm around her waist, and she gasped in wonder, shivering as I found her ear to lick and suck slowly. She pulled onto my lap, and I was conscious of her chest brushing mine as she swiped her tongue over my neck, bade it flutter sloppily along my jawline, and sound rose in my throat at her electrical touch; my hands ran through her soft hair, thumbed her ear pinchingly as I pecked her nose, as she stroked my belly, my chest, and licked my chin. My breath was heavy now as her teeth nibbled at my bottom lip, and when at long last our lips met, smashed hotly together, my tongue dived in. And tasted the trace of alcohol still on her breath.

"No," I said firmly, breaking from the kiss, pushing her away. "Not while you're drunk."

She looked dejectedly up at me, and my heart panged at the confused hurt in her eyes. "'Ow c-come?"

"We might get… carried away."

She was trying stubbornly to move closer again; probably more out of clumsiness than intention, her hand met a startling place on my pants. I yelped, slapping the hand off my arousal and pushing her back again, firmly holding her away by the shoulders with arms just longer than hers were. I couldn't help it; I stole a good look at that attractive shape to her chest. If I touched her now, she wouldn't even think to resist; I could feel her, violate her as much as I wanted, and she might not even remember in the morning. Naughty thoughts – I grimaced, shaking my head and fighting off an undeniable excitement at the dangerous prospect.

"Stop it, Hinata. You're not yourself; we aren't about to risk starting something we'll regret later."

She pouted, but didn't try to fight me again. I waited a minute or two while we both cooled off, and relaxed my grip on her shoulders.

"Let's get some sleep now, ne? Are you sleepy?"

"Mm…" She nodded, eyes unfocused; she was out of it again. I lied down on my side on the bed, coaxing her to do the same; facing me, she cradled one of my hands fondly at her chest. And abruptly bit it.

"Ouch! Hinata, no biting!"

She murmured something and lethargically licked the thin line of red spilling onto my hand. She nipped again in the same place, making more blood run.

"Hinata! Stop it!" I reprimanded. Maybe it was frustration in my own shortcoming – that I had however briefly allowed dirty thoughts to run free just minutes prior – but she wasn't helping the matter and it was really ticking me off.

She looked drunkenly at me and smiled, giving a puppylike 'yip' sort of noise and breaking into an off-key bout of giggles at her joke.

She started as I gripped her wrists firmly in front of her. "That's enough. If you're not going to behave then I can't sleep by you and chase the nightmares off."

Some manner of dimness fled her eyes instantly; it was as if understanding of the words had slapped her hard in the face. Terror moistened her wide eyes so that they glistened, and the girl threw her arms around me, clinging in desperation with the feeble entirety of her drunken strength. "N-n-no!" she whimpered shrilly, shaking her head. "A-anything but that…! 'M zorry – I-I'll be g-g-good…!"

Shock and pain gripped me as she continued to plead in a tiny voice, distraught, sobbing and trembling against me. I felt awful; if I could take the threat back, I would've. Seeing as I couldn't, I shushed and crooned and embraced her quivering form, whispering soothingly.

"D-don't leave mee…"

"Shh… There, I'm not going anywhere… No, I wouldn't really have done it. I'll always stay with you, Hinata-chan; you're not alone." I'm here for you … so you don't have to tackle everything alone, either… I kissed her forehead, gently stroking her hair. Even if I can only help in this little way… "I'll stay by your side; that's a promise."

Curled up against me, the girl wept quietly, brokenly against my neck, shivers gradually subsiding. Eyes shut as I held her close, I patted her back, inhaled the fresh scent of her hair, and sighed.

Oh, Hinata-chan…

Hinata ヒナタ

I woke to the sound of a door crashing open. I sprang to my … okay, where I would've sprung to my feet I sort of flopped clumsily off the bed and crashed to the ground. My skull was pounding.

"Rise and SHINE!" Naruto's too-cheerful voice sang as the door slammed shut.

"Aaah…! You're too loud…!" I grimaced; my mouth was all dry and fuzzy.

Wait – if that was Naruto, who–?

"Ah, you're back!" Naruto said, hanging partially off the bed above me. I groaned.

"Wha…?" My arm was off the ground slightly – what was on my wrist – what the crap? "Why'm I handcuffed to you…?" I croaked out. Kind of the only manner of speech I was all that capable of at the moment.

The Naruto on the bed rubbed his head sheepishly. "Well, you see…"

"Boss, I found just what we need!" the standing Naruto, holding a grocery bag and a clear baggie of leaves, said. In my opinion, with way more volume than was necessary.

"Good work!"

The clone tossed the bags upward lightly, and in a blur Naruto – the real one, I guess – was catching them and striding in the opposite direction, heading to a counter where his mixing tools were already laid out.

The clone now handcuffed to me picked up, "It's for your wellbeing, y'know? We don't need you sneaking off to get drunk again."

"It's too dark in here." The real one at the counter waved an arm, and a clone briefly popped up at the window to fling the curtains wide open. I squeaked in protest.

"It was just fine in here…!" I groaned miserably, an arm covering my eyes.

"You need anything?" the clone asked, getting down to lift me onto the bed again.

"I'm thirsty…"

"Want some sake? !"

"NO…!" I whimpered, cringing at the sight of the bottle he produced.

"Good, because we dumped it out last night anyways!"

My backpack stash…? !

"Water," the real one called, without looking sharply slinging back at us the contents of an almost-full glass; he threw the glass, and the clone teleported to catch it and poofed back to capture in it the flying arc of liquid, spilling not a drop and swapping back, free hand bound once more before the cuff had a chance to fall in his absence. I grimaced again, dizzy at the motion.

"Drink up," he chirped brightly, helping me sit up before offering the glass. Well, he kind of pressed it to my lips. My limbs were too heavy anyway. "You might be dehydrated."

Pleeease stop talking so loud…! I shut my eyes tight and accepted the water, sipping steadily to down it. Real Naruto spoke.

"Oh yeah – until further notice, I'm holding onto your money for you."

I coughed. "Wh-what?"

"No booze-buying for you."

"D-did you raid my backpack…? !"

"Yes!" he chirped happily. I could almost see the grin on his face.

The clone pulled the blanket back over me. "Kurogiba said rest and meditation for a quick recovery. Nothing you can't do with us cuffed together, I reckon."

"What about the bathroom…?"

He clicked a switch on his end and pulled; the short line between us extended with an unwinding noise. "Goes to fifteen feet. Should be plenty for one of us to wait outside, ne?"

"Why are you doing this to meee…?"

The doppelganger smiled warmly. "Hinata – you're not taking very good care of yourself. For your sake, until you get your tail back and you're right indestructible as you're used to being again, we're not giving you another chance to harm yourself."

Naruto walked up to us, a small ceramic cup in hand. "Matsuzuki-sempai's miracle hangover formula," he explained, holding it out.

My eyes widened hopefully. If it would get rid of this hammering in my head…!

He swiftly withdrew the cup of medicine just as I'd nearly touched it. Why? !

"Have we learned a lesson?" he asked, lightly, teasingly shaking the cup out of my reach.

My eyes followed it. "Y-yes…"

"And we know that next time we have a hangover, Naruto's not making us any miracle potion, right…?"

Strange use of first-plural and third person were screwing with my already screeching skull. I blinked. "Hai…!" I whimpered.

His face softened, and he helped me to sit up and drink the thick, gunky potion. It tasted horrible.

"Do you want to feel better or not? Come on – faster you drink it, the faster you'll get it over with," he crooned, going on like he was coaxing a toddler to drink cold medicine. I think he was thoroughly enjoying every second of it.

Gag reflex carefully held at bay, I managed to swallow the foul concoction. I coughed weakly. "What did you put in that…?"

"Maybe a little extra here and there for texture, and to give it that extra-unique flavor," he said, innocently batting those deep, electrical eyes.

"You're evil…"

"Because I luff ya'!" he said sweetly, switching to handcuff his real self to me as the clone went up in a puff of smoke in his place. This elicited from me a small laugh in spite of myself; then my eyes slipped back, and my head plopped wearily down on the pillow behind it.

Naruto-kun… really is a wonderful guy…

A knock sounded on the door, and I startled slightly. I really didn't want Lee and Gaara to see me in this state…

"Come in!" Naruto called.

I blinked in confusion as Tsunade appeared in the doorway. She held up a small jar of liquid.

"…Hangover medicine."

Naruto's eyebrow twitched as he smiled brightly. "Already taken care of."

"Oh? Then keep it for next time."

"Hey, what kind of adult are you? ! I'm kind of trying to encourage her not to have a next time! Y'know? !"

Lee リー

My chopsticks were pushing the rice around in my bowl.

–"Naruto-kun? Where are you heading back from? Wait – who is with Hinata-san?"

"I'm with her – just a shadow clone here. Hinata's feeling ill this morning; I just fetched some stuff for medicine."

"Ah… We were about to head to breakfast. Should we see if they will let us bring plates up to you?"

"It's fine. We'll be down once she feels a little better."–

"You're not eating…"

I started, glancing up at Gaara-kun across the table from me. I swiftly scooped up and downed a generous mouthful of rice. "Yes, I am. See?" I said, grinning brightly once I had swallowed.

"It's Hyuuga-san, isn't it…?"

My face fell, and I nodded. There was no point in trying not to worry the younger boy; he was strong himself, after all. And – not that he wasn't sharp enough to figure us out (he was) – but he was with us now. I smiled sadly.

Hinata-san… does have that bad habit… "I fear that she … is not well right now," I admitted, looking meditatively into my bowl of rice. "But – it is hardly for us to worry about, by and by. Naruto-kun … will take good care of her. You can bet that as we speak he is vigilantly nursing her back to health, tending to her every need." I almost chuckled at the thought.

"Naruto-san, alone? We won't … offer him help…?"

"That is the thing about him, when it comes to Hinata-san – since he does not need our help, he will not want it."

"I'm not sure I comprehend…"

I picked up a bite of fish. "Those two have a … special sort of connection. You would be surprised, but he possesses quite the tender side for her. If there is anyone capable of ensuring Hinata is back to herself as swiftly as possible, it is Naruto-kun."

The words were true, and upon voicing them aloud I found myself able to stop picking and actually eat my meal.

Gaara looked up as I was polishing off my rice. I turned my head, eyes sighting the one who approached us. Surprised, I hastily swallowed.

"O-ohayou gozaimasu … Shizune-san," I said politely.

The woman lifted her downcast dark eyes, her face serious but not harshly so. Managing a feeble smile, perhaps in ensuring communication of truce, she joined us at the table.

The little pig yawned cutely, resting her head on my lap; my hand stroked the short, faint fuzz of fur on her pink body as I looked down, deep in thought.

"So, please…" Shizune finished, "try not to think too harshly of Tsunade-sama."

That is … quite a story…

"To her … the village opens too many old wounds…"

I looked up from the pig calmly resting in my lap as a figure walked across the courtyard. Where had he come from…?

The man wore a hooded, dark cloak that hid most of his body and darkened his tattooed face with shadow. He was a ninja – a member of one of the native clans, perhaps but perhaps not. He was set to walk past us; Gaara, seated on the bench beside me, remained cool and unreadable as if he had not noticed the shinobi, though I was certain he had. I continued to methodically pet Tonton. Leaning against the tree beside us, Shizune similarly gave no indication of unease. If he struck, we would strike together, but we were all suppressing our chakras well. He would walk past us.

He stopped in front of Shizune.

"A message for you," he said, his arm lifting at his side, holding out to her a blank white envelope. He never so much as looked at her.

She shook her head. "There must be some mistake–,"

"It's for you."

She hesitantly took the envelope, and he was gone.

Frowning, she opened the letter. She withdrew a small slip of paper. She gasped with a start, dropping the envelope and looking up and stepping away from the tree, sweeping wide eyes over our calm surroundings.

"What is wrong?"

Her eyes snapped to me. "Nothing." Her face was white. She could not have not realized we knew it a lie, but she was clearly hoping we would go along with it anyways. "Let's go inside."

Trading a quick look with Gaara, I scooped Tonton into my arms and followed as the woman strode purposefully back to the inn.

"What did it say?" I tried.

"Just a bad joke," she deflected.

"A bad joke is enough to spook a jounin…?" Gaara murmured.

Her eyes were troubled as she glanced back at us. She bit her lip, and then strode off in the direction of her and Tsunade's room. Tonton hopped from my arms to head after her.

Strange…

Neji ネジ

What did it mean…? I returned the gate guards' 'good afternoon' as I entered clan grounds.

My mind had drifted again to the training session the day before. It was significant somehow – gravely so. My eyes had reflected his ocular genjutsu… Something similar had happened, months ago. Maybe not similar… to be more precise, something related. Something I should have been able to draw the connection to instantly. A trivial detail – but I always (had it been always?) had difficulty with trivial details. I racked my weak memory yet again, scowling in frustration.

"Hm?" I snapped out of my thoughts as I turned a corner. Across the courtyard, I spotted three teenage girls walking closely behind a fourth. Hiyuki.

"P-please, just leave me alone…"

I silently observed as they somewhat cornered her at the wall.

"Hey, Hiyuki-chan, we're friends, right? Or are you too good for us or something now? Ha, look at little miss defector here, barely back and strutting around like she owns the place or something!" Hasami said. "Why does Lord Neji give her so much attention, anyways?"

Hiyuki squeaked quietly, shrinking back as her older cousin slapped at her hair. The others laughed at her reaction. "Please! Guys, I'm not your enemy a-anymore–!"

Hotaru cut in, more than a year younger but easily overpowering her tiny voice. "I don't understand why Onii-sama even allowed you back. I mean, I know he's a kind and gracious ruler and all, but traitors like you ought to be rotting behind bars–,"

"Lord Neji's decisions are his alone!" Hiyuki snapped, surprising them. "I m-mean, who are we to question him?"

"Oh, look at that!" the third, Hatoko, cackled. "See how good she is at pushing her act? Pretending she doesn't worship the Main House behind our backs!"

"I d-don't–!"

"Tell me – do you miss your Lady Hanabi?"

Confusion swamped Hiyuki's features. Confusion was dangerous. Her eyes briefly lost focus; she shook her head, mouth twisting into an appalled scowl as something was jarred within her. "I-I…!"

"Look at her, she can't even deny it! She enjoys being the Main House's pet! What did you tell Lord Neji to convince him to let you return here? You must think you're pretty slick!"

"No, I'm serious! Don't come any c-closer–!"

Hasami punched her hard in the stomach. Hiyuki doubled up with a grunt, and the seventeen-year-old pulled her by the hair, threw her to the ground.

A number of distant onlookers had collected. Not one thought to come to the girl's aid.

"You don't deserve Lord Neji's kindness or his forgiveness, trash!"

"Ungh–!" Hiyuki cried, eyes shut as she was kicked.

"H-hey, maybe we should stop – I mean, it's Hireiki's daughter, and Hireiki is one of…"

"I can hardly imagine Oba-san opening her arms to this brand of scum," she spat, kicking Hiyuki again. The girl shuddered in pain. "She's just so pathetic! I'll bet even Hanabi and her dogs didn't want you around! That why you had to come crawling back here and worm your way into Lord Neji's good graces? Is that what happened? !"

"Agh! S-stop…!"

"Why should I? Admit it! You're nothing but a dirty, cheating traitor, aren't you? !"

"I am n–!" Whap!

"Tell us the truth!"

"S-stop it! I am l-l-loyal to Neji-sama!" She was crying, in pain or confusion I couldn't be sure.

"You are not!"

Kick! Kick! Smat.

"Huh?"

Hiyuki's white hand was clamped firm on her ankle.

White.

With blinding speed she rose and plowed a savage fist into her tormentor's gut. Then a lightning-sharp backfist cracked against the older girl's face, sending her bouncing and tumbling away like a ragdoll.

Shoot…

"What're you doing–? !"

As a palm was thrown Hiyuki snagged the wrist. Her one hand sharply twisted Hatoko's arm behind her as the other snapped to her neck, lifting her off her feet as she slammed her back into the wall. As Hiyuki released her she started to fall, limp and barely conscious; then Hiyuki turned, grasping her arm in her other hand and flinging her with startling ease across the courtyard.

Darkness burned into my ankles, my wrists, my neck. I was there to intercept the dazed Hatoko – catching her just before she could be allowed to rocket straight into the wall. I grunted, lowered her to the ground, crouched on all fours, sprang.

My hand latched onto Hiyuki's fist an inch in front of the younger girl's face.

I stifled a gasp.

Her wrist – no rings. Her white face was plain, unmarked. Her snarl showed fangs that were still white rather than black. Her nails were hardly beginning to point.

She's not even at the first ring … and such a dramatic change in strength? Even more … she's completely lost her mind…

I met her glowering, black-and-white eyes – eyes that knew no restraint, no discrimination. "Enough, Hiyuki."

Her eyes widened, fierceness evaporating with my voice. "N-Neji-sama…!" she hissed.

I nodded to her other hand, which seemed to be crushing Hotaru's shoulder. "Let go of her."

She did as told, and her skin colored as she stepped back in horror, dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead to the floor, trembling. "I'm s-sorry, milord…! I don't know what…!"

I nodded slightly, though she wouldn't see me. I glanced over the stunned-silent onlookers.

Holding her shoulder, Hotaru looked up with shocked eyes. "Sh-she… Hiyuki is…?"

"Yes." I spoke up, allowing all to hear. "Hiyuki is one of my Chosen! I have selected her as fit and deemed her worthy of sharing my power – so do you wish to say that you distrust my judgment? Will you discard my decisions?"

"N-no, sir!"

"I am shocked to find I leave the grounds for a few hours, and return to see my family trying to tear itself apart. We are the Hyuuga Clan, and one clan united! Is Hiyuki not one of us? Does she not too bear the mark of our past injustice? !"

"H-hai, she does…!"

"Yes – and she has been selected by me to protect our village and our clan. And you will master your power in order to do so, correct?"

"Yes, my lord. I will," Hiyuki said, ducking her head again.

I nodded. "Someone, help these three to the medic's. Hiyuki, come with me."

"Hai, Neji-sama."

Naruto ナルト

–"Tell me, Naruto – how many times did the clock tick as you meditated?"

"Say what? You told me to clear my mind, Matsuzuki-sensei! If I'd known I was supposed to be counting from the start–!"

"Oh, but you're not allowed to count. You must clear your mind."

"Whaaat? That doesn't even make sense!"

"This exercise is hardly about testing your ability to count – it's about focus. Eventually…"–

It was 3:51.

We'd begun meditating at two o'clock, and my pocket watch had ticked six thousand six hundred and ninety-four times and counting. I hadn't done the mental math or anything (I would check later, though nowadays I generally wasn't far off) – I just knew that I'd started at two, and that at this moment it was 3:51, and that the ticker had sounded six thousand seven hundred and two times. I opened my eyes on the digital clock on the nightstand.

3:51.

I waited a short while. It would be changing to 3:52 now.

3:52.

Smirking in satisfaction, I shut the notepad waiting open at my side. I had a feeling I didn't need to check this time.

At my other side, Hinata… well, she seemed to be having a little more trouble. The handseal she maintained trembled with the effort of concentration; her eyes were not relaxed but tightly shut, and her mouth locked between a scowl and a grimace as she growled quietly in frustration. I hated to interrupt someone's meditating, but…

"Hey – Hinata–?"

"AAAAHHH!" she yelled, hands mussing furiously at her hair. She got to her feet.

"What's wrong?" I asked seriously, getting up as I was forced (handcuffs) to pace with the disgruntled girl.

"I can't clear my head – I can't focus! !" she screeched back.

"Maybe it was too early after all – you can try another day. Your soul's still pretty freshly fractured…"

"Kuso!" she cried, kicking the trash bin. And jerking in sharp recoil that sent her flopping clumsily to the ground. Taken out by a trashcan.

"Hinata…" I said, concerned. I helped her sit up against the wall. While she didn't seem to be outright crying, her eyes were watering heavily as she shivered in pain.

She'd managed to break three of her toes and a bone of her foot. At least she'd put a dent in the trashcan.

"You've got to watch out for yourself, y'know?" I said, hands aglow against her bare foot as I tried, gently as possible, to ease the bones back into place. "I'm here to watch out for you, too, sure – but I'd much rather not to see you in pain to begin with."

Her face remained glum, dispirited and miserable. She didn't look up.

"Hinata."

"Huh?"

"Do you know … how precious you are to me?" I looked down, focusing momentarily on the soft, gracefully slender foot I held. "You have … a lovely face…"

"Naruto-kun…?"

"The softest, most pleasant voice … a wondrous smile, an adorable blush … a kind heart that never ceases overflowing with warmth, a beautiful soul … and a brilliant mind – so I really do wish you'd speak it more often," I added with a light chuckle.

My chakra continued to mend the damage, to soothe the irritation enfolded in my hands.

"You also have a perfect, strong and healthy body … and I don't like seeing it come to harm, Hinata. Whether you're a human or a demon, I'm in love with every last bit of you." Finished, I briefly stroked the top of her foot and gave it a light squeeze in my hands. I met her eyes. "So can you take care of it, keep it safe and well? For me?"

"Naruto…" She nodded.

I stood and gave her a hand up. Once she was on her feet, I planted a quick kiss on the hand I'd helped her up by. "That's my girl," I said, smile meeting smile as her sweet laughter fluttered in my ears and my heart.

Lee リー

An uneventful few days passed us by, during which time Hinata furthered her readjustment into being a human. Naruto's very presence was a salve to the wounds of her battered soul. She had worked up the strength to summon back Kurogiba (who had dispelled before upon discovering that Hinata, in her weakened state, had initially lacked the stamina to sacrifice even the small output of chakra needed to maintain his summoning), and through their Soul Link he had aided her greatly in her meditation and in generally keeping her mind in order and at ease. She and Naruto had moved on to (very) light sparring in the woods by the inn as her recuperation progressed, leaving Gaara and I to spar ourselves – albeit at a considerably higher intensity. We once invited Shizune-san to join us, but she had shortly, politely declined.

We had not seen much of either her or Tsunade-sama in the last few days, but we saw enough to know they were still currently residing in the inn as well – though Tsunade-sama was apparently more often than not out gambling or drinking in town. Despite having the clean opportunity to lose us while Hinata had been in no condition to travel, for one reason or another they had yet to move on.

Bafflingly enough, it was only once the girl was in good enough condition that Tsunade decided it time for her party to leave – though not without first coming to inform us. And even more shocking still:

"I need you four to come with us."

Naruto shook his head. "Wait – you need us to go with you? What exactly does that mean? It'd be just swell if you could come with us to rescue–,"

"If you'll do this for me … I will."

Just like that…? The four of us exchanged glances; I looked into the sannin's unreadable eyes, but could not see into them – could find no inkling of an explanation within. My eyes shifted to Shizune-san.

Where the younger woman had been so nervous and on edge before, now she, too, was coolly blank and unanswering. My eyes narrowed. Odd…

Tsunade spoke, her voice firm and almost impatient.

"It won't take long."

Hinata ヒナタ

A crow shrieked piercingly overhead. I inadvertently sort of whimpered and moved closer to Naruto as we walked, and unconsciously he took my hand. I didn't like this. Maybe I was still pretty jumpy; maybe I was merely disgruntled that were it not the time of the new moon, I would probably have been able to return to normal today.

Was it just me? But though they did a better job of concealing it, I could sense the others were uneasy as well. Naruto remained keen of our surroundings even as his sharp eyes were trained on Tsunade's back as we walked on. Lee's face shone with unbridled fierceness, and Gaara wore a hint of an uncomfortable scowl. I looked up. The forest was silent, so silent – except for these birds…

I shivered as we passed a lone raven on a fairly low tree branch. It didn't fly away as we walked by – just kept staring boldly with a black bead of an eye, its curved beak seeming to grimace at us.

No – my thoughts were still irrational with the sense of vulnerability. I was just paranoid. I wasn't completely helpless – maybe around chuunin level at present. I was apparently sane enough that I no longer needed to be handcuffed to Naruto, either, and my dagger's weight on my belt was reassuring. It was.

I was probably spooked because I was so used to hearing the forest sounds of all the animals in the area. They were still there – probably. Maybe not as many, but, well… they had to be there. I just couldn't hear them.

And if something was wrong – I mean, we had a sannin on our side.

…Right?

'Something is amiss.'

I nearly jumped. How long had it been since I'd so much as flinched at Kurogiba's voice in my head? He briefly rested his muzzle on my shoulder, nudging his cheek against mine.

'And there is something wrong with these crows. You noticed, right?'

'Sort of…'

He nudged my arm. 'Come on – you're making me jumpy. This nervous … you won't be ready to react to anything. Look on the bright side – as long as the slug queen is on our side, we have a pretty impressive force. How likely is it that we'll encounter someone here who can contest a sannin, three effective elite ninja, yours truly, the sand's Jinchuuriki, and a current unfortunate roughly-chuunin?'

'If she's on our side…'

'If she's on our side.'

Why wouldn't she tell us what we were doing, where we were going? Why…?

"Tsunade-baa-sama."

"…Yes?" she answered, not looking back at the boy.

"We asked where we're headed, and you said you couldn't tell us. We asked if we'll be facing enemies, and you said you couldn't tell us. Instead of hounding you for answers, we decided to humor this and believe that for whatever odd reason you really can't tell us … but there's no way in heck I'd be following you right now … if I didn't trust you completely."

"And why do you find me so worthy of your trust?"

Tsunade had stopped. We all stopped.

"You're not who you used to be, and you might not be a hero… but you're not a bad person, either. We can trust you – can't we, Tsunade-baa-sama?"

Tsunade's head lowered. "…You don't have a choice anymore…"

As one we tensed, prepared to strike.

"…And neither do I."

"What do you mean? !" Naruto demanded fiercely, eyes wide, his naginata poised an inch from her back. His hands gave a shudder. Instead of answering him, Tsunade raised her head and called out, her toneless words calm and clear in the noiseless woods.

"I've brought them."

"Who are you talking to? !" Naruto cried. Tsunade didn't respond even as he pressed the tip of his wrapped naginata firmly behind her heart, almost pushing her.

Lee whirled. "Shizune-san–? !"

His hand flashed to his wakizashi, but Shizune's knife was already easing upon his throat – when she was blasted by crimson flames, and burst into smoke.

What is happening–? !

"Good work."

It was one of those moments when the heart misses a beat, and a liquid chill flushes the body with cold. That voice.

I looked up to have my worst fear confirmed.

For there was someone who, even without the help of his partner, could probably take on a legendary sannin, three jounin, the Wolf of Fire, the power of sand, and a measly unfortunate chuunin. He was standing right across from us, and he would be wanting Naruto-kun and Gaara-kun.

He had promised me we'd meet again.

"Uchiha… Itachi…"

ナルト / リー / ヒナタ \ ハナビ \ ネジ

End Chapter Eighteen

Naruto: So… this story is getting to be pretty long, huh?

Hinata: I'll say.

Hanabi: You got that right.

Gaara: …

Lee: You might even say it is of epic length!

Naruto: 'Epic'? Hmm…

(somewhere in Naruto's imagination – the EPIC party)

Naruto: Hey Odysseus, hey Gilgamesh, wassup? !

Odysseus: Who… the–?

Gilgamesh: I have NO idea.

(Below Naruto's thought bubble)

Naruto: Hehe. Sweeet…

(–static–)

Lee: How can this be? We did not think she was capable…!

Naruto: You won't so much as touch Hinata – not today. I promised her, y'know… that whatever might come our way, I would protect her so she can sit back and get her rest.

Itachi: Don't think you'll be as lucky as you were the last time… You're still weak. Do you think anything has changed…?

Naruto: It's funny, really … since the last time was when Uzumaki Naruto became… MURASAKI KITSUNE! ! !

Gaara: Next… Chapter Nineteen.

Naruto: Don't think you're dying today, either, Granny. We still need you to come back with us … and rescue Jiraiya!

Phew… After typing this one, I guess I don't see it as quite as bad as I thought it was… Not good, but not awful either. Guess I'm content with it. Don't know how it got so long, though.

I stole Tokugawa Ieyasu from history XD

Also, inazuma is lightning.

What'd you think of the chapter? What was good, what was bad? Sorry for so much angst. Were Tsunade and Shizune in character, believable, etc? How was the quick fight with Shizune, or Hinata vs. Tsunade? If they seemed weak in comparison... well, I don't think they're at sannin level just yet. Any thoughts on Neji's chat with Orochimaru, or his whole 'Chosen' thing? Naruto's Trick Room (not to be confused with a certain Psychic Pokemon attack XD), or his meditation? Anyone need Hinata's drunk dialogue 'translated'? How was the NaruHina? Who knows what Sasuke's trick is now? Review about whatever, flame if you want, I'll see you when I see you.

Later!

:o)Hinata0321:o)