"I TOLD YOU TO GIVE HINATA-CHAN BACK!"
The Jinchūriki's roar pinned Shimizu Den in place like a physical weight. The missing nin could hardly think straight as the full fury of the boy's Killing Intent swarmed over him. Den managed to force himself to stand. It was then he saw the raw and unrefined power of a Jinchūriki. Shimizu had witnessed a fully transformed Jinchūriki. Yugito and Killer Bee had reached an accord with their Bijū and could fully tap into the incredible power of a tailed beast.
This was different. The Konoha Jinchūriki obviously had no such accord. Den fought the urge to be petrified by his terror at the uncontained fury leaking from the child. No, it wasn't just fury. There was something else that Den struggled to recognize under the assault of demonic chakra and killing intent.
It was fear.
The Jinchūriki was afraid. Den was not the source of the fear, not directly. The Kyūbi Jinchūriki was completely terrified of losing the Hyūga heiress. Shimizu felt his rational functions returning as he realized the Jinchūriki was afraid. Unfortunately, that fear made Den's position even more precarious. He remembered the only time he had ever seen Yugito enter an uncontrolled Jinchūriki state. She had fallen back to the instincts of the Bijū within her. The damage had been catastrophic and it took a fully transformed Killer Bee to cow Yugito into a controllable state. Den flicked a glance to the unconscious Hyūga heiress.
'She would likely be the only one to break through the Bijū's hold on the Jinchūriki's emotions,' Den thought calmly as years of experience and training reasserted themselves.
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING HER!" The Jinchūriki shouted. Den began to analyze the child and his belief that the Jinchūriki was horrified of losing the girl. He quickly realized that such devotion went beyond mere duty.
That realization caused Shimizu Den to further doubt his chances of survival.
Kō groaned and tried to sit up. A wave of pain shot through his face and his groan doubled in intensity. The Jonin could hear sounds of celebration outside his window. He nearly activated his Byakugan, but something felt a bit off so Kō decided against it.
"Welcome back, Kō," Kakashi said idly from the doorway. The Copy Ninja had his face buried in his favorite book.
"How long was I out?" The Hyūga asked groggily.
"Oh, several hours," Kakashi explained lazily.
"That's not too bad. I think I'll need to see a Hyūga Apothecary. Something's off with my eyes," Kō said with a hint of panic in his voice.
"Your body is recovering from the blow to the face from Zabuza's sword. There are a few fractures in your cheek. I stabilized them with a medical ninjutsu I know, but you'll need a full-blown medic nin to fully heal the damage," Kakashi said while turning a page in his book. Kō breathed a sigh of relief.
"What happened after I lost consciousness?" Kō asked in an attempt to distract himself from his fear. As a Hyūga, the safety and health of his eyes were of paramount importance. Kō would have been able to cope with the loss of an arm much easier than any potential ocular damage.
Kakashi put aside his beloved book for a moment and explained to Kō the events that had transpired after Zabuza had knocked Kō out. Haku's sacrifice simultaneously saddened and impressed the Hyūga Jonin. Kō, however, was mainly concerned for the welfare of the Genin.
"My team only suffered minor injuries," Kakashi assured the Hyūga. 'Only because the fake Hunter-nin wasn't aiming to kill them,' Kakashi mentally added.
"Thank the First for that," Kō breathed in relief.
"True. I think our debriefing will be interesting," The senior Jonin said as he retrieved his precious book and flipped to a new page.
"What happened?" Kō asked with a hint of concern.
"Sasuke activated his Sharingan," Kakashi revealed.
Kō rose to his feet and stretched a bit. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he was eager to get back to Konoha and leave Wave behind. It was probably selfish, but he was worried about his eyes. Kō was also having trouble shaking a nameless worry about his little brother.
"Naruto," Kō whispered.
"Thank you, Kō-san, for looking after him," Kakashi suddenly said. His voice was filled with a level of emotion Kō had never heard from the legendary Copy Ninja. "I…had always planned on taking Naruto-kun in after I completed my time in ANBU Black Ops."
Kō nodded and was about to speak, but Kakashi continued after a moment's pause. "I don't know how much you truly know about Naruto's heritage,"
"I know his lineage," The Hyūga stated quietly. It was hard to believe Naruto was the son of the Yondaime Hokage, even after all these years. Kō had wanted to tell Naruto his heritage so many times. Once, after Hiromi-sama's tragic death, Kō nearly broke down and told Naruto his parentage in a moment of weakness.
"His father was the greatest man I have ever had the privilege of knowing," Kakashi stated in a distant voice. As was often the case, Hatake Kakashi was revisiting his own tortured past.
"The Yondaime was the greatest of us all. His death was like ripping the heart out of Konoha," Kō said with apologetic reverence. Kakashi nodded a bit numbly. The Hyūga Jonin realized the senior Jonin wouldn't continue speaking without a prompt. "We will just have to ensure Naruto is a shinobi his parents would have been proud of."
Kakashi chuckled behind his mask. "You didn't know Minato-sensei or Kushina-oba-chan like I did. They would have been so proud of Naruto, even if he wanted to be a carpenter or simple tradesmen."
"Now that I am awake, when will Team 7 return to Konoha?" Kō asked quickly to prevent Kakashi from losing himself in his memories.
"You seem to have your wits about you. We can head out as soon as we collect my Genin," Kakashi responded in his usual laid-back tone.
"Then let us depart," Kō said firmly. Kakashi nodded and the two Jonin headed downstairs. Sasuke, Shino, and Sakura were talking with Tsunami. Tazuna was chatting with Inari.
"Tazuna-san," Kakashi greeted. The bridge builder ruffled his grandson's hair.
"Kakashi-san, I must thank you again for saving us from Gatō's tyranny," Tazuna said with a bow.
"There is no need to thank us. We simply performed our duty as shinobi of the Leaf," Kakashi said evenly.
"You could have returned to Konoha after the Demon Brothers attacked. Instead, you pushed forward," Tazuna countered. Kakashi smiled behind his mask and nodded.
"It was my students' decision," The Copy Nin found himself enjoying the verbal back and forth with the civilian engineer.
"As Kakashi-sempai said, we merely did our duty as shinobi," Kō stepped in. Tazuna and Kakashi exchanged one last grin.
"You all will always be welcomed in the Land of Waves," Tsunami said from the kitchen. Team Seven and Kō bowed in thanks. The Konoha shinobi departed after a few more platitudes. Tazuna and his family sat in silence for a few moments before the old engineer ran his hand through his thinning hair.
"You know, we never named the bridge," Tazuna said idly. "I was thinking naming it after the shinobi."
"We should name it after Kaiza," Inari said firmly. "The Shinobi…they protected us from Gatō and that allowed the bridge to be completed. But, the bridge is a symbol of hope. Dad was the first person to really give us hope."
Tsunami walked over to her son and embraced him in a hug. "Your…dad would be very proud of you."
"The Great Kaiza Bridge has a nice ring to it. We'll christen our Hope tomorrow. Inari, would you do the honors?" Tazuna asked.
"I'll do it for dad," Inari said in a bittersweet tone.
"He would be so proud. You haven't fished since he…left us, have you?" Tazuna asked. He knew Kaiza's death would always be a tender subject for his grandson. Inari just shook his head. "I'd think Kaiza would want you to fish again. Grab your rod, we'll catch dinner."
Tsunami smiled and watched her beloved son and father rush out the front door. She returned to the kitchen and finished washing the dishes. She looked to the west with a smile as she thought of all Konoha had done for the Land of Waves. However, as her gaze drifted slightly north, she felt a chill in her soul. It was an ill omen. Tsunami prayed the catastrophe brewing in the west would remain there. Wave had suffered enough.
Naruto growled as the strange voice revealed the vile plans Kumo had for Hinata-chan. He would never allow those horrors to happen.
Naruto would die first.
Naruto circled Den and was attempting to position himself between Hinata and the former Head Ninja.
He must suffer. Den seeks to defile her.
Naruto's rage peaked again and he could no longer contain the urge to utterly destroy Shimizu Den. The Jinchūriki leapt at his enemy. Naruto slashed at Den with elongated claws. Shimizu blocked the vicious, but clumsy, strike, but the caustic chakra seeping from Naruto's pores burned the former Head Ninja of Kumogakure.
"You will die here, boy. I cannot let you stop me. The Hyūga girl will be used to give birth to Kumo's Golden Age. And you…you are far too dangerous to be allowed to live," Den said as he painfully opened and closed his burned palm.
Kill him now. Kumo will use her. They will reduce her to less than chattel. Will you allow this to happen? Rage at this abomination! Use all of your hate to prevent it. Draw upon this power.
"Hinata-chan will never be Kumo's chattel! I…I will protect her!" Naruto spoke darkly. His cold and quiet tone was more terrifying than his berserk screaming.
"You will fail," Shimizu said with forced calmness. "Raigen Raikōchū."
Tendrils of lightning chakra erupted from Den's body and created a blinding flash of light. Naruto lost track of his enemy as he was temporarily blinded. The boy's anger grew exponentially. As Naruto drank deeply of the power of his anger, he suddenly felt his entire body burn. It felt like a second skin was growing an inch or so from his natural skin. The pain was intense, but, if the pain allowed him to protect Hinata-chan, he would bear it.
"Raiton: Thunder Clap," Naruto heard Den shout. A blast of lightning chakra struck Naruto and knocked the boy from his feet. The damage should have been catastrophic, but Naruto's 'second skin' deflected and partially absorbed the majority of the jutsu's destructive power.
'I have to get closer,' Naruto growled mentally. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Naruto was calling upon an immense amount of chakra and created dozens of clones. Naruto noticed the clones all had red eyes, darker whisker marks and that occasionally a cloak of red chakra would manifest around the clones.
'Is that what I look like?' Naruto asked himself.
That is our power.
'Our?' Naruto thought for a moment. He quickly pushed that thought aside as his clones charged Den. Naruto followed behind his clones and launched the attack. The former Head Ninja used a combination of kunai, taijutsu, and explosive tags to fight off the horde of Shadow Clones.
Den, for his part, realized his chances for survival were slipping away with every passing second. He could not match the Jinchūriki in terms of endurance, both physical and chakra. 'I may have to use Raiton: Teishi no Tenjo Kai again,' Den thought in a near panic.
Naruto noticed that Shimizu was flashing through a series of hand seals. Instinctively, Naruto pooled chakra in front of him and felt the power build towards something…violent. Naruto released the pooled violence and watched as a sheer wall of Chakra exploded outwards. The chakra did extraordinary damage to the ground in front of Naruto. A terrible realization quickly dawned on Naruto.
'If Hinata-chan had been in front of that!' Naruto thought in a panic.
Now is not the time for doubt.
Naruto growled at the dark thoughts that invaded his mind. He diverted his attention from what he assumed was his darker impulses towards Shimizu Den. The former Kumo ninja had been thrown several feet by the chakra blast. Naruto felt joyous satisfaction as he watched Den rise shakily to his feet. The satisfaction shook Naruto and he felt the haze and his second skin begin to recede.
'What is happening to me?' Naruto thought through the mental fog. He was grateful for the renewed clarity and created a new wave of Kage Bunshins. Most of the Bunshins charged Shimizu, but several slipped backwards to get the unconscious members of Team Four out of the line of fire. Naruto accompanied his attacking clones. His surprise was palpable as the target his clones tore to pieces with their claws was not the Head Ninja, but instead one of the missing-nin Den had hired.
Den's gambit would have never worked against a more experienced or emotionally stable ninja. However, the Jinchūriki was caught up in the hate of his Bijū. It didn't hurt that the boy was a young and inexperienced, if talented, ninja. The boy hadn't taken stock of the corpses littering the battlefield.
An enraged Kage Bunshin charged Den, but was quickly dispatched with a kunai through the brain. Shimizu rushed through the chakra-laced smoke and grabbed the Hyūga heiress. He wasn't sure how long she would remain unconscious, but that was a secondary concern. Shimizu Den had only one concern at the moment: putting as much space between himself and Konoha's Jinchūriki as possible.
The former Head Ninja jumped into the trees and began to flee. The roar that erupted from behind him nearly made him empty his bowels. There were legends about that roar.
It was the roar of the Kyūbi and the herald of the Apocalypse.
Neji bowed respectfully to his somewhat eccentric Jonin instructor. Guy returned the bow and followed it with a thumbs-up.
"Good work, my precious students! You have all done exceptionally well in both your training and the D-rank cool down! I will see you all bright and early at 5:00am to being our training!" Might Guy said with a smile.
"Doesn't Guy-sensei know that sunrise is at 6:00am?" Tenten muttered. Lee cocked his head to the side and tapped his chin.
"Tenten-chan, I am sure that Guy-sensei means we will illuminate the morning with our brilliant flames of youth!" Lee exclaimed and started to follow Guy to their late afternoon training.
"Lee-san and Tenten-chan, if I may have a moment," Neji spoke quickly. His teammates were driven and were eager to continue their personal training. Neji greatly admired his teammates and friends. The Hyūga prodigy was confident that Guy-sensei would nominate the team for the Chunin exams this year.
"What is it, Neji-kun?" Tenten asked. Neji felt a ghost of a smile find its way to his face. Tenten and Neji had dropped the more formal honorifics last year and never looked back.
"Do you recall the recent incident with Yuudai-san?" Neji asked.
"I recall the troubling encounter," Lee confirmed. Tenten chewed her lip for a moment.
"Neji-kun, I know something nearly happened but you two never told me the details," Tenten was naturally curious and hated being left out of the loop. Neji could also hear the concern in her voice.
"Yuudai-san attempted to activate my Seal," Neji hissed. The distance of the memory allowed Neji to direct his full hate at the incident. Tenten gasped in shock. She had known the encounter had been tense and that Lee had made some surprisingly subtle threats, but the full extent stunned her. Neji took a deep breath before he continued. "Hiashi-sama and my father wish to speak with both of you soon. The incident was a major breach of Hyūga Protocol."
"I would be honored to help ensure that Yuudai is properly punished for his most unyouthful act," Lee stated firmly. "Tell Hiashi-sama and your father I will make myself available at their convenience."
"Thank you, my friend," Neji said with a bow. Rock Lee returned the bow before jogging over to his mentor and father-figure. Neji threw a glance at Tenten. She had been silent since Neji had revealed the indignity Yuudai had nearly forced upon Neji.
"I would have killed him," Tenten finally spoke. "I would have killed that bastard if he had hurt you like that."
Neji possessed the legendary Hyūga emotional control. He rarely allowed spontaneous emotional outbursts. So, Neji's reaction caught Tenten off guard.
"Thank you," the Hyūga said softly as he wrapped Tenten in a hug.
"Charmer," Tenten whispered into Neji's chest. Neji smiled almost as softly as his previous thank you.
"Tenten-chan, my father and uncle are going to extend a formal invitation for a dinner to you," Neji revealed.
"Any idea when?" Tenten asked while deciding she could put off her shuriken practice for a few minutes, or maybe a few days. She was enjoying the moment too much to think about training.
"I only overheard father and Hiashi-sama discussing the invitation. They did not mention any dates," Neji said.
"Well, beyond the obvious one," Tenten teased. Neji chuckled.
"Aren't you the clever one," Neji teased right back. Tenten looked up and stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend.
"Someone has to be normal and clever in our little circle of madness," the weapons prodigy stated with a playful huff.
"Normal is overrated. Being youthful is far more fulfilling," Neji joked.
"Don't even joke like that! I don't want Lee and Guy-sensei to hear you! There is absolutely no way I'm allowing my boyfriend to war green spandex tights!" Tenten hissed.
"I'm sorry," Neji apologized with a laugh.
"How sorry?" Tenten asked with a hint of irritation, but she didn't try to break the hug.
"Sorry enough to pay for lunch, say…dumplings at Kashin Hanten," Neji said to placate Tenten.
"Charmer," Tenten whispered. She finally broke the hug and took Neji's hand. The couple walked towards their favorite restaurant. Neji smiled and knew there would be justice done for the Branch Family. However, he couldn't shake a nameless dread gnawing at a forgotten corner of his soul. Neji took a deep, contented breath and quashed the worry. Now was not the time for angst. He was with Tenten and she deserved his contentment and attention.
"You two have nearly undone us!" Takeshi spat venomously at the two men sitting in his private study. "I cannot determine which of you has done more damage to our attempts to prevent the collapse of the Hyūga Clan as we know it!"
Yoshinori shot to his feet in righteous indignation. "Takeshi, I am a member of the Council! I demand you treat me with respect!"
"And what have you done other than attempt to interfere in Hiashi's daughter's relationship with the Jinchūriki? An attempt that, if I may remind you, utterly failed. If anything, your interference strengthened the budding relationship," Takeshi countered. He was incredibly frustrated with his allies. A certain degree of bumbling was to be expected from Yoshinori. Takeshi's oldest friend was brilliant when it came to economics, but was completely inept socially.
"Uncle, Yoshinori-sama was merely trying to accomplish our goal of ending that foul…interaction," Yuudai said in an attempt to placate his uncle.
"Silence!" Takeshi snapped. "Neither of you have truly observed the Jinchūriki and the heiress. Any attempt to attack the relationship from the outside will only drive them closer together. It is likely they believe themselves to be persecuted. That drove them closer together."
Yuudai and Yoshinori were cowed by the unmistakable edge of violence in his voice. "No, we must have subtlety. You two would do well to learn from the teammate of Hizashi's son. That is how we must act," Takeshi snapped out. He paced for several moments.
"I do not follow, Uncle," Yuudai revealed.
"Did you understand the intent behind this 'Rock Lee's' words?" Takeshi asked. Yuudai nodded and Takeshi continued. "His intent was clear, but he can legitimately claim he was merely recalling a previous mission. Our intent must be clear, but the method in which our intent is delivered must be hidden behind 'sincerity'. I recall Hatake Sakumo's favorite phrase: "Underneath the Underneath". It would be wise to adopt such a mantra as our own."
Takeshi looked at each of his compatriots silently. The two other men knew Takeshi was daring them to speak.
"I will not waste any more of our time. The next meeting of the Council will debate easing the marriage restrictions for the Cadet Branch of the Clan. We must support this," Takeshi said calmly as he sat down.
"Of course we must support this motion. The restriction on Cadet Marriages is an archaic relic of our days before the Senju begged us to join Konohagakure. I, of course, will argue that we must have some controls over marriages. We must carefully screen any marriage that risks having the Byakugan falling beyond our control," Yoshinori said in clipped tones. Takeshi saw the wheels turning in his comrade's mind. He was applying business logic to the situation. This, Takeshi thought, was when Yoshinori was at his best.
"Well said, my friend, well said," Takeshi spoke warmly before turning his attention to his nephew. "Yuudai, when are you planning on taking your Jonin trials?"
"Soon, uncle. I am attempting to improve Katon: Small Fire Stream. A second Elemental Chakra technique will be a tremendous boon in my attempt," Yuudai revealed.
"What is your shortcoming?" Yoshinori asked.
"Sustaining the stream. I am not naturally a Katon user. As with most Hyūga, I possess a natural affinity for Doton Jutsus," Yuudai confessed.
"I wish you luck in your training. My brethren, I am afraid I must take my leave," Takeshi said with a bow. Yoshinori and Yuudai returned the bow. The chief conspirator practically glided from the room.
'I am in need of a drink. My patience is well and truly tried,' Takeshi thought grimly. As he rounded the corner, he saw Hiashi's youngest child enter the Main Branch section of the compound. 'Hanabi is another potential complication. She idolizes her sister, cousin and the Uzumaki boy. Hiashi's haste has infected her as well. Still, she is young and hopefully a suitable marriage will salvage her.'
Hanabi strode by Takeshi who greeted her politely. "Hanabi-sama."
"Good afternoon, Takeshi-san," Hanabi responded with perfectly measured politeness. She quickly continued on her way. After a few steps, she whispered, "Byakugan."
Hanabi was satisfied Takeshi was far enough away and faked gagging. She really didn't like Takeshi. He was mean to her sister and Naruto-nii-san. 'I can't stand Takeshi! I just wish he would do something stupid so that Daddy or Uncle Hizashi could knock him down a few notches!'
Hanabi didn't want to think about a jerk any longer, so she pushed her thoughts aside and headed to her father's private study. She took a moment to collect herself before asking permission to enter according to the Hyūga's well-established protocol.
"Enter," Hiashi commanded coolly. Hanabi slid the door open and entered to the prescribed distance before bowing.
"Good afternoon, daddy," Hanabi said warmly.
"How was your day at the Academy?" Hiashi asked in an equally warm tone.
"It was good…do you know when onee-chan and Naruto-nii-san will be back?" Hanabi blurted out the question she had been dying to ask all day.
"I'm sorry, my daughter, but I have no inkling of when Hinata and Naruto will return," the Hyūga Clan head said apologetically. Hanabi deflated a bit.
"I…I know that since Naruto-nii-san and onee-chan are ninja now, they'll be gone a lot, but it's still hard," the young girl admitted.
"It is a difficult thing to be separate from one's family. However, the reunions are always sweeter and the time you spend together always means more," Hiashi said softly.
"I guess, but…" Hanabi trailed off. "I just miss them. It was really hard when Neji-nii-san started going on missions, but with Hinata going away…"
"Your sister will return and she will be in perfect health," Hiashi said more to assure himself than his daughter.
"Thanks, daddy," Hanabi said happily. She took a minute to retell her day at the Academy. "I need more practice with my shuriken and kunai. I'm in fifth place in ranged weapons. I want to be Rookie of the Year."
"That will require hard work and dedication," Hiashi said proudly.
"Well, duh, daddy," Hanabi said while waving her hand in a very Naruto-like manner. "That's why I'm going to practice a lot."
"Excellent, my daughter. Rika is in the kitchen and will have a light meal ready for you," Hiashi said with a smile. Hanabi ran over and hugged her father.
"Love you, daddy!" Hanabi shouted as she ran from the office. Hiashi leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
'Hiromi, my love, I know you must be so proud of our daughters,' Hiashi thought proudly. Suddenly, he was struck by the same sense of foreboding that assaulted him during the meeting with Hizashi.
"Please return safely, my darling Hinata," Hiashi whispered to himself.
Den took a fearful glance over his shoulder. He was no sensor-nin, but even he could feel the hate rolling off the Kyūbi Jinchūriki. In fact, Shimizu could practically taste the utter hate the boy was radiating. A single overwhelming desire filled Shimizu. He had to get away from the Jinchūriki. At the moment, he could not see the untamed Jinchūriki. However, the local wildlife could sense their impending doom. They were fleeing with near unnatural haste.
A howl of animalistic rage shattered the silence that had previously been balancing on a knife's edge.
The fleeing Kumo ninja turned his attention forward and pushed himself to the brink. His muscles screamed in protest.
'I think I'm far enough away. I can start focusing on subduing the Hyūga girl when she wakes up…' Den thought in relief.
In an instant, he was falling to the ground. The tree Shimizu had just landed on had been torn from the ground by an 'arm' comprised of pure chakra. Shimizu Den only caught a quick glance of the chakra construct as he righted his own fall. As he landed, he saw Hinata land in a nearby spring.
'The water broke her fall and she's face up. She'll live,' Den thought quickly. The dust began to clear and Shimizu caught the glimpse of a silhouette in the distance. The silhouette caused an instinctive and primal terror to snake its way into Shimizu's soul.
Every ounce of Shimizu Den's being had accepted that he was going to die.
The silhouette was blood red and had two large distinctive 'ears' and a 'tail'. The terror of the situation quadrupled when the former Head Ninja of Kumo realized that the tint of the chakra cloak was because of the actual blood seeping out of the boy.
"The Hachibi and the Nibi were never anything like this," Den said fearfully.
"WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS MY REASON FOR EXISTENCE?" The Jinchūriki's voice rang out through the forest.
"Raiton: Teishi no Tenjo Kai!" Shimizu screamed in desperation. The electrical arc tore through the air and struck Konoha's Jinchūriki square in the chest. The older ninja felt a moment of hope as his enemy was thrown through a thick oak tree.
Naruto had never felt such an intense pain before. Every inch of his body was sore, burning, or simply numb. The worst pain was in his chest. The sheer agony was not from the impact of the powerful Raiton Jutsu, but instead from his failure. He had not saved Hinata. She was still in danger.
You drink deeply of the power I grant you, yet you still fail her so completely.
The hateful voice resurfaced and taunted Naruto for his failure, his betrayal of all that he was. Naruto growled at the voice and directed his ire at Shimizu Den. Naruto reached out with his left hand and felt his skin of chakra expand and shoot forward. The chakra became an extension of his arm and of his will.
In the distance, Naruto saw Den barely dodge the grasping chakra arm. Naruto's rage increased as the threat to Hinata charged towards him.
'He will never threaten her again,' Naruto swore to himself.
Then you must destroy him utterly.
"SHUT UP!" Naruto bellowed.
Shimizu Den paused on a rock and looked in shock at the Kyūbi's Container. 'Is he talking to his Bijū or did he hear me activate that trap jutsu?'
The pause was a grave error. 'Shit! I've been put on the defensive!' Den screamed mentally as he dodged a vicious strike from the Jinchūriki….only to have the chakra cloak hit him and send him flying.
"I HAVE NEVER HATED ANYTHING IN MY ENTIRE LIFE…" Naruto hissed as he stalked forward. A glaring and unforgivable weakness. The young man growled at the voice invading his mind and willed it silent. "BUT I HATE YOU."
Den clawed his way to his feet. He realized he had committed several grave errors in his battle with this child. The mistake that would likely prove fatal for him was that he had underestimated the Jinchūriki.
"Hate…hate is a necessary part of our life boy. We must hate our enemies and love our allies," Den spoke and was shocked by his own calmness. The former Head Ninja was further shocked by his own actions. Instinctively, he launched himself at the young Jinchūriki without fear or hesitation.
Naruto was caught off guard by Shimizu Den's sudden attack. The strikes were very precise and Naruto struggled to physically block the kicks and punches. If it wasn't for the chakra skin, Naruto would have taken several crippling blows.
'He was the Raikage's right hand. I shouldn't be surprised,' Naruto thought darkly.
Enough. This has gone on far too long. End this threat. End it now.
The voice shook Naruto from his analysis. He extended his awareness to the chakra tail and the extension of Naruto's rage wrapped itself around Den's neck. The missing-nin gasped for air and struggled against Naruto's death grip.
"YOU WILL NEVER THREATEN HER AGAIN." Naruto roared at the object of his hate. Shimizu didn't respond verbally. Instead, he poured all his will, energy and desperation into kicking Naruto in the head. The impact caught Naruto completely off guard and shattered the chakra tail's grip on the former Head Ninja.
Shimizu Den coughed and gingerly touched the burns on his throat. He had to find a way to finish this battle. 'My chakra is dangerously low. I cannot compete with a Jinchūriki in stamina,' he thought quickly.
The ground roared in protest and began to tear itself apart. Shimizu barely had time to leap away before a massive chakra arm crashed down where he had been standing.
'He can't move when using the chakra arms…' Den thought hopefully. 'If I can dodge the chakra arms, I can catch him with his defenses down!'
The missing-nin grinned triumphantly and rushed forward to attack the Jinchūriki. The smile vanished as Den saw a second chakra arm grab one of the shattered trees and throw it like a kunai.
'Please grow strong, my children,' Den thought forlornly as the missile approached at a speed that made dodging impossible. The oak spear ruined Shimizu Den completely. The impact of the Jinchūriki's spear snapped several trees for several dozen yards behind Den. Naruto saw the utter devastation of his foe and grinned in feral triumph.
Well done, child. We shall meet again. Naruto heard the voice, or presence, speak in mockingly congratulatory tones. He wasn't sure exactly what the presence was, but it did not speak in the way a human voice did. Instead, it was a series of emotional impressions or cues. As the mocking presence receded, Naruto's chakra cloak receded along with it. Indescribable pain and fatigue flowed into the places where moments before Naruto's dark power had reigned. Naruto took a swaying step towards where Hinata lay. The boy was eternally grateful that Hinata's position was almost entirely unmolested by the battle. As grateful as Naruto was for Hinata's relative safety, he was concerned by the rapidly expanding haze engulfing his memories.
"Hinata-chan," Naruto whispered before collapsing.
Naruto wasn't sure how long he had been unconscious. Time had ceased to have any meaning after his collapse. It could have been seconds, minutes or even days. He shook off the worry and rose to his feet. His fatigue and pain had been washed away by his time unconscious. Immediately, he pushed his personal concerns aside and rushed to where he had last seen Hinata.
"Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked hopefully. Hinata did not respond, but she stirred slightly. That minuscule change in condition gave Naruto a glimmer of hope.
'Hinata-chan will be fine. She'll come back,' Naruto swore to himself. He knelt beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. 'I have to get Hinata-chan and Team Four to some kind of safe haven. What was the name of that village?' Naruto thought as he picked up Hinata bridal style. He looked over the ravaged landscape in wonder as he shifted Hinata away from a burn on his left arm. The devastation was incredible.
'How did this happen? I know I don't have the power for this…I don't remember anything,' Naruto wrinkled his brow as he mulled over the forest. Naruto was about to push the thoughts from his mind when he noticed a very clear path of destruction through the forest.
'I have a memory of that, but I can't see it. I know that was me, but how?' Naruto once again shook off his confusion. He redirected all his attention to getting Hinata somewhere safe. It was a long walk through the war-zone of a forest. Naruto felt a fresh wave of fatigue threaten to slow him down. The boy willed himself to keep going.
"N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata's voice split the unnatural silence. Naruto's heart soared at the almost inaudible word.
"Hinata-chan! You're awake! You're awake!" Naruto exalted as he pulled Hinata close.
"H…how long was I out?" Hinata asked.
"A while, that's all I know." Naruto answered neutrally. Hinata looked around and realized they were not with the rest of the Team.
"Where are Wantanabe-sensei and Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked in a near panic.
"They are with some of my Clones," Naruto started to speak.
"Why?" Hinata asked cautiously. She felt Naruto pull her close instinctively. Hinata could feel Naruto's desire to protect her and to simply be there for her. It was comforting and made the current situation bearable.
"Do you remember the day we met?" Naruto asked distantly.
"You saved me, Naruto-kun. I would never forget that night," Hinata replied and nuzzled into Naruto's shoulder.
"He came back...Shimizu Den, I mean. Den tried to take you again. I…beat him," Naruto partially revealed. Hinata had known Naruto long enough to know that he wasn't telling her everything. She assumed it was for her benefit and did not press Naruto.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun," Hinata said warmly.
"You don't have to thank me for that, Hinata-chan. I swear I'll always be there for you," Naruto said softly. "That's a promise of a lifetime."
Author's Note: Here's Chapter 16! Hope you guys enjoy! We've finally reached the end of both the Wave and Team 4 C-rank arcs! Please continue the absolutely amazing review response. Seriously, your response has really encouraged me to write! I enjoy writing and to know that you guys enjoy reading my stories is absolutely awesome.
Also, I have a poll up on my profile for my next story idea. Yes, I'm aware I have Plot ADHD. No, I don't consider that a bad thing.
Rock on everyone!