Oh…I have a lot of errors in the last chapter. I'm sorry…I failed to double check my work before posting because I'm in a hurry …and I know, that even though I edit my work sometimes, I cannot always assure you that I can spot all typos and grammar errors. (English is not my first language…I have to learn it unlike some…and I really suck at present and past tenses which I'm sure you all noticed by now). Please understand…if it bothers you (some readers), you can browse other grammar worthy stories that's worth your time (no need for flares, it's so discouraging to be honest)…and if you are quite patient (which most of my readers are…I love them) feel free to give me corrections and suggestions. I love being corrected as it helps improve my writing skills…and I really want to become a good one.
To Riceballxlover: Thank you for the corrections! I edited those things that you mentioned in your comment. That was really, really helpful. Thank you very much luv. : )
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
-o-o-o-
Chapter Twenty
(f) Deidara was about to mutter something accusing to Kisame when he saw Itachi's lips on the Hyuga's nose tip. Taking a step back, he exchanged glances with Kisame and their temporary dispute was forgotten. Exclaiming a condemning "Aha!" The blonde pointed at the bewildered pair. "I caught you!"
Itachi removed his lips from the girl's nose and for a second, his eyes flickered something that looks like bewilderment but was then concealed by his usually stoic expression. Hinata on the other hand, was not moving for she was frozen in stunned surprise—nose still tingling especially on the spot where the Uchiha's lips touched.
"The girl's face is turning red!" Kisame also exclaimed, but his tone was more of a wonder than Deidara's accusatory one. Lowering his head, he studied her face. "Are you breathing?" he asked. "Hey…"
"That's why you are so protective." Deidara crossed his arms, eyebrows raised. "That's cunning art man… I tell you. That's cunning." (f)
Konan gave Itachi a curt nod. "You're back. I did not expect you to come into this hideout though…since Akatsuki never really liked to stay too close together."
"This is the nearest hideout to Kiri. I have a few things to settle there…and Tobi said he would meet me here before discussing something...important." The sharingan user removed the forehead protector from his forehead. "It's Pein's orders too."
"Ah." Konan nodded. " For the greater plan…He's inside his room."
"I'll talk to him." Turning his back to the violet–haired woman, Itachi silently left the balcony—or what used to be a balcony. The house that serves as their lodge was quite old and even though it needed repairs, everyone preferred it this way so that it won't be easily suspected as a hideout.
As he continued on his way, Itachi's head tilted to the side when he passed by a window, trying to get a glimpse of the weather outside. Sharp eyes scanning the area, he caught a blur of blue and black. He stopped on his tracks, attention suddenly diverting from the intention of meeting with Pein to the person below. It was unusual for him to be so distracted easily but he did not ponder about it too deeply.
Eyes narrowing, he observed the scene with wise dark eyes.
Hinata was on the training field outside, hands glowing with her signature chakra as she did a simple rotation for her gentle fist technique. Her hair was a dark blue curtain behind her—following her every graceful movement.
(f) He watched as the girl curled her bruised self into a helpless ball, hands pressed on her stomach as she bit her already bloody lip. It was Kakuzu's time to train Hinata and he did so rather too enthusiastically. Somehow, Itachi suspects that the oldest Akatsuki was not just training her…but settling some unfinished business.
He suspects that it was the man's encounter with a group of Konohan nins weeks ago. He was badly wounded…and for an immortal like him, that was quite something. Hidan though was not that lucky to get away.
He would have interfered but it might be too obvious—he has interfered a lot with her trainings and he figured that it would be a wise decision not to do it right now. Pein was present and so is Konan. These two are not just strong…they are very sharp.
"Konohans…you sure are tough." Kakuzu hissed. "Hidan should have known it before getting blown up to pieces and buried alive." Giving his hand a flick, his arms began to stretch and elongate like some kind of twisted, dark rope. "You're friends with those bastards aren't you? They mentioned that they were supposed to be your retrieval unit."
Hinata gasped when the now elongated arm encircles her neck, hoisting her up into the air like some rag doll. The man was just too strong for her…and he was even worse compared to the blonde lunatic that trained her days before.
If her Neji-Niiisan, Shino, or even Kiba could see her right now…
Head filling with memories from back home, Hinata gritted her teeth as she focused her remaining chakra on her hands. She was weak and tired but she knew she could pull this one out if she gives it her all. When her hands began to heat up with chakra, she clenched them together as she strained her eyes to their limits.
"Twin lions fist!"
Itachi's eyes blinked when he heard her scream the words out. When he saw her gagging into the air while Kakuzu's stretched arms were starting to choke her, he was actually expecting that she was going to faint…and in truth; he was hoping that she would.
Then she could take a rest from all her pains even just for a short while.
Hinata's hands sliced into Kakuzu's arms like kunai into butter. For a moment, the Akatsuki looked surprised. His eyes widened and the cloth that covered his face wrinkled as his mouth slacked. He dropped her as his arms began to return back to their normal length—but this time, he was missing a hand. Cursing, he pulled out a kunai.
"That's enough." It was Pein.
Kakuzu paused with a hiss.
"Why don't you tend to the girl so that she won't have much damage? Itachi…" The leader ordered, his violet colored eyes dead and emotionless. "Konan…come with me. I need to talk to you and Kakuzu about a few things."
"Hai."
When the three left, Itachi leaped to where the girl was. Her clothes were torn, revealing a lot of milky skin. She was breathing heavily and her hands were still on her neck—massaging the spot where Kakuzu strangled her. When she looked up to him, he saw that there were tears in her eyes.
"You did well." He kneeled beside her. "Can you stand?"
Hinata nodded and she did so shakily. Declining his offer of assistance, she took small experimental steps with wobbly legs. On her fifth step, she yelped when she felt a sudden jolt of pain somewhere in her lower half. If Itachi was not fast enough, she should have plummeted on her face.
But he caught her.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist, thus steadying her limping form. If she was not in so much pain…and if this happened in normal days…she knew she would have blushed.
Uchihas…no matter how you looked at them…no matter what mess they are in…
They are just plain good-looking.
"No you can't." He told her, answering his first question and picked her up without effort. He started to walk in a slow pace, not wanting to be fast and add more damage to his breathing and wounded cargo.
Involuntarily, Hinata's hands wrapped around his neck, covering the simple beaded necklace around it. "Ano…Itachi-san." Hinata looked around. "This is not the way to the house."
"I know."
Hinata frowned as the man brought her deeper into the forest. He was silent and she knew she won't get any answers if she kept on asking. Itachi kind of works that way…
"Here." He gently placed her down when they arrived in a small clearing. There was a small pool of water and Hinata realized that it was a spring. "You need to wash all that blood off."
"Oh…y-yeah." She dipped her bloody knuckles on the water. The water was cold and clear. With a grimace, she began to rub her hands gently together—trying to wash off dirt and matted blood. "Itachi-san…" she called, voice soft.
"Hn."
"Arigatou….for all the help."
"It's an order." He reminded, seating himself beside her. Absent-mindedly, he dipped his hand on the water too.
"You'll help me anyway…y-you always do." (f)
"Hey Itachi." It was Kisame's voice and the Uchiha turned away from the window. The ex-Kiri Shinobi was leaning on the wooden wall, jeering at him. "You see my student down there? I'm an awesome teacher right?"
"Hn."
"She improved a lot you know." Kisame crossed his arms. It was the first time that he caught Itachi unaware. Hell, no person or Shinobi alive could do that….yet he did—which was unusual and weird. The guy can detect a life meters away from him for his sensing skills are great…
But it seems like he was too caught staring at the girl practicing her skills outside.
"Do you agree?" He prodded, wanting to hear a praise from the great Itachi Uchiha.
"She calls you Nii-san." The Uchiha commented. "And you never sound so…so glad."
"That's out of the question."
-o-o-o-
"Tenten." Rock Lee smiled, giving his teammate a small wave. "You eating alone?"
Rock Lee was on his way to the Hokage tower to get some new assignments when he saw Tenten sitting alone on a food booth. Now that he thought about it, the girl loves meat…especially if it was roasted or grilled. Shrugging, he joined her without invitation. It was not that he was impolite but they knew each other very well for those sorts of formalities.
His assignment could wait. They were D-class anyway and Tsunade doesn't even look like she was on a hurry about those missions. He guessed that they are escort missions again for paranoid daimyos that always thought someone was after their necks because of their wealth.
"Have you seen Neji?" Tenten asked, grilling meat on the small grill in front of them. "I haven't seen him these days."
"No."
"Oh."
Rock Lee plastered a smile. "Hey…the guy was promoted Anbu captain….what would you expect? "
"Right."
Lee shook his head as he took the chopsticks from Tenten's hands and began to manage the grill. Flipping the meat cutlets expertly, he stole a look at the renowned weapon mistress of the leaf. Her eyes were unfocused…as if she was thinking something.
Her eyes were also sad.
"Oh come on…don't give me that look." He suddenly patted her head, messing up her hair buns in the process. "Neji's attitude is understandable…it's quite normal for him to act the way he is right now. If he is acting otherwise…I think that's the time that we should all be worried."
"He…really loves Hinata doesn't he?"
"Well…he's devoted. Ever since they forged their bonds again after a lot of misunderstanding…Hinata-chan became his will and light. Hinata is the very living proof of his father's sacrifice…so protecting Hinata would be protecting his father's legacy." Rock Lee said wisely. "And I personally think Neji took it one step further than that."
Tenten was silent as she filled her mouth with meat. She's one of those people who likes to eat when she's worried about something. Ino told her it was a bad habit but who could blame her? Food is comfort and it makes her feel better.
"Hinata's sacrifice did not just affect her family…it affected us." Tenten said when she swallowed the food inside her mouth. "The whole batch…even our past jounin teachers… Kurenai-sensei the most."
"Well Guy-sensei cried his eyes out when he learned all about it. Remember that?"
"Yeah." The girl smiled sadly. "Oh…I'll be taking a class of my own at the academy next month." She informed the future green beast. "Tsunade wants me to take over since Naruto quit…"
The information made Rock Lee laugh. "Well…Naruto is Naruto. A teacher that mostly acts like a kid is no good for a class full of mischievous little kids. We don't want our future nins to learn how to make sexy shadow clones for their first assignments right?"
"Right." Tenten grinned."
-o-o-o-
Hinata stretched herself as she yawned. It was still dark and by the sounds of the night insects, she figured that it still must be nighttime. Tomorrow, they would travel into another place and stay there for a few days. They already stayed in this hideout longer than expected and it might give village nins a chance to track them down.
Konan and Pein already left earlier, leaving her with Itachi and Kisame.
Thud.
Frowning, she opened her eyes and seated herself. The noise was like a gentle creak of old wood…or to be exact, the sound of a door that was being closed gently. Rubbing her still droopy eyes, she activated her Byakugan and looked around the place as her kekkei genkai allowed her to see through walls and stone.
Kisame was sleeping on his own room, mouth slacked as he let out a gentle snore. His unique sword, Samehada, was beside him. Weirdly, the sword's mouth was gaping too—giving it the impression that it was also in a deep sleep.
Then something caught her attention.
Itachi was not inside his room, and when she wheeled around, she found him standing behind a large group of giant trees a good fifteen meters away from the house. In normal eyes, he was well hidden… but with her Byakugan, he was just plain visible. What was the man doing outside at this untimely hour? Is it another one of his Akatsuki jobs?
Then, what surprised her more was that Itachi looks like he was waiting for something—for he was just standing their motionless. If not for his reddish Uchiha chakra, she could have mistaken him for a tree.
Hinata waited too, curiosity rising.
Then she saw a small hawk flew above the guy, when it swooped down, he raised his arm for it to perch. Itachi then removed something that was attached to the bird's leg—making her realize that it was a messenger hawk. She could have left it that way—knowing that maybe, Pein wanted to convey a message or something—when it made her realize another thing.
Akatsuki never uses messenger hawks, or any kinds of message bringers. They have Zetsu for that. Zetsu was a more secure messenger than any kind of bird. And now that she pondered upon it, in the Akatsuki…carrying messages and orders was Zetsu's job…no one else.
But what was Itachi doing with a messenger hawk? And where did the message came from?
Squinting to get a better view, she tried to study the bird or anything that could give her a clue. Mentally, she knew that it was not her place to investigate and it might get her into trouble—but she was just curious—and that was reason enough.
Then Hinata let out a gasp.
On the bird's neck…was a shiny Konoha insignia.
-o-o-o-
Here ends the chapter. Yeah…probably noticed that this chap was pro-Itahina. (Well I realized that from the past chaps…It was full of SasuHina. I want to give Itachi a fair fight. *winks)
Please review...I hope it's not too much to ask. : ) see you next chapter guys!
-crazygirl12