Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me
Chapter 32: Ghosts
Naruto looked at the small and only visible part of his reflection on the partly foggy window. He brought a hand to touch the blonde stubble that had covered his chin, moustache, and jawline. Red and tired eyes looked back at him as he rubbed his face in an attempt to push back the sleepy feeling that was threatening to take over once more. He hadn't been able to sleep properly in weeks. No matter how tired he would feel, he would find himself simply resting his eyes now and then, but never really sleeping. Agony and desperation were taking over every single fibre of his being, leading to sleepless nights and days that went by what felt like an unbearable eternity.
He exhaled deeply before turning around, his eyes landing on the unmoving body laying on the single bed that stood at the center of the semi-lit room.
Naruto walked towards the bed, the candles burning inside the few lanterns that were scattered around the room lighted his small path. His steps were heavy as he reached the bed and sat down on the lone wooden chair beside it. He buried his face in his hands for a moment before raising his bright blue eyes to stare at the snow manically falling outside the frozen glass of the windows. He then turned his head to the side, allowing his tired and sad gaze to land on the face of the sleeping man beside him. It had been long since he had last seen him staring back at him. At first, he had thought that he had managed to save him, even when all hope seemed to have been lost for his friend. Yet now, after so many weeks of being in a coma, he had started to doubt whether the Uchiha would manage to ever wake up again. Even the healers that had tended to his wounds, although hopeful at first, had recently started preparing the Uzumaki for the worst-case scenario.
He extended his bandaged hand to take a hold of his friend's motionless one. He stayed silent for a moment, looking at the hard wood of the floor beneath his feet. It was as if he was unable to look at Sasuke anymore. He was afraid, he knew that. He was afraid that if he looked at him, there would come a time when he wouldn't see his chest rising and falling with each breath anymore. He was afraid that he would see his face grow pale and cold in a matter of minutes.
Images of their childhood came back to pierce the blonde's mind. Images of when they were but too short and naive children abandoned by this world. And then he recalled the war and the days that came to follow their last battle at the Valley of the End. Naruto's bandaged hand held Sasuke's one even tighter now. Those two arms they had both lost yet bonded them as brothers for the rest of their lives.
"We have been such fools…", Naruto said in a low tone. The future Hokage that would always stir up havoc with his loud voice and endless energy anywhere he went, was now barely heard. "And I have been the greatest fool of all… We lost so much time. They took everything from us dobe… They took our childhood, our dreams, everything we built with sacrifices, pain, hard work…".
He took another shaky breath.
"I know how much you suffered. This was why I tried so hard not to let revenge and darkness devour you. Unlike you, I never came to know what having parents and a family felt like… For many years I thought my suffering was greater than yours and I blamed you. I blamed you because I thought that since I could still smile and laugh then so could you. Unlike me, you knew what family felt like though. Unlike me, you experienced what losing that family felt like. You saw them being killed right in front of you while you had no power to change their fate." He said and then paused for a few seconds. "I never had a bother until I met you…", Naruto now looked at him for a moment, before shaking his head and looking back at the floor once more, a few tears now staining the hard wood beneath his feet. "I always thought we could build a new world together. A world where we can finally have what they took from us: a family. And you could have one. As long as you hang in there a bit longer you can still have one…".
He held Sasuke's hand with both of his now and rested his forehead against it.
"She is waiting for you…", Naruto continued. "Hinata…", her moon-like eyes pierced his mind for a moment. His heart skipped a beat, since it had not managed to forget her yet, no matter how much the blonde had tried. "She is waiting for you…".
He remembered how her gaze would follow the Uchiha around the room when he last saw her. He remembered how her eyes would light up by simply looking at Sasuke and Naruto knew that what he felt for her had to be buried. And he would be happy to do so. He had been angry a first. He had fought with the Uchiha, thinking that he could still win Hinata's heart. It wasn't until he saw it in his friend's eyes as well. For the first time in his life, he had seen a whirlwind of emotions in Uchiha Sasuke's eyes, and all of them were meant for Hinata.
"She will never forgive me if I do not bring you back to her…", Naruto said again, this time his voice a bit stronger.
A knock was heard on the door, asking for permission to enter. Naruto didn't answer. He simply turned his head towards the entrance of the room as the door slowly opened. A young woman, one of the nurses that had taken care of Sasuke this whole time, entered the room.
"Naruto-san, Lord Ichigo has invited you to dine with him and his men. I think you would need to rest for a bit. You have not eaten anything the whole day.", the woman said in a soft tone, her hands gently placed in front of her. "I will stay with him. You do not need to worry. If anything happens, I will inform you immediately.".
Naruto looked at Sasuke for a brief moment once more, before barely nodding his head in agreement. He didn't feel like eating, even if his favourite ramen was to be served in front of him right then and there. But he knew that it would only seem rude to turn down such an offer from the lord of the house that had provided them with shelter for so many weeks now.
Naruto was about to stand up and let Sasuke's hand rest by his side when suddenly he felt the Uchiha's hand give him a very light squeeze. Naruto froze where he stood, his breath barely leaving his chest now. He turned around with eyes wide in shock.
"Sasuke…", he exclaimed, his voice cracking.
The nurse rushed to the bed, checking the Uchiha's pulse.
"Sasuke!", Naruto clasped his friend's face with his hands, hope building up in his voice now as he felt his body slightly move now. "Teme! Do you hear me? Hey!"
"Naruto-san!", the nurse hurriedly exclaimed. "I think…"
The young woman did not have time to finish her sentence since Sasuke's eyes opened slightly, making Naruto cry in joy.
"I am going to get the healer!", the nurse hurriedly said and rushed outside the room.
Sasuke lightly coughed; his throat evidently sore.
His eyes would open and drop again. He turned his head to the side in an attempt to get over the dizziness he felt. His vision was slightly blurry at first, but hearing his name being called again and again made him slowly regain his senses.
"Welcome back asshole…", Naruto said with tears and a wide toothy smile.
"Naruto…", Sasuke said as the blonde's face clearly came into his vision now. He tried to understand the situation he was in. He caught a glimpse of the bandages around his body He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to remember what had happened. It was difficult at first but then, parts of distorted memories slowly came back. He remembered Hinata. He remembered how he was holding her in his embrace watching as she soundly slept until he stood up in the middle of the night to fulfil the promise he had soundly given her. He remembered reaching past the borders between the Land of Earth and the Land of Iron only to find the old temple drowned in snow. Hiashi and his men had been waiting for him. He fought him. He fought the murderer of his family, the man who had tormented and used the woman he loved ever since she was a child. And he had somehow lost. The last thing he could remember now was Naruto finding him after days. Sasuke had thought that he would die then. He had thought that he would never be able to see his brother's blue eyes again or Hinata's bright smile.
"Naruto…", Sasuke said again.
"You are starting to repeat yourself now, teme. Did you hit your head that hard?", Naruto jokingly said.
"No…", Sasuke said with a small smirk. "I just wanted to tell you that… you look terrible…".
"I could say the same about you…".
Sasuke only managed to smirk at that. He must have been out for days he thought, since his body was still trying to regain its senses; something that rarely happened to the Uchiha.
He took a moment before turning to the Uzumaki once more.
"How long have I… been like this?", Sasuke asked. He momentarily closed his eyes once more. "Hinata must be worried…".
When he reopened his eyes, Sasuke watched Naruto's face turn grim. He looked at his friend's face once more, at the blonde hair that had covered Naruto's chin and jawline. Naruto was one to take care of things such as this even during missions, not to mention that it would take a longer time than merely a few days for the Uzumaki to show any signs of a growing beard. That's when Sasuke felt his stomach drop.
"Naruto…"
"You've been in a coma for more than four weeks now…", Naruto said, confirming his fears.
It was then that something suddenly snapped in Sasuke. Pushing his dizziness aside, he forcefully moved his numb body and got out of bed, despite the Uzumaki yelling at him to stop. Naruto attempted to gently take hold of him since the Uchiha was still healing from his wounds, yet Sasuke simply pushed him aside and grabbed the cloak resting on a nearby chair as he dragged his pained body towards the door. Naruto shouted again and again but Sasuke did not dare to stop now. With each step, he felt his body remembering its old state and as long as he could still walk, he would not even think of stopping now. He could not go back to rest in that sickly bed.
Four weeks.
He had left her completely alone for four weeks.
He had left her alone with Hiashi.
His overwhelming emotions distorted his pale face even more as he walked through the dark empty corridor with Naruto one step behind.
She was alone. He had left his woman alone.
Sasuke cursed himself for being such a fool. His impulsive nature had finally caught up to him. He had underestimated his enemy this time, and he had paid for it dearly. The Uchiha felt his heart beating harder and harder in his chest as agony started taking over every fibre of his being. Hinata was okay, he tried to persuade himself. She was a strong woman, and she was not alone. He knew that she would be protected back at the Seki village. Shiori was more than prepared to hold her ground with her men in case Hiashi was to find them. For some reason though, Sasuke could not help the uneasiness that had clouded his mind.
"Sasuke!", Naruto shouted his name for the millionth time, but it wasn't his friend calling him that ultimately stopped Sasuke in his tracks.
Heavy footsteps and the sound of clashing metal filled Sasuke's ears and in seconds, ten samurai warriors came marching towards them.
Sasuke looked at them, trying to comprehend the situation. The men were holding their swords, yet as they came to stand before the two shinobi from the Land of Fire, they did not seem to pose a threat.
Sasuke's furrowed as he slowly came to understand where he stood. This was not a simple safehouse located at the Land of Iron. And then, as the men before him made way for their leader to come into view, the man that looked straight into Sasuke's eyes now, confirmed all of the Uchiha's suspicions.
"It seems like you Uchihas are indeed tough to kill", the new Lord of the Land of Iron commented.
"Ichigo…", Sasuke said, acknowledging the man before giving Naruto a side glance.
Naruto pretended he hadn't taken notice of the way Sasuke had looked at him, because the Uchiha was surely not pleased to stand where he stood. Sasuke's past was unfortunately still haunting the minds of many people. The former avenger knew perfectly well that Mifune, the previous Lord of the frozen lands and adoptive father to Ichigo, was not very fond of him. Their blades had clashed in the past and that was something the samurai did not easily forget.
"Ichigo-sama…", Naruto said with respect, yet looking confidently into the leader's eyes. "I am sorry if we disturbed your dinner-"
Sasuke almost rolled his eyes at how diplomatic his childhood friend had grown to be. It did not suit the blonde at all yet as Ichigo raised his hand, interrupting the future Hokage, with an almost friendly expression playing on his face, Sasuke thought that Naruto's new tactics were not so bad after all.
"Uzumaki-san, please…", Ichigo said, folding his hands behind his back. "Such formalities are not needed between two leaders", he continued, acknowledging Naruto's future status, something that almost made Naruto blush. He had fought too hard to become a good Hokage soon and seeing his childhood dream slowly come true was still feeling unreal to him.
On the other hand, Sasuke, although proud of the acknowledgement Naruto was receiving, couldn't help but be suspicious. Hidden within the frozen desert of the Land of Iron, the samurai always attempted to keep a neutral position regarding outside politics. That was also the reason why the Land of Iron had been a meeting point for all Kages. Still, the Lord of those cold northern lands never attempted to establish any friendlier relations with any of the past Kages.
"Now that your companion is well, why don't we dine together?", Ichigo continued, and Naruto looked at Sasuke in worry. His friend had just woken up from a month-long coma. Joining a feast was the last thing he was supposed to do in his state, not to mention that in his agony to leave and find Hinata, sitting on a chair would be impossible for Sasuke to even consider.
"A feast between a future Kage and the Lord of the Land of Iron", Sasuke said in all his paleness. "Well, if that isn't unprecedented…".
Ichigo smirked, persuading Sasuke that he was nothing like his predecessor, Mifune. Mifune was a strict man, yet loyal to his people and their rules. He did not care about building political relations with the other nations since he knew that he could protect his people by himself. Unlike the previous rulers of the land though, Mifune joined the united shinobi forces during the last war, acknowledging the rising danger that could be too much to handle alone. Ichigo though, seemed more than willing to engage in political games. If not, why provide shelter and care to the former avenger when he knew how the samurai under his orders viewed him? If it was Mifune in his place, then Sasuke would have probably been left to die in the heavy snowstorm outside.
"If an Uchiha can receive care from samurais, then how unbelievable would it be for me to dine with a future Hokage?", Ichigo said, and it was now Sasuke's turn to smirk. "I think you should not keep your guard up, Uchiha. I am not here to clash my blade with yours. We have the same enemies. Isn't that enough reason to at least keep you alive?"
"So, saving me was what? An act of respect simply because we hate the same people?" Sasuke asked him back. "I have a lot of enemies and not much time to deal with yours…"
Sasuke attempted to walk past the Lord of the samurais, yet his next words stopped him.
"I wish to form an alliance with you both", Ichigo said, looking at Naruto now. Sasuke stopped walking again, listening closely to what the man had to say. "I need to protect my lands, now more than ever. The Earth daimyo and Hyuga Hiashi…" he said, looking at Sasuke now, knowing that the mere name of the Hyuga leader would be enough to grab the Uchiha's attention. Sasuke tensed at the samurai's words. "I have known of their plan for quite some time. The daimyo's son, Yoshiro… He and I have been trying to stop it however we could. At first I though my lands would be unaffected. I did not give a damn whether you shinobis engaged in another war. After all… it seems like that is the only thing you do…", he said and Naruto held his head low now, his fists tightening at his sides. "But the daimyo is not at clueless as he seemed. I though he had simply been too ambitious for his own good, but he managed to fool us all. That man placed his bastard son, as the new Tsuchikage and now, as we speak, war has already broken out at multiple battlefronts. Even the Kages are fighting front row. It will not be too long until this fire reaches my lands as well…"
"War!?", Naruto exclaimed, looking at the samurai leader in disbelief.
With a single nod Ichigo instructed the man at his left to bring forth a single scroll. The subordinate handed the scroll to Naruto, who took it with an almost trembling hand.
"I messaged your Hokage as you asked me to do. I informed him of your whereabouts and the state of the Uchiha", Ichigo said as Naruto opened the scroll and started reading his sensei's writings. "They have already been fighting for a few weeks now. The daimyo knew that Yoshiro was going against him and made sure to spread false information regarding the attack that was about to happen… He managed to take everyone by surprise…".
Sasuke was tightening his fists so hard, that he almost felt his nails cutting his flesh open. He looked at Naruto, who now stood silent with the scroll in his hands, trying to comprehend how everything could go so wrong.
"I still do not understand how this matter could affect you", Sasuke said now turning to the samurai leader. Ichigo stared back at him. "This war is still too far away from you. It really is a surprise, seeing a samurai worry so much about matters of the shinobi…".
"No, it is not. War already reached my doorstep…", Ichigo said, his tone heavier than before. The otherwise confident samurai was now showing emotion Sasuke had not expected to see. "They burned down the Seki village and the other northern villages across the borders. The Raven is dead…".
Sasuke froze where he stood and slowly it felt like everything around him went black. The Seki village was burned down…
The Raven… Shiori… was dead…
His Hinata…
Itachi…
He felt waves of grief threaten to drown him. His body moved mechanically, as if he had no control over it, and in a matter of seconds, he had the samurai leader pinned against the wall with a blade he had managed to steal from one of his men now cutting dangerously at the flesh of his white neck.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?!", he screamed in the samurai's face, his eyes glistering with tears the Uchiha left unshed.
Ichigo's men circled them in seconds, their blades ready to take Uchiha Sasuke's life right then and there.
"I am not your enemy Uchiha Sasuke", Ichigo said in a low steady voice, not fearing the least whether the former avenger would take his life or not.
It was at that moment that Naruto took hold of Sasuke, breaking the two men apart. The Uzumaki did not speak a word though. He understood his friend's reaction, but he did not even dare to think of the possibility Hinata had been lost in that fire. He let the pain that arose within him, silently take over, as he held Sasuke's agony in a tight embrace. The Uchiha fell to his knees. At that very moment, it was as if he was a child again, witnessing the deaths of his parents.
He closed his eyes and when he opened them again there was no one beside him. The corridor was somehow empty and only one tall dark figure stood silently before the snowy window. The tall man with a long black ponytail and blazing red eyes looked at Sasuke with a small smile on his lips. Out of nowhere, a beautiful raven flew through the dark corridor, only to land on the man's extended arm. The black raven turned its pearly white eyes on Sasuke as well, and for a moment they simply stood there, until they slowly turned into ashes, never to be seen again.
And as the illusion slowly faded, Sasuke still felt Naruto's strong hold keeping him from falling.
My Hinata… My Hinata…
The blood of the Hyugas was the purest in the Land of Fire. It bore unthinkable power that connected each man, woman and child to the gods. Kitsume used to always believe that each vein around the byakugan was a pathway towards deification. Ever since her eldest, Hiashi Hyuga, was born, that was all she used to tell him. She would have him sitted on one of her legs and tell him stories of the old gods. She used to touch his face, telling him that he could be one as well. In her mind, the Hyuga clan's position was above all else and that belief had poisoned her eldest son's mind for years. She was walking beside him now, clad in her most expensive garments, as her son strode through the corridors of the Hokage tower, his men following right behind him, dressed in their war attires.
Hiashi walked ahead with his katana still in hand, his head held high and not catching a glimpse of anything and anyone around him. His usually white robes were tainted red from the blood of the Konoha warriors, whose lifeless bodies now laid all around him. They were all men that Kakashi had left behind to protect the village, proud and courageous men who had never expected for an attack from one of their own. Some soldiers had managed to get away though, under the commands of Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino. Hiashi did not worry too much though, since he had already sent men to hunt them down. He couldn't risk having a few children be an obstacle to his plans.
Hiashi threw the door of the Hokage's office open and stepped inside. He stood still for a moment, clenching his jaw, his face stern. One of his men came to bow before him, expecting the Hyuga leader to give him his blade. Yet Hiashi simply ignored him and walked towards Kakashi's desk. Hiashi took his bloody blade and left it upon the Hokage's white hat that rested on the wooden desk, staining it with death. He looked at it for a moment, that position others had acquired with their worth, he had gained with blood and deception.
"My son…" Kitsume said as she got closer to him again, her eyes glistering with pure pride. She took the Hyuga leader's face in her hands. "You made it. You, Hiashi Hyuga, have given your clan its rightful place in this world… finally… finally we can walk these lands with nothing but pride. Everyone will see us for what we truly are… gods…".
Hiashi did not answer and just looked at her for a moment. Kitsume smiled at him before taking a step back. She raised her arm, motioning towards the open window that led to the balcony behind him.
"It is time…", Kitsume said. "Show them who you are…"
"Hiashi-sama!", his men shouted as they bowed before him. Hiashi reached the balcony and watched the people of Konoha below. Hyuga soldiers were walking among them, making them bow before their new leader with their heads held so low that they touched the blood-stained ground.
Hinata paced anxiously in her room, feeling like it was hard to even breathe properly. Something was off, she could tell. Her father had left with Kitsume and a handful of armed Hyugas before the sun could even break its first beam of light in the morning sky. She had been awake, yet although the sun had already set she was still to know what was going on. They had her imprisoned in her own room, with guards standing outside her door and window 24/7. She was not allowed to step outside, or even come in contact with Hanabi or Itachi. It was only once that Hanabi had managed to get the boy to see her since the guards that stood outside her bedroom at that time were the ones to follow Hanabi's orders. The two men were shortly removed and severely punished though once Kitsume found out about their betrayal. The only times she would get to face another human being were the times a servant would bring her food or fresh clothes.
She lightly touched her still almost flat belly now. They had brought a healer to check on her the very first day she arrived at the Hyuga compound. Kitsume and Hiashi had wished to know how long it had been since she carried that 'disgrace' inside her and whether they still had time to get rid of it.
Hinata smiled as she brushed her belly with her fingers.
Three months… Her child… Her and Sasuke's child.
It was so small, yet it was already fighting even from inside her womb. How could such a small being, such a blessing, already have so many enemies?
A knock was heard on her door before a servant girl entered to leave her another tray with food. Hinata had refused to eat at first, fearing what Kitsume might have placed inside in order to harm her unborn child. That was until Hanabi convinced her otherwise. Her sister had placed some of her own people in the main compound's kitchen in order to make sure nothing of that sort would happen. After all, Hinata needed to eat whether she liked it or not. She had no appetite, yet she knew that she had no choice. Not only did this life growing inside her depend on her, but Itachi did as well. The boy had lost both of his parents and Sasuke. To him, Hinata was all he had left in this world. She couldn't disappoint him. She had given a promise to him after all. She had promised him that she would never leave him alone again. At times the boy would sneak out of Hanabi's room that was near Hinata's and would come to her room, talking to the Hyuga heiress through the hard wood of her locked door. Thankfully the guards outside never said anything to the boy. Even Kyoshi, Hiashi's right hand, would not pose an obstacle for the boy whenever he wished to speak to Hinata.
"Your food Hinata-sama", the young girl said as she placed the tray on the small table near Hinata's bed. At her door stood Kyoshi in silence, watching the two women closely. Hinata paid him no mind and did not even care to spare him a single glance. As the servant girl proceeded to make the table for her to dine though, another thought pierced her mind. Why had her father left Kyoshi behind? Why would he leave his most trusted man back at the compound to simply guard his daughter? She felt anxiousness building up inside her once more.
"Your dinner is all set Hinata-sama", the girl respectfully said. As she lightly bowed to the heiress though, the girl raised her eyes to look at Hinata, before motioning towards the napkin on the table. Hinata remained unreadable, not breaking eye contact with the girl so that Kyoshi would not understand that the servant had pointed at something only seconds before.
"Thank you…", Hinata said, and the girl proceeded to take her leave. Kyoshi soon closed and locked the door once more.
Hinata waited for a few moments before reaching for the napkin, only to find a small piece of paper inside. She unfolded the paper only to see it was blank. She stared at it for a second, wondering. She activated her byakugan to read the secret message her sister had probably hidden with a jutsu, but still there was nothing there to see. The only thing her eyes could somehow catch were a few thin lines here and there on the paper but nothing more than that. She deactivated her byakugan again. It took her another moment for realization to finally kick in.
She brought the paper close to her nose and that was when the faint smell of lemon hit her. A small smirk graced her lips. Lemon juice, Hinata thought and immediately brought the paper above the flame of the lighten candle on the wooden surface before her. As the flame lightly licked the thin paper, letters appeared on its surface.
Their childhood trick, Hinata thought with nostalgia. She, Hanabi and Neji always used to right in lemon juice whenever they wished to pass a secret message between them. But that seemed so far buried in the past now. How naive they were… how small and unprotected in this cruel world. She instinctively brought a hand on her belly once more, as now worry took over. Her child… and Itachi… in what world were they supposed to grow up in? They had failed… they had failed to create a better world for the next generations and instead of peace they would only be able to pass on ruins and war.
She shook her head, trying to get rid of all those thoughts and instead concentrate on Hanabi's message. Soon though, her hands gripped the paper, as if in a way to stop their violent trembling.
Konoha has fallen.
The Hyugas have taken over. We should act immediately.
I overheard Kitsume. We must somehow get both you and Itachi out of the village.
She wants the children dead.
She brought a hand to her mouth as if to prevent any sound from coming out. Kiba, Shino, Konohamaru… They had all stayed behind to protect the village. What if… what if they… She did not dare continue her train of thought.
The sound of heavy footsteps from the corridor outside her room reached her ears, and she immediately threw the paper in the lit fireplace opposite to her bed. When the door of her room opened, revealing none other than her father, the small note had already become ashes, leaving no trace behind. Hiashi stood in silence, his eyes first landing on the full plate and then on his daughter. He had already changed into new robes, his old, bloodied ones left behind as if that day's coup d'état had never occurred.
"It appears you have still not eaten…", Hiashi slowly commented. Hinata attempted to hold back the ironic laugh that threatened to slip her throat. She looked at him though, trying to understand what was going on in the head of the man that unfortunately was her father.
"And that concerns you because…?", she let her words trail off as if expecting him to finish her sentence.
Hiashi took a moment, before addressing his eldest daughter again.
"No matter what happened this past year, you are still the heiress of this clan. And now… more than ever… you should make sure to be healthy…"
"Oh yes… right…", a painful smile graced Hinata's lips. "I should be the leader of this traitorous clan… I should be powerful like you… kill all those dear to me… like you…", she said looking at him straight in the eye. "Isn't that the power the mighty Hyuga clan holds after all?"
They had not talked one to one ever since she arrived. There were things left unsaid… things that mattered….
"Do not speak of things that you do not understand", Hiashi said, his voice and face emotionless as ever.
"I know what happened today…", Hinata said, finding it hard to even swallow. "I know what you did… Is it done now? Are you happy? What you achieved today…", she said, a tear now rolling down her cheek. "…was it worth taking my mother from me? Was it worth turning Hanabi into an orphan when she was still an infant in her crib?"
She watched as Hiashi stiffened at her every word.
Moments that seemed like they lasted an eternity passed before words could slip from the Hyuga leader's mouth.
"Nothing…", Hiashi said. "Nothing will ever be worth… losing Hikari…"
Hinata looked at him through teary eyes that were now filled with shock. She hadn't heard him talk about her mother for years. The Hyuga leader would make sure to never bring up Hikari Hyuga's name, as if a curse was attached to it.
"You did not lose her…", Hinata corrected him. "I did… my sister did lose her… not you. You killed her… you turned your arrow and pierced her right through her heart…", she said through gritted teeth. "I was there… I saw everything… remember?"
"There was nothing I could do… to save your mother…", Hiashi said, and Hinata felt herself being overtaken with anger. "I either offered her a quick death, or the elders would make sure to tear her apart every way they could. She was the head of the branch house rebellion. They would not let her have a quick or painless death…"
"You could have helped her escape!", Hinata screamed, not understanding how this monster could be her father. "You could have at least respected the tremendous love she had for you! She started this rebellion to not just save the branch house but also you! You could have provided her with a safehouse… She could still have been alive somewhere…"
"They would hunt her down… there is no chance your mother would manage to continue her life in hiding…"
"Is this what you have been telling yourself all those years so as not to drown in your own compunction?", Hinata said, looking at him in utter disbelief. "You massacred your allies, the Uchihas… You accepted your brother's death and your daughter's blinding… You took your wife's life with your own hands… You burned villages… You orphaned children… even my own…", she said, more tears staining her face now, as Sasuke's face pierced her mind again. "Is there an ending to your crimes? Is there an ending to your appetite for blood and distraction?"
Hiashi did not reply. For the first time in his life, the Hyuga leader had no answer to give.
She wanted to scream in his face, scream for all he had done, ask if her friends had survived that day's attack, yet she knew that it would all be in vain.
"Make sure to rest…", Hiashi said after a while and simply turned around to leave.
"Maybe it's for the best… that she is dead…", Hinata said ignoring his remark, gripping at the hem of her kimono. "My mother would be disgusted if she were here to see the man you have become…"
Hiashi hovered at the door for a moment, not daring to look at his daughter again. He stood there as if taking in her every word, before going outside and ordering Kyoshi to lock the door once more.
"In two days' time, we will hold the Full Moon celebrations as planned", Hiashi said to Kyoshi. "Make sure that all preparations are in order. The heiress will also take part in the sacred ceremony as a symbol of the continuation of the Hyuga bloodline over the centuries. Everything should be perfect. I think you understand what I am saying Kyoshi…"
Kyoshi showed his understanding with a bow to his leader.
"As you wish, Hiashi-sama", Kyoshi said. "You do not need to worry about anything. I will have everything prepared.
Hiashi nodded his head. He was about to leave but Kyoshi's words stopped him.
"Hiashi-sama…"
"Yes?", Hiashi looked at him in question.
"There is something I was meaning to ask… please forgive me for my curiosity and rudeness…", Kyoshi said and after a small pause, he finally posed a question the Hyuga leader had not expected to receive. "Uchiha Sasuke… Is that man really dead? Did he really die back in that temple?"
Hiashi's face filled with contained anger.
"Do not involve yourself in matters that do not concern you…", the Hyuga leader said, before turning his back on his loyal servant.
He walked slowly through the corridors of the Main House, his previous conversation with his daughter repeating itself in his head nonstop.
He walked down the stairs when his eyes caught sight of Hanabi and the Uchiha child hanging out in the kitchen with some maids. He looked closely at the child that bore almost no sign that he also carried Hyuga blood within his veins. Somehow, at that very moment, Itachi's gaze met the Hyuga patriarch's for a moment. Hiashi turned his eyes elsewhere though. Those black eyes reminded him of things he wished to forget.
He soon reached his office where he collapsed on his chair. He folded his hands upon his desk and closed his eyes for a moment. He took in a deep breath before unlocking a draw on his desk. He looked at its content for a while, before daring to take the single arrow that rested inside in his hand. He looked at it, before breaking it in two parts, his face distorted in pain. He had kept it all those seventeen years, he had kept the arrow that had taken Hikari for him, to remind himself of the monster he had become over the years.
Every time he would close his eyes, the only thing that he would see was the moment of her death. It was as if he was cursed to never remember the beautiful moments he had shared with his wife in the past. Instead, he would always find himself standing in that clearing in the forest, bow and arrow in hand, aiming at the woman he had yearned for ever since he was a naïve boy. And she stood there, beside the sakura tree in all her glory and braveness. She never broke eye contact with him and she never begged him to spare her life. Before death, Hikari Hyuga had stood braver than any man he had ever known.
Her words were still ringing in his ears… those lone words she had whispered to him before falling dead on the ground, her blood turning the fallen sakura leaves red.
"Protect our girls, Hiashi…"
He had failed her…
Dear readers,
I am finally back! I know I haven't posted for over a year, but this story never left my mind. I promised I would finish this, and I sure will! I know many of you might have forgotten about Bloody Moon, but I would be delighted to see you again in my comment section! Regardless, this story will receive its proper ending.
I hope you liked this chapter, and please brace yourselves for the next because it is going to be… well I will leave you hanging now, won't I?
See you soon!
