"Don't you think you have slept long enough?"
Itachi looked over the coma induced Hokage silently. Lady Tsunade looked so peaceful. A lot better from the last time he saw the beaten down woman after the invasion when she was first induced so she could rest. Itachi wanted to have a watchful eye on her. He heard Danzo was acting as Hokage and he figured that anyone that was on Danzo's, 'friend-nemy', list was in some sort of danger.
So he wanted to keep eyes on Lady Tsunade while at the same time keeping himself hidden. Tsunade was kind enough during the invasion, while he was still in a weak state recovering, to prioritize in having him moved to a secret location where there was no destruction or danger near.
No one but Tsunade herself and people she trusted heavily knew about this location, making it so the likes of Danzo and his ROOT army couldn't touch him. Itachi had only told Tsunade and Kakashi what had really happened the night of the Uchiha massacre. Tsunade boldly stated in a loud voice that she 'fucking knew it' and 'fucking Danzo'. Kakashi looked overall destroyed and yet curious about the man that was by Itachi side that night.
The massacre. It was something Itachi would have to live with for the rest of his miserable life. He was sure his brother now was bound to find out what he had done and knowing Sasuke like he did, Sasuke probably still would be unforgiving. Either that or he would just not talk to Itachi for the rest of his life.
That wasn't to say that Itachi at this point in his life didn't feel like he deserved any less. His clan was gone. He had killed them. People he loved, people that loved him. He would have to live with those nightmares for the rest of his miserable life.
Maybe him and the female Hyuga did have much in common being the oldest sibling. The sacrifices they made was unimaginable and yet people could never see what they did was for the best intention for the people they loved.
Didn't Sasuke think Itachi missed their mother? Just like he was sure the young Hyuga missed her old life. Shit, so did he. Who the hell really wanted to live the life of a rouge ninja for a terrorist organization?
His honorable name of Uchiha Itachi, heir to the Uchiha clan was ruined. Her title of Hyuga Hinata, heir to the Hyuga clan was stripped away from her and ruined. Did people honestly think they chose this miserable lifestyle? Sometimes he prayed that in the future Sasuke would understand and forgive him.
Maybe then living this life wouldn't be so miserable.
While the medication was working, it was a slow process and he was more of a liability on the field than anything else during the invasion. Don't get Itachi wrong, he could very much inflict some damage out on the field and could have aided, but against an Akatsuki member at the moment he more than likely wouldn't hold his own very well.
It had been some time since his medical treatment started, along with the invasion and Itachi was feeling replenished and was feeling like his old self again. He didn't think he would ever feel like this ever again. He felt an odd sense of peace, he felt relaxed. True he was still pretty much on 'house arrest' until his 'trial' but even with all of that going on Itachi felt good.
…As good as he was going to feel considering his past.
He briefly wondered if his recovery took longer than some expected because he was keeping track on the female Hyuga. She was going through some emotional trauma. It seemed Danzo had struck again on fucking up someone's life.
Itachi wouldn't say he particularly CARED about what was going on with the Hyuga female, but he wasn't stupid. The Uzumaki cared about her. His little brother oh so painfully obviously cared for the Uzumaki. Maybe Naruto was so busy on becoming 'Hokage' and training to get stronger when they were 13 that he didn't notice just how much Sasuke risked his life for Naruto or would go into a range over just hearing Naruto's name.
When Itachi first really met Kakashi's team 7, it was clear to him the chemistry his brother and the Uzumaki had. Him knowing his brother, he knew when his brother cared for someone heavily.
Alright in reality the team was so discombobulated and close that it was a flip of a coin whether his brother had feelings for the Uzumaki or the pink haired girl. In the past the Haruno girl was the eye candy for the two boys.
However, when Itachi first came into contact with the Hyuga girl in the Uchiha hideout, which for days he knew he was being followed by someone she was just experienced enough to not be noticed, Itachi learned of this odd fixation she had on his little brother.
She covered it with it being for the sake of her mission. Which, maybe that was the case. ROOT soldiers get fixated and have to fulfill a mission, or they were as good as dead. However, after learning how possessive she had become of Sasuke being her 'kill' and no one else and how she knew the same amount about Sasuke as he did, and he was his brother, Itachi figured that his little brother grew on the Hyuga.
Two dark souls molded well with each other. Plus the fact that Sasuke hadn't full on decided to put all his attention on eliminating the Hyuga before she melded with his plans any further just showed Itachi that Sasuke was just as interested with the Hyuga. Their disdain for one another made them ponder about each other which lead to emotions that both probably don't want to deal with.
The only reason he could see them exploring the option would be the Uzumaki. From his spying it was clear the Uzumaki and Hyuga had something going on. If by the grace of God the Uzumaki got his brother back in one piece, than Sasuke would want what he always wanted. The Uzumaki.
It was clear what this was all leading to. It was either going to work between the three of them, or it wasn't. Itachi's only concern was that his brother made it out alive so the three even got a chance to try it out. Which meant he had to keep tabs on the Hyuga to make sure the voices inside her little, pretty damaged head didn't push her to rip his brother heart out his chest.
On a good note the Uzumaki kid was done playing dumb and was in the Hyuga girls personal life now. Which seemed to balance her out, well they both seemed to balance one another out. Having the Hyuga preoccupied meant that he worried less on his little brother.
However, Itachi noticed no matter how strong Uzumaki and Hyuga's bond was growing, behind closed doors Danzo had a tight hold on the Hyuga's will. Behind Uzumaki's back it would seem that the Hyuga has kept herself still fixated on his little brother and not in a good way.
That's why it seemed like a good idea to plant his little seed at this very moment in front of Naruto and what appeared to be his fellow academy mates. They seemed to be having a meeting and after he got into better earshot the meeting seemed to be about taking his brother out.
"What do you want?"
Itachi was met with bored, guarded eyes and took note on how much the young Nara looked like his father. "I hear that you are planning on going after my brother."
"If you decided to attack not only would that be an insane idea, but my family would stop supplying the hospital with the medication you're taking to get better."
Itachi didn't like to be threatened. Seriously, who the fuck did this guy think he was talking to? Even while recovering he could just look at the Nara and he would be no more. Still he brushed the threat off. He wasn't here to argue or anything of that nature.
"Trust me when I say that I have long reached a point in my life where I do not care if I lived or died so your medication from your family's farm is the last thing on my mind. That being said, if I really wanted to kill every last one of you I wouldn't think twice about some medication."
He couldn't help himself really, but that was it. He promised.
"I wanted to share some information with you. It would seem the Hyuga would beat you all to the punch in regards of harming Sasuke. She is a phenomenal tracker. Spying is her forte that is for certain. However, I might be just a little too much for her. Either that, or she let my clone follow her clone to hunt my brother down. Maybe as a last ditch effort to stop her from killing my brother. She seems like she is stuck in between killing him, because he is indeed a criminal, or leaving him alive because there are people that want him alive."
Itachi last words and attention was pointed at Naruto, who he noticed unlike the rest of his peers seemed to handle the information Itachi was throwing at them fairly well. "I don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to her harming Sasuke. She won't. Even with the insane brainwash crap Danzo has on her."
Itachi raised a brow at this, "Why are you so certain."
Naruto hesitated for a moment. Feeling like this was too personal to say in front of so many people. "Because she doesn't want to…hurt so many people that may be close to teme. I'm sure she doesn't really want to hurt Sasuke either."
'She doesn't want to hurt me or Sasuke.'Is what Itachi heard loud and clear. Well this is all interesting. He was wondering when this weird love/hate poly-thing they had going on was going to come full circle.
"Surely you must have realized by now Uzumaki that there is a high chance my brother will be going to the Kage Summit. It appears that he has gotten in contact with some dangerous people to help him with whatever vengeance he is after now. There is another good chance that he will be engaging with Danzo. Do you see the conflict here?"
Brainwashed Hinata dedicated to Danzo Sasuke aiming to kill Danzo = You do the math…
Naruto's lips thinned at this and his ears reddened slightly, "DAMMIT!"
Itachi rolled his eyes at this, not even a hero for six months and the village hero is already hitting a road block when it comes to connecting the dots. "Your Hyuga friend may not be on the same strength caliber as my brother, but her deadliness lies in her talent of being hidden and undetected. I can sneak you and Kakashi out the village. Me and you both are supposed to stay in the village, but I think for Sasuke's sake it might be better if we do not stay here. I think your chances of bringing him back this time is very high. "
Naruto felt as if Itachi connected the dots fairly fast and easy when it came to him, Sasuke and Hinata. He should have known. The man was proclaimed a prodigy and genius of his time.
Naruto turned to look at the rest of the rookie nine and took in the appearance that they accepted that he was already going to go along with this wild idea.
Sakura frowned at him for a moment before her face lightened slightly letting him know she was okay with his decision as well. Naruto had a feeling that Sakura knew about Sasuke. She knew about this run around game between him and Sasuke. Naruto wasn't sure at the moment if Sakura was going to accept it. If they were going to properly move on from this, but at the moment she was being supportive and right now that was all that mattered.
"Okay then, let's go find Kakashi-sensei."
Making it to the summit on Hinata's end was fine. Lord Danzo not so much. She was able to notify him about assassins that were coming to attack him and his two other guards. This made if so Danzo was already prepared when they made contact with him. Hinata watched Danzo fend for himself with shocking ease, it seemed he could take care of himself against some simple assassins.
When at the summit Hinata stayed outside far away from any and everyone while suppressing her chakra. She could imagine the argument going on in the meeting.
This Akatsuki group was a pain to everyone. While dwindling at a fast pace, the organization still seemed to be doing major damage. These people were DANGEROUS. Their motive was so unclear, it seemed everyone had a different motive or some of them were just plain insane.
Hinata felt a familiar presence arrive and approaching. The presence that arrived was Uchiha Sasuke and what was left of his group of people, she also noted the added company he gained. That Akatsuki man with the mask and that two toned man that from her research was named 'Zetsu'.
Hinata knew Sasuke was coming. She kept track of him this whole time while traveling to the Summit. She let Lord Danzo know that there was a strong possibility Sasuke could arrive as well.
She didn't know why, but even though whatever relationship her and Danzo had was over. She could not see him hurt. She couldn't do it. She still wanted to protect him. She had to be all out insane.
After Hinata watched Sasuke enter the building, Hinata was not surprised moments later with seeing Danzo and his two guards flee and leave the other Kages to fight for themselves. This was dishonorable, if the others survived than they would surely spread the news of Lord Danzo's distasteful behavior.
Hinata would imagine the way the man by the name of Ao was following them, some secrets were revealed that showed the true Danzo. Luckily Hinata did not have to expose herself because the man-made Byakugan user was thrown off Danzo's trail.
She made a mental note to send a clone to retrieve that Byakugan that wasn't his. How dare he.
Back to her mission at hand, Hinata could see now she was going to have to follow Danzo closely for his safety.
Once things simmered down for the most part and Lord Danzo decided to head straight back to the village Hinata decided to stay silent and out of sight during the travel back to Konoha.
Just like that however, she felt a familiar presence coming directly for Danzo. Her eyes widened as the man named 'Tobi' literally appeared from nowhere. Hinata was thrown off more and more by this mysterious man's power.
This man was strange.
The man moved swiftly so there was no real time to notify Danzo. Hinata watched as the group of men were attacked and Danzo released orders to buy him time to release his arm. Her curiosity started to eat up at her. Something wasn't right. The masked man wasn't fighting whole heartedly. Like he was more so toying with the other ROOT soldiers.
It was almost slow motion as Hinata watched the two switch places and Sasuke turned up in the masked man place. Something was different about Sasuke, he had a rage about him that Hinata had never seen on his face and it was pointed to Danzo.
Lord Danzo was going to die. If she didn't do something he was going to DIE.
She felt fear and adrenaline all at the same time.
As Sasuke and Danzo battled, Hinata heard the actual words come from Danzo's mouth that he USED Itachi to murder the Uchiha clan. He had their EYES on him like they were trophies. The thought ran through her mind of why he wanted that man's Ao eye so much.
Was he planning on using his other arm for the Hyuga's? Is that why he wanted her to murder her clan!? So he could wear them like a DAMN TROPHY. He would have worn her eyes like one as well.
He really was a monster.
His reasoning for everything was mixed with him wanting peace and him wanting to be the one to bring peace, no one else could hold that title but him. The greed that ate this man up. He was mixed with honor, gluttony, lies and betrayal. He betrayed people he loved.
It was not a secret that Danzo took her in. She was his student. She was him.
Hinata couldn't help but grip her chest from the growing anxiety attack that was trying to consume her. She had grown to be a monster just like HIM. What kind of person was she to really not think for herself and follow such mindless, heartless orders. Now those faces of people's lives she had taken would permanently be imbedded in her mind. Hinata's head was ringing. Rational thinking was being mixed in with years and years of mental abuse and reprogramming.
She didn't know which side was winning in her mind.
While she felt 100% out of place and not like her normal mission-ready stoic self, Hinata still was able to rationalize that if she came out of nowhere to intervene with the fight between Lord Danzo and Sasuke, that the masked man would surely kill her. She knew that much for sure.
She didn't want Lord Danzo to die. At the same time her will for Sasuke to die was no longer there either.
Naruto cared deeply for Sasuke. She didn't want to hurt Naruto.
Hinata watched on as Danzo became frantic, Sasuke was getting the best of him. She watched as that female companion of Sasuke's named Karin was used as a hostage by Lord Danzo and without a second thought she watched as Sasuke pierced both the red head and Lord Danzo like the heartless monster he was.
Time seemed to stop for Hinata.
She couldn't breathe. She couldn't form a solid thought in her already jumbled brain. Her mouth went dry, but her face was soaked. She was crying, her tears were unwelcoming, confusing and nerve wracking.
Isn't this what she wanted? She knew Lord Danzo was going to have her killed eventually. He tried to get her to kill her family. He told her things that weren't true. He manipulated her and took away her light. Of COURSE she should want him dead.
Wire didn't want him dead. Wire wasn't ready for him to die.
She didn't know what forced her to connect her chakra wires to Sasuke's heart. She didn't know what made her come from her secured hiding spot in the tree tops. She didn't know what she was doing, but the voice in her head screaming to save Danzo-sama was trumping her common sense.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Hinata looked straight ahead at the bloodied Uchiha. That same fearful look he had before was dotted on his face. He was scared he wouldn't be able to avenge his family. He was scared that he would die for nothing.
He looked so pure. Yet he was a monster.
Hinata looked between Sasuke and Danzo. Look at all these monsters fighting for a purpose. For a title. The irony.
"You…you…Lord Danzo-"
She had no clue what she was trying to stutter out and say. Hinata could barely hold her hand up in the correct manner without shaking. What she was thinking? She did notice that the masked man that was here surveying the fight had vanished. Why was that?
One thing was for certain, Sasuke had just about enough of this. "Shut up! Shut the hell up! Do you know what this man has done?! To my family, to my BROTHER! This man ruined my fucking life!"
Hinata watched as Danzo struggled to get up and appeared to be shuffling with his robes and mumbling to her, "Wire…you and I both know that the Uchiha blood is tainted. You know. You know it all! You know his family was going to destroy the leaf village!"
More tears just pooled from Hinata's face, "I know that Danzo-sama."
Her chakra wires held strong on Sasuke and with a slight flick he was on his knees from the pain in his chest. Blood coming from his mouth in pools. Sasuke still managed to look at Hinata, blood spilled from his mouth as he spoke, "I am not perfect, but neither is this mad man Hyuga…Fuck! Hinata would you just listen! Don't do this!"
"Wire…complete your mission. Kill him." Danzo let out a frustrated snarl when he noticed his protégé hesitate.
"Hinata don't!"
The three looked at the end of the bridge behind Sasuke to see Naruto with Kakashi and Itachi. Hinata could barely see Naruto she was crying so much.
"Enough!"
Heads snapped to look at Danzo as he moved aside his top clothing to show his chest, "You failed me for the last time Wire. I will do as I had planned and kill you and the Uchiha! You people and your EYES! Thinking you are superior than everyone else when in reality you all cause WARS. You people are the definition of greed and you cause people to lose their loved ones. You were corrupted way before I took you in Hyuga, I want you to remember that! You were a born killer!"
Hinata's eyes widened as she saw the markings on Danzo's chest and what he was doing. Naruto sprinted to Hinata and Sasuke, but was stopped when Kakashi snatched him back to stop him from being caught in the blast and held him in a strong bear hug. He in return sent a clone that appeared beside Hinata to take her away from the area, but she stayed glued to her spot looking horrified at Danzo.
Itachi appeared beside Sasuke to swiftly take him as far away as possible. He gave Hinata a look telling her to take Naruto's hand and leave the area as fast as possible.
All four males stopped when they noticed all along Hinata had Danzo within her wires.
Naruto watched as Hinata lifted her hands facing Danzo, making the elderly man come to a complete stop and turn blue from lack of oxygen. Her chakra wires from her other hand connected to him were now made visible. "I'll be sure to remember that Lord Danzo. I will see you in the afterlife because I am sure we both will be burning for our sins."
Naruto watched as wide, sadistic, tear stained eyes looked at Danzo with nothing but regret and pain. "Nata." His voice was so low and weak when he called her name. This had to be killing her. He had lost count how many times she made it clear that Danzo was herlife.
Hinata curled her index finger and watched as the life left her former caretaker eyes. His body convulsed and blood started to leak from his mouth. Hinata didn't even flinch when Danzo's heart popped out his chest from her wires. She didn't do anything as his lifeless body fell to the ground.
Well that was that.
Lord Danzo was dead.
The idea of his precious Wire being the one to finish him off never crossed anyone's mind. Not even once.
Hinata's cheeks felt warm and she couldn't help but reach for her right cheek to feel wetness. She was crying. She was mourning.
She wasn't Wire of ROOT anymore. What was she? Why didn't she just kill the Uchiha? Why didn't she LISTEN to Lord Danzo? Why was she always screwing things up!
The rational side of her mind was screaming at her that she was a fool for feeling grief over Danzo. A fool because she KNEW he was an evil, vile man. She knew that he was going to have her killed. She knew it and her conscience was screaming at her to understand this.
Hinata held her charka strings to Sasuke. Ignoring the fact that Itachi was in arms reach to kill her in that very moment if she didn't let Sasuke go soon. For some reason she didn't trust either of the Uchiha's at that very moment even though they were at fault for NONE of this. Hinata waited for Kakashi and the real Naruto to come to her before dropping her wires and Itachi finally lowered his guard.
What was she going to do now? Where was she going to go?
Panic. Panic coursed through her veins as realization hit her.
She'd have to go back to the Hyuga clan. She would have to be sealed. They'd look at her as a traitor. Someone that supported the evil doings of Danzo, the monster. Her father wouldn't protect her. He NEVER protected her from the clan.
They were going to activate the seal on her. Images of Neji screaming in pain flashed through her head.
Danzo's voice was crawling all over her mind frame at that moment.
Hinata's eyes widened and her body started to visibly shake. She started to hyperventilate, and she didn't even see Naruto approach her and put his hands on her shoulders. It didn't register to her that he started to shake her to get her to snap out of hit.
She did notice that she was sweating.
She was crying, and she could barely breathe.
She noticed her ears start to ring, and little flashes of light started to conquer her vision until everything went black.