Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
A/N: I want to say
thank you to everyone for enjoying the series thus far.� As far as things go in terms of planning,
we�re only about halfway done or so, maybe a little more.� I want you all to know it�s been your
support that brings me back, writing every chapter piece by piece.� I hope you like Chapter 12 as much as any
other.

Dragonheart

Chapter 12

�� Much
occurred in the two weeks that followed Katai�s arrival in Konoha.� The long-haired teen from the Earth Country
made it his duty to aid the village in any way he could, from offering his
services on missions to general work such as watching over the academy
students.� He was an exemplary shinobi
in all rights, never having given anything less than his all no matter what it
was he did.� He resembled Naruto in more
ways than most people were willing to admit.
�� Naruto
himself had come to terms with Hinata�s decision to let the wedding proceed
unhindered.� It had taken him the better
part of the first week to do so, which still required the help of his closest
friends.� Sakura had spent the most time
helping him, watching out for him as she tried to help him cope.� The two were seen together more and more as
the days went by, training together, eating ramen and talking.� After the first week had gone by, Sakura
described Naruto as having �swallowed quite a bitter pill�but it�s not down all
the way yet�.� The young blond clung to
the small threads of hope that were left as he drifted more and more towards
acceptance of the facts.� Sakura was sad
to see the youthful glitter in his eyes dull as each day went on, but there was
very little she could do to ease his pain.
�� Sakura was
not the only one who tried to raise Naruto�s spirits.� Whenever Yakusho was not training with Jiyumaru he took to the
task of cheering the other ninja up, mostly in the form of random sparring
matches.� Naruto found peace in battle,
his life totally forgotten when he and Yakusho fought.� Those were the few hours he could easily say
nothing really mattered to him.� The
training sessions would end however, leaving Naruto to enter the realm of
reality once again.� Each day was a
tortured dance in admitting he had lost.
�� Elsewhere
in the village, Hinata suffered as well.�
Though she had made the decision to go through with the wedding, her
heart ached.� Katai was a wonderful
person who could make just about anyone near him happy, but he was not
Naruto.� She had fallen in love with the
scruffy boy many years ago and no arranged marriage or long-haired pretty boy
would change that.� Regret threatened to
swallow her into its mighty jaws, a horrible fate averted only thanks to the
attentions of her father, cousin and various friends.� Her teammates had been especially supportive, the most of which
came from Kiba.� Hinata was not
convinced that Kiba truly supported her choice to marry, but perhaps supported
more the idea of her not being with Naruto anymore.� Shino, as always, offered cryptic and sage advice to her in the
same tone he always spoke in.� She was
thankful that they were at her side when she needed them most.� She would otherwise probably not have the
courage to do what she was going to do.
�� When it
boiled down to it, that�s what this was all about.� Hinata had never been truly brave in her life, except after
meeting Naruto.� Even then she was a
quivering lump in most situations.� The
young man had taught her the meaning of courage and how to do what needed to be
done.� It had taken every last ounce of
her strength to make her choice and she would not back down from it now.� Any talk that involved accepting fate had
been shot down roughly by Neji, who had warned her about the consequences of
treating life that way.� Those words
made her realize that she once again had Naruto to thank for what happiness
existed in her life.� No matter how hard
she tried to keep him out, she knew she couldn�t truly live without him in her
life.
�� Despite
that, relations between the Hyuuga heiress and the jinchuuriki were
strained.� They rarely spoke, mostly
offering glances and hellos at each other whenever they crossed paths.� There were odd times where they would end up
at Ichiraku�s at the same time, simply because Hinata actually did like
the stuff.� They would eat silently,
only offering each other the minutest form of communication.� It was difficult for both of them to say
what they wanted to say and feel what they wanted to feel.� The awkward moments would drag on forever
until they parted ways, leaving them sorry they had said nothing.
�� Katai, on
the other hand, had gone out of his way to attempt to befriend Naruto.� From early on the suitor recognized that he
had much in common with the blond-headed ninja, and tried his very best to not
let the growing hostility between them sever what could have been a friendship.� Naruto was surprisingly accepting of Katai�s
attempts, even having another eating contest with him at Ichiraku�s (to the
chagrin of Ayame and joy of Teuchi).� No
matter what they did or didn�t do, they seemed to be on the border of anything
firm.� Naruto was still too distant
toward Katai for them to be real friends, something that made the Iwa-nin
depressed.� There would be almost no way
around it however, so eventually Katai stopped trying altogether.
�� He did not
stop trying to get in the good books with Hinata�s teammates and sensei though.� He had actually made it a priority to get to
know Shino, Kiba and Kurenai as quickly as possible.� The older woman had instantly taken a liking to him, mostly
thanks to that �Katai charm� he exuded.�
Kiba had been a harder sale, defying Katai�s charm in favor of his
principles.� The nin-ken trainer was
hard to convince, keeping his own standards involving Hinata ahead of whatever
it was about Katai he liked.� Eventually
even he was swayed by the man from Earth, taking a liking to his style of
thinking.� Shino was indifferent the
entire time, making impossible to tell whether he approved or disapproved of
the young man.� Despite that, Katai
considered his attempts to integrate himself into the life of his betrothed to
be a success.
�� The
ceremony itself was calculated and rehearsed and ready to be performed.� The Hyuuga clan had called upon a monk from
a shrine not too far from the village to hold it the ceremony within the walls
of the compound, making it a quite closed affair.� That was until Hiashi announced that anyone was welcome to come
to the wedding and see it with their own eyes.�
It was a heartwarming sentiment that Naruto had originally intended to
ignore.� It was bad enough that he was
about to lose the woman he loved, but there was no way he would be caught dead
at the ceremony that would be giving her away.�
Sakura would not allow him to not attend however, stating that he needed
to do it not only to show support for Hinata�s decision, but to come to grips
with the situation.� Only then would he
be able to put it behind him and move on.�
Against his better judgment he accepted and began to search for some
appropriate clothing to wear.� When he
discovered he had nothing appropriate for a wedding, Sakura grabbed him up
quickly and took him shopping for something.
�� Naruto had
watched a lot of movies and some pretty odd shows in his life.� He wasn�t unaware of how shopping with women
was perceived in the fictional world.�
He had gone in expecting to be bored to tears and put on for show over
and over again, whilst all the while his feelings of remorse would only
grow.� This was not the case, as Sakura
tried her best to make the experience as fun for him as she could.� It had only taken them a few moments to find
the perfect thing for him to wear, according to Hinata�s design.� She had wanted to go with a floral theme, so
Sakura sought out all the floral-pattern kimonos she could.� Eventually they settled on one whose pattern
consisted entirely of gardenias.� Naruto
didn�t complain, knowing that they were some of Hinata�s favorite flowers.� Were that all they had done, Naruto would
have judged the entire experience as being all too benign.� That was until Sakura asked him to help her
pick out her clothing.� By the
time she had settled on a scarlet-colored kimono with a white rose design,
Naruto was wondering why he hadn�t done this with Hinata at least once.� He immediately attempted to remove those
thoughts from his head, flashing a grin at Sakura as he tried not to laugh and
cry at the same time.
�� He was
going to need a lot more willpower to survive this.

�� The day of
the wedding was a long one for everyone involved.� From the crack of dawn people were about the busy streets and
their houses preparing for what would probably be the biggest event the village
had seen in the last decade.� Members of
the Hyuuga clan were busy rearranging the compound and setting up the
proceedings, once again aiming for that level of perfection that would put them
above and beyond all others.� Though the
majority of the clan had seen Hinata as a failure, the amount of effort put
into the wedding was nothing short of amazing.�
Every detail and decoration was carefully planned and strung with care,
leaving the entire grounds looking like a fantastical party.� Though very few other than the clan members
themselves had been inside it was easy to tell just from the way the outside
looked that it was going to be quite the show.
�� All of the
fancy decorations weren�t enough to make Hinata smile however.� She remained for the majority of the day in
her own floral kimono, having only once admired the graceful pattern on
it.� Her hair had been tied up into a
bun with two sticks mostly against her will, the clan stating it was more
appropriate to the moment than her usual loose hairstyle. �Her face was more flushed than normal thanks
to the make-up that the other women in the clan had put on her.� She had managed to stop them before they
went overboard with it, but still felt less human than normal.� She wasn�t a stranger to make-up, but she
didn�t put on nearly as much as anyone she knew.� Her practices certainly never came close to the sheet she felt
she was wearing on her face at that moment.�
It all only served to remind her that she was an object to her own
people, a thought that disgusted her thoroughly.
�� The only
ones in the clan not acting as though she were a puppet were her father, cousin
and little sister.� Of the three, only
Hanabi was present at the moment.� The
ten-year-old girl who resembled her older sister in many ways had been distant
towards Hinata in the past, bordering on complete loathing of the other�s
weaknesses.� As the years had gone by
and Hinata had become more adept, the two had rekindled their sibling
relationship.�� Now they were like real
sisters instead of bitter rivals, sharing each other�s thoughts and feelings as
well as any other random things that entered their minds.� It was in these moments where Hinata had no
one else to turn to that her sister would be there. Hanabi was also wearing her
own kimono, her hair allowed to be as long and free as she wished it.
�� What�s
wrong Hinata?� The young girl took a seat in the grass next to her sister, who
was running her fingers over a set of flowers.
�� What do
you mean �what�s wrong�?� I�m getting
married, what could be wrong?�
�� The sarcasm
was not lost on the younger Hyuuga.�
�You can�t fool me, something�s bothering you.� It has been since this whole thing began.� Maybe you should tell me what it is
finally?�
�� Of all the
people she had kept it hidden from, no person was kept more in the dark about
her relationship with Naruto than Hanabi.�
Even when the rest of the clan had figured it out, Hinata had taken
extra precautions to make sure the news stayed away from the ears of her little
sister.� Hinata was not ashamed of her
relationship with Naruto in any way, but knew that a lot of people did not have
an entirely high opinion of him.� She
also knew that most of the younger people who disliked Naruto did so only
because their parents taught them to dislike him.� She was unsure whether or not her father�s old prejudices had
affected Hanabi�s judgment of the boy.�
It would have crushed her to know that her sister did not approve of the
man she had loved.
�� I don�t
want to get married Hanabi.� Hinata spoke as much truth as she could without
giving too much away.
�� I could
tell that almost a month ago,� the young girl said.� �What I want to know is why.�
�� Hinata bit
her lip as she summoned her courage out from the deep well she placed it
in.� �Well�th-that�s because I�m already
seeing someone.� Someone I love�very
much.�
�� Oh, you
mean Naruto right?�
�� Hinata
recoiled in shock.� �H-How did you know
about that!?�
�� Oh come
on.� You didn�t actually think you could
hide it from me when the rest of the village knew, did you?� Hanabi lowered her
head and giggled.� �Plus your constant
trips to the ramen stand didn�t help keep it anymore secret.�
�� I should
have figured that out myself,� Hinata sighed.�
�So wait, this doesn�t bother you?�
�� Should
it?� Hanabi stood up and stretched her limbs, looking down at her sister with a
half-smile.� �What you do with your life
really isn�t my concern.� Naruto seems
like an okay guy�even if he is a little below you.� And besides�haven�t you already made your choice?�
�� Hinata
stopped caressing the flower in her fingers as she heard that.� �I suppose you�re right.� Maybe I�m just having second thoughts?�
�� No, that�s
not what it is at all.� Hanabi sat down next to her sister again, reaching out
to run her finger across the petals of the garden.� �You think there�s nothing else you can do�so you�ve given up.�
�� You know
me too well Hanabi.�
�� I pay more
attention than you think,� the younger girl giggled.� �I�m still not half the woman you are, even if I�m the better
kunoichi.�
�� I�d like
to see you prove that.�
�� We�re
getting off topic.�
�� So we
are�� Hinata blushed a bit as she turned to face her sibling.� �Where were we?�
�� Hinata,
just because the clan�s in charge doesn�t mean you have to just listen to what
they say.� You are the heir to the clan after
all.� I can�t believe even you would
just�give up on something like this.�
�� It�s not
just me that this affects Hanabi,� Hinata informed her little sister.� �If I say no, then I�m basically condemning
an entire country to turmoil.� It may
even start a new war�something I don�t want to put anyone through.�
�� Like I
said before, you�ve already made up your mind.� Hanabi turned and smiled.� �What you do is your choice in the end isn�t
it?� No matter what, I�ll still be here
for you.� Don�t forget that.�
�� Hanabi��
Tears looked as though they would come from the emotional teenager, but instead
they were shut away.� Hinata wrapped her
arms around the small girl and squeezed her tightly. �Arigato Hanabi.� I really needed to hear that.�
�� What are
little sisters for?� she giggled.� �Now
let me go, you�re going to crush me.�
�� The two
separated with a small laugh before turning back to the garden.� Hinata silently whispered her choice to
herself again, nodding in affirmation of it.�
There would be no turning back.

�� You�re
fucking kidding me.� There�s no way I�m
wearing this.�
�� Shut up
and stay still!� Sakura hissed.� �You�re
not making it any easier on yourself.�
�� I told
you, I�m not wearing this.�
�� And I told
you if you didn�t wear it I�d personally make sure you landed somewhere in the
Land of Rice Fields.� Now shut up and
stay put!�
�� Naruto
couldn�t help but chuckle at Yakusho�s antics.�
His roommate was currently undergoing torture as Sakura attempted to get
him into the kimono he�d be wearing for the wedding.� He had adamantly refused to wear anything with a floral pattern,
so Sakura had been forced to acquire something with more flare.� The blazing red kimono she had picked out
for him perfectly reflected both his attitude and his style.� Yet still he refused to put it on.� Thusly Sakura was forced to put it on him
herself, growling as she pulled and tugged at him.� Somewhere in the back of his mind, Naruto wondered why she hadn�t
hit him yet.� He imagined it had
something to do with not getting blood on her new clothes.
�� Why are
you letting her do this to me Whiskers?� Yakusho cried out.
�� Karmic
payback,� was his idle response.
�� Oh screw
you too.�
�� I have to
get you somehow, don�t I?�
�� You should
watch what you say and do, lest I keep you to your words.�
�� Would you
two stop arguing?� It makes Yakusho
fidget too much.�� Sakura�s interruption
was both graceful and witty.
�� Stop
trying to put this on me,� Yakusho growled.�
�I�m just gonna take it off afterwards.�
�� If you
show up to Hinata�s wedding in that vest and those pants, then repopulating
your clan is going to become a real fantasy.�
�� Yakusho
gulped and stopped moving.� This time
Naruto could not withhold his laughter, falling back on his couch as his sides
contorted in glee.� It was the first time
in the last few days he�d been able to do so, so neither Yakusho nor Sakura
complained.
�� There!�
she exclaimed as she finally stuck the tall shinobi into the kimono.� �Now one last thing.�
�� Sakura
reached up towards Yakusho�s forehead, her fingers aiming at his headband.� Yakusho�s eyes widened and twitched as her
digits touched the fabric, causing him to grunt lowly.� She ignored his warning and gripped the item
in her hand, at which point he snapped his own around her wrist and grabbed her
hard.
�� Don�t
touch the headband,� he said.
�� Hey! Watch
it, that hurts,� Sakura whimpered.� �Now
take it off.�
�� I�m not
taking the headband off.�
�� Don�t be a
jerk Yakusho, just take the headband off.�
You look ridiculous enough as is,� Naruto grinned.�
�� Sakura reached
up to take the headband again, only to have her hand smacked away.� She rubbed her sore palm and looked up at
Yakusho indignantly, who only stared back at her with anger.��
�I�m not going to say it again.� Leave my headband alone.��
His voice was stern and commanding.�
�If you try to take it off again, you�ll be missing a hand.�
�� Yeesh,
touchy or what?� Sakura grumbled.�
�Fine, keep it on.� But you�re
not taking that sword to the ceremony.�
�� You just
keep pushing your luck, don�t you Pinkie?�
�� I�m serious
Yakusho.� Sakura huffed loudly, prodding him in the chest.� �I don�t want you bringing that weapon along
with you.� I don�t care where you have
to stash it, but don�t bring it with you.�
�� Fine, you
win this round.� I won�t bring it.�
�� That�s
better!� Sakura smirked in triumph for a moment, the turned back into the
apartment to finish her duties.� She
still had to make sure she looked just right, which would equal some time spent
borrowing Naruto�s bathroom to make the final touch-ups.� As far as he and Yakusho were concerned she
already looked good enough.� She was one
to argue otherwise.
�� You gonna
be okay Whiskers?� Yakusho sat down next to the young blond while not changing
his expression.
�� Why
wouldn�t I be?� The question was intentionally obtuse, used as an attempt to
get Yakusho off the subject.
�� I think we
both know why,� he snorted.� �You�ve got
balls for agreeing to come, but don�t push yourself.�
�� I�ll take
that advice at face value.�
�� So it�s
worth nothing then?�
�� Pretty
much.�
�� Screw you
too.� Yakusho shook his head and leaned back on the couch.
�� If you two
are done fighting, we can go now.� Sakura stepped out into the open again with
a large smile and grabbed both men by their wrists.� �Now move your asses.�
There�s no way I�m gonna let myself be late.�
�� Sakura
dragged them both out of the apartment, making sure to turn off the lights
before they left.� Finally both males
separated themselves from her and walked of their own accord, allowing her to
walk in front.� Naruto for the most part
remained withdrawn, thinking to himself as he walked.� His eyes drifted up towards the waning sunlight as a sigh echoed
from his lips.
�� I�m glad
at least one of us can be happy about this, Naruto muttered unto himself.

�� Would you
stop primping so much?� Kiba groaned.�
�You already look good enough.�
�� Kiba, this
isn�t some class photo or snap shot�this is my wedding!� Hinata was busy
touching up her makeup and straightening herself in front of the mirror in her
room.
�� That�s
still not an excuse for all the preparing you�re doing.� It�s almost like you don�t wanna go.� Kiba
plopped down on her mattress, flashing her that all-too-knowing grin.
�� It�s
unfair of you to tease her like that,� Shino intruded.� He had found a comfortable spot near Hinata�s
windowsill to sit on.� �You know very
well she doesn�t.�
�� Believe
me, your attempts to make me laugh aren�t lost Kiba-kun.� Hinata turned and
patted her teammate on the head.�
�Just�now isn�t the time for them.�
�� I can see
that.� The scruffy young man ran his hand over Akamaru�s head, petting the
large dog slowly.� Hinata was at a loss
to explain why she�d let the huge dog into her room, but it was too late to
question it now.
�� I�m sorry,
I don�t mean to make you feel unwanted,� she whimpered.
�� Perhaps it
would be best if we left you to your devices?� Shino slanted his glasses down
slightly and met Hinata�s eyes with his own, causing her to shiver.� Something about the way he looked at her
made her think he knew everything that was going through her head.� It was an invasion of privacy she could do
little to avoid.
�� I think
that would be best,� Hinata admitted.
�� Then I�ll
see you at the ceremony.� Shino slipped out the window and disappeared into the
mass of trees just outside the compound.
�� I guess
that�s my cue to go,� Kiba offered.�
�See you around Hinata.�
�� The ninja
and his dog were about to leave when Hinata took him by the hand.� For a moment they simply stood there in
silence, Kiba slowly turning his head to meet Hinata�s empty eyes.� It was though they were speaking volumes to
each other, when the only sound that reigned in that room was quiet.
�� Yes?� Kiba
seemed irate now that he had been stopped.
�� You�re
still mad at me, aren�t you?�
�� Mad at you
for what?� Kiba looked astounded, completely unaware of what she meant.
�� Naruto�the
Kyuubi�you�re mad at me, aren�t you?�
�� I�m not
mad at you.� Whatever would make you
think something like that?�
�� Hinata
lowered her face, avoiding Kiba�s eyes.�
�Y-You�ve changed since that day�y-you look at me the same way you look
at Naruto�and��
�� Kiba hadn�t
realized till now that he had been giving anyone looks.� Simply from her descriptor the boy knew the
very expression she was talking about.�
It was the miserable scowl he had flashed Naruto on the day he�d found
out about the Kyuubi.� The same look
he�d given the boy when he�d called him a demon and monster.
�� You think
I�m a monster, don�t you?�
�� Something
inside Kiba felt like it was being pulled upon.� Hinata sounded hurt by the prospect that he thought that about
her.� He would have denied it instantly
if not for the haunting memory of Naruto�s words to him.� He could remember so vividly the waterfall
near the Land of Rice Fields where Naruto had stared not just into his eyes,
but deep into his heart. �The words he�d
said that day made more sense to Kiba now than ever.
�� Hinata-chan
is not a demon, or a monster, or any such thing!� What has happened to her is my fault.� Blame me all you want, but don�t you dare take your anger out on
her.� Hinata is Hinata, no matter what
happens to her or what takes control of her.�
If you can�t accept that then stay the hell away from her!
�� In that
very moment, Kiba felt as though he�d stabbed himself.� He had been so blind in his anger that he
hadn�t realized where it was taking him.�
Hinata quivered next to him, nearly in tears.� Slowly the young man reached out and placed his hand on her
shoulder, rubbing it gently.
�� You�re not
a monster Hinata.� You�re anything
but.� If anyone here is a monster�it�s
me.�
�� Hinata�s trembling
stopped when he said that.� She turned
to look at him with seeking eyes, wondering what had prompted such words.� He shrugged her gaze off, standing up from
the bed to stretch, his hand floating down to scratch Akamaru�s head.
�� I should
leave you alone.� I�ve got a lot to
think about�and it�s your big day after all.�
�� H-Hai.�
Her voice was nothing but a whisper.
�� Try to
smile okay?� I know it�s not the best
thing that�s ever happened to you�but you said it yourself.� You made your choice�isn�t that right?�
�� Nothing
else was said between them.� Kiba led
Akamaru out of Hinata�s room, offering a simple �goodbye� as he left.� Hinata remained on her bed, looking at the
doorframe for a while afterwards.� Yes,
she had made her choice hadn�t she?�
There was no turning back now.�
She nodded once to herself and went off to make some last minute
preparations.

�� Nighttime
fell over Konoha with relative peace, shrouding the village in a quiet blanket
of shadow.� Lights flickered on in
houses and in street lamps as the community greeted the darkness with
artificial light.� The glow was faint
and muffled by the trees so it would not carry too far into the distance.� A hush fell over the town gracefully as the
late hours began.
�� In that
hush, civilians and shinobi alike poured into the Hyuuga compound to attend
Hinata�s wedding.� There were far more
people than most of the members of the clan would have preferred, but Hiashi
insisted that anyone who wanted to attend could.� That included Hinata�s former love, Uzumaki Naruto.� Very little fighting had to be done to allow
the blond into the ceremony.� As far as
the elders were concerned, he was a non-issue.
�� The very
first people to enter the small garden where they were holding the ceremony
were the members of Hinata�s team.�
Yuuhi Kurenai was well respected in the clan for having taken Hinata as
her pupil.� She was not fond of the way
the Hyuuga clan treated its heir, but she kept her opinions to herself and let
things play themselves out.� The
red-eyed woman had chosen an extravagant white and red kimono bursting with
flowers, something that Hinata had helped her pick long before the
wedding.� Kiba refused to wear a kimono,
no matter how much Hinata pleaded with him, opting instead to wear a formal set
of shirt and pants.� Shino all out
refused to change his clothing, but offered to leave the hood on his jacket
down.� That didn�t upset Hinata in the
least bit.� She had grown to see Shino
as mysterious and withdrawn.� Having him
change simply because she was getting married would be all too disheartening.
�� Neji�s team
was next through the gates.� It had
taken all of Neji�s power to make sure Gai and Lee showed up in something
respectable.� Somehow he had convinced
them to wear regular clothing for once, the sight of which made the Branch
member sigh in relief.� Neji didn�t
bother offering advice to Tenten, as he knew she of all people would not
embarrass herself or anyone at an event such as this.� The rose-color she brought to Hinata�s floral arrangement was
nothing short of dazzling, as was the rose-color she brought to her and Neji�s
cheeks when she caught him staring.� She
finally moved out of the way as the rest of the guests began to arrive.
�� Seating
arrangements were nothing special.�
Simple fold out chairs were placed in rows, leaving a nice aisle down
the middle for people to get through.�
One side was clearly set out for friends, acquaintances and guests,
while the other side was reserved for the clan members and high ranking
officials.� The Hokage was already there,
keeping her eyes alert.� It seemed as
though she were looking for someone, especially when her eyes fixated angrily
upon a certain elderly Hyuuga woman wielding a rickety cane.� Shizune had to reach out and grab her before
she struck the elder with the full brunt of her power, barely averting
disaster.� The Hokage�s attendant would
have stroked Tonton�s head to relieve her stress, but pets were not allowed at
the ceremony.� Instead she opted for
squeezing her fists as hard as she could.
�� Sitting not
too far from them were Hiashi and Hanabi.�
Three of the closest people to the bride were stationed to sit next to
each other, but Neji was still busy seeing guests in.� Both Hiashi and the small girl were wearing looks of discontent,
hiding them eagerly from the rest of the clan.�
It was obvious that they felt for Hinata, yet there was nothing they
could really do for her.� Tsunade found
it hard to believe that Hiashi�s influence in the clan had slipped so much in
the last few months.� The evidence spoke
for itself though, leaving the Hokage worried as to the future of the
Hyuuga.� Occasionally the head of the
clan would turn his head to look toward the entrance, as though he were
expecting something special.� It was
curious behavior for him to exhibit, but Tsunade paid it no mind.
�� Naruto and
his friends finally made it a moment later.�
Sakura was the first through the gate, offering a complacent nod to Neji
as she was ushered in.� Yakusho remained
in character, delivering to the Branch member nothing but his trademark �cheh�
as he followed Sakura to the seats.�
When Naruto entered the compound, he and Neji stopped a moment to
exchange looks.� Neither male said a
word as the other witnesses slowly flowed into the garden, exchanging their
sorrows and bitterness silently.� Naruto
eventually broke the lock they had, nodding but once as he moved off to join
Sakura and Yakusho on the left side.
�� Are you
okay?� Sakura asked her teammate.� �You
can leave if you��
�� I�m fine.�
Naruto�s face told he was lying.� He was
adamant to fight against his own feelings, hoping beyond hope that perhaps
defying them would make them go away.
�� If you say
so.� Please�don�t push yourself.�
�� Moments
went by without so much as a movement from those gathered.� When those moments ended the motionlessness
was replaced by the unified turning of heads toward the entrance.� Even Naruto came to life as Gaara of the
Desert, Fifth Kazekage, walked into the Hyuuga compound.� When Naruto thought about it, it made sense
that Gaara would be here.� Sunagakure
and Konohagakure were allies, and the marrying of the heir of one village�s
�strongest clan� merited an official visit.�
On each of his sides were his siblings, Kankuro and Temari, the blond
girl instantly veering off from them to find a seat near Shikamaru.� The puppet-master let out a sigh at her
display whilst the Kazekage offered no response at all.� The sight was apparently quite common for
both of them and thusly they paid it no heed.�
The two of them were quickly ushered to a spot near Hiashi which Gaara
adamantly refused to sit in.� Instead he
wandered over to the left set of chairs and took his seat next to Naruto.� The rest of the guests took a moment to
stare in both shock and awe before letting the issue die out.
�� Gaara.�
�� Naruto.�
�� Was the
other seat too good for you?�
�� Quite
possibly.� I have this thing against
stuck up nobility and their seating arrangements.� The Kazekage flashed a
beguiling smirk in Naruto�s direction, causing the blond to reply in kind with
one of his own.� It was good to know he
had friends in high places.
�� Arigato,�
he muttered.
�� By the
way�I�ve been informed of something rather peculiar.� When the time comes�follow Neji.�
�� Naruto was
unsure of what Gaara�s words meant.�
Trying to question him further proved useless, as the Kazekage refused
to answer anything that had to do with his statement.� He encouraged his friend to relax, a feat that took much more
coaxing than Gaara was willing to put out.�
Eventually Sakura leaned over and gripped Naruto�s hand tightly, forcing
him to withdraw and simmer down.
�� Another few
moments went by before the ceremony finally began.� The monk signaled the start by raising his hands to still the
clamor of conversations that had arose in the small garden.� He reached a wrinkled hand down the aisle as
if he were reaching for something he could not grab.� The attention of every guest and member turned towards the
entrance to the compound at that time, following the elderly man�s grasp.� Standing there were Katai and Hinata, both
dressed to the finest.� Katai wore
nothing extraordinary, having chosen to go with a simple black kimono to rival
the young woman�s flowery one.� They
walked peerlessly toward center stage as hundreds of eyes observed them.� Hinata blushed profusely at the remarkable
amount of attention she was receiving, but did not hide her head.� To do so would be dishonorable and
unbecoming in this situation, so she swallowed her fear and moved on.�
�� Hinata
looked more stunning and beautiful in that single moment than Naruto could ever
remember her being.� He became acutely
aware of the ache in his heart once reality set itself back into his mind.� He would not be the one to share her company
forevermore.� He would not be able to
wake up next to her every day, to hold her and be with her.� Something caught in the back of his throat
as his eyes strained to see.� He quietly
realized he was on the verge of tears and instead bit them back.� He would not cry.� Not in front of Hinata on her most important day.
�� They
finally reached the monk at the head of the garden, each one of them taking one
of his weathered hands into their own.�
Slowly and fluidly they found themselves at his side as he let go of
them, taking a few steps forward to say his words.
�� Praise be
to the union that is to occur this day.� The monk�s voice was slow and cragged,
resembling in tone the way the face of an old cliff looked.� �The two before you� Hyuuga Hinata and
Kongouseki Katai�are to soon accept the bonds of matrimony, which will tie them
together from this day until that day in which they leave the mortal coil.� The merging of their lives mimics the
merging of their nations under peace, prosperity and good fortune.� Before we proceed, we shall hear the words
of those to be wed.�
�� The monk
placed his hand on Katai�s shoulder and offered the young man to the
front.� Katai stood powerfully as he
reached out to hold Hinata�s hand before turning to face the congregation.
�� I stand
here today, moments before my marriage, as a symbol of hope for my people and my
country.� Our nations have been at war
in the past�but I assure that those days remain in the past.� I come here as the heart and will of my
people, to rally their hopes and dreams that this union will bring my country
peace.�
�� There were
no more words to be spoken by Katai.� He
slowly stepped back into place and let the monk continue.� It wasn�t a surprise that he had had so
little to say.� His stance from the
beginning of this ordeal had always been the same.� Paying no mind to the invisible thoughts of the onlookers, the
monk ushered Hinata forward to speak her mind.�
The young heiress took a moment to look over the groups of people before
her before taking in a sharp breath.�
Her nerves were freezing in place, yet her will remained strong.� She shook the frost from her courage and
cleared her throat.
�� I stand
here, the heiress to the Hyuuga clan, about to embark on a journey into my
future.� This man�Kongouseki Katai�shall
be at my side during that journey.� We
are to unite two nations that have fought bitterly for years on end.� We are to join one another for the rest of
our lives� journeys.� For the betterment
of my clan, my people and the people of both nations�for the hopes and dreams
of all their futures�this is what I must do.�
�� Somberness
descended upon the crowd.� It was more
apparent now than ever that the heiress did not wish to marry.� Her words were spoken with sadness and not
pride, a sadness that pierced the hearts of all those gathered.� Naruto found his especially wounded by it,
his eyes gathering the tears he had refused to shed for so long.� Still he bit them back, denying them the
satisfaction of anointing his face.� He
would be as strong as Hinata was for going through with this.� He could not let her or anyone else near him
down.� For a moment he met eyes with the
bride, the two of them sharing the words they had not been able to speak the
last two weeks in but an instant.� A
longing feeling tugged at him, drawing him back into her warm arms as they lay
in his bed.� The memories threatened to
engulf his senses entirely before a piercing word cut his revelry in half.
�� However��
�� A clamor
rose at that word.� Naruto found himself
ripped from his dream world as he heard it, focusing intently on the
proceedings for the first time since they had started.� Hinata�s sadness had been removed, covered
with a foxy grin and twinkle that should not rightly have belonged there.� In the back of his heart he felt a throb of
something he hadn�t felt in days.�
Hinata�s eyes finally narrowed as her voice rose in pitch and power.
�� I am not
some bargaining chip for my clan to use as it sees fit.� I am my own person�simply because I bear the
weight of heir to the family does not mean I don�t bleed or draw breath!� I am sick and tired of having
my life written down and decided for me!�
�� Hinata
quickly reached up and let her hair down, shaking the raven locks out of their
tight bun.� She reached for her kimono
and tore it from her body, exposing the attire that had been hidden underneath.� Eyes widened in shock as she stood before
the ceremony in her black undershirt, pants and geta, bits of fishnet exposed
through the low cut of her top.� Tied to
her waist was her hitai-ate, the glorious symbol of Konoha gleaming in the pale
moonlight as she made her stand.
�� Today I
choose my destiny myself!!!�
�� NOW!!!!!!!!!!�
�� At that cry
several smoke bombs were lobbed into the crowd, blasting up a thick veil that
covered the entire congregation.� Though
he could barely see anything, Naruto could make out the form of Neji as he
walked by the aisle.� The Branch member
flashed Naruto a smile in the mess, nodding to him briefly before Hinata and
Hiashi raced by.� Neji quickly followed
his two relatives out of the garden, looking back but once before they were out
of sight.
�� Are you
waiting for a written invitation?� Gaara�s voice sounded mocking as Naruto sat
there in the smoke.� While others waved
their arms around to desperately try and get a grasp of their surroundings,
Naruto could only remember what Gaara had said to him earlier.� With a hard nod he raced after the three
Hyuugas, leaving the gathering behind as he chased after his love.
�� Stop them!
Do whatever it takes, but stop them!�
�� The order
came from a scraggly elder who waved her cane about furiously in the
smoke.� At her behest several shinobi
who had been acting as guards for the event rushed towards the gate to follow
Naruto and the others.� No sooner had
they reached the exit than a pillar of solid sand burst from the ground.� Its sudden appearance knocked them all to
the ground and barred the entrance.�
Those that attempted to stand after that point found their arms and legs
bound inexplicably to the ground by chains of sand.� The bonds only tightened the more they struggled, leaving the
entire entourage immobilized.� When the
smoke finally cleared and the elders saw what had stopped their guards, all
eyes turned towards the Kazekage.� Gaara
remained emotionless as countless gazes fixated on him, his lips barely moving
as he spoke.
�� Gee�I
wonder how that happened.�

�� Hinata, Hiashi and Neji ran as fast as they
could.� They were certain no one would
have been able to catch up with them thanks to the precautions they set in
place, but a shinobi could never be too careful.� Neji was aware that someone was following them, but was sure that
it was Naruto.� It had taken a lot of
planning and quick messages to make sure the Kazekage understood what they
wanted from him.� Neji was only glad that
Naruto and Gaara were good friends.� It
wouldn�t have worked any other way.
�� The three
of them found an abandoned alleyway and stopped there.� Moments later Naruto rounded the bend and
froze, staring at Hinata in shock.�
Hinata�s eyes soon found his, her own body coming to a stop as she did.
The next moment she raced towards him and flung herself into his arms.� She cried as he caught her and spun around
once to slow down the momentum before the two kissed for the first time in what
seemed like forever.
�� How long
ago did you plan this!?� Naruto was more excited than he had ever been in his
life.�
�� For two
weeks now, right after you got back,� Hinata confessed.�
�� I�m sorry
we didn�t tell you Naruto.� It was Hiashi, speaking sagely toward them
both.� �It was crucial that none of the
Hyuuga elders knew what we were planning.�
They have been overestimating and overusing their power on my clan for
too long�I think this is a suitable wake-up call, don�t you?�
�� I would
have to agree!� Naruto chuckled and squeezed Hinata tightly in his arms.� �But what about Katai, and the Earth Country?�
�� I�m sure
Katai will be able to see reason.� Neji�s voice was as stoic as ever.� �He hasn�t shown himself to be rash and
impulsive.� Perhaps things will not work
out as he had planned, but if he truly does seek peace, then he will find
another way to obtain it.�
�� You understand of course that pulling this
stunt puts you both in a lot of danger.� Hiashi remained foremost in the
conversation, even after Neji�s words.�
�You�ll have to leave the village until things have calmed down.� Doing that might get you labeled as
Missing-nin, but I�m sure that matters very little.�
�You�re telling me.� Naruto smiled
as Hinata tugged on his shoulders tightly.
�� I don�t
care where I have to go.� I made my
choice, didn�t I?� Hinata smiled brightly as she held on to her lover, hoping
that she would never have to let him go again.
�� I will see
what supplies I can get you both.� Neji offered his generosity again to the
young couple.� �Wait on the outskirts of
town and I will find you when I��
�� The
sentence ended midway through.� Hinata
barely saw her cousin�s arm move as he whipped a kunai towards the wooden fence
nearby them, deflecting an oncoming shuriken.�
Both weapons tumbled across the ground as they nulled each other�s
strike, Neji turning to face the direction the shuriken had been thrown
from.� Naruto quickly placed himself
between the fence and Hinata, covering her body with his own defensively.� The Hyuuga girl gasped in shock, reaching up
to activate her Byakugan like the rest of her present family.
�� None of
them were fast enough.� By the time all
three of them had used their Byakugan, the second strike was launched.� A tendril of blue shot out from the darkness
and struck Hiashi across the face, twisting his body as he was sent careening
down the street.� Hinata shrieked as
blood flew from his mouth and his body rolled, coming to a crashing halt
against a nearby wall.� Hiashi fell limp
with a groan, consciousness leaving his body.
�� Well that
was much easier than I expected it to be.�
�� Two figures
emerged from the shadows at that moment, perching themselves on the wooden
fence.� One of them remained concealed
by darkness, his eyes flickering in the moonlight.� His partner did not see the need to hide himself, allowing the
pale rays to expose him completely.� He
stood before the three in a brown vest and green undershirt, both which were
covered in dirt.� His pants were another
sty, covered in bits of dirt and what appeared to be dried blood.� Attached to his waist was a thick scroll,
held securely to him by a series of straps.�
Nestled just below his crazed head of dust-colored hair was an Iwagakure
hitai-ate.
�� I�ll say.�
The one exposed to the light spoke next.�
His voice was high but firm, touching on the malicious glee that was
stored within.� �I would have thought it
would take a lot more than that.�
�� Who are
you?� What are you doing in this
village?!� Neji�s tone was commanding, yet laced with fear.� It had taken but one assault from these two
to take the head of the Hyuuga clan out.�
Even though it was a cheap shot, that fact still remained.
�� I don�t
have to answer that, right?� The Iwa-nin turned to his shadowed partner as
though he truly needed clarification on the issue.� The darkened shinobi let out an exasperated grunt to which the
dirt-covered young man sighed.� �No, I
guess I don�t, do I?�
�� Stop
mocking us and talk!� Naruto spat.� �Why
did you come here, and what do you want!�
�� Remind me
when I cared what you thought.� The reply was short and snappy, filled with an
intense hate for those before him.� Slowly
the sandy-headed ninja reached for his scroll, only to be stopped by the pale
hand of his partner.
�� Leave this
to me Rokujoyu.� Your methods are�messy
and unnecessary.�
�� Eh?� Well if you say so Sakai.� You�re still robbing me of way too much
fun.�
�� Sakai
snorted at his partner and focused his attention on the group of three.� He clenched his hand into a fist, his bones
cracking slightly as he squeezed his fingers firmly.� With a shout he thrust his fist upward, focusing all his power
through it.� Neji only saw the assault
coming when it was too late to dodge, a sickly pillar of blue light bursting
from the ground beneath him.� Neji
caught the brunt of the assault in his stomach, causing the wind to be knocked
out of him as the rising pillar carried him into the air.� As it thrust him into the sky, Sakai brought
his other palm onto his clenched fist. From the darkness behind him several
more blue tendrils erupted, slamming straight into Neji�s prone body.� With no air in his lungs to scream his cries
were mute, save for the sound of Sakai�s attack crushing his body.� A moment later the blue energy dissipated
and Neji fell to the ground with a sickening thud.
�� Neji-nii-san!�
Hinata screamed.
�� Well now
that that�s out of the road, I suppose we can get what we came for.� Rokujoyu
snickered as he hopped off the fence and moved towards Naruto and Hinata.� It was in that moment that Naruto finally
realized why they were here.
�� You�You�re
after Hinata, aren�t you? Why!?�
�� I don�t
think that concerns you. �Stand aside.�
It was Sakai who spoke this time, his eerie and slow voice carrying from the
darkness.�
�� I won�t
just give her to you! Leave her alone or I�ll kick both your asses!�
�� I�d be
happy to arrange something of the sort.� Rokujoyu�s face twisted in a gleeful
smirk just as another pillar of blue energy sprung from the ground.� Naruto took the blow to his side and was
sent skidding across the street in Neji�s direction.� He stood up in time to see Rokujoyu hit Hinata with a strange
pink gas.� She passed out instantly,
slumping to the ground in a heap.� The
dirt-covered ninja picked her up and handed her to Sakai quickly, flashing a
hearty grin in the blond�s direction.
�� You
bastard! Give her back!�
�� Naruto
reached for the closest thing he could find to throw at Rokujoyu and threw
it.� Luck had it that the first thing
Naruto�s hand found was the shuriken that the Iwa-nin had thrown at Neji
earlier.� The star flew at Rokujoyu with
great speed and skimmed his ankle, cutting the flesh open.
�� Gah!!! Y-You
son of a bitch! I�m gonna fucking kill you, you know that?�
�� Rokujoyu�settle
down.� Sakai�s voice was calm and collected despite the situation.
�� But he��
�� I won�t
say it again.� Get moving, I�ll finish
this.�
�� Bah fine!
Just be lucky I don�t get my way you blond asshole, or you�d be in fifty pieces
by now!�
�� Naruto
stood up to try and follow Rokujoyu, but was sent flying into a wall by another
of Sakai�s blue tendrils.� The impact
was brutal enough to crack the stone, leaving Naruto�s vision fuzzy.� He could only barely make out the two rogue
ninja before they dashed off into the darkness with his lover in their
hands.� Consciousness was quickly
leaving him and desperately he reached out to try and stop them.
�� H-Hinata��
�� The world
around him went black.� With no other
choice, Naruto sunk deep into the blackness.

�� The
darkness receded into blinding light.�
Naruto shot his body straight up with a troubled gasp, squinting his
vision to reduce the burn to his eyes.�
When his vision adjusted to the light he realized he was in a bed in the
Konoha hospital.� A quick check made him
certain that nothing important was missing and that he was still all in one
piece.
�� Tsunade-shishou!
He�s awake!�
�� Naruto
could not misplace Sakura�s voice in his lifetime.� Immediately his head turned to his left, taking in the sight of
the room he was in.� There was another
bed next to his own where Neji was currently being watched over by Lee, Gai and
Tenten.� The double-bun headed girl
looked the most worried, her hand stroking the unconscious Hyuuga boy�s face as
he lay there.� Naruto could understand
how she felt.
�� Directly to
his left was Sakura.� She had traded her
kimono in for her regular clothes and was currently waiting by his side.� Her features were curved in a relieved
smile, probably stemming from his current return to the waking world.� He could hear several footsteps approaching
his bed all at once and rose his head to see who was approaching.� Tsunade was at the forefront, leaning
down� to check on Naruto�s head and such
and to make sure he was alright.� Behind
her worrisome form were Kiba and Jiyumaru.�
Jiyumaru had been acting as a guard at the ceremony and was still
working the sand off his wrists.� Kiba
looked only a small bit more troubled than Tsunade did as he stood there,
waiting for his turn to listen or speak.
�� Are you
alright Naruto?� Tsunade asked.
�� I�m�I�m
fine.� Nothing�s broken.� Where�s Hinata?�
�� Tsunade�s
face fell a bit.� �We were hoping you
could tell us.� We only arrived on the
scene to find you, Hiashi and Neji beaten.�
�� There were
two of them�they called themselves Rokujoyu and Sakai.� One of them was from Iwagakure�they beat us
and kidnapped Hinata!�
�� They
what!?� Sakura and Kiba�s shouts were unanimous in nature, the medic-nin
grasping her partner�s arm for support.
�� Why did
they kidnap her Naruto?� Tsunade�s brow had furrowed angrily.
�� I don�t
know.� They wouldn�t say.�
�� Damn
it�this is just insane.� How could
something like this happen?�
�� The room
went silent.� Lee and Tenten had turned
their attention from Neji to Naruto�s half of the room for but a moment,
worried for their comrades.� The silence
continued for a moment before Naruto flung the covers off his bed and jumped to
his feet.
�� Naruto,
what�re you doing?!� Tsunade cried.� �You
need to��
�� What I
need to do is get off my ass and save her.� His eyes blazed as he spoke,
staring down the Hokage.� �I�m not going
to sit around and let myself get waited on hand and foot while someone runs off
with Hinata.�
�� That�s
insane.� We don�t know what they could
have done to you or Hiashi or Neji! You have to stay here, that�s an order!�
�� To hell
with your orders Baa-chan!� Naruto�s voice creeped with rage and failure.� �I�m not going to screw this up.� I just got her back�I�m not gonna lose her
again.�
�� Well
said,� Kiba smiled.� �Take me with you.�
�� Wait a
minute here!� The Hokage was quickly losing control of a situation she had very
little control over to begin with.�
�Kiba, Naruto�s one thing, but you can�t just��
�� No offense
Hokage-sama�but at this point I�m following Naruto.� Kiba�s eyes were strong
with determination as he stared her down.�
�He�s going to need help to pull this off.� Akamaru and I can help him track her down easily.� He�s going and there�s nothing you can do to
stop him�so you might as well make sure he comes back alive, right?�
�� Tsunade bit
her lower lip as she stared at her shinobi.�
Naruto gazed at Kiba with surprise, his mouth muttering a soft �thank
you� that was barely heard.� She shook
her head and sighed, raising her hands in defeat.
�� Fine, you
win Naruto.� I know I can�t beat this
out of you.�
�� Arigato,
baa-chan�� Naruto smiled at her thankfully and turned to leave with Kiba.
�� Hold it!�
Sakura rose quickly and ran up to his side.�
�I�m coming with you too.�
�� Now just
one second��
�� Count me
in as well.� It was Tenten this time, who stood up from Neji�s side with
fierceness.� �Those two have a lot to
answer for�I�m not gonna let them go without a fight.�
�� Now hold
on!�
�� Hokage-sama,
perhaps it would be best if I joined them as well?� Jiyumaru was sheepish at
this point, realizing that the mightiest ninja in Konoha was about to flip her
lid.�
�� There was a
moment of silence before Tsunade fixed her face.� She stood up to her tallest height and cleared her throat.
�� If you�re
all going to twist my arms like this, then I guess I have no choice.� Her smile
returned as she spoke commandingly and powerfully.� �Naruto, Kiba, Sakura, Tenten, Jiyumaru! You have a mission now.� Chase after and retrieve Hyuuga Hinata from
her captors.� Don�t let anything stop
you on the way, you hear?�
�� The
unanimous cry of �Hai, Hokage-sama!� rang out through the room before
the five shinobi left it in haste.� As
the room emptied out the blond-haired woman felt peculiar gazes fall upon her.� She turned to see the rest of the people in
the room staring at her oddly.� Lee and
Gai quickly removed their eyes from her and turned back to Neji, leaving the
Hokage twitching.

�� The group
dispersed as quickly as they could to gather any supplies they would need.� Naruto, Kiba and Tenten made a quick change
of clothes and back into their regular attire before racing towards the west
gate.� Jiyumaru and Sakura met up with
the three of them there, Kiba returning with Akamaru ready for action.
�� Alright,
here�s the deal,� Jiyumaru stated.�
�Kiba, you and Akamaru are the most important people here.� Only you can track down Hinata by her scent.� We�ll be following you.� These two have a good two hours head start
on us, so it�s going to take all we�ve got to catch up with them.�
�� I injured
one of them before they got away.� Naruto straightened his hitai-ate and tied
it tightly.� �If anything, it will slow
them down some.�
�� Then we
may not be so badly off.� Is everyone
ready?�
�� You
weren�t about to leave without us, were you?�
�� Everyone
turned to the right of the gate to find Yakusho and Katai sitting there.� Katai was tightening his geta as the Dragon
ninja called out, tilting his sword in their direction in greeting.
�� Yakusho?� Katai? What�re you two doing here?� Naruto
seem bewildered at their presence, a feeling that was mimicked by the look in
Jiyumaru�s eyes.
�� It didn�t
take long for us to hear that White-Eyes was missing.� Katai refused to sit back and not help, so I figured�why should
I?�
�� I cannot
stand idly by when someone is in need.�
If I can help, I will.� Katai eyed Naruto with a slow nod.� It was clear they had much to discuss, but
it would need to wait till later.
�� Both of
you�thank you so much.� Naruto had to suppress tears for the third time that
day.
�� Wait a
moment, isn�t this getting a little out of hand?� Tenten attempted to play the
voice of reason as she spoke.� �There
are only two of them right?� Do we
really need seven people to fight them?�
�� That�s not
necessarily true.� Jiyumaru stroked his chin as he countered Tenten�s
words.� �For them to have the gall to
charge straight into Konoha and kidnap the heiress to the Hyuuga clan�they�d
have to have some back up, somewhere.�
They wouldn�t do this with just two people.�
�� Which means
the more of us you bring along, the better.� Yakusho smirked as he stood up,
flexing his sword.� �So shall we go?�
�� That works
for me.� Kiba?� Jiyumaru nodded to the
nin-ken trainer to begin.� Kiba patted
Akamaru on the back and climbed on his back as the dog began sniffing about.
�� What�s he
doing?� Naruto asked.
�� Akamaru
knows Hinata�s scent by memory.� Once he
picks it up, we�re off.�
�� The large
dog took a few more minutes to sniff the ground before offering a loud
bark.� Akamaru patted the dog�s head and
motioned for the other ninja to follow him.
�� Naruto�I
don�t want to bring this up�but this is��
�� I know
Kiba.� The blond looked down.� �It�s
just like Sasuke.� But I�m not going to
fail this time.�
�� The group of seven bounded off into the
restless forests of the Fire Country, hot on the trail of the Hyuuga heiress.

�� God damn
him! God damn him right to fucking hell!�
�� Rokujoyu
was currently attending to the wound left on his ankle by Naruto.� Sakai, still cloaked by shadows, kept his
hands around the unconscious form of Hyuuga Hinata.� The Iwa-nin slowly reached into a pouch on the side of his pants
and pulled out various medical supplies.
�� You�re
holding us up, Rokujoyu.� I don�t need
to tell you what�ll happen if they catch us now.�
�� You think
I don�t know that?� Jeez, stop being
such a cock.� Rokujoyu prepared a salve from the supplies in the pouch and
slapped them onto the wound on his ankle, gasping out as pain shot through it
momentarily.� After a moment the pain
began to subside, leaving a warm tingling there.
�� How long
will that take?� We have to get ahead of
them as soon as possible.�
�� It won�t
take too long.� God, would you
relax?� You�re so tense about this whole
mission.�
�� I would
rather not fail at this point.� You know
what he�ll do to us if we fail.� Sakai brushed some of his hair out of his
eyes, sighing at Rokujoyu�s complacency.
�� Would you relax?�
the smaller man growled and threw a clump of dirt as his companion.� �We�re not going to fail.�
�� And what
are we going to do if they catch up to us in your condition?� Especially if they send it after us?�
�� What Sakai
was referring to was obvious to the laid-back Earth ninja.� Rokujoyu shivered as he stood up and tested
his ankle, smiling as he fastened the salve with a bandage.�
�� I get your
point already, yeeesh.� We�ll be
fine.� Don�t forget we have a
contingency.�
�� Sakai
chuckled and rubbed his forehead with a sigh.�
�Of course�how did I forget?�
�� There, now
would you stop complaining?� Rokujoyu stood up and smirked, kicking his leg a
few times.� �I�m good to go now.�
�� Right,
then let�s get the hell out of here.�
�� Sakai
pulled himself to his feet as Rokujoyu stood up.� The two of them picked up their pace again, headed off deep into
the northwest of the Fire Country.

�� The seven
shinobi from Konohagakure stopped as Kiba held his hand up.� They had stopped at a fork in the road, one
road heading southwest while the other headed northwest.� Kiba had halted their progress for a reason
he was not speaking of just yet.�
Akamaru continued his sniffing, going around in a wide circle at the
fork several times.� Finally Katai
stepped up from the group, and came up to Kiba, looking about.
�� What�s
wrong?�
�� I don�t
know what�s going on.� Akamaru has lost
Hinata�s scent�and with the fork�I just don�t know which way she�s gone.�

�� Are you sure?� Katai looked
exceedingly worried.
�� Kiba,
what�s wrong?� Naruto called out from the others.� Kiba looked at the blond and waved shortly.
�� Nothing
that�s permanent.� I can fix it, trust
me.�
�� We�ve got
our faith in you Kiba! Don�t screw up!�
�� The brunet
hopped off his dog and formed a single seal with his hands.� Carefully he dropped to all fours and began
to sniff across the ground, taking deep whiffs of the surrounding area.
�� What�re
you doing?� Katai questioned.
�� My nose is
stronger than a nin-ken�s,� Kiba informed the long-haired teen.� �If I focus I can�got it!!!�
�� Kiba leapt
from the ground and took another few whiffs before pointing off to the path
that led northwest.� �See?� With this nose of mine, we can track down
Hinata with no problem at all.�
�� Actually,
that in and of itself is a problem.�
�� Kiba felt a
horrid and sharp pain explode through his chest, followed by an eerie warmth
that flowed down his body.� He tried to
say something, only to find his voice choked by pain and copper.� It took a moment for his vocal chords to
finally manage a gasp of pain.� His gasp
was followed by several others and the cry of his name.� His eyes traveled to the pain in his chest
to see what it was that had caused his sudden shortness of voice.
�� Sticking
through his chest, with blood pouring from the wound, was a spear of black
diamond, formed from the arm of Kongouseki Katai.
- 12
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dragonheart

Dragonheart