InuYasha Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Koibito ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't Inuyasha or Naruto.

 

 

Kagome - 4; Itachi - 8; Sasuke - 3; Neji - 4; Shisui - 13; Kakashi - 17; Hinata - 3

 

 

Theft of the Silver Shurikens

 

 

7/19/06 - 7/30/06

 

Revised: 8/18/06 - 8/21/06

 

 

Clang

 

“Don't underestimate me.” Kagome hissed between clenched teeth as she pushed herself off the ground. Swaying slightly, she quickly steadied her shaky legs and pulled out another set of (normal) shurikens.

 

“Where did she get all those weapons?” Hizashi silently asked, eyeing the shurikens with growing alarm. His lips twisted downward into a confused frown as he shot his daughter a suspicious glare. “And who taught her Taijutsu and Ninjutsu?”

 

“K-Kagome-chan,” whispered Neji, relieved that his sister was unharmed. He made a move towards Kagome, but was immediately pulled back by his father. “Otou-san, what are you doing? Kagome-chan…”

 

“Don't interfere.” Hizashi coldly intoned, his eyes never leaving his daughter. “This is your sister's battle. Just watch…and let me see how much you've been secretly learning behind my back.”

 

“Don't think you beat me yet, wench!” hissed the boy as he jumped back. The veins surrounding his pupil-less eyes bulged as he activated the Byakugan. Dropping into a defensive stance, he watched with fascinated horror as the wounds on Kagome's face completely disappeared without a trace. His stance faltered as his mouth formed the word, “M-Monster!”

 

Setting her mouth into a grim line, Kagome quickly shot the set of shurikens in her hands towards her cousin. Most of them missed, but the last one succeeded in nicking his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Suppressing the sudden surge of satisfaction (and the desire to gloat), Kagome quietly murmured, “Anashi, I might not be able to win against you, but I'll make you regret underestimating me.”

 

“We'll see about that.” Anashi hissed, his pupil-less eyes flashing with fury as he quickly closed the remaining distance between them. Throwing his own set of shurikens towards his cousin, he quickly proceeded to kick her to the ground while she was busy dodging the weapons.

 

Kagome landed with a heavy grunt, recoiling in pain when her battered body was scrapped across the ground by the force of Anashi's kick. Biting her lips to keep herself from screaming aloud, she silently willed her body to get back up. However, before she even had a chance to complete her thoughts, her cousin was already looming ominously over her defenseless body.

 

“Don't get cocky, you arrogant piece of filth!” Anashi hissed as he slammed his foot into his cousin's chest. There was a sickening crunch as he dug the sole of his sandals deeper and deeper into her ribs.

 

“Stop!” two voice shouted at once - one filled with fear for his sister's safety and the other brimming with contempt for the unsightly scene before him. Neji struggled restlessly against his father's vice-like grip as he repeatedly alternated between shouting and pleading for Anashi to stop hurting his sister.

 

“I said stop this at once!” Hiashi ordered, his eyes blazing with fury when Anashi continued to ignore his orders. He made a move to intervene, but quickly stepped back when another set of silver shurikens shot out from Kagome's hand.

 

Anashi quickly jumped back, nimbly dodging most of the shurikens, but failed to avoid the last one, which completely severed his left hand from his arm. He howled and screamed with pain as he wildly thrashed back and forth. “My hand!” his pain-addled mind screamed. “What did that filth do to me?”

 

Hiashi's eyes narrowed dangerously as he began to chant the activation curse under his breath. His eyes remained carefully neutral as he watched Anashi drop to ground, writhing and shrieking with a combination of agony, fear, and shock. “If you two will not respond to my commands, then both of you will learn to obey me the hard way…”

 

“Kagome! Kagome, what's wrong?” Neji screamed, terror gripping his heart when his sister suddenly dropped to the ground, screaming and writhing in pain. He watched with growing alarm as Kagome continued to grip her head in agony, rolling back and forth across the pavement.

 

“Please stop, Otou-sama.” pleaded Hinata, tugging on her father's sleeve. “Please stop…that's enough …stop it…please.”

 

Hiashi's features softened slightly as he looked down at his daughter. Sensing her unspoken distress, he finally relented and released Anashi and Kagome from the curse. However, to his surprise, Kagome continued to scream and writhe in pain.

 

“Kagome,” Neji screamed, sensing his sister's agony. “Let me go, Otou-san!” he shouted as he quickly turned around and bit his father's hand. Hizashi, stunned by Neji's unusual behavior, involuntarily loosened his grip on his son's shoulder.

 

Neji, taking advantage of his father's temporary shock, quickly pulled himself out of his father's grasps and moved to kneel beside his sister. Gently cradling her head in his arms, he softly pleaded, “Hold on Kagome…please.”

 

Hold on…?

 

Why? It hurts so much…Why should I hold on?

 

“Kagome, please…”

 

Itachi…?

 

“Don't leave me…”

 

I won't…

 

***

 

Hours after Kagome had been sent to the hospital for treatment, the Hyuuga Council gathered at the Main House for an impromptu meeting to discuss the unexpected turn of events. They were all baffled by Kagome's adverse affect to the Hyuuga Curse. Nothing like this had ever occurred in history before…

 

“Kagome and the Curse aside,” one of the council member interrupted, tilting his head towards the 12 shurikens stacked neatly in the middle of the room, “Do any of you recognize those silver shurikens?”

 

“Didn't Hizashi give them to his daughter?”

 

“No, these shurikens were created from some of the strongest metals available in Konoha. These metals, by law, are only accessible by the Hokage, ANBU, Uchiha Head, and Hyuuga Head. Hizashi couldn't possibly have had those metals in his possession.”

 

“Then it was obviously…”

 

“I did not order for any silver shurikens to be made.” Hiashi coldly interrupted, quieting the council members. “However,” he continued, piquing everyone's interest, “I remember Uchiha Fugaku ordering a set of special shurikens for his eldest son.”

 

As soon as Hiashi finished speaking, the council members began to murmur again. After several minutes of heated debate, everyone finally came to one conclusion. “It's obvious - Kagome stole the silver shurikens from Uchiha Itachi.”

 

However, even as the council voiced their conclusion, they realized how horribly unrealistic their assumption sounded. Kagome, a powerless little girl, stole Uchiha Itachi's shurikens? The notion was so laughable that they almost discarded the idea altogether, but since there was no other explanation for Kagome's mysterious acquisition of the silver shurikens, everyone agreed that (for now) this was the best answer.

 

“I'll meet Uchiha Fugaku tomorrow.” Hiashi inserted, quieting the whispers. “If Kagome really stole from the Uchiha clan, she will be punished accordingly. Meeting adjourned.” Not bothering to wait for the council members to get out of his house, Hiashi quickly turned and walked out of the meeting room. For the girl's sake, he hoped she hadn't been stupid enough to steal from the Uchiha Prodigy…

 

***

 

Uchiha Fugaku calmly sipped his tea, taking several (needless) minutes to appreciate the nonexistent designs engraved on the teacup before finally turning his attention to the Hyuuga Head. “What honor do I owe this visit, Hyuuga-san?” he asked cryptically, tossing Hiashi a dispassionate glance.

 

Not one to beat around the bush, Hiashi quickly cut to the chase and asked, “Have you ever ordered for a set of silver shurikens to be made?”

 

Setting down his tea, Fugaku slowly quirked an eyebrow and answered, “Yes, I have, but I hardly believe the Hyuuga Head would personally come all the way here just to ask me something as simple as that.”

 

Ignoring the sharp barbs underlying the Uchiha Head's words, Hiashi calmly continued, “Yesterday, twelve silver shurikens of unknown origins were found in the possession of one of my clansmen. Can you check the shurikens to confirm their origins?”

 

Furrowing his eyebrows, Fugaku hesitantly nodded his head. Accepting the medium-sized box from the Hyuuga Head, he carefully slid off the wooden lid and picked out one of the silver shurikens. After examining the weapon for a few moments, he finally placed it back into the box and answered, “These shurikens belong to the Uchiha clan. They are the possessions of my son, Uchiha Itachi.”

 

Hiashi nodded his head in acceptance as he took a small sip of his tea. He had expected as much. Reigning in a tired sigh, he calmly stated, “The Hyuuga in possession of the shurikens will be punished accordingly for the theft. As the Hyuuga Head, I apologize for the unsightly behavior of my clan.”

 

“Apology accepted.” Fugaku stiffly replied as he slid the box shut.

 

***

 

It was very early the next morning when Team 3 (excluding Ryoichi) finally made it back to Konoha. Neither Shisui nor Itachi spoke as they slowly made their way back to the Uchiha District in companionable silence. Reaching the gate, the two shared a brief glance before parting ways - each to their own home.

 

Itachi's eyes narrowed marginally as soon as he opened the door. Somebody was awake.

 

“Nii-san,” a little boy greeted, yawning slightly as he rubbed his eyes with a fisted hand.

 

Itachi relaxed slightly when he identified the small boy as his little brother. “What are you doing up at this time, Sasuke?” he asked, his voice holding a tint of disapproval. “Go back to bed.”

 

“Sasuke was waiting for Nii-san.” Sasuke whispered, looking down ashamedly. He hated it when his brother used that tone of voice. It usually meant that he was displeased.

 

Itachi's face softened slightly as he gently ushered his brother back to bed. As soon as Sasuke disappeared into his room, Itachi's face hardened again. “What do you want, Otou-san?” he asked, turning slightly to face the darkness.

 

Fugaku, put out by the fact that he was caught by his son, quietly stepped out of the shadows and flicked on the lights. “Is the mission a success?”

 

Curling his hands, Itachi stiffly replied, “It's completed.”

 

It's always either the mission or the clan. What am I to you? You're son or simply a means to advance the clan?

 

After a moment of tense silence (with neither backing off), Fugaku finally turned his head away from his son's piercing gaze. Although he would never admit it out loud, the look in his son's eyes frightened him. They were the eyes of a murder - a monster. There were several times he was led to question if Itachi, like the Kyuubi brat, housed a demon within his body. Not only were Itachi's strength and intelligence inhuman in its superiority…there was also a constant aura around him that suggested that the young prodigy was not entirely human.

 

“I'm disappointed in you, Itachi.” Fugaku finally spoke after finding his voice. Taking out the wooden box he had received from the Hyuuga Head yesterday morning, he carefully pushed it into his son's hand and coldly added, “I had expected you to guard your possessions better.”

 

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he slowly slid the lid off the box. He felt his heart hammer uncomfortably in his chest as he picked out one of the silver shurikens - the exact same ones he had given Kagome before he left. The feeling of panic that surged through his veins at the sight of the shurikens was completely foreign and his face nearly betrayed those feelings…nearly.

 

“Where did you find them?” His voice was cold - even more frigid than usual - as he demanded his father for more information on the shurikens.

 

Fugaku inwardly flinched as he swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. The aura surrounding Itachi was quickly darkening with something sinister - something that was almost malevolent in its intent. Swallowing his fear, Fugaku calmly replied, “The shurikens were found in the possession of one of the Hyuuga clansmen. She will be aptly punished for…”

 

Fugaku blinked in surprise when he suddenly found himself talking to the wall. “Where did he go?”

 

***

 

Leave me alone!

 

Kagome gripped her head tightly in between her hands as she rolled restlessly back and forth across the hospital bed.

 

Go away! I'm not a monster!

 

Small beads of perspiration rolled down her pale skin as she violently shook her head. She wasn't a monster…

 

Don't leave me…I don't want to be alone.

 

Tears slipped down her cheeks, mingling with her sweat, as she fisted her hands in the bed sheets.

 

Please don't go.

 

Kagome shuddered when she suddenly felt something cold splay across her forehead. She sighed contently as the icy hand quickly cooled her burning skin.

 

I'm not alone…

 

She leaned trustingly into the familiar touch as another hand gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.

 

Neji…?

 

She felt oddly warm as she pressed her face into the cold hands - Hands that was oddly familiar in its strength and confidence.

 

“Itachi-san…” she whispered as she slowly opened her eyes.

 

Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she took in the proud form of the silent boy standing beside her bed. Without another word, she quickly threw herself into his body, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. She sobbed softly as she reeled in the comfort of his presence.

 

“Tell me what happened.” His voice was cold, leaving no room for arguments, but it lacked the usual barbed iciness.

 

Although Kagome desperately wanted to know how he had found out she was in the hospital (when it was a widely kept secret), she wisely chose to focus her energy on relaying the events that led to her hospitalization. There was no point in antagonizing Itachi when he had directly asked for an answer.

 

Itachi's eyes darkened dangerously as he patiently listened to Kagome's tale. An unexplainable anger suddenly flared in his chest when he learned that the Hyuugas had not only branded, but deliberately harmed what belonged to him! Absent-mindedly running his fingers through Kagome's hair in a soothing gesture, he silently contemplated his next course of action.

 

“Itachi-san…?”

 

Seeing Kagome's pale face, he quickly made his decision and pulled her into a sitting position. “Can you walk?”

 

Startled by the abrupt question, Kagome slowly nodded her head. Sliding off the side of the bed, she carefully pulled herself into a standing position. However, she immediately began to pitch forward when Itachi released her hands. Before she even had a chance to realize that she was falling, she suddenly found herself being pulled up against a strong chest.

 

Kagome blushed prettily when Itachi scooped her into his arms and proceeded to carry her out of the room, easily dodging the nurses on night shift. Any question she had quickly died on her lips when she immediately recognized the familiar path Itachi was taking - They were going to his personal training grounds.

 

“Itachi-san, why are we here?” Kagome asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

 

“To remove the Hyuuga Curse.” Itachi answered simply as he gently set her on the ground.

 

“You can do that?” Kagome asked bewilderedly. Even after knowing Itachi for so long, he still never ceased to amaze her…

 

“No, I can't, but you can.”

 

Kagome blinked. “Huh?” she asked intelligently.

 

“From what you've told me, I have reason to believe that you may be Natural Healer.” Itachi explained, settling himself behind Kagome. “If you really are one of the Natural Healers of legend, then there's a possibility that you may be able to remove the curse. However, as you are now, you do not have the necessary amount of chakra to accomplish such a goal.”

 

“Then what…?”

 

“I'm going to lend you my energy by pushing my chakra into your body. There's a possibility our chakras may not be compatible, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.” Itachi answered, interrupting Kagome's question. “The risks are high, but if I don't try…that curse will eventually become your demise.” Brushing his worries aside, Itachi coldly added, “If the combining of our chakra doesn't…explode…I want you to focus all your energy in removing that seal from your forehead.”

 

“H-Hai…” Kagome stuttered as she quickly slammed her eyes shut. She trusted Itachi with her life…

 

To Itachi's relief, their chakra molded perfectly…almost too perfectly. His blood-red chakra fitted perfectly with Kagome's ocean-blue aura, creating a swirl of deep purple that surrounded them like a protective mist.

 

Kagome squeezed her eyes in concentration as large beads of perspiration rolled down the side of her face. Although she had located the seal quite easily, the curse stubbornly refused to budge no matter how much she tugged or pulled on the tendrils of energy. Clenching her teeth in agitation, she renewed her efforts by sending another wave of purple chakra towards the seal.

 

I have to do this!

 

Minutes passed into hours as Itachi strained to send a constant amount of chakra to Kagome - Not too little that it would be ineffective, but also not too much that it would overload her. Just when he was beginning to doubt his assumptions of Kagome being a Natural Healer, he felt it. She was breaking through the seal.

 

A rare smile curved his lips as he redoubled his efforts. Never had he wanted to accomplish something as much as he did at that moment. In a way, it frightened him to know how much he was beginning to care for the small girl that he had met outside of the Academy a little more than a year ago…

 

At times, he wasn't sure if Kagome was the one depending on him for guidance and support or if it was him who was depending on her to keep him from falling into the never-ending darkness that constantly threatened to consume his mind…

 

“Just a little more…” Itachi silently thought to himself as he felt the curse thaw under the constant assault of their combined power. However, his temporary relief was quickly replaced with apprehension when he felt several unknown auras move towards them at high speed. His eyes snapped open just in time to see four Cloud Shinobis from the Lighting Country jump into view.

 

“There's no way I can fight them and…” Itachi trailed off when Kagome unexpectedly released a burst of their combined chakra.

 

The curse shattered.

 

Quickly moving back, Itachi hurriedly pulled Kagome into his arms and jumped out of the way just as one of the Cloud Shinobi attacked. Setting Kagome behind him, he quickly dropped into a defensive position. He winced slightly when he realized just how drained and weak he felt. “I can't afford for this battle to draw out any longer than necessary. I need to end it quickly…”

 

The four Cloud Shinobis scoffed at the sight of the little boy standing protectively over the unconscious form of the little girl. What could a mere boy possibly do? The battle was going to be pathetically short…The boy didn't stand a chance against them, the elite Shinobis of the Village Hidden in the Cloud!

 

“Don't mess with us, little boy!”

 

Famous last words…

 

***

 

“The Lightning Country betrayed us! The peace treaty was a fraud!”

 

The Hyuuga Council was beyond enraged. The Cloud Shinobis had not only attempted to kidnap Hinata, but also steal their bloodline limit in the process! The crime and slight against the Hyuuga name was unforgivable! Thankfully the Hyuuga Head had appeared in time to save his daughter, but…

 

“The Lighting Country will demand my execution for killing their men…and in light of these events; the Hokage will be forced to comply to maintain the hard-earned peace between our villages.” Hiashi calmly intoned, belying his inner turmoil.

 

Angry whispers filled the Main House as the Council argued back and forth for a reasonable solution. Just when one of the council members was prepared to suggest that Hiashi go into hiding, Hizashi suddenly stepped forward and directed everyone's attention to himself.

 

“The Hyuuga Clan cannot lose its Head.” he stated, his face ashen with darkened hope. “I will be executed in your place.”

 

***

 

Itachi breathed heavily as he eyed the two remaining Shinobis guardedly. The situation wasn't good. Although he had managed to kill two of the four assassins, he wasn't sure if he could last much longer because his chakra was beginning to run dangerously low.

 

“Who are you?!?” one of them snarled, baring his teeth.

 

Itachi didn't bother to reply as he quickly attacked again. He didn't have enough chakra to perform anymore Genjutsu or Ninjutsu, so he would have to rely solely on his Taijutsu skills until reinforcements came.

 

“You're Uchiha Itachi - the Konoha Prodigy, aren't you?” the other hissed, finally recognizing the young boy for who he was.

 

Ignoring the question, Itachi immediately charged again, engaging one of them in a heated hand to hand battle. Just when he was going to land the killing blow, he felt something tug at the edge of his senses. “Kagome!” For the first time in his life, Itachi panicked. Everything had been a ploy meant to distract him!

 

“Get away from her!” he snarled as he quickly turned and raced towards the other Cloud Shinobi. He felt time still as he watched the assassin bring his katana down on Kagome…

 

***

 

The Cloud Shinobi watched Itachi with sick fascination as he swung his sword down at Kagome's neck…The Uchiha Prodigy, no matter how fast, would never make it in time to save his little girlfriend…

 

It was the end…

 

He would enjoy emotionally crushing the famed Uchiha Itachi.

 

***

 

Itachi's midnight-black eyes suddenly blazed to life in an angry display of red as he charged towards the frozen Shinobi with renewed vigor…

 

The Cloud Shinobi watched with mounting horror as he felt Itachi's murderous intent choke his own chakra. The killing aura surrounding the boy was so strong he could hardly breathe…

 

Then he saw it. The eyes of the devil, blazing red hot with anger…

 

The heir of the demon clan…

 

Before he could even begin to feel the full terror of the situation, the Cloud Shinobi suddenly found himself slipping into eternal darkness. However, even in death, the eyes of devil were seared into his mind - tormenting him for all eternity. The eyes of Uchiha Itachi would forever be engraved in his mind…

 

Itachi straightened his body as he moved protectively in front of Kagome, shielding her from the remaining Shinobi. The Cloud Shinobi, sensing the oncoming danger, shook and shivered with fear as he stared at the devil with open terror. The boy was no longer the Uchiha Prodigy, but the devil itself…drenched completely in blood and glaring at him with those damned blood-red eyes…

 

The Sharingan has been activated.

 

***

 

TBC

 

Author's Notes: Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. It was actually written about seven months ago. I rarely updated on mediaminer because it's really hard to format…and I'm lazy. So, if any of you want to read ahead (instead of waiting forever), go check out my fanfiction profile. I'm up to Chapter 9. My profile name on fanfiction is Densetsuno Youko.