Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Make Me Immortal 2 ❯ Chapter 1

Neji was mad, no, scratch that, he was furious. He was gone for one moment only to find Sakura's absence. He blamed himself.

 

 

`I should have stayed by her side. She needs me now more than ever.'

 

 

He was pacing back and forth wondering where she could've gone. Neji knew Sakura went to her father, that much was obvious, but where exactly? Hiashi had gone to see the Hokage, and then they both set off to search for Sakura with ANBU. They had been searching for hours, and still nothing. Had he killed her already? Or did that vile monster take her away somewhere? These thoughts bounced back and forth in his head.

 

 

Hiashi had sent him back (quite forcefully) for some rest, but Neji couldn't help but be restless. He was so anxious he felt he was ready to puke.

 

 

“Neji-san?” a timid voice spoke up. He looked up.

 

 

“Hinata-sama. You're back,” he tried to cover up his emotions, but was failing miserably.

 

 

The bashful girl nodded. An awkward silence followed. “Hanabi explained to me what had happened,” she said softly, almost fearful of Neji's reaction.

 

 

“Hn.”

 

 

“I'm really sorry,” Hinata added. A moment of silence, then…

 

 

“I'm going to continue searching,” was all Neji said. He turned to leave, but a small hand stopped him. He looked at Hinata, surprised. She released his wrist and suddenly found the floor quite interesting.

 

 

“I-I um… I would like to help,” she looked at him, “please.”

 

 

He was still a moment, then walked to the door. He turned around, “Let's go.”

 

 

They set off searching thinking of any place they might have overlooked. So far they haven't had any luck, and to top it all off, it was raining. Hinata and Neji were both soaked to the skin. Hinata didn't dare suggest taking a break.

 

 

The truth was, Hinata was scared for Neji and Sakura. If you get pass the shock of it, you realize that they're well suited. She didn't want Neji to lose another one of his precious people. She knew that his list of important people was quite exclusive, and to think that the “weak Haruno girl” had made it. “Weak Haruno girl” was what some people called Sakura and it annoyed the shy Hyuuga heiress very much. She knew what it was like to be underestimated and to be looked down upon, but that was the past. Hinata had finally proven herself.

 

 

They continued to search. Neji was scared, he would rather lose in a fight to Shizune's pet pig, Ton Ton than admit it, but he was scared. It had ended as quickly as it had started. He wanted it to last.

 

 

`It still could,' a voice in his head said. Neji frowned, a little ashamed, `I shouldn't be doubting her,' he thought, `she's stronger than that, much stronger.' There was a flash of lightning and a sudden clap of thunder.

 

 

“We have to hurry,” Neji urged Hinata. She nodded.

 

 

Suddnely, there was a loud crash up ahead. The two Hyuugas got to the scene at lightning speed. What they saw shocked and horrified them. Hinata gasped and Neji, well, Neji was in shock. Eto Haruno was unconscious, his body lay limp in a bloody mess. Apparently, he had crashed into several trees. He had blood over his clothes and pretty much everywhere else. Neji mentally shook himself, he bent over and held up his wrist.

 

 

“No pulse,” he stated.

 

 

But Hinata wasn't listening, her eyes were glued to an exhausted figure barely able to stand, she was next to a certain tombstone. Neji saw what she was looking at, and he felt his organs rearrange themselves. It felt to him his heart was in his throat and his stomach twist into an impossible knot.

 

 

“Sakura?” he choked out.

 

 

She didn't look like the Sakura he knew. Her clothes were torn, her usually tied up pink hair let down and dripping wet from the rain, her eyes seemed out of focus, and she was trembling uncontrollably. She wore a coat of blood that covered most of her body, whether it was hers or Eto's, they didn't know. Sakura swayed a bit before she collapsed.

 

 

“Sakura!” Neji dashed over and held her. She looked so weak, so helpless.

 

 

“Hinata, get Tsunade-sama, fast!” he ordered. She nodded and went off, possibly even faster than before.

 

 

“N-Neji…I'm so s-sorry,” Sakura fought to keep her eyes open.

 

 

Neji only hushed her. He wanted to tell her that everything was okay, that she would be fine, and that they would be happy together again, but as much as he wanted to tell Sakura all that, Neji was too scared. And his voice seemed to have left him for the time being, so he just held her there. Neither spoke a word. Neji tried to remain calm, but inwardly, he was panicking. To him, it felt like hours before Hinata showed up with the Hokage and a team of medic nins. The medics went to check on Sakura's father while Tsunade examined her apprentice, who was having trouble staying awake.

 

 

“What took so long?” growled Neji.

 

 

“I-I'm sorry Neji-san. I had trouble finding them,” Hinata apologized.

 

 

Just then, a medic by the name of Kaija came over, “Hokage-sama, I'm afraid Eto Haruno is dead.”

 

 

Two simultaneous gasps came from Hinata and the Hokage. Sakura's eyes widened, “…Dead?” she managed in a raspy voice. Kaija nodded, her expression grim.

 

 

Sakura fell unconscious.

 

 

“Sakura?” Neji tried to gently shake her awake. Tsunade felt for a pulse, “She's alive, but barely. We have to get her to the hospital. Neji, I need you to carry-“

 

 

Neji took off.

 

 

“-her.”

 

 

They arrived a bit later. Sakura was put into a small room and the Hokage checked up on her while Hinata and Neji waited outside. After a while, Tsunade came out looking distressed.

 

 

“How is she?” Hinata asked anxiously.

 

 

“Sakura's in a coma,” announced Tsunade. “So she'll wake up and recover?” questioned Neji.

 

 

“I'm afraid it isn't that simple,” Tsunade sighed, “She could wake up and recover as you said Neji, but it could take weeks, months, maybe ever years! I don't even know if she'll wake up at all.” She shook her head before continuing, “All I know for sure is that Sakura's father had an extremely unpleasant affect on her.”