Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Pure Dawn ❯ Found ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Itachi peered down at this odd girl with eyes so white they reflected the silvery moonlight perfectly and hair an even deeper black than the star dappled sky. Her attire was ruined with mud and stained with crimson blood, though he could see no sign of attack. For a moment, his mind raced, attempting to decipher from where those eyes looked so familiar.

“W… who are you?” the girl whimpered softly, eyes darting back and forth between the two men.

“That all depends,” Kisame said in a deep, rumbling voice that sent shivers down the girl's spine. “Who are you?”

“H-Hyuuga Hinata,” she replied automatically.

Instantly, the name Hyuuga clicked in Itachi's mind, conjuring up several facts - several among them being the Jyuken style fighting technique unique to the clan and how to counter it.

“A Hyuuga, huh,” Kisame continued, one hand discreetly searching out a kunai. “And just what would such a pretty thing from such a prestigious clan be doing out here, begging for death, Hinata-chan?”

“I told you,” Hinata whimpered, tears welling in her eyes and streaming down her face. “I killed the people in my clan - a lot of them. A-and I was… happy to do it…”

“How many?” Itachi finally spoke, voice soft and low. “Did you kill everyone? Did you make your entire family suffer completely at your hands?” Hinata's eyes flew to his face and he instantly threw up his calm, cold mask, but he was certain that she had seen the brief flash of pain.

“Y… You're Uchiha Itachi,” she murmured, pushing herself up on one arm and clasping to the other over her chest. Her gaze turned to Kisame and she breathed, “You're… You're…” Terror and emptiness was replaced by confusion. “That… shark-man?”

“I'm Hoshigaki Kisame,” he growled with a wince and Itachi fought to conceal a smirk. One of the shark's hands reached out trailing up Hinata's thigh as Kisame let a lecherous grin slide over his features and said, “And I happen to like pretty things, even if you are a bit of a dumb bitch.”

Itachi wasn't sure if it was the insult or the proximity of Kisame's hand to her personal parts (or very possibly both), but there was a loud crack and Kisame was clutching his bright red, throbbing cheek. The indignation in the girl's posture vanished as the last echoes of her slap dissipated and a red flush of embarrassment replaced that of rage.

“I… I'm sorry!” she cried, flustered. “I mean - I'm not - ano, I didn't mean to - but I did - I…” She bowed as low as she could in a sitting position. “Forgive me.”

“You got spunk girl,” Kisame said, sitting back with a grin and rubbing his cheek. “But that damn stutter is pissing me off.”

Itachi saw the flash of anger and annoyance in the girl's eyes, but she did nothing but bow and apologize again. He looked to the sky, catching a glimpse of the moon between the clouds and said, “She has nothing on her and we must leave, Kiame. We don't have much time.”

Kisame nodded and stood. The duo was about to take off when Hinata called out to them.

“What do you want?” Kisame asked with a quirked brow. “You said you wished for death, correct?”

“Ano, yes, but I…”

“I can tell what you're thinking - you want to come with us. I, personally, think that we should just leave you here to finish what you started yourself or let some of the animals have a go at you. However…” Kisame turned to Itachi. “What do you think?”

“I don't care. If you lead us into a trap, we will kill you, understand?” Hinata nodded slightly and Itachi continued. “If you fall behind, you will be left behind. If you are injured, you take care of yourself. We do not rest often and not for long. If you bitch, moan, or complain, I will rip out your throat, got that?”

“Y… yes, sir.”

“Kisame, let's go.”

Neither man waited for Hinata to even pull herself out of the mud before they leapt off into the darkness of night.

Naruto didn't even bother knocking as he ran into Tsunade's office, shoving his mask to the top of his head and calling out, “Obaachan!”

Tsunade looked up, green-blue eyes set in a glare. “How many times have I told you to -”

“She's with Akatsuki.”

The Hokage's rant on politeness was cut short and she pursed her lips together in a tight, thin line. “You are certain?”

“There's no mistaking that stutter.” A glare was passed his way and he continued, “And I scanned her chakra - absolutely the same.”

Tsunade pressed her fingertips to her temples and groaned, feeling a migraine coming on. Her eyes flicked back and forth, as though reading something that wasn't there. Finally, she sighed and Naruto felt his heart clench in foreboding at her next words.

“Send out a message to all Shinobi over Genin-stage. Have them meet before me in the gathering hall immediately.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Naruto said quietly, vanishing in a swirl of smoke.

Tsunade looked at the wilting rose on the corner of her desk, a belated birthday present from the now absent blonde. It had been a beautiful thing, red as her lips and, as Naruto had said, possibly hoping for a lax in his work schedule that day, leaves that were such a deep green that they made her eyes even prettier by comparison.

A dulled petal dropped from the small gift, slowlydrifting down to the old oak desk as Tsunade rested her forehead on crossed arms and cried.

W00tness. I typed up the next bit. I'm so happy

Nine: I'm sure you are, torturing the poor girl like that.

Angel: Hey, I'm mean to the chars I like.

Nine: I wasn't aware of that… It never really seems to show in your writings.

Angel: Then you haven't been hanging out in my head for a few months now. I'm terrible.

Nine: … I don't want to get into your head. I might not come back.

Angel: Then it all works out perfectly. And since you seem to be the only one awake, you say the disclaimer.

Nine: Fine, fine. Angel doesn't own Naruto no matter what she might say otherwise.

Angel: So, till next time!