SNAP
Shikamaru tilted his body forwards slightly as if an invisible string had tugged at his chest. After realising what had happened he stood up slowly and nodded sincerely at the rest of his teammates. They smiled back some expressing their joy more openly than others however their joy only lasted a small amount of time. Shikamaru looked over to the tainted looking Naruto on Kiba's back and knew that their main problems were beginning to creep back up to the surface.
"Now to deal with that." Shikamaru pointed out. He walked over to Kiba who was placing the Naruto on the ground as gently as possible hoping not to wake him up. Everyone else gathered around a distance away from the body but close enough to keep an eye on it. As Neji walked over it was visible that he had been giving Hinata's corpse small amounts of his Chakra to her.
"Neji..." Choji started until he was cut off by Neji.
"Don't. Not now please." Neji obviously didn't want any emotion to interfere with the mission at hand. Shikamaru contemplated whether to interrogate Neji about this but decided it best to leave it for now.
"We need to do something about this other Naruto. Right now he's unconscious but who knows when he will start waking up again. Konoha is the only village here for miles so we can't afford him getting loose. We need to get Hinata back to Konoha asap but we are all out of chakra and have no more means of transport therefore I think we should rest until tomorrow morning. It may be dark but we have no other choice we are unable to continue forward with us in such a weakened state " Shikamaru looked around at all of his team and sighed heavily "we leave 6hrs, same rotation as before for lookout. Any questions?"
Choji and Kiba raised their hands unanimously, looked at each other and Kiba said "Was it really wise sending Sasuke? I could have-"
"No. No as in I couldn't send you because we need your sense of smell and tracking to get us back home and help us detect enemies. Neji's byakugan is unavailable right now and Choji would have no means of actually getting there and I couldn't go because I am the team captain and I know what's best." Shikamaru had one hand in his pocket and one hand out to give a lazy look but his presence was tense. He had made it clear that there wasn't any other way and that he had hope that Sasuke wouldn't leave Naruto the way he is now.
"Let's set up now or else we'll be here all night," Shikamaru said frustrated and walked away into the woods. He whispered the words 'What a drag' under his breath as he left. The team was left alone huddled up until Neji decided to also leave the gathering.
"Oi! Neji, you need to explain-"
"There is nothing to explain. I simply did what I had to. Nothing else. Naruto is not as weak as to die from something like this. He'll be fine therefore Hinata sama becomes my main priority." Neji replied to Kiba. He walked over to Hinata and made sure she was comfortable. This made Kiba shiver but decided it must normal if you lose someone so close to you. You kinda just wish that they were still here and becasue you love them so much you respect them even after death.
"Come on Choji, let's go set up. Can't waste time here doing nothing can we?" Kiba said lightheartedly trying to keep the mood just above a mental breakdown. They all left into the woods leaving behind a cold and empty fireplace. The night brought such a silence that the crackle of the campfire was all that could be heard, a natural music in the black tinted night. Flames sent red sparks dancing into the breeze and the smoke twirled heavenward towards the stars.
Meanwhile...
The village homes were brother and sister to one another upon that mountainous land. The peaceful and prosperous villagers were oblivious to the events that had taken place for the past week. Sasuke was triggered and the world and everyone in it was now fiifty feet below them. Any bonds between the village and himself became inaccessible. In that moment he had to take great care not to damage those bonds of love, the relationships and people who were everything to his heart and soul. For in time they would reach an end to this chaos and his true ideology would return. He could still imagine what the better version of him would want him to do and then carry that out. He couldn't undo the trauma he's been through, but can only adapt and overcome.
"Sasuke?" Naruto asked concernigly weakily.
"Shut up you loser." Sasuke said making sure he doesn't waste any energy on talking to him. Naruto slowly lifted up his arm squeezing it out of the locked position he was in and barely gripped the top bit of Sasuke's shirt.
"I'm taking you back to home. Even if I have to break all of your limbs and drag...you...back. I refuse to give up." Naruto said slowly looseing his grip on the ripped royal blue shirt. Sasuke was able to quickly grab Naruto's falling hand and held it close to his chest. Feeling anxious had become a kind of background noise, as if it were traffic on some unseen road. There were times he could not do anything to help like now. Yet he kept hope and prayed time was on their side.
"It's hard work taking care of you. Loser." Sasuke thought to himself. At last falling onto the season softened bed of leaves was the greatest of bliss and Sasuke had turned 180 degrees to make sure he took the brunt of the fall. The branches and thorns and trees and barks had scraped and cut his broken body like a thousand knives had been thrown directly at him. When he slowed opened his eyes and took in his surroundings considering where they had landed.
"KAH!" Sasuke immediately laid his eyes on Naruto's face which had a path of blood streaming from his mouth and from the side of his torso.
"oh shit, shit, shit, shit" Sasuke panickily said scrambling around the crunchy autumn leaves to look for the wound. A large thorned ivy patch had severely cut his skin and it was visible Naruto was wincing from the pain and cold.
"Oh come on gimme a break will you! Now I have to drag your ass to the Hokage's office. So much for your incredible power eh?" Sasuke said annoyed and lifted Naruto onto his back again and vanished quickly into thin air.
Back with Shikamaru...
The fire crackled strongly and exploded like tiny fireworks lighting up the dark empty sky. They kept silent for there was no topic available that could possible last more than a one word or phrase answer. Except for one. One that no one truly knew how to discuss.
"You're awfully quiet" A voice said from behind the team, he was laid back against a tree with a semi strong rope. At the sound of his voice everyone stood up and jumped back a few feet keeping their distance weaponry at hand.
"Jee no need for that guys" Menma smirked and attempted to stand up but was tugged back by the rope, it made the team flinch "see, you've already got me tied up!"
"Be quiet! How long were you listening for?" Kiba asked quickly.
"Listening? To what the faqing birds? You've been completely silent since you sat your asses down." Menma chuckled. Neji edged forwards towards him and was furious however Menma could see behind him the fluffy jacket that Hinata always seemed to wear but in the half-lit view she was utterly still, eyes open as if admiring the heavens. Neji noticed Menma looking and moved himself in front of his line of sight.
"She's gone." Menma said emotionless.
"I am aware of that" Neji said in the same tone.
"So why are you trying to save her?" Menma said now with clear anger in his voice.
"Tch, why would you care?"
"Becasue by doing that you could be saving Naruto instead!" Menma shouted "Your unbelievable you know that? Some friends you are. If someone is gone they are gone, you need to get that through your thick skull, in death is the proof of love, of the bonds that exist beyond our reality, beyond the spacetime, matter and energy that makes our world real."
Neji was quite surprised that Menma was actually trying to somewhat comfort him! in his own...twisted ways but either way Neji and everyone there was able to pick up on his comment.
"What are you playing at?" Kiba asked
"Absolutely nothing. I just don't don't want to see Naruto die. He's been through enough already and on top of that have to die from the very thing he was isolated for" Menma said lowering his head "utter idiots you are" Menma laughed "What a bunch of lies you people tell!"
"We care for Naruto!" Shikamaru answered annoyed. Menma raised his eyebrow with curiosity.
"oh?"
"He has helped us in so many ways. He may be an idiot and dumb as hell it doesn't change the fact that even though he has so many weaknesses he never gives up and always looks at the bright side never letting anyone bring him down" Shikamaru replied.
"He always cheers us up when we're down. When we need someone to rely on we go to him, he has a kind of presence that makes you want to bet you whole life on him" Choji said
"We could never repay him for what he has done for us, which is why we would never let him die. We don't care about the nine tails in him or the level of immense power he has. We don't care about the nine-tails kid. We care about Uzumaki Naruto of the hidden leaf village!" Neji told Menma. Menma was in utter shock. They weren't lying, as much as he wanted to see some kind of fault in their words, some cruelty in their intentions it was useless. For the first time in about 12yrs Menma truly felt satisfied that the ninija standing before him were not about to let their friend die.
"heh, I'm glad." Menma grinned "oh and uh I really am sorry for your loss Neji. You can tell I'm not the best at comfort words"
As soon as the silence had completed wrapped the atmosphere around them a distance sound of wind being cut through like a sword was slowly getting closer. Menma allowed some of the kyuubi's chakra to leak and it began to enwrap his body.
"Oi what are you-" Kiba started but he was unable to finish for Menma had broken through the tight ropes and had released three tails. He had jumped up into the air going directly for the source of the sound. Someone's hand had grabbed Menma's arm and lifted him up, Menma struggling to break free.
"Sorry I'm late guys, a black cat crossed my path so I had to go the long way..."
HELLO EVERYONE!!! I really enjoyed making this chapter and to believe we have only 2 more chapters left!!! ahhhh I really don't want this to finish but unfortunately every beginning has an end :( Anyways on other notes I hope everyone is doing alright I wish everyone a lovely day with many lovely things! I have an exam tomorrow so I literally praying I get 100% since anything lower isn't exactly an option *sigh* but determination and perseverance will get through so I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!!!! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you guys later bye bye!
"Is the night a shroud of blackness or a soft velvet cloak? Does the wintry wind chill your bones or awaken your spirit?
Do spring flowers simply die or are their petals the most beautiful of confetti? Does icy rain steal your joy or steel your resolve?
Are children expensive or priceless? Is a friend in need a problem or a blessing - a rare opportunity to show that your love for them is real?
How we see the world makes us who we are."