After researching the scrolls here and there for some days, the day finally arrived for them to leave the village for their mission. Hinata did her best to translate as much scrolls as she could but they found nothing that could be useful or the missing piece of the instructions about the chakra fruit.
Hinata was currently at the gates, waiting for Sasuke. Hinata kept watching her wrist watch as she waited. Sasuke was late, which was unusual. After waiting another ten minutes, she decided to go and find him but before she could move, Sasuke appeared infront of her.
She gave him a look but said in a soft tone, "You're late."
"I was waiting for Kakashi," he said in a monotone. Hinata nodded in understanding. She knew how Kakashi often lost his way in the path of life or some black cat crossed his way. She sighed and followed Sasuke out of the village.
First, they were going at a slow pace. Just like some wanderers, wandering around. Hinata enjoyed this slow pace journey because she got to see and observe the trees, flowers and other natural scenreies. It had been a long time since she got to see this greenery. Although, it was only the start of spring but she could see some flowers in full bloom.
Last time she left the village was when Hanabi was kidnapped and it was in the middle of the winter and she really didn't have the time to admire the scenery at that time. But now, she was going to take the full advantage of it all.
She turned around and focused her attention on Sasuke. He was completley quiet as they walked. Hinata didn't talk much but that didn't mean that she liked the silence. She liked to listen to her teammates whenever they went on a mission. Kiba was the one who talked alot. Hinata and Shino only listened.
At this time, Hinata missed her team. It had been so long since they all went on a mission together. Right now, she could only sigh as they walked in complete silence. She decided to talk and start a conversation. She and Sasuke didn't talk much when they were at the village. They didn't even spent time together except that day at his apartment and she left quickly after having a little nap. She was embarassed a little because she had fallen asleep at a guy's apartment.
She shook off her thoughts and tried to talk. "Why were you waiting for Kakashi-sensei?" That question came out of her mouth on its own before she could stop herself. It wasn't her business where he went or what he was doing. Well, now that she had asked, better not regret it.
Sasuke didn't answer at first but when he saw Hinata's curious face, he sighed and said, "He said that I bring you home safe and sound."
"Oh."
"And I shouldn't be a jerk towards you during the whole journey," he added after a moment. Hinata chuckled at that.
"I can put up with that, don't worry."
Hinata said with a smile.
"Hn," he said and muttered under his breath, "I know." With that he increased his pace and went ahead. Hinata only followed behind. They went like this for a day. They made camp and stayed for the night. In the morning, they continued to head towards their destination. They didn't talk much, just exchanging few words here and there and nothing more.
After a week of dreadful and an awfully quiet journey, they finally arrived at the cave which was more like a temple. A temple, destroyed by bad weather and old age. The entrance to the temple was completely destroyed as the debris was blocking the way. Only a little gap was seen which was enough for a man to pass through.
Sasuke led the way as he slipped inside through the small gap. Hinata stayed behind for a moment and scanned the surroundings with her Byakugan. She found nothing out of ordinary, then she too slipped inside.
As soon as she entered the cave, her eyes adjusted to the small flicker of light, a torch which Sasuke was holding. They walked along the wall that led them deeper inside. The hall was a narrow pathway, like a small corridor. She could see the end of the corridor with a bright light at the end.
They reached the end and Hinata was blinded by the sudden light as she came out. She adjusted her eyes as she took in her surroundings and her jaw practically dropped to the floor.
She gasped in amazment as her eyes landed onto the great ceiling.
They were standing now at the middle of a big---huge and a massive hall. The ceiling was made of stone, ofcourse but there was a design which was carved in the stones with gaps in it to let the sunlight in. It was in a dome like shape and around it were the symbols. The symbols were everywhere. The walls, floor, ceiling, and even at the alter. Sasuke never mentioned an alter, she thought.
There was a huge statue of a woman. Even though it was a stone statue, the delicate facial features could be seen and her eyes seemed to be the byakugan eyes. But the most noticable thing was the two horns peeking out of her head.
"Here," Sasuke said as he stood at the alter. She came beside her, still in awe of the architecture of the ceiling and the mosaic of the floor. Hinata focused her attention at what Sasuke was pointed at. It was a big stone in sqaure shape with some writings on it.
A stone tablet.
No doubt Sasuke insisted her on coming. It must be important. She activated her byakugan and read the words.
"You must fulfil the task that was given to your ancestor. Take back what was stolen from us, which was ours to take in the first place and leave the place with nothing but endless darkness."
Hinata read the words out loud and couldn't help but shudder at the words. She exhaled and looked at Sasuke for any answer or a response but he only stared at the stone tablet, with his lips pursed together. Hinata realized that he was in a deep thought. So she only waited for him to speak.
After a moment, Sasuke sighed and said, "Let's go. The remaining scrolls are over there." He pointed to a corner which was on the left side of the alter and there was a big shelf carved into the wall with scrolls piled up together.
"Did you figure out what that stone tablet is about?" Hinata asked as she trailed behind Sasuke to the shelf.
"Hn." Hinata waited for him to continue but it was his only response.
"And...?" Hinata once again tried. Seriously, it was impossible to talk to this guy. She was his companion and he was acting like she was some kind of a stranger he never met before. In Konoha, it felt like he was not so cold towards her, like he considered Hinata a friend. But then again, he became cold and ignorent.
"I am not sure," he replied, not providing her any information. Did he not trust her or what? Maybe he planned on telling her later. She nodded her head in understanding and started to look around the scrolls.
Those scrolls contained nothing but that same old information. She tired to look for the other part of the instuctions that Sasuke found. She was halfway through the scrolls that she sensed another chakra behind her. It had a omnioues feel to it. Sasuke seemed ready to attack at anyone that dared to threaten them, but there was no one here, except that chakra. It seemed like they were hidden somewhere.
Hinata activated her byakugan and looked at her surroundings but found nothing. Suddenly two figures appeared in the air out of nowhere. They both wore white attire. They had pale skin and they possessed byakugan. They even had horns, just like the statue. One man was slim and the other one was much bulkier. He had a red axe with him.
"Looking for this?" the slim one spoke with a smirk on his face as he showed them a scroll. Hinata's eyes widened at that. They knew they were coming in search of the other scroll. Hinata's heart started to beat faster as she sensed the enormous amount of chakra radiating off of them.
"Who are you?" Sasuke asked, his voice calm and cold. Instead of answering, the bulkier one charged at them with his axe. They jumped to avoid the attack.
"I thought that no one could enter this place besides us." He said as his calm expression turned into an angry one.
"I am Kinshiki Otsutsuki. How dare you to come and steal on my guard!? Not once but twice!"
As soon as he completed his sentence, he charged at Sasuke with full force. Sasuke drew his sword to block his attack. They both engaged into a battle of blocking each others attacks. If one went for offensive, the other would defend himself with his blade. It was very fast for Hinata to see who exactly was at advantage.
Suddenly, Kinshiki kicked Sasuke and he went flying through the wall. Kinshiki wasted no time and went to attack Sasuke again.
"Sasuke-kun!" Hinata yelled and ran towards them. But she halted as the other one landed infront of her, blocking her way. Hinata stood in her fighting stance, ready to fight.
"You..." he began as he looked at her in confusion and a little bit of curiosity. "You are... different. You clearly aren't an Otsutsuki but you have similar chakra signature."
He suddenly smirked as he took a step forward. Hinata stood her ground and willed herself not to take a step back.
"Almost similar to Kaguya's," he said before lunging at her using taijutsu. Hinata was at defensive as she dodged and blocked his every attack.
"You are fast," he said as he gave her a twisted smile.
Hinata still doghed and blocked. But not for long, as he increased his speed and kicked Hinata in her side, making her fly across the room as she tumbled out in the clearing where Sasuke was currently fighting Kinshiki Otsutsuki.
Hinata recovered quickly as she stood up and activated her jutsu.
As soon as she saw the mysterious man come out, she lunged at him with her fists engulfed in purple chakra. This time, her speed had increased as she went for offensive and forced the Otsutsuki to go on defensive. She tried to use gentle fist but he blocked her everytime.
Finally, she found an opening and didn't waste anymore time and attacked but it was a trap. As soon as Hinata went for her opening, he attacked her with Gentle fist. Hinata tried to dodge it and fortunately it didn't hit her chakra points but it did hit her chest with a great force. The force was so great that she went flying back and hit the debris behind her.
She tumbled to the ground as she coughed out blood and found herself losing consciousness. But she shook her head as she tried to stand up but to no avail.
The unknown Otsutsuki came closer to her and looked down at her as he said, "Now tell me, where is Kaguya Otsutsuki?"
Hinata only stared at him with half closed eyes. The only thing going on in her mind was that after training so much, she was still too weak. She tried so hard but everytime she ended up being the weak one. She couldn't fight back neither could she protect anyone nor she could keep anyone safe. Hinata felt utterly useless, she couldn't move a muscle.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was engaged in a fight with Kinshiki Otsutsuki. The debris was flying everywhere as the two fought. Kinshiki attacked with his big red axe and Sasuke blocked his attacks with his sword but Kinshiki's attack had great power behind it which sent Sasuke back to a formation of rocks.
Kinshiki attacked again and Sasuke found himself being surrounded as at his back, were the rocks and at the front, Kinshiki. He again came at him with his axe which Sasuke blocked so the Otsutsuki attacked him with his brass knuckles which Sasuke blocked with his leg in the nick of time.
Sasuke twisted his body and slashed at his face with his sword but it missed and instead his horn broke off. They again entered into a battle of blocking each others attacks. Sasuke then whirled around and plunged his sword into the other man's foot. Kinshiki yelled in pain as Sasuke pinned his foot into the ground with his sword. He whirled around again and jumped at his back with a kunai his hand as he aimed for his head but Kinshiki shook him off with his hand. Sasuke landed infront of him and wasted no time as he attacked Kinshiki with a chidori strike. The Otsutsuki went flying across the field.
But one thing Sasuke didn't notice that he sent the enemy in the direction where Hinata was lying on the floor, coughing blood. A recovered Kinshiki noticed that and went to attack his comrade instead. He raised his axe and went for the target but he hit a stone statue instead.
Sasuke had reacted fast as he exchanged Hinata's place with a stone statue. He held Hinata in his arms as he grinted his teeth at the enemy. A laugh was heard above them as the other Otsutsuki appeared, standing at the top of the temple.
"How careless, Kinshiki."
Sasuke and the unknown Otsutsuki stared at each other. Otsutsuki noticed something as he mused, "Oh? Rinnegan?"
"What are you searching for? Answer me." said the man in white. "Where is Kaguya Otsutsuki?"
"You don't know?", Sasuke said in a cold tone as he went on, "She's no longer here."
The Otsutsuki had a surprised expression but recovered quickly as he frowned his brow and said, "You will tell us everything you know."
Kinshiki came to attack him once again and Sasuke doghed it but he stumbled back a bit. He realized that if it goes on, he will be at the disadvantage and not to mention Hinata. She was still heaving and it looked like she was having troubled breathing.
It was stupid of him to leave her alone like that. He almost forgot that she was here with him during the fight. He pulled out three shurikens and threw at Kinshiki as he ran towards the portal he created. Soon after, he and Hinata vanished through the portal.
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Hey there! Sorry for not updating last week. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. And if you didn't like the fight scene then I completely understand. It was my first time writing a fight scene and... well, I don't know how it turned out to be so please tell me your views about it in the comments. (I really suck at fighting scenes, I tried writing it many times and everytime it turned into a complete mess).
Well, I will try to write a good chapter next time and it will be out next sunday. Untill then, take care and have a good day! ✨
--stars_above12.