Prey chapter 2

Chapter 2: I’ll protect you


“Hyuga Hinata, you’ll go with me,” the cloud ninja said.

“No,” Hinata whispered terrified.

Naruto looked over his shoulder to Hinata. She was about to cry from fear. He looked back at the enemy. “Why do you want her?” he shouted angrily. “We just want the secret of the Byakugan and she is the weakest one of her clan,” the cloud answered sinfully. Hinata fell on her knees, crying in silence.

‘Not again,’ she thought, ‘Why are they always after me?’

Naruto dashed to the Cloud nin and wanted to hit him in the face, but the Cloud ninja blocked it easily. He punched back, but Naruto was also able to block it. Quickly he made some signs. “Kage-bunshin-no-jutsu!” he said. The shadow doppelganger helped him with the Rasengan. A ball of light blue chakra was in Naruto’s hand. The Cloud ninja jumped a few meters backwards and looked confused at the chakra in Naruto’s hand palm. “Impossible,” he whispered.

‘Yondaime Hokage is dead,’ the nin thought looking at the boy, ‘wait this isn’t the Yellow Flash. It’s just a boy. But why is he able to use that jutsu?’

Naruto ran to the Cloud ninja, who still looked confused as Naruto was only a few inches away. He pushed the Rasengan in the stomach and a second later the ninja was flying through the air. After a few meters he stopped by hitting a tree. He glided down and a log hit the ground. “Replacement?” Naruto said astonished. A scream came from behind and Naruto turned his head immediately.

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Hinata looked as Naruto hit the Cloud ninja with a jutsu she had never seen before. Although she knew that jutsu very well, it was the one the Fourth invented. The Cloud ninja hit the tree, but it was a log that landed on the ground. She heard some noise behind her and turned her head. The Cloud ninja was only five meters away from her. He had a kunai in his right hand. Hinata screamed.

She closed her eyes out of fear and heard the ninja approaching, yelling ‘aaah’ to boost up his attack and power. He was only a few inches away now and it was then that she felt a sudden wind. She heard a thud and blood was dripping to the ground. What happened? Slowly and still frightened she opened one of her eyes. A second later she opened the other and looked wide-eyed to the back of Naruto.

The kunai was buried into the flesh from his left hand and with his other he held the Cloud ninja.

He turned his head to Hinata. “You’re alright?” he asked. Hinata nodded. He turned his head back to the enemy and hit him in the face.

Did she see that right? Were his eyes red, instead of blue? Also the whisker like stripes on his cheeks looked different. She only saw his face for a second, so she could have imagined it, couldn’t she?

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The Cloud ninja let the kunai go and fell to the ground. Naruto had hit him pretty hard, the ninja was bleeding. Naruto pulled the kunai out of his hand and let it fall to the ground. Breathing heavily he looked to Cloud nin.

He felt that he was using the Kyubi’s chakra and suppressed it.

“Why are you suppressing it, kid?”

‘Shut up fox!’

“But you need it. You want to protect someone close to you. You want to protect that cute girl over there. This Cloud ninja made her cry and wanted to hurt her. Pay him for his deeds, use my chakra boy. I know you want to use it.”

‘I said shut up! I can do this on my own. Besides I don’t want Hinata to know that you are sealed in me!’

The Kyubi growled. “Very well, if you think you can do this on your own, but don’t come to me after you find out you can’t. Even begging won’t help.”

The Cloud ninja stood up and hurried to the bushes. Naruto set a few steps to the back. Preparing for the next attack.

A bunch of kunai came out of the trees and bushes. Naruto picked Hinata up and ran away.

Hinata looked up to blond haired ninja, who was holding her. His eyes were blue and the whisker like stripes on his face were normal. ‘I just imagined it,’ she thought relieved.

Naruto set Hinata down after running for ten minutes. They left the training ground far behind them and it would take a while before the Cloud ninja would find them. Naruto breathed fast, while leaning against a tree. Hinata looked at him, her eyes still somewhat wet. “Are you ok?” she whispered. Naruto looked at her for a few seconds and then nodded. Hinata looked at his wounded hand. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I heal quick, it’s nothing.” But Hinata still looked worried.

“Hinata, can you see him?” Naruto asked. Hinata looked a bit surprised, but only for a second. She used Byakugan to find the Cloud ninja. He wasn’t far away anymore. “He is just five hundred meters from here.” Her voice sounded frightened. Naruto nodded, “Stay here, I’ll deal with him.”

He stood up and ran to another hiding place. Hinata pushed herself against the tree, watching Naruto with her Byakugan.

At that moment she saw some other ninja. Two others, both Cloud. A man and a woman. She wanted to warn Naruto, but as she stood up, the two grabbed her by her arms and pushed her back to the ground.

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The cloud ninja was aiming for a direct attack at Naruto. Naruto blocked it and kicked the ninja back. After that he quickly grabbed a kunai with an explosive tag on it and threw it to the ninja.

“Kid.”

‘Didn’t I tell you to stay away!’

“I just wanted to warn you there are two others, but never mind.”

‘Two others? What do you mean fox?!’

The Kyubi remained quiet. Naruto made a Kage Bunshin and sent him to Hinata, while he dealt with the cloud ninja in front of him.

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“Don’t struggle,” the Cloud girl said, “it’s less painful that way.” She had a kunai in her hand and planted it on Hinata’s cheek. She carved a line, while enjoying the fear in Hinata’s eyes. Hinata shed some tears.

An unexpected fist hit the Cloud ninja girl right into her face. It was so sudden, that her partner couldn’t react. He let Hinata go and received the next punch. Flying threw the air, he hit his team-mate, who was about to stand up. They both fell on the ground again.

Hinata looked to the right; it was Naruto that saved her life, again. He sprinted to the two cloud ninja’s, with a big Fuuma shuriken in his hand. He threw it to the two Cloud ninja that were trying to escape.

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The real Naruto had some problems with the cloud ninja he was fighting. A big water wave was coming his way. In order not to get stuck in the water, he jumped into a tree and then into midair. The wave ended just in time, and Naruto landed in a tree. While falling down through branches, twigs and leaves, he grabbed one of them. Looking down to the water, he climbed on the branch and looked through the leaves to his enemy.

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The bunshin jumped up to avoid an attack from the male cloud ninja he was dealing with. But that only acted as a distraction and he got stuck in an invisible web of chakra. “Naruto-kun,” Hinata whispered, shedding some tears. “Now we got you, little brat,” the Cloud girl said. Naruto smiled, “you think so.” The shadow clone disappeared, leaving two perplexed cloud ninja behind. “A Kage Bunshin?! Where’s the real one?” The male said, drifting his eyes around.

Hinata looked at the two, they were distracted. Only she knew the real Naruto was fighting their partner further away. They probably thought the real one was nearby, aiming for a next attack, and that she was unable to move.

Hinata was relieved for a second and tried to stand up, but she couldn’t. By using her Byakugan she understood why. She was stuck in a chakra web, the same they used on capturing Naruto’s shadow clone.

What must she do now? First she wanted to cry again, but then she thought about Naruto. He had saved her!

‘No. I won’t run anymore, that’s my nindo, right? I will fight them!’

Hinata concentrated on her chakra and used gentle fist to cut the chakra strings. At that same moment the girl turned her head, but it was too late, Hinata was free. And she was about to make her first move. Inspired by Naruto, she ran to the two ninja.

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The water disappeared; it probably cost too much chakra. Naruto let himself land on the ground and hid in the bushes. Then he felt that the Kage Bunshin was gone. Instantly he knew Hinata needed his help right away. ‘Damn it,’ he thought while running to Hinata, ‘please be ok.’ He dug in his pocket, searching for some explosion tags. He found ten of them and planted them on branches and trees while running as fast as he could.

He reached the place where Hinata was. To his surprise she was fighting with the two Cloud ninja. It made him lose his guard. He didn’t hear the explosions not far behind him.

‘Hinata, you really are amazing,’ he thought smiling, while she used Juken and was able to block a lot of chakra points of her opponents.

Something behind the blond haired ninja made a noise. Naruto immediately turned his head, but it was too late. The Cloud ninja had already thrown a big shuriken and it hit in Naruto’s back. Blood was splashing around and Naruto fell on his hands and knees. With one hand he managed to pull the shurikun out his back and threw it away.

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Hinata ducked just in time. A big shuriken was flying over her head and hit a tree further away. She and the two Cloud ninja she was fighting stared in the direction it came from. The Cloud ninja Naruto was fighting flew threw the air and landed between Hinata and her opponents. Naruto slowly walked up to him, having difficulty with breathing. The two Cloud ninja Hinata had been fighting picked their team-mate up and jumped a few meters away from Naruto and Hinata.

“Hinata, are you alright?” Naruto asked, with a painful expression on his face. “I’m fine, but you’re bleeding. We have to get out here, quick,” Hinata said without stuttering, to her surprise. Naruto nodded.

They were about to flee, when a big smoke bomb made it unable to look around. Naruto heard something else landing on the ground and soon after that he smelled an awful gas. Poison gas, he thought and held his breath instantly.

Hinata coughed, she inhaled the poison gas. ‘Bya-Byakugan,’ she thought. She saw a bunch of kunai make their way to her and Naruto. She jumped in front of the ninja she loves and started Kaiten. Not only she did block the kunai, but she also made the smoke and poison gas disappear.

Breathing hard she stopped and fell backwards. Naruto caught her. She looked up, blushing, and coughed again. “Don’t move, you inhaled the poison.” Hinata nodded as Naruto laid her on the ground and made a Kage Bunshin again. One of the two Naruto dashed to the three Cloud ninja while the other kept an eye on Hinata.

Hinata closed her eyes and heard one of Cloud ninja shouting, “Aim for the one with the girl, that’s the real one!” ‘No,’ Hinata thought, ‘The real Naruto is fighting you.’ She didn’t know why she was so sure about it, but felt it.

Naruto ditched some kunai and kicked one of the ninja in the face. It didn’t matter which one, all that mattered was that he had to kill those bastards.

‘What is this feeling?’

Naruto punched the girl ninja to the ground.

He never felt it before.

He kicked another cloud ninja that hit the tree and then fell to the ground.

It was stronger than that time when he fought Gaara. When he had to protect Sakura and Sasuke.

The last one was running to Hinata and his shadow clone. Though Naruto was faster and used Rasengan he made without using Kage Bunshin. He smashed it in the Cloud ninja’s stomach.

What was it? Why did he go so far?

It was then he realized chakra was sweeping around him. First he thought it was the Kyubi’s, but the chakra was blue, instead of red. It was his own chakra.

“Maybe I was wrong kiddo. You’re stronger than I thought.”

‘Heh, I’m quite surprised myself, Naruto admitted.’

“Now I’m glad I was sealed in you.”

‘What do you mean?’

“Being sealed in a weak brat that can only win by using my chakra isn’t something to be proud of.”

Naruto grinned, he felt kind of proud that Kyubi admitted he was strong.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Amuse me some more and kill those bastards.”

‘With pleasure, but it’s not to amuse you Kyubi.’

The three cloud ninja came to him at once. ‘Time to use my Nature,’ Naruto thought.

He made two other Kage Bunshin and looked at the one with Hinata. “Hinata, stay still, I’m gonna end this now,” the real one said.

Hinata opened her eyes, while the Kage Bunshin that was keeping an eye on her stood up. “Be careful, Naruto-kun.” “I will.” The four Naruto stepped a few inches away from Hinata. Two of them helped him preparing his attack, while the other one got a hold of the three Cloud ninja. When it was over the two Kage Bunshin helped the other one.

They kicked the three cloud ninja together, while the real Naruto ran up to them.

“Fuuton: Rasengan! (Wind Release: Spiralling Sphere!)”

Naruto hit the three ninja in one shot. Some blood of one of the ninja landed in his clothes, while he pushed the wind Rasengan further in their bodies, killing them without hesitation.

The three Cloud ninja fell on the ground and together with that the shadow doppelgangers disappeared.

Naruto didn’t give those ninja any more attention and turned his head to Hinata. “Hinata,” Naruto yelled and fell on his knees beside her. Carefully he picked her up. Then he started running, ignoring the fact his body almost reached his limit.

“Naruto, where are we going?” she was barely able to say. Now the fight was over, she was feeling the effects of the poison. “I’m bringing you home and get Sakura. Hinata was shocked for a moment. “Why-why not to the hospital?” “It’s too far away. The poison spreads out if you move, even when it’s the slightest move you make.” Hinata looked up to the one she loved so much.

‘He has matured,’ she thought while blushing a bit.

Naruto rushed to Hinata’s home and jumped into the garden. Hiashi was just walking in the garden as Naruto landed. “What the hell are you doing with my daughter!” he shouted. He didn’t look closer to notice Hinata was injured. Naruto ignored Hiashi and brought Hinata to her room, Hinata told him which way he had to go. Hiashi followed them. “Give me an answer, you damn Ky-!” “Shut up!” Naruto tried to control himself, but couldn’t help.

‘I’m not the Kyubi; he’s just sealed in me.’

He desperately hoped Hinata didn’t understand what her father was about to say. He doesn’t want her to know. Not yet at least. And he wants to tell her himself.

“Hinata, I thought you were gonna train,” Hiashi said angrily to his daughter. “She was training, until a Cloud ninja attacked her,” Naruto explain, trying to stay calm, “Good thing I woke up earlier than normal this morning, or else it would have been worse. Hinata don’t move too much, I’m going to get Sakura.” Saying that, he was off. Running towards the hospital. Leaving a stunned Hiashi.

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When he got at the hospital, he asked the nurses at the entrance where Sakura was, in his usual loudmouth way. “Naruto, be more quiet, you’re in a hospital,” Sakura said a little annoyed, while she walked to the desk. “Sakura, you have to come with me,” he demanded. Sakura got a pissed offf and turned around to face him. “You know, I…” she stopped when she saw him. He had blood on his face and his clothes were also covered in the liquid. “What did you do?” she asked a bit concerned. “I’ll explain on the way, now come.” Naruto got impatient. “Let me first heal you.” “NO, I’ll heal anyway; Hinata is the one who needs you!” First Sakura looked surprised and then she turned her face to the nurses to tell them that she would be back soon. After that she followed Naruto. He quickly explained what had happened.

They both ran to Hinata’s room when they got to the Hyuga resident. Hiashi was still standing there, looking both worried and serious at the same time. Sakura took a quick look at Hinata and then told Hiashi and Naruto to leave the room. They did as they were told.

Hiashi sat down on the veranda. Naruto was walking back and forth between the veranda and the pond.

“Naruto.”

Naruto stopped walking, looking astonished, he turned his head to Hiashi. This was the very first time the man called him something else than monster or Kyubi kid.

“Come over here.”

This shocked him even more, but he did as he was told. He was standing in front Hiashi, who stood up. The next moment the man hit Naruto on his head. Naruto fell down. While he rubbed his head he looked angrily at Hiashi. “What the hell did you do that for?!” Hiashi sat down calmly. “For not trusting your friend.” “What do you mean by that?” “Sakura can heal Hinata, so calm down and sit down.” Naruto eyes widened. He got up and sat down beside Hiashi, leaving one meter between them.

“Hinata told me what happened.”

Naruto looked at him from the corners of his eyes; he didn’t trust the man anymore.

“Thanks for saving my daughters life.”

Naruto fell almost from the veranda from astonishment. He looked at Hiashi, who was blushing a bit from embarrassment. “Dad.” A girl came around the corner. “When are we going to eat?” The girl looked at her father.

‘So that’s Hanabi, Hinata’s sister,’ Naruto thought.

The girl walked up to him and looked at his face, it made Naruto nervous. “What is it?” he asked. “I have to admit you’re kind of cute,” she said with a smile on her face. Naruto blushed a bit; nobody ever said that right in his face. “Where is Hinata, anyway?” she asked her father. “In her room with Sakura. Cloud wanted to kidnap her again. She inhaled some poison gas.” “So she was a failure again,” Hanabi sighed.

“No,” Naruto said, and you could hear he was suppressing his anger, “She actually saved my butt.” “She did?” Hanabi asked surprised. “Yeah, if it wasn’t for her Kaiten, I would have inhaled the poison gas and got bunch of kunai in my body.” Both Hiashi and Hanabi looked speechless. “Did-did you just say Kaiten?” Hiashi managed to say.

Naruto nodded, not understanding why they were so stunned.

Then the door of Hinata’s room opened and the three ninja looked at Sakura, who was standing in the doorway. “Hinata is fine now. Naruto, let me at least take at look at you.”
Naruto sighed, “Have it your way, if that makes you feel better.” Sakura healed the flesh wound in his back, while Hiashi and Hanabi went to Hinata.

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Hinata opened her eyes and was looking into her father’s face. She tried to get up, but her father stopped her. After that she saw his expression. He looked a bit surprised, worried and proud at the same time. It confused her. “I’ll make sure the maids will bring you a meal; take some rest.” With that he and Hanabi left the room. Hanabi after saying, “I now understand why you like that guy, but he is quite dense. Good luck with him.” She said it soft, because the door to the veranda was open.

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Naruto looked at his bandaged hand. “Thanks, Sakura.” Sakura smiled. “I have to go back to the hospital. Inform Tsunade-sama about the attack, alright?” Naruto nodded. While he stood up, Sakura set off to the hospital.

Naruto walked to Hinata. She looked tired. “Hinata, how do you feel now?” he asked, almost whispering. Hinata looked up to him.

On the one hand she felt alright, but on the other hand she could just burst into tears. It was all too much for her to handle, right now. The one she loved so much was almost killed because of her. Because she was weak and even the Cloud ninja knew that.

Some tears were rolling over her cheeks and Naruto sat down on her bed. She looked astounded and wasn’t able to move.

Naruto looked down at the purple eyed girl that saved his life. He couldn’t bear that she was crying. Slowly his hand went to her cheeks and he dried her tears. “Don’t cry, you were amazing.” “No I wasn’t,” Hinata wept. She sat right up and looked at the sheets. “Because of me you were in trouble. If I had just stayed home, none of this would have happened.” “Hinata, you couldn’t know,” Naruto tried to comfort her, but it didn’t really help. “I-I-I was only a burden.”

Hinata started to cry even more, still looking at the sheets. “No you weren’t. You saved my life with your Kaiten. If it weren’t for you, I would have been in the hospital.” Hinata looked up at the blond haired ninja. He had a light blush on his face and looked back. Then she buried her face in his chest for the second time that day.

Naruto was so surprised, he couldn’t move at all. Minutes later his shirt was getting wet from the tears of Hinata, but he didn’t care. He had wrapped his arms around her and waited until she stopped crying.

She was slowly drifting to sleep and Naruto laid her head back on the pillow. He looked down to her for a while.

“She’s cute when she’s asleep,” he whispered into the silent.

“Hahaha, o kiddo, you’re funny!”

‘What is it this time Fox? Can’t you leave me alone for once!’

“Admit it, you like the girl.”

‘She’s a friend, ok?!’

“No, she more to you than just a friend. You don’t realize it do you?“

‘O, shut up!’

Both Naruto and the Kyubi closed their mouths, when Hinata started to murmur something.

“Naruto-kun, I love you.”