Chapter 53 – The Next Plan II
“So if we’re going to close the trap on Orochimaru what is the plan?” Tsunade asks.
“We lay low until the finals of the Chunin Exams. Orochimaru will show up disguised as the fourth Kazekage, which he’ll have killed by then. He plans to unleash the one-tail on the village as he fights Hiruzen and disables most of the venue attendants with sleep gas.”
“So I decline the third’s offer for now, or lie low on the village and hope he doesn’t know my whereabouts, and we show up ready for the final fights, prevent everyone from getting caught in the sleep gas, fight off Orochimaru and deal with an unleashed Bijuu.”
“Yes, The last one had some help from Jiraiya’s soon-to-be disciple Naruto summoning Gamabunta and holding off the Ichibi until he managed to help its Jinchuriki regain control of it.”
“Naruto? How did he get to do something so heroic?” Ino asks.
“Get used to it, most of the visions centered around Naruto either persuading enemies to stop or barely managing a victory…”
“I don’t like it…” Sakura says.
“Yeah… it only gets worse, one part in several years has all of Konoha flattened and he somehow convinced the enemy to revive everyone killed in the incident”
Including Hinata and Tsunade…
Ino and the rest seem a bit shocked at my words…
“Take it easy, are you trying to get me to doubt your visions Yami?” Tsunade says.
“I’m just calling it how it is, for now, know this, the main enemy is Akatsuki even if they have yet to reveal their true colors. And behind its current leader, there are like 3 others weaving their own plans..."
“I’ll never forgive them…” Anko says.
I soothe Hinata with a small kiss on her cheek.
“This is a whole lot to take in at once…” Shizune says.
“Tell me about it” Anko comments as she lazily spreads her arms and gets up.“So what do we do for now?”
“We go back, and train as much as we can.” I suggest
“I have an idea then.” Tsunade says before continuing.“Since I have a few months without showing up, I’m going to take away Sakura and Hinata as my apprentices until then.I would love to take you as well Ino, but you need to go back to yourTeam.”
“Yeah… I know, I need to be with them and at least make sure we all enlist for the Chunin exams as a team and make it to the finals.” Ino face saddens a bit at the opportunity she's missing out on.
“I’ll take you as my disciple as well after the exams Ino. As for Yami… Anko, you know what to do right?”
“I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.” Anko smiles
“Wait! But I want to stay with Yami.” Sakura says
“Now now, Sakura, Tsunade is one of the strongest ninjas alive and a great teacher. I’ll tell you already that in my vision Tsunade made you into her legacy disciple and though you most of her combat techniques.”
“Really now?” Tsunade looks at Sakura with narrowed eyes, like trying to judge the quality of a racing horse.
“Yes, and we all need to do our best Sakura, to make sure we are ready.“Now what exactly is it I will be doing Anko?”
“Surprise” Anko says as she pulls out her tongue.I slap Anko’s buttcheek as she gets up and finally starts getting dressed.“That’s enough for today. Anything else, we should keep our talks completely secret using Yami or Ino’s telepathy techniques while in town."
“I’ve yet to learn that one from my clan. I’ll make it a priority” Ino says.
“If you can I’d be helpful in the future Ino."I'll be going over the vision in more detail as we head back to Konoha.”
“Yes, yes. Enough talking for today. Tomorrow let’s head to Konoha, we can travel for most of the journey together before saying goodbye to Tsunade Sakura and Hinata… ohh and Shizune too.”
Tsunade bites her lip.
“Fine… see you tomorrow.”
Tsunade and Shizune leave the room taking their pet along, followed by Ino right after.
Anko gets up and pulls on Sakura to leave as well
“But I-”
“Read the room Sakura…”
She looks back at me and notices Hinata standing beside me, unwilling to let go.
Anko whispers something in Sakura’s ear before she finally agrees to head out without a fuss. Knowing Anko, it’s going to be nothing good as always…
“Back to sharing the other room bed again…” Sakura comments before leaving.
With Sakura and Anko leaving the room and closing the door behind them I’m left alone with Hinata.
I can feel from her hormones just how emotionally charged she is. All this time she was worried and even now her shyness kept her repressed while we were in a group and distracted.
With our serious talk this afternoon and being told of the dangers that lie in the future she’s barely holding herself together and she hasn't gotten the time to wind down after learning I am finally safe this morning.
“It’s okay Hinata.”
“Yami~~”
“I’m alive, for good this time.”
As I hold her head in my arms, Hinata finally breaks into a wail. She sobs, cries and wails as she releases all the pent-up emotion that has been clogging her mind for the past weeks.
After 20 minutes and several failed attempts at stopping her stream of tears, Hinata's feelings are finally fully unleashed.
“I’m sorry Yami. For being such a weak girl.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for weakness Hinata. It is not a weakness to show emotions and a person should never feel bad for remaining weak after giving their all.”
“Hmmm, I love you Yami, please, don’t ever leave us.”
“I won’t Hinata.”
I raise Hinata’s head as we share the first kiss of many for the night.
“Yami, I want to-”
“I know Hinata, I’ve missed it as well…”