CHAPTER 123 DECISIONS

CHAPTER 123 DECISIONS

We got back to Konoha a day early after running all night. Of course we arrived with the dawn. When the Hokage was awake. So Kakashi had us running and reporting to her.

We walked her through what happened and what Sasori told us about meeting a spy in Orochimaru’s camp.

“What would you like to do?” Tsunade asked. She had bags under her eyes but was alert. Steepling her hands together as she stared at us.

“We want to go after him!” Naruto said. “Sasuke is still Team 7...no offense Weston.”

“None taken. I still consider myself Team 8,” I said.

“Kakashi?” Tsunade asked.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Kakashi admitted. Back in the manga he was more beat up after the fight with Akatsuki. He was doing fairly well despite exhausting himself.

“Kakashi!” Naruto yelled.

“Naruto, Sasuke made the choice to leave,” Kakashi said. “No matter how much we want him back. Orochimaru could have changed him. I doubt he is the same person that left.”

“But-“ Naruto said but Sakura cut him off.

“Hokage, please, give us one more chance to try.” Sakura had tears in her eyes as she asked.

Tsunade looked to the 3 of them. Then me. “Weston, thoughts?”

“Me uh, I’m hesitant,” I admitted. I raised my hand shushing Naruto before he could yell at me. “Sasuke has a cursed seal from Orochimaru. Not only does the seal make him stronger. It also holds a piece of Orochimaru in it. I believe Sasuke could kill Orochimaru, but until the seal is gone. The snake man could pop up again.” I really just wanted them to replace me so I could have fun with the girls. This was a pointless arc.

“Actually, we have a way to destroy the cursed seal,” Tsunade said.

“What?” I asked, surprised. I didn’t remember that.

“Last year. One of Orochimaru’s subordinates came here...looking for you,” Tsunade said. “She had one of the seals. We were able to study it and learn how to neutralize it.”

“Oh shit...what was her name....Sayuyi?”

“Tayuya,” Tsunade corrected.

“Right. She made it? Great.” I remembered the red haired Orochimaru lackey. She had run off when I confronted her after she helped kidnap Sasuke. “I mean, that changes things as far as helping Sasuke. But I doubt he will want our help. He still hasn’t gotten his revenge. And I don’t know if we want him to stop.”

From what I remembered about Itachi Uchiha, he cared about Konoha and his brother. He killed the other Uchihas under orders from Danzo to help keep the village safe. Under the condition that Danzo didn’t touch Sasuke. Itachi then joined Akatsuki to keep an eye on them to protect Konoha.

Itachi knew who the real leader of Akatsuki was. But he really wanted to die at the hands of his brother. Allowing his brother to reach the next stage in the sharingan, and take Itachi’s eyes for his own. Then Sasuke would potentially go back to Konoha once his revenge was complete. At least that’s how I remembered it.

Sasuke would instead go after Konoha in revenge for his brother. He wanted to kill Danzo for using his brother. And also the village for some stupid reason. I couldn’t remember his messed up logic.

“Sasuke is after Itachi. Itachi is part of Akatsuki. The very people we want dead. I’m not sure we should get in his way.”

“But it’s his brother!” Naruto said. “No one should have to kill his brother.”

“And yet Itachi did,” I said. “He killed his parents, cousins, and friends. Everyone that Sasuke loved.” I considered telling them why he did it, but it was honestly too much information.

“I assume so. But I’ve been gone for a few years. I just got back again. Come on. We can go get food and you can catch me up on what you’ve been up to.” I grabbed her hand and dragged her away. She blushed and stammered as we moved through the crowd.

—-

“So you went to the land of turtles?” Hinata laughed.

“Sea turtles,” I corrected again. We were walking through the streets after our impromptu date. “They hated pretty much all the land animals and most of the other talking animals from the ocean too. But they taught me some cool stuff.”

“Sounds like you had an interesting time,” Hinata said.

“Yeah. Now that I’m back I keep getting sent on missions. And you guys kicked me out of the team so I had to find a new one,” I said sadly.

“We didn’t kick you out,” Hinata whined. “The Hokage made us get someone.”

“She said you guys requested someone else,” I said.

“Wh-oh. You’re lying,” she said. Her shocked look quickly changed to annoyance.

“Woah. Look at you. Learning my tricks,” I said. “And see. Just like the old days. I walked you home.” Hinata turned to see we were in front of the Hyuga household. She blushed looking down. I thought she might have even been a little sad.

“So are we still engaged?” I asked.

“As far as I know,” she whispered.

“You haven’t ended it?”

“I haven’t. You?”

“I can end it?” I asked, surprised. “They just told me we were engaged.”

“I-I- you don’t have to if-“

“Hinata, I’m shitting with you,” I said. “But I have no idea where we go from here. There is a lot that’s going to be happening soon. War. Fighting. I’d honestly prefer to not have any regrets.”

“What do you-“ she stopped as I stepped closer. I was done hesitating. I bent down, kissing her on the lips. She froze up of course. Unable to process what was happening at first.

But I was patient. And as my lips pursed for another she joined me. Kissing me back. My hands moved to her sides. Pulling her closer she moaned in my mouth as her lips opened. My tongue sliding in she had no idea what was happening, but let it.

Chakra on my hands I wasn’t shy to use it as they moved to her back, drawing her in closer. Eventually she purposely touched her tongue to mine, causing her whole body to shiver.

I pulled away slowly. She opened her eyes slowly, lost for a moment in the kiss. “How was our date?” I asked.

“Date?” She whispered.

“Of course. We had dinner. A walk. And we kissed. It’s now officially a date,” I said. I pecked her on the lips to emphasize it.

“It was...good,” she whispered. Still in a daze.

“Good,” I said. “I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. We can do this again then I hope.” But instead of walking away I pulled her back to me. She opened her mouth more willingly as I kissed her deeply. Moaning as my hands grazed her rump. This kiss was longer. She reciprocated by grabbing my sides.

Abruptly I stopped. Standing her upright I wanted more, but my father had warned not to try anything. “Goodbye Hinata. I’ll see you again soon.” I left her there, wanting more.