Chapter 39-Finale

-Hinata's POV-

I was stirred from my sleep by Sai in the middle of the night. It was my turn to keep watch while the others slept. With a nod as I rubbed my eyes and untangled my limbs from in between Naruto and Ino, I climbed out of the tent and let him take my place so he could rest.

We're somewhere around the halfway point in between Konoha and Oto, camping in the forest rather than by the road where we might be more vulnerable. Our vans had run out of fuel and since we were using a backroad rather than the main freeway, there weren't any abandoned cars for us to use. So, we set up camp for the night and would be setting out on foot in the morning until we could find new vehicles.

I thought it was cold inside the tent, but the icy air stung my cheeks as I took a seat a yard or so away from it. It was lightly snowing and I covered my mouth with a big yawn before wrapping my arms around my torso and surveying the area.

Staying at that house for over a week had spoiled us. Having to adjust to being on alert at all times, even in the middle of the night, wasn't easy.

Despite being utterly exhausted, a serene feeling came over me as I looked out at the softly falling snowflakes. For the first time in months, I thought about my mother's favorite saying: "When the war is over, a butterfly will still be beautiful.". Perhaps this is what she meant.

The world was in chaos at present and everyone I knew was either missing, dead, or fighting to survive. Still, as I looked around, I couldn't help but smile at my calm setting. From here, you couldn't even tell all the craziness was going on in the cities. It'd be easy to forget about it and be distracted by nature.

I thought about my sister and my tranquility faded. If she wasn't at this house Matsuri had given us the coordinates to, I had no idea where to look next. There was my house, obviously, but Madara would never be dumb enough to hide from the authorities in his own home. The police weren't searching for him now, though, so it was worth a try just in case.

Then I thought about how our group has been split in three. Since they'd left us a message, I had to trust that Sasuke and Sakura were alive and on their way to our meeting place in Konoha: the college.

Kiba and the others, though, none of us had a clue what happened to them. They could've been captured or even killed. I prayed that neither of those were the case and that they'd simply run into some trouble, overcome it, and had returned to the house to receive our message so they could join us in Konoha.

Someone was snoring softly inside the tent and I had a hunch it was either Naruto or Konohamaru. My heart warmed at the thought of the blonde man.

After taking the next step the other day, things have been comfortable and smooth sailing between us. I was, naturally, overcome with embarrassment the morning after when I woke up naked in his arms and realized there was even some blood on the sheets from what we'd done. He handled everything with ease when he woke up and his casual demeanor helped me get a grip on my anxiety.

I wanted to spend time thinking about his proposal of remaining together once this was all over, if it does ever end, and getting a place together, but couldn't bring myself to focus on it when so many of our friends and my sister were in danger. Without question, I knew he'd understand so I tried not to worry about it too much.

A couple hours passed and I headed back into the tent, waking Ino so she could switch me places. The blond girl grumbled under her breath as she got up, making a few of the others stir, and I fell into her spot in between Shikamaru and Sai. I was too exhausted to try and move anyone over so I could sleep by Naruto and fell asleep immediately anyway.

Come morning, everyone gathered their things, freshened up as much as possible with what supplies we had, and then we were on the road.

"So, Konohamaru, did you know of Hinata before now?"

I looked over at Naruto with a warm face and he grinned. We'd been walking for a few hours now, mostly in silence since everyone was still tired.

The younger boy made a comical thinking noise before responding, "Well, everyone kinda knows the Hyuga family in Konoha, but I'd heard of her because she was in the top five percent of her class. They post lists of those each semester at the school we went to."

My eyes met his and I offered a small smile when he seemed to get a bit bashful. "Hanabi also talked about her, so a lot of people in my class knew who she was."

My smile faltered, "She complained about me, didn't she?" That was typical Hanabi behavior, to tell her friends how boring and uncool I was.

"No, not really. I think she really looks up to you."

Blush rose to my face and my smile returned as my gaze drifted to the snowy ground.

"Aw, Hinata's happy!" Ino squealed as she wrapped an arm around my waist to give me a small squeeze.

It became quiet again for a bit before Naruto chimed in once more, "So you're super smart, then, Hina? I wish I had a girlfriend like you when I was in school so you could tutor me!"

Ino teased us before I could reply, "Now, you're her tutor." I looked at her in confusion and she made a foul gesture with her fingers meant to demonstrate sex. My body erupted with a blazing heat and I covered my face with my hands, making a few of the others laugh.

We traveled on foot for the rest of the day and ended up camping again, but luckily came upon an SUV early in the morning. The issue was that there was only one and there were nine of us. If we squeezed, we could fit seven people, but I couldn't fathom leaving anyone behind so I offered to continue walking.

Naruto, as I expected, stated he was going to go wherever I went, but then Ino refused to leave without us and Sai refused to leave without her. So, after verifying everyone understood where to meet up, the other five took the vehicle and the rest of us continued on foot.

It was silent for a long time after that and the longer we traveled, the more anxious Ino seemed to get. Finally, she burst into tears and covered her face with her hands, making the rest of us stop to make sure she was alright.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so worried about Sakura. She's been off ever since we left the asylum, you guys had to have noticed." Everyone agreed wordlessly.

Sai spoke softly in a concerned voice, "She has all those scars, too. What did they do to her?"

I gave him a confused look and Ino wiped at her eyes before nodding, "We played strip poker. It looks like she was shot like thirty times or something."

My lips fell into a frown, "S-She didn't talk to anyone about it?"

The two looked at one another before Ino said, "I think Sasuke was trying to help her deal with it, but neither of them told us anything."

Naruto spoke then, "He was right across the hall from her at the asylum, remember? He had to have at least heard something."

Guilt came over me. I was the only one who hadn't been present for all this. It was selfish of me to think about myself at a time like this, though, so I had to push those feelings aside. We all began walking again.

"I think you're right. I've never seen her get so close to a guy before. Something happened between them at the asylum, that has to be true."

We had to camp another night in the forest before finally coming upon a car the next day and driving the rest of the way into Konoha. It was just as much of a ghost town as Oto was, making my heart ache. It wasn't easy seeing your home reduced to a shell. We ran out of fuel a few blocks from the college and decided to just walk the rest of the way rather than take the time to hotwire a car. As we walked through the parking lot of the school,

Naruto suddenly grabbed my hand and froze, making the other two stop to look at us. "Something doesn't feel right…I think we should scope the place first." He looked at me and I nodded, understanding.

We all knelt behind a big car and I activated my byakugan before turning to look over the building. He was right. There were a few people inside and it wasn't our friends. My brow furrowed as I tried to make out their silhouettes.

"I'm gonna get a bit closer. Wait here."

They watched me as I snuck up to the car closest to the entrance, whispering words of caution to me as I went. There were three people up on the third floor, where my father's lab was located before his death. Once I got closer, I recognized the wild long hair of the tallest one and broke out into a sprint toward the entrance.

"Hinata! Wait!" I ignored them completely.

That was Madara in there, I was sure of it.

My feet hit the ground quickly as I sprinted up the stairwell once inside, only slowing once I arrived on the third floor. I could see that a person was coming toward the door of the stairwell, not Madara, and primed myself to incapacitate them. Once it opened, however, I froze when my eyes locked with a very pregnant Masumi's.

A startled scream slid from her lips and I took off up the next flight of stairs in a panic, my byakugan deactivating in shock. My footsteps staggered for a few moments as I fought the huge wave of exhaustion it caused.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't hurt her, even after all she's done to me, especially since she had to be due any day to give birth.

As soon as I came through the door exiting the stairwell on the fourth floor, my arms were pinned behind my back and I was shoved roughly against the wall. "Long time no see, Hinata." My eyes squeezed closed as dread sank in my veins.

It was him and he'd gotten the jump on me.

I fought against his hold, feeling his hot breath against the back of my ear, "Where's my sister? Where's Hanabi!" My limbs trembled at the familiar sensation of his large hands against my skin as his grip tightened on my wrists. He still terrified me, even after all I've been through.

"I tell you what, if you quit fighting then I'll take you to her right now."

I growled, "And if I don't?"

He leaned in so closely that I felt like if he got any closer his lips would touch my ear, "Then I'll bring her to you." The way he said it insinuated he'd bring her dead body.

I forced myself to stop resisting and he chuckled as he pulled me off the wall and led me back downstairs. Masumi appeared at his side once we made it to the third floor and handed him some rope to tie my hands with, which he immediately did.

I gave her a teary-eyed glare, anger boiling in my veins as she continued to do Madara's bidding even after all he's done, "You're a filthy excuse for a mother, you know that?" She averted her gaze from mine and I was shoved forward once my wrists were bound.

Now that I went and lost control of my emotions and gotten myself captured, I wondered where my friends were. They undoubtedly tried to follow me inside. I wondered if they were waiting for the right time to strike or if they were waiting for everyone else to arrive first and hoping I'd be able to hold on long enough.

If there were more people around, I'd want them to leave me alone rather than risk getting hurt, but I hadn't seen a single other person other than these two and Hanabi's outline when I used my byakugan outside. So long as there were no hidden surprises, they'd easily overpower Madara and a severely pregnant woman.

If he hadn't gotten the jump on me and I hadn't hesitated when I came face to face with Masumi, I might've been able to do it myself. I cursed myself for not thinking straight before running in here like a moron.

"What are you even doing here, Madara? What are you planning?"

"Now, now, Hinata. I don't like the tone you're taking with me. Address me properly or I'll be forced to blindfold you."

My skin prickled at the chilling thought and my mouth clamped shut. He chuckled again when I didn't respond. He opened the door to my father's old office before tossing me to the floor inside. Without my arms free, I couldn't catch myself and landed on my side roughly.

"Why have you brought this woman here?"

My eyes widened at the familiar voice and I struggled upright to turn and see Hanabi bound to the desk chair. With bile rising in my throat, I realized it wasn't really Hanabi sitting there. If I took a look at the back of her neck, I'd undoubtedly see black veins spreading under her skin.

Tears fell down my face as I tried to get to my feet so I could attack Madara, who easily kicked me back onto the ground. I yelled at him angrily from the floor, "How could you!"

He stepped into the room, Masumi standing behind him with an unhappy expression, "I wanted to study our new friends up close and personal and it didn't feel right using a pregnant woman, so who else but our little Hanabi?"

My glare fell onto my sister's mother and I wanted to spit in her direction, "You let him do this? To your daughter? I get that you've always hated me, but Hanabi…?" Her gaze hardened and she looked away before turning and leaving the room.

"I don't care how scared you are of him, this is disgusting!" I yelled after her, but she didn't turn back.

"Do you have a personal relationship with this human?" My little sister's voice met my ears once more and I turned to look at her.

"That human is my sister and I suggest you get out of her before I forcefully remove you."

Madara laughed loudly, crossing his arms and leaning his back against the wall by the door, "You've certainly changed, Hinata." He walked around the room to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders as she stared at me with a blank expression, "I think I'll have you inhabited as well, just to see if there's any difference."

Footsteps suddenly came from behind me and his grin faded as he pulled out a knife and placed it at her throat. I struggled to my feet, "N-No! Stop!"

It was my friends behind me. Naruto's voice was terrifying, "Let her go or we'll kill you."

"Come any closer and I'll kill her. Hinata will never forgive you." I sensed the blonde man hesitate and felt defeated. The others wouldn't act without his lead because he'd be the person best suited to make a judgment call in this situation.

"Besides, if you kill me, I won't be able to tell you all that I've found out about our new friends, like why they're here and how to get rid of them."

I took a step closer and he brought the knife more firmly against my sister's neck, making me freeze, "Please, Madara, just let her go. I'll take her place. Just let her go!"

"You're going to exit this room and let me leave, all of you, or I'll paint this floor with her blood."

We had no choice but to back out through the door so he could untie Hanabi's arms from the chair, pull her to her feet, and hold her in front of him as he followed. I couldn't stop the tears falling down my cheeks as I stared at her expressionless face. Other than trying to free her own arms, she wasn't reacting to anything happening around her.

"Now, Hinata, you're going to come over here and join me and the rest of you are going to leave." I looked over to meet Naruto's gaze and he gave me a desperate look, silently begging me not to do it. My chin quivered and I tried to make him understand how sorry I was without saying it before turning to walk forward.

When I said that I'd die for my sister, I hadn't been lying.

Madara grinned as he realized I was obeying, but it faded when his eyes moved slightly behind me and I realized Naruto was trying to stop me. The Uchiha doctor's grip on the knife tightened and he moved it to the furthest side of Hanabi's neck as though he was about to slice it from one side to the other.

I screamed, "No!" as I rushed toward him. At the same time, a gunshot rang so loudly that it echoed throughout the hall.

A strangled sound left my mouth when Madara's eyes glazed over and his mouth fell slack, then he fell lifelessly to the ground. Behind him stood Masumi, a revolver held with both of her hands still aimed where his head had been.

Hanabi was taken down to the floor by Madara's weight and I couldn't tell if she was injured or not. I cried frantically, "Cut me loose! Cut me loose, hurry!" Someone, I don't know who, sliced the rope around my wrists and I rushed to her side, shoving the corpse off from on top of her and rolling her onto her back.

She stared up at me with the same expressionless face and a sob came from my chest as I rested my forehead against hers. She was alive. She was inhabited, but she was alive.

Masumi suddenly fell to her knees and let out a painful sounding cry, making me jolt in shock. When I looked up, Ino and Temari were rushing to her side. Blood was soaking through the pregnant woman's pants. She was in labor. I wanted to say I didn't care, but I knew it was wrong to hate a baby just for who its parents are.

Naruto knelt down on Hanabi's other side and I met his eyes with a look of betrayal, "Why did you do that! If Masumi wasn't there, he would've killed her!"

Emotional blue eyes stared back and he shook his head, "I couldn't stand there and watch you give up. You would've died, too!"

My chest ached. He knew how much saving my sister meant to me and he still risked her life. I couldn't bring myself to overlook it, but also didn't have time to focus on how much he hurt me by disregarding my wants.

"The baby's stuck, we need help over here!" Ino yelled in a shaky voice.

I met Naruto's eyes again, "Don't do anything to her." He looked hurt by how firmly I was speaking to him, but I couldn't sit there and talk to him about our feelings.

Trusting him enough to at least keep an eye on Hanabi, I hurried over to help the other girls with Masumi, who was screaming in pain. Tenten joined us soon after. The pregnant woman grabbed onto my hand as soon as I was within reach and I glared down at her, but didn't pull away.

"I don't care what happens to me. Please just save the baby!"

I looked over at Ino, who was in between the woman's legs, and she met my eye with a serious expression. She didn't need to say anything for me to understand that it was either Masumi or the baby. I nodded before looking back down to meet the woman's eyes. This was the only time I would do something for her and it wasn't for her sake.

"T-Thank you, Hinata!"

Her grip on my hand tightened to the point that it hurt when Ino began the process of cutting the baby out and her screams were deafening. Tears fell down my face and I wanted to look away from her face, but couldn't bring myself to do it. Her strength grew weaker rapidly over the next few minutes, when suddenly the sound of the baby's cries filled the air.

Masumi was crying as she weakly smiled, "Thank you…Tell Hanabi I love her and I'm sorry, okay?" I nodded, not able to speak with the awful mixture of emotions overwhelming me. Another moment or two passed and then she was dead.

The other girls were crying, even Temari, and I released the dead woman's hand to see Ino cradling a tiny baby in her arms, blood all over her as she sobbed and motioned for the other girls to find something to swaddle it with.

"Hinata what do we do?" I turned to see Shikamaru and Neji standing there with solemn expressions.

My eyes danced between Masumi and Madara's corpses, the crying newborn in Ino's arms, and Naruto and Sai keeping a hold on my sister before shaking my head, "I-I don't know…"