Chapter 16: End
"Naruto, we'll find her. Please calm down…" Sakura begged.
But the blonde haired ninja kept pacing, chakra oozing from his skin.
"Look, she's gotta be this way." Ino stated, leading the group down the hallway and stopped at a bolted door.
"She's in there…Hinata…and Arlena." Tenten said.
Ino and Sakura only nodded. Naruto cracked his knuckled.
"Then let's break it down!"
* * *
"It's almost complete! Just have to place Hinata's in and…"
"Arlena!"
The woman smirked and turned to face the group before her.
"Ah welcome….But you're too late!"
Arlena laughed as hundreds of spiders descended, Hinata on the largest.
"Hinata…protect me!"
"Yes mistress!" The small framed girl replied and launched herself at Naruto.
"Get her and we'll deal with the creatures!" Sakura yelled to Naruto.
And the war began.
Arlena smirked. "You must do better than that my little genins!"
Naruto snarled at her, dodging Hinata by mere inches.
"Hinata, snap out of it!"
The young woman only threw a kunai at him.
"Fifty-four palm!"
Naruto grabbed her hands and held them behind her.
"Wake up Hinata! Break her con…"
Naruto stepped back, away from her as she jumped up to meet Arlena.
"Thank you my dear."
The fighting stopped all gazes upon her.
"The destruction of the world is mine to command!" Arlena exclaimed, placing the four gemmed necklace around Hinata's neck.
"Kill them all!"
But Hinata only stood still and turned to the woman.
"Who are you to command me mortal?" A voice much more velvet-like spoke.
Arlena paled. "N-no…I control her! She's mine!"
"No longer shall you mess with this child…"
Hinata looked up at her, eyes brightly shining different color. The gems about her neck shined so bright that Arlena stepped to far back and fell from the giant spider, fading from the light. The spiders began to burn in purple flames, fading into the darkness. Hinata landed softly, the group running over to her.
"It's not Hinata…" Naruto said softly.
Sakura's eyes widened as did everyone else's.
"It's Selene!"
Hinata nodded. "My mistress knows what she must do…ride the world of these gems…"
Naruto turned away, eye's bleeding gold.
Hinata only turned and walked forward, Sakura, Ino, and Tenten behind her.
"All together…focus…"
The four girls connected hands and did so. A light burst from them and everything went black.
* * *
"He'll wake up soon, so just let him rest."
He was pretty sure that was Sakura….
"Stupid dobe…shouldn't have moved and he still wouldn't be out…"
"Sasuke, be nice…"
…..Yep…that was Sakura…
Naruto's eyes fluttered open and he was enveloped in a tight hug. He looked down to see Hinata holding tight to him. She looked up with a smile.
"Good morning."
Naruto held her tight to him, breathing in her scent. A pain in his torso caused him to lean away to find himself tightly wrapped in bandages.
"…what the…"
Sakura smiled. "You've been out for three days. You wound was infected with poison and you kept bleeding out…"
Naruto sighed and leaned back.
"What about Arlena?"
"Dead…her body was turned to stone and shattered when the cave collapsed." Shikamaru stated.
Naruto nodded. "…and the gems?"
The four girls held out their hands to show a gem-based burn mark disappear.
"Destroyed thanks to Hinata and Selene." Ino said.
"I see you're awake…"
The group turned to see Lady Tsunade enter with a smile.
"I'm sorry for your loss milady." Sakura said.
Tsunade waved her off. "Don't be…Arlena knew that consequences."
Tsunade sat down into a nearby chair.
"What now Granny?" Naruto asked.
"You're to heal…then we'll deal with your next assignment." Tsunade sighed. "For now, everyone can return to your teams but I want you all on rest until you're all completely healthy."
The group nodded and Tsunade stood.
"Now if you'll excuse me…I have business to attend to…"
She left, leaving the group in silence.
"I guess this was the end of our fun…" Ino said sadly.
Sakura smiled. "Nah…" She looked outside, taking Sasuke's hand with hers.
"This is only the beginning…"
THE END