Chapter 15

Permanent Sunset: The Woods

Please don't cry anymore…please…

He loves me…truly…

The second eve had come. The young ninjas were just hours away from their departure to Konoha and hope was hanging by a thread. They were so few and without Kiba, Akamaru, and Naruto on the frontlines with the other strong shinobi, their doubts grew thicker.

Ino had been keeping herself company with her new baby; he had been finding some difficulty eating. Ino worried for her son and tried to smile through the bitter thoughts. He was a premature infant, and unfortunately being so carried many problems such as poor lung development and problems attaching to the breast. Kiba tried to help the infant latch onto her many times. Majority of the time he was successful and Ino couldn't help but comment how good of a father he could be…or was. She still wondered how their relationship would remain in tact should Kakashi; the baby's biological father, come out of his "clouded" state. Would there be a fight? What happens if Kakashi claims paternity rights and not let Ino stay with Kiba out of responsibility and duty to the biological father? Kakashi wouldn't force her to marry him…would he?

Kiba knocked Ino out of her little trance.

"Did you pack an extra warm fur?"

"Oh…of course… I took the thickest one we had. Kiba don't worry so much, I'm sure we'll be warm enough in hiding."

"I guess…"

"Don't forget, you're going to be the one carrying this stuff. I got my hands full with the baby." Ino chuckled.

The baby cooed nearby from the table which Ino had placed him. His tiny fingers balled up and curled under his face. He managed to push his fur covers down below his belly. Ino quickly returned the fur to rest under his chin and she laid a kiss on his forehead, calming him.

"Mommy's here."

Kiba smiled. She easily took to her maternity role, caring for her son… and his future step-son.

"Anyways…I'm gonna head down the hall to see if Naruto was able to get Hinata out of that corner chamber. She hasn't moved since our meeting the other night."

"Before you go Kiba, can you bring me another set of cloths to replace my current ones? I'm still bleeding from the birth and I don't think my makeshift shorts can contain soaked ones any longer."

"Well then I'll be sure to take extras with us…you'll be lucky not to bleed longer than six weeks…"

"That long?!"

"Yup."

Ino sighed. "Guys have it so easy…"

Kiba laughed. "That's the way it is."

"And I hate you for it," she smiled.

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"That a girl… let's get you ready to leave this place. We're going to be returning home."

Her eyes widened with fear and she desperately shook her head as if begging not to go back to the torture chambers.

"Easy Hinata, I'm gonna be there with you and that's a promise." Naruto said. "You'll be riding my back on the way there and I'm not going to leave your side, at all. Just let me wrap you into something warm. Shikamaru will be coming for us soon to depart." He stroked her cheek as his other hand tugged an extra fur around her. Then he had done something he never expected from himself…he kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger on the cool skin.

She didn't flinch or push him away. Instead her eyes had softened; half closing her lids. Her own lips had parted, letting out a tiny gasp.

Naruto then pulled her into a gentle embrace, furs and all. Her chin rested on his shoulder and she could feel his chest rising and falling with each breath. He was so warm…she felt happy in his presence.

"Hinata…I…you don't realize…well, I want to say…I care about you… very much. When we first rescued you and I saw how you were treated…I cried. I couldn't stop…I cried all night in my chamber. I… just wanted to let you know…I want to protect you, keep you safe from harm the rest of your life."

A tear slipped down her cheek. "He truly cares for me…I want to express my feelings to him too…but it won't…my voice…"

Naruto hugged her tighter.

"N…Na..ru..to…" she squeaked, barely audible.

Taken aback, Naruto loosened his grip on her to peer into her eyes. They were so lovely and full of warmth, he never noticed before. She spoke to him again…even if it was only his name like before when he spent a night with her.

Hinata let her hand run up his arm and brush across his chest. Strands of hair touched his broad shoulders; he never bothered cutting it in the last year. Honestly his hair looked good long as it did short and gave him an older appearance. Those blue eyes of his bore into her as if searching her feelings. Her cheeks flushed and she was tempted to look away but Naruto's lips had claimed hers in a flash. The gesture had sent chills down her spine…this was tender and heart breaking for her. The one she had wanted all these years finally shared similar feelings with her. Her eyes drooped shut as she leaned in closer to wrap her arms around his neck.

"I love him so much…I want to stay with him for the rest of my life…"

"Well then…am I interrupting?"

Naruto broke their kiss and looked behind him. Kiba was standing in the entranceway with a wide grin on his face and his arms crossed.

"No..no Kiba. I was just helping to get her ready." Naruto said, face extremely red and his eyes were shifting back and forth.

"I guess so…" Kiba smirked. "So how is she?"

"Uh… fine, still not talking or she isn't capable of it."

"Hmm…well at least she doesn't have to speak in words to you; I think kissing has that covered," the dog-nin laughed.

Naruto arched an irritated eyebrow.

Hinata squashed her face into Naruto's back from sheer embarrassment and minor fright.

"She still panicky with the others?"

"Um right now, we're working on that. I think she's good for traveling with us." Naruto reached over his shoulder to touch her head. "Give us a few minutes and we'll be ready to leave. Tell Shikamaru we're coming."

"Sure."

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The hour has come…

The group of ninjas emerged from the burrow, Gaara and Shikamaru first as they were leading the entire operation. Choji and Shino followed next, carrying small bundles of supplies. Ino, Kiba, Akamaru, and the baby were next. She was wrapped in furs, the baby was held close to her chest for warmth and his comfort so he wouldn't cry during the trip. Temari and Sakura emerged behind Kiba holding the last of the medical supplies and the iron fan the sand-nin used as a weapon. Last came Naruto and Hinata. She was attached to Naruto's back, grasping her hands together tightly in front of him. Her face peeked over his shoulder and she glanced at the others…still too shy to say anything.

"We only have one lantern left. Let us travel close together and use what little light we have wisely." Gaara said. "We will travel at a medium pace for Ino and Hinata's sakes."

Snowflakes began falling from the sky. They glimmered from the light and tiny bits of snow now sit on each of their heads. All were completely covered in fur blankets altered to look like shawls and scarves. Shikamaru thought ahead and spend the afternoon shredding up the fur.

With a wave of his hand, Shikamaru signaled the group to head for the woods…forever leaving the burrow behind…their companions that were lost, the children, and the stillborn baby that Ino could not keep. Prayers and proper burials for all had been given.

They slipped into the darkness of the forest. They sloshed through the snow, their feet becoming cold from wet shoes. The furs didn't provide much protection on their toes, but enough to keep them from becoming frost bitten.

Tree branches snapped and creaked from the weight of the snow. The group avoided traveling by tree branch as they normally would for fear of a fatal accident and footprints weren't a concern because the falling snow covered them.

At this pace, they would reach Konoha in a day and a half as long as there aren't any delays. But as they traveled the baby would begin to cry every few hours and forced Ino to stop for feedings. The group patiently waited for her to finish each time. This also gave them the opportunity to snack on what little food they had left. Most scraps were saved for Ino for obvious reasons and she gladly would eat what they offered her. The entire group had lost a lot of weight in their year hiatus from the village.

Gaara had begun to grow uneasy as the hours went by. Not only did they not know what day it was, but his time was coming fast and all the work and effort he exerted in the last several years would mean nothing if he reverts back to his murderous self and kills all his friends.

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"I can sense them…"

"My Lord?"

"Baki, Kakashi…station yourselves outside the arena. I believe our guests will be arriving by midday tomorrow."

"Shall we send elites to every corner of the city?" Baki asked.

"Hmm… that will not be necessary. Whether we catch them or not, they will be coming straight to me."

"Lord Sasuke, shall I summon our strongest jounin and elites to search the city? No doubt the enemy will be hiding within its walls. They have injured and weak ninjas, likely they will try to find a safe place to stash them."

"Very well, send Rock Lee and Kankuro to the East side of the city and send Neji and our highest ranking elite with him to the west side. All other elites will divide into two groups. One group is to stay behind to defend the arena and testing labs, the other will be sent to the northern parts of Konoha. Also, send out orders that the women are not to be harmed. I want them for…safe keeping. Any male prisoners taken are to be beaten into submission and taken to my labs or killed if they resist.

"Yes my Lord."

Baki and Kakashi both sent word for the elites and they dispersed themselves to their positions in the city, hiding within the buildings and waiting for signs of the enemy.

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"How are you holding up?"

"Mm? Oh I'm okay. Kiba, how much food do we have left? I'm afraid my stomach won't be able to take this aching for much longer."

Ino sat up against a tree, her baby content under the furs; latched onto her. Kiba rummaged through a bag of food supplies and pulled out some dried fish.

"We have enough food left to last the group a few days, but here are a few pieces for you to eat now. You're gonna need the protein."

Grateful for the fish, Ino took a bite and savored the lightly salted flavor. She closed her eyes and let her head slump against the trunk of the tree as she chewed.

Kiba pushed back the fur that was covering Ino's chest and peeked at the infant laying against her belly. He was still nursing, fingers pushed into her skin as if squeezing for more food. Kiba touched the baby's head and gently brushed back some of the light colored hairs from his face.

Akamaru sat nearby watching the couple with the baby. He whined softly and nuzzled Kiba's arm.

"Hey boy… you were pretty amazing the other day when the baby was born. You fetched everything I needed."

Kiba scratched his loyal dog's ears and Akamaru returned the gesture by licking his hand.

"Okay, we're done for now." Ino said as she gently separated baby from breast. "Let's rejoin the others."

"They're just over there." Kiba pointed just ahead of him. "You have the lantern?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go. We can't leave them sitting in the dark for too long."

Midday… reaching the city limits…

Gaara and Shikamaru carefully scouted out the front gate to Konoha, the debris had fallen away since the last time they arrived to retrieve Hinata and medical supplies. A large gap in the great gates was present. Shikamaru signaled for the others to follow him through the gap.

"Alright," Shikamaru whispered, "Keep your voices down and let's find a shelter, any recommendations?"

Naruto spoke up. "There's a large building across from the old Ichiraku ramen noodle shop. It has a lot of space and the windows are covered. We should be safe there."

"Is ramen all you ever think about you dumbass?" Sakura chastised him.

Naruto gave a half grin and blushed.

"Well, I'm all for it as long as it is still standing." Shikamaru said. "Let's take back alleyways so we're not spotted."

An hour of navigating the city had passed. The group had a close call of being spotted when an elite hopped over the building above them. The group quickly scattered and hid under debris and broken boards when the elite returned to check out the area. They silently waited for him to pass before sneaking away.

"We're only a block away now." Naruto said.

"Let's hurry. I can see the ramen shop and there's the building. Looks like it's in good shape for hiding." Shikamaru said.

The building was dilapidated and the windows were broken. Tattered curtains dangled on the inside. The floorboards were a bit uneven but steady to walk on. Shikamaru led the group inside and they decided to set up their supplies and place Ino, her baby, and Hinata in the back room. A single lantern was all they needed to light up the storage room.

"We need to send our two teams out immediately." Gaara said, placing a bag of supplies on the floor.

"Right. Naruto… Kiba, you guys set?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. You guys head out and be careful!" Kiba said in a worried tone. "This place is covered."

Gaara nodded at Kiba. "Shino…Sakura, let's move out."

Sakura looked at Naruto, "We'll be back…I promise."

"You better..." Naruto joked.

Shino said nothing as he followed the kazekage outside the building with Sakura in tow. The three of them leapt off into the alleyways into the eastern part of the city.

A few minutes later, Shikamaru, Temari, and Choji left to search out the western part of the city.

Naruto began pacing the room and glanced at the others every now and again.

"Naruto…give them some time for god's sake. They just left!" Kiba said.

"I know, I know! I can't help but worry. Was it really a wise decision to split them up?"

"Shikamaru seems to believe so. I'm sure he has his reasons."

"…" Naruto continued pacing. He squeezed his hands into balls anxious about the others whereabouts.

"Will you just sit down?!" Ino yelled. "Hinata could use your company right about now," and she peeked over at the Hyuga heiress. "She's probably frightened from your constant worrying."

Naruto turned around and saw Hinata huddled up in the corner of the backroom. She was staring back at him trembling. He quickly joined her side and draped an arm across her shoulders.

"I'm sorry Hinata. I can understand why you would be afraid of coming back here."

Naruto gently squeezed her fur clad shoulder and she leaned into him.

"I'm….sor...ry…" she squeaked.

"Don't be. Never be sorry for showing me your emotions."

Ino watched the couple curl up in the corner and she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Hinata had made a great deal of progress since her retrieval from the enemy base. She still had some issues talking to the others but Naruto basically spoke for her now. It was almost as if…they were meant to be.

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They were traveling fast…

North…

West…

East…

Lee and Neji… led their groups in separate directions, west and east.

The north was group led by elite jounin; their faces hidden away under black masks, their specialty not in fighting; but medical practice and torture. These men handled all the prisoners of the medical wards. They murdered many, women and children. The remaining were tied up and placed in basements for pleasure, testing, and used on a whim. At the front, the largest elite gave the other men the signal to break into two groups along the northern parts of the city. His own group picked up signs of life forms in the nearby buildings. The three of them found footprints down one alleyway leading to the old restaurant plaza of the main street.

"Itchiraku…" the elite said. He wandered close to the broken down restaurant, peeking over the counter. No trace of humans. "Search the surrounding buildings."

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Ino dozed off a bit, holding her infant against her chest. Furs wrapped tightly around herself and her son. The baby cooed and traced his little fingers along Ino's hands, trying to grasp onto anything he could reach.

Kiba too was passing out, exhausted from the long and painfully slow journey from the burrow. He needed to stay awake as lookout. Hopping to his feet, he bounced lightly and wiggled his hands at his sides to try and get the blood flowing. It seemed to work and his attention was a bit more focused. He looked around the room and noticed Akamaru lying close to a window. He seemed to be staring outside and didn't look at his master when he called to him.

"What's wrong boy?"

Akamaru didn't budge; instead he released a mild growl.

"Akamaru?"

His companion lifted his nose into the air and sniffed heavily. The fur on his back began to stand on end.

Kiba also sniffed the air and captured the faint smell of a human and an unknown one at that. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck. "It's gotta be them..."

Slowly, Kiba backed away into the storage room, grabbing for one of the supply bags which contained the remaining ninja tools. He pulled one the kunai from the bag. After doing so, he found Naruto resting in the corner with Hinata and shook him awake.

Hinata woke first and she made a light whimpering noise. "…"

Kiba quickly raised a hand to his mouth gesturing for her to stay quiet.

Naruto emerged from his dreamless sleep, ready to ask what the big idea was.

The dog-nin whispered, "Keep it down…there's an enemy outside the building. I think we've been found out."

"…shit…" Naruto whispered back. He jumped to his feet and rummaged the tool bag for a kunai. "Where's Akamaru?"

"He's in the next room. We have to keep Hinata and Ino hidden."

The two boys had their weapons and quietly left the storage room, closing the door behind them. Ino remained in her dream state while Hinata scooted across the floor to be next to Ino. She piled the furs over her head to further hide herself.

Naruto and Kiba inspected the first floor of the dilapidated building. Not a single trace of the enemy on the first floor. Akamaru stayed by the front door, ready to pounce on anyone if they forced their way inside.

Naruto met up with Kiba in the main room again, "I didn't find any…"

*crash*

"What the…?" Naruto questioned.

"It was a window breaking, they're inside the building." Kiba readied his weapon. "Akamaru, stay here in the main room and guard the girls. Naruto and I are going upstairs."

Around the storage room, the stairs leading to the second floor were present. The two boys armed with their knives, steadily ascended the staircase. At the top of the stairs, there was a long hallway. They could barely make out the shapes of the doorways since it was so dark. Truly, the permanent darkness was becoming a huge hassle and it would have been really stupid to carry a lantern for the enemy to see, so they had to cope with the darkness.

The two of them entered the first room on the left and felt their way along the walls, carefully listening for any movement, nothing. They searched another room and thought they heard something, but assumed it to be a rat or small creature.

Just when they were ready to search the next room, a small clanging sound could be heard from down the hallway, where they had not explored yet. Kiba grabbed onto Naruto's wrist and guided him to the entrance of the room they resided in. He shoved Naruto behind the door while he placed himself against the wall on the other side of the entrance. "Be ready to cover me." Kiba whispered.

"Fine." Naruto said as he steadied himself.

Kiba could hear the footsteps coming closer to their current position. He sniffed the air. "There are two of them, both men."

"Right," Naruto whispered, barely audible. He raised his knife to eye level, waiting for the signal from Kiba.

Kiba switched his kunai to his right hand and raised it over his left shoulder, positioning himself to strike at the attacker's face when he stepped through the doorway. Kiba's breathing was becoming slightly erratic. Normally he had Akamaru by his side for tag team jutsu. He only had Naruto with him, so they had to rely on brute force.

Another step…they were so close.

Kiba shut his eyes, only wanting to rely on his sense of smell to make the first blow.

Another step…

And another…

Right outside the door…

Kiba prepared for the attack, his enemy was on the other side of the wall. His heart was pounding, almost thrilled to be in battle or fearing for his love and Hinata if they were discovered.

*creak*

A silhouette appeared in the doorway…

Kiba's reflexes…

The kunai in his hand…

The instant the enemy set foot through the door, Kiba lashed his kunai at him, forcing it into the enemy's face. The elite grabbed at his eye and collapsed to the ground in severe pain. Naruto leapt out from behind the door and ground his own knife into the elite's torso. The other elite behind the first grabbed at Kiba's head and tried to choke him. He pounded Kiba against a wall, still clutching at his throat. The dog-nin tried to loosen the elite's hands from his neck.

Naruto finished with the first elite on the floor and joined into Kiba's current battle. He stuck his kunai into the back of the elite and he released Kiba to grab at his back.

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There was a serious racket going on upstairs and the two girls in the storage room could hear everything. Ino suspected that Naruto and Kiba must be fighting and as much as she wanted to help, she couldn't in her current condition. She was still bleeding from the birth and her body ached from travel. Plus she had to look after Hinata and her baby.

The noise stopped.

Ino hoped the boys took care of the intruders. She must have been right because she heard footsteps outside the storage room. Only they knew where the girls were hidden. Where was Akamaru, Ino could have sworn he was given explicit instructions by his master to stay put in the main room. Akamaru would be barking or yipping at his master's return, but not a sound came from the other room besides the footsteps.

Ino reached for the lantern nearby and shined it up at the closed door. Hinata gripped onto Ino's arm from under the furs. She would not stick her face out.

"Kiba?" Ino called out.

No response.

"Guys?"

Still nothing.

The door began to creak open and fingers snaked their way around the splintered wood. Ino was beginning to panic, hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The door swung open revealing a large figure in its frame. He was very tall, dressed in black, and has his face hidden. Ino shone the light on him and realized…

"No!"

The elite stepped into the storage room.

"Stay back!" Ino yelled and shifted her weight to try and scoot herself as far away from the enemy as possible. In the process, the furs fell from Hinata's head, revealing her face to the man.

He spoke to them in a low tone. His voice sent chills down both the girl's spines. "Well, well…if it isn't the two escape artists. It is fortunate that I have found you, our master is awaiting your 'safe' return."

Hinata squeaked and began to cry. She huddled up next to Ino.

The elite looked at the dark haired girl and cocked his head to one side as if…

"I remember you…the girl from the basement. We had a whole lot of fun together, didn't we?"

To Hinata's horror, the elite reached into his long black coat and revealed to her a very long steel rod with the tip slightly blackened and misshapen.

"Remember this little girl? Well I hope you do, because we are going to re-live those precious memories."

Hinata screamed and tried to force her face underneath the furs again. The enemy drew closer to the girls, holding the rod high above his head as if ready to strike them with it.

Closer…

Closer…

The rod began its descent down towards the girls…

Preparing for the blow, Ino and Hinata shielded their heads with their arms but before the enemy could connect a hit, a loud howling sounded behind him.

Akamaru had returned and lunged at the elite, biting down hard at the back of his neck and forcing the man to fall forward. Akamaru plunged to the floor and rolled across to the girls feet. The enemy fell face first into the floor boards and never moved again, for he had fallen onto his own weapon. The rod plunged directly through his heart, killing him instantly.

Tears formed in Hinata's eyes. She stared at the corpse and couldn't believe what Akamaru had done. On the other hand, she was glad.

Akamaru quickly got up and placed himself next to the girls who both proceeded to grasping onto the dog and hugging him, not wanting to let go, both simultaneously giving him thanks and praises for saving them. Meanwhile, the baby in Ino's lap had begun to cry vigorously from being so violently shaken awake from his nap.

The loyal dog couldn't help but lick both the girls' faces, happy that they were safe and proud for carrying out his master's orders successfully.

To be continued…

My apologies for taking so long to put this chapter up. Please feel free to leave constructive criticism or comments about the chapter. I'll begin the next chapter as soon as I can!