34 Before the War (1/2)

At the Hyūga compound, Hanabi could be seen was accompanying her sister in training taijutsu together.

”Let's stop the training here, nee-san.” Hanabi said suddenly after Hinata was hit by her palm when they were training. The hit was not supposed to happen as Hinata had became stronger due her training from before. However, Hinata was slightly absorbed in her thought to be noticing Hanabi's palm strike.

”Ah, yes, Hanabi. Let's rest for a bit” Hinata said hurriedly after she was back from her thought. They then went to clean theirselves in the bathroom together, after they cleaned up their training site.

”Are you being fine, nee-san? You look absentmindedly for some times now. Even in our training before, you are also like this.” Hanabi said with concern to her beloved sister as they were bathing together. Hanabi was in front of her sister, with her smooth back faced Hinata. While Hinata was helping Hanabi to clean herself.

”I am fine, Hanabi.” Hinata said while she was holding Hanabi's tender hand.

”If you are looking like this absentminded in the upcoming war, I am afraid...”

”Don't worry, Hanabi. I will be more focused in the battle later.”

”Is that so...?” Hanabi turned to look at Hinata with a bit of suspicion.

”Hm, my little sister doesn't even believe her older sister now?” Hinata was smiling gently at Hanabi as she spoke.

”No, not that, nee-san. But, since your engagement with that pervert has been revoked by Lady Tsunade, you are looking a bit absentminded sometimes.” Hanabi turned herself again, with her back faced Hinata, as her long, silky hair was cleaned slowly by Hinata.

”...”

”He he, are you being too happy after your engagement with that pervert has been called off, nee-san? I know that pervert is only a fraud. How dare he flirted with us?! If he dares to lay his pervert hands on us, I will hit him with my fierce sealing palm!”

”...”

”He he, now you could pursue Naruto-san freely. Naruto-san is truly stupid for not noticing your love, nee-san. If he doesn't realize it quick, I will need to slap him hard later.”

”...”

”...you are looking absentminded again, nee-san. Are you truly okay?”

”Ah, I am sorry, Hanabi. I am just thinking for a bit there.” Hinata said apologetically to Hanabi as she was back from her thought.

”...are you thinking of that pervert, nee-san?”

”What are you talking, Hanabi?!! I..me..I..am not thinking about him just now!” Hinata said with bits of panic in her voice as she replied to Hanabi while being flustered.

”Sigh, you don't need to lie, nee-san. Your face tells the opposite just now.”

”Eh?! How is my face just now, Hanabi?” Hinata said as she shook Hanabi furiously.

”Now, it happens again. Are you truly falling for his flirts before, nee-san? I bet he is joking back then, now he may be laughing if he sees your face just then, nee-san.”

”...do you think he was really joking back then, Hanabi...?” Hinata asked Hanabi hesitatingly after a brief silence.

”...of course. Otherwise, he would not just leave like that without meeting us again after that. Now, nee-san should just quickly pursue Naruto-san before he is with another girl. Don't you know that he is now having so many fangirls, especially after the Fourth Hokage comes back. Just forgets about that pervert, nee-san.”

”...is that so??” Hinata said slowly as she faced upward, looked at the ceiling above them.

'If he was joking back then, he would not even revived Uncle Hizashi and Asuma-sensei at the cost of his lifeforce, Hanabi. Does he know that I am still feeling guilt because of Uncle's death? Uncle's death before was partly caused by me after all. Although, Uncle and cousin Neji do not blame me for what happened at that time, but I am still feeling guilt over it.

Moreover, I have seen how Nagato-san spent his lifeforce to his death, for reviving the villagers back then. Although Rafi-san didn't die from using that technique like Nagato-san, but his hair turned white instantly like what Uncle said before.

However, I am also thankful to him now that Kurenai-sensei and Naruto-kun seem a lot happier. However, because of the lifeforce he sacrificed for it, Rafi-san may not have much time to live. I am so confused, Hanabi...

I...just want to know. Why he did all of those? Is what he said at that time was only false? But looking at what he did, it didn't seem like it was false. What should I do...?' Hinata thought silently as she looked at the ceiling. Her face radiated her confusion and complex feelings, as Hanabi could knew just from looking at it, though Hinata didn't realize it.

'Really, you are still thinking about him, nee-san. I will protect nee-san no matter what. If that pervert dares to hurt nee-san, I will not forgive him!' Hanabi thought silently as she sensed Hinata's confusion, after at Hinata's face.

”Nee-san, will you tell me what is weighing on your mind? If you may, it will lighten your feelings. I know that you are still thinking about that pervert, nee-san.” Hanabi said firmly as she looked at Hinata in concern.

”Actually,...” Hinata, sensing Hanabi's firm gaze, decided to tell her about what she thought earlier after a brief silence.

..... .....

In a deserted Uchiha compound, inside Konoha.

”The transplant is a success. But, you will need adapting to it for a bit, Sasuke.” Itachi said calmly to Sasuke, who his eyes were bandaged after the operation.

”Is this fine with you? These eyes are yours to begin with, nii-san.”

”I have intended to give it to you before I died, so it is yours now. Besides, I can't transplant it to my own eyes now, can I.”

”...”

”Moreover, you will need the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan for future battles, not just for this upcoming war, Sasuke. As my time is limited, you will be the one that could carry my previous eyes to a greater use for the village.”

”...is 'he' who told you that, nii-san?”

”...yes.”

'These eyes should be able to reach his attention then. If 'he' could even revived Itachi, he should be able to cure his illness. Itachi shouldn't die because of it again. Now that we are together again and after Itachi found his love, I will not let this moments to break anymore.' Sasuke clenched his fist slightly as he thought about his revived family.

Itachi silently looked at Sasuke as he could guessed at Sasuke's current thought. He and Izumi had asked Tsunade about it, but even Tsunade could do nothing about Itachi's illness at the moment. She did said that she could cured Itachi, but it needed times, which Itachi was lacking. As Itachi's expected lifespan were shorter that the time Tsunade needed to cure him. The other way was by using Hashirama's cell for restoring Itachi's injured organs. But, it posed a risk that Itachi would even be engulfed by Hashirama's cells instead.

Because he could handled the cells, Obito then offered himself for being a help to Itachi, as part of his repentance. While Yamato also could handled Hashirama's cells, but his situation was different with Itachi's, unlike Obito. Unfortunately, after Obito's situation was researched, Tsunade couldn't found what made Obito could handle the cells to repair his damaged body before. She then concluded that Obito could handled the cells because of Madara's help.

Another way to cure Itachi, in Tsunade's opinion, was laid in 'him'. Because, with his mysterious abilities, he might had a way to cure Itachi.

..... .....

In the Turtle Island, Naruto could be seen was training with Bee and Minato, while they were being accompanied by Kushina. Some of the shinobi from the Alliance Shinobi Forces were patrolling in outer periphery as they were monitoring if there were another intruders.

”Ahh, it is hard to control it finely! How can you and Octopops do it with ease, Pa?” Naruto grumbly said after he failed to conjure Bijuudama. He laid weakly on the ground after he fell tired on it.