A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, follows and favorites. Your support is so valuable and motivating. Hope you like this chapter, it's slightly longer than the ones before. Things may get a little dark and disturbing here, but not too much. Maybe I'll save more stuff for later bwahaha XD

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto or any of it's characters.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

2. Mujitsu no Owari

Over the past 12 months, Hinata had gotten herself accustomed to life as a geisha. Karin's establishment saw all kinds of men pouring in by the dozens on a daily basis- tired travelers looking for some warm sake and a woman's company, soldiers looking to release some pent up testosterone, government officials and diplomats from visiting countries looking to enjoy their downtime, married men who had gotten bored with their wives or been kicked out for the night due to being drunk and simple lecherous perverts who could never resist their urges. Whatever the kind of visitors, Hinata had been sure of two things- one being that Karin would do everything to please her guests, parting them of far more coin than they had intended in the process and the second being that the safety of all the girls under her roof was guaranteed.

It was weird, but for a young woman without a family, this yukaku was the safest place in Amegakure. It also let her remain inconspicuous all these months. People didn't ask questions about where she was from, which family she belonged to and how she came to be in this place. Every hot blooded male or man with some power and influence in the Hidden Rain just accepted the fact that new, attractive women kept appearing in Karin's establishment because that was the way things were supposed to be. Had Hinata tried doing something else, like running a shop or working as a maid- there would be a lot of unwelcome questions and she had always been terrible at lying or keeping up a charade.

Something was different today though. She felt it as she poured sake into small cups for Kisame and his entourage. These guests weren't like the usual noisy but harmless bunch. As the Mist swordsmen let their eyes wander all over her body, she felt more bare and violated in a few minutes than she had during her entire year here. Usually, she felt comfortable knowing that nobody from Amegakure would make any unwelcome advance on her or cause trouble because this establishment was important to every man in the village. Karin was strict about which girls would only engage customers in conversations or serve them drinks and which girls would provide them pleasure. Going against her rules was bound to create ruckus and risk the wellbeing of this place- and the city watch and Shinsengumi wouldn't treat the person responsible for harming their favorite sanctuary kindly. But these seven men seemed different- like they had no care in the world about the consequences of their actions. In fact, the more she observed them- the more she got a sense of foreboding that they were looking forward to the aftermath of whatever twisted plans they were contemplating.

"Hai, the Otowa no Taki falls are a lovely sight to behold in the spring", she said absently with downcast eyes and a troubled smile as she tried keeping the seven swordsmen engaged in conversation.

"Taking a bath in those waters would be splendid! Say girl, why don't you join me? Scrub my sore back real good", one of them leered, brushing back his shoulder length white hair as he did so. Hinata looked at him briefly and immediately regretted it. The man was almost drooling at her sight, mouth open in a predatory grin- revealing sharp, jagged teeth like a shark.

The other mist swordsmen hooted at his comment.

"What makes you think she'll go for you Mangetsu?", another swordsman howled. "Come with me girl, let me make a woman out of you".

Hinata found this man to be even more intimidating than the first one. It didn't help that she recognized him from Naruto's old bingo book- Momochi Zabuza, the Demon of the Hidden Mist.

More lewd comments followed, each member of the group taking turns to one up the other with their crudeness. A long time ago, this would have bothered her. She'd probably have run out of the room and cried under a tree in her garden. But she wasn't that girl anymore. With a hard earned resolve won over years of fighting for her respect, Hinata stilled herself and finally made eye contact with Kisame. He was an Akatsuki, and lived in Amegakure. He would know not to stir trouble and keep the others in check.

"Ano, Kisame san, I'm afraid I only serve tea and sake. I can play the shamisen and sing some folk songs if you'd desire. For anything else, Karin san can arrange some companions for the guests."

Kisame's eyes flashed dangerously, but it wasn't his voice that responded.

"Bitch! You dare be disrespectful to US?" the one with the white hair had tossed his cup at Hinata, splashing warm sake all over her face and kimono. "I'll show you why you never disrespect Hozuki Mangetsu".

He furiously made his way to Hinata and pulled her by the arm. She tried resisting, clawing his hands and doing her best to loosen his grip on her but he was too strong. Her body was being dragged across the tatami mats, her cries falling on deaf ears. Her eyes darted frantically across the room, looking for a helpful face. All other girls stood paralyzed in fear. Kisame and his group were laughing like madmen. Eventually she found Karin waiting a few steps ahead, directly in Mangetsu's way.

"Karin san, please!" She wouldn't cry, but her white eyes stared at the redhead with fear etched deeply into them. "We- we agreed, I wouldn't do all this. Please help me".

Karin couldn't look her in the eye.

"I'm sorry, Hinata! They'll destroy everything. Just this once, please!", her voice was cracking with sobs.

Hozuki Mangetsu roughly dropped a pouch of silver coins in Karin's hands.

"There's enough there for two rounds", he grinned, pulling Hinata's fidgeting body up to her feet, one hand around her neck and the other around her waist. "Don't interrupt me till the morning".

Karin remained motionless as he dragged Hinata towards the inner quarters.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The sudden impact of her body crashing through the locked doors and falling to the floor should have made pain shoot up her spine and entire body but Hinata's mind was too distracted to register that sensation. Instead, her eyes scanned the entire room frantically before finding a pair of eyes identical to her own, belonging to a very frightened girl slightly peeking out from behind a curtain. Hinata did her best to conceal her five year old daughter from everyone during her working hours, but now that this intruder had forced his way in, she desperately hoped Himawari would have the good sense to stay hidden. She didn't want this vile man from the Mist to set his eyes on her, and she didn't want her daughter to see what was about to happen to her kaa-san.

Her thoughts didn't have time to meander for long however, because Mangetsu pounced on her fallen body in an instant- like a hungry wolf upon its prey. Intoxicated with sake and lust, the Hidden Mist Swordsman brought his lips a hair away from her neck, before beginning to sniff every inch of skin from her neckline to her jaw. Hinata squirmed and tried to wrestle her way from under him but he was too heavy. As her attacker started dripping drool all over her neck and kimono, she chanced a glance at her trembling daughter one more time- pleading with her eyes to make her hide or flee from the room secretly.

Hozuki Mangetsu was beyond himself with pleasure, nibbling on the woman's soft neck and leaving marks with his sharp teeth. He heard her hiss in slight pain, but he wanted to hear her moan and scream. With his left hand pinning both her arms atop her head, his right reached down to her waist and almost tore away her obi, granting him access to her smooth, velvety stomach beneath the kimono. It wasn't enough- he wanted more- he wanted to get her wet for him, wanted to get her to beg him to let go before he'd deny her protests and lay his claim on her. Without wasting any further second, he started making his way down her belly with two fingers, trying to reach the spot between her legs.

Hinata's mind snapped back to attention on her current predicament as she felt her attacker's fingers inching closer to her privates. Fear for her daughter's safety had almost left her resigned to her fate- she'd endure whatever needed to be endured for her survival and her daughter's safety. She was thinking of things from her past- things from a happier time to keep her distracted until the whole ordeal was over. She thought of her mother gardening with her when she was a child, of the warm summer breeze caressing her cheeks while she listened to her kaa-san's stories. She remembered how her cousin Neji would carry her bags back home from their sensei's place even though she insisted she could do it herself. She remembered the man she loved- with warm, cerulean blue eyes that could look into her soul, and his smile that could instantly set her at ease and give her courage to stand up for herself against the whole world. It was that courage that shocked her back to reality. Sure, her daughter's safety was of the paramount importance to her. But she wouldn't be so weak that she'd let everyone have her way with her anymore. She'd be strong enough to find a way to take care of herself and Himawari at the same time.

With every strand of willpower she had, she gathered strength in her right knee, and brought it up with a strength she didn't know she possessed against Mangetsu's groin. The Mist Swordsman, who was too distracted by thoughts of how he'd have her all night long wasn't expecting the sudden attack and Hinata let a satisfied smirk cross her face at the unadulterated expression of agony that suddenly befell his face.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Hozuki Mangetsu spat, as he rolled away from her body on the floor, clutching his family jewels and groaning in pain. The look of pleasure on his face was replaced with one of murderous fury.

Hinata hurriedly made her way up to her knees and tied her obi sash over the kimono haphazardly. She didn't have the strength to face a feared Hidden Mist swordsman herself and any delay could prove fatal. She needed to run NOW.

"Where the fuck do you think you're running? You filthy whore! I'm going to gut you like a fish and hang you on the entrance for everyone to see", Mangetsu breathed out in angry gasps, crawling toward her slowly while trying to get back to his feet.

"Himawari, we need to run! Come on!", Hinata tried beckoning her daughter over but Himawari was too terrified to move. Mangetsu finally followed Hinata's gaze and saw the white haired kid for the first time.

"Pretty girl you got there. Maybe she'll be more accommodating where mommy wasn't", the pain seemed to be gone now, and the swordsman sported a sadistic grin, baring his shark like teeth.

Hinata's options were limited. If she wanted to get to her daughter, she'd need to make her way past Mangetsu, who was positioned directly in her path. Clutching her kimono with both hands, she ran towards her daughter right as her enemy was making his way up to his feet. Before he could get all the way up, she rammed her running knee into his nose, hearing it shatter with a sickening crunch. Grabbing her frozen daughter, she scooped her up in her arms before rushing toward the shattered door- which was the only way out.

She almost made it all the way out too before she felt a hand grab her ankle and pull her down. She had to shield Himawari with both arms and take the brunt of the impact as she fell down on the floor. She could feel her forehead smash against the wooden floor and blood trickling down her face from a nasty cut atop her left eyebrow.

"K-kaa-san! Get up! Please", Himawari, finally out of her broken stupor saw a white-haired man with a nose twisted at an unnatural angle and face colored crimson with blood, crawl toward her mother's prone body. She didn't like what was about to happen.

"Kaa san! KAA SAN!" Her screams were broken with loud sobs as the man reached them and roughly shoved her aside before turning her mother's body to face him.

"You bitch!", Mangetsu slapped Hinata hard. She remained unmoving, eyes blinking slowly, trying to make sense of the whole thing.

"I'd have fucked you and left you alone! All you had to do was take it. You just had to go and make things difficult, didn't you? Now, I'll make sure to take my time with you and then your daughter. That will teach you to know your place and respect us Hidden Mist Swordsmen!"

Hinata didn't know what was happening. Her head hurt badly and the entire world seemed to be spinning. She tried to move her neck and catch a glimpse of her daughter but could only see a man with a mangled nose sitting on her body and looking down at her with unrestrained anger. Drops of blood from his broken nose spilled on her face and mixed with her own stream of blood. Slowly, her sight and other senses stabilized, and she realized two things: she was in too much pain to gather any strength to fight back; and that she was going to be raped and killed by Hozuki Mangetsu.

And I thought the rest of my life would be so happy when I married Naruto! I was so stupid!

Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she felt her kimono being torn.

Himawari, Boruto, Naruto, please forgive me!

Before she could think of any more regrets, Mangetsu's body suddenly jerked and went still for a second, before falling down atop her. He didn't move again.

It took Hinata a few minutes herself to process what happened. Her loudmouthed, furious assailant had suddenly gone silent and still. Slowly, she brought her hands up and pushed his body away. It took a lot of strength to be free from his weight above her as she pushed him to the side. As she finally turned sideways to look at his face, she understood why. His right eye was missing and a kunai was embedded into the eye socket. Just beside their bodies was his missing eyeball. And a few meters ahead, shivering with sobs and hands stained with blood- was five year old Himawari. Hinata wasn't surprised her daughter had managed to stab the man with so much force. She was an Uzumaki after all.

"H-he had dropped it on t-the f-floor!", her daughter made her way over with slow, shaky steps. "He was going to hurt you kaa-san, I..I didn't know wh-what to.."

"Ssshhh baby", Hinata willed herself to close the gap, crushing her daughter to her bosom in a tight hug. "Mommy will take care of this, sweetheart. Don't worry".

She began rocking her baby back and forth to soothe her. It wasn't working, but she didn't expect it to. She just didn't know what else she could do in a situation like this.

"I love you Himawari. I'll always protect you from now, always remember that", Hinata ran her hands through her daughter's hair and patted her back. "We'll go away, go back to tou-san".

"Tou-san?"

Himawari ceased sobbing for a few seconds and looked at her with hopeful eyes, shining with unshed tears like pearls in an ocean. The innocence in those little eyes and the fact that it had gotten shattered so early broke Hinata's heart.

"Hai! One way or another, we'll find our way back, trust me", even through her blood, tears and agony Hinata forced a smile. As her daughter responded with a shy, reluctant smile of her own, she felt it was all worth it.

They stayed that way for a few moments, Hinata stroking Himawari's hair until the kid's sobs subsided and breathing steadied. The silence was interrupted now and again by shouts and laughter ringing from the main hall. It seemed Kisame and his group were being kept busy and entertained. A million thoughts ran through Hinata's mind at once. How to escape the yukaku secretly? What to do of Mangetsu's body? How would she survive in the outside world? Where would she go and how would she feed herself and her daughter? How would she get out of Hidden Rain and travel across countries to Konoha? There were no concrete answers for any of those. But she had to start by surviving- and that meant finding a way out of the place unnoticed.

"H-Hinata? What is this?"

Hinata froze. There went her plan.

She turned around slowly to find Karin staring at her in shock, fear apparent in her eyes. Mangetsu's eyeball was still on the floor, near the rest of his lifeless body. Himawari looked at Karin too, with a blank look that sent chills down her spine.

"Do you realize what you've done? This is an international incident! These people belong to the Mizukage's entourage- they were here to meet with our Kage for political reasons."

"We- we had no choice Karin sama! Gomen ne!"

Karin bit her lip and refused to look at Hinata's face. Hinata knew the redhead had every right to be angry, but the redhead's next words took her by surprise.

"Ano, it's me who should be apologizing to you Hinata san!", Karin almost looked embarrassed and remorseful. Hinata had never seen her that way before. "I should have stopped Mangetsu but I was too scared. I was worried they'll raze my establishment down to the ground. I put my business ahead of my people, please forgive me."

Hinata smiled sadly. Even though Karin's silence had brought her great trouble, she couldn't bring herself to blame her. She had provided her a shelter and a place to work, a safe haven for her daughter, and their actions now would probably cause a lot of trouble for Karin. Maybe Neji nii-san had been right. When fate came calling, there was little you could do.

"Listen, as angry as the Mist swordsmen will be when they get to know, I believe Kisame will stop them from tearing this place apart. He works for Pain-sama so he knows how valued this yukaku is. But he won't be as kind as you. And once word gets out, both the Mizukage, the Shinsengumi and the Akatsuki will be after you."

Hinata could feel Himawari start to tear up again, so she took great care not to let the worry show on her face or reflect in her voice.

"I understand. We've caused you enough trouble Karin sama. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make up for all of it. But I need to protect my daughter. We'll leave this place immediately and think of something."

Karin grumbled in frustration. Over the last year, she had come to like the dark haired, lavender white eyed beauty and her cute daughter. She wished she could still harbor them, but keeping them here would be a sure death sentence.

"Listen, I've never asked you about where you're from, how you came to be here and things like that. But I've been around enough people to know a noble when I see one. I know you are nobility. Do you have any money with you? Or anything valuable?"

Hinata was confused. She was pretty certain Karin wouldn't ask her for any material items now. Also, it wasn't like the proprietor of Amegakure's most profitable yukaku would be hurting for money.

"Ano- we had to leave our home very suddenly so I couldn't bring anything with me. I do have our old clan necklace though, which is passed down every generation. It should fetch a good price."

"It's not for me", Karin clarified what Hinata already knew. "There is…someone. We know each other since a few years. He isn't really a pleasant person but he is skilled. He could get you to safety for the right price. No matter what happens, he always keeps his end of a bargain."

Hinata felt a slight feeling of unease, but she wasn't sure why. Men like these were never good news, but she trusted Karin and was out of options.

"Who is he? A mercenary? A samurai?"

Karin shook her head. She wasn't exactly sure how to describe the man herself. But she was one of a handful of people who knew his actual identity.

"He is a whisper, a ghost story to most people. There are rumors of his sightings here and there, but for the most part, they are false. Outside of a handful of associates, the only people who see him end up dead. Even the people who pay him money don't see him face to face. I don't know where he's from or if he has a home or family, but a man without ties like him- I'd presume he abandoned every attachment he has a long time ago."

The more Hinata heard of this man, the more trepidation she felt. Beside her though, Himawari was smiling. She used to love hearing fantastical and mythical stories like these and probably was excited at the prospect of getting to see someone similar soon. It worried Hinata greatly.

"How do I find this man?"

Karin hesitated for a moment before removing a black onyx ring from her ring finger and handing it to Hinata.

"He pays a visit to one of his hideouts here from time to time. We have a mutual friend called Tayuya. I'll let you know how to reach her. Go there and adapt a nice disguise and wait."

The prospect of waiting indefinitely for someone as dangerous as this man didn't seem too enticing, but it was better than wandering in a war-ridden world. Women and children were the first targets of stray regiments or bandits and it was always better to have some protection.

"Arigato Karin sama!", Hinata stood up and bowed deeply, nudging Himawari to do the same. She almost started on her way out before remembering to ask something.

"What is this samurai's name?"

A shudder passed through Karin at the very memory of him.

"He's not a samurai, more like a ronin. And his name is Uchiha Sasuke."

Hinata was unable to hide the surprise from her face. Uchiha Sasuke? Alive? If only Naruto knew.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

(To be Continued….)

A/N: Read and review, please :)

Mangetsu Hozuki is Suigetsu's older brother, but of course you guys already know that.

Yukaku: Regions where brothels recognized by the government were situated, in this case the leaders of Amegakure. So, Karin's establishment was licensed, so to say. Not all female workers there engaged in sex of course. Some geishas, like Hinata only worked as hostesses and entertained the guests in various ways.

Shamisen: A 3 stringed medieval Japanese musical instrument.