this is part of my series. I recommend you read the rest of the stories, otherwise parts of this will make little sense to you
First story: True Friends Truly Believe /s/3953609/1/
Previous: Family is a collection of Love, Hope and Trust /s/4854903/1/
I redid parts of Family is a collection of lover, hope and Trust
Disclaimer:Me own nothing, but Haruka and Hiroto and if you want to use them go ahead, just let me know so I can see!
To Be Prepared is Half the Victory
Jiro took a drink of his water as he sighed. He was one of three guards on the entrance today. It was another scorcher, the sun was beating down on them and no rain in sight. He was glad he was used to it. Setting the water down he waved to his partners and got up to stretch slightly. He was looking over the sand when he spotted two figures coming their way.
"Oi, Saki, Misuke, is there anyone coming in today?" The other two shook their heads. They were now also looking at the figures. They were probably an hour out still but what else was there to really look at? They sighed and prepared to greet the two strangers.
An hour later, the two strangers made it to the entrance. As planned, Misuke asked them for their story, while Jiro and Saki kept them in their sights. Saki was also keeping the rest of the entrance in her sights in case this was a distraction. Misuke waved them through as their papers checked out as travelers; Uzu Orenji and Uzu Tora.
They were obviously shinobi. But they were from Konoha and on leave. Konoha was currently a friend, therefore their shinobi were welcome to take a vacation in this village. Still, Misuke made not e to inform the patrol leader of their guests. The two of them stepped inside the village and breathed deeply. The boy, who had way too much color in Jiro's opinion, suddenly pumped his hands up and gave a great shout.
"Yosh!"
000
Hiashi sat calmly on the rock as he watched Hinata and Neji train. They had started with Juuken and Hinata had asked some very good questions. Some of those questions had never been addressed before to Hiashi's knowledge. Now they were working with water from Hinata's pond. Neji was doing well. Hiashi watched as the water swirled around the Hyuuga as he concentrated. Hinata was waiting until he had control before testing the water.
Hiashi thought hard as he stroked Hoshi. Hinata had developed much of her water wielding on her own. She had explained what Mui had taught her and the new forms. But to Hinata, and even to Hiashi, the forms were vastly different to the forms she used already. In fact, her use of Juuken was different then what was taught, even though now she knew how to use it better then she used to, it was still used differently. She moved as if gravity only effected her opponent. Juuken uses gravity, not only to move the opponent but to speed up one's own motion. She ignored gravity as it applied to her. Hiashi wasn't sure what to make of that.
He also wasn't sure who to ask. He didn't know many shinobi that ignored gravity. He had to ask someone though, because, until the mystery was solved, Hinata's use of Juuken would be skewed. He finally had asked Gai to stop by this afternoon, in the hopes that the Taijutsu master could at least give him a hint.
Hiashi was drawn back to reality when Hoshi scooted up his sleeve and over his shoulder. Looking up, he moved almost on instinct to avoid getting soaked by a random water stream that Neji had temporarily ignored. Hiashi knew he was getting better. When they hd started an hour ago, him ignoring a stream meant it burst and fell to the ground. Now it at least kept its shape. He shook his head slightly, thanking Hoshi for the warning as he sat down on one of the few dry spots in the yard. He watched on as Hinata moved in and out of the water, again as if she was ignoring gravity. She wasn't trying to defeat him but rather push his control to its limits. His was supposed to soak her. So far she had a wet sleeve and that was it. Hiashi looked at it enviously. He was only watching and he had been soaked twice by now. Hinata had done this interesting trick where she had pulled all the water off of him. It worked for the most part.
He was drawn to the entrance when he felt Gai arrive. After greeting his old teammate, they wandered back to the yard as Hiashi explained what he needed. He didn't describe Hinata's style anymore then not being the regular Juuken. Gai nodded as they entered the yard.
Neji and Hinata were resting as they waited for Hiashi. He had warned them about having a visitor to watch the Juuken practice. Neji stood and looked at his sensei. They talked for a few minutes as Hiashi asked Hinata if she would mind sparing with Neji in Juuken again.
Gai watched as they bowed and started. Barely 20 seconds into the spar his smile left his face as he concentrated on Hinata and Neji and comparing them with his own knowledge of Juuken. He never used it, but after working with Hiashi and now Neji, he was pretty familiar with it. He could see what had Hiashi worried. Hinata's style was different. He frowned as he thought on it.
After they were done, Neji winning by a hair, the two went to meet Hanabi. Gai turned to Hiashi as the clanhead set out some tea.
"You are correct, her style is different. In fact, its not the style that is different but the way her body has adapted to it." Hiashi looked at him as he continued. "Every body has its own way of moving through the world. We teach movements, but the truest way the body understands them is slightly different for every person. However, many people have similar responses. That is how a sensei can find a student that fit together, their bodies react in a similar fashion. Hinata's body is reacting in a fashion different from your family." Gai looked at his cup as he took a drink. As such he missed Hiashi's eyes widening. Gai looked over the garden in content. "Ask Ebisu." Hiashi looked at him in confusion. Ebisu was a teacher for pre-genin.
"How could Ebisu help me?" Gai set the now empty cup down. "He teaches those younger then genin." Gai nodded.
"He does, because he can adapt his body to that of most body types. He should be able to tell you who in the village would be best suited to help Hinata. Her spirit will shine!" Gai gave his thumbs up and disappeared.
Hiashi sat and thought.
000
Haruka breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Suna.
She had missed the villages. Suna hadn't changed all that much on the surface. She smiled as her hyper nephew jumped around in glee. She was glad he already had an alias, thus all she had to do was come up with a matching one. She was used to alias and wasn't worried about a new one. She watched as Naruto, now Orenji, calmed down a little.
"Okay, Okay, I know I know, now we get to go and find Gaara. and Kankuro and Temari and-" She sighed.
"Hold it!" He stopped dead and looked at her. "First off, we need to find someone either strangers can get to or someone who will recognize you. The Kazekage will be too heavily guarded. Second the first thing we are going to do is eat." She smiled mentally as his mind caught up with his costume change. Then the mention of food got him started.
"Gotcha, I'm hungry for some non-campfire made ramen! Then Hiroto should be here somewhere. He'll recognize me." Haruka nodded as the blonde thought.
"That we can do. If the village hasn't changed much, the market, including restaurants, should be down there." She pointed down a street and off they went.
000
Asuma had been just sitting in the tree, minding his own business when Gai ran past him. He could hear the thundering as Gai approached, but he figured the green attired shinobi would go around the tree, not through it. Asuma was now standing looking down in sadness at his destroyed perch when Hiashi found him. At a questioning glance in Gai direction the Hyuuga explained that he had once again lost a bet with Kakashi. That was enough for both of them.
Asuma sighed as he waited for Hiashi to explain why he had come out here. Years ago he would struck up a conversation, thinking the clanhead was bored and was simply looking for company. But Hiashi hadn't looked for him for company in over a decade. He wished they could repair the damage done to their friendship, but Hiashi didn't seem of like mind.
"Gai suggested I go to Ebisu for help with my daughter." Asuma nodded. Gai's suggestion, regardless of their tone, usually were for the best, except in his fashion sense. If Asuma thought about it, he was sure Gai was the only Shinobi whose attire for missions had ever been regulated. Still Gai did know his stuff, better then most realized actually.
"Gai usually has a reason for his suggestion." Hiashi frowned as he looked in the direction of the Tai master.
"Yes, he does. and it is usually a very good one." He looked back at Asuma. "I didn't expect to find you out here. I would have thought you'd be playing Shikamaru today, what with Kurenai gone third day in a row and him just back." Asuma glanced his way. Hiashi hadn't kept track of him for nearly 15 years, but when he wants to keep track of someone, he sure could do it.
"I wanted some peace." He had also wanted to check and see if his message had been answered, with no such luck.
"I was going to hunt down Ebisu in a few minutes. I wondering if you'd come and give your opinion as well." Asuma raised an eyebrow.
"I'm no expert. Besides, if you asked Gai, then its a taijutsu thing, and that isn't my specialty." Hiashi looked down slightly as he felt the gap between them.
"I wanted your personal opinion." Hiashi hesitated. "Also, I trust you more then I do Ebisu." Asuma snorted slightly.
"That doesn't change the fact that I don't have the know-how you require, Hiashi." Asuma turned away. "I can't help you."
"Ichijin..." Asuma stopped dead. "I- My daughter- I need your help." Asuma looked at Hiashi, who was staring at the ground, hands fisted. He had always been a proud person. Asking for something, beside a duty was hard. But, now, he was struggling. Something was worrying him. Ichijin. That was a nickname between the three of them. They had never used it in the larger group. Hiashi wasn't looking for his opinion as a shinobi. He was looking for a friend. Asuma sighed.
When the three of them first got together, Hiashi had been standoffish. He had grown a lot during those years, but this was the first time Asuma could remember the proud Hyuuga asking directly for help. When he made a request he usually demanded it in a gentle way, but there was ever any doubt as to if it would be done. Now, Asuma could see, Hiashi was looking at him as a friend. And Asuma knew that his friend needed help.
"So why are we observing Chibi-Hina, ummm?" Hiashi looked up at him in relief for a split second before schooling his expression. Asuma's acceptance combined with his old name for Hinata was reassuring. Hiashi sighed gratefully as he explained what was happening to one of his oldest friends as the two of them went to find the teacher.
000
The market was no more crowded then usual. One shopkeeper was amazed though. He had a wildly painted shinobi and his kooky sister sitting at his little ramen shop. What was more bizarre then their attire, though the girl's wasn't nearly as bad as his, was the shear amount of ramen they were consuming. The boy was on his fifth bowl already. He shook his head as he started a daily bowl. He set in on one end of the counter and waited. This customer was rarely late. In fact, he had timed his ramen to be just cooling as the customer usually sat down.
The girl, Tora, looked over at the bowl.
"Expecting a regular?" The shopkeeper nodded as he gave another bowl to each of them. She smiled as her brother dove in immediately. He kept watching until he noticed his regular customer approaching.
Gaara always frequented a certain booth. He liked it. It was quiet and usually not very crowded. He tried to keep a low profile when he ate there. He had barely sat down, his current "guards" still a few feet behind him, when the woman already sitting there gave him a wave. He nodded and ate, trying to not stare at the boy accompanying her. When the boy finally did put down his sixth bowl and looked over he nearly toppled out of his chair in surprise. Gaara sighed and waited for him to recognize him as the Kage, or a monster, which ever.
"Gaara!" He looked up in surprise. That wasn't what most people called him in the village. At this point, his so called bodyguards, which were really his brother and his friend, caught up with him. Kankuro looked at the boy with slight suspicion and complete confusion. Hiroto, on the other hand, smiled widely.
"Bushin!" The strange boy looked at him.
"Hiroto?" They both let out a joyful yell as they clasped hands, talking at once, excitedly.
"How are you?"
"How are you?"
"You're here?"
"You're alright?"
"Look at you!"
"Look at me? Look at you!" Finally the female in the group seemed to have enough of the go around.
"Orenji!" Both stopped instantly. "Can I assume this is the friend you meant earlier?" Orenji nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, this is Hiroto. He and I went through our Chunin exam together. Say Hiroto. We gotta talk. C'mere." Orenji took the jinchuuriki aside as the girl sat back down with a huff.
"Miss, your bill." She smiled at the shopkeeper as she paid the bill. Hiroto came back with Orenji a few minutes later, much calmer. Hiroto walked over to Gaara.
"Kazekage, I have a request to make."
000
Hinata was walking home with Neji and Hanabi from Konohamaru's. Her kidnapping had scared Hanabi pretty badly, though she was trying not to show it. She was sticking with people she trusted more now. In the last week, she had grown up tremendously. She told her schedule to either Neji, Hinata or Hiashi in the morning. She also was helping them keep an eye on the branch members, intervening when the counsel was acting out of turn.
Currently she was explaining to Hinata how the defense in the hospital worked. Hinata was thrilled. Both that her sister was learning a lot, safely, and that she was talking to her. Hinata had always wanted a better relationship with her sister. Now she had one. She stopped when Neji stopped in front of her. She looked up as Hanabi quieted. Suddenly, Neji shoved her backwards, towards the wall.
Hinata pushed her sister behind her as the attacker leaped to the ground. Make that attackers, plural, as all three Hyuuga activated their byakugan. Hinata pulled Hanabi around her as she met an attack head on. Neji was fending off two of them. She saw another two head for him, but three was all she could handle. Luckily, she needn't worry.
Just as they headed for her cousin, they were intercepted by a kick. Neji fell back slightly, letting their helpers come in. Neji main concern was Hinata and Hanabi, not complete defeat of the enemy. Besides, his uncle and Asuma were good enough help. Hinata smiled slightly as Hoshi ran up her leg. She had felt her mistress go into battle mode and had yanked on Hiashi's leg until he came.
Hinata continued to fight the two near her, keeping one eye on her sister, who was throwing kunai from the sidelines. Until a hand reached down and pulled her out of the way entirely. Hinata tensed until she recognized Ebisu. She nodded and turned her attention to the fight. There were four Konohajin verses 11 of them, whoever they were. She needed to even the playing field a little. Moving closer to Neji, she let him take over on of her guys so she could concentrate more. There was no large body of water, but everyone was working up a good sweat. She opened her water bottle. She heard a small yip and saw that Hoshi had collected the other's water bottles. She was really grateful for that fox. She felt Mui's reminder that she was in the middle of a fight. She drew all the water into the air allowing the wind to rustle and mist it a bit.
Giving her opponent an extra kick, she leaped back until she was level with Ebisu, behind Neji.
"Kashoku o Terikaeshiteiru!" Suddenly most of the enemies grabbed there eyes in pain. They were easily defeated at that. Hinata returned the water to the water bottles as Asuma dealt with tying up the bad guys and notifying Ibiki. Hinata and Hanabi talked nearly the entire time this was happening. Ibiki would get the story out of the men.
Hiashi had another story to work with. He waited until they were all back at the compound and eating lunch before he asked though.
"Hinata, what was the attack you used?" Hinata looked up from her meal to her father. She set down her chopsticks as she moved to explain.
"Kashoku o Terikaeshiteiru is an attack I developed on my own, using my ability with my element. It manipulated the water crystals to reflet the sunlight, like it does off of a pond, and blind my opponent." Neji was reminded of the duel that Hiashi had found out about the water technique. The flash of light, it was this technique, probably in its raw form.
"So you simply spin the water until it catches the light at the right angle?" Ebisu's question was met with a quiet, but firm nod. Neji sensed this was a topic, she was done discussing.
Hiashi must have sensed it as well, because he moved on to why he had called Ebisu and Asuma here.
"You want us to spar again?" Hinata was looking at her father as Neji asked the question on her mind. Hiashi nodded. He looked at his daughter.
"I am trying to understand your style Hinata. I want outside opinions." Hinata nodded stiffly. She wished he would stop with-holding this type of concern from her. She was scolded by Mui for that thought. Father's are allowed to be worried about their daughters. She nodded to Neji, they could spar after lunch had settled.
000
Haruka had to hand it to Naruto, he certainly had good friends.
----------------Flashback-----------------------
"Kazekage, I have a request." Gaara looked at Hiroto. "My friends here need to speak to you in private." Kankuro stepped forward.
"are you sure we can trust them." Hiroto smiled.
"I trust him with my life. And so do you Kazekage." Gaara had looked at him a moment before looking over at Naruto-in-disguise. Slowly he nodded.
"Hiroto, please find my sister and met us in room 342." Hiroto smiled and nodded. He then poofed out. Naruto looked over at the his stack of six bowls and Haruka's stack of three.
"I guess I out ate you." Haruka smiled.
"Actually this is my second stack. The first had five in it. You were too intent on eating to notice the man remove it." Naruto's face dropped comically before Kankuro called their attention.
"Now that we have all finished our lunch, shall we go?"
------------------------End Flashback------------------------
They had been led to this room. Now Haruka watched as Hiroto returned with a blonde girl about her age. They settled down to talk.
Naruto smiled as he saw Haruka place a shield around the room. He stood up and stretched.
"That's a relief." He looked at Haruka, but she had already said she trusted his judgment on these people. "Hiroto, how have you been, now that we can actually talk." Hiroto smiled.
"I've been great. I'm part of a squad here. Suzaku is having the time of her life." Gaara and Temari tensed up at this point and Kankuro stood.
"What did you mean 'now that we can actually talk'? Who are you two?" Naruto glanced at Haruka and formed a seal. It made the paint on his body invisible for the moment. Kankuro and Temari stared at Naruto in utter shock. Gaara, on the other hand, looked like his eyes would pop out of their sockets, they were so wide. Naruto turned to Kankuro.
"Onee-sensei placed a barrier around this room. No matter what we do, as long as its up, the people outside will see us sitting, having tea and talking about weather and plants. Cool huh!" Kankuro nodded, dazed slightly. Temari was now watching with a reserved look on her face. Gaara's expression had neutralized. In truth, none of them were calm.
Kankuro was trying to wrap his head around this person and the brat he knew at the beginning of the chunin exams so long ago. Also, how this woman had done such a powerful seal with any paper seals. It was interesting.
Temari was in turmoil. She had known from Shikamaru that everyone in Konoha was eagerly awaiting news of Naruto, but he was in hiding, training for another 7 months at least. Here he was. With a sensei she had ever heard of before who could do a powerful jutsu without anyone knowing. She was going to hold her opinions to herself for a while.
Gaara was probably the least calm on the inside. When he had first met them, they had been interesting, refreshing. When he found out they were such a good friend with Hiroto, he wanted to meet them if only to meet another friend of a jinchuuriki. However, when Naruto had shed his disguise, he had froze. The behavior suddenly made all the more sense. He felt like an explosion took place in the pit of his stomach. This was the person who had shown him that he could be someone. Shown his the way out of the shadow-filled loneliness. He had become Kazekage, had siblings that cared, had friends, had students, a village, because of this shinobi. And now he was here, in Gaara's world now. The urge to reach for his friendship was strong, the fear that it would be rejected was fierce, though unfounded. He didn't know what to think.
"Actually Onee-sensei is here to do us a favor." Naruto was talking to Hiroto. The woman stood, also removing her disguise. Everyone's attention was drawn from her immediately though as Hiroto gave a yelp. She simply smiled.
"Yes, I can sense Suzaku, too." She turned to the others in the room. "I contain Byaka, the 7-tailed tiger of the Bijuu." A few things clicked into place with Gaara and Temari. Kankuro didn't wait for things to click into place.
"Another Jinchuuriki? Those demons are everywhere." While she frowned at Kankuro, Hiroto responded.
"Kankuro, I've told you before, the Bijuu aren't bad." Kankuro frowned at him, but with a glance in Gaara's direction he sat down. He hated the life his brother had lived because of his bijuu.
"That isn't entirely accurate, Hiroto." They all turned to her again. "Isonade, 3-tailed shark, and Orochi, 8-tailed snake are evil as our society describes it. However the rest of the Bijuu have the same moralities as the rest of their race." She was eyed with some scepticism. Kankuro again responded.
"What about Shukaku? He's bloodthirsty." She frowned.
"Which is why I'm here." She turned to Naruto. "Naruto, may we see your seal?" He lifted his shirt and concentrated.
"When I developed this seal, it was designed to allow communication between the Jinchuuriki and the Bijuu. I'm here to examine the seal you have." She looked at Gaara. "I sense, and Byaka agrees, that your Bijuu is in pain, and is muted somehow. We do not understand." Gaara glanced at his siblings, and then at Naruto and Hiroto. Slowly he stood and set down his gourd.
"Gaara-"
"She should at least look, Brother." He opened his shirt and concentrated himself. A seal appeared on his back right at the base of his neck. The woman came over and placed her hand over it. She looked at it a moment before closing her eyes and activating her kekkei genkai. Her purple eyes stared at it a moment before she backed off, revert her eyes to normal.
"Your seal is fascinating." Kankuro growled at the term as Gaara put his shirt back on. She took out a piece of paper and drew two spirals on it. "Spirals are used in seals in one of two ways. The first is a spiral that takes chakra and it flows through the spiral, gaining momentum, until it comes out stronger then before, and the second is the charka comes into the spiral and looses momentum as it flows. All chakra has a direction it naturally spirals in. In both of your seals, the spiral is designed to increase the strength of the chakra and then fed it into the seal, thus sealing the bijuu with its own chakra. Naruto's seal is the first one" she pointed to the spiral on the left, "it is in the direction the chakra flows and as it increases it becomes focused. Your seal, however, is the second one. As the chakra gains more power, it also looses focus, it becomes chaotic. Generally chaotic chakra is thrust at one's enemies in the form of a general destruction jutsu. However, your seal is sealing it, forcing it back on itself and Shukaku continuously. Bijuu are more chakra then we are. If he isn't completely insane in that seal, it wasn't for lack of trying." Temari and Kankuro looked at Gaara thoughtfully. All three reviewed everything they remembered learning about Shukaku. Hiroto looked at Naruto.
"Say, Naruto, Suzaku wants to know if you can summon Youko yet." Naruto nodded at the abrupt question. "She wants to talk, to both Youko and Byaka, if possible." Both Jinchuuriki nodded and a white tiger, red fox, and golden bird were summoned and stood to one corner chatting. Temari turned to them.
"Are you saying that all the nightmares, we've dealt with, all the danger associated with Shukaku is because he's insane?" The woman nodded.
"With the exception of the two I mentioned, bijuu are not that bad. Shukaku has been the Ichiban for a millennia. He is the symbol for wisdom in their realm." Temari didn't look convinced. "If they were bad they would have been free a long time ago." Temari's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" She smiled sadly.
"Human seals cannot keep a Bijuu sealed. What they do is create a situation where to leave would kill someone." She was met with confusion. "Bijuu seals mix the bijuu's chakra with the Jinhuuriki's. As such the Jinchuuriki can survive maybe two weeks without the Bijuu, provided, of course, they survive the release." Temari sat down, this was all starting to fit with what she had learned when she was with Shikamaru and Sakura at Shinsui Temple. Kankuro sat forward at this point.
"If Shukaku could get out, he would have left a long time ago!" Tora nodded.
"I believe that the insanity in this case has the double effect of keeping him for focusing his chakra. I don't think he is able to leave on his own. However none of his friends would release him. It is a circle." Temari frowned in confusion slightly, but Gaara spoke for the first time in a while.
"Why wouldn't his friends free him?" Tora looked over and called Suzaku over. The phoenix hopped over, followed by the tiger and fox. "Suzaku, you and Shukaku are pretty good friends, ne?" Suzaku nodded.
"Since before I joined the Bijuu."
"What would Shukaku do if someone released him right now from Gaara-san?" Suzaku looked at Gaara as she thought. After a moment she answered slowly.
"If he didn't kill himself immediately out of guilt for causing Gaara's death, in addition to the deaths his presence has inadvertently caused, he would live in complete seclusion, giving up his title and all contact for the rest of his natural life, forgoing healing and communication. So would I. So would Youko, Byaka, Mui, Genbu, and Seiryu." Her voice was the most solemn Hiroto had ever heard. He didn't doubt for a minute how serious she was. Tora nodded to the bird. Temari spoke up.
"If that is true then why are you here?"
000
Hinata panted as she faced off with Neji, again. They had been at it for 10 minutes. This time they were simply sparing, not really trying to one up the other, but just a back and forth. Neji was also panting. He looked like he was enjoying the round. Hinata was glad to be able to finally keep up with him.
Just as she charged forward again, Ebisu called a stop to the spar. He looked at Hinata a moment, then over to Hiashi.
"Hiashi-dono, I believe I understand your concern. Do not share it. Hinata will do fine in this style, provided she is allowed to learn it in her own way." Hiashi just stared at him as he walked over to the two chunin. "Neji, perform a series of moves Hinata hasn't practiced yet." Neji glanced back at Hiashi, who nodded, and pulled off a complex move that was a few more lessons ahead of Hinata.
Ebisu nodded. He looked at Hinata.
"Did you catch most of that?" She looked at it uncertainly. "Neji, one more time please. Hinata, try to focus on the body positions, not the goal of each movement." Hinata nodded and watched again. This time she thought she saw it all. But she didn't think she could reproduce it.
"Hinata, close your eyes. Picture each position in your mind. Not the movement, but each position." Hinata did as she was told. She pictured the eight positions in order. She did it again. The third time, the watchers saw her hands come up. The fourth time her feet moved as well. The fifth time she performed each position separately. Ebisu nodded.
"Now watch me as I perform these positions." He went through the positions separately. His strikes were off, but that was because he had never had the Byakugan. This move would never help him. The second time he went through it, he melded the positions together. Hinata watched as the movements became one motion, but this was different then Neji's motion. She closed her eyes and breathed. When he went through it again, slowly, she followed next to him. He stood and nodded.
"Now, on your own, add your knowledge of the style and adjust for your size." Hinata close her eyes, and in a speed that rivaled Neji's, she performed the move beautifully. Hiashi looked on in confusion. Her performance still had that feeling of a lack of gravity. Ebisu turned to Neji.
"Do you know the counter for this move?" At his nod, Ebisu beckoned him over. Hinata and Neji faced off. They pulled into position and Hinata began the move. Neji countered as he was taught. They stepped back.
"Good. Now Hinata, relax. You already can perform this move. Now when you perform the move this time, pull your eyes out of focus and use your other senses. Now one more time please." Neji countered again. But this time it was different. Every part of the counter simply met with air as her attack landed gently. He saw her move and was keeping up,but the counter was simply not working. When they stopped, Hinata opened her eyes and looked at Neji a moment before looking at Ebisu. The teacher was nodding in approval. He turned towards the porch.
"Hiashi-dono, your daughter has a different body type then the rest of your family. Her jutsu will never be the style you tried to teach her, rather her style will be equally deadly and commanding. I suggest that you have Asuma, or another wind user, work with her for a while to have her hone her element." He bowed as he finished his report and poofed off, job complete.
Everyone present just stared at the spot he had been. They all had the same question on their minds.
What on earth just happened?
000
Haruka smiled as she gathered her thoughts to answer the question posed.
"I am here to modify your seal, Gaara-san." She was met with varying looks of confusion and disbelief. "I helped design Naruto's seal. I can replace your current seal with his." Hiroto jumped up immediately.
"You mean he'll be able to talk to Shukaku?" She nodded.
"And more. Naruto's seal is designed to integrate their chakra so he can use it safely. He can talk to and listen to Youko. When he dies, Youko will automatically be returned to the dimension of the demons." Hiroto smiled widely. Temari still looked skeptical. Kankuro glanced towards Gaara.
"And the nightmares?" Haruka looked at him in question. He elaborated "Gaara doesn't sleep for two reasons; Shukaku's personality would destroy his, and he has terrible nightmares." Haruka frowned.
"If those are coming form Shukaku, it is probably a result of his mental instability. It will take him a day or two free of this seal's influence before he can think straight again." Haruka looked for the next question when the object of the discussion spoke up.
"What do you need?" She looked at Gaara gently.
"Space and time more then anything. We shouldn't be in a village, but in the woods. Only those present now should be there, unless another Jinchuuriki is around here somewhere. We will need an evening to set up. A day to perform, and a night to sleep it off. Naruto and I have everything else we need." Gaara nodded slightly as he stood.
"The day after tomorrow, meet my siblings and I at the north wood border. Hiroto, leave with them. It is best we do not leave together." All present nodded. Gaara stood and motioned to the door. Within a few minutes, Naruto and Haruka placed their disguises back on and Haruka had lowered the shield. Gaara left to prepare. He had much to do.
Hiroto suggested they walk around Suna for the rest of the day and leave on the morning. Haruka had fun walking behind the two hyper Jiinchuuriki through the city
000
Hinata was the first in the yard to recall her wits.
"How could a wind user help me hone my element?" She wasn't answered aloud, but rather mentally.
By training your element, dear.
I don't understand, My elemant is Water.
No, my element is water, so you can use it. Your element is wind.
But I was using water before I became a Jinchuuriki
This seal is designed to pass me from mother to daughter at birth. It is likely that even though I didn't pass to you at birth, a part of me tried. I'm afraid I don't know much about the circumstances surrounding your birth.
Actually, neither do I. I'll ask.
Speaking of which, they are trying to get your attention.
Hinata returned to the world of the living abruptly. Neji was in front of her waiting. Hiashi, on the other hand was calling her name. She nearly growled. Neji knew she was talking to Mui, why couldn't her father figure it out.
"I was simply thinking hard." Asuma chuckled.
"Really hard, Chibi Hina." She gave him a good natured glare before she turned to him.
"What do you think of helping me discover my element?" Hiashi and Neji looked at her in confusion. Most of the village still didn't know that she was in control of water element.
"If wind is your element, I would be fine with general training, but my fighting style and yours are complimentary, not similar." Hiashi looked at his former teammate.
"Still you know my style well enough to help her start off." Asuma nodded.
"We can do a little this afternoon, but mostly we'll start tomorrow." Hinata nodded.
000
Ten Ten spotted her prey as he entered the forest. She quietly crept after him, not wanting to spook him into finding her. She had known he would be here. She leaped up behind him. Raising the stick that she had grabbed she prepared to rush him. Seeing him slow down, she thought he may have heard something. She made her move, snapping the stick to get his attention and turn him around.
Neji let out an oompf as Ten Ten tackled him in the dense forest. He should have known it was too quiet. He felt her arms cradle his head, protecting it from the impact his back had just suffered. Looking up into her chocolate eyes he tried to regain his breath with her on top of him. It wasn't the easiest task. She was very distracting.
She giggled as he looked at her, trying to control his breathing. She knew that he always had a hard time breathing when they were this close, especialy in such a charged atmosphere. Spreading her legs down, she lay completely on top of him and rested her chin on her hands, which were on his chest.
Neji, after regaining some of his mental capacity, found that she was having way too much fun without him. Placing his hands around her alluring waist, he flipped them over, placing her on her back under him as he stared down at her. He always found it slightly unfair that she could somehow keep her breathing, but he supposed one of them had better. He smiled a small smile and nuzzled her cheek gently.
Ten Ten giggled slightly at the affectionate tickle. She reached up and placed her arms around his shoulders and drew him in for a kiss. A gentle sweeping of the lips from her and suddenly he was ravishing her lips like a man starved. She felt his hands tense under her and lift her waist, melding their bodies together. She pushed her chest against his firm one as she answered his call, each stroke of his tongue, each moan. She panted when they parted. His face went to her shoulder as they lay on the ground breathing hard.
"I missed you, Saiai" Neji's eyes closed. He knew he would crave that name his whole life.
"And I you, Ten Ten." He had told her a long time ago that her name was the best description of her, heaven twice over.
"So, you want to tell me what is going on with Hinata?" She hadn't heard any information from him with regard to his family in a while, and she wanted to know how he was doing with it all. Neji pulled back and smiled a real big smile.
"She asked me to be her second."
000
Asuma and Hinata stood in the middle of a field. it was all grass up to the forest that was its border. Asuma had chosen this place for that reason.
"I didn't want you to be near water." Hinata glanced at him. He chuckled, "Your affinity for water is too great, I think it would interfere with your ability to feel the air. Now basic wind technique starts with a leaf." Hinata held up a simple leaf. Asuma had another. He held it in his hand, closing his other one on top. "Feel the wind, it is part of you. Your task is to use the force of wind to rip the leaf in two. Like this." He showed her his leaf in two clear pieces. Hinata nodded and tried. She felt Mui retreat from her mind in an effort to pull some of the water part of her away. She felt and stretched herself to feel the wind. She felt something but it was faint, and she recognized it a second later as the stream. Water again.
Sighing she opened her eyes.
"I'm still feeling only the water in the area." Asuma frowned as he thought. He had never taught someone with two elements before. He tried to think back to when he had been taught and to apply it to this situation. He remembered his sensei had him do one of his moves. A move that showed the wind side of him. Maybe that would work. he had seen Hinata's new techniques int he hospital over a year ago. The offensive one could work.
"Okay, I have an idea. When I was learning, I had a hard time too. So my sensei had me relate it to a move that was similar to wind. You have a move like that. Use the offensive form of Shugohakke Rokujūyon Shō." Hinata thought about it. It was very different from the Juuken. The Juuken is about hit and block. Her style was a cutting style. The style attatched to Wind.
She closed her eyes and began the move.
"Remember, not with chakra. With wind!" Hinata concentrated. She tried to feel the wind. She pulled. She couldn't find it. She couldn't even find the beginning. Sighing she slumped over, exhausted. Asuma sighed softly. They had been at this for over three hours.
"Lets call it a day. Maybe sleep will bring inspiration." He nodded to her and walked away. Hinata looked down in disgust.
"Sleep never brings this kind of help."
000
Naruto sighed softly as he and Haruka sat in the room set aside for the two of them. Hiroto and Haruka sat in a corner talking softly. Hiroto was interested int he history behind the bijuu. Naruto wanted to take this time to see what had been worrying Hinata all day.
His luck she was alone, though in no mood to be comforted.
000
Hinata wandered through the village. She was having hard time wrapping her head around the idea of a second element. She had felt water since she was old enough to walk. She looked up at the Hokage Mountain sadly. What was she missing? She started the hike up the mountain. She was forgoing dinner tonight, an act that would more then likely send her family into quite the tizzy, but she couldn't bear to go back in failure, again. She was sitting on the monument sadly when Naruto brushed her senses.
He sent a general concerned greeting. She nearly snapped back at him, but her recent failure hung over her head and she couldn't get up the courage even if she could find the anger. She felt his concern even more potent now. She felt Youko add his chakra and Mui add some of hers to Hinata.
He won't sense me, and you need to talk to him, Hina-chan.
Thank you Mui.
Hina-chan?
Naruto-kun?
Are you alright?She felt his care surround her. She briefly explained and showed him her day. He could feel her irritation and overall depression over her failure, not only to find the element training, but to ever succeed in Juuken.
Closet-pervert said you were using Juuken, just a different version.
Closet pervert?
He is a pervert, but he doesn't flaunt it like Kakashi and Ero-sennin
Ah Hinata smiled as she reveled in her love's voice. She felt his chakra like a warm blanket
Hina-chan, I have an idea. Stand up. She did so. She breathed in deeply, contently as she stood practically on top of the world. She felt a gentle breeze. She stretched her arms out and the wind blew around her. She felt Naruto in the air. It was as if he was standing right with her, embracing her. She felt the wind through her hair. She felt his chakra surrounding her and reached out with her's to meld. She felt free and light. Opening her eyes she realized she was the wind, not just a gust, but every movement had a destination, had a feeling. She closed her eyes again, melding with her love and her element.
000
Haruka looked at Naruto as he called his element.
"Not in the room, silly." She formed a shield around him with seals and then returned to talking to Hiroto. He was watching Naruto. He turned to Haruka.
"You've had a mate, ne?" She nodded absentmindedly. "What is it like, having that bond?" She smiled softly.
"It is eternal reassurance and criticism. A buffer for your temper and your self bashing. It is understanding and safety. There is no way to describe the feeling you get with your mate." Hiroto looked back to Naruto.
"No wonder he is so into his meditation." Haruka smiled softly.
"Yes, his bond with his mate, though new, is deep, all the more precious due to his childhood." Hiroto looked down.
"Do you think there's a mate for everyone?" Haruka smiled.
"Yes." She glanced towards the door where Gaara was standing and watching Naruto, listening to their conversation on the side. "Everyone."
000
Neji frowned as he stood in the courtyard. It was dark out, but he wasn't feeling sleepy. Actually he couldn't have been more awake. He turned slightly as he heard foot steps.
"Where is she?" Ten Ten frowned slightly at his worried question. She had come over for dinner. When Hinata hadn't come home for dinner, she had decided to stay until the heiress returned. She and Neji had talked for over two hours today; about them, about Hinata, about the clan, about everything. She had sat on his lap in front of the setting sun and then came home with him for the first time. Hiashi had insisted she stay for dinner as Neji's teammate. Ten Ten rather thought he knew exactly who she was to his nephew but was giving Neji the space and time he needed to tell them himself.
She hugged Neji from behind. He needed the support as he worried over his cousin. His attention was pulled to the front gate as Asuma came through. Neji and Ten Ten went inside to where he was speaking to Hiashi.
"Hiashi I don't think I'm the right person to help her. Beyond the most basic skill, there is little I can do."
"Who do you suggest? There are very few wind users in Konoha."
"That sand woman, Temari. Shikamaru says she uses wind. I remember her fight, her style is right." Neji narrowed his eyes.
"You should be discussion this with Hinata-sama." He was glaring slightly at his uncle, his temper already pushed to its limits by Hinata's absence. "Speaking of which, where is my cousin." Asuma looked at Hiashi in question.
"She isn't here? We called quits over two hours ago." Hiashi shook his head.
"She never came home for dinner." Asuma's eyes narrowed.
"We didn't make any progress, she might be working off some guilt." Neji snarled.
"She could do that in the yard or the dojo, here." Asuma turned back to the chunin.
"Why would she want to. The last few times she has failed, I don't think this was the place she found reassurance." Neji backed off mmediately on that note, Ten Ten placing a hand on his shoulder. Hiashi snarled this time.
"We've changed. We're a family now." Asuma frowned at him.
"Habit is habit. If she is used to feeling this way about a failure, then she will feeling this way about a failure without even noticing it." Hiashi sat back down.
"I just want to know she's okay." Neji started at that statement. He could know. He was so stupid! He turned his back to the room and focused. Feeling along to Naruto, he intruded on the blonde's concentration. Feeling an annoyed jab before a question, he sent his concern and an image of his cousin. He got a feeling of amused annoyance back, along with a reassurance that she was perfectly fine and they were having some much needed time to themselves. He got the underlining message; buzz off and chill out. He smiled. Turning back to the room he saw that Asuma and Hiashi were still speaking in heated turns.
"She's fine." Hiashi looked at him in amazement, followed by Asuma. Ten Ten smiled slightly, but hid it well.
"And how did you reach that conclusion, Nephew." Neji nodded to him.
"My way. She's fine, just taking some time to herself. I think I'll go and make sure Hanabi is in bed." He excused himself, followed by Ten Ten. Hiashi and Asuma just looked at each other.
"Tea?" Asuma nodded amiably and sat down.
000
Hinata smiled contently as she looked over the village int he wind. Glancing down slightly, she saw their spot. Gently she walked down the side of the mountain. When she arrived she found that the pond was indeed full of water and moon made all of it rather surreal. She shed her clothes, confident that only she and Naruto came here at midnight. She stepped on the waters surface with barely a ripple. Drawing an image of herself and the water, she sent her love and feelings of content to her love.
She began her dance, slowly at first, but picking up speed as she got used to the wind. She understood now. She was two parts, the part of her that stayed with her family and valued the traditions, that allowed herself to continue a circle, like the flow in a stream. But there was another part of her, a part that was free, that flew in the direction of her life of her own will, the part that loved Naruto. The water was her family, its tradition, its history, its style, but the wind was her's, her individuality, her kindness and her determination.
She felt Naruto smile at the image she sent to him as her water streams and air streams crossed, interacted, and separated again. Her dance was evolving as surely as she was. Now that she used it, she knew that she had felt it all her life.
She knew this was who she was.
000
Naruto smiled in joy as he opened his eyes. Hinata was heading home and he was ready for bed. He was estatic that he could help the one he loved.
Loved. he wondered when it had become so potent. At first she was his friend. A child love, the care one gives to someone important. She was the only one back then. Then she faded into his subconcious. Always there, barely outside his perception. She was a figment he had used to model his desire for a companion after. Many times when he was younger, he had wondered if he had indeed conjured her out of thin air, just to remember her.
Then during the exams, what Neji said had caught his attention. He had looked at Hinata and seen a spirit being pounded by the forces of society, and he remembered how he had someone when he was young. One person can make someone want to live to their fullest. His encouragement didn't win the battle, but she did win her own war. Her confidence was strong, she had a reason after that. Then when she talked to him before his fight with Neji, he knew, she was a friend he wanted to get to know. She could care about him and he cared about her.
The mission with the beetle was another reminder. Her determination and care was warming him. He had known then, she was a shining light. She was the first person he had ever known that wanted his approval. Him! No one wanted him, yet she did. When she was kidnapped he felt as if fate was trying to steal his life away, again. Why could fate stop messing with him, jerking his puppet strings and seeing which way he'd fall. But he hadn't fallen, or failed. She had been found, safe. Then the worst thing happened. She found out.
She knew what he carried. He hadn't looked at her, he couldn't bare to see her face full of hate, or worse, of fear. But she hadn't hated or feared him. Instead she had welcomed him. She was an angel. An angel he had been idolizing since he was six. Now he could help her. He hoped he would always be able to be there for her.
He nodded to his aunt as she looked up from her scroll. She smiled softly and nodded back. Neither spoke, they had been around each other so much that they didn't have to.
000
Neji looked up as Hinata came in the compound at 1 in the morning.
"Hinata-sama." She smiled and nodded to him.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Neji's eyes softened slightly.
"Hinata-sama, next time could you have him send me a quick message?" She smiled and nodded. "Also, a warning, Uncle is slightly annoyed."
"I figured as much." They walked into the house. Neji didn't need an explanation and Hinata didn't need reassurance. Their oath to each other had ensured that.
000
Naruto stretched to the ceiling as he stood. It was a bright sunny day, perfect for traveling. Of course it was always sunny in the desert, but that didn't dampen his mood. Haruka smiled at his antics. Hiroto was strolling with her as Naruto led the way. Haruka was actually the person who knew where they were going but, Naruto knew that if he went the wrong way, she would point it out. Haruka was enjoying talking with the jubilant suna youth about Suzaku's exploits when he was younger. She had missed talking to people. Sure Naruto was good company but even such close family got sick of each other. Still...
"Oi, have you done your exercised today?" Naruto looked back at her.
"I was actually hoping we could introduce Hiroto to 'our' method of travel today." Haruka raised an eyebrow but smiled. She turned to Hiroto.
"Can you keep up?" He smiled happily.
"Watch me, Hun!" He leaped off as Naruto yipped for joy.
"Onee-sensei's it!" She smiled and leaped after the two of them. The animals stopped in their daily pursuits to see three hyper shinobi laughing and sprinting around the trees in the late morning sun as they entered the forest.
000
Hinata stood in the field. She had been waiting for Asuma for ten minutes. She smiled as he walked up. She could feel it now, the tight contained energy he had in the wind around his body. She glanced his way.
"Well, Chibi Hina, lets get started. Remember the exercise, cut the leaf in half." She smiled. Her talk last night with her father had been tired and brief. So brief, she hadn't told him that she had experienced wind. Also, he hadn't told her he had talked to Asuma last night. Neji relayed that this morning as she was heading out. He was leaving with Hanabi for the Academy at the time.
She closed her eyes and felt for the presense she had come to associate with wind, Naruto. She wasn't looking for him, but for the part of her that craved him. She felt the wind answer her unspoken call. It grew around her gently, caressing her body as it flew through the field in joyous spirit. She coaxed it to raise the pile of leave it had gathered there earlier. The leaves swirls into the air before the wind went on its way. She turned to Asuma's stunned expression and held out a hand.
He looked at her hand in happiness and pride. There in her hand was a single leaf.
Cut perfectly in half.
000
The three shinobi had set up the campsite by the time the three sand siblings had arrived. They looked around the camp in approval as they sat down for dinner. Temari soon spoke.
"So what all is going to happen tomorrow?" Haruka looked up.
"First, before I do, you four should learn my actual name." When she had their attention she continued, "My name is Uzumaki Haruka, I was adopted by Naruto's grandfather when I was six. I am a kunoichi for Konoha that disappeared 16 years ago. I am considered dead in the world of shinobi." She looked at them as they took this in. Kankuro spoke first.
"Dead?" She nodded.
"And I would like to remain that way for another few months." The four looked at each other before all the gazes fell on Gaara. They would go by his decision of the matter.
"We understand." She smiled, and relaxed.
"Then tomorrow, after we have awakened and eaten a large breakfast, except for Gaara-san, I wil preform the seal transfer. I will hold the old seal in the air as I paint the new seal on. My kekkei genkai is how that will be down. Naruto, I want to you to watch the drawing of the seal. You need to learn the seal that is on your stomach. Once the new seal is completed, I will release the old seal and allow the new seal to take over. This is the hard part for us. As the seal activates, Gaara-san will temporarily loose control of his chakra. Naruto, you will stay with him. Talk to him, anything to bring his attention to the present reality. Kankuro you will be behind Hiroto who will use his Bijuu to cover the two of you. I will do something similar with Temari. Gaara, your only goal tomorrow is to keep yourself in the here and now. You have to regain control before Naruto or I run out of chakra. Hopefully we'll sleep through the night afterwards. Any questions?" Her dazed audience shook their heads. "Good, we should head to sleep. Kankuro, of all of us, you will be expending the least chakra tomorrow. Please deal with breakfast and something light for Gaara." Kankuro glanced at his brother hesitantly before nodding. Hiroto watched him in concern as he walked over to his sleeping mat.
"Hiroto?" He turned to Naruto.
"Bushin. I hope tomorrow goes well." Naruto looked at Gaara, who was looking at them, and nodded.
"Me too my friends, me too."
000
Hinata crossed her arms as she listened to her Hokage. She had hoped that her undercover mission had been the end of that person. She had been wrong.
"So you are saying that the creep we busted up was part of a bigger problem?" Tsunade nodded to Kiba as Shino and Hinata watched quietly, though with no less internal turmoil.
"If the bastards were keeping outside the country borders it would be different, but they are starting to expand if they are entering the cities. We've already tried other methods of protection from the group. We have no option left. On top of having several lords requesting their removal, our villages safety now requires it." Shino adjusted his glasses. A motion that told his teammates that he was thinking hard and wasn't pleased with the topic of said thoughts. Hinata bit her lip slightly as she tried to pick apart her own feelings on the matter.
The group was a sleazy organization of men who were trying to earn a profit by conning or all out kidnapping young women and men and turning them into playthings for the highest bidder. The person would spend a day or three with the member of the organization and then, once sufficiently trained, they would be transferred to someplace where the trace of them disappeared permanently. The few that had been found after they had been through this had no memory of their life or name or anything but their current "job". Hinata's team was a tracking team. Their ability to gather information was the reason they were placed together.
"Hinata?" She looked up to see Kiba looking at her in question. Shino was also watching her. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought.
"Takaki was the mot difficult role I have ever played. She was me, and yet she wasn't." Her voice was quiet, though Tsunade was only person in the room who had a hard time hearing it, Shino and Kiba being used to it. Hinata looked at Tsunade. "Many shinobi give much for what we believe in, for our future. During a mission, we are prepared to give our time, our morals, even our lives. I understood that, but I always thought it would be me doing it." She looked at Shino and Kiba. "This isn't a comfortable mission." Tsunade nodded. She had come to them with this as a request, not an order. She understood their reluctance. She looked up again when Hinata continued.
"But, I understand now." She glanced at Shino and Kiba, both giving the support she needed. They understood and would support her decision. "Takaki is me. She is me giving my personality to the village for a mission. I cannot ignore the responsibilities of my clan. At the same time, I have a responsiblity to this village and to my beliefs. I believe these people need to be taken out." She stood firm as her quiet voice carried conviction. Kiba knelt beside her with Akamaru, Shino stood behind her shoulder, and Hoshi was on her other shoulder. They were a team.
"Thank you." Tsunade smiled, truly thankful for their response. "Then as of this point the three of you are to be considered chunnin elite. During missions involving your counterparts, you will hold the rank of Jounin. Your alias are a personal shinobi secret from this point. You may tell those you trust, however it is only your secret to tell. The only other person allowed to tell your identity is the Hokage, me. Ibiki, Kakashi and Anko will train you in their spare time." Hinata nodded.
They were helping Konoha.
They were becoming Shinobi
They were growing up.
Hi guys Guess it's another chapter one. I really wanted a one-shot, but... oh well. Feed back please!!!!!!!! I need some help. Am I missing anything, major plot holes? Skimming over confusing part (or a juicy scene)?
Gaara, Temari, Kankuro and Hiroto point of view calls Haruka, Tora becuase she doesn't want anyone to know she's alive, so they don't know her name until they are in the forest.
Tora-tiger
Ichijin-gust of wind also vanguard (front of a military attack)
place+jin-person from "place" (Americajin-American, Francejin-Frenchman/woman)
Kashoku o Terikaeshiteiru-Reflecting a Bright light
From "Three":
Orenji-orange
Uzu-swirl
The mission Hinata is referring to at the end is from Found Family