I don't own Naruto
Mist covered that swamp; insects flew over animals' corpses, tree roots and some branches covered the river where snakes floated looking for prey, danger and obstacles made the navigation almost impossible. Nevertheless, there were people living in that nasty place.
Inside a cavern made by many trees' branches and roots that grew with indiscipline over the years, forming a large cavity, big enough to hide an army, some people actually lived.
Three men were talking, or to put it better, discussing.
"That is the perfect plan, now that we got the bijuu." – said laughing a long haired man, staring a beast caged inside the roots, immobilized by amulets and seals.
"Are you sure you can control this thing?" – The only teenager in place asked.
"Of course! I can control this beast and so can you with your sharingan."
"Feh. I don't want to get involved in your stupid plan…"
"Sasuke-sama, you should reconsider." – Spoke a young man, while adjusted the glasses in the bridge of his nose – "Besides, don't you want to meet your older brother?"
"What that f… bastard has to do with this plan?"
"Everything!" – Blasted the long haired man – "He is an Akatsuki member. This organization searches for the bijuu. And we have one right here!"
"Orochimaru, you are delusional! Are you really sure that this time you are going to destroy Konoha?" – Sasuke mocked his so called sensei – "You tried to use a beast in the first time and the Third kicked your ass; now the Fifth is going to crush your balls, if you have them, I mean…"
"Watch your mouth, brat." – Orochimaru warned, but Sasuke just smirked.
"This time things are going to be different. We have another idea to seize Konoha's shinobi." – Kabuto explained. – "Anyway, are you willing to cooperate, Sasuke-sama?"
"Whatever."
"Even if you have to face Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan?" – Kabuto teased the kid.
"I'm going to fight them just as I did before."
"Even kill them….?" – Orochimaru was testing his pupil's loyalty.
"If necessary." – Sasuke said, staring his sensei directly in the eyes.
"Good. I'll finish the preparations." – The snake man left the place.
"You didn't kill them the last time you met; do you think you will be able to do this time?" – Kabuto asked Sasuke.
"Do you doubt my loyalty, Kabuto-kun?" – Sasuke slowly asked, emphasizing the suffix after Kabuto's name.
"Honestly, yes. I do doubt your loyalty. You still have feelings for your friends."
Sasuke walked to be closer to Kabuto, so close that they could feel each other breath. The Uchiha leaned forward, his cheek touching Kabuto's cheek. He whispered in the medic nin's ears:
"I'm not the one whose loyalty should be doubted. You seem to have a lot of hidden agendas, Kabuto-kun. I'm keeping an eye on you….sharingan eye….."
Sasuke smiled at his last statement and left the place, leaving a startled Kabuto.
So, I must be careful. The baby-snake is distillating its poison already….
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Completely oblivious to the danger, the Hidden Leaf woke up in a sunny day. Its people started their morning rituals: women doing the laundry, salesmen exposing their goods, children were going to the Academy, ranked shinobi doing errands and preparing for missions.
The door bell rang at Yuhi Kurenai's apartment. The crimson eyed kunoichi opened the door.
"Oh! It is you Asuma! You came really early today!"
The jounin placed his hands on the lady's waist and pulled her closer to give her a passionate kiss. Kurenai recovered from the shock and pushed Asuma:
"No! Hinata is sleeping here!"
"Oh! Again?"
"Yes. Things are bad in her home since her failure in the last mission…"
"Those Hyuuga are merciless with the girl…."
"Mostly her father…." – Kurenai held Asuma's hand and guided him to the living room. – "I'll wake her up. Can you make some tea?"
"Sure." – Asuma lighted another cigarette and moved to the kitchen.
"Asuma dear, please, no smoking here….I already told you…" – Kurenai took the cigarette from his mouth and gave a peek in return.
The lady walked to the sleeping room, slowly opening its door. Hinata was still asleep in the futon placed beside Kurenai's bed.
The teacher opened the window allowing the sun light inside the room. Hinata moved a little, pushing the blanket to cover her face and protect her from the sunlight.
"Hinata. It is late, you should go home now."
"Uhhh…Kurenai sensei….just five minutes…"
"No sweet, get up now. Kiba and Shino are on mission, but you have to continue your training."
"Can't we train after the lunch?"
"No…Asuma is here…you see…." – Kurenai didn't want to use that argument, but the girl's laziness made it necessary.
"Oh! I'm s-so sorry, s-sensei! I'm getting up right now!" – Blushing, Hinata threw the blanket to the sides, sitting in the futon.
"No! No need to hurry, Hinata! Take your time! Asuma and I are just going shopping today…"
"Ah…" – the Hyuuga girl started to poke her fingers with the most innocent face – "Can…can I go with you?"
Kurenai sighed. It was clear that Hinata was avoiding Hyuuga State.
"No, you can't. Hinata you must face your father. You can't run away from the things you don't like…"
"I'm not running away! It is just that is so….hard to be there…." – a shadow danced in the girl's face.
"I know. But you promised to Naruto and to yourself that you wouldn't run away again, remember?"
"I remember….but that is not running away….I just feel so lonely there…." – Hinata bowed her head, in a defeated gesture.
"Hinata…." – Kurenai hugged her student.
After some minutes, both girls got out of the room and joined Asuma on the kitchen table. He tried to disguise the cigar smell with some fried eggs; unfortunately, Kurenai noticed and scolded him. Hinata smiled at the scene from her place across the table. She wanted those two to be her real family, a loving mother and a caring father –that was all she wanted…
Eventually, Hinata had to leave Kurenai's apartment. She walked through Konoha's streets, appreciating the baked bread smell, the stores' noises, people conversation. That entire walk was made in a slow pace as the girl was delaying her return home.
She noticed Yamanaka's flower shop and decided to enter.
"Welcome!" – Cheerfully said the blond girl behind the counter – "Oh! It is you Hinata-chan!"
"Hi Ino-chan…" – the Hyuuga girl timidly waved her hand.
"Look for something specific? We have just received some marvelous tulips…"
"I'm…I'm…" – she was not looking for anything, just a good reason to be away from home – "Seeds…I need seeds for my garden…."
"Hum…What kind of seeds?" – asked Ino, already walking away from the counter and looking in the seeds' basket.
"Aaa…red rose….lily….lavender….belladonna….."
"Ow! That is a lot of things! But let me check if I have all of them!" – Ino searched the basket, throwing on the counter the ones she found.
Meanwhile, Hinata inspected the flower shop, smelling the sweet scent of the white roses and the daisies. Ino interrupted her daydream:
"We are out of lily seeds, but I think we will receive some next week! Are you taking these?"
"Uh…sure! How much is it?"
"Ten bucks!" – Ino said while packing the seeds.
"Here. Thank you Ino-chan!"
"Thanks! See ya, Hinata!"
Hinata left the flower shop, and embracing the package she decided that it was time to go home and face her father.
The sentinels at the front gate greeted her. She observed every rock in the path leading to the Manor. Sliding the door, she saw no one. The Hyuuga residence was silent and cold.
Hinata walked to the garden in the backyard. On her way, one of her aunties passed by her; Hinata smiled and bowed her head, but the elder lady didn't seem to respond the compliment. It was always like this, she was already used to be ignored in that house.
Only the flowers and herbs in that garden seemed to acknowledge her, saluting the girl with its scents.
Sat in the wooden veranda, Hinata folded her capri pants up to the knees, and also took off her coat, staying only with her tank top and net shirt. With bare feet she walked among the flowers, herbs and branches. Kneeled next to the rose's flower-bed and started to plant the seeds.
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"Thirty seven….."
The young man sighed as he noticed that he missed one bird on his counting. It was that damn blind spot again; he was trying to find a way to minimize its effects since Kidomaru's fight.
Neji sighed again and picked up the towel he left nearby, using it to clean the sweat drops of his training. He watched the sky again and calculated that would eleven o' clock by now. Time to go home.
While walking he was still counting the birds, noticing its colors and types. He liked birds.
Hinata heard the footsteps' sound approaching. She raised her head, praying to not see her father. Instead, she saw her elder cousin coming from his training. His naked chest revealed his well built muscles; he was holding his shirt in one hand and the other had a water bottle; the towel was hanged on his neck. His long hair was tied in a high ponytail, but some strands were falling on his face.
Neji walked with his head bowed, with a thoughtful expression. Hinata found his eyes somewhat worried or rather sad. But she could never read his expressions as well as he could read hers.
He didn't seem to have noticed her presence in the garden. His obliviousness gave her more time to read his face. How could a person that you knew so well in your childhood become a mystery as an adult?
"Good morning, Hinata-sama." – he said, finally noticing her.
"G-Good morning, Neji-niisan" – she woke up all of sudden from her divagation.
Silence. They talked a lot as kids, but now they had nothing in common to chat. Hinata wanted to talk, and so she started a conversation in the dullest way:
"Nice weather, isn't it?" – Stupid, she thought.
"Hu-hum. Quite pleasant indeed." – He answered in a bored tone, showing no interest in that subject at all.
Silence again. Hinata lowered her eyes, focusing her roses. Neji resumed the unreadable expression, but few minutes after he said:
"Do you need something, Hinata-sama?"
"Hu? No, I don't, Neji-niisan."
"Then, with your permission, I must leave."
Hinata stared her cousin, unsure of what to answer or why he was so formal with her. He had been like this since the Chunin Exams. He was no longer a threat, but was no friend either.
"Ok, Neji-niisan. See you later." – She said in the most informal way, trying to show him that she didn't want the formalities of Main Family.
Neji bowed and disappeared inside the Manor, probably heading to the servants' quarters, where his room was.
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Hinata managed to avoid her father's presence the whole day, but she couldn't escape during dinner time. The Hyuuga Manor residents had the habit of sharing dinner time.
In the large dinning room there were three large tables: two of them disposed side by side, and the third was perpendicular to the others, forming a "U". The first table, next to the shoji doors was reserved for the members of Main Family who lived in the Manor; the second table, close to the kitchen door was for Branch Family who served in the Manor; and the third was for the Leader and his direct relatives, such as his daughters and wife.
Hinata sat in her chair, beside her father. Hiashi didn't bother to look at his elder daughter, he was paying attention to the conversation Sayaka, his wife, and Hanabi were having.
Neji, wearing the traditional Hyuuga black outfit, sat in the servants table and also was having a friendly conversation with another boy of his age.
Everybody was chatting, talking. Everybody, except Hinata. She was just observing those people, something she did all her life.
Nobody really cared about her in that house; nobody noticed that she was not sleeping at home for the last five days.
She ate quietly, hearing her father give Hanabi some advices about her upcoming Genin Exam. He was very proud of his second daughter: she would probably become a genin at the age of 10, while her elder sister only achieved genin rank at 12.
At the end of the family meal, Hiashi turned to Hinata and said:
"Meet me in the dojo. In ten minutes."
With a hand sign, he called Neji and both left the dinning room. Hinata asked her mother:
"Mom, do you know what father wants to talk with me?"
"I do not know, darling." – Sayaka answered in her always calm tone.
"He is pissed with you, nee-chan. Better be careful…." – Hanabi warned. In spite of the eternal comparison, there was no rivalry among the sisters. There was no reason for that: Hanabi has always been the favorite; Hinata never had a change in that competition.
"Ok."
Hinata stood up and glancing at the Branch house table, she observed that her cousin didn't finish his meal. Why Neji obeyed her father so blindly? He hated Main Family!
When Hinata arrived at the dojo, Neji and Hiashi stopped talking and the younger man stood up, bowed to her, and walked to the door.
Passing by his cousin, Neji gave her a small smile. Hinata noticed the sadness in that smile. Sadness to whom? Me or him?
She walked to the center of the dojo and motioned to sit in the tatami floor.
"No. don't seat. We are going to revise all steps of Juuken." – Hiashi interrupted his daughter.
"Aaa.. now? We have just eaten…"
"Now. And don't come with your feeble excuses. Let's start." – Hiashi leaned on his cane and observed Hinata with his byakugan activated.
Hinata took a deep breath and started the kata.
During two hours she revised all Juuken steps, being scolded and corrected by her father. Every time she did a wrong step, her father made her repeat all the kata again. A hand in wrong place, a foot a little forward, the mistaken position of her head - Hiashi noticed all and railed, demanding perfection.
Fortunately, one of the servants came and said that a Hokage messenger was waiting outside. Hiashi looked at the door and saw a blond boy waiting, the one he recognized as the Kyuubi vessel.
Hinata's face shinned as she saw Naruto. One bright thing in a dark day.
"It is probably the Hokage's answer for my request. Get it for me. I'm too busy."- Hiashi said to the servant.
"F-Father, can I get it for you?" – Hinata asked.
Hiashi stared his daughter and made an inquisitive expression; his mouth opened as he was going to ask her "why", but she made her move first:
"I….need some fresh air…We have been practicing for a long time…."
"Go" – he said in a harsh way.
Hinata happily slid the shoji door and crossed the Manor hall, jumping the wooden veranda and walking, no running, towards Naruto.
"H-Hi, Naruto-kun…"
"Oe! Hinata-chan! Good to see you!"
"I…uhh…came to get the Hokage's message for my father…." – she spoke while staring her feet and poking her fingers.
"Oh, here it is! That old hag is making me her 'message boy'! Can you believe it? Ero senin says its for training, but I think they are both taking advantage of my nice personality."
Hinata giggled and timidly took the scroll from his hands.
"So, how do you do, Hinata-chan? It is long time since the whole gang got together, ne? I miss everybody…"
"Yes, I miss everybody too…" – she carefully avoided answering how she was doing; as a matter of fact, even she didn't know….
"We should go out some day!" – Naruto smirked, rubbing the back of his head.
"……………………….." – Hinata blushed. Go out? Go Out with Naruto-kun?
"Ne, we should gather everybody and go to Ichiraku Ramen! Talk with Kiba and Shino about it! I'll invite Shikamaru and his team! Oh, and tell Neji too, so he can bring fuzzy eyebrows and Tenten-chan!" – Naruto was excited about the meeting.
"I w-will…" – she gave a feeble smile. So, was no date at all….
Naruto was babbling to Hinata about the great meeting plan and none noticed that someone was watching them.
From the second floor balcony, Neji observed his little cousin and his friend.
That idiot. How can he be so blind? She adores him…
The young man was smiling to himself.
Hum…maybe I should giver her some help….
Next time I meet Naruto, I shall give him a hint about Hinata-sama's feelings….
But then, Neji remembered why he was there: Hiashi sent him to get Hinata back since she was taking too much time to get a stupid scroll.
"Hinata-sama!" – he called.
Both, Naruto and Hinata turned to see. The blond boy smiled as he saw his old pal and, staying at Hinata's side, he placed his hand on her shoulder (in a friendly way!). Hinata blushed and almost fainted as she felt Naruto's hand in her shoulder.
"Neji! How are you doing, man?"
"Fine. And you?" – Neji was enjoying Hinata's embarrassment, but decided to help his cousin – "Hinata-sama, Hiashi-sama wants to see you."
"Aaa…The message! I….I must go, Naruto-kun! Good night!" – she bowed and ran from the blond guy, almost tripping in the rocky pathway.
"Hey, Neji? Do you have plans for tomorrow?" – Naruto asked.
"Depends."
"Depends? Depends of what? Well, whatever. I want to spar tomorrow, but everybody is busy. Can we train together?"
Neji had other plans, but that was a good opportunity to put in action his little idea of matching Hinata and Naruto.
"Ok. Let's meet at the Training Area at eight."
"Cool! I'm gonna show you how strong I got in those two years! Prepare yourself! He he he!" – Naruto jumped in joy.
"You wish. You won't survive ten minutes….I trained a lot too…"
"See ya tomorrow!"
Neji just waved answering the compliment and walked inside the Manor.
He went to his room and crashed onto his bed. He could hear Hinata's efforts and Hiashi's hard words to her. His uncle would make her train the whole night.
Staring the ceiling, he thought what he would say to Naruto about his cousin's crush.
Neji was a little clueless about love things. He decided long ago that love and marriage would be a nuisance in his warrior life, and so he decided that he would remain single: no girlfriend, no wife, and no woman to him. Besides, according to the Hyuuga laws, his children would be Branch House members – slaves – marked with the damned Cursed Seal. He didn't want this.
He smiled, recalling the time he said that to Tenten.
"You can't live a life without loving someone, Neji-kun!" – laughed the brunette kunoichi, while packing her weapons.
"Of course I can! Love can exist in many ways! Love for fight, for instance! That is love!"
"Not that kind of love I'm talking about!"
"Whatever"
"Besides" – she came closer and gave him a brat smile – "People have other needs…if you know what I mean…."
"I do know what do you mean" – he returned her brat smile with a smirk – "And there are other ways to satisfy those needs that do not imply love affairs, if you know what I mean."
"You are dirty, Hyuuga Neji. That is what you think?" – She said, still amused with her friend's point of view.
"I'm realistic."
"I can't deny that. But don't tell this to Gai sensei or Lee-kun. They will lecture you about Youth Love and other fluffy things…"
"Don't worry."
"Are you really sure…I mean, about live alone…."
"Yes" – he noticed her sad face – "I have my friends: you, Lee, Naruto and the others. Really, Tenten, this love thing doesn't bother me at all."
"The sad thing is that I believe in you"
Tenten was his best friend, the only person he could talk freely about almost everything. Not that Hyuuga Neji talked a lot, but he trusted her.
Reviewing that memory, planning how to tell Naruto about Hinata's feelings, Neji fell asleep.
Tomorrow would never come.
That night, fog covered Konoha's streets, sinking the village into a world of emptiness.
That night, another legendary beast attacked the village. Another bijuu; controlled by Orochimaru.
That night, an endless nightmare started.