Soul-Searching
Disclaimer: According to FF's rule, I do not own any characters from 'Naruto', but I am allowed to be bias to some characters. Yeah, baby!
Author's note: Introducing some new characters. Just a reminder.
Summary: Hinata was not left out during Naruto's 2 ½ year absence. She was offered to follow Kurenai's former sensei, Otagu Sanate, to Bird Country. During those 2 ½ years, Hinata has learnt to become independent and comfortable of herself (building self-esteem) and also, explore a little more of her feelings towards the opposite sex.
Chapter 1"Would you like to say good-bye to Naruto?"
The voice startled Hinata. She was peeking at Naruto and was caught red-handed. "Otagu-san…" Hinata cast her eyes downwards, looking at Sanate's feet.
Sanate was amused at Hinata's behavior and reached out to cup her chin. Shy and timorous Hinata. "Come now, Hinata-sama, they're going."
Sanate held Hinata's hand and performed a transportation technique. Hinata closed her eyes when a brilliant flash engulfed them. She held onto Sanate tightly as she felt a pull and a tug on her stomach. In mere seconds, they were standing a few metres away, in front of Jiraiya.
"Ah-ha! Showing off the Fourth's technique, ne, Sanate?"
Sanate gave the Legendary Sannin a beatific smile. "Ah, I want to say goodbye to Naruto." Hinata blushed when the Sannin looked at her. Their eyes locked for a moment before she averted her gaze which fell upon Naruto, who was running towards them.
"Okaa-san!" Naruto cried. He zipped past Jiraiya and ran into Sanate's warm embrace. "Okaa-san, I will miss you terribly! But I promise I'll come back even stronger!"
"Hai, hai. Naruto, Hinata-sama wants to wish you luck in your training." Sanate walked over to Jiraiya and they surveyed the scene before them. A gentle fair maiden and a loud boisterous clumsy clown, Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
He snuck a look at Sanate. Her long yellow hair, tied up in a ponytail with a long braid rippling past her shoulders until her waist; her robe was light pink as cherry blossoms; and her belt was of the signature of a Special Soldier from Hidden Sound, shaped like a chain of white marshmallows. She was, was in league with Orochimaru.
Jiraiya remembered Sanate aiding him to fend off the giant serpents and also assist Leaf ninjas to combat Sound and Sand nins. He did not doubt her loyalty, because she was a Leaf ninja once and was Yondaime's fiancee. However, he noticed her change of demeanor. She looked so much like…
"I know. I looked like a female version of Yondaime, right?" Sanate said quietly. She shifted her eyes to look at him. Jiraiya noted, even her eyes had changed from its original brown. Blue irises with shots of silver like beads of dew rests in the thoughtful look.
"Would you ever change back to your original appearnce?"
"I don't know," Sanate replied truthfully.
Hinata, on the other hand, was struggling to carry herself with cool composure, but with every passing minute, her resolve was threatening to crumble. She felt her knees go weak and she FELL ONTO NARUTO!
"Hinata!" Naruto cried as he caught her. With Hinata's head on his chest, Naruto began to feel weird. His heartbeat was steadily increasing and he noticed Hinata's bright pink face. On that special moment, he felt peace and comfort. The spell was broken, when Hinata crept away.
"Gomen, gomen…" Hinata avoided Naruto's eyes and began playing with her fingers.
"Ah, Hinata…" Naruto started when a chorus of voices rose to 80 desibels.
"NARUTO!" A cluster of familiar faces rushed towards Naruto from behind Sanate and Jiraiya.
"Kiba! Shino! Akamaru! Shikamaru.. (and so on)!"
Well, the laughter emmitted from the old gang was contagious. Hinata couldn't help but smile at Naruto bragging about his training and how he's going to create a whole new powerful technique. Everyone was talking all at once.
"Hinata-sama. It's time we take leave," Neji said behind her.
Hinata lowered her head and murmured her agreement.
Neji looked at the back of Hinata's head. He marveled at his cousin's bravery of coming all the way to bid Naruto farewell. Little did he know, Sanate laid out the opportunity for her.
The indigo-haired kunoichi turned her head slightly behind and smiled at Neji. I will have to train harder, too. I will surprise Naruto. Hinata was in her own little world and Neji left it to that.
Suddenly, a loud voice exclaimed, "SEXY JUTSU!"
Every male near the vicinity began to cough up blood from his nostrils while forcibly thrown back by the impact of a very hot, 'bare' blond standing right there (except for Neji). Jiraiya gave two thumbs-up and resorted to drooling over female-Naruto; Sanate sweatdropped; the girls were hanging their mouths open, feeling a little depressed at their own figures; Neji was shielding Hinata's eyes by forcing her head into his chest.
Neji quickly walked away from the scene with two bright spots on his cheeks.
Apparently, Naruto heard Jiraiya hitting on his 'mom' and turned into a girl to get his attention.
