Hero's Comeback
Hinata
I spun, thrusting my chakra forcefully from my palms as i rotated. My face was probably a knot of concentration as i wove my chakra out on a circular shield. My sandals crunched on the dry leaves. I was wearing my typical ninja outfit, and the Byakugan enveloped my eyes. As i spun i could see my dark blue hair flying around my shoulders as i threw now visible chakra lines out from my gyrating body.
'Naruto's coming home today. I've missed him so much, ever since he went off to train with Jaraiya it's been so quiet around town.'
As the thought passed through my head, a warm, pink flush crept to my cheeks. I lost my focus, and with it my balance. The Byakugan slipped from my eyes, as my feet slipped on the leaves. i landed with a thump on the solid ground, and the sudden pain caused me to wince. My shoulder and chin were red from the collision. I pushed myself up with my good arm, twinging ever so slightly, the pain had not yet faded.
'Kiba and Shino, and Sakura, TenTen, Lee, and most definitely Naruto, everyone's gotten so much stronger. I've got to keep going, I've go to show Naruto I'm stronger now.'
i dusted my purple shirt off, taking my stance.
"Byakugan!" i said, and the veins around my pale eyes bulged slightly.
I started to spin once more, thoughts purely on the threads of chakra i was weaving into the air. i dipped and swayed, using my three hundred and fifty nine degree vision to watch the slowly materializing globe of chakra. This was a technique i had been working on for almost a year. I had almost got it down. I spun my chakra into thin cords, releasing them from my chakra points along my arms. Spinning and weaving the chakra into a blanket sphere, it became an almost unbreakable shield. The only problem was the immense amount of chakra and concentration that the technique required were difficult enough to muster up in training, let alone in an actual battle.
'Neji's been able to slice through it with his Gentle Fist technique, but it can stop Kiba's "Fang over Fang".' i thought, then berated myself for lightening up on my concentration.
I slowed down, cutting off the chakra threads and dropping to a sitting position. I was panting, and a trickle of sweat beaded from my forehead. i moved my long, cobalt hair over my ear and out of my face, and breathed in a long, deep breath. It was five o'clock in the morning, and after a brisk run around the academy grounds, then to a clearing that Naruto had shown me before he left. I had started training really hard as soon as i had heard that Naruto would becoming back in a few months. I had trained for months, nearly twelve hours a day, and i was proud of the way that my slim arms had become strong, but not visibly so.
'I wonder if Naruto will like the results of my training.' i thought, blushing tomato red. How was i supposed to concentrate with Naruto's handsome face floating through my head whenever i closed my eyes?
Still, i pushed myself up into a wobbly standing position, and started again. However tired i got, i had to keep going, i needed to get stronger so i could impress Naruto. Again, i blushed, again i exhaled, pooling my chakra. Starting to spin, the chakra flew from my arms, fluctuating as the luminous blue strings wove in and out of each other. I spun, around and around, ducking and bobbing, embroidering my chakra skillfully, filling in the gaps in the extending sphere. The chakra lines sliced hundreds of gashes into the dirt, leaves and twigs that comprised the mat of nature under my spinning feet.
"I can't wait to see Naruto when he arrives." i said aloud, the blush that had so many times before graced my pale cheeks returned.
The cool morning air was fresh and crisp, and it had a nice, sharp smell that reminded me of walking through the woods in the fall. I wondered where Naruto was, if he was back yet. No, it was probably to early to even hope that he had returned. I ran through scenarios in my head, wondering how i would reintroduce myself, and wondered if he would even remember me. That thought scared me worse than the thought that i would faint when i saw him, which was a rather likely probability.
I cut off the chakra to my arms, and released the technique. I sat down hard, a few leaves skidding away from the spot where i landed. I was breathing hard, and i stopped thinking about Naruto for the brief moment that i watched one leaf drift slowly away, until it was lost in the camouflage of the woods. i exhaled, and looked up into the sky. the sun was peaking over the horizon, the pink-yellow light slowly soaking into the clouds that were slowly gathering, almost like a giant hand was tugging them together. It looked pretty, the color filled clouds gathering, the several dark, gray clouds scattered into the mix.
"Gotta keep at it i guess." i sighed, straightening up, and again threaded my chakra out of my arms. My hair spun along with me, indigo, flashing in the dawns light. The leaves crunched, the ground by then covered in almost inch deep slash marks. I spun and spun, the shield once again enveloping my form.
Naruto
I yawned, stretching my arms, and ruffling my hair. I was tired, having been walking since the night before. Jaraiya had considered it time to returned to Konoha, now that Sasuke would be in more danger than ever with Orochimaru's jutsu almost ready. Having just gotten back from my almost three year training with Jaraiya, i walked through the gates of the Village Hidden in the Leaves looking around. I hadn't seen this place in what felt like forever.
My spiky blond hair was tied up with my forehead protector, which proudly bore the Konoha crest, and my trademark grin was intact. My bright blue eyes danced around the almost empty streets. Stalls and shops lined the streets, where later in the day, not now, at dawn, people would be milling in throngs, buying things of all sorts. I hadn't really expected many people to be up at six in the morning,and i was surprised to see Ino Yamanaka walking down one road. She had grown a lot. Her hair was longer, her outfit had changed, and her silvery eyes were clearly visible even from this distance.
Jaraiya stood behind me, his arms crossed, his white hair dancing lightly in the soft breeze. His grumpy features were the cover on the excitement i knew he felt. The training i had spent with him was almost unbearable at times, Ero-sennin being the worlds biggest pervert. Every single time a girl passed, old or young, his eyes went all googly and i had to threaten to put a Rasengan where it would hurt him the most. I grinned at the memory of the time i had actually done it, resulting in my being hung by my toes from the roof for several hours while he limped around the house.
My thoughts turned back to Ino, who was walking slowly and indirectly towards us. I don't think she saw us yet, so I waved, calling out her name.
"Hey! Ino! Long time no see!" i called, as the girl approached, a spring in her step.
"Hai, Naruto." Ino said, her eyes sparkling.
She threw her arms around me, in a great big bear hug. i hugged her back, and after a few seconds, she let go.
"So, Naruto, how are you? i haven't seen you in ages. Learn any new jutsu? Didja fight anybody? You didn't get hurt did you? Whattabout Sasuke?..." she rambled, not giving me any time to put in a reply.
When she did stop to catch her breath, i replied with a boisterous, "Did i ever!."
"Awesome Naruto! Everyone's been sooo worried about you. We should get everyone together and talk all about what we've been up to. I know that Kiba's been away with his family for a while, and Shino's been driven up the wall with missions. Shikamaru's as lazy as ever, and-" She suggested, and she would have gone on for several minutes about how lazy Shikamaru was, but i cut her off.
"Alright, alright. Slow down Ino. That's an awesome idea. I'll have my apartment ready by seven this evening, i'll put the invitations in your hands." i said, waving as she nodded fervently and turned to continue what she had been doing before our conversation.
"See you later Naruto!" she called back as she entered a shop on the side of the road.'
I waved again, turning towards the direction of my apartment, calling behind me,"Hey, Ero-sennin, tell Granny Tsunade we're back."
A grunt, signifying a yes, was my cue to leap onto the roof of a house, yelling to the world,"Hello world! Naruto Uzumaki is back in town!"
I bounded along the rooftops, casting my gaze over the village, watching the pinkish light peaking over the mountains to the east. It was really beautiful, the way the Hokage Mountain was silhouetted against the top of the newly rising sun, and the faces of all the Hokage were outlined. The top of the mountain was one of my favorite places to just relax, sometimes i would go there with Shikamaru and just watch the clouds, but i guessed the Nara may have grown up some, getting off his lazy butt more.
I wondered how Sakura was, i hadn't seen her in years, and i wonder if she was still doting over that Sasuke. I had a crush on Sakura, but it had been all but forgotten after the vigorous training i had been put through. i was still wondering when i reached my apartment.
Hinata
My spinning slowed as i gasped for breath. I had been training for almost an hour, and i was already tired. I wasn't going to be able to match Kiba or Shino in this state. The two of them were training their heads off, spending hours on end perfecting new jutsu. Shino and his dad just got back from a very difficult A rank mission, and i had no idea what Kiba was up to, but it was probably,knowing Kiba, training or watching dog movies with Akamaru. Neji had beaten my father once, and Sakura was excelling quickly in her medical ninja training.
I was just me. I had only learned one jutsu, and a modified version of one Neji had taught me previously which i still hadn't mastered. That is why i was out here in the forest, this early in the morning. I had a much better grip on the controls to my chakra then i had three years ago, and i could use it for menial tasks, i could make ropes with it, use it for a shield, and at one point i used it as a floating platform.
Sometimes i just didn't see the point in training. Sometimes i wanted to give up. Sometimes i almost overlooked my Nindo, my ninja way. But every time i did, my thoughts turned back to Naruto, and i remembered his smile, the way he made promises, proudly declaring that he never went back on his word, telling everyone he was going to get stronger and bring Sasuke back. He hardly even new the meaning of the word surrender, and he never gave up. Then i would always pick myself up and try again.
I stopped spinning and drooped my head, muttering "Well... I'd... better try... again.... then i...can go home."
I panted, hands on my knees, shaking. This was my thirteenth try, before breakfast. i don't really know why, but i had insisted on being up and training by five in the morning, i don't know why, but i guess it was habit. I didn't have the strength or chakra to keep it up.
"One... last... time..." i panted, sweat streaming into my eyes, stinging and blurring my vision to the point where i couldn't see.
I caught my breath for one last try. i steadied my shaking shoulders, trying to keep my vision from spinning. I pushed myself back into a roughly standing position. i wearily extended my arms to the side, slowly pooling chakra to the needed chakra points. My breathing was ragged and harsh, the fatigue of too much strain was getting to me.
"Ah well... This...one...last time." i panted, steadying myself, clearing my head.
The pool of chakra turned into a stream, and i started to spin once more. The streams i split and braided, then split and wove in among the others. Spinning, swirling my arms, maneuvering the chakra into an extensive barrier around me. Eventually the strands had become something resembling a globe. As the chakra filled in more and more of the gaps where the translucent blue energy let me see the trees in some spots, in others, the sky, or the ground. The sphere solidified, closing all but a few small gaps, and i cheered in my head. Having been able to manage to almost complete the technique with this low stamina and chakra left, it sent a really good feeling bubbling up into my stomach.
"Yes-s!" i shouted, my words slurred ever so slightly from the speed at which i was turning.
Exultant, i lost track of where i was standing, and i backed up one step to far, and tripped over a branch that lay behind where i had stood. i lost my balance, and as soon as my focus had left it, control of my chakra. One whip of the blue energy, thin, and sharp, sliced through a large, thick branch far above my head.
As i fell back, so too fell the branch. I couldn't, for some reason, bear to close my eyes, to blot out the vision of the onrushing log. I landed hard on my back, twisting violently, the pain that ripped up my spine forcing a cry from my lips. My face was contorted into an expression of pain, and my face was pressed against the ground, leaves sticking to my face and twigs twisted and caught in my hair.
As soon as i had cried out, the log fell on me, crushing the wind out of me, issuing sharp pain to my stomach and neck. I felt, or more precisely, heard something crack, and i had a suspicious feeling that it was probably me. The sharp prongs of some smaller twigs sliced through the skin in multiple places. I coughed, a small splattering of blood quickly bonding with the sand on which i was so violently squashed. I wondered, in an odd, delusional state of mind, probably something having to do with the imminent and impending doom, if i would ever get to see Naruto again.
My sight faded, and i felt dizzy as the suffocating blackness engulfed me. Even after my consciousness was all but gone, i could still feel the crushing weight of the heavy log on top of me. I felt like i was being compressed in a box, and my head felt like imploding. Blood, warm and sticky, ran down one side of my stomach, from the gash that had ripped through my jacket and shirt, slicing scarily deep into my flesh. The blood brought warmth, a warmth that made me feel like puking, for the last few seconds i was awake, staining my shirt. Small amounts of the red liquid dripped from the corner of my open mouth as well.
The last sound that i heard was a crack of vicious thunder, like the snapping of a whip. It alerted me, while my brain was still consciously functioning, of how i might die. The thought didn't faze me as much as it would have if i were awake, but it sent my vision, while it lasted, spinning. The dark gray clouds, that had been slowly gathering across the slightly sunny horizon since i had been awake, flooded over the now dawning sun, blotting out the orange light.
The blanket of dark gray clouds spread across the entire sky, bringing with it the smell that only an on coming storm can bring. Almost like an ominous giant, the cloud cast a slowly oncoming shadow across the Village Hidden in the Leaf. A crackle of thunder boomed over Hokage Mountain, and light, sickly yellow light, flashed above said monument. Another flash, and rain began to spill from the clouds, eventually turning from a spatter to a torrent. The water poured down, smashing down against the ground, bouncing slightly. It thoroughly drenched my clothes, raising goosebumps on any skin not completely wrapped in clothing.