Lessons Learned : Accidental Beginning
A/N: So... this is my first Jiraiya/Hinata fic. After reading all the stories with them in it... I couldn't get them out of my mind. I've written for Naruto before (A Shino/Hinata fic) but I may still make mistakes so feel free to correct me or yell at me for anything. I'm open to all kinds of reviews. Read and Review!
I
It was one of those weird days where Jiraiya had nothing to do. He had done his training the day before, and he had written enough novels to take a break for a few days. The toad sage wandered around the forest just outside of Konoha, heading toward the hot springs to do "research" just for the heck of it when he heard a trembling intake of breath.
Jiraiya froze. Wait for it... there! He whirled around and pushed through some bushes to see...
Hinata Hyuuga. She was sitting in the river, the water up to her shoulders. All of her clothes were still on, and even when Jiraiya stumbled, she didn't turn to see who it was. She just breathed. In and out. In and out. Jiraiya was never one to stick his nose into anybody's business (unless that business involved naked women) but it was the Hyuuga heiress... Hiashi's first born daughter.
Oxygen entered Jiraiya's lungs, but she spoke before he had the change to say anything.
"I-I realized that I'm not in love with him anymore." Jiraiya could see goose-bumps covering her skin. "Ever since I met him... I loved him, and then I convinced myself I was in love with him... and now that I'm not... I don't know w-w-what to d-do."
Ah... I remember. She was the one who loved Naruto... even when he chased after Sakura. Jiraiya frowned and took a few steps closer to her, sticking his toe in the water.
"Holy shit!" It was like ice. The toad sage almost fell over. He quickly shed his coat and began to dig around in his bag to see if he brought a spare change of clothes. Luckily for both of them, he did. "Come on out, Hinata-chan. You'll catch a cold."
She shook her head, her long purple hair shifting in the water.
"N-No, I'm fine w-where I am, thank you."
Putting a strong hand on her shoulder, Jiraiya tried to reason with her.
"Come on, your Father will worry about you if you get sick."
What happened next is still replaying itself in Jiraiya's mind. Hinata ducked her head down, a sad smile in her voice.
"My father does not care about what happens to me."
Despite the cold waters, the heiress didn't stutter once. The older man let his hand slide off of her shoulder as he sat on the shore, still out of her vision. He dug his hands into his pockets, sighing.
"Not a lot of people know that the Hyuuga clan was started by a woman. Back then, it was one thing to start a clan, but for a woman to start one... well you can imagine how revolutionary it was. But... all of her heirs were men, and their heirs were men, and it remained male for generations. Just when the clan was beginning to lose hope of ever finding their leader incarnated... you were born." Hinata gasped, realizing that she was talking to an elder. She turned, stammering apologies, but Jiraiya waved them away. "You should have seen your Father... he was so happy. So... I say he worries about you all the time, but he has the faith that you can handle yourself." By the time he was done, she was crying. Not sobbing or choking, merely crying modestly. He smiled a little, and he nodded his head. "Come on out of there."
He stood, extending his hand. Hinata took it, a bit red in the face.
"T-Thank you, M-Master Jiraiya."
She rose out of the water, teeth chattering as a breeze sent icy daggers into her skin. Jiraiya grinned, shrugging as if he had merely complimented her hair.
"Don't mention it." He folded his spare fighting pants and his jacket in his arms. "Here."
The shivering young woman took the clothing, then looked down at her soaking wet form.
"I, uh—"
"Oh, right."
Jiraiya ducked away, moving past a few trees before stopping. He sat against the trunk of a tree and closed his eyes.
II
When Hinata saw Jiraiya sitting on the shore, she thought she was hallucinating. She had expected Neji, maybe Shino... but not him. And she had been so disrespectful! Not even turning around to say hello...
But he wasn't angry or annoyed by her lack of manners. He just smiled... and for a moment she forgot that he was the infamous "Pervy Sage."
His clothes were warm. Hinata activated her Byakugan, making sure he wasn't hiding so he could peek at her undressing. He was far away, his back to her. Biting her lip, Hinata quickly pulled off her clothes and tugged on his jacket and pants.
She stopped when she realized how loose his pants were, and she struggled to find the ties. She wrung out her clothes, then walked towards the toad sage. She deactivated her Byakugan.
"E-Excuse me, Master J-Jiraiya?"
His eyes were closed, and she thought he was asleep. He cracked one eye open, then laughed. Hinata felt the blood rise to her face... why was he so amused? Was she so unbelievable? Hideous? Before she had the chance to ask, he wiped his eyes.
"S-Sorry... you just look so... engulfed." He jumped to his feet. "I'll walk you home. I haven't seen your old man in ages."
"O-Okay."
The walk was silent, but not totally awkward. Jiraiya simply took in the sights while Hinata tried not to breathe too fast as she neared the Hyuuga complex. Sure, she was having a powerful, well-known man escort her home... but she was in his clothes and he was Jiraiya.
Closing her pale eyes, Hinata bit her lip. Father is going to kill me.
Hinata flinched when the door slid open. Neji emerged, in his training clothes, and immediately came to a halt when he saw just who was walking his cousin home. He slipped into a defensive stance, his eyes narrowing.
"Good afternoon, Master Jiraiya."
The menace and accusation was quite apparent in the young man's voice. Hinata felt her face growing red with shame and terrible anticipation at what was to follow. It seemed, however, that Jiraiya had another plan.
"It's a fantastic afternoon, isn't it? Tell me, kid, is your father around?"
Neji's eyebrows twitched in a mixture of shock and mild anger at Jiraiya's brash attitude.
"He is." He turned swiftly on his heel. "Follow me." Jiraiya smiled, motioning to Hinata to accompany him. Neji stopped in front of regal doors. "Wait here."
Pale eyes connected. Hinata looked away from the harsh share. Neji huffed, vanishing deeper into the complex. As soon as the Jonin was gone, Jiraiya bent down so he could whisper into Hinata's ear.
"Follow my lead, okay?"
The doors opened before the heiress could nod weakly. Hiashi stood tall, his eyes widening as they fell on the lecherous but powerful toad sage.
"Jiraiya, it's been a long time."
"I know! I was in town, I figured I'd drop by and say hello."
Hiashi nodded, then looked to his daughter. His face transformed. His cheeks flushed and his lips pulled back into a beastly frown. Hinata felt her Father's chakra flare up.
"Hinata, what are you wearing?"
"U-U-Um—"
"We were sparring." Both Hinata and Hiashi turned to look at the older man with disbelief. "Like I said, I was in town and I saw little Hinata training. I asked the young lady for a little spar before I went to see you, and she graciously accepted."
Jiraiya's words drawled with the kind of brazen confidence that made Hiashi bristle with irritation. The leader of the Hyuuga clan's jaw clenched with impatience.
"Why is my daughter in your clothing?"
Cold tendrils uncurled in Hinata's stomach. She snuck a glance at the Pervy Sage. He didn't even flinch.
"She fell in the river. I felt bad and didn't want to see her walk home in soaking wet clothes." He moved, and it was so sudden that Hinata almost screamed. His hands briefly touched hers as he took the bundle of wet clothes out of her grasp. "See?"
Hiashi activated his Byakugan. He observed Hinata and Jiraiya's chakra flow. Hinata closed her eyes, bracing herself for the explosion.
"I see." Hiashi opened the door. "It has been long, Jiraiya. How about some sake?"
Jiraiya grinned.
"I thought you'd never ask."
The toad sage strode into the room, and before Hinata could even imagine following, her Father slammed the door in her face.
III
Fast-moving hands and pale eyes had Jiraiya rooted to the spot. Hiashi was blocking the flow of chakra to his arms and legs. He couldn't move, and after a few minutes, his limbs would begin to die.
Shit.
Hiashi walked so that he was in front of the toad sage.
"You look surprised. What did you expect, Jiraiya, hugs and smiles?"
Managing a smirk, Jiraiya chuckled.
"I did expected some sake."
Unfortunately, Hiashi didn't see the humor in the statement.
"Lying to a Hyuuga is tempting death, old friend." Pale eyes flashed. "Especially if the lies involve my daughter." Tense silence stretched between them, and Jiraiya struggled to ignore the prickling sensation in his fingers. "Sparring indicates either a student-student or teacher-student relationship. Since you have so suddenly claimed to have sparred my daughter, I will assume that your relationship is the latter." Hiashi lips curled into a thin smile as Jiraiya stood in shocked silence. "If you lay one straying hand on my daughter, I will kill you, understand?"
With a flick of Hiashi's wrist, Jiraiya's limbs were flooded with chakra. Jiraiya let out a short but loud shout as he swung his fist and clipped the side of Hiashi's face. The blow sent the Hyuuga leader flying into the opposite wall as Jiraiya fell flat on his face.
Coughing, Jiraiya rolled onto his back as Hiashi sat up, stunned as he felt a thin line of blood trickle down his chin.
"Sorry, man." Jiraiya took a deep breath, waiting for his limbs to work. "I don't like being threatened."
At that moment, the door was pulled open. Hinata and Neji stood in the doorway, wide eyed at the scene that lay before them.
IV
Purple hair was twisted and stroked as seconds ticked away. Hinata was struggling not to panic. Her Father was a powerful man, but so was Master Jiraiya. If they were to fight... no they wouldn't fight. The very idea was ridiculous.
But still...
"I've brought you a change of clothes."
Hinata flinched at Neji's clam voice. She immediately bowed her head in gratitude.
"Thank you, Neji."
Grunting, he gave her the clothes. His eyes searched hers.
"He's coarse." He shifted his gaze from her to the door. "Why are you wearing his clothes? You haven't had sex with him."
Hinata's heartbeat roared in her ears. She actually glared at her cousin, forgetting her anxiety and only feeling pride and anger. Her posture changed, and she held her head up high.
"Of course we didn't why would you even—"
She was cut off by a loud shout that was unmistakably Jiraiya. Neji didn't have time to smirk before a deafening crash rocked the entire complex.
Neji yanked the door open, and Hinata gasped.
Her Father was sprawled on the other side of the room, the wall cracked. Jiraiya was on the ground, his fingers and toes twitching. Pale, lavender eyes traveled from the toad sage to her Father. Hiashi wiped the blood from his lips, leaving a red stain on his white sleeve.
"Don't look at me like that, Neji, I'm fine." His stern gaze moved to pierce Hinata. "Your training with Jiraiya begins tomorrow."
Neji was already tending to her Father, but all Hinata could do was stare.
"My what?"
V
A/N: I'm cutting if off there. I love Hinata's character, and I think she's got a lot of room to grow. So that's what I'm going to do. Please, if you happen to stumble across this fic, leave a review. Even if you hated it, tell me! If Jiraiya was OOC, or if you didn't like Hiashi... tell me! I can't learn if someone doesn't tell me. Please Read and Review!
-mia