FROM THE IMAGINATIVE MIND OF PINOY GAMER
IN COLLABORATION WITH [ENTER TEXT HERE PRODUCTIONS]
PRESENTS
Nindō
[Nindō (忍道) - Ninja way; it is the way of the ninja, their motto, belief, or "dream"]. Protect the people precious to me for they are my strength. They fuel my Fire, my Will, against the encroaching darkness. Never will I falter from my nindō, my creed, my promise. I am Hinata Usagi...and this is my story.
CHAPTER ONE
KONOHAGAKURE - April 5th, One Year before Rookie 12's Graduation
The first thing Hinata Hyuuga noticed when she opened her eyes were that the ceiling was grey.
Strange…the ceiling's supposed to be brown right? Hinata thought hazily. Thinking that the grey color resulted in her being sleepy, she rubbed her eyes to clear it out…only to find out that the ceiling - and the world around her - was still grey.
"Awake now, are we?" a smooth, feminine voice asked from her feet, surprising her. Sitting up, she thought she would see a woman…but all she saw was a glowing golden figure leaning on the wall in front of her bed.
Squeaking, Hinata tried to move away from the glowing figure. "Wh-who a-are y-you!" stuttered the terrified girl. "A-and…w-why—"
"—am I glowing?" a feminine voice gentle cut. "Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and then exhale slowly before I answer your question."
Warily, Hinata followed the voice's instruction before opening them, sighing in relief that the color was back to normal. Turning to the once glowing figure, she discovered it was a woman in unknown garb: a knee-length (and slightly armored) black hooded coat with white intricate designs, light brown tunic undershirt, and slightly loose trousers with what looked like a Bo staff behind her. "W-who…who are y-you?" she asked quietly, fearfully.
"For starters, my name's Nosuri Usagi." she replied kindly, a gentle smile on her face. "Moving on…do you remember what happened last night?"
"I...I do." Hinata said quietly, slowly touching her forehead, as she recalled what happened last night: how she failed miserably to contain her tears when the news was announced, how her sister was fuming mad at the council's decision (going as far as calling them 'old coots with old standards'), and the horrible pain she felt when the Exile Seal was placed on her forehead.
The Hyuuga Clan was well known for its Bloodline - the Byakugan (All Seeing Eye) - and was coveted by nearly all hidden villages in the Elemental Nations (one village going as far as kidnapping a child for reproductive purposes). As such, the clan took great strides to protect them, even going as far as creating two seals just to ensure that the eyes will not fall to enemy's hands.
The first one, the Caged Bird Seal, was applied to the branch family of the Byakugan to seal it upon the death of the its wielder (un unexpected bonus was to keep them in line to the main family of the Hyuuga Clan - it can create great pain when activated by anyone from the Main House).
A second seal, the Exile Seal, has the same purpose of the Caged Bird Seal but is used upon members who have been disowned by the clan and shows that they are no longer part of the Hyuuga Clan. This seal, however, had bigger purpose - it would seal the Byakugan genetically, ensuring that the exiled Hyuuga would never be able to birth a child with these powerful eyes.
And right now, she, Hinata Hyuuga, was a dishonor to this prestigious clan.
Noticing the tears, the woman gave Hinata a hug as she cried silently. "Let it flow, child, let it flow." Nosuri gently whispered as she rubbed Hinata's back. They stayed like this for what seemed like hours when she heard someone shouting outside the room.
"What do you mean I can't visit her? I'm her sister for Kami's sake!" shouted a girly voice (a voice Hinata recognized as her sister's) filled with anger.
"Hanabi-sama, the Elders—" a voice argued but was cut off.
"I am now the Heiress of the Hyuuga Clan," Hanabi cut in a dead calm tone. "Whose order will you follow: mine or the Elders?"
Silence followed the question before a shuffle of feet and the door opened, revealing a girl with long dark brown hair who immediately rushed towards Hinata and enveloped her into a hug.
"Hey sis, are you alright?" her sister asked softly, her face full of concern. When Hinata didn't answer, Hanabi let go of her sister and crossed her arms. "Those damn old coots and their old damn standards! Can't they see that times are changing and we must keep up with it? I swear to the Shinigami that—"
Nosuri then laughed, causing Hanabi to cut her rant. "You to remind me of your mom whenever she was angry...good times, those days were."
The two sisters looked at Nosuri with surprise. "You…you knew our mother?" Hanabi asked, a slight hunger in her eyes. It was no secret that the new heiress of the Hyuuga never met their mother, having died a year after Hanabi was born. As such, Hanabi searched every knowledge she could gleam from anyone - her father, Hinata, her former bodyguard Ko, and anybody who made contact with her mother - about her. Hinata knew from the look on Hanabi's face that she was about to ask her question on mom - not that she minded, she was also wanted to know more about her mom.
"Hold your horses, girl! I'm her twin sister - fraternal, mind you - so of course I know her!" Nosuri pointed out, seeing the hungered look on her face. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to tell you her life story as I'm going to leave with Hinata now that she's a Hyuuga exile…in about an hour, I'd say."
Hanabi's face fell but Hinata got more confused. "Um…w-what do y-you m-mean 'leave with me'?" she asked.
Nosuri gave her a sad smile. "You aren't the only exile in the Hyuuga Clan, Hinata." she replied before removing the cloth tied to her forehead, revealing an Exile Seal on it: the Hyuuga Clan symbol with an 'X' mark on top of it. Upon seeing their confused looks, Nosuri explained "I was banished just before the Third Shinobi War ended…over petty matters."
Hinata wanted to ask more when the door opened and a short brown haired man (Ko, Hinata realized) entered the room. "Usagi-san, Hiashi-sama wishes to see you." the man said, causing Nosuri to sigh.
"Is this about what he sent me yesterday?" Nosuri asked as she stood up, Ko nodding in reply. "Looks like we're about to leave then, Hinata. Ko, right? Make sure Hinata gets her stuff - when I was sealed, they threw me out immediately with only the clothes on my back."
Ko nodded as Nosuri left. "Who is she, Ko?" Hinata asked, as she and her sister still knew little of her.
"Who is she - now that's a tough question." Ko said, chuckling as if remembering something funny. "Outside the clan...well, she's known as the 'Mistress of Wind' for her impressive mastery of the Air Affinity. For another, she was known as the Prankster Queen of the Hyuuga clan - think Naruto Uzumaki but for the Hyuuga Clan."
Hinata and Hanabi chuckled at the Naruto reference (having seen one of is pranks in action) and understood why Ko acted as such. "Why was she exiled then?" Hanabi asked, looking curious.
Ko gave the two a sad look. "I'm not entirely sure. Her...ideas and beliefs, according to some of the older Cadets…were complete opposite of what of the clan, slightly making her a black sheep among them. Anyway, there is no need to pack your things, Lady Hinata. I have already took the liberty of packing them when you were asleep and left them in my room...although I may have packed your entire room." Ko said with a smirk as he passed a small napsack to Hinata.
Hinata blushed while Hanabi chuckled. "Thank you Ko - and please stop adding '-sama, I'm officially no longer a Hyuuga."
"You may be no longer a Hyuuga in name, Hinata-sama, but to me - and your sister - you'll always be one. Never forget that." Ko assured, his hand resting on the shoulder of the saddened Hinata.
"Look on the bright side sis," Hanabi said, "at least nobody's going to breath down on your neck."
Hinata slightly smiled at their attempt to cheer her up. "Thank you..." was all she said before enveloping them into a hug.
"Now then, let us not keep your stuff waiting." Ko said after the hug.
Once outside the house, Hinata saw it was nearing noon, making her eyes widen in realization. "Um…Ko, how l-long have I b-been unco-conscious?" Hinata asked, feeling she knew the answer even before they told her.
# # # # # # # # # #
Once she got over her shock of how late it was, Hinata (now wearing a black pants, light purple shirt under a light colored jacket and a bandana wrapped around her forehead, covering her Exile Seal), Hanabi, and Ko were waiting outside the Hyuuga Compound when Hinata's worst bully appeared on the doorway.
Neji Hyuuga was the genius of the clan...but held a fanatical belief that one person's fate was set as stone. It stemmed from the issue of the Kumo Kidnapping that was done when the ex-Hyuuga was taken on her third birthday. Hinata didn't know the whole details but it ended with Neji's father and Hiashi's twin brother/body double, Hizashi, being killed in his place. After that, Neji slowly became darker and started hating the Main House (particularly Hinata) over his father's death.
"It seems Fate had deemed you too weak and decided to cast you out from this esteemed clan…Hinata-sama." Neji said with so much venom laced in his words that all three flinched.
Hanabi sighed. "What do you want, cadet?" Hanabi retorted. One of these day, Hanabi knew she's going to snap and break Neji's neck for just saying 'fate'.
"Cannot I say goodbye to our recent exile and make her realize that fate—"
"Is as fluid as the ocean, young one." A cheerful voice cut from above them before Nosuri landed in front of him in a crouched position, a weird looking knife poking out of her wrist which was pointed between Neji's eyes. "All it takes is a single choice to set in stone."
"But stones can be broken with enough force, Nosuri." Hiashi then said as he appeared behind the genius. "Leave now, Neji. This affair does not concern you. You have a C-rank mission, remember? I do believe that Gai-san would try to make you wear his green suit too make-up for your…'un-youthful' lateness for the mission."
Apparently, the slight mention of a green suit was enough to make Neji shiver and shake. With a nod, Neji gave a quick bow before leaving a blazing trail of fire in his wake. Everyone - save Nosuri and Hiashi - sweat dropped at the blazing trail left by Neji.
(Elsewhere, a man jogging on his hands and wearing a green spandex suit suddenly sneezed. "Suddenly, I have an urge to congratulate someone who has finally found their inner youth. YOUTH!" the green spandex man shouted before proclaiming "If I cannot find this man before we leave, my team and I shall finish this C-rank mission within three days' time!").
"So Gai still wears those horrible green spandex suits, huh?" Nosuri observed, nodding her head in approval. "I better ask Gai if he forces his students to wear those. Might teach HZ's gaki that fate isn't always set."
"Please don't," Hiashi countered, scoffing in a joking manner (much to the surprise of the others). "I don't want a Hyuuga to be driven insane and start a massacre because of a green suit."
The adults laughed (or in Ko's case, chuckled nervously) at that notion. However, Hinata and Hanabi both shared a look that since they didn't share their sentiments. The two of them had been concerned about Neji's mental health ever since he started spewing about fate as they feared one day Neji might just snap and pull an Itachi Uchiha in their clan - that is to say, murder ever single member just for the sake of getting stronger (or for Neji's case, just because fate said so). Hinata and Hanabi had once argue how to handle this situation: Hanabi's call for a more 'radical' approach rather than Hinata's 'reconciliation' plan. In the end, Hinata's plan failed and Hanabi now had a chance to us her plan to make Neji change his ways.
"Oi, lighten up you two!" Nosuri called out, startling the two out of their thoughts, thinking that the two were suddenly afraid of 'Gai'. "Gai ain't so bad! He's just…"
"A little eccentric?" Ko suggested hopefully.
Nosuri thought for a while before nodding. "You can say that…anyway, looks like out time here is up! We better get going, least those damn old coots try to make any funny business. Better say your goodbyes now - Hinata's going to start living with me, since I'm her closest living relative."
The first one to say goodbye was Ko, who said "Remember Hinata, you will always be a Hyuuga to me - seal be damn!" before giving one last hug to her before turning to leave.
The next one was Hanabi, who gave her a bone crushing hug. Nosuri and Hiashi decided to move as far as possible from the two say their goodbyes in private. "I'll miss you sis…once I'm clan head, I'll try to remove the seal!" she proclaimed rather softly, trying to prevent anybody from overhearing their conversation.
Hinata gave her a sad smile. "I appreciate that Hanabi…to remove the exile seal you'll have to remove the caged—"
"I know and I plan to do just that." Hanabi cut, a grin on her face. "And nothing's going to stop me. I've already borrowed a Fuinjutsu book from the Konoha Library!"
After one last bone crushing hug, Hanabi waved goodbye and disappeared quickly back inside the compound - not even bothering to talk to the other two adults present. Hinata gave an apologetic smile and was about to say something when Hiashi gave her a hug - shocking her.
"I'm sorry, my dear white lily," Hiashi whispered in her ear, letting sorrow and grief mix in the tone as Hinata felt a warm, fatherly hug she hasn't experienced in years - Kami, she never did experienced it in her 11 years of existence. "I'm sorry for my failure as a father to you and Hanabi."
Hinata was too shocked to even reply as Hiashi let go. "Remember, my little white lily, that I have always loved you…even if I couldn't muster the courage to show it." Hiashi said, gazing into her eyes before letting go and leaving.
"HS puts on a stoic mask to hide his pains and griefs. I suggest you treasure that moment Hinata, Hiashi rarely shows that side of him." Nosuri explained, seeing Hinata's shock. "Come on kid, let's get to your new home."
Hinata, however, wasn't even listening as she followed her new Aunt absentmindedly - all she could thinking was Father actually loves me…he actually loves me!
# # # # # # # # # #
It was nearing four in the afternoon when Hinata and Nosuri reached the latter's house in the civilian residential side of Konoha - given she was no longer a Hyuuga, Hinata now carried the Usagi family name and therefore had the right to use the Usagi Family Home and all its assets.
The Usagi Family was just a sizable civilian family with no ninja among them. However, they had one of the biggest business in Konoha - the Usagi Express, a civilian mailing center that serviced all Elemental Countries. They had branches in all cities, villages and hidden villages alike and was used by all - including ninjas. The company even had a policy that ninjas must not use the Usagi Express for any other purposes other than using it for mailing letters - and that meant no mailing of intelligence files for their respective villages - surprisingly, all hidden villages follow it.
The reason, as it turns out, was that the Usagi Clan held the much fabled Rabbit Contract Scroll - the only summoning contract to choose a non-ninja family as its owner. The Rabbit Summons were highly respected among all kinds of summons and had the same level of respect the Toad, Snake, and Slug Contract holders had. It was even said that the great matriarch of the Rabbit Clan, Usagiza, could see the future with her eyes. That admiration alone was what made all hidden villages in the Elemental Nations agree to the rules and regulations of the Usagi Express.
"Well…" Nosuri announced, stopping in front of a compound half the size of the Hyuuga Compound. "Home sweet home, gaki!"
Much like any rich family, the Usagi Family House was similar to the Hyuuga Compound, albeit much smaller. A medium-sized Japanese garden with a small fountain was in front of a two story house. The house consisted of two bedrooms (each with a bathroom) and a study area in the second floor. On the first floor, it had a modern kitchen connected to the house's dining room while a large living room occupied the two doors leading towards the front and back garden respectively. "Wow…" Hinata softly exclaimed upon entering.
Chuckling, Nosuri patted Hinata on the head. "Yeah well, grandma wanted the house to be simple yet beautiful at the same time." With that, Nosuri bit her thumb and slammed it on the ground, creating lots of smoke. After it had dispersed, a waist tall rabbit was looking in front of them, causing Hinata to gasp.
"You require my assistance, Nosuri-sama?" the white rabbit asked before looking at Hinata, "and who might you be, if I might ask?"
"Uzua, meet Hinata Usagi, my niece - formerly a Hyuuga but was kicked out." Hinata's legal guardian introduced. "Hinata, meet Uzua. He's my favorite helper among the Rabbit Summons and is the son of the current Rabbit Clan Head."
Uzua extended his paw out to shake her hand. "Good afternoon Hinata-sama." he politely said as Hinata shook his hand. "What will I be doing, Nosuri-sama?"
Grabbing Hinata's bag, Nosuri said "Place this on the guest bedroom and clean it up as well, will you Uzua? That's going where she'll be sleeping from here on out." With a bow, Uzua immediately left them carrying Hinata's bag towards the house. "With that gone, come on, I'm going to cook dinner."
As they trudged towards the house, Hinata mumbled "You…y-you don't h-have to…to do this for me, Usagi-san."
Stopping, Nosuri knelt down and stared at Hinata's white eyes. "First off, it's Aunt Nosuri or Auntie for you - none of that honorific bullcrap that all the Hyuuga do." she bluntly stated, causing Hinata to flinch. "Second, your mother's will said that if you or your sister were abandoned by the Hyuuga Clan, I will become your legal guardian effective immediately." Nosuri reasoned before hugging the shocked girl. "Do you understand me?"
For a moment, Hinata was quiet. "I do…Aunt Nosuri." she said slowly, adding the last part after a second.
Giving a smile, she said "Now come on, let's get you inside. I'm gonna cook something your mother - and probably you, later on - loved."
Upon entering the house, Hinata was surprised the house wasn't like any house she's been to. The wooden floor had a glossy tint and Nosuri was walking on it with a different pair of sandals on. The living room's height was just as big as the Clan's Dojo with electrical lighting. A sofa and two armchairs were positioned around a small table in front of a small cube TV on top of a cabinet. The small table had a few magazines on it and had a flower vase on the center. Bookcases and Picture Cabinets were lined along the walls of it.
"Surprised, huh?" Nosuri asked rhetorically when she saw Hinata's expression. "Grandma Usagi wanted the house to stand out so she and Grandpa decided to make a radical change in the floor planning and design. It did cause quite a storm when the conservatives found out about it but it did die down after a few weeks or so. Tell you what, check out the living room first. It'll take some time for me to cook dinner."
Hinata just nodded and Nosuri then headed for the kitchen. Looking around, Hinata noticed a cabinet full of picture frames, intriguing her. Picking it up on frame, it featured four people (two adults and two girls roughly Hinata's age) smiling at the camera, the Ninja Academy barely seen at the background. The adults (obviously the parents of the girls) were hugging the two girls, who were both trying to squirm out of the hugs. The woman was obviously a Hyuuga, her eyes a dead giveaway. The man, on the other hand, was surely a civilian: leather shoes, blue pants, white t-shirt, and a black jacket.
Turning her attention to the children, Hinata noticed one had lavender-colored hair while the other had black hair, the former looking like Hyuuga woman while the latter looked like the civilian. Both had a Konoha Forehead Protector on their forehead and were wearing matching outfits: blue long sleeved shirt under a light grey vest, black pants with a ninja pouch on their thighs, and ninja sandals. One thing that intrigued her was the lavender-haired woman looked like herself until Hinata realized who the woman was - her mother.
She stared at her mother's face, trying to memorize her features - just like her, Suzume had lavender hair, fair skin, and gentle facial features - a trait all people said about her whenever Hanabi asked about their mother's look. They've asked their father multiple times if he had any pictures but he always had an excuse to not answer them, frustrating both of them. Here, on her hands, was evidence that their mother, Suzume, was indeed looked like Hinata to a similar degree.
Planning to ask about her mother later, Hinata placed it down and moved to the next picture besides it. It was a picture frame that had two Ninja Registration Cards (NRC) on it, side by side. The first one featured her mother with a different attire: black long sleeves overcoat reaching her knees over what looked like dark blue shirt with multiple pockets, slightly tight black pants with a two ninja pouches on bother her legs, what looked like a single sebon launcher on her right wrist while a holster of shorts was strapped on her left wrist and her Forehead Protector on her neck.
On the left side of the frame was Nosuri, as stated on her NRC. She wore something similar like her mother but only this time, it was lightly colored. Additionally, Nosuri had her face slightly covered by a white beak-like hood, the Konoha symbol stitched on it. Only a portion of her face was seen, giving a mysterious smile. Putting it down, she inspected a couple more pictures before one caught her eye.
In it, it was a close up picture her mother hugging Nosuri, both had a smile on their faces. However, there were two things that Hinata noticed that intrigued her: one, Nosuri now sported what her mother wore for her NRC, and two, Nosuri's eyes were no longer white but were now normal. It was weird, since Nosuri was born a Hyuuga, she should have the trademark eyes, yet here she had normal eyes like Sakura Haruno, a classmate of hers, but amber in color.
"If you're wondering why I have amber eyes," a voice said from behind her, surprising Hinata. Looking behind her, she saw Nosuri leaning on the kitchen doorway with a small smile on her face. "I better tell you about it over dinner. Come on, the food's ready."
Following Nosuri, Hinata entered the dining room to see a square table with two plates on it, each with a small glass with water and two pairs of spoon and fork. On its middle was a bowl of steaming beef covered in brown sauce, another bowl full of rice, and a pitcher of water. "That's bisteak, if you're wondering. A delicacy Sis and I found while traveling as Genin."
The sat at the opposite of each other, silence filtering the air as Nosuri scooped up some riced and placed it on her plate, muttering "Itadakimasu". Before she could eat, Hinata broke the silence by asking "What happened to your Byakugan?"
"What do you know of the Anbureizu?" she asked, not answering her question.
"The what?" Hinata asked, confused and still not getting food.
"Anbureizu or the 'Amber Eyes'. What do you know about it?" she asked again nonchalantly, pouring herself some water to drink.
Hinata tried to rack her brains regarding the word Anbureizu but to no avail. It wasn't that she didn't remember, rather it was because her lessons never tackled it. Being the clan heiress prior to her exile, she was drilled to memorize, understand, and apply all things she had been taught: ranging from the simple origami lessons to the complex ideology of politics. Not a single stone was left unturned for her studies. Either her Hyuuga teachers didn't teach her yet about it or it never existed. With that, she looked at Nosuri and shook her head.
Chuckling, Nosuri smiled. "I expected as much." she revealed as she finished eating. "I suggest you start putting some food on your plate before I launch my explanation. It's going to be pretty long, mind you."
Once Hinata complied with her request, Nosuri started explaining. "You know about the history of the Hyuuga clan, correct? How we Hyuugas were once one of the major clans fighting in the Warring States Era, right?" she asked, getting a nod from the former heiress. "They also told you that the Byakugan was given to the Hyuuga by the first Owl Clan Warlord, Fukurora, as gratitude for helping him in his battle against his evil brother, Fukurore, right?"
When the girl nodded, Nosuri continued. "However, there is a continuation to it. Rumor has it Fukurora added a second level to the Byakugan: the Anbureizu. While the Byakugan is known as the all-seeing eye, the Anbureizu is known as the all-knowing eye."
Hinata's eyes widen in realization. "Wait, are you saying—"
"—that the Anbureizu was the ultimate ninja tool anyone could ask for? Yup! Imagine that: you can find your target while they are hidden in the crowd and have the ability to know who to trust and who the enemy really is." Nosuri finished, grinning before it disappeared. "Tell me, what did you feel when you were being branded with the exile seal?"
Hinata frowned at the question. "Why is…that important?"
"Just tell me."
Sighing, Hinata slowly answered "It…it hurt a lot. Like…like I didn't want to live anymore."
Nosuri just nodded, confusing Hinata even more. "So tell me, what made you want to continue living?"
"What?" Hinata asked, stunned at her question. "W-what h-has th-this g-got to do with the A-anbu-rizu?"
"It's Anbureizu," corrected Nosuri, "and I need you to tell me so you can fully understand how one gets its. So please, just tell me."
Hinata became quiet, considering trying to consider why did she wanted to live. She then remembered a memory she had with Hanabi.
# # # # # # # # # # FLASHBACK STARTS # # # # ## # # # #
"Nee-chan, why do you still do this?" an nine year old Hanabi asked to her ten year old self. The two were in Hinata's room, pressing flowers together (a hobby Hinata took up to calm herself at the suggestion of one of her teachers) on one of the rare days when Hinata was given one day full of rest.
"What do you mean, Hanabi?" Hinata asked, frowning.
"Neji bullies you, Father shows little to no support even to your slight achievements, and the elders hate you." Hanabi responded, her arms gesturing around them. "How do you survive it when no one else but Ko, I, and some members of the Branch Family support you?"
Hinata chuckled at Hanabi's mature remark - not that it was surprising. They were brought up in an environment where they had to grow up really fast or else suffer the consequence. Being the older sister, Hinata knew Hanabi's question meant she was mature but not at the level of Hinata. "Hanabi, you have still much to learn." she answered gently, getting a confused look from Hanabi. "Would you do anything to protect the people you hold dear?"
"Of course!" Hanabi answered immediately, not getting the analogy.
"And that," Hinata answered, pointing at Hanabi. "Is what drives me to live through each day. Becoming a clan head is no easy job, Hanabi, because clan heads have to protect their family above all else - and family is the people I hold very dear with my heart. I strive to get better every day because I want to protect my family - no matter what the cost."
Hanabi mouthed an 'o'. "Now I get it."
# # # # # # # # # FLASHBACK ENDS # # # # ## # # # #
"I…I w-want to p-protect all the p-people I h-hold dear to my h-heart." Hinata firmly answered nervously but Nosuri could see the determination in her eyes. "They're…they are the ones that keep me alive."
Nosuri grinned, feeling happy. "That's one hell of a statement, Hinata." Nosuri complimented, causing Hinata to blush. "At least yours has a much more deeper meaning than mine."
Hinata frowned, not sure what that meant as Nosuri made a hand sign before continuing. "I just turned the room's privacy seals on if you're wondering," Nosuri answered when she noticed Hinata's frown. "Because what I'm about to tell you requires no one - save for the elders, your father, you, and I - must know."
"You see, the Byakugan has a final evolution form known as the Anbureizu." Nosuri explained, crossing her arms. "Majority of the Hyuugas who know about it believe that it is merely a myth to make the Uchihas believe that we have a final evolution of our dōjutsu like theirs - yes, they have a final evolution for their Sharingan." Nosuri added upon seeing Hinata's surprised look.
"However, it comes with a drawback - to prevent the Anbureizu from being abused, Fukurora ensured that the only way to unlock it is by experiencing something the Owl Warlord experienced himself: a very traumatic pain that you'll almost want to give up the will to live - keyword being almost."
Hinata eyes dawned with realization when she saw the connection why Nosuri kept asking her questions earlier. "A-are…are you saying…that I have the…A-anbu-reizu?" she slowly asked.
Nosuri nodded solemnly, as if she was a doctor telling a patient they were about to die. "Yes. Unfortunately, you fulfilled all the necessary to acquire it. It's…it's not something a kid like you should experience…not something I should have experienced." She said, mumbling the last part before straightening up. "But that doesn't matter now. What matters is there have only been seven people who have had it - and only two are alive right now."
"You and I." Hinata guessed correctly. "Is…is that why…why you're here?"
"Partially, yes." Nosuri answered, shrugging. "Nobody knows when a Hyuuga will get an Anbureizu. At one point, a Branch Hyuuga got these eyes after getting his Cage Bird Seal. Your father, on the other hand, called me for…some clan business."
"But…but you're no l-longer…a H-Hyuuga." Hinata pointed out, making Nosuri sigh in frustration.
"That's for me to know and you to never find out. Also Hinata, you and I have to work on your speech." Nosuri pointed out bluntly, making Hinata look down on the floor sadly. "Don't you dare go blaming yourself, Hinata. Your mother was just like you when you were her age." Nosuri added before her niece could curse herself.
Hinata looked at her with surprised, that was news to her. "Your mother was too shy to talk to me in public, Hinata. The only time she got over it was after she became a genin and got partner up with Bug Boy and Ninken Girl - Shibi Aburame and Tsume Inuzaka respectively." Nosuri added, upon seeing frowning expression.
"So don't worry," assured Nosuri to the sad girl. "All you need to do is come out of your shell and become confident!"
Hinata, however, was not convinced. "But…what if…what if I can't—"
"Stop." Nosuri cut. "Hinata, do you realize that you have the most powerful eyes in all elemental nations? Hell, having these eyes makes you already a C-rank ninja! Why can't you see it?"
"Because I'm weak."
The way Hinata said it made Nosuri flinched at how her niece sounded like how one would say when all hope was lost - even a blind man could see that. "That's it, huh?" Nosuri pointed out, sighing. "Well too bad for you, Hinata, I don't give a fuck. You may be weak today but by the time you go back to school, you'll be high genin already!"
"Aunt Nosuri…I can't even beat Hanabi—"
"That's because you're holding back." Nosuri replied, surprising Hinata. "Your father knows that every time you two get in the dojo, you hold back. He told me just before I made my entrance."
"But…but what if I…I can't do it?" Hinata asked, making Nosuri facepalm.
"Hinata, do you want Neji to believe that fate's irreversible?" Nosuri asked seriously, getting Hinata to shake her head. "That's what I thought so. When does the academy resume?"
"A week from now, why?" she asked before seeing the evil smile her newly discovered aunt had that sent shivers down Hinata's spine.
"You and I are going to have a brutal training tomorrow morning…" she replied ominously, making Hinata fill with dread. "You better sleep now because starting tomorrow, you are going to hell."
Once Hinata was settled in and sleeping, Nosuri made her way to the Memorial Stone of Konoha. This was where the names of all Konoha ninjas who died in service of the village and where their names were etched, serving as a monument for their loved ones. Nosuri sat down in front of it, legs crossed, and used her fingers to look for a name she hasn't seen in a while. "Hey Milo, Minato, been a while huh?" she said, upon finding the names of her teammates.
Milo Nakamura and Minato Namikaze were her teammates in the famed Team 7, led by none other than the great Toad Sage Jiraya. They had seen multiple combats during the ending days of the Second Shinobi War until the early stages of the Third Shinobi War. Their most famous engagement, however, was the rescue of Kushina Uzumaki, Jinchūriki of the Nine Tailed Fox. However, this was also the last day Team Jiraya (as fondly called by the three of them) was complete - Milo died on that same day.
Minato, Kushina, and Nosuri gave very little detail regarding what happened but from what Konoha's higher ups could piece together, Team 7 followed a trail of red hair left by Kushina and attacked the kidnappers. However, something went wrong and it resulted in Milo dying, Nosuri getting injured, Minato finally using his famed Flying Thunder God Technique, and Kushina drawing the Kyūbi's power - well, that was what the official story said.
"Sorry if I only visited now, I had some affairs that I needed to finish - as you saw up there." she said to the monument nonchalantly before chuckling. "My anger towards the Hyuuga Elders has reached a new level for what they've done to my niece Hinata. Kami, who the hell puts an Exile Seal on someone who they believe can't keep up with the traditions! That has got to be the most stupid reason I have ever heard!"
Remembering something, Nosuri pulled out a bunch of flowers and placed them on the monument's base. "Almost forgot, here's some flowers for you guys - and for the other KIA members. I actually promised to Hinata that I'll tell her how I got my eyes…which will be hard since the events leading to it is considered an S-Class secret among us." Nosuri said, sighing. "And here I am, getting ready for tomorrow to teach Hinata how to control it and get her out of her shell. Damn, when I was told that Hinata was like Suzume, I never really thought it will be like this!"
After letting her laughter die down, Nosuri continued. "Kami, I'm confused right now! You probably know what to do, Milo. You were the strategist of our team, Minato's right hand man while I was the brawler, the sword and shield of Team Jiraya…" Nosuri trailed off, tensing up before gripping the bō on her back.. "You know, it's rude to eavesdropped on people, Kakashi."
To her left, a man with silver hair, a mask on his face, and his forehead protector covering his left eye, walked behind the tree near the KIA Monument, wearing the Konoha Jonin attire: black pants, dark blue long sleeves, green vest, a ninja pouch on his thigh, and a pair of ninja sandals. Kakashi Hatake - student of the Fourth Hokage, the Copy Cat Ninja of Konoha, and a S-Class ninja that sent shivers down most ninjas whenever appears - gave an eye smile at Nosuri. "Heard you were in town…so I came by to say hi."
"That or were you visiting the stone as well?" Nosuri asked as she stood up and dusted the back part of her pants.
"I was already done and was leaving when I felt your chakra signature nearby." he revealed, shrugging. The two then started out of the monument when Kakashi asked. "What happened with your niece?"
"The Elders happened, that's what." Nosuri bluntly stated, making Kakashi flinch as she stood up. It was no secret that most Konoha ninjas hated the Hyuuga Elders. Ever since the Uchiha Massacre, the Hyuuga Elders have been walking around as if they owned the place since they were, as some have heard, "one of the greatest clan" of Konoha. They were right in some way - the Hyuuga was the second clan to join Konoha right after its founding, going as far as telling people to live in it. If Konoha had a monarchy, the Hyuuga would be the third in line to its throne then.
"Tell me about it." Kakashi said, agreeing. "They act worse than the Uchihas - at least the Uchihas have the right to brag since they founded the village."
Nosuri scoffed. "It's bad either way." she countered before looking at the moon. "Visited Naruto lately?"
Kakashi gave a sigh. "I…I still haven't." he replied sadly. "I can look at him from afar but…I can't approach him."
"Kakashi, would the two want you to keep on doing this?" Nosuri asked rhetorically, giving him a sad smile. While Kakashi couldn't visit the Kyūbi Jinchūriki, he was always there for Naruto under his ANBU mask Dog - protecting him from danger via the shadows. "I know it hurts - hell, I still haven't gotten over Milo's death until now."
Kakashi nodded. "It's just…it's just he looks so much like Minato-sensei but acts like Kushina-chan…"
Not many knew but Naruto Uzumaki was the son of Minato and Kushina, the two who got married two years after the Third War ended and was blessed with a son right year after it. However, something went wrong and the Fox Demon escaped the seal and attacked Konoha. Knowing he had no choice, Minato and Kushina scarified themselves to seal the Fox Demon in their own son for two reason: Naruto was a Uzumaki, making him a viable candidate because of their long life span and massive chakra capacity, and because Minato knew no one else would offer their child to become its next Jinchūriki.
Once the attack ended, the former Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi retook his former seat and informed them of Naruto's status, leaving out his parentage (knowing that will open up another can worms that he couldn't deal with at the moment). The civilian council members called for his - or in their words - its death. With no choice, the Third silenced them and made a law not to talk about Naruto's status under the pain of death to allow the baby to grow without stigma.
However, it backfired - the civilians (and some ninjas) who held a grudge against the Kyūbi caught whiff of Naruto's status (no doubt propagated by the civilian council) released their anger on him. The conservative side just abused him verbally and told their children not to play with him while the more radical ones (who were always drunkards) literally hunted him down and tried to kill him.
Luckily, Naruto had a few allies that helped him grow up: ANBU and the Konoha Hospital. Having been under the command of Kushina during the war, ANBU felt it their duty to protect their commander's son (Kushina had informed them of her pregnancy) and, for a time, its potential recruits were made to take care of Naruto, his Jinchūriki status being revealed to the recruit (needless to say, ANBU manage to get only the cream of the crop to join them while those who failed had their minds wiped out of the encounter). Konoha Hospital, on the other hand, upheld their creed to heal and care anyone regardless of status. Hitomi Shizune, the hospital director, made it a point to be the one to always care of Naruto whenever he came to the hospital, stating that Naruto was like a grandson to her.
Then there were the Uzumaki refugees - Akane, her daughter Karin, and Honoka.
Akane came to Konoha seven years after the attack after hearing that her cousin, Kushina, had a son living there. She had originally planned to join Kusa (a ninja village in Bamboo Country) when Jiraya found her and informed her about Kushina. Safe to say, she ran for three days straight just to get to Konoha, all the while carrying her confused seven year-old daughter. While the council grumbled about the whole thing, Naruto was overjoyed that he had family. Akane, upon settling down, joined the Konoha Medical Corp and helped around the hospital, eventually becoming the head doctor under Hitomi.
Honoka, on the other hand, was rescued by Kakashi during a ANBU Black Ops attack on a suspected Orochimaru research base, trying to create an ultimate summoning beast and Honoka was forced by Orochimaru's henchmen to help out. Thankfully, she was rescued before the whole base became operational and was recruited by Konoha to join its ranks. Nowadays, she manages the Whirlpool Seals, the main store selling seals to Ninjas and the occasional Civilian while sidelining as Konoha's Seal Inspector.
"Naruto needs all the love he can get, Kakashi." Nosuri replied sadly, patting the Jonin at the back. "Jiraya would love to remain by Naruto's side forever but we both know he had a job to do - and don't get me started on Danzo, we both know what he's actually planning."
Kakashi nodded as the two left the memorial, heading in the direction of the civilian quarters. "I know, I know…at least he has family and a somewhat rivalry with Sasuke."
"Heh, whenever I see the two go at each other it reminds me of you and Obito."
Kakashi looked at her strangely. "I thought this is your first time here after so long?"
"This is my first official return, Kakashi. Jiraya and I have been entering Konoha without anyone knowing - he's the one who's been dropping those mysterious gifts, by the way." replied Nosuri cheekily before shaking her head. "Speaking of him, Ero-sensei is still looking for more info on Orochimaru, so he isn't back yet. Recent reports say that he's the new Kage of a hidden village in Rice Country. Not much is known about then but from what I got, their village can be found underground." Nosuri revealed, using her nickname for Jiraya ever since the old man showed her his first Icha Icha erotica novel.
"Like a snake, then huh?" Kakashi said, noticing the implication.
Nosuri nodded. "That's why ero-sensei is checking it out. Snaky here has always wanted to be Hokage, even before the war ended - this is probably his way of trying to fulfil his dream."
"Makes sense, though. Anything else to note?"
Nosuri grinned. "Get a genin team and pass them." she mockingly ordered.
"Maa, maa, I will…after I find my way through the road of life." he revealed, giving her an eye smile. "Either way, I do plan to get Naruto as my apprentice if he 'failed' to graduate. That way, I can honor sensei and teach him his family history - Council be damn!"
Nosuri laughed before looking at the moon. "Anyway, got to go. I still have a big day tomorrow. See you Kakashi." With that, she immediately ran towards the civilian side of the village, climbing up the building and jumping off it like a monkey. Shaking his head, Kakashi waved goodbye before heading towards the opposite direction, bring out a book as he did.
Well sensei, Kakashi thought as he walked the streets of Konoha, looks like the village is about turn upside down with her back in the picture.
Edited: 10/10/18