A Change of Heart
A Change of Heart
Chapter 1
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Neji looked outside is bedroom window. It was raining heavily, and he had nothing to do.
Slowly, Tsunade's words echoed through his mind:
"It is the effect of Neji's Gentle Fist at her, years ago. Do you remember? The chuunin exams? Of course I wasn't there, but what kind of Hokage am I if I don't know these kinds of things?"
"Tsunade-sama, are you saying…?" Kiba trembled. Hinata's team mates were called in for a meeting with the Hokage, and for no reason at all Neji and Naruto were included.
"Yes…her heart… her heart gave in last night…and…I'm afraid to say that she's having a struggle…to be precise, she's…dying."
"Liar!!" Naruto shouted as Tsunade blocked an incoming fist on her face.
Neji inwardly cursed himself for the thing he had done years ago. Of course when he did that he was in his consciousness and perfectly sound body, but who would ever knew that he'd regret it? After Naruto's battle with him at the Finals of the Chuunin exams that year, he had been caring for Hinata up to now.
She was like a small sister to him.
The family he never had.
"The only way to save her is a transplant. But no heart could endure the effect of it, I tell you. Neji's blow was strong, and it's really considered a miracle with her living still. We could save her, if there was only a heart that would endure such an impact…"
Of course there was such a heart, wasn't there?
The only problem is the where to find it, and from whom. But nevertheless he was happy. Happy that his problem was over. No, Hinata was not his problem. It was her condition.
"Tsunade-sama!!" a thick voice glared as Tsunade dropped the beaten Naruto on his seat.
"Can't you see I'm busy?!" the hot headed leader retorted.
"Forgive me, Tsunade-sama, but it's important!"
"What are you standing there, then?! Spit it out now!!"
"The temporary Team 11… Sakura Haruno, Nara Shikamaru, and Mika Mutsuji… came back just this minute, Hokage-sama."
"That's it?! That's what you're going to say?!"
"Hokage-sama, it was Uchiha Sasuke who brought them at the gates. And I never said they came back alive."
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"We could get Haruno's heart…" Neji mumbled to himself. Almost everyone knew that Sakura Haruno's strength was equal, or even greater, than the Hokage's, and no one could surpass the Hokage's strength! Her heart is what they need. It was just like a package delivered to them, a thing they neded most, being given to them like a gift. Of course it was sad to have them dead, but he couldn't care less. He never cared about Haruno, Or Shikamaru. Mutsuji…well she was a nin from another country. Konoha has no use for her.
It is decided, then. His cousin, fighting for her life at the Hospital, will have Haruno's heart.
And at once Neji paid Tsunade a visit as the leader of the Hyuuga clan, discussing the schedule of the operation…
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She felt strong, yet weak at the same time. Ever since her heart failed she was thinking of the only person she had her reason for living, now that her father is dead.
Naruto… It was as if his name could cure her, make her stronger. It is very ironic that all these years she did her best to be stronger, and of course she became stronger than ever, but now… the reason she is weak is because she wanted to be the exact opposite.
Hinata trained for the last hours very severely. She pushed herself more than her limit could take. She wanted to be stronger. For Naruto. For her teammates. For Neji. For Everyone. For Herself. She wanted to be strong, just like everybody else. She was so close at perfecting her recent and most lethal technique. She'll endure. Just a little more, she could master it excellently.
Yet she failed.
The moment she released more chakra from her palm, her heart collapsed dead,
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Next chapter: Hinata's recovered from her operation. But why does she feel wrong?