Chapter 2 An Idea and Being Unprepared
Quote 2: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why we call it the present. -Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda
Time Rule 2: Once the Traveler has gone back in time, the person they used to be no longer exist.
(The Traveler's existence is reWoven and who they used to be is replaced by an entirely different existence. This itself is the first step to the reWeaving of Time.)
"It's a bad idea, I'm leaving now, so see ya!" Kurama snarled and stamped his hand down on one of Gyuki's many tails.
"Shut the fuck up and listen to me." He snapped, his voice low and threatening. "You have only heard my idea, not my reasons."
The Tailed-Place was silent.
"Alright, Kurama." Matatabi started carefully. "Explain yourself."
"We are all aware, the Kit doesn't belong in this era. She is a Destined Traveler. We know this. She's unhappy here. She lost too many that were too important to her. She has also come to the conclusion that though she had new strength with us, there is nothing she can do with it. She feels helpless and lost. She's constantly in tears or reminiscing about the past, a past she cannot have…or can she?"
The other Beasts did not speak, merely exchanging various looks. Eventually all eyes turned back to the Fox. Hearing no protests, he continued.
"Traveling is difficult and dangerous, for even the most prepared, however, with the nine of us together, manipulating where and when, it shouldn't be too difficult. The creation of a new Dimension will be easier, with our added power, and her reWeaving would be a lot less stressful, with only one of us here, let alone all nine.
"She doesn't belong. Let us take her someplace where she knows she can make a difference and where WE know she'll find the happiness she deserves."
The silence that filled the Tailed-Place was heavy, but thoughtful. Each Beast had thoughts of their own. They all had come to care for Hinata, in the short time she'd spent as the Jinchuriki. They had all spent their time in her thoughts, giving her company and they had all come to love all her various quirks.
They wanted what was best for her and every single one came to one very obvious conclusion; Kurama's idea wasn't a bad one, in fact, it was a rather good one.
"Alright," Isobu starts carefully. "Say we are all onboard for this, we have decisions to make. This can't be something we do on a whim."
"I'M COMMIN' FULL AND CLEAR!" Kokuo tossed his head and stamped his hooves, prancing in place. "I haven't got better things to do!"
"Hold on, dolphin face," Matatabi interrupted. "You have to think about when we're going. It may be necessary to leave part of you where it belongs, or the entire Timeline could be thrown, destabilizing the Dimension. Remember, the past is more stable and more set the further back you go and to throw it off too much can cause stress to the Universe."
There was silence from all of them, for a moment. "I agree with Kurama. Let's go." Chomei's light soprano broke it.
"Let's go, bro!" Gyuki roared in enthusiasm. "I'll miss Bee, we'll meet again, see! I say leave half us where we belong, but the rest of us go along!"
Shaiken nodded her head. "For once I agree with the rhyming idiot. I'm good to go, but it'd be better to leave half of our existence in whatever poor, unfortunate jinchuriki we were locked in, at the time."
It was odd not to hear the Slug spouting rude sarcasm, but the seriousness in her tone made up for it and her companions listened and agreed. There was a muttered grumble of agreement from Son Goku, who was sulking for some reason or other, but still had the decency to listen to the conversation.
"If you're all up for it, I'm in. Ain't got anything better to do, except maybe listen to the brat complain about something or other." Shukaku shrugged in false indifference.
This left Isobu and Matatabi. The Turtle and Cat exchanged looks. "I have no objections." Isobu remarked.
Matatabi was silent for a short moment. "I see no major flaw in Kurama's thinking."
It was decided, the nine Tailed-Beasts were going to travel to the past, with their shared Jinchuriki.
Hinata was many things. She was shy, kind, strong (though she didn't always think so), beautiful (she also wasn't sure about this), smart, caring, giving, trusting…Something she was not, was insane. Hinata was completely sound of mind and understanding. She had seen questionable things and thought questionable thoughts, but in no more excess than any given individual.
However, the time she went to bed in her own bed, in her own room, in the Hyuga Compound, but woke up at the shining morning sun in an unfamiliar forest, she questioned her innate ability to function correctly and safely in the way that was mandatory for humans to live.
The young girl sat up, blinking in confusion and awe at the world around her, not even certain as to how she should react. The most prominent thought in her mind was, how did I get here? However, she didn't speak nor make a sound, years of being a shinobi taught her, when you wake up and don't know or remember where you are, silence is golden, because one is never certain as to what could be nearby.
Um…Kurama-sama, please tell me you have more answers than I do?
There was silence in her mind and Hinata, who hadn't been panicking before, was now. Her heart began to race, causing a roar to rise in her ears. Suddenly she was too hot and the air around her seemed much too heavy to breath.
Kurama-sama? She tried again. Oh, dear! Ohdearohdearohdearohdear!
Tears pricked her eyes, but that was all that was needed to pull Hinata out of her panic. She swiped them away, anger and determination quickly replacing her fear. What's the first thing you do when you're lost in unfamiliar territory? She asked herself.
Find a safe source of water.
Hinata pushed herself to her feet, frowning at her clothing. She still wore the black tank-top and shorts she'd gone to bed in. Her feet were bare and all she had aside from her clothes, was her hitae-ate, which she was immensely glad for. She'd feel lost without it's familiar weight around her neck. She'd seen and done a lot as a shinobi of Leaf and she'd be damned if she got lost anywhere without the distinguishing headband that let everyone know who she fought for.
Activating her byakugan, Hinata jumped into the nearest tree and surveyed her surroundings. 20 kilometers in every direction, Hinata could see trees. That's unhelpful. There were small water sources, small streams, tiny ponds, but nothing major.
She sighed. What am I going to do? She didn't want to move too far, she didn't know where she was and unknowingly wandering into enemy territory was dangerous. She was unarmed, underdressed, and without the proper survival equipment.
She sighed, again. When all there is left to do is move, then move. She quoted to herself.
Her byakugan still activated, Hinata carefully jumped from tree to tree, resisting the unladylike urge to curse as the rough bark of the trees' branches cut her feet.
Hinata stumbled, barely catching herself from a near forty-meter fall to the ground below. Her vision swam in and out of focus. Her chakra had run out almost twenty minutes ago, leaving Hinata blind without her byakugan. She hadn't found a decent source of water and now, as the day was near it's end she was starving.
Kurama-sama?
She wasn't expecting an answer, but she still couldn't help but check, hoping she wasn't alone. She hated being alone. She hated being forgotten or pushed away.
Hinata sighed as hot tears stung her eyes. Pushing them away, she leapt to the next tree. This was not a wise decision on Hinata's part, but the girl was at her limit, having pushed her body and her chakra to the point of exhaustion and her mind stressed beyond a fully functional point.
Hinata's bruised and bloody feet hit the rough bark of the branch. Waves of violent pain shot through her, from her feet up, causing her knees to buckle. Hinata couldn't stop the scream that escaped her throat as she lost her balance and fell from the tree.
A/N: Sorry, I couldn't post Monday, my internet has been jacked for a few days. Thanks to those who reviewed, please read and review, I'll update again next Monday.