Disclaimer: Nope I don't own Naruto.
A/N: Ok, let me make the plot clearer on this chapter. This is like my theory on the worst-case scenario in Naruto 2.
Way of the Jinchuuriki
Chapter 2: Fear of moving on
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The evening after…
"And Naruto said, "Look, I found the bikuchi!" Shino, Hinata, and I were puzzled if he actually found the right shape of the bug; instead, we got ourselves a huge ass bug. The idiot..hahaha!" Kiba laughed. Everyone joined the conversation on the good o' times 3 years ago.
"He is clueless as always," Shikamaru chuckled.
"And Shino here had shown the picture of the actual size of the thing like 5 times or so," Kiba glared at Shino, but Shino didn't exchange looks just dull and complicated.
"Oh, Shino, you laughed for the first time on your mission with Naruto. He told me about it," Ino giggled.
"Don't even think about it," Shino grunted.
"Hahaha!" they all laughed at his reaction.
"The first I've heard of a bug ninja laughing," Neji said.
"There's nothing wrong with Shino laughing even if it's out of character," Tenten said.
"…." Shino's sunglasses glanced.
"Hey everyone," Naruto waved.
"Here comes the King of Comedy himself, Naruto Uzumaki. Grand Master of the Shadow Replication," Kiba announced. Naruto just smirked as he took a chair and sat next to the Konoha gang.
"I see you all have a great time. Sorry for being late," Naruto rub his head shyly.
"No need to be sorry, we're just talking about the good times," Kiba grinned.
"Correction, the golden age of the Konoha 11," Shikamaru yawned.
"I thought the golden age was during the academy, you know when Naruto went like this…" Kiba tries to do a Sexy no Jutsu, but failed. "Damn, how do you do that, Naruto."
"Sigh…ok, like this," Naruto did the Sexy no Jutsu perfectly. Kiba wooed like a pervert compare to Juraya.
"Guys, sheesh, couldn't the jutsu work to turn Naruto into a hunk?" Ino shrugged.
"Um…I haven't figured out how to master that," Naruto blinked.
"How disappointing…" Ino fainted.
"If you were a girl, you can turn into a man with the sexy no jutsu," Choji assumed.
"Eww…" Ino turns away embarrassed.
"So, Naruto, have you decided to take the chuuin exams? It's been 3 years, we all became Chuuin and Neji a Jonin," Tenten asked.
"I…I'm still thinking about it," Naruto said, but behind his sad thoughts are, "Maybe I can't become a chuunin, jonin, or Hokage because I'm a Jinchuuriki and all my friends besides Sakura don't know that. Should I start telling them the truth or wait alittle longer?"
"Boy, we're all interest in seeing how much you've grown since training with the Sennin. Don't tell me, you're stronger than all of us now. You haven't seen how much I've trained with Guy-sensei in waiting for your return," Rock Lee said, doing his trademark thumbsup pose.
"You still haven't beaten Neji, yet" Tenten poked Lee.
"I will defeat him one day!" Rock Lee stated.
"Good luck, Fuzzy Brows. Neji Hyuuga is without a doubt my toughest opponent next to Gaara," Naruto pats the Green Beast back, but another thought haunt him, "and Sasuke."
"Um, Naruto, about that fight three years ago…nevermind, forget it," Neji stood up and is preparing to leave the gang.
"You're leaving already?" Kiba questioned.
"Yes, I'm kind of tired after work. Being a Jonin must have taken so much of my free time, later," Neji said. "Naruto, I know who you really are. That red charka no doubt its Kyuubi, so the legend is truth."
After Neji left, Tenten is started by Neji's disturbing mood as he walked away. Naruto been quiet for a while now while the rest continue the conversation. There are only two people who hadn't show up.
"Hey, Ino. Where's Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked.
"Oh, she with Tsunade on some important briefing," Ino confirmed.
"I hope it's something about making up Granny Tsunade's mind on letting me go in a mission to bring Sasuke back," Naruto thought.
"When will that old hag start giving us better missions?" Kiba complained.
"Who knows, if there's something about the Akatsuki threat, then we'll get ourselves the bigger role," Shikamaru said.
Outside, Hinata is walking her way to where the others are when Neji passed by, she turns to see her cousin mumbling about something. She went inside the café to see her friends chatting and Naruto is there also. She gasped and hides next to the corner of the wall and hear the conversation.
"So, now that leaves Hinata. She might have stayed home and not join us," Naruto sighed.
"I don't know about that," Kiba said.
"Give her time," Shino said.
Hinata left the café muttering to herself why she's getting away with everybody. This is the second time she saw Naruto and he's been happy with everyone. Before that, he was once sad, frustrated, and annoyed by others.
"Why? I haven't properly changed myself and am still shy because of my embarrassing life when he left for training with Jiraya. Perhaps, Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan will be together and I'm left out of the picture in his life because I'm nothing, but a stalker getting in Naruto's way," Hinata thought.
As she walk across the street, Sakura appears passing by the direction to where Naruto and the others are at the café. Hinata didn't pay attention to where she's going as her head is down looking at the sidewalk.
"Hinata?" Sakura getting Hinata to talk with her, but Hinata ignored and continue walking as Sakura follow her, "Hinata? Are you ok? Did something happen between you and your father again?"
"……" Hinata continue ignoring her thinking about all those times Sakura was always in Naruto's life more because she 'stole' the spot for Team 7 and Hinata had to go on Team 8.
"I take it, that jerk still abandon you from teaching the hidden arts of Hyuuga style. Well, you can always learn to evolve your own style and make your own moves separated from Neji's," Sakura smiled trying to cheer Hinata up.
"Why? Why are you the only one Naruto-kun talks to the most?" Hinata thought, without looking at Sakura, she start walking faster ignoring every word Sakura says.
"Hinata…." Sakura stopped following her, gazing at Hinata's depression as she left, "Did I do anything wrong to make her feel this way?"
Her thoughts begin to reveal the past days she was with Naruto on a mission to rescue Gaara. Something about Naruto telling her his past and the Kyuubi leaves Sakura troubled by Hinata's dilemma. Of course, Sakura had gotten close to Naruto since they're teammates and in the past she just toy around with him and get annoyed because of her crush on Sasuke and Naruto had a crush on her.
"We're still young, I don't know what to say after learning everything about Naruto's stress of being a Jinchuuriki. It's like hitting myself on the head. The villagers still deprise him because of what happened years ago. I can't tell Hinata about it, because this is Naruto's responsibility," Sakura admitted her selfishness.
At the border between the Valley of wind and the valley of fire…
The sand siblings trailed 2 days to the village of the hidden leaf. Temari and Kankuro wonder why Gaara is going to Konoha. The kazakage himself been on silence treatment during the travel, but finally he decide to speak abit.
"You guys don't have to come with me if you're still wondering why I'm visiting Konoha," Gaara said.
"Gaara, we wanted to go with you, because we're your family remember? It's just that getting a visit to Konoha after all the help we've obliged to them…I don't how to repay Naruto," Temari said.
"Ooh, am I hearing my little sister having a thing for the slacker? I wonder what happened between you and that lazy ass?" Kankuro grinned.
Temari sticks her tongue out making Kankuro laugh. The youngest sibling remains naïve on the conversation and thinks about what is going to happen when he fights Naruto. No longer have the monster in him, he focus only on normal chakra, but can he stand a chance?
"Huh?" Gaara quietly sense a disturbing chakra coming from yards away from where he and the two other siblings are dashing across the forest, "What is this unusual chakra coming from?"
"Is something bothering you Gaara-sama?" Temari asked.
"We're not the only ones going to Konoha. Did you sense it, Kankuro?" Gaara eyes turned to Kankuro behind him.
"Yes, whoever that is must be plotting to threat the village. Shall we go after it?" Kankuro asked.
"No, lets watch the solution carefully. We don't know who we're up against," Gaara ordered.
Back in Hyuuga Residence…
Neji is standing against the wall near the entrance to the Hyuuga house. As Hinata enter to the courtyard, Neji voice stopped her.
"Hinata, I know how you feel about Uzumaki-san," Neji's words stopped her from passing the gate.
"You too, Neji?" Hinata sighed.
"I'm your cousin and it's my responsibility as a lower branch member to protect the main branch," Neji stared at her seriously.
"What makes you think nothing can really change me since the time you and I fought 3 years ago?" Hinata urged.
"Is it not your distraction of Naruto that led your embarrassment in front of uncle? Don't make an excuse like you're not working hard enough to get his attention. Do you know why Naruto was treated an outcast during that time you and him were younger?" Neji questioned.
"Stop it! You don't even know Naruto more than I do! He's been alone just like me!" Hinata shouted.
"You and Naruto were alone by different reasons. You are the heiress to the main branch, but an embarrassment that left the whole family questionable of your motivation. Naruto was alone because he was clueless at the very beginning of his life till later he moved on leaving a trace that forever referred his destiny," Neji stated.
"What is my destiny…?" Hinata muttered quietly.
"Do you think uncle is happy with you being near Naruto?" Neji asked.
"….." Hinata spoke no word.
"Lets assume, he isn't because during that fight with me and Naruto, he feared him," Neji boomed. Hinata eyes started to wince and tears begin to drop slowly.
"W.what happened during the fight? The last thing I know is that Naruto beat you and why would my father fear him just because he beaten you?" Hinata asked.
"Even I can't tell you. That is up to Naruto himself. Are you afraid to confront Naruto about the truth? Are you ready to get serious with him and stop hiding from it?" Neji asked, the questions made her hurt more to find a rational answer.
Before Neji could say anymore about Naruto, Hinata hurried inside the house while crying. Neji sadly shook his head and look up the moonlight.
"You loved him Hinata, but is too shy to confront the truth. Blinded by fate that one day the worst thing will happen. Just give up your crush on him…" Neji thought.
At Hinata's room…
She's sobbing, as voices of Neji's words still haunted her mind and her father's.
"No…I..I cannot give up! I cannot give up on Naruto-kun!" Hinata thought.
Next Chapter: Unwelcome homecoming
