Chapter Three: The Aftermath of a Very Unpleasant Meeting
Ino, Sakura, Tenten, and Choji, after the meeting had ended with such a horrifying twist, were ushered outside with the rest of the Konoha ninja. Sakura was wearing a look of shock, brought about from what happened to Hinata, and from Naruto's sudden punishment. Her thoughts were stuck on the blond who, even at this very moment, was having his back ripped apart by a leather cord.
What a way to come home, she thought, shuddering at the idea of her cheerful teammate being punished by Kokuzoku. I can't believe that just happened. The pink-haired kunoichi was shocked into silence. The other blonde standing next to her, however, was not.
"I can't believe that jackass would do such a thing! And not only to Hinata, but Naruto too! I just can't believe it!"
Ino's eyes were blazing and her fists were clenched. She liked Hinata a lot and, even though they were both sixteen, looked upon her almost as a little sister. The fact that the evil Chaita beast could even consider doing such a thing to sweet, gentle Hinata blew Ino's mind away and fueled her temper. And even though she wasn't particularly close to Naruto, Ino still liked him! If anyone in Konoha deserved to be whipped, it certainly was not the blond boy who had protected Hinata.
"KOKUZOKU IS SUCH A-!" Ino began in a loud, carrying voice.
Choji, Sakura, and Tenten all threw their hands over her mouth, looking around wildly for any Chaita guards.
"Ino, are you crazy?!" Choji hissed, relaxing only slightly when he saw none of the silver clothed ninja. Ino's face darkened and she glared at her teammate. Choji ignored her and continued, "You can't say things like that in public!"
"Yeah, judging by what went on in there, you might get beheaded," a familiar voice drawled from behind them.
The girls and Choji turned to see…
"Shikamaru!" Choji and Ino's faces broke into smiles at the sight of their teammate, who shoved his hands into his pockets and looked around, dark eyes lazily surveying the crowd.
Ino pushed her friends' hands away and hugged the shadow ninja, causing a small blush to appear on his cheeks. He stiffened and mumbled something about women, causing Ino to break off their hug and scold him. Choji nodded a greeting to his friend, who was ignoring Ino's nagging, a happy feeling rising inside the chubby ninja. Now that he's back, maybe he'll figure out what's going on with Tsunade and Kokuzoku, Choji thought. Everything seemed just a little less hopeless when the genius was around. At least to Choji. And to Ino, too, but she would never admit it.
Tenten and Sakura watched as Team Ten reunited, both giving small smiles. But Sakura noticed that Tenten's smile grew just a bit bigger when she saw Neji and Hinata emerge from behind Shikamaru, Hinata looking worried, Neji looking…well, Sakura wasn't sure. But Tenten, who could read the Hyuuga prodigy better then anyone else, knew that Neji was feeling angry, and, to her surprise, a little shaken.
"Hey, Neji, welcome back!" Tenten smiled a greeting at her teammate. The urge to suddenly go and hug the boy rose in Tenten, but she suppressed it, letting the feelings of happiness rise instead.
Neji nodded at Tenten, the ghost of a smile appearing on his pale face. "Tenten." He paused, then looked as though he was going to say something else when…
"Neji, my comrade, welcome home!" Rock Lee's outward appearance had not changed much as he grew older, the boy only becoming taller and more muscular. Inside, he was still the same energetic, happy, determined guy. He came bursting out of the crowd and threw his arms sideways around Neji's shoulders, hugging him tightly while exclaiming his joy.
"I have not seen you for over a month, my friendly rival, how are you?! It is a shame that you had to return to our wonderful village while it is in such a confusing and different state than usual!"
"Lee," Neji said, slightly out of breath, as Lee's muscular arms (which were wrapped tightly around Neji's shoulders and chest) were making it more difficult for the Hyuuga to breath.
"But I am sure that with you back in our home, we will be able to fix the many problems that have arisen during your very long absence!"
"Lee," gasped Neji in a slightly more urgent tone. His pale face took on a bluish tinge.
"I have tried to figure out what we could do, during the time you were gone, but my brain could not think of anything! Even our teacher Gai-sensei, when I approached him about a plan, said that we should-."
"Lee!"
During the short squabble that ensued, Tenten turned from her teammates to Hinata. The feelings of worry that had temporarily left the girl now returned in full strength. After resisting the urge for Neji, Tenten found it impossible to do for Hinata. Tenten hugged her friend quickly, feeling the younger girl shaking with suppressed anxiety. Hinata hugged her back.
"How are you?" They broke their hug and Hinata looked down.
"I-I'm fine. I'm just worried about Naruto." Hinata spoke slowly, fighting to keep her stutter under control. But the emotion in her voice was not making it an easy battle. "The only r-reason he's getting punished now is b-because I didn't think enough about how we were going to get them back-."
"Hinata," Tenten began.
"And then I wasn't s-strong enough to defend myself and h-he had t-to do it f-for m-me. And-."
"Hinata!"
Hinata stopped talking, finally meeting her best friend's eyes.
Tenten put her hands firmly on the other girl's shoulders. "Hinata, it's not your fault! None of us thought about what we were going to do after we found them, it wasn't just you. We were all just concerned about getting to them before Kokuzoku's men did. And that's what we did."
Hinata looked away.
"And besides." Tenten looked up at the dark, starry sky, admiring the millions of stars above. "None of us could have guessed what would have happened tonight."
Hinata nodded slowly, but her face still showed her anxiety.
The group of teens fell silent. The ninja around them were slowly moving away from the meeting hall, off towards their own homes. Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru set off together, Ino and Choji bombarding Shikamaru with questions about his mission. Lee, after seeing Gai, said farewell to the remaining four and departed, leaving Neji, Hinata, Sakura, and Tenten together.
Now, Sakura and Hinata were gazing off towards the side of the building, worried looks on both of their faces. Tenten and Neji were silent, both lost in their own thoughts.
They're both waiting for Naruto to come back, Tenten thought as she watched the two younger kunoichi. Neji, she knew, was waiting for Hinata. Looking around, she saw Sasuke standing a ways away, his eyes also fixed on the place where they guessed Naruto would emerge. Sakura also noticed this and she slowly made her way over to her teammate, leaving the two Hyuugas and Tenten.
"Hey, Hinata!" A voice called.
Tenten and Neji turned and saw Kiba and Akamaru running towards them, Shino walking along behind. Hinata did not seem to hear them, so Tenten touched her shoulder lightly. She came out of her daze with a start, looking around, slightly confused. The Hyuuga then saw her teammates and her expression became slightly less anxious.
Akamaru arrived first and nuzzled his nose into one of Hinata's hands, which hung limply by her side, wagging his tail ferociously. "Hey, are you okay?" Kiba arrived next, looking down at Hinata, his eyes worried.
The girl nodded slowly. "Y-yeah, I…" Her voice died away. Her large, white eyes were glued to the side of the building, a look of horror rising in their snowy interior. The others turned in the direction of Hinata's gaze. Tenten's mouth fell open and Kiba let out a shocked curse.
Naruto had emerged from behind the building. The top of his orange suit had been pulled down and his black t-shirt ripped from the back. It now hung in bloody tatters from his tanned shoulders and arms, exposing his entire back. His back was, in turn, a bloody mess: an intricate pattern of cuts and welts, the cuts from the whip still open and bleeding sluggishly. He looked considerably more tired and pained than when he had left the meeting room, but that look of fierce determination still showed on his face.
Sakura gave an audible gasp and she and Sasuke stepped forward. When they reached him, Sakura said something, to which Naruto gave a quick answer before he slumped forward. Sasuke caught him and the three walked slowly in the direction of Naruto's apartment, Naruto's arm slung over Sasuke's shoulder while the Uchiha supported most of his weight.
Tenten watched the three friends walk away, thinking about the three younger ninja, but was brought back to her current situation when she heard Hinata stifle a small sob. She turned to her blue-haired friend, ready to comfort, but Kiba beat her to it.
After holding in her tears, Hinata let go and was soon crying into her old friend's shoulder, hugging him tightly. Kiba held her to him, resting his chin on Hinata's head. Akamaru whimpered and nuzzled into the girl's hip, his tail down between his legs. Shino stood next to them, comforting Hinata in his own way.
Kurenai appeared out of the thinning crowd of ninja. When she saw her team, the jonin's red eyes widened, her mouth falling slightly open. Then her eyes became glassy and she said, "Oh, Hinata…" Two steps forward and she wrapped her arms around Hinata on the opposite side of Kiba, talking quietly to Hinata, soothing her.
Tenten and Neji exchanged a look, both stepping back.
"They've got this under control," Tenten said quietly. Neji nodded. The two walked away, headed in the general direction of their houses, leaving Hinata to the comfort of her own team.
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When Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto arrived at Naruto's apartment, Sakura set about the task of cleaning up Naruto's cuts. Seated on the bed, the medic-nin first wiped up the blood, then worked on the lacerations themselves, although many were already beginning to heal. Sasuke, leaning against the wall, watched Sakura work through his dark, grey eyes. The room was silent apart from the sloshing of the water as Sakura dipped her rag into the small bowl.
Then, after several minutes, Naruto spoke.
"Did you guys see Hinata afterwards?"
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a look. Then Sakura said, "Yeah, she was standing with Tenten and Neji and me. Then I went with Sasuke." Sakura paused, revisiting the scene outside the meeting hall. "She looked really upset…" the kunoichi finally said, pausing in her work, green eyes unfocused.
When Sakura did not continue, Sasuke took up the tale. "She missed you, dobe."
Naruto's head shot up, wide eyes staring at his rival/best friend. "What?"
"Yeah, Naruto, she missed you a lot." Sakura resumed the talking, also returning to her rag and water. "She didn't make it obvious, but anyone close to her could tell."
Naruto didn't say anything. He stared at the floor, a distant look in his clear, blue eyes. Sakura finished in silence and Sasuke did not say anything else.
"Well, Naruto." Several minutes later, Sakura stood and brushed off her skirt, thinking how lucky she was that Sasuke had not been sent on that mission. She stole a glance at the Uchiha teen, then looked away, picking up the bowl and rag.
She looked at Nartuo and said, "I'm sorry you had to come home like this. Tomorrow we'll explain everything that happened while you were gone. But now, you need to rest."
Sakura bent down and gave Naruto a hug, careful not to irritate his back. "We missed you."
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Neji and Tenten walked along in silence, the road empty apart for the two. When they reached the intersection in the road, they halted. There was a silence, both just listening to the sounds of the night. Then Neji broke it.
"So. Training tomorrow? Or has that Chaita lord made a rule against that, too?"
Tenten grinned broadly. "Thank goodness he hasn't!" She pulled out a kunai and began twirling it on one finger. "Yeah, we can train, we just have to be careful about where we do it." She remembered that time when, while Neji was away, she went out to run around the border of the village. Not a good idea. Man, those Chaita can really pack a punch. But she did not tell Neji; the last thing she wanted was for him to think she was getting soft.
Her gaze shifted so that she was looking at her partner. "I trained while you were away. Or, I tried to train. But, believe it or not, it was hard to find someone who gave me the same workout as you."
Neji chuckled. It was only for a second, for the teen quickly stifled it, but it was there. Tenten's smile broadened and she stepped in front of Neji.
"Did you just laugh?" A triumphant smirk spread across her face.
At this accusation the Hyuuga's face straightened immediately.
Tenten smiled, her eyes glinting evilly. "You, Neji Hyuuga, just laughed and you know it. Don't deny it!"
The Hyuuga managed to rid himself of the smile, even as Tenten waggled a finger in his face. "Training, tomorrow at the usual time."
He walked away down the road, leaving Tenten standing at the crossroads, still smiling widely. She watched him until his white shirt was no longer visible in the oncoming fog, and she herself was surrounded by it. Turning, she walked along her own road, humming to herself and twirling a kunai.
Tenten stared up at the sky, a small flock of butterflies moving into her stomach. He actually laughed.
She jumped into the air and did a swift cartwheel, letting some of her happiness out. Enjoying the feeling, she cartwheeled all the way down to her apartment, her happiness never ebbing.
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That night, Naruto lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Despite the fact that he was exhausted from his mission, he could not sleep. His mind would not turn off, continually replaying the scene from the meeting. Naruto repeatedly saw Hinata's scared, anxious face, Kokuzoku's cold, cold blue eyes glaring down at her, the anger that had bubbled up inside of him, and then the look of horror that had appeared on the heiress' face when his punishment had been proclaimed.
Why do I keep thinking about Hinata? he thought, hands folded behind his head. I like Sakura, don't I?
He tossed and turned, finally falling into a restless sleep full of dreams involving whips, cherry blossoms, and butterflies.
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In her bed on the other side of town, Hinata Hyuuga also lay awake, staring out her window at the starry sky above. Right then, she felt like the most pathetic person in the entire world. Why am I so weak? I never seem to be able to defend my self.
Fresh tears started to fill her already red and puffy eyes.
The only reason Naruto got hurt was because of me. I couldn't stand up to Kokuzoku at all. I just let him walk all over me, and all I could do was stutter!
The tears clung to her lashes, threatening to pour free. And then, after they let him go, all I did was cry. And make people worry.
Pictures of her friends' worried faces haunted Hinata's mind: Tenten, Kiba, Kurenai…Even Shino and Neji showed some signs of anxiety on her behalf.
The tears finally spilled, trickling down the heiress' pale cheeks.
And why am I crying so much?!
Hinata wiped them away angrily.
Tears don't help anyone. And neither does sulking.
She ran her sleeve over her eyes, and when she drew away her eyes were dry.
From now on, I'm not going to be weak. I'm going to become stronger. I'll never make anyone worry about me ever again.
A fiercely determined look came into her pale eyes. It closely resembled the look that a certain blond ninja had worn earlier that day.
And someday, I'm going to protect Naruto. I'll never be a damsel in distress for him to come and save ever again.
She looked at the moon, admiring its pale beauty.
I promise.
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Lord Kokuzoku set his pen down, a look of smug contentment on his lined face. There, he thought, looking over what he had written. This should take care of the Hyuuga clan. Their short interference in my plans for this village will end, tomorrow at sunset. And then I can continue with more important things.
He rang a small bell on his desk and a few seconds later, the door opened and Tsunade entered, accompanied by a guard. The guard bowed and left and, after closing the door, the woman sunk into a low bow of her own.
Kokuzoku smirked. "Come here, Tsunade. I need your signature on this paper."
She, at least, has not been causing any trouble, the Hokage in Second thought as the actual Hokage came forward and put her name on the line Kokuzoku pointed to. Kokuzoku would have rid himself of the woman long ago, but the villagers needed to see her name on the new laws, and they also liked to see her in person from time to time. If they didn't, they would have rebelled long before this.
When she finished, Tsunade straightened and looked at the man sitting at her desk. "Is there anything else I can do, my lord?"
"No. Go back to your post."
Tsunade turned and left, going to the new chamber Kokuzoku had had built next to his office for her. After Hiashi Hyuuga had come and tried to reason with Tsunade, the Chaita lord had decided that it was not safe to allow the public access to their Hokage. Tsunade was kept in the small chamber next to his office until Kokuzoku needed her, be it for her signature or for a public event. Kokuzoku liked to constantly remind the citizens of Konoha just who was in charge.
No one has actually challenged me yet. Except for the Hyuugas. But they will soon be gone. No need to waste a thought on them.
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Well, that was chapter three! I wrote this while I was on vacation, because it was too hectic to do it before. I'm still on vacation, and I'm posting this while I'm visiting someone, so please, forgive any last minute typos. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. Really sorry. But I didn't have any access to the internet myself, so I had to live off of the most random signal that came from one of the houses around me. So yeah. And now that I have a temporary permanent signal, I'm posting. So I'm so sorry!
I toyed around with several different perspectives in this story. Not actual perspectives, but focuses. This chapter kind of dragged a bit, but it will pick up soon.
I'm sorry if Hinata seemed a bit too weepy in this chapter, but don't worry! As she said in this chapter, she will be stronger and won't need protection! So just hold out.
I'm finding this story is a bit harder to write then my other ones. I have all the ideas, but it's harder to put them down on paper, and to figure out how to pick up each chapter. But I'm getting there.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed this chapter!
Mintmelodygirl, Hyuugaheiresshinata, the elven-spear, and that cool kid
You all get…um…I don't know. What do you want? For now, you can have a kitten and/or puppy. Or something.
To anyone else reading this story, please review! I would absolutely love it.
Thanks again! Reading Maid, over and out. (while on vacation!)
Briefly edited again 10/11/09