Chapter 4: Village
Property of Kishimotto
Hinata lay on the ground in the light of the fire. She had woken up hours before but
didn't have the courage to get up. She was afraid that if she gave life another chance she
would do something reckless that would probably lead to her undoing. So instead she
stared. She stared at the cave wall breathing evenly and deeply. The more she thought
about her dead family the more her body seemed to way until it threatened to crush her
into the ground. Yet oddly enough she dreaded the thought of not thinking about them; as
if she didn't then they would disappear from her memory forever. Eventually she felt
someone's intruding presence behind her.
"Gone.." she whispered to the mysterious person. "I'm the very last of the Hyuga
family." She could hear the person sigh as he knelt down beside her.
"For all I know," Kiba began "I'm the last of my family too." At the sound of his
familiar voice Hinata moved for the first time. She whipped herself around to stare at him
with grieving eyes. Eyes full of hunger. Hunger for companionship at her moment of
distress. It was all she needed. When he placed his hand on her shoulder she bit her lip
as the truth of her future crashed violently into her, drowning her in every misery that
was capable at of her small body. Hinata cried for the first time in what felt like eternity.
She sobbed into her hands, tears leaking between her fingers. It killed Kiba to know there
was nothing her could do to take away her devastation. He knew far to well what she was
going through.
It took a while but Kiba eventually got Hinata to cooperate and talk about plans
for what was to happen. By the time he calmed her down Naruto and Brajan came
running through the cave entrance. They were both out of breathe and were covered in
many bandages from the previous fights.
"We covered within three miles of the cave full of booby traps." Naruto announce. "I
couldn't sense any chakra within range of the cave." Kiba nodded sharply before seating
himself beside Hinata. "Good, now it's time for planning. Where will be go to
tomorrow?" Hinata's eyes shot up with alarm noticeably flashing behind them.
"We just got here!" She complained. "Why would we leave already?" Everyone
seemed shocked at her sudden outburst. After a few startled seconds Brajan answered her
question with his soothing voice.
"Lady Hinata… We need to keep moving. Staying in one spot is far too dangerous. Until
we can come up with a better plan that's our only option. We can't allow our enemies to
become familiar with our surroundings. If they do it will make us more susceptible to
attacks."
Hinata stared into the fire, worlds away. She nodded wearily with a grave look on her
face. This was the last thing she needed. She wanted to rest and collect the pieces of her
broken spirit before she could move on.
Kiba quickly took her silence as an opportunity to talk. "We'll need to change her
appearance somewhat but mostly we'll have to disguise her scent. They have trackers and
even if it doesn't throw them off completely it will at least give us more time. The plan is
to hit the village in less than an hour. After one night we will move straight to our next
destination." When he mentioned their soon to be whereabouts he flashed a quick look in
Brajans direction. Brajan sharply nodded in understanding. Hinata's suspicions were
raised by the boys odd behaviors but she still didn't ask questions.
"Kiba," Naruto spoke up. "wouldn't it be more wise to leave as soon as possible?"
Kiba nodded his head slowly. "Right." he said in agreement. "We'll have to stay over
night in this cave for about one more night before we are forced to move. But to stay in
the village during the day would be the smartest move. They would expect us to come out
only at night. Besides, they don't want to disturb the citizens so they won't be on high
alert during the day."
When another silence over took the cave Hinata couldn't take it. She threw her head
back with a groan of annoyance. All the questions that had been burning inside her were
now exploding out. "What are trackers?" She started off as she gazed sharply at
Kiba. When he opened his mouth to reply she shot more questions at him. "Why do we
have to leave so soon? Where are we going next? What does Brajan have to do with it?
Where are we? What bastards are responsible for the deaths of my family?"
With the last question the silence in the cave grew thick with shock and anxiety.
Kiba exhaled sharply through his nose as he glared at the girl with a hardened expression.
He took a deep breathe before beginning. " Trackers are a special kind of dog that have
chakra and that are trained to fallow scents. I already explained to you why we have to
leave so soon, I don't know where the hell we are, you'll find out where we're going
soon enough, don't question Brajan because he's here to protect you princess, and it was
the Ohamu clan that killed your family!" he snarled with just as much (if not more)
frustration imbedded in his voice.
Hinata flushed in embarrassment at her scolding. She cleared her voice and twirled
her fingers together. "Sorry" she mumbled.
Kiba took a deep breathe and stood. "Let's go.."
Hinata snapped her gaze up to see his hand extended for her to take. When she took his
hand he flung her up with ease and strength. She gasped as a white blur came zipping out
from the depths of the cave. She smothered a scream as the beast of a dog came trotting
up to Kiba's side. Kiba scratched his ears and smiled. "You're not afraid of Akamaru are
you?"
Hinata took a couple steps forward and patted the large dog awkwardly on the head.
He seemed to accept this timid gesture by licking her arm. She pulled it back and made a
face at the feel of his saliva on her arm. Kiba chuckled lightly as he flung his leg over
Akamaru and, once again, held out his hand to Hinata. She had difficulty seating herself
on Akamarus back with her dress still on.
"Don't worry," Naruto said grinning. "We'll get you some more comfortable clothes
when we get to the village. As soon as the words were spoken they were off. Gliding
through the trees with Hinata clutching tightly to the back of Kiba's shirt. At the speed
they were traveling it didn't take them long to reach the village. Kiba ordered a pouting
Akamaru away and they walked through the main gates of the village's entrance.
It was harder then imagined to blend in with three boys in the same outfit and a girl
in formal attire heading down the street of curious eyes, gossiping lips, and gaping
mouths. First thing was first: Hinata's clothes. They stopped before a store that seemed
suitable enough. Only then did it occur to Hinata that they had zero money. None. Nada.
Zilch. She gazed up to Kiba worried "What are we gonna do about money?"
Without taking his gaze from the entrance of the door he pulled out a bulging leather
sack from his shirt. He threw it in the air in front of Hinata and she fumbled to catch it.
She moved a piece of hair behind her ear as she stared in curiosity at the pouch. She
gently pulled the draw string and gasped when hundreds of folded 200 dollar bills were
seen. "There's more where that came from." Kiba said opening the door and walking in.
Brajan walked through after him and Naruto caught the door. He smiled politely as he
held it open to Hinata with his arm gesturing towards the inside. "We snatched it when
we first heard there was trouble. Just in case… It was in a special vault your father kept
for such emergencies as this." He said softly.
Hinata just nodded even though he couldn't see her. Naruto bounded up behind her
linking his arm with hers. "Come on now!" He said cheerily "you're a girl, shopping is
suppose to be your forte!" Hinata smiled softly at his eagerness too cheer her up. She
gasped at the foreign feel of a smile on her lips. Could she really be smiling at a time like
this?!
Naruto was right. It didn't take Hinata but a minute to find herself some suitable
clothing. She wore purple sandles that most common ninjas wore. She had Capri pants
that went half way down her thigh and a purple belt. She had a fishnet shirt that was
slightly longer then shoulder length and a gray, belly button, short sleeve jacket with
purple Konoha leaves on the sides. On to the next task!
After several failed attempts to get Hinata to cut her hair the boys gave up and settled
for a bun with a purple ribbon tied in it. They visited different perfume and lotion stores
before stocking up on many different, and popular, scents for Hinata to hide beneath.
They visited the food supplies and weapons stores. They went to department stores for
basic needs until they felt they had everything they needed. By the time they were done
with all their shopping it was getting dark.
They walked down the cobble stone street with Kiba in the lead and Brajan just a step
behind him. Hinata and Naruto walked a couple paces behind while Naruto chattered
mindlessly and Hinata nodded, pretending to pay attention.
All of a sudden Naruto stopped mid sentence and haulted where he stood. A grin
Slowly crept on his face as he stared blindly down the street. The three other teens
stopped and turned around to watch. Kiba glanced carelessly over his shoulder and
Brajan smiled, anticipating what Naruto would do next. "Naruto?" Hinata questioned in
her small yet curious voice.
"Shhh!" Naruto said as he listened carefully. "You hear that?" There was music
playing now. Most likely from some side band consisting of an accordion, a violin, and
other instruments that made the Italian sound. "When the world seems to shine like
you've had to much wine that's amore!" Naruto sang along. Hinata burst into a fit of
giggles at his Italian impersonation. "May I have this dance?" He ask with a crooked
smile. Hinata grinned as she dropped her bags and grabbed his hand. The stepped into the
waltz position and started skipping off beat down the street. Hinata could bearly keep her
feet right because she was laughing so hard at their foolishness. Naruto bantered on about
how he usually was drunk for this kind of behavior. They let go of each other as they
rounded the corner still laughing. They came to a jogging hault as they caught their
breathe. Naruto bent over with his hands on his knees. The minute his head was down a
kunai hit the wall behind him where his forehead was. Hinata's breathe was knocked out
of her as Naruto flung himself at her midsection from the side. He dashed back around
the corner with her slung over his shoulder. He set her down in front of Kiba and Brajan
who were already aware of their visitors. "We got a problem.." Naruto hissed as masked
figures surrounded them from every direction.