4. Swordplay

She woke up at midnight with a cramp in her back and neck. She was still completely dressed in her dusty filthy day clothes, her new blades were bound on her back. She removed them and placed them under her bed. After having changed into her evening gown, she crawled in bed and curled into a ball under her blanket. There were 5 hours left of sleep and she intended to take them. Tomorrow she would test her skills against a master.

When she woke up for the second time, it was with an intense need to take a shower. Of course, because she hadn't taken one before she fell asleep yesterday afternoon. Despite her momentary lack in personal hygiene she felt refreshed in her mind. She felt she had reached a decision about where she was headed in life. She would talk to her sister and her cousin. She would request Tsunade to send her on missions and she would complete her own unique fighting style with the double broadswords. If she changed herself, if she could get stronger, she could change Hyuuga.

The bathroom smelled of baby powder and shampoo. Because Kurenai and the baby were still asleep, she tried to take her shower as quietly as possible. The feeling of cleanliness she got from the shower was such a relief. It reminded her of coming back home from a long and tiresome mission. If she was sent on missions again she would have to deal with what she hated most about them, the inability of taking a proper shower everyday. When she was done showering she dried herself with a towel and commenced applying perfumed lotion all over her body. She felt like being different today. She looked at the bundle of clothing she took to the bathroom and then looked at herself in the mirror. A plain face. Pale skin, white eyes and black hair. By far not the epitome of female beauty. But she would be different today, she would be more adventurous in the part of her appearance she could change. She would wear black, the opposite of the light colours Hyuuga preferred. Tight leggings that ended just above her knees and a tank top. On top of that a short sleeved tunic with a length that reached just above the leggings she wore. It was a more modest version of Sakura's clothing style. Yet it gave her a new freedom in movement, and more importantly, she didn't look like the weak Hyuuga Hinata who was once part of the Hyuuga clan. The scabbards for the set of double broadswords had the same colour of the blades they housed, white tinted with lavender. They formed a nice contrast with her new outfit when she bound them crossways to her back.

She ate a quick breakfast of toast and fried eggs and then left for the dojo. Today, I'll fight a master. She leisurely strolled to the weapons district, it was six o'clock in the morning. There hardly were any civilians on the streets, only a few ninja were travelling the rooftops. It was July, the sun was already shining brightly and the day promised to be warm. She would be eighteen next week. Her mother had told her years ago she was called Hinata because she was born on a bright sunny day. Hinata: A sunny place.

A sense of foreboding struck her. She activated her Byakugan and scanned her surroundings. She was definitely watched, three Hyuuga jounin from three different directions were heading towards her. They didn't even try to hide themselves from her vision. 'Natsumi, Hideaki and Mamoru of the main house.' , she whispered to herself. They were three extremely skilled jounin, she suspected at least one of them was Anbu.

They are planning on making their move. Indeed.

Hinata dashed forward in an effort to avoid them. Her heart was beating wildly and she was sweating with nervousness. What do they want from me! She inadvertently looked Hideaki in the eyes, they both had their Byakugan activated and though they were several hundred meters away from each other it proved to be an unwanted and awkward intimate moment on her part. His eyes were mocking her.

Hinata noticed she was heading towards the exit of the village, into the forest. And then she knew. They are driving me to a secluded space. She stopped running and simply stood still. She would confront them in a place of her own choosing. She stopped panting and tried to find herself a measure of calm. She didn't realize she was quite a sight. Her new clothing style showed off her curves in a modest yet most enticing manner. The blades added a lethal edge to her appearance and the look of determination in her eyes was cold like burning ice. Let them come.

Some of her fellow ninja that were up and about stopped in their tracks to watch the kunoichi. It took them a moment to realize they were looking at the Hyuuga that had defected.

Within a few moments the three jounin had arrived. Their expressions were emotionless. They quietly surrounded her, yet took care to not invade her personal space.

After a minute of silence, Hideaki spoke. 'Hinata', he said, 'it is time you end this nonsense. You've had enough time to grieve now. You must take your place in the Branch House.' The sun made the Hyuuga crest glitter on the light coloured robes he wore. Everything about him screamed aristocracy and nobility. She had to fight the instinctive urge to do as he said. His eyes were roaming her body and lingered shortly on her breasts.

'Come home with us, Hinata.'

Hinata shook her head. 'I have left the clan. I am no longer bound by its rules. The Hyuuga District is no longer my home and I refuse to go with you.'

A small crowd had formed on the rooftops surrounding the Hyuugas. It was not often that they saw members of such a powerful clan openly facing off about clan affairs.

'It's better if you come with us voluntarily. Don't make us force you to comply. You're in our range.', Natsumi said. The young woman wore an expression of bored arrogance. She flipped her head in a gesture of disdain and the high ponytail she wore rhythmically swayed from left to right.

Hinata had turned very still. 'I will not go.'

'I've warned you,' Natsumi said before she surged forward. 'We'll put the seal on you here and now.'

In an almost invisible movement Hinata had unsheated her broadswords and blocked Natsumi's strikes. Not one of her 64 hands of Hakke touched Hinata. Natsumi jumped backwards, she was breathing heavily. 'H-how?'

Hinata's blades were glowing blue with chakra. She stood alert and ready.

'I blocked you', she said, 'with my blades.'

She made a circle with one of her blades in the air in front of her body. The three Hyuuga who had their Byakugan activated and a certain masked jounin saw a wave of chakra in the wake of the moving blade that disappeared after several moments. The reach of her blades seemed to be extended as well.

'I see,' Hideaki said. 'You have developed a new technique. You somehow transfer chakra to the blades and make a momentary shield of it by moving the blade. Impressive. But it will not help you against the three of us.' The three Hyuuga surged forward to capture her. Okay, Hinata thought, this is it.

'Heavenly shield: Slicing Whirlwind!'

She rotated while exuding chakra from her tenketsu and from the extended reach of the moving broadswords. The three Hyuuga jounin were thrown several metres backwards. The rotation finished, Hinata was panting. The three jounin were scrambling up. They had clean cuts all over their bodies and blood was seeping through their white robes. Their eyes showed a killing intent. Oh no, Hinata thought, I'm done for. They were moving too fast to stop them by rotating. She was running out of options. But then she saw. They were in her range, all three of them. She extended the reach of her swords with wind natured chakra and executed three slicing movements with the blades. It was a spontaneous new technique.

'Divine Sword: Distant Blade Strike.', she whispered.

Hideaki's head was cut off straight. Blood was spurting out of his neck as his body fell. His head resting against his legs. Natsumi was clutching her belly as she fell on her knees. Mamoru had apparently lost the use of his right arm and leg and was groaning in a heap on the ground.

Hinata had turned snow white with horror and weakness and felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. Kakashi caught her before she fainted onto the ground. He took the blades and sheathed them on her back.

This girl, he thought, is deadly.

-X-X-X-

The Hokage was pacing from left to right in her office, a look of worry mixed with weariness was etched on her face. Shizune was clutching the pet pig and stood next to the desk.

'So,' Tsunade said, 'that girl, that Hyuuga Hinata took out three jounin with one attack. Killing one in the process. Is that what you're telling me?'

'Yes,' Kakashi replied.

Tsunade sighed a deep sigh. 'How?'

'It appeared to me that she has become quite able in kenjutsu - sword techniques with double broadswords.', Kakashi said, 'She has a style that's in accordance with her Byakugan. I know, because I can't copy it. Like most Byakugan users she can reach those that are in the active range of her Byakugan in milliseconds. The Byakugan users I've seen so far, close their opponents chakra openings. But Hinata…she apparently can extend the reach of her swords to the active range of her Byakugan. This means…she can cut you with her swords, when you're in her range.'

Shizune gasped. The fifth continued pacing. 'Were they moving to kill her?'

'In the end they did.'

'Why didn't you act?', the Hokage asked.

'At first, because it was a clan matter. Later on, it seemed like she could handle the situation herself. In the end, they moved too fast for me to reach in time. '

'I see.'

Tsunade walked to her desk, took a jug from the sake bottle she had hid underneath and sat down. 'The Hyuuga clan head and her advisor will come here to demand punishment and recompense. This has become a very sticky situation.'

'It was self defense.' Kakashi declared.

'I know. But is was Hyuuga Hideoshi who sent them. In clear defiance of my warning. Hyuuga is a proud clan.'

Tsunade rhythmically clicked her nails on the desk and rested her chin in the palm of her other hand. 'Hinata though… the Hyuuga always claimed she was weak …but she has become formidable. Such an attack!'

'Shizune, see if Hinata has woken up then bring her here.'

-X-X-X-

Hinata woke up from a dreamless slumber to stare at a white ceiling. The unmistakeable smell of the place told her she was in the hospital. For a few seconds she thought she was still recovering from her fight with Neji during the Chuunin exams. No. The memories of the day flooded into her mind. Hideaki, I killed him. A feeling of horror overwhelmed her. I killed my own kinsman! Then she cried.

That was how Shizune found her. She ran to hug the girl. She didn't say anything, just let her cry until she was done, until the tremors and the sobbing had stopped.

'Tsunade requests your presence.', Shizune finally said, 'Don't worry Hinata, she understands.'

Hinata nodded and tried to ignore the images etched in her mind of a head rolling over the ground. I did that to him! But… they tried to kill me too.

She got out of the bed and dusted of her clothes. She saw the scabbards that housed her swords lying next to her hospital bed, on a cabinet. She took them and bound them on her back.

She sure has changed, Shizune thought.

-X-X-X-

The Hokage was sitting behind her desk when they entered. Shizune proceeded to take her place next to Tsunade. A moment of silence elapsed as they both stared at the Hyuuga.

'You have become very strong', Tsunade broke the silence, 'Kakashi told me about your confrontation with Hyuuga clan members. He was the one who made sure you and the survivors were alright after you fainted.'

The survivors.

'I know it was self defence, in fact, everyone who witnessed saw that it was self defence. Three against one, how despicable. But you handled yourself well. If only I could now say that the Hyuuga clan will think twice before they try to force you again. But they are a proud people.' Hinata surpressed a tremor, she knew all too well. 'What now?', Hinata asked.

'We come to the crux of the matter', Tsunade replied. 'I'm moving you out of Kurenai's place and you will be promoted to jounin.'

'Wh-what?'

'You heard me. You're quite the kunoichi. I will send you on a mission as well. The fact that you are now the talk of the town angers the Hyuuga more. We will practice the ancient technique of 'out of sight out of mind'.'

'No!', Hinata said, 'that's not what I want.'

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and waited for the Hyuuga to continue.

'I need to speak to my sister and my cousin…and my sifu.'

'I see.'

'Look…', Hinata attempted to explain, 'I know things are kind of messed up right now. I killed a kinsman, I defected and both my parents are dead…But, I have to speak to my siblings, because they are the closest things I have to myself. It was they who warned me to be on my guard. It was Neji who supported me in my defection and it is Hanabi who needs me.'

'I can't keep you from seeing your relatives, Hinata-chan,' Tsunade said, 'you may do as you please, but please be careful. Your mission starts five days from now, that should give you enough time to do your business.'

Hinata gave the Fifth a truly grateful smile.

Shizune slipped a paper with an address written on it in Hinata's hand. 'Your new place. Here's the key.'

'Aahh…domo arigato.', Hinata thanked her with a deep bow. There was a sad expression on her face.

'How are Mamoru and Natsumi?', she asked.

'They are pretty beaten up', Shizune answered, 'but they will make complete recoveries.' A sigh of relief escaped Hinata's lips upon hearing that. She deeply regretted the death she had caused, but she would not let this regret numb her. Nevertheless, she was happy to hear the two other assailants were alright. She never really spoke to Mamoru and he had never caused her trouble, he was a young man, older and he had better things to do. Natsumi would sneer about Hinata, calling her a useless weak princess. But she had never really caused Hinata trouble until this day. She had heard about the things Hideaki did to some of the girls of the branch house and she knew he had fathered the children of two unwed mothers in the Branch. He was engaged to be married to Hinamori of the main house. The daughter of her father's second cousin. She must be thrilled, Hinata thought. Hideaki had once made a bid for her own hand in marriage, but her father had refused outright. 'I will not marry my daughter to a lecherous pervert who thinks only of his own indulgences,' Hinata had heard him say under his breath after Hideaki's father left. She knew her father was also angry about the audacity of the request. It was after all made in Hinata's presence during Hanabi's 10th birthday celebration. She and her father had been strolling towards the gathering hall together, when they were approached by Hanatarou, Hideaki's father. Hinata remembered the piercing sharp gaze of the man. He will seek revenge for his son, she thought, that's the kind of man he is.

'Return here four days from now at noon to receive your mission details, you and your team members will leave the day thereafter.', the Hokage concluded the meeting.

'Yes, Hokage-sama.' Hinata bowed and left.