Chapter 4: Responsibility (Part 1)
A/N: Hello again, readers! I intended for these selected events to be included all in one chapter, but the length of the chapter was getting so long that I thought to split these events into three parts. Kiba and Hinata learn responsibility on different levels. Kiba's responsibility may seem easy now, but it will only get more difficult later. Hinata's responsibility is intensely demanding and will only increase in severity in the future. Though on two different intensities, they shall help each other cope with these responsibilities.
Part 2 shall be Kiba helping Hinata with her responsibility and Part 3 will be Hinata assisting Kiba with his responsibility. Read on and please review! Hope you like it!
P.S. The first part of Kiba's POV takes place during one of Kiba's flashbacks in the Sasuke Retrieval Arc (around Naruto Episode 125 or so), which is what he reflects on while battling against Sakon and Ukon.
Kiba's POV
"It is an early graduation present for performing so well in the Academy", Mom told me with a loving smirk.
"Aww c'mon just tell me what it is already!" I begged much like a small puppy.
Hana let out a small laugh and winked at me playfully. "Oh, little inu, not until we arrive to the flower fields".
My grin grew wider just knowing that I was about to rewarded for my hard work at the Academy. I am known as the fastest soon-to-be genin in my graduating class. I am totally superior against my classmates in the speed tests on my attacks, especially ninjustu and taijustu. Of course that justifies why I still hold that tree race record against Naruto, Chouji, Shikamaru, and the others. No one could beat my record even if they tried. Haha!
Soon, I spotted the flower fields not too far from where we were walking. I sped to the flower fields laughing aloud beaming with excitement. What awaited me over there? A new ninja outfit? A whole life supply of beef jerky? Hell, I'd gobble that life supply of beef jerky in a hot minute!
Once I arrived to the flower fields, the wind increased its speed which swayed the various daffodils, cherry blossoms, and petunias along with its touch. Peering around the perimeter of the location, I was disappointed that I could not spot my surprise in plain sight.
"Mom! Hana! I see nothing. Where is…" I began to rant while facing my loved ones, until I heard something small barking for attention. First I heard rustling in the weeds and flowers coloring the field. Whatever this thing was, it was alive and heading our direction. I smelled a familiar scent that usually engulfs our home: a musty scent I know all too well from the other clan canines. Could my surprise be…
"Bark, arf, arf!" the little creature hollered sweetly as it arrived into my sight. It was a miniature white (almost tan colored) canine with fluffy fur and his eyes closed. All I could do is stare at him. For crying out loud, he matched the color of my shirt! My daydreaming was interrupted when Mom and Hana interjected into my silent meeting with the canine pup.
His name is Akamaru", Hana informed me.
I turned over to see Mom, Hana, and the oldest of the clan dogs accompanied beside them. They had caught up to me since I had sped over the rest of the way to the flower fields. From all their scents intermixed, I knew they were watching my reaction to this "surprise". Where did this pup come from?
"Sis…" I responded while still zoned out from finding such an unthinkable surprise.
Mom smiled her all-knowing smirk and added, "He's yours now. You're gonna take care of him from now on". My eyes blinked in attempt to absorb all of this happening to me at once. This was totally surreal. I always enjoyed playing and training with the clan canines, but I never imagined myself actually being in charge of one of them. Turning back towards Akamauru, I knelt to eye level, smiled, and held out my hand.
"Hi there, buddy", I said gently. Akamaru detected my hand in his line of sight where he gradually approached it, sniffed my palm, and after reassurance of my positive scent and aura, he licked my palm. I could only chuckle at this horribly cute gesture from my new companion. I knew that this meant he is beginning to like me and is becoming accustomed to my scent.
With this newfound confidence I just grasped, I picked up the small canine and held him to eye level. "It's nice to meet you, Akamaru. My name's Kiba!" I exclaimed. Akamaru barked in response which I translated as him saying, "Nice to meet you, too". I grinned at him; I was still in disbelief that any of this was actually happening. Much to my dismay and without warning, Akamaru began peeing my on my face. I could hear Mom and Hana laughing in the background as I closed my eyes and wiped the urine off of my face.
"Aw, man, thanks little guy," I mumbled feeling very disgruntled. But then my annoyed expression softened up into one of happiness. Akamaru cocked his head to the side. I bet he is wondering what move I would be making next. Then the idea hit me. He's so small that the best place I could put him is right in the collar of my shirt. I put my idea into action and turned to my mother and sister smiling at them with delight. Mom ruffled my hair and informed me in a more serious tone, "Now, Kiba, with caring for a nin-dog comes responsibility. It's not all fun and games, you know. You must feed him and train him properly to grow strong and healthy".
"Mom, I know all that stuff. I feed and train the other clan dogs, hehe!"
"It's different when you are the sole owner of an animal", Mom said. "One day you will see what I mean".
"And the first lesson you should teach little Akamaru is how to pee on trees and not in your face!" Hana yelped jokingly as she handed me a wet scented lavender cloth the wipe the remaining pee off of my face. My eyes bulged as I gasped slightly remembering that scent from the first day I met Hinata-chan. She smelled of wonderful lavender and chamomile, which totally suits her overall cute look. I reassure that I did not lose my focus by daydreaming about Hinata so that my sister wouldn't start teasing me even more.
"Yes, nee-chan. Mom, Hana, thanks so much for giving me Akamaru", I chanted as we all got into a group hug. Akamaru jumped up and down behind me for attention. As I turned to greet him, he barked a few more times then proceeded to bark at all of the elder clan dogs as if to challenge them to battle or play. All the dogs kept barking at one another as if in a playful debated about their strengths and weaknesses and how they would fare in battle against each other. Mom, Hana, and I laughed at the scene as the dogs' ranting continued. Hana interjected the hilarious situation with saying, "How about you go get to know Akamaru some more while Mom and I get back home and prepare some dinner?"
"Alriiight, just what I had in mind, sis! C'mon, Akamaru!" I ran off further into the flower fields truly prepared to show my skills of mastery by training my pup.
"And get home at a decent hour!" my mother hollered. "You're not an alpha male yet you know!"
I turned back towards Mom's direction and yelled, "Moooom! C'mon now!" My loved ones waved me good-bye and I waved back with the biggest grin that has ever been plastered on my face. Even Akamaru lovingly jumped up and barked as his way of saying farewell.
Hinata's gonna be totally surprised when I show her Akamaru, I thought as Akamaru and I sped about the flower fields, I can't wait to train him into the strongest nin-dog of Konoha!
Eventually I found a stick in my path. I picked it up and grinned at my idea of a first lesson to my new pup. "Hey, Akamaru, wanna learn how to play fetch?" I asked him priding up his excitement. He barked repeatedly as his tongue flapped out the side of his mouth and he stood on his two hind legs. "Hehe! You can't get it that easily, boy!" I teased while heightening and lowering the stick way above his small chestnut-shaped head.
Akamaru barked in frustration in his efforts to retrieve the stick my hand. After some fits of laughter and a few growls from my puppy, I finally displayed some remorse and threw the stick upward as far as I could. I watched in awe as Akamaru leapt high into the air and swiftly caught the stick with his spiky teeth. "Great job, Akamaru! Nice catch!" I bellowed as I formed a fist from the sheer joy of witnessing such an awesome thing happen right before my eyes. It has always been difficult for me to order the other nin-dogs to fetch or sit. Some would respond to my commands as other just plain out ignored them. I am amazed that I finally have a canine companion who will not only listen to my commands, but also be at my side no matter the circumstances.
I knelt down and petted Akamaru in reward for his performance as he dropped the stick into my hand.
Hinata's POV
I gasped shrilly as I collided with the floor boards of the Hyuuga compound's training room once again. From the three hours of constant training and battling Hanabi, my body began to grow numb. I staggered and trembled as I proceeded to stand and continue fighting.
"Stand up now, Hinata! You cannot become the Hyuuga successor if you cannot even hold your own weight!" Father screeched and slammed his cane into the wood. This same routine day in and day out plagued my entire lifestyle. I'd train and train, but I only seem to get better in the smallest of steps as my younger sister progresses faster than me. Why have am I taking this long to blossom into a noble ninja? What is wrong with me? Why am I so weak and helpless to the point I can't even defend myself verbally toward my abusive father?
Hanabi silently waited for me to stand to continue battle. Her extreme resemblance to Father has even made me fear her as well. Though she is not as critical and demeaning as Father, she has her moments of criticism and sarcasm.
My eyebrows lowered in determination. I can't keep succumbing to my tendencies of low self-esteem. I must be strong and determined like Naruto-kun to get somewhere in this life! I never go back on my word! Because that is my Nindo, my Ninja Way! his words echoed in my head. I removed the blood dripping from my lips with my bruised hand and rose greeting my relatives with the Hyuuga battle stance. Out of sheer impulse, I activated my Byakugan and instantly began focusing my chakra in my palms to prepare for Jyuuken attacks.
Hanabi gasped slightly as she watched me prepare for the next phase of battle.
"Well, daughter, I see you look more serious now. It seems like you have decided you are ready for the Jyuuken phase of today's practice", Father plainly voiced. I straightened my posture careful as not to take my eye contact away from my Father's demeaning eyes. "Come, let us proceed outside the compound".
Once we arrived to the training area outside the Hyuuga compound, Father propped his cane beside the sliding doors and perched on his knees on the wooden patio to observe Hanabi and I continue our training. Returning to the Hyuuga battle stance, I felt my eyes fill with more seriousness as I focused my chakra into my palms with much more intensity than I did inside the training room. Hanabi copied my stance. Though she is much younger than I am, Father has been teaching her the Jyuuken style because of her promising strength compared to mine. It shames me that Father insists on playing favorites, but like I said a year ago the day he found out I met Kiba, I will one day prove my worth to the entire clan. Even if it takes years, even if I prove my worth and then die right that second afterwards, I will do whatever it takes to achieve this goal.
"Nee-san, I have never seen your eyes like that before," Hanabi observed with a slight smirk. "Indeed you are getting better in your fighting, but you still have trouble beating me".
"No matter what, I shall keep trying, Hanabi-nee-san", I responded bluntly. Both of our glares sharpened in intensity. We circulated slowly in opposite directions of one another, a tactic Father has taught us that scopes out opponents' potential moves.
"Begin!" Father commanded. Hanabi and I instantly lunged towards each other, my right hand extended to begin my first attack and her left hand protruding to initiate her first move. The barrage of our attacks blocked one another's hits with dodging every so often. Just within the first couple minutes of the Jyuuken phase I was almost hit hard. However, when it hid the third minute, Hanabi knocked me over with a hit to one of the tenketsu located on my stomach.
"Excellent job, Hanabi!" Father congratulated my sister. I knew what was coming next. Each time we engaged in these sisterly training sessions, Hanabi would receive congratulations from Father and then I would be forced to hear scolding afterward concerning my performance. "Hinata, though your footing and defense has improved, you are still always the first one down. You must last longer in battle if you are to succeed as a ninja. Who is worthy of protecting this village if you are always not watching your opponents' every move?" lectured Father.
"Begin!" he demanded once again. For the next two hours, the consecutive battles in the Jyuuken phase ended the same way as before: I would last only 2-3 minutes during each scuffle before I was the first to fall. Father's scolding towards me only got worse as his compliments to Hanabi got better. I keep in mind to always reassure I observe Hanabi's every move just as Father has taught me to do so. Am I missing something? Is there some kind of blind spot in my Byakugan abilities in which I am not aware? With all of this practice, why isn't my endurance increasing? Maybe my mind is too preoccupied with the fear of failing and being unworthy in Father's eyes. This may be why I am so tense and sometimes make the wrong moves. Could it…
My thoughts were brutally interrupted when Hanabi nailed one of my tenketsu in my chest. Father stood and announced, "Jyuuken phase is over! Hinata, begin to prepare lunch immediately!"
This is the punishment I get every day: since I constantly fail the Jyuuken phase of training, I am forced to make lunch daily. Usually I do not mind cooking for everyone. It is actually one of my recreational passions, especially a talent I wield to impress Naruto-kun. Oh, how he loves to eat!
Hanabi proceeded inside home into her room to clean up for lunch hour. I was about to enter into the kitchen to wash up and begin preparing lunch until Father summoned me as he still stood on the wooden patio.
"Hinata, come here!" he commanded while stamping his cane into the floor.
I bowed as I arrived in front of his stance. "Yes, sir?" I respectfully responded.
"If you continue losing to Hanabi in training, do you know what this means?" he questioned me with that booming tone I oh, so hated.
"N-no, sir…" I said.
"It means you will be stripped of your status as heir to the Hyuuga clan. Hanabi will assume that status if you do not improve in your training! Do you understand me?"
"Y-yes, sir!" I quickly answered. Father nodded in approval. "Good. You are dismissed. Begin cooking lunch immediately".
"I will, sir," I said and bowed again.
"Do not continue to disappoint me, daughter. It will not end well if you do so", Father devilishly proclaimed. With hearing this, I tensed up without turning to look back at him. However, I kept a straight posture and a blank face so as not to show the true emotions hiding in my subconscious.
"Understood, Father," I responded with a nod. I proceeded to the kitchen, washed my hands with lavender soap, and began prepping lunch of onigiri, seaweed salad, and white miso soup. It took about a half hour to complete between prepping the ingredients, marinating the seaweed in sweet vinegar, wrapping the onigiris, and creating the homemade miso soup.
Considering Neji was out training with his teammates, I prepared plates for Hanabi and Father and placed them on the table.
"Lunch is ready!" I announced throughout the compound. They arrived to the table and began eating their meals as I made my own plate of food. Many of our meals occurred such as how it is now. We Hyuugas focus the most on training for supremacy of strength and nobility in the Leaf Village. Every conversation mostly surrounds on progress of training, what training will be completed the next day, and the family clan business. The three of us ate in awkward silence until I informed Father, "Once I clean up the lunch dishes, I am going to continue training at the training grounds, Father. More practice will be beneficial for me".
As I figured, Father did not answer my report right away. He finished the remaining of his miso soup to clean his platter and patted his mouth with a napkin. Peering at me out of the corner of his eyes as he rose to put his dishes in the sink, "I am glad you are wising up, daughter. If you are to bestow your worth to me, train as much as you deem crucial to yourself. You already know what I informed you earlier".
Hanabi glanced between me and Father in confusion. Perhaps she has not been informed of the possibility of her becoming heir to the Hyuuga clan if I do not improve my fighting abilities. I am glad that she has not been told of this possibility because her sarcastic and critical remarks will only makes things worse on my behalf of the situation. "Father, what did you…" Hanabi began saying.
"It is none of your concern, Hanabi. Finish eating, digest your food, and meet me in the training room in one hour. As for you Hinata, train hard", Father pronounced as his eyes squinted at me. "Or you know the consequences".
"Yes, sir!" I collected my dishes and Hanabi's dishes and cleaned up the kitchen to how it was before I began cooking. I left the Hyuuga compound literally running to the training grounds eager to continue my personal training. It would be wonderful to take the path through the flower fields to get to the training grounds again to practice my tree jumping and enjoy the scents of my favorite flowers. With this decision in mind, I smiled and thought I can't let myself down. I cannot let the Hyuuga clan down. I will prove my worth even if it kills me!
Once I arrived to the forest, I leapt into the first tree within my path and began jumping throughout the earthy branches and bright green leaves. It was very peaceful to listen to the forest bugs and animal creatures communicate to one another throughout my travels. Such noises provided me a terrific hiatus away from all the stress of training. I can sanely think about Naruto-kun and Kiba-kun while in such a nice environment of serenity. Though my thoughts mostly linger on Naruto-kun, I have not been able to stop thinking about Kiba-kun lately. In the last year of our friendship, he has always been there for me. A few times here and there we would get the chance to train together. I feel he goes too easy on me. But why does he do that? Opponents in the real world are not biased with whom they combat.
As I continued leaping through the trees like an acrobatic frog, I could smell the wonderful scent of flowers intermixed into one medley of a fragrance that brought a wonderful smile to my face. The onslaught of thinking about Kiba-kun along with my intense focus on the flower fragrances made me trip over a branch and fall into the flower fields. Before the flowers cushioned my fall, I oddly heard barking nearby. Is someone here with a dog?
Kiba's POV
Just as I was about to repeat the fetching game, I detected a small yelp, a large thud, and rustling of flowers. The little head that poked out from the flower fields was none other than Hinata. She shook her head to remove the flowers that had invaded her wonderful moonlight indigo hair. Her eyes blinked a few times as a mode of recovery from her fall. "Kiba-kun?" she whispered almost as faintly as the wind blowing around us.
I perked up in a huge smile and ran over to her. "Hinata!" I cried. Once I arrived to her perch, I held out my hand and helped her up from her fall, dusting the remaining flowers off of her tan jacket that bared the Hyuuga symbols are on the sleeves. Of course I couldn't help but contain my laughter as I questioned, "Hey, how the heck did you fall into the flower fields? Are you sure you're ok?"
"Y-yes I'm o-okay and well…" she began while twiddling with her fingers and made eye contact after a few seconds of doing that, "I was attempting t-to perfect t-the speed of m-my tree ju-jumping while on my way to the training grounds. My close-range attacks are beginning to become more solid and directed, but…I feel my speed and opponent analysis is still lacking".
"Heh, I'm glad you're training so hard, Hinata! You may not see it, but I see that you are growing stronger every day!" From this compliment, I saw her smile and blush timidly. Oh, her modesty kills me sometimes!
"Heeey, I've got a new friend to show you!" I scooped up my furry buddy into my arms and held him for Hinata to see. "Meet Akamaru. Hana and Mom gave him to me as an early graduation present for doing so well at the Academy. Isn't that great?" I exclaimed.
Hinata cooed sweetly, "Awww he is so cute. Yes, you are little guy!" She rubbed his cheek and met him nose to nose. "Yes you are! So you're the little barking joy I heard before I fell in the flowers!"
I inserted Akamaru back into the collar of my shirt not being able to help giggle at Hinata's cute statement.
"Wow, since it has been Spring Break from the Academy, we haven't seen each other much lately," I observed.
"Yes, Father has increased the intensity of me and Hanabi's training at the compound. First, her and I fight with taijutsu in the training room. Then we proceed to the Jyuuken phase of training. Finally, I train on my own and Father continues to train with Hanabi," I explained while petting Akamaru. He licked Hinata's palm and she giggled in response to his display of affection. He barked as if trying to input into me and Hinata's conversation.
"Heh, no kidding, little guy! That training is intense," I responded with a smile. "Here, how about I walk you to the training grounds? We can catch up on our practice together!"
"Thank you, Kiba-kun. I really appreciate your help," she responded blushing and twiddling her fingers again. Maybe this is what making Hinata constantly falter in battle: her lack of confidence about her abilities. Just like when I met her a year ago, I promised to help unlock that fighting potential inside of her. I see it in her eyes that she is truly trying to transform herself into a stronger future kunoichi. That glistening sparkle shows me her determination to improve herself. As we made our way to the training grounds, silence lurked between us. She smiled up at the butterflies soaring through the sky as I was feeding Akamaru some dog treats Hana had given me earlier before her and Mom left to go make dinner at home. From the corner of my eyes, I eventually felt Hinata's eyes on me. I turned and made eye contact with her which I immediately picked up a hint of concern from the way she peered up at me.
"Kiba, I have been thinking," she began. I always knew when she wanted to express a deep-seated concern with me. It is this special connection we have harvested early in our friendship. "When we train together, I feel…sometimes…you go too easy on me. My opponent analysis skills are still not that fortified yet but…I just have this feeling you are going too easy on me," she stuttered nervously. I quirked my eyebrow quite not following her statement. But then it hit me: Hinata's prior family training experiences has stopped me from severely hurting her while in training battles. Ugh, you're so stupid, Kiba! She's gonna catch on to your feelings if you keep going this easy on her. But…I don't want to hurt her.
"Well…ummm….Hinata…," my voice lingered on as I peered around the forest nervously. Her eyes got somewhat wider as she awaited my response. Just seeing that sparkle in her eyes finally made me sigh in defeat. "Hina…it's true. I just don't wanna put my full strength on you and hurt you badly. We Inuzuka are very feral and beastly with our attacks as you have seen at a lower intensity in our training together. I just…I don't wanna hurt you, you know".
Her blush grew redder after I finished my statement. Hinata placed her hands to the sides of her hips and answered, "Trust me, Kiba-kun. I do not get the pampered treatment when training at home. I have had worse damage done to me training with Father and Hanabi. The more serious the training, the better I will improve. I'm just very concerned because Father told me today that if my abilities do not improve soon that he will strip my status as the Hyuuga successor and transfer it to Hanabi. I want to be responsible to my clan and show my worth to them".
"What?!" I exclaimed. "Just because you are more soft-hearted and gentler than the rest of your family who are bloodthirsty and unforgiving they are going to take away your status?"
"Well…at this rate…it seems I won't succeed…but I know something good will come of this situation if I just keep trying", she defended.
An aura of motivation overwhelmed my heart and brain. Instinctively, I grabbed Hinata's hand and made us skid the rest of the way to the training grounds.
"Ki-Kiba-kun, why are you in su-such a rush?" my shy friend stuttered in surprise at my abnormal behavior. I turned to her with a serious expression.
"Hinata, I'm sorry I ever went easy on you. I was wrong to think it would help you improve your abilities. From this moment on, I will show you my full strength in our training. So once we get to the grounds, prepare yourself and show me everything you got! Got it, Hina?" I energetically announced with a wide grin as my grip on her hand tightened to receive her reassurance.
Her worried look softened into a blissful smile and she nodded in approval. "Kiba-kun, thank you!" she yelped as she stopped in our tracks which forced me to cease running as well.
"Hina, why did you…" I began questioning until I was interrupted with a tight hug from my best friend. This was the first time we ever hugged each other. I am baffled at the bravery Hinata has shown by hugging me first in our friendship. From this surprise action, I blushed even redder than Hinata's original blush usually plastered on her cheeks. She withdrew from our hug and finally said, "Thank you for taking me seriously. Now, I am ready to train. How about you, Kiba-kun?"
I peered over at the training grounds just a few feet away from our stances and nodded in agreement. "Yup, I'm ready than ever! Let's go, Akamaru!" My furry buddy jumped out of my shirt collar, landed on the ground, and us three proceeded to prepare for training.
A/N: Chapter 5: Responsibility (Part 2) COMING SOON!