Author's Note: Sorry for the very long waiting period…however, considering the number of reviews…I'm sure nobody really cared…right?
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto or Naruto:Shippuden…Hinata and Naruto would have paired up ages ago.
Chapter 4: New Arrangements
"Achoo!"
Sakura's bright pink hair swayed as she prepared the chicken soup for her teammate, who had stupidely stayed out in the rain, and gotten himself sick.
"Naruto…food's ready!" She yelled.
She wiped her hands on the blue kitchen towel as he slowly made his way out of his room. He looked miserable: his eyes were dull, his face ashen and pale, and the dark circles marred his face…making him look almost raccoon-like. However, Sakura suspected this behaviour was hardly because of his illness; he had hardly said a single word since she arrived…and he seemed…depressed?
Was that even possible? This was Konoha's walking ball of sunshine- he couldn't possibliy be anything but happy.
Was this because of Jiraya- Sama's death?
"Hey…umm thanks Sakura- chan!" He said politely and quietly. His voice seemed to crack from his sore throat, but she only pushed the bowl of soup towards his hunched frame.
"Eat."
The silence seemed to drag on forever, until Sakura turned away from the dishes she was washing, and sat down across from her orange-clad friend. He didn't look up or even flinch. Angered by his lack of response, she lightly tapped the table, and as he finally looked up…she almost wished he hadn't.
The expression he wore…it was one of pain, and utter anguish…but it was well-disguised. Sakura wondered how many times he had fooled everyone with his fake smiles, when they had been too dense to truly care for Naruto.
"Naruto…there is something bothering you…I know it, so tell me…w-what's wrong!"
"It's nothing!" He smiled with a dismissive wave, and ducked his head in order to try and finish his full bowl of soup.
"It doesn't seem like nothing…"
He sighed, and she twitched unconsciously at the sound. "It Is nothing…" he muttered bitterly.
"Is this about Jiraya- sama, because he wouldn't have wanted you to be moping around, feeling sorry for yourself…he would have wanted –"
Naruto laughed bitterly, "Yeah, I bet there were a lot of things he wanted…but he won't be here to see them happen now will he?"
His body trembled, and he shut his eyes tightly so that the tears that were threatening to spill over never did. Sakura gasped lightly at the sight, but said nothing. Naruto took several deep breaths, but he seemed to alter his train of thought. He pushed the bowl away, he had only eaten a few spoonfuls, but the shiny liquid was there…taunting him silently.
"I'm not very hungry…"he lied; and without another word he retreated into his room and quietly shut the door behind him, he hoped Sakura would understand and leave him be for now. For once in his miserable existence…he just wanted to be alone.
For hours he just lay there; numb and unmoving. He had never felt this way before, not even when the head of the orphanage had beaten him furiously for the first time. The guilt overflowed as he realized he was more upset by Hinata's rejection than his master's death…or perhaps it was a combination of the two, it had happen all at once.
The look on her face after he kissed her haunted his dreams for days after the encounter. But she had looked beautiful, even thought she had been soaked by the pouring rain…she had captured him. The kiss alone had been like something out of a dream.
He had always dreamed of kissing Sakura…for years he had associated any form of romance with his pink-haired teammate…but now…
He grasped his blonde locks in frustration as he contined to ponder his mess of a life. His best friend had abandoned their village in pursuit of revenge, his love life had always been non-exsistant, but now he didn't even know who he cared for! The villagers still dispised him, and his master was dead –
Naruto nearly forgot to breathe, "Ero-sennin…" he whispered as the wound in his heart opened once more…fresh and clear. The pitiful sounds of harbored breaths resonated within his room as the anguish laced his throat. For the first time in what felt like decades, Naruto sobbed himself to sleep. One thought lingered in his mind as he felt himself lose consciousness…
'You were supposed to watch me become Hokage…you old pervert…'
The next morning came too quickly in his perspective, but he managed to hull himself out of bed…he later met Shikamaru who slapped some sense into him, and set him on the track of figuring out what his sensei had left for him. Soon he found himself at the familiar gates of the village, and ready to follow in his master's footsteps…and become a Sage.
"Stay safe Naruto." Sakura smiled as the blonde turned at her words.
"You know me Sakura-chan…I won't stop, not until my goals are fulfilled. I still have to become Hokage!"
Tsunade smiled at the scene, and watch the glimmer in her student's eyes…she wondered what fate had in store for the blonde ninja that had wormed his way into her unforgiving heart. She would never tell him that she saw him like a son or even a little brother; it would inflate his ego she mused.
***Naruto***
On the other side of the village, a familiar Hyuuga Heiress changed into her traditional blue kimono in preparation of the meeting her father had prepared for her. Like every girl, she let her hands wonder down her form…silently judging her appearance.
She had been told that many envied her…that they prayed for her figure, and despised her for her more prominent assets; but all she saw as she stared silently at the girl in the mirror…was another pupil-less Hyuuga with straight hair, and short stature.
Hinata sighed as her dainty hands rhythmically put her hair up into a formal bun, and she felt her body move on it's own accord…down the hallway that would lead her to her fate. Perhaps Neji had been correct to assume that some things cannot be altered from the path chosen by destiny.
"Good evening father…"
Hiashi turned and masked his face into his neutral look, "You are late my daughter…that is unbecoming of a future heiress!"
Hinata held her head down in despair, "I apologize father…Keiji-san…I humbly beg for your forgiveness…" Although it seemed petty, Hinata praised herself for not stuttering.
The young man, who only appeared to be in his early twenties, seemed to blend perfectly with the elderly leaders of the room. His cold eyes pierced her as the small smirk of self-superiority made itself present on his face; raising his hand he stopped any other words her father planned to use, "Oh it's quite alright Hinata-san" he said almost too enthusiastically. Hinata noticed with distain that his eyes lingered shamelessly over her figure, and she cursed herself for choosing the tighter kimono of her lot.
"We were just conversing on the political standpoint of this marriage; very boring really, you wouldn't care much for it…"
Hinata gaped, "P-political s-standpoint-t?"
Damn the stutter was back with a vengeance, she took a breath to calm her nerves.
Her father decided to interfere, "Keiji-san is from the Hyuuga clan that is situated in the western portion of the fire kingdom…there has always been misunderstandings between the two sides, and –"
Keiji cut him off rudely, and ignored the glare sent his way by her father, "Our side would like to become more adapt to jutsu and such. Considering our village is not one specializing in ninja…we only focus on basic taijutsu and even that is to a limited extent…"
Hinata's eyes widened, there was so much she was never told…never knew, about her clan.
"Say, how old are you Hinata-san?"
Again Hiashi intervened with a sneer, "She just turned seventeen…Keiji-san."
The young man's straight, shoulder-length hair tilted to one side as he stared at her with gray, pupil-less eyes. "I thought we would need to wait, but this is perfect! We only need a few weeks at the complex for preparation and the rest can be brought to Konoha…does that sound exceptable Hiashi-sama?"
The leader of the Hyuuga clan spared a look at his eldest daughter, and without a single sound…nodded in acceptance.
The room emptied very quickly, but she didn't move, even when her father stiffly patter her shoulder as he left. Not only would she have to force someone she hated, tormenting the rest of her life to a love-less marriage, but now she also had to move away from her home.
When would she be allowed to visit? After she had birthed children? She only had less than a year to prepare for this, since he apparently wanted her marrying him at the tender age of eighteen.
"Nee-san?"
Hinata looked up, and noticed her sister hadn't left the room, and that she had been crying silent tears as she thought of her unchangeable future. But she quickly wiped them away, and opened her arms to her beloved younger sister. Hanabi rarely showed affection, but she knew that this was a time that she wouldn't be turned down.
Hanabi hugged her, and even through the layers of clothing, Hinata felt her trembles. She stroked her sister's hair as she remembers the factor that had ultimately decided her fate for her.
"Hinata…it does not matter who the heiress is…they will arrange the marriage to Keiji-san either way…"
She remembered her father's words, and she had decided that day that she would never allow such a fate to befall Hanabi. This was her task, and she would bare through it alone, and with grace befitting of a true Hyuuga Heiress.
However, the small voice inside her mourned for the fantasies that would never come true. Especially since she heard of Keiji's womanizing ways. Apparently he had brought mistresses with him everywhere he traveled, and never looked away from a pretty face or a shapely body. His abusive habits towards the branch clan appalled her, and she had been told he always broke promises.
How ironic…the value that she had based her life upon, was regarded as nothing in the eyes of her future husband.
But it was going to happen, this wedding…arrangement…will happen…she would not let her sister be burdened with this life.
If it was the only meaningful contribution she made in her life, then Hinata would die happy.
AN: Review button is waiting for you…why keep it waiting?