Chapter Three: The Tests of a Shinobi

As the late night hours passed by, Hinata had finished putting away all her belongings in her room that Kurenai had given to her. After Hinata had placed the last of her clothing in her dresser she laid her weary body on her bed, slowly beginning to close her eyes. Then a knock on the door awoke the young Kunoichi.

"Hinata may I come in?" Kurenai asked.

"Yes Sensei." Hinata replied as she lifted herself.

"How are you doing Hinata?" Kurenai asked as she sat down next to her.

"I'm fine just a little tired though." Hinata replied as she yawned.

"I bet, it sounded like you had a long journey today."

"Yes we did." Hinata replied.

"And what about your training, Master Jiraiya didn't give you any trouble during that time did he?" Kurenai asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh no, he taught Naruto and I many things during our training. Actually now that I think about it Master Jiraiya is more like a grandfather to me now." Hinata replied.

"Well that's good, and speaking of Naruto I hoped he treated you with just as much respect as Master Jiraiya did during your training."

"Oh yes he did. We've never been so close as we are now." Hinata replied.

Kurenai noticed how Hinata was pushing her index fingers against each other as a sudden blush began to grow on her face.

She wanted to ask Hinata if something happened between her and Naruto but she didn't, knowing how shy Hinata is. Kurenai didn't want Hinata returning to her past insecurities. Kurenai loved the new fierce Hinata. Kurenai smiled seeing herself in Hinata and knowing how hard it is for a shinobi to have a private let alone personal life.

Kurenai then notice a hawk indigenous to the Land of Fire flying high in the moonlit night. Seeing this Kurenai knew that the Hokage was summoning all the highly ranked Shinobi in the village for an emergency meeting.

"What is it Kurenai Sensei? Hinata asked.

"Oh it's nothing Hinata, you better get some sleep now you've had a long day and you need your rest."

"Okay Sensei." Hinata said as she crawled into the sheets on her bed.

"Good night Sensei."

"Good night Hinata." Kurenai replied as she turned off the lights in Hinata's room.

As soon as Hinata fell asleep Kurenai left the apartment and ran through the village followed by other Ninjas from the village. All of them were racing through the empty streets of the village towards the Hokage's mansion.

As all the highly decorated ninjas arrived, they all bowed in respect towards the Hokage who stood before them.

"Alright since everyone is now here we can now begin this emergency meeting." The Hokage said.

"As you're all aware the Chunnin Exams are approaching soon, and we're going to have to tighten security around the village. Especially considering that the Akatsuki are planning to attack during this event. The intel the black ops have been able to gather is sketchy, the Akatsuki is keeping the cards close to their robes. What we have learned is their main goal is to capture the nine tail." The Hokage heard one of the shinobi ask another

"Did he say the Nine tail and not the Nine Tails" The Hokage answered the Shinobi

"Yes the Akatsuki wants the Nine tail in it's original form, not the one created when I separated it's spirited and placed half in my wife and the other half in my son. This means they will try to take Kushina and Naruto. I know I don't have to tell you all how important it is to stay alert, while we allow the next generation to prove themselves. We have all taken oaths to protect our home, our families, our village and all who enter we will do this with our lives. Be safe, you're all dismissed." The Hokage said as he waved his hand to dismiss everyone.

All the ninja had disappeared all except for two, Kurenai and Kakashi Hatake a former student of Minato.

"You wanted to see us Lord Hokage?" Kurenai asked.

"Please Kurenai there is no need for formalities, and yes there are some things that I would like go over with the two of you."

"What is it Sensei?" Kakashi asked.

"Well it concerns your student Kurenai."

"What does this have to do with Hinata?"

"Well…. According to Master Jiraiya Hinata was able to unlock one of the most powerful visual Justus ever created during her training at Mount Moyoboku ."

"What do you mean Sensei?"

"What I mean is…. She was able to unlock The Heavenly Sight Byakugan."

"What!" Both Kurenai and Kakashi said with a surprised look on her faces.

"But I thought that The Heavenly Sight was only a legend." Kakashi said.

"Not anymore it's not, and that's why I brought you two here. We already have to worry about the Akatsuki trying to take Naruto and Kushina, we don't need to worry about our enemies trying to take one of the most powerful visual Justus of our time."

"What do you need us to do Sensei?"

"I have asked you two here because I want you two to lead a special task force to protect Hinata until the time comes to where she has fully mastered the Heavenly Sight. But I want your team to watch over her in secrecy, I don't want her to feel like a bird in a locked cage."

"Yes Lord Hokage."

"Good now there's just one more thing I want to talk to you two about."

Both Kurenai and Kaskashi looked towards the Hokage with much curiosity.

Meanwhile a slumbering Hinata was found tossing and turning in her bed.

"Hanabi…Hanabi.!" The young Shinobi mumbled.

Deep within her subconscious Hinata found herself surrounded in darkness, frantically searching the area for something very important to her.

"Hanabi where are you?" Hinata shouted.

"Hinata…. Hinata is that you?" A voice replied.

"Hurry the bad men got me please Hinata hurry!"

Hinata than ran as fast as her body would allow her, wondering the eternal darkness in search for her beloved younger sister. Her breath began to choke inside her throat as she continued her search.

"Hanabi…Hanabi!" Hinata shouted once again.

Hinata awoke herself from her nightmare, struggling to catch her breath as beads of sweat feel down the sides of her face.

"Wh… What was that about?" Hinata asked herself.

As Hinata struggled to find the meaning of her dream, she felt the presents of another person lingering in the shadows of her room.

"Who's there reveal yourself!" Hinata demanded.

There was no reply, the silence was beginning to become unbearable for Hinata as she prepared herself for any confrontations that were to come.

"Are the one formally known as Hinata Hyuga?" A man in a black hood and animal themed masked asked.

"Y… Yes." Hinata replied.

"The Anbu Black Ops…. Why are they here this time of night?" Hinata asked herself.

"The Hokage has requested your presents at the training grounds." The man replied.

Then the man vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving no evidence of his presents in the room. Hinata then quickly turned her head to her alarm clock on her nightstand. The time had read thirty minutes past four in the morning.

"I guess it's time." Hinata thought to herself.

She quickly dressed herself in her usual attire and grabbed as many ninja tools as she could from her private collection.

"I better be quite so that I don't accidently wake up Kurenai Sensei." Hinata said as she slipped on her sandals.

She then quietly snuck out of the apartment and quietly walked down the vacant streets of the village.

"I wonder what the test is going to be. I've haven't done anything like this without Naruto's help since our training began. I wish he could help me with these trials the Hokage is forcing us to take ." Hinata said as she made her way towards the training grounds.

The morning sun was beginning to rise over the eastern mountainside as Hinata finally made it towards the training grounds. but to her surprise she saw Naruto sitting on a boulder in front of the gate while reading a novel written by Jiraiya.

"Naruto!" Hinata shouted.

Naruto looked away from his novel and greeted Hinata, singling her to join him by the boulder.

"What are you reading Naruto?" Hinata asked.

"It's one of Pervy Sage's books." Naruto replied.

"Ohhh….. It better not be one of those books from his Make Out series!" Hinata said with a grin."

"Huh…. No no it's not what you think it's actually his very first book he made." Naruto said as he shown Hinata the cover of the book.

"The Tales of a Gutsy Ninja." The cover read.

"Oh I never heard of this one before." Hinata said after Naruto had given her the book.

"Yeah apparently it's about this one ninja who seeks for the answer to rid the world of the cycle of hatred."

"Oh wow that's sound like an amazing book Naruto." Hinata said as she skimmed through the book.

"Hehe… actually my dad named me after the main character of the story." Naruto said as he tried to hide the blush on his face.

"Really?"

"Yup hehe."

"Well I still like your name Naruto." Hinata said as she leaned herself against Naruto.

Naruto began to laugh awkwardly while scratching the back of his head as Hinata did this.

"Is there something funny Naruto?" Hinata asked.

Naruto then noticed how Hinata's eyes shimmered in the early morning sunlight. He felt the warmth from Hinata stretching throughout his body. His heart began to beat faster as Hinata wrapped her hand around his.

"Hinata I…"

Naruto was interrupted by Hinata who had placed her index fingers in front of his lips.

"Shhh….. We can talk later, right now though I just wanted to enjoy this sunrise with you Naruto." Hinata said as she leaned her head on Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto wasn't sure how to reply to what Hinata had said, but instead he decided to hold her closer to him as they both watched the morning rise high above the horizon.

Naruto didn't want to ruin this perfect moment, but he knew that what he wanted to say to Hinata was important.

"Hey Hinata?" Naruto said as he looked down towards Hinata

"Hmm?" Hinata replied while having her eyes closed.

"I… I want to talk to you about something."

"What is it Naruto?" Hinata asked as she gave him her full attention.

"Something that the Pervy Sage said has been bugging me for a while now. "

"What do you mean?"

"Remember how he said that the village's enemies would try to take you if word got out about your new Byakugan?"

Hinata looked down to the ground after Naruto a brought up their previous conversation with Master Jiraiya.

"Ye...Yes" Hinata stuttered .

"Well…. It's just that... I don't think you should use this new Justu." Naruto said.

"What!" Hinata shouted.

"What I mean is…. I'm scared Hinata I'm scared of losing you." Naruto said.

"I'm scared that our enemies could end up taking you if word spreads of your new Justu."

There was a moment of silence between the two Shinobis.

"So you're trying to say I should try and hide myself like I did when we we're younger?" Hinata asked as she looked away from Naruto.

"What no no… that's not what I meant at all."

"Then what you're saying is that the promise that we both made to ourselves, to Master Jiraiya was a lie?"

Naruto then had a surprised look on his face as he thought back to the promise both he and Hinata had made.

"I vow to protect her with everything I've got!" these words echoed through Naruto's mind.

"N…No" Naruto said as he looked down.

"I made the exact same promise with you Naruto remember?" Hinata shouted

"I…I remember." Naruto replied

"You don't think that I'm scared too Naruto."

"What you fear of happing to me could end up happing to you as well Naruto." Hinata said as tears ran down the sides of her face.

"I'm scared Naruto I'm scared that the Akatsuki will succeed in their goal and take you away from me." Hinata said as she buried her face deep within Naruto's shirt.

Naruto tried his best to comfort her as he wrapped his arms around her while fighting back the burning sensation in the back of his eyes.

"You have a Mother, a Father and a little sister Naruto but I don't, I don't have those kinds of luxuries anymore!" Hinata said

"You may not have realized this yet. But ever since my father had decided to disown me from the Hyuga clan you're all that I have left in this world Naruto!" Hinata shouted."

"Hinata." Naruto said in a low voice.

"So don't ever tell me to hide my true potential, because what I promised you that day is true. I will use all my strength, all my power, and everything that I have to protect you!" Hinata said.

As Hinata continued to weep, Naruto tighten his grip around her as he allowed the tears that he was fighting back to fall down the curves of his face.

"Hinata." Naruto said in a low tone.

She didn't say anything but instead she looked up to Naruto as more tears ran down her face.

"I should have never said those things Hinata…. It's just that… Everything that you said and everything that you're willing to give up….. Well it's everything that I'm willing to sacrifice for you as well…."

"What?"

"I may have a Mother, a Father, and a younger sister now and they're all worth protecting but you're also worth fighting for Hinata….. And I would gladly give my own life to protect anyone who I love…including you Hinata."

"Naruto." Hinata said.

Naruto wiped away the tears from Hinata's beautiful face

"I'm not afraid to admit it Hinata. You the reason why I want to become a stronger Shinobi. You were the one that pushed me forward, even when I had given up. You're the one that I draw my courage and my strength from. And that's why I love you Hinata."

Hinata sat there in shock as she stared into the eyes of the one who she had loved her entire life.

"Naruto."

"Yeah?"

Hinata then placed her hand gently on the side of his face, brushing away his tears while giving him a warm smile.

"I love you too Naruto. You're my life, my hope, my dream come true. I've always loved you Naruto."

Naruto was speechless as the girl who he had fallen in love with had confessed her love to him. A smile started to grow on his face as he held her tightly in his grasp ,while the same smile had grew on Hinata's face as well.

Then the sound of someone clearing their throat had interrupted the moment.

"Dad!" Naruto said.

"Lord Hokage!" Hinata shouted.

"I don't mean to interrupt anything but it's now time to begin your tests now." The Hokage said while never giving Naruto and Hinata direct eye contact.

Naruto then notice a single tear drop fall of the side of his father's face.

"Dad, are you crying?" Naruto asked.

"No,no… I just have something caught in my eye." The Hokage replied.

Meanwhile deep within the forest, both Kushina and Jiraiya were wiping away tears after witnessing this touching moment shared between Naruto and Hinata.

"Oh these accursed allergies when will they end!" Jiraiya said.

"My little boy is becoming a man." Kushina said as she bit into the handkerchief she was using to wipe away her tears.

"Let me use that now Mommy." Anya said as she used her kimono sleeve to wipe away her tears.

After everyone had settled down Minato, Naruto, and Hinata were standing in the heart of the training grounds, waiting for their tests to begin.

"Now the time has come for the two of you to prove yourselves worthy of participating in the Chunnin Exams."

"Right!" Naruto said as he tighten his headband.

"Alright!" Hinata said.

"Now as you two are aware, the both of you will be partaking in two individual tests that will allow me to evaluate on how far the both of you have come in your training these past two years."

"Right!" Both Naruto and Hinata said.

"Now Naruto your test will be a one on one sparing session with me."

"With you dad?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, and you Hinata your test will be a one on one sparing session with…."

"Me!" a famine voice said.

To both Naruto and Hinata's shock it was none other the Kurenai as she jumped off a nearby branch from the forest.

"Kurenai Sensei?" Hinata said in shock.

"Yup, the Hokage had requested me to challenge you before the Chunnin Exams were to begin."

Hinata looked to the ground slightly intimidated by her chosen opponent.

"Sensei."

"Hmmm."

Hinata then raised her fist towards Kurenai, surprising both her and Minato.

"I vow to give it everything I've have in our match!" Hinata proclaimed.

Kurenai was shocked by Hinata's confidence but was equally pleased.

"All right then if you're so confident then follow me to the other side of the training grounds that's where our match will be held." Kurenai said as she motioned Hinata to follow her.

Just as Hinata began to follow Kurenai she stopped for a second and looked straight towards Naruto.

"Naruto, please give it everything you have as well."

Naruto then smiled towards Hinata.

"You know I always do!" Naruto replied as he gave Hinata a thumbs up.

Hinata gave Naruto another smile before she left to follow Kurenai. Then it was just Naruto and Minato standing face to face.

"I hope you're ready Naruto. Just because you're my son doesn't mean that I'll go easy on you." Minato said as he entered his fighting stance.

"Heh… I wouldn't have it any other way!" Naruto said as entered into his own fighting stance.

Meanwhile just as Kurenai and Hinata had reached the other side of the training field they too faced each other preparing themselves for the upcoming battle.

"Hinata I don't want you told back, understand?" Kurenai asked while she pulled out a kunai knife from her back pocket while tightly holding it in her hand.

Hinata shock her head in response to Kurenai and entered into her fighting stance.

"Ready!" Minato said.

"Heh... I'm ready when you are!" Naruto replied.

"Start!" Kurenai shouted.

Then Naruto ran toward his father while leaping into the air, while pulling his right fist backwards and aiming it towards his dad. Meanwhile Kurenai threw her kunai towards Hinata at top speeds. Hinata slowly took in breath of air before she launched her counter attack and swung her left arm towards the knife.

I hoped you guys liked this new chapter as much as I did. In the next chapter Naruto and Hinata well pushed to their vary limits as they try and prove themselves for the upcoming Chunnin Exams. Also check out my FaceBook Page for even more BeeKeeper

Until Next Time…..