Sanctuary
Chapter four: the inevitable
Screaming was heard in the compound as a branch member writhed on the floor in agony. Her only offense was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As the servant Himiko was pouring tea to Hanabi, Kazeru, Hiashi's "guard" (mostly informant) delivered some particularly infuriating news. Hinata was with the Kyubi demon. Shouting in rage, Hiashi startled both girls, Hanabi dropped her tea on her lap. In rage Hiashi activated Himiko's seal.
Hanabi's eyes widened in horror. "Father please! Stop, you're going to kill her!" she cried frantically shaking her father's arm. Angrily Hiashi shoved Hanabi away, not caring as she fell over the table. 'That is IT!' Hanabi had finally had enough. Fuming she grabbed the lamp that was once on the table and with perfect aim flung it, watching as it made its mark hitting Hiashi upside the head.
Himiko stopped screaming as Hiashi's wrath was directed now at Hanabi, who scrambled to her feet and ran from the room, Hiashi wasting no time in pursuing her. 'Crap crap crap crap! Why don't i think things through?' she thought running through the training room and snatching a spare kunai from the equipment box. before exiting on the other side.
'Outside, you can hide anywhere outside!' Hanabi thought frantically as she stabbed the kunai into the wall, skidding around the corner and gaining a bit of extra momentum. With a decent distance between them, Hanabi turned down another hall, one that lead to the garden.
Once outside she ran to the side of the house, partially up a tree before jumping on to the roof. Suppressing her chakra Hanabi climbed through an open window, through the room and slammed the door behind her. Panting heavily Hanabi leaned her back against the door, sliding down it into a sitting position. "Safe" she panted "I'm safe." 'But why do I still feel so uneasy?'
Naruto felt a sick feeling of dread as Hinata ran off, looking as frightened as she did. 'Something's not right' he thought as he ran off after Hinata.
Hinata crept through the garden, and as she rounded a corner somebody grabbed and twisted her arm, throwing her onto the ground. gasping in pain at the sudden attack Hinata could feel hands wrap around her throat. the strong scent of sake was on her abuser's breath.
"Father, why are you doing this!" Hinata gasped, using a free hand to send a chakra filled strike into his arm. As he released her, Hinata scrambled to her feet backing away from Hiashi gasping for breath.
The walk to the compound was longer than Naruto had expected, but as he neared he heard Hiashi screaming at Hinata as he ran along the wall looking for the best point of entry. As he climbed the wall he was repelled by a barrier jutsu. 'Crap, I need to find a way in!'
Hanabi almost melted into the floor, relief sinking in, that was until she heard her father screaming. "WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITHIT HINATA!" Hearing her sister's name made Hanabi's blood run cold. Hanabi knew Hinata wouldn't fight back. She wouldn't give their father that satisfaction. As she heard her sister cry out in pain Hanabi ran towards a window. She was done, no longer would she just sit back and do nothing. It was time to act.
Hinata cried out in pain, feeling her ribs crack from her father's blow. "We were just talking, nothing else." Hinata said softly, trying to mask her pain, wanting to show no weakness.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO DISHONOR THIS FAMILY HINATA!" Hanabi peeks around the corner, seeing her father slap Hinata, who just stood there and took the hit, tears wet on her face. "Fight back." he growled at her. "N-no, I won't." 'I'm sorry Hanabi' Hiashi grabs Hinata's injured arm and twisted it again, Hinata cried out in pain feeling it crack. "WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITH THAT MONSTER!"
"Why can't i get through this damn barrier!" Naruto yelled angrily, hearing Hinata scream in pain 'damn it damn it DAMN IT!'
"ANSWER ME!" Hiashi screamed, reeling back to hit Hinata again. Hanabi runs out aiming a strike to her father's chakra pool, missing as she gets slammed by her father's attack. "HANABI!" Hinata screamed as her little sister flew back from the force of the blow.
Gritting her teeth, Hanabi stifled her cry of pain. '25th rule of shinobi conduct, show no emotions' she thought, irritated that her attack backfired. Feeling a hand on her shoulder Hanabi looked up at her sister. " Hanabi, get out of here." Hinata said, steel in her voice. "No, I can-" The look in her sister's eyes stopped Hanabi from continuing. "Run and hide, get out of here. I don't want you getting hurt." Hinata said pushing her sister away. "But-" Hanabi protested. "NOW!" Hinata said angrily, taking up her stance watching her sister run away. 'I'm sorry Hanabi, together we could no doubt could do some damage to him, but I'm not willing to lose you like I lost mom.' Once her sister was gone, Hinata dropped her stance as quickly as she took it up, dodging a strike from her father.
Hinata's blood was boiling. 'You bastard.' "How DARE you ever lay a finger on her!" Hinata hissed, knocking away a strike from the man who had caused her so much pain. "You're the monster, not Naruto! he has feelings and a conscience unlike you! How can you judge him when you don't even know him?" Hinata sobbed backing away from Hiashi who was menacingly close. "He's kind and has a hear-augh!" Hiashi cut her off with a chakra filled strike to the chest, missing her heart by inches. Hinata collapsed on her hands and knees in excruciating pain.. "Do you really want to finish that sentence?" he hissed.
Hinata's breathing was ragged as she held a hand to her chest. "H-he's one o-of my c-closest friends." she coughed, spitting up some blood. "A-and I love him." She said proudly, smiling triumphantly at her father. 'If I die today, at least Naruto will know how much he means to me.' Hinata knew he was nearby, she could smell his earthy scent. Hinata's vision was blurring, but did not miss Hiashi's face contort in rage, nor did she miss the stance in which he was in. "You demon loving whore!" he screamed unleashing his fury '8 trigrams 64 palms.'
Hanabi sat in the darkness hands covering her ears eyes shut, not that it helped. She could see everything, wincing as she watched her father's every blow hit her sister. She watched as Hiashi walked away seemingly proud of his accomplishment. Hanabi ran over to Hinata sobbing.
Naruto was frantic. He had heard everything and was preparing to rasengan himself through the damn wall. 'She loves me? I'm one of her closest people and she loves ME?'
"Hinata!" Hanabi cried putting her sister's head into her lap "Please be ok, please don't die!" Slowly Hinata raised one hand and mumbled "Release" before going unconscious.
Naruto heard somebody say release, discarding his rasengan, he leapt over the wall and ran over to the two Hyuga girls. "Hinata, please wake up." he said shaking her. Hanabi looked up at him. "You're Naruto" she said, no more a question than a statement. "Please get her out of here." Hanabi asked, watching as he picked Hinata up bridal style. 'She doesn't look good at all' Naruto thought. Looking back at the small Hyuga girl, "come with us." He asked.
Hanabi sighed. "I can't, don't worry about me. I'm stronger than Hinata. Physically? No, mentally? No emotionally? No. she's endured more heart ache than one ever should have to. She's gentle and delicate, i can take it. whatever he dishes out, I can handle. I'm not afraid to fight back, or to run. Hinata refuses to give him the satisfaction of the chase." Hanabi stood upright. "Take her and go. Father's getting tired, and i have more than enough energy left in me to give you guys a clean escape. It's the least I can do for Hinata."
Naruto's face was one of concern, and inside his heart was breaking for both girls. For his kind soft spoken friend who lived in such a hell, and for her sister who was willing to go into harm's way to protect the other and vice versa.
"take care of her Naruto, and wait for the flash. There are motion and tracking sensors on the wall and in a 300 foot perimeter. That's how they find intruders so fast." At that Hanabi ran into the house and minutes later the lights flashed brightly before going out. 'Now' Hanabi and Naruto thought at the same time. As Naruto ran carrying Hinata to safety. "Be safe" Hanabi whispered, praying to her mother to keep them safe.
Naruto ran from the complex, heading towards the hospital. "Don't worry Hinata, I'll get you some help...and some help for that girl there too. I promise." he said racing through the village. Passing by the Hokage tower, Naruto noticed the lights on, and seen Tsunade walk past the window. "Perfect! If anybody can help, it'll be granny Tsunade!" quickly he changed course holding Hinata close. When he reached the landing to the office Naruto wasted no time with formalities, kicking the door open
"WHAT THE HELL YOU IDIOT!" Tsunade screamed as he entered the room "Tsunade I need help NOW!" Naruto yelled over her angry threats of what exactly she was going to do to him for kicking open the door again. Tsunade stared in shock at the battered girl in his arms as a deafening silence filled the room. Immediately she shoved everything off her desk, making room for Naruto to place Hinata. "Tell me everything that happened." Tsunade said simply as she began healing the unconscious girl.
Naruto relayed the whole story telling her of how he found Hinata at his house, how they talked and when he walked her home the bad feeling he had as she ran off, how he was blocked by that strange barrier, and how that little kid tried protecting Hinata, and how she made their exit un noticed. "She told him that I was one of her precious people. "Naruto said softly." she said she loved me." Naruto looked miserable. "If i could have gotten past that damn barrier she wouldn't be so hurt." he mumbled "Naruto, who dispelled the barrier? Tsunade asked looking at the glum blonde. "Hinata did, why?" "Well, by the way you described it, it sounds like the only person who can dispel it is the caster of the justu." "WHAT?" Naruto asked shocked.
"Hinata was keeping you out, she was trying to protect you." 'She was keeping me out, so I wouldn't get hurt trying to help her.' he thought numbly. 'WAIT she knew I was there?' Putting his head in his hands Naruto sighed.
"Naruto it's lucky you had such a good intuition, Hiashi could have very well killed her tonight if it hadn't been for you and Hanabi." "Hanabi?" "Yes, Naruto, Hinata's little sister." Tsunade sent a reassuring smile his way as she mentally counted off everything she healed. 'Damn he did a number on her.' Tsunade thought angrily, punching the wall. 'What kind of parent does this to a child?'
Calling four ANBU, Tsunade had them bring Hinata to the hospital and guard her room. Tsunade filled out a restraining order against Hiashi. Declaring that for her safety, Hinata was going to be removed from his "care". She had a feeling that once the messenger delivered the scroll to the Hyuga compound, Hiashi wouldn't be too happy, and the hospital would be the first place he would look for her.