Sorry for the suspense from last chapter! Here is the continuation: Hinata's answer to Kensuke.
I hope you like the chapter! Read and Review, please!!
"Time is precious, Hinata-sama. I'll ask once again: Where is Hanabi-sama?" – Kensuke stood up and walked closer to Hinata.
The young lady was nervous, her knees trembled, her breath was heavy and sound, her hands were fisted and the nails were tearing the palms' flesh. She searched for her cousin's eyes once again, hoping to find some idea, some help.
Neji was impatient. He knew Main Family would blame him for not taking care of Hanabi-sama. Hinata's desperate looks were also irritating him.
"Tell the truth!" – His mouth moved, without a sound.
Hinata nodded in agreement; now it was too late to make up a lie.
"Hanabi…Hanabi w-went to K-Konoha…. To ask for h-help…" – she tried to say those words without stutter, but it was an impossible task.
Kensuke's eyes opened wide, the other members of the council murmured incoherent words – but all cursing Hinata. The heiress bowed her head and felt the angered vibrations thrown at her. A single tear played on her right eye.
"Explain yourself, Lady Hinata." – The Head councilman asked slowly, still recovering from the shock.
"T-There is a crack on the wall near the large tree and the stream. I suggested that we could use that crack to go to Konoha, and Hanabi used it to escape and warn the Hokage about our situation." – Hinata explained fast and in a crying voice, without daring to look Kensuke in the eyes.
"What about the endurance jutsu cast upon the walls? How Hanabi-sama managed to trespass the walls?" – asked Kanoe.
"It seems the Mist jutsu does not work on fissures that already existed before the attack." – Neji spoke aloud, trying to help Hinata and breaking the law that said Branch members cannot talk during council meetings. Soijiro sent him a murderous glare. The last thing they wanted was attract Main House fury.
"It makes sense….the technique prevents us from breaking the walls, but does not work when the damage already existed…." – Tayoh scratched his chin, considering Neji's explanation.
"That is not important now! What matters is that Hanabi-sama is in grave danger, probably dead by now!! All thanks to her sister's foolish idea!!" – Satoru's voice was full of anger, and he waved his fists at Hinata's direction.
"Indeed! Now we have lost Hiashi-sama and Hanabi-sama! They were the only people capable to lead this clan!" – A member of Main Family lamented.
"Kensuke-sama! I demand reconsideration of the previous decision that made Hinata-sama our leader! From the recent events it is clear that she is inept to lead our clan!!" – Kanoe was upright and staring Kensuke.
"I agree with Kanoe-sama. Someone who has such a reckless idea and sends its own sibling to the certain death is incompetent to lead Hyuuga!" – Satoru's voice sounded loud and hard.
Other voices joined Kanoe, Satoru and Tayoh. Hinata was crying, hurt by those people hard words, worried about her sister, impotent to break free from that clan.
"Hinata-sama should be removed to Branch House! She is useless!!" – Somebody shouted.
"SILENCE!" – Kensuke screamed and the voices stopped.
The Head councilman took a deep breath and looked at each person in that room.
"The previous decision remains. Hinata-sama will rule Hyuuga during Hiashi-sama's convalescence." – Kensuke spoke, making sure that each person in that room heard his words.
"Madness!! She is unable to lead us!! She will kill Hyuuga!!" – Kanoe cried.
"Hinata-sama sent Hanabi-sama directly to the enemy's arms!!" – Satoru yelled.
"SHUT UP!" – Kensuke shouted furiously – "At least, she tried to do something to help Hyuuga! And you, noble councilmen? What have you been doing instead of complaining??"
No one dared to answer the Head Councilman. Kensuke continued to travel his sight through the councilmen's faces. Hinata managed to look at the old man, he exhaled sovereignty and wisdom.
"Hinata-sama. Hyuuga's destiny is in your hands. Do what is needed to lead us to victory and glory! But remember that every decision must be approved by this council." – Kensuke said. Hinata only nodded. – "Now, give your orders, Hyuuga-sama."
That one caught Hinata unprepared. She was not expecting to be in charge so soon. All people in that room were waiting for her orders. Once again, she silently asked for Neji's help, but he only stared her blankly. Looking at her feet, Hinata said the only thing she was thinking:
"It…it might have other fissures on our walls….maybe large e-enough to an a-adult to use…let's s-search …."
Kensuke took a deep breath. Other councilmen laughed low at her idea, looking at her with contempt. Branch house elders waved their heads. Neji rolled his eyes and made an upset face. Her idea was childish and naïve; Hinata knew that as well, but no better plan came to her mind.
"Do as she says." – Kensuke ordered nonchalantly – "This meeting is over."
Main Family elders made their way out of the room, without even look at the heiress as they passed by her. She closed her eyes and waited until the footsteps' noise disappeared, indicating that she was alone.
Hinata opened her eyes and saw only one person that remained there. Still leaned on the same wall, Neji stared his cousin. His expression was unreadable.
"It was silly, wasn't it?" – She said in a low tone – "The order I gave…."
"After my fight with Naruto I promised myself that I would never belittle you again. I won't break the promise, Hinata-sama." – He said looking at her sideways, and also walked away from the room.
"So, that means m-my idea was r-really silly…." – Hinata spoke to herself, crying.
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Hanabi walked in the shadows, hiding herself behind the trees and rocks. The single sentinel Neji spotted before was closer now, patrolling the area.
They are not expecting any escapes; they have only one man patrolling the area…
She would have to pass by that sentinel to reach the bridge that leads to Konoha Main Street. There were some high trees around; Hanabi thought that she could climb the trees and cross the pathway without meeting the Mist shinobi.
Nope. I cannot do that. It is too silent and my footsteps will be noisy as I crack the branches and step in the dried leaves. This ninja will notice me for sure. Crap!
She scrutinized the area again. She could not climb the trees; she also couldn't crouch and go hidden by the high grass, it would also make noise. Hanabi saw that the only solution would be walk tiptoeing, silently, when the sentinel was away from her position.
And so she did. Waiting quietly until the man turned his back, she carefully walked and crossed few meters. Holding her breath and ducking covered by the high grass, she waited. The sentinel was so close that she could hear his breath. He turned again, and Hanabi manage to cover some meters again, and used a large tree to conceal her figure when the sentinel walked in her direction.
Cold sweat wet her face and neck, her heartbeat was fast and noisy. She placed her hands in front of her chest to stifle the heartbeats' sound. The Mist shinobi moved again, and Hanabi continued her tiptoe walk.
When she moved away from the tree, a piece of her tunic was attached to the trunk preventing her movement. Hanabi, wanting to break free as soon as possible, pulled the tunic and a small cracking sound was made.
Normal people would not hear that sound, but for trained shinobi it was like fireworks' noise. The Mist man immediately found Hanabi and ran to her.
Hanabi was just an Academy student; she never had any real battle. Her heart beat even faster and her hands were sweating making the kunai difficult to hold. The man jumped to her, kunai in hand, ready to kill.
Hanabi instinctively used Gentle Fist to paralyze him. Her technique was clumsy and weak due to the fear of the moment. The Mist soldier managed to move again, and trapped her between him and the tree.
The man grinned and raised his arm to give a final blow. Hanabi didn't want to die, she had a mission to accomplish, and she would not disappoint her sister and her father. Faster than the man could dodge, Hanabi buried her kunai in the shinobi's neck. While the guy choked to death, blood spilled on her hand and ran down through her arm. His body became flaccid and his eyes rolled back as life left him. She continued holding the kunai on his neck, even after the body collapsed on the ground.
It was the first time she saw a dead person. It was the first time she had killed.
She was panting, and soon those pants became sobs. Hanabi was crying, hot tears descending on her face and mixing with the sweat drops. Her tears were not from regret or pity for that Mist shinobi, she couldn't say why she was crying.
Think. Think. Calm down. Deep breath. Calm down. Count 1 2 3 4 5 6 ….
The tears stopped and the sobs lessened. Hanabi was alone with a dead man's body. As her mind cleared, she began to wonder how she would get rid of the corpse. Academy didn't teach those things to the students. But she couldn't leave the body there or Mist would find out about the escape and intensify the attack. She had to buy time, make them search for the missing sentinel.
Slowly she stood up and tried to drag the corpse. But, to where?
I can't dig a grave, it is too troublesome. I can't leave this crap here too. Grrrr, what should I do? What should I do? What Father would do? I wish he was here…
Hanabi continued studying the possibilities, while holding the dead man's hand. Her mind raced, her heart raced, her time raced. She gazed upon the man's face; his eyes were wide open, staring death.
What are you looking at? There is no heaven for you. Why your eyes stare the sky?
Her eyes followed the direction the dead man's gaze pointed and, suddenly, Hanabi smiled for the first time in hours! Her sight found the tree branches: large and high enough to hide a man….or a dead man.
Hanabi threw the man's arm over her shoulders, held his waist and gathering chakra in her feet, jumped to the lower branch. From there, she jumped other five branches and finally decided that it was a good place to put the corpse. She sat the man on the branch and made sure that he wouldn't fall.
Now there was no other sentinel nearby, and Hanabi continued her trip jumping through the trees, until she reached the bridge and the Main Street. From that high place, she could see all the carnage Orochimaru's troops were doing in Konoha.
From afar, she distinguished a massive chakra form, crushing the northeast part of the Village. With her byakugan, Hanabi learned that Konoha's forces were concentrated on that point.
Funny…it should have more people fighting…
There was no time for divagation, climbing the rooftops Hanabi managed to avoid almost all battle points. She had to fight some random Sound shinobi, but nothing she couldn't win (and when she couldn't, she fled).
The Hokage building was strongly guarded; all entrances had many soldiers that Hanabi recognized as the genins from the class above hers.
Genin? The Hokage is using genins to protect her home?
She walked to the Main entrance and the soldiers immediately halted her.
"Identify yourself." – demanded a boy which was a year older than her.
"Hyuuga Hanabi, second daughter of Hyuuga Hiashi, the Leader of Hyuuga clan." – She introduced herself.
"Prove." – ordered the boy.
"….." – How could she prove her identity? Hyuugas had their own trademark: the white eyes. – "Can't you see my eyes? I am a Hyuuga!!"
The boy performed some hand seals and, suddenly, he turned into her spit image – a clone.
"So am I. Can't you see my eyes?" – After the mockery, the boy undid the clone, returning to his normal image and said – "I need more than a name to believe in your words."
"Oookay…" – Hanabi made the proper hand seals and unleashed her bloodline limit – "Byakugan!!" – The veins popped beside her eyes and her pupils became visible.
The boy came closer and hiding his hand in his pocket he asked her:
"If it is the real byakugan you can tell what I have in my pocket"
Hanabi focused her eyesight in the boy's pocket and said:
"A pipe."
The boy opened his mouth, but recovered from the shock and said:
"Follow me, Hyuuga Hanabi." – He opened the wooden doors. Hanabi walked inside and then, the boy turned to the other two genins and said:
"Moegi. Udon. Guard the gate while I take the girl to Granny Tsunade, ok?!"
"Roger, captain Konohamaru!!!" – answered the boy with glasses and the red haired girl.
Once they were inside the building and walking through the corridors, Hanabi decided to ask something to the boy:
"Why are you carrying this pipe? You are underage, you can't smoke!!"
"I know that, smartass! This pipe belonged to my grandfather; I carry it as a good luck charm."
"Oh, cool!" – She never had a good luck charm. Hyuuga people believe in destiny: if your destiny is already written, you don't need luck at all. Her sister, on the other hand, had a lot of charms, amulets and other esoteric stuff like that.
"It is here." – The boy indicated a red door. He knocked and opened the door – "Hokage-sama, a Hyuuga is here."
"A Hyuuga?? Come here!!" – A woman's voice that sounded like thunder came from inside.
Hanabi closed her eyes for a second and entered the room.
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Hinata was alone in her father's office. Several reports regarding the Mist incident were scattered all over Hiashi's table; he had been studying the papers, probably trying to find a solution for the problem.
She examined all the reports, some from Tayoh, others from Hanzou (whose handwrite was horrible), and an extensive work from Neji concerning all the four gates and its situation.
"Neji-niisan…you probably wrote this last night, when you were supposed to be resting…."
Suddenly, Hinata felt useless – everybody was doing something, trying to help. She wasted her time sleeping and pitying herself; no wonder the elders didn't trust her. Ignoring the weariness, she read all the reports, took notes, and tried to find a connection, a way out of that trap.
But she couldn't find any answers. The council's hard words towards her still echoed in her mind, making failure weights heavier. Hinata remembered her sister; and despair created the worst scenario picturing a dead Hanabi. Hinata cried.
She cried until her eyes became heavy and sleep took over, forcefully resting her body and mind.
The first morning lights expelled the night fog, revealing the arrows on the ground. At dusk, another attack happened at all four gates, at the same time.
Neji carefully slid the shouji door from Hiashi's office, after he knocked four times and no one answered. He found his cousin sleeping over the desk.
"Hinata-sama" – He called in a low voice. She continued sleeping.
"Hinata-sama?" – He called again, a little louder. She didn't move.
Neji was a little worried and touched Hinata's shoulders, calling her one more time:
"Hinata-sama!!" – This one was loud enough to wake her up.
Hinata woke up in a jump, eyes wide and scared face:
"Huh!! What? What? Where am I? Wh…oh Neji-niisan…" – she rubbed her eyes, tried to comb her hair with her fingers – "What is going on…?"
Neji sighed, crossed his arms in front of his chest and said:
"Another attack happened last night. Fortunately, no one was wounded because they were searching for fissures on our walls…"
"Oh!" – Hinata was still half wake – "And they found something?"
"No. The fissures we found were too small…."
"That is bad." – Hinata gazed upon the large window, her face was thoughtful – "What should I do?"
Neji waited in silence. Hinata bowed her head and pined her nose, trying to hold the tears; she took a deep breath and looked at her cousin.
"I should tell the council…I…I c-can't do t-this, Neji. I studied these reports all night and n-no idea c-came to my mind…." – Hinata hated to show her weak side, especially to Neji whom she knew despised weak people.
"What can't you do, Hinata-sama?" – He asked, looking superior and arrogant.
Hinata swallowed and felt her body go numb: he is angry. He will lecture me about weakness and failure again. While playing with her fingers, she said:
"I c-can't lead this clan. I have no i-idea to solve this s-situation. If only father was here." – She pressed her lips tight and looked at the window again – "What Naruto-kun would do in this situation…?"
"What Naruto has to do with Hyuuga?" – he hissed.
"He...h-he always knows what to do….even when it looks impossible…" – she answered apologetically.
Neji moved faster than Hinata could see, grabbed her arm and lifted her up. His glare was icy and his body language exhaled fury. Hinata couldn't break free from his grip, she was in shock.
He dragged her to the window and said, more to himself than to her:
"I won't break my promise." – He pushed her against the window – "What do you see, Hinata-sama?"
She couldn't focus the window, Neji's ferocity hypnotized her. He noticed this and made a head move indicating the window. Reluctantly she looked outside the window.
"What do you see?" – He asked again trying to contain the anger of his words.
Hinata could see the Main gate, the second and the third gate from there. In all those gates Hyuuga soldiers were sat on the ground, far from the walls; all had defeated looks on their faces. Only Hanzou, Satoru and Tayoh were closer to the walls, probably wondering what to do. The Hyuuga new leader narrated the scene to her cousin.
"You know why this is happening?" – He asked coldly.
"….Because I can't find a way out….because I'm w-weak and incapable…..".
"No." – he turned to her – "Just because you are the Leader, doesn't mean that you are the sole responsible for finding a solution."
"B-But…I'm s-supposed to do something…."
"The troops morale is reflect of their leader's spirit. Can you see your reflection down there?" – He pointed to the tired soldiers.
Hinata stared those men and women that wanted to break free and help Konoha; those people that wanted to prove their strength and skill; and were unable to move from their places. Yes, they were so much like her: wanting to prove something and failing.
"What…what if the Leader itself is not c-confident?" – Hinata leaned on the window frame.
"You are supposed to inspire those soldiers. To make them believe that a solution exist" – Neji leaned on the window frame beside Hinata and said – "A good leader is not the one who has all the answers, but the one who makes the subordinates believe that everything is possible. When they gain this confidence, someone will find a solution."
"Neji….I'm not fitted to this task…" – she spoke in a low tone.
"Are you sure?" – He asked and she nodded. – "Then, I can't help you. No one can."
He crossed the room, and opened the shouji door. Hinata gave a final look at those soldiers and turned to her cousin:
"I'm not fitted…but I want to be…"
He paused, still holding the door. She gave two steps on his direction and said:
"I know I can't inspire others. But I want to help, to give a little hope to Hyuuga people…"
"Pretty words are not enough. You must believe in these words." – He said, without looking at her – 'You depend too much on others, Hinata-sama. Care too much about what others say."
"What should I do, Neji-niisan? Help me."
"Believe in yourself." – he looked at her and smirked – "I know you can. You are stubborn and a bad loser".
"What…?" – She stared him quizzically.
"Show them the Hinata I saw in our first Chunin Exams." – he slid the door and left the office.
"The…Hinata you saw…." – slowly a smile appeared on her face – "I know what to do!!"
Hinata abruptly opened the office's door and dashed through the corridor. She found Neji walking there, dragged him by the arm and said:
"Come with me!!"
"Wha….." – he couldn't finish the sentence as he was pulled down the hallway.
Both reached the Main gate and all soldiers were puzzled to see their Leader running and dragging the Hyuuga prodigy behind. And what scared them most was the big smile she had.
"Captains! Soldiers! I've got an idea!!" – she announced.
Hanzou, Tayoh and Satoru came closer, other Hyuuga also wanted to hear what the 'excuse for a leader' (that was her nickname among the soldiers) wanted to say.
"Tell us your idea, Hyuuga-sama." – asked Hanzou with a little mockery tone in his voice. Satoru and Tayoh exchanged suspicious looks.
"The walls are under the endurance jutsu, right?" – All stared her as if she was retarded. Neji also gave her a impatient look – "Uh..well, but Hanabi could use that crack and so I thought that we could enlarge the fissure by digging the ground…"
Everybody continued staring her with scornful faces. Hinata felt her knees fail a little, but persisted in her idea:
"If we enlarge the crack, an adult can pass by it and maybe we can flee…"
"Hinata-sama, your idea is…clever. But you must consider that pass an army through a hole is….difficult and probably the Mist shinobi will find out our plan." – Tayoh said, like he was talking to a small child.
"I know it is hard to pass an army through a hole but …." – Hinata started to explain her idea again.
"My noble leader, that is out of question. Let's focus in other ideas." – Hanzou patted her head and gave a fake smile.
"No!! You got all wrong!!!! Listen to me!!!"
No one was listening. The captains and their soldiers walked away from her, laughing. Only Neji stayed, looking more pissed than she couldn't ever remember.
"What kind of idea was that?" – he asked, not daring to look her in the eyes.
"We can enlarge the hole so an adult could use it!!" – she cried.
"I heard that part! And it sounded really stupid!! For gods sake, Hinata-sama you are so naive!! Can't you think in something better?" – he almost pushed her in his fury. He sighed and said – "I broke my promise. Shit."
"I wanted to use explosives…." – she said almost whispering.
"What?"
"An adult could cross to the other side using the fissure, and place some explosives on the outer wall. I think the endurance jutsu doesn't work outside…"
"Why didn't you say that in the first place?" – He stared her. It was something had hit him and turned on a light.
He walked to where the captains were deliberating and interrupted them. The four men discussed the problem. Hinata could see Neji arguing with the other three and he was not succeeding in convincing them…
"Give her a chance!!!" – Neji's voice sounded louder as he talked to Satoru.
The second after, Neji was holding his forehead and screaming. Hinata knew what that meant and ran to where he was.
"Stop it!! I demand you to stop it right now!!!" – She held Neji's shoulders. Satoru ceased his attack.
"He is from Branch Family. He must never raise his voice at us." – Satoru told her.
"He was following my orders!!" – She walked closer to Satoru, until their faces almost touched. All people watching the scene couldn't believe in Hinata's bold attitude.
"My Lady, your idea is plausible but hard to accomplish. Even if we could send a man outside to set explosives on the walls, our action would be easily discovered by the enemy." – Tayoh explained – "I understand your anxiety. We all feel the same, but the clan's safety must come first."
Hinata sighed, and looked at her feet. Tayoh placed a hand on her shoulder and said:
"Keep trying, Hyuuga-sama. Never surrender. Never give up."
Just after Tayoh said those words, a scream was heard from the third gate direction. Hanzou ran to see what was happening: a body was thrown from outside. It was a dead shinobi from Mist Village. He had a kunai pierced on his neck and an arrow with a note on his chest. Hanzou unfolded the note and read it loud:
'You shall pay for your boldness. Hyuuga will be extinct in five days. Will die with Konoha.'
"Hanzou-sama, look!!" – a soldier called.
Hanzou stared the third gate and saw the whirlpool taking form, larger and stronger than the one that hit Hiashi.
Neji also shouted:
"Look!! There!!" – he pointed to the second gate. The same thing was going on there.
Tayoh activated his bloodline limit and his face became pale, his mouth wide open:
"The four gates…All four gates have the whirlpool!!"
"We are doomed!!" – Satoru cried.