A/N: Welcome back to another chapter of Anbu: Protectors of Konoha. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I'm open to any suggestions or criticism, so please review. I am eager to see what you guys have to say.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Naruto characters or show, just the tale below.
It had been a week since Hinata found herself with a massive headache and awake inside of the Hyuga Compound's private medical center. She couldn't remember how she had gotten there, or what happened before. All she knew was what her sister knew and what Neji and her father were willing to say.
Apparently she had taken a trip to some local shop in Konoha the night before her father's birthday. On her way home she was attacked by some gangsters. She would've been raped or killed had Neji not been out that same night shopping for a present for his uncle. With his help, Hinata was able to fight off the attackers. Unfortunately, Hinata wasn't paying close enough attention. A gangster, with the courage of a fool, swung a blunt object and struck Hinata in the back of her head. That knocked her completely out for a week.
Hinata was completely surprised, to say the least.
Outside of the Hyuga Compound's medical center, there was an intricate network of buildings familiar to every Hyuga. To the right of the large medical center was a small nest of homes for single, medical savvy branch members of the Hyuga family. To the left of the center was another nest of slightly larger homes for the Hyuga Main House medical members with families. Together, the main and branch members operated on numerous patients across the compound. The two also trained medical students from across the large city of Konoha.
"I cannot believe what happened to Hinata, " Ino said as she looked over the medical report before her. After Hinata had returned to the Hyuga Compound the week before and Ino had gotten word about her condition, the blond teen had frantically rushed over to the Hyuga Compound. She immediately demanded information. Since then, Ino had yet to stop pestering her medical friend about Hinata's condition.
"I know, Ino. You've been saying that ever since you heard about her. Day and night," a pink haired female said as she moved the medical report from the blond's vision. "If you're so worried about Hinata, why not just go and see her," the female asked as she averted her emerald green eyes to the documents.
"Because, Sakura," Ino said as she moved her eyes from the pink haired female's face and out towards the doors of the medical center, "Neji won't let anyone within six feet of Hinata's room." Ino then slouched on the table separating her and the pink haired female and sighed sadly. "Neji can be such a grouch; I don't know how Tenten deals with him," she said in childish tone.
Sakura rolled her eyes at the silliness of the situation. True, Hinata's sudden condition was a surprise to everyone, especially her friends, and it was also true, now that Hinata has been admitted to the Hyuga medical center Neji won't let anyone inside of her room to see her, but that didn't mean that everyone was allowed to pester Sakura! Sakura had a life too, you know, or did no one consider her feelings?Just because she was on the Konoha medical staff assigned to the Hyuga Clan's medical center and under the strict mentorship of Lady Tsunade, Konoha's leading doctor and one of the smartest women in medicine to date, didn't mean that she knew everything.
"And don't you think it's weird how the story played out?" Ino asked.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked as she flipped a page on the clipboard.
"Well, Neji was the only one with Hinata that night (aside from the gangsters), and he said that Hinata was knocked unconscious towards the end of the fight."
At this, Sakura lifted a pink eyebrow. "Yeah, so?"
"Don't you think that's weird?"
"Not really. Everyone knows the "tragic" tale of how Hinata lost a midnight fight." Sakura said as she once again rolled her eyes.
"That's not the point, Sakura." Ino said. "How is it that Hinata wound up losing so much blood if all she did was get knocked unconscious?"
With this, there was an awkward pause between the two females.
"Just blew your mind, didn't I?" Ino joked.
"Hey, how about we let Hinata rest?"
"What?"
"We could go check out another cafe today, or how about we go shopping instead? Come on! Let's have some fun!" Sakura asked hurriedly as she gathered her medical documents and stood from her seat. She then grabbed Ino's hand and dragged the female outside of the medical center.
"Wait!" Ino protested as she stumbled after her friend. "Sakura, slow down!"
That night, Tenten and Neji met before the Hyuga Shrine. The air was thick with tension, and the shrine sat ominously silent as the moon loomed above the duo. Stars danced in abundance as bright flickers of spirits flew about the shrine grounds. As the two drew closer time began to slow. The spirits no longer fluttered about in quick motions like dragonflies, but instead they floated by loosely like butterflies in the breeze until they hovered completely still, suspended in the air. Still, Neji and Tenten continued towards one another.
When all spirits were at a halt, masks began to materialize onto Neji and Tenten's faces. Slowly, the masks took their shape as the spirits began to disintegrate into nothingness, taking with them their glowing lights. Soon, the Hyuga Shrine was no longer dwelling in radiance. Only the bright moon offered comfort.
By the time Neji and Tenten stood adjacent one another, their masks were complete. Once again, the Hawk and Panda lived, and time continued.
Releasing a ragged breath, Neji's body shook as his clothes changed into shadows before completely converting into his ninja gi. When the transformation was complete, he looked up to see Tenten too in her uniform. Her body was hunched over as she gave out a pained gasp. Had Tenten not been wearing her mask, Neji was sure she would be crying. Because she wore the mask, however, the Bear would never allow Tenten to show a weakness, much like his Hawk would never let Neji scream.
Walking over to Tenten, Neji helped the female stand straight. "Are you alright," he asked.
Behind her mask, Tenten bit her lower lip. "Yeah, I'm fine," she bit out. She then stood straight before breathing out calmly, her mind thinking.
Neji nodded. He understood exactly what Tenten was thinking. When dawning the masks of the Hyuga Shrine, one did not simply change clothes. No. It was more complicated than that. Shadows would overwhelm one from head to toe and shift their entire being. In the process of changing over, however, the bodies experienced pain. This, perhaps, was because all humans are considered creatures of light, meaning they can live in both light and dark, but because humans were solely considered that of light, shifting the soul into one engulfed in shadows was like having a limb from your body being torn off. In this sense, there were two of Neji: one who wore the mask and raised the cloak of Hawk, and the one who did not, the real Neji. The same was for Tenten.
"Alright," Neji said.
"So why did you call me out here," asked Tenten as she backed away from Neji.
Sighing, Neji said, "Tonight we are going to break in the new mask. Tonight we begin Hinata's-!"
Almost immediately, the pressure around Neji and Tenten. The air grew heavy and thick, nearly suffocating them. Power surged from an unknown source, causing the remaining spirits in the yard to quickly fly back into the shrine. Jumping apart, Neji and Tenten rapidly turned their heads in search of the cause, but nothing, or no one, could be found in the area.
Looking at one another, an understanding passed between the two before they separated completely from one another and abandoned the shrine.
Miles outside of Konoha and well into the Hidden Leaf, there stood a silhouette atop a tree's branch. Slowly, the figure bent over, laughing. The laugh it released shifted from a simple, small chuckle to a deep and insane cackle. Its hand shoved against the trunk of the tree, leaving a dark, burning print. The cackling grew louder as both Hawk and Bear searched around Konoha for the source of power. The figure laughed harder at their ignorance. "The war hasn't even started, and already the enemy is losing," the silhouette noted. "This war is going to be fun." Darkly, the silhouette's laughing continued.
A.N: Does that cliffhanger anger you? Haha... just kidding. Or at least, I hope not. I thought it would be interesting to end it here. Any theories as to what might happen next?