The Way to Your Heart – The Long Way Home
Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto or any copyright. As much as I wish I did, I'm sure it's good money. I just take out the characters out to play. I do this for fun and not for any profit.
"Characters Talking"
-Characters thinking—
{~Flashback voice/memory~}
~Flashback~
AN: Another one! Thanks to everyone for their support and for reading my story. BIG THANKS to all who have followed and favorited my story. Thanks for giving my story a try! BIG THANKS to those that leave a review! I really appreciate it and appreciate the feedback. I want to get better and want to hear from you. Anything is great!
Thanks to luisdox, nightwind83, theblueswordsman, NarHina & lovelygeek7! For their reviews.
There will be a time skip coming up. Another big chapter…More notes at the end.
Chapter 5 Coping, Growth, Academy
Naruto slowly opened his eyes. The sun was coming through the window. Another day, another day without his friend. Always alone. He didn't fill like going out, so he turned around, covered his head with his blanket and tried to go to sleep again. What difference did it make? Nobody would notice his absence. Disappearing should be easy, he was invisible anyway. He curled in his bed holding unto the scarf around his neck. Another damn day.
-NH—NH—NH—NH—NH—NH—NH—NH—NH—NH—
Hinata shivered in her bed. Rest day? What a joke. She discovered she hated rest day. It was anything but. The injection hurt a bit when it was given. But the hell started after she got to her room.
She developed a fever and started shaking. Her body was on fire. It felt like her head was being split in two and her eyes were melting away. She wondered if being hit with a hammer would be this painful. Her eyes were a blazing volcano that spewed molten lava that burned everything as it spread from her eyes. She wished her face would melt off. The fire spread to her veins to everywhere in her body. The shaking chills made her poor muscles ache and burn even more.
There was no solace, no place to escape. She could not rest. The chills kept her muscles aching. The pain kept her awake, then the dizziness hit. The world was spinning, her dizziness worsened whenever she moved her head or turned in bed. The dizziness waves would make her sick to her stomach. Her shaking kept making it worse. Until she had to move to try and make it to the bedpan with varying success.
Damn, that nutrient rich food tasted even worse coming up. Then the fire would start again and the whole process repeated itself. She clung to her stone throughout the whole ordeal. She needed a connection to keep her grounded. She thanked Naruto for her gift again. What would she do without it? –I hope you are well, Naruto-kun- Yes, rest day was her most hated day. The process kept repeating itself until her body finally succumbed and mercifully, she passed out.
-NH—NH—NH—NH—
The next day she woke up and was sore all over. She got up slowly. Almost tripping over the bedpan. There already was a mess on the floor. She did not want to make it any worse. She was all sweaty from the day before, she felt filthy. She and her room smelled horribly.
27 came in to get her for breakfast again. She wasn't sure she wanted to go as dirty as she was but her stomach growled in complaint. She had not eaten yesterday and it seemed to have a mind of its own. They went to the mess hall. Everyone looked horrible. She supposed she looked just as bad.
She sat down. The same nutrient rich food from the 2 days prior. She lost her appetite.
"Eat up. You got another big week ahead of you. So, come on! You will barely have time to clean up. Get to it. When you hear the siren go off, get back here. Or else"
She thought about it and ate the food. Her stomach was still growling despite what her nose and eyes where telling it. Not to mention her taste buds. She knew she would need it anyways and she wanted to get clean. Once she finished, they gave her clothes, soap and 2 huge buckets of water. Then they took her to her room.
She sighed. On the one side, she was happy for whatever privacy she got but ion the other side, it was very difficult to clean yourself that way. She had not noticed the drain in her cell before but took advantage of it. Once she cleaned herself and her hair with one bucket. She used the rest of that water to clean the mess she left on her room floor. She used the second bucket to wash her clothes and linens. She got some new overall from the drawer in her room and got dressed. She put the buckets outside., waiting for the signal to go outside. She sat and held onto her stone in her palm. She heard the alarm and left for the hall again.
She froze as she entered the hall. There was the master, greeting everyone.
"Good morning everyone! We will go over assignments and tasks again since we have several newbies with us. You all should know the rules by now. But it's time to talk about our expectations. What will you be doing while here"
He smiled, but that smirk made her feel worse. She froze and almost fell when the kid behind her kept going. She looked around then continued on her way. Praying nobody noticed, her momentary stumble. She sat where available. Kids kept coming in. Finally, every one sat down.
"Today is a grand day. Today you start your life as a tool for the great Kumo nation. You will have assigned classes and practice. This will be your opportunity for greatness. I expect 100% commitment from each and every one of you. Failure is not an option, you do not want to go down that route. I will deal with slackers personally. I know, I don't have to explain to you what will happen if you fail"
"You will have class in the morning, then physical aptitude and spars in the afternoon. Plus, basic weapons. Depending on your aptitude and progress, this can change. Your progress will be rewarded. Your failures; well you know…" He smirked again. "Will be punished accordingly. Administered by myself, all by my lonesome of course. Who better? Right"
He scanned the room and sauntered around the tables as he spoke. Looking at everyone. They looked at him fearfully, entranced. Nobody could take their eyes of him. A predator, stalking his prey. Hypnotizing it with his gaze. He kept moving, talking and explaining the 'curriculum.' He then turned and came around to her table.
-No! Don't let him come this way, please don't let him come this way, not this way—She looked down. Then remembered to look him in the eyes and she looked up.
"As always do not make me repeat myself. Got it? You have a great future serving Kumo" He turned to her. "Specially you, little one. You are a special girl. Kumo and I have great expectations for you. Are you ready?" Silence.
-No, no, no, he was he singling her out again. Why? Why? —
"I said. Are. You. Ready?"
.
"H…h…ha…hai" She shivered. She couldn't help it.
"Good. Let's finish the tour, so you can start your classes. You have work to be done. While I create a future" With that the master turned and showed them around the classrooms and exercise areas. Ending in the Training Hall, where he gave final instructions.
"Remember the rules and your obligations and we will all get along famously. Excel, I will meet the slackers here at the end of the week. Dismissed"
-NH—NH—NH—NH-
Iruka got ready to knock on his student's door. He had not seen the blond since going to the hokage's office over a week ago, and was very worried. No matter what he told himself. No matter how he tried to ignore the boy. Told himself he should hate him. No matter how much he truly hated the beast inside the boy, for killing his parents, he was haunted by the pain in Naruto's eyes. He knew that pain too well. He remembered being alone for so long, that it physically hurt. It made him do things he wasn't sure of, like going to the hokage and asking for Naruto's address.
~~Flashback~~
Iruka stood in front of the hokage, after knocking on the door and being let in, his heart was racing as he tried to explain himself.
"Hokage, I'm sorry to disturb you but I have not seen my student Uzumaki, Naruto since Friday before last, here in this office. He did not attend school at all last week. It is Monday and he still did not show up. I am worried, I tried to find his address in the records but they are sealed. I…I wondered if you could tell me his address. I want to check on him. If it is okay with you"
The hokage looked at the man and sighed. He had tried as best he could to help Naruto, but it didn't seem to reach him. He was at his wits end. He did not think he knew how to handle kid's problems. His communication skills did not seem to extend to them. All he had to do was to look at his relationship with his own son, to know he was a failure at it. He didn't have the time he needed either. He wanted to hope that this man would help, but in his experience, it was never that simple.
"His records are sealed for good reasons. Not everyone sees Naruto with kind eyes. What is your intention? I remember you, Iruka. What you lost in the 9 tails attack. If this is some idiotic ploy against him. You will find out why I am still the hokage of the leaf and why I am called the professor"
Iruka was sweating. His palms felt sticky. He was just threatened by the hokage. "I…I know what he has and I hate it for taking my parents. I'm just worried. I tried to ignore it, ignore him" He sighed in frustration. "But I could not. I promise not to use the knowledge to harm him. I wish I could explain it better. I cannot, even to myself. I…he seemed lost…I…I am just worried"
Hiruzen studied Iruka, his intent, his resolve, without saying a word. Iruka sweated, being under the stare of the professor was nerve wrecking. He was picking him apart. –What was I thinking, I am an idiot. I should have not come, I…I, NO, he's an orphan like me. I know what that is like. I cannot leave him alone. What kind of teacher would I be, if I did that— He squared his shoulders and looked at his hokage.
Hiruzen was finally satisfied. This was no lie. Iruka was an inexperienced new teacher with lots of heart but perhaps that is what was needed, heart. He was truly worried. If somebody had interceded between Azuma and him would things have turned out different? Would he have joined the 12 Guardians? He wondered. He would trust this man. He did not have much of a choice to be honest. Nobody else was trying to help the boy. And his attempts had failed so far. He couldn't be there for Naruto as he wanted. He was the hokage of the leaf. Naruto needed friends, this Hinata business proved it. The will of fire wasn't enough for a lonely boy. It hadn't been enough for Asuma. He could not fail again. He owed Minato and Kushina that much. He looked at the young man again. He would put his hopes on this young teacher.
"Very well. This is Naruto's address. I hope you take this seriously. If this is some half assed plan to ease your conscience, do not bother. Naruto is used to being ignored. But he does not need false kindness. He needs a teacher, a mentor" Iruka nodded. "Naruto has not come out of his house since I brought him back that day. I have tried in many different ways, unsuccessfully. I wish you better luck"
I will not let you down. Thanks. Hokage" He turned and left.
~~Flashback end~~
Iruka knocked on the door and there was no answer. He knocked louder with the same results. He looked at the key the hokage also gave him, in the palm of his hand. No time to back out now.
He used the key and opened the door. The smell hit him right away. Mold and old clothes. There were ramen cups littering everywhere. He sighed at the mess. He called again with no answer.
He went to the bedroom and saw a form, a lump in the middle of the bed. He went close and called him again. Iruka was losing his patience. Was he ignoring him on purpose? He pulled the covers off and screamed.
"NARUTO UZUMAKI! WAKE UP!"
Naruto almost jumped of the bed. He thought he heard something but he ignored it. Nobody looked for him anyways. The covers being pulled scared the crap out of him. He jumped out of bed. Iruka noted he was in his pajamas, with a funny sleeping hat and still had that scarf around his neck.
Naruto was confused. He blinked several times and the hallucination of his teacher remained. What?
"Naruto, are you awake now? Good. Where have you been? Do not think you can play hooky in my class"
Naruto kept looking at his teacher, like he was an apparition. How did he get here, anyway? What was he doing anyway?
"You have been absent a week. You have a lot to catch up on. I brought your homework. Come on"
Naruto blinked and followed his teacher, dazed. "First we will clean this mess. Your place will not clean itself up and you don't have a maid, so you should put your dishes away as soon as you finished and put the trash in the trash bin? Got it?" Naruto blinked again. He almost started to follow orders, when it finally registered where he was.
"Hey, what are you doing here? This is my place. You can't tell me what to do in my place! Go away"
Iruka raised an eyebrow. He was sure, the hokage had tiptoed around Naruto. Well that wasn't his style. "I am your teacher. I came to give you your homework for the week. But we won't do that in this filth"
"What do you care, this is my place! Go away. Leave me alone" Naruto turned around, only to be grabbed by the collar by Iruka.
"I don't think so. The hokage gave me permission to come. Are you really going to let him down?"
"Jiji, did this? He let you come here?" Naruto pouted, but he did not want to upset Jiji.
"Yes" He was going to ignore the blatant disrespect for the hokage, but one thing at a time. "I had not seen you in over a week. So, I came to check on you and give you your homeroom. I wasn't expecting everything to be such a mess. So, let's cleanup"
"Why?" Naruto looked at him with distrustful eyes.
"Because it's dirty. Take a good look"
"WHY?"
He sighed "Because I was worried, ok. Come on. This place won't clean itself"
Naruto seemed in a trance, he did not know what to think of his crazy teacher. Worried? For him? He followed Iruka and helped him clean. Suddenly, he saw Mr. Ukki and he panicked. He forgot, Mr. Ukki! The plant looked half dead. He had not watered it for a week! He ran to get a pitcher of water and started watering it, until the water overflowed. Mumbling to it.
Iruka saw him trying to fix the plant. He did not know much about plants, but he was sure that was too much water. Overwatering would kill the plant for sure. He came close to Naruto and finally heard him.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't leave me Mr. Ukki. Please. I'm really sorry. Please. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Naruto's eyes started to water and Iruka felt a knot in his throat.
"I need more water. I will be right back, Mr. Ukki" Naruto turned but unfortunately slipped on the muddy overflow from the plant. The boy's front was covered in muddy water. Naruto laughed at himself. "Huh, ha, ha, I guess I deserved that for forgetting you. I will be right back"
"Naruto, that is enough water, Ok"
Naruto looked at the plant, then at the teacher and was embarrassed, He looked down and then saw his ruined muddy scarf. Naruto just stopped and started crying again, harder than before. "I ruined it. The scarf Hinata-chan fixed. I forgot Mr. Ukki. I ruined my scarf. I…I…"
Naruto was mumbling incoherently again. He could see the despair floating in Naruto's eyes again. "Naruto let me see. One of the good things about living alone, is that you learn how to take care of your own things. Let me see it"
Naruto turned and glared at him. He clutched the scarf to his chest. Never.
"Naruto, I will show you how to clean it and to take care of it. It is important to you and you want it to last. This kind of knitted items, have to be washed by hand with a delicate cleaner or it will be ruined or even shrink"
Naruto looked at him again. Iruka extended his hand again. "I will take good care of it. I promise. If you are unsatisfied, you can tell the hokage. I am sure, he will have my hide"
He looked at the teacher's eyes again, then at his hand. Finally, he sighed and gave him the scarf.
"Thanks, Naruto. Follow me and I will show you how to clean it.
After a good lecture on hand washing, air drying and lay flat to dry. Naruto settled down. He paid attention to everything he was told. He needed to keep his scarf in top shape. The scarf looked as good as new as it was drying on a rack. He was impressed.
"I don't know much about plants but if you keep taking care of it. I'm sure your plant will come back. Do not overwater it. That is as bad as too little water"
Naruto nodded. Iruka looked around and read the book titles on his student's table. Beginner Seals. Seals made Easy. "Are you interested in seals?"
Naruto nodded "I was before"
"Why not now"
Naruto shrugged.
"Seals are very useful. If you like them, they will give you an advantage few others have"
Naruto nodded and suddenly his stomach growled loudly. He was embarrassed and out his hand to the back of his neck. "Sorry"
"Well we still have to discuss your homework, but a little break will be good. Want to eat? Is there anything you like?"
"Yes" Naruto looked at his teacher, if he was willing to pay, he was suddenly hungry. "Ichiraku's Ramen. They are the best!"
"Ok" Iruka would have sighed, if he realized how much money he was going to invest in Ichiraku's today and through the years. "Let's go"
Naruto carefully followed Iruka. He owed him for washing Hinata's scarf. At Ichiraku's, he introduced them all. Teuchi and Ayame looked at the teacher gratefully. First bowl was on the house. Iruka soon learned, he would need way more than just 1 free bowl to satisfy his student. Somewhere during the meal, Naruto agreed to return to school. They returned home to finish homework and chores.
Their friendship was cemented that day over scarf washing secrets and ramen.
-NH—NH—NH—NH—
The rest of the week flew for Hinata. She had classes all morning and part of the afternoon. Politics, the five great nations and their cultures, languages, reading in all languages and their hieroglyphs, mathematics, survival education, infiltration, tracking, jutsu names and their applications, the elements, first aid and more. It seemed never ending.
The afternoon was for physical training. Strength and flexibility training, gymnastics, exercise, running, swimming. And most importantly sparing. The sparing varied depending on your opponent. They taught several taijutsu styles and recommended learning several.
Hinata also discovered that once you were advanced enough or old enough, the afternoon was also for Jutsu training or dojutsu training. She saw more of it as time went by.
The master's training hall, where they learned and practice jutsu was huge. It had guard at the exit and had special seals to prevent escape. It was set by the master and it would send an electric shock to anyone who tried to leave. Entrance and exit were completely controlled by the master. Once inside, they were stuck until the master was finished.
It was one of the only two places where the chakra suppression seals would be deactivated. The other being the infirmary when needed by the doctor. In here the master or others would teach them basic jutsus like the kawarimi or the bunshin where they could practice them.
This was where they had finished their first day as the master gave final orders. Hinata would learn this was one of the master's favorite rooms. The weeks blurred marked only by "rest day"
Hinata wondered if this was like the academy from hell. She tried to get used to living in fear. She realized learning and being terrified where not mutually exclusive.
Eventually she also went to the training hall. Here they studied her dojutsu and she practiced her juken with her byakugan active. Her juken was still poor she knew, but she was fighting people without it, so she did ok. She would not do that well if the opponent also knew juken, like Neji. She was convinced her body type did not adjust well to regular juken.
The training hall was large enough to accommodate everyone if needed. Although most of the time, it was used by several students or one class at a time. The master would sometimes get everyone to have major bouts or a competition in front of everyone.
The training hall's other main function was the weekly assessments and placement ritual. Good placement meant escape. Bad placement was for slackers and slackers where punished publicly by the master.
Here the master was ruler. A showman excelling at his trade. The seemingly random violence always shocked Hinata. The master called it punishment for slackers, but it just looked to her like an excuse to beat the hell out of some poor kid or kids. The master never pulled his punches. Sometimes he would use a stick or cane, rarely a whip. He would not stop until he got his point across or until he was satisfied. His goal was to cause pain and to intimidate the rest. She realized the master was very good at that. And he loved having an audience. A poor weekly performance guaranteed punishment.
Hinata did her best to avoid being 'it' each week. She did well in all classes and exercises. She excelled in flexibility training. But sparing was hard. She did not like to inflict pain but the others were trying to hurt her too. They did not want to be 'it' either.
Hinata dreaded that hall. She hated when they made her close someone's tenketsus to study the effects. She hated when she had to fight others. But she loathed having to be present for weekly assessments. This was next to 'rest day' the absolute worst.
She decided to defend herself as best she could. She did not like to be hit or to be the master's punching bag. This was not her family. They hurt her at every turn. She did not cause excess pain, like some of the other kids like to do. Nor did she enjoy it. She did her movements effectively and consicely. She could not hold back. She did not hold back.
-You would defend yourself too. Right, Naruto-kun?— She sighed as she got ready for the next training session.—You would understand, right? I hope you don't hate me for this-
-NH—NH—NH—NH—
Naruto sat on a tree contemplating his options. Iruka mentioned he would talk to the Hyuga, so that he could pay his respects and visit his friend's grave. He thanked Iruka but declined. The idea of the Huyga watching him as he visited her did not agree with him. That was private. He did not wish to see anyone there. He wasn't sure he wanted to see the actual grave at first.
He came to school everyday as he promised Iruka, but he still felt lost. He just attended the class and went through the motions. The kids ignored him for the most part. They did not glare but had already formed their clicks by the time he came back. So he ignored them too. He was just there.
When Iruka mentioned visiting her. He was torn, he wanted to and he did not. He wanted a physical contact with her, but was afraid that seeing the grave would only make her death more real, more final. As time went by the idea would not leave him alone. It grew impossible to resist. He owed her that. He wanted to close the distance, somehow. And he was not a coward.
He finally mustered enough corage and followed that self-righteous Neji to their home. Iruka found out she was buried in a garden close to her house. Iruka talked to Neji; how Iruka could put up with that pompous ass was beyond him; but he found out where she was. She was in a memorial garden behind her house which was to the back of the compound bordering the surrounding forest.
His first attempt was an abysmal failure. He was stopped by a guard at the fence. The second and third were partially more successful. He almost made it on the fourth and fifth attempts. But he would not give up, now that he had decided he would continue until he saw her. On that last attempt, he saw a pretty lady watching him from a window. He also noticed the back wall of the compound closest to the garden.
Sixth was it. Today he would make it. He took a deep breath and tried to stealthily sneak in the compund again. He jumped the wall, he saw earlier that bordered the forest closest to his goal. He heard a sound and froze. He waited but nothing happened so he continued on his way.
"Your knight is gallant and persistent, my dear but he is not stealthy enough, specially against the byakugan" Her lips curled in a soft smile. –you had picked well- The lady of the house, saw everything from her window. This was her favorite spot, she could watch her and the garden. Her sunny place. She saw the guards on their way to the garden and dismissed them. "He is my guest. Do not worry" She said as she rolled outside.
She followed the boy as he made his way to the garden and to her grave.
It was a bautiful garden. Filled with exotic blooms. Naruto had never seen any of those plants before. They formed a semicircle around the grave with a large carved headstone. The path pointed to the grave. Next to the grave was a carved marble bench with leaves and vines motif. The headstone itself was a work of art, full of very ornate, delicate flowers. So realistically captured by the artist that they appeared frozen by the marble rather than carved. A central simple inscription over the Hyuga crest read: 'Hinata Hyuga my beautiful bud, may you bloom forever'
He made it. He was there! He stood there awkardly. His early success faded at the reality before him. It was easily the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. But it felt so cold. He wished it was the girl herself standing there.
He smiled at the grave. "Hi, Hinata-chan! It is me Naruto. I am sure you remember me. It took me a while to visit, but your family got good guards. Sorry"
He deccided to be honest. "I wish you were still here, but I am taking good care of your scarf. You would not believe it but our teacher taught me how. To be honest, I wasn't doing so good after I heard you were gone. I got your scarf dirty, but I cleaned it thanks to Iruka sensei! He knows all kinds of stuff about cleaning. He is a bit weird and he can go on and on about stuff, like he can give you a full lecture about socks or cleaning or whatever. Cleaning is one of his favorite subjects. I don't know how can anyone know that much about cleaning stuff. But he is really nice, just don't get him mad or he will go into lecture mode. He tried to help me find you, you know before I knew what happened. I am sure you would have liked him too. He would have been your teacher too, you know. Our teacher" He smiled unconsciously "He even took me to Ichiraku's. You remember Ichiraku's too"
He just kept telling her all he had done and seen. "You know, I met your cousin. I know he's family and all but he's a pri…not a nice person. He talked..not nice about you. Don't worry, I'm going to set him straight. He's going to be sorry, he talked sh…bad about you. I will get him good. Just you wait and see. Don't be mad about it. He deserves it. He started it too"
"Before... you know, I talked to jiji & he told me all about seals. He got me some beginners books and I had been learning, before. I was even learning to write cleaner. I wanted to show you my own scrolls at school but I guess that can't be. So, I brought it to you. This little one is the only one I have made so far. It's not that great yet and I can only put one light sparkler in it but I made it for you" He sat a tiny scroll next to the grave.
He rubbed his scarf like he did a million times a day. "I am sorry, I got it dirty" he said while still rubbing it, with his thumbs. "I will take better care of it from now on, I promise. It feels really nice, it is like you were near sometimes. I really wish you were here" He teared up again. He could not help it. He missed her so much. Why, kept going in his head, why her? Better someone invisible like him.
The lady looked at the boy and teared. She could read him like a book. She shared that pain, that feeling. She would exchange her life a million times over, to bring her back. Sometimes if she was honest, she wished Hiashi did not find the herb. She wanted to see her Hinata now. But that was selfish. Her Hanabi needed her too. And Hiashi was like a ghost, kept in place by duty and responsability. She needed to be here but felt like there was a hole in her heart, a part of her body was gone. She missed it and wanted it back.
She could hear the pain in his voice. Hinata would chastise her if she did not do something.
"She would not like to see you crying like that" came a soft voice.
Naruto jumped, scared, ready to run "I am sorry, I will leave" There was a very beautiful lady in a wheelchair with a serene aura. Naruto felt himself relax. He did not think, she would rat him out. She had blue-black hair with lavender eyes. She looked like Hinata,but older. His eyes widened, she must be her mom. Would Hinata-chan have looked that pretty when she was older?
"You don't have to leave. You know it took her months to finish the scarf. Spring and summer. First learning the stitches, practicing it, finding the yarn and finally knitting it. She was very proud that day. She was giving it to her knight"
"What makes you think,its me? I could have stolen it"
She giggled slightly, like twinkling bells. "I am afraid, I would know you anywhere dear knight. My daughter described you quite accurately. Blond hair like the sun, blue eyes like the sky, six pretty whisker like marks on your cheeks like a kitten, should I continue?"
Naruto was red, his face felt like it was on fire. He was sure he could give Hinata a run for her money in the tomato look alike contest. Hinata said that about him?
The lady smiled. "Brave like a knight. Fighting the odds"'
"What's a knight?"
"They are the heroes of the story. They rescue the princess and slay evil dragons"
Naruto trembled, his fists clenched. "I'm no hero. I never saved her. I should have gone outside that day. See what the fuss was about. If I hadn't promised Jiji, if I hadn't been so tired from the festival, maybe I could have done something. Maybe I could have stopped him, maybe…"
"That is foolish and you know it. The entire leaf could not bring her back. Do not blame yourself. That is madness. She would be very mad if she knew that"
"But I didn't do ANYTHING. I was sleeping in my room like an idiot or with the bullies or…"
"So, you think my daughter was a fool or just ignorant"
Naruto's eyes widened and he was ready to fight in a minute. "Now isten here lady. You are nice, pretty and all. Even if you are her mom, if you say something bad about Hinata-chan you will face me"
"I do not believe that about her, you do"
"NO, I DON'T"
"Then why do you doubt her. She saw something in you, nobody else saw. Something perhaps you don't see yurself. But she was sure you where a knight"
"But I didn't win"
"Now you think,she only cares for winners. Not a nice thing to say either"
{~You helped me. It doesn't matter if you won or lost. You were brave. To me, I think, that was more amazing because you kept trying and didn't give up~}
{~I think that was very brave, noble like a knight~}
Naruto's eyes lit up. He remembered what she said. She had faith in him.
{~But you kept trying and kept getting up. To me that was braver. To me you are strong because you kept getting up. You were a proud failure then~}
She was special because she was her friend AND she had faith in him. And he almost gave up…
{~Hinata Hyuga. It's a pleasure. It's ok. The future hokage can't be expected to remember everyone he meets~}
She always believed in him. Accepted his friendship without hesitation.
{~Friends help each other out~}
He gave her his stone as proof of their friendship. He would not disappoint her. He made her a promise,once he was hokage. He would grant her a wish somehow. He would not disappoint her. He would become a knight, a hero.
Jiji said that is why we become ninja to protect our village, it's people, and the hokage is the top, strongest ninja. Like the Yondaime or Jiji.
-I will protect my precious people from now on. So nobody has to die unnecesarily like her. I will become the next hokage to protect. Just watch me Hinata-chan. I will be a knight hokage—
"You are right, lady. Sorry" He turned to the grave. "Sorry Hinata-chan. Never again. I will protect my precious people, no matter what" Lady Hitomi was amazed at the transformation. She saw the doubt leave his eyes, replaced by a determination and confidence that amazed her. "I will never doubt her again"
He heard a sound coming from outside, he turned and ran to the fence.
"Thank you for the visit. You can come back anytime, umm"
He climbed the fence and turned at the top before jumping off "Naruto Uzumaki, the future hokage of the leaf! You better remember my name! I will be the greatest hokage ever!" Then disappered from view.
Hitomi laughed, like she hadn't done in a while. –you sure knew how to pick them—
The guards heard the ruckus and came to the garden.
"Are you alright Lady Hyuga?"
"Why yes, I am. Thanks for your concern, I should check on Hanabi" She turned to leave. "Oh, guards. New standing orders. Let that boy in here anytime. Do not disturb him or remove him. Let him sneak in if that is his choice. Understood?"
"But lady Hyuga"
"This are my orders, on my garden, understood?
"Hai. lady Hyuga" The guards saw the soft smile of their lady and agreed. They would let him in.
Lady Hyuga rolled back to her house as she thought –The future hokage of the leaf, great taste indeed my dear—
And cut!
He's back! Naruto is back, but he has learned loss. Well what do you think. Please let me know. Your reviews motivate me. The chapters keep growing and growing….Again Hinata won't suffer forever, promise. Just hang on.
The end of the first arc is coming on. There will be a time skip and things will pick up again. I hope you have liked it and don't think it's too slow. But I want to show the path, not just the result.
Again thanks to all who have reviewed! You keep me motivated and on task. Many thanks to all my followers and people who have favorited my story. It also keeps me going
Please Review! Anything is good. What you like, what you don't. To my flamer review, No Hinata will not be brainwashed. Although that could be interesting if well done, that is not where I'm going with the story.
Reviews:
Luisdox: Muchas gracias, por tratar mi historia! Gracias por el review! Sobretodo si no te gusta esa parte de la trama. Espero no decepcionarte. Todo tiene un proposito en la historia(no como en la vida real). Hinata sufre pero Naruto le dara valor. Naruto tambien re-encontro su proposito y si se encontraran eventualmente. Naruto va a ser mas maduro por saber de perdidas tan temprano. En cuanto a Neji, las ramas tienen mucha tension entre ellas. Este Hizashi aunque vivo, le ha metido muchas malas ideas a Neji. Es por politica y envidia. Yo queria que el fuera parecido pero por diferentes razones al del manga. Gracias por tu review! Eres mi primer review hispano.
Nightwind83: Thanks for your review! That's what I was going for.I am glad it came through. Great mind think alike. Yep, I was thinking of a paint inspired prank. Hum the nails could be interesting too.
Theblueswordsman: Thanks for your kind words as always! You saw more of Hinata here. Interactions with others will be coming up. More of the master too. He may not be, but he is pretty bad. LOL! Hope you continue to enjoy. Let me know what you think.
NarHina: Thanks for your review! Naruto always gives Hinata strength and is at the back of her mind. And as you saw today, so is she to Naruto. He got his will back! Did you like how it went? That is what I was going for. I added Iruka to the family mix in this chapter. He is one of my favorite characters.
Naruto's growth and Hinata for that matter will continue. Oops! I did not realize that for the raikages. For the purpose of my story, he was is still alive. Ay is not the fourth yet.
Great minds think alike. I was thinking of dying his hair pink too. The Sasuke bit has potential too. LOL
Lovelygeek7: Thanks for your review! I appreciate it a lot. Hope you like the new chapter too. Let me know.
Next: Growth, turmoil, pranks!