Branded
Chapter 7
Hinata moved languidly, easily moving just out of range of her cousin's well aimed hits. He grunted with the effort, well aware that they had been sparring for more than two hours now. Neji never remembered his younger cousin being quite this…evasive before. It was as if she could read his moves, which he deemed a very plausible excuse considering she had been training with the Uchiha for a few months now. He narrowly missed the kick she aimed for his chest, moving backwards. He was caught off guard when Hinata moved, weaving under each of his palms. He watched, fascinated as she placed one hand on the dirt of the clearing, using it as leverage to plant both of her feet against his chest. She pushed off of him, sending him back a few feet as she somersaulted to put more distance between them.
" I still believe Lord Hiashi and the elders to be idiots. They couldn't see the true potential you possessed back than, they still blindly refuse to acknowledge it now," Neji commented panting for breath. His hands were placed above his knees, his body doubled over. He glanced up to see his younger cousin mirrored his position, causing him to chuckle.
" It doesn't matter, Neji. I was disowned, as far as my father is concerned, I am just a girl who carries half of his genetic make up. In his eyes, I don't even possess the Clan name," Hinata bit out, shaking her wild strands of indigo colored hair. She knew her cousin meant well, he still argued with her father and the Clan elders.
" How is the Uchiha treating you?" Neji decided to change the subject, watching as a guarded look fell over his cousin's eyes. She offered a lazy shrug as she fell back onto the soft grass, glancing away from his inquisitive eyes.
" We get along just find. Both of us are naturally quiet people so there isn't much conversation," she trailed off, glancing as her cousin sat beside her.
" Hinata," he knew when she wished to talk about something, something serious that could be an idea. She exhaled a sigh, a rush of air as she picked at the lone blades of grass.
" Answer me seriously, Neji. Do you believe in second chances? That if given room, people can change?" Hinata questioned her cousin, watching as his brows furrowed in thought.
Slowly his mind drifted to that fateful fight in the Chuunin exam against Uzumaki Naruto and how he was finally able to reconcile with his sweet cousin.
" If given the option, I believe people will remain the same, comfortable with the habits they have formed, with the personality they have created over the years. However, I also believe if they are offered a second chance, a gift to something more, they will use it, and they will change. I am speaking from experience with that," Neji answered, delicately choosing his words. He watched his cousin nod in acceptance before she voiced why she asked him that question.
" I honestly believe Uchiha wishes to change. He has, from what I've seen. He is still sarcastic and violent, however those traits are just imbedded in him. Yet, he isn't thinking about just himself any longer, or the need for revenge. I truly believe he wishes to try again," Hinata finally explained, watching Neji nod his head.
" Are you suggesting he be relieved from his probation than?" he questioned, watching as Hinata shrugged her shoulders, truly unaware of what she thought.
" That is up to Lady Tsunade. I truly believe he should be released from his probation. He has been working well with the unit he was placed in, and Shikamaru has been a bit ragged from all of the missions he has been forced to do on my behalf. I only think its fair. Naruto and Sakura can keep an eye on him, keep him from causing to much trouble. It's just.." she trailed off once again, drawing her knees to her chest and resting her forehead atop them.
Neji exhaled a heavy sigh as he thought over his words carefully. Most people didn't understand how to approach Hinata after she changed, they thought she was similar to the Uchiha. However those of the rookie nine plus Tenten and himself, truly knew she had remained the same. The only difference was that she now possessed confidence and had lost her stutter and companionable blush.
" Hinata, Nara knew what it meant when he accepted the position of Anbu, of being the Captain's right arm. He understood from the very beginning, exactly what he was getting himself into. As for Uchiha, let Tsunade decide. She is the only one who knows what the right choice is. For now, relax, enjoy this brief vacation from Anbu," Neji instructed, watching her turn her head fractionally to glance at him.
" Aunt Hinata!" Kenji's childish voice broke through the comfortable silence that had settled over the two cousins, causing one to straighten and the other to groan. Kenji wrapped his arms around Hinata's neck, hugging her tightly. She chuckled at the little boy as she wrapped her arms around him and held him to her chest.
" Kenny, what are you doing all the way out here?" Hinata questioned, pulling away from the child enough to see his wide grin.
" Him and I were looking for you," Temari answered the Konoha's Kunoichi, watching Hinata look up at her older friend.
" Hello Hyuuga," she greeted Neji who only answered her with a grunt. Hinata and Temari both rolled their eyes before Hinata pushed to her feet.
" What did you need Temari?" Hinata questioned her friend, moving Kenji until he was settled comfortably against her hip.
" I need to return to Suna for a week to settle some matters with my brothers and the council. Shikamaru is accompanying me. I would rather not have Kenji there. Could you watch him? It will only be for a week, a week and a half at the longest," Temari informed her, watching the Hyuuga girl sigh before she nodded her consent.
" Fine, fine, fine. Is that alright with you Kenny? Do you want to spend a week with me?" Hinata questioned the four year old. He nodded his head vigorously, resting his cheek against Hinata's shoulder.
" You better hurry," Hinata informed Temari, taking the back pack she had packed and settling it on her shoulder. She kissed Kenji's forehead, whispering in his ear before running towards the gates, launching herself into the trees to take her there faster.
Neji pushed himself to his feet, taking the simple black back pack from his cousin and walking beside her as they returned to the village.
" Ne, Neji?" she questioned, waiting until her cousin looked at her before she asked the question that has held her curiosity for some time now.
" Yes?" he answered, perfect eye brow arched as he waited for his cousin to continue.
" Why are you and Temari so distant?" she spoke, watching as her cousin shrugged his shoulders.
" Besides the fact that she nearly killed my finance years ago, no reason," he answered, watching Hinata shake her head.
" Really, Neji, you shouldn't hold grudges. Tenten doesn't. In fact her and Temari are rather close," Hinata chided as she led the way up the long staircase towards her apartment. Kenji had fallen asleep on the walk through the bustling village, ignorant to the conversation they were currently having. Neji only shrugged his shoulders, entering the apartment and setting Kenji's pack on the low sofa.
" I'll see you around Hinata," he spoke, kissing her forehead before leaving her apartment, shutting the door behind him. She only smiled faintly, moving through the quiet apartment to put Kenji in her bed so he could sleep peacefully. She closed the door gently behind, gasping quietly when Sasuke appeared in front of her, a smirk dancing on his lips as he caged her against the bed room door. " Why is the runt here?" he questioned, his face mere inches from hers. She met his gaze defiantly, her own smirk forming as she answered him.
" I'm babysitting him for Temari and Shika," she answered, watching his eyes flare slightly at the casual use of her second in command's nickname.
" Why?" he questioned once more, his voice low, rough.
" Because I am his God Mother and I enjoy spending time with him," she answered, watching as he moved, resting his forehead against hers.
" Why?" his constant question of why was slowly grating on her nerves. Hinata was well known for her patience. They were what made her a great medic. However standing, caged against the well defined body of Uchiha Sasuke, her patience was slowly running thin as he continued to aggravate her.
" What does it matter why?" she finally snapped, listening to the low rumble in his chest as he chuckled.
" I just wanted to know why the runt was ruining my quality time," Sasuke answered easily, his shoulders rising and falling in a lazy shrug. Hinata only shook her head, frustrated with the teenaged boy caging her.
" Sometimes, Uchiha you remind me of a petulant child," Hinata commented, watching his eyes narrow at the sound of his surname.
" Sasuke," he finally said after a moment's pause, watching her delicate brows knit together in confusion.
" What?" he exhaled a heavy sigh, lifting his head from her own until he was staring into her pale lavender colored orbs.
" My name is Sasuke. Stop calling me Uchiha. We're on better terms than that," he answered, watching as she chewed her bottom lip between her blunt teeth, obviously thinking over what he was suggesting.
" Alright, Sasuke," he noted the emphasis she put on his name, " than I want you to call me Hinata," she informed him, watching his lips twitch upward in an amused smirk.
" Alright," he agreed, taking a step from her and dropping his arms to his side.
She exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding from his close proximity, sliding past his larger body.
" When was the last time you ate a decent meal?" the question was abrupt, surprising her. She shrugged her shoulders in a silent answer, knowing he would understand what she couldn't convey with words. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she ate a proper meal. She rarely ate as it was and her body showed the signs of her dietary habits. She chanced a glance over her shoulders to see his brows furrowed in a deep frown, disapproval evident in his gaze. He shook his head, moving purposefully towards the kitchen, easily passing her in the narrow hall way.
" You're to small," he muttered just loud enough for her to hear, causing her to watch him curiously as he moved about the kitchen as if it were his natural habitat.
" I didn't know you could cook," she commented, watching him shrug his shoulders, easily ignoring the compliment as he went about making a simple meal.
" I'm not the best, however I don't starve, unlike you," he commented, watching as she defensively wrapped her arms around her waist. She didn't answer him, she truly didn't have an excuse for why she didn't eat, she just wasn't hungry. Thirty minutes late he set a plate of rice and fried eggs in front of her, sliding onto the stool beside her to eat his own portion.
" Thank you, Sasuke," she whispered, watching him pause his eating for a brief moment before he continued, refusing to acknowledge her gratitude.
A/N: So, I'm only going to add a few more chapters before I end Branded. Than I will be working on another project for Shikamaru and Temari. Hopefully I can fulfill the expectations that every one wants within the next three chapters, maybe five if I feel a stroke of genius. Thank you for everyone who's been reading.
