Wow, I haven't done one of these in a while. Here are the review responses. All 1 of them. Keep them coming.
Brandon: Thanks for the review. I really do plan on fleshing the rebels out in future chapters and explaining their motives. Hirokyuki's basic vandetta is solved, but not all of it. It's deeper than that. All of the rebels are there with different reasons and personalities, it's just I haven't heavily incorporated them into the story yet. That will change in a few chapters. Right now, I'm setting the good guys up. Hiroku is a major part, along with Hanabi, so the beginning is focusing on them a bit more than Neji and Hinata. Thanks for the comments on the fight scenes and my characterization of Hanabi. One of the goals in this fic was to portray her in an entirely different light than a lot of other fics do. I'm glad that is being accomplished.
To all those who read this and didn't review, who favored the story(My Sweet Sacrifice and 629Spike; If you're reading this thank you.), who alerted the story, or who added it to a C2, thank you so much and I hope you continue reading and enjoying the story and leave your comments. Now onto chapter 7, Activity.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 7: Activity
"This is ridiculous," Hiroku mumbled, dodging another palm thrust by his foe. He could feel Fujiko's movements become quicker as the battle wore on with each strike coming in seemingly faster and more precise than the one before it. The situation was turning against him quickly. Fujiko seemed to notice it as well, becoming more offensive until she found a small opening and took advantage, thrusting her palm into Hiroku's right shoulder, sending him tumbling backwards several feet.
A small smirk was on Fujiko's face as she reformed her chakra knives. "Goodbye," she uttered as she threw the knives with expert accuracy. To Hiroku, the knives moved in slow motion as he tried to force his body to dodge what would be certain doom.
"Palm Rotation!" The knives scattered as it encountered the blue wall of spinning chakra before dissipating. Fujiko watched with a hint of annoyance as Hanabi stood in front of Hiroku.
"It is me you are after, correct?" Hanabi resumed her Gentle Fist stance as Fujiko took a step closer, her smirk turned into a sadistic grin.
"Of course you are." Hanabi could feel a cold sweat overcome her body as the young woman slowly approached her with homicidal intentions. In what felt like a blink of an eye, Hanabi was blocking blows from Fujiko. Each strike was knocked down with the gracefulness that Hanabi had shown during her training practices. The few times Hanabi took offensive was met with just as much resistance, albeit with a rougher finish that showed the subtle differences between the main and branch families.
"You're pretty decent," Fujiko said, leaping away from Hanabi's range before reappearing in front of her once again. Hanabi let out a gasp as she felt the right side of her face clash with Fujiko's foot, sending her flying backwards. Hanabi closed her eyes tightly while bracing herself for hitting the ground. Her surprise was evident as she felt her body land on something soft. She opened her eyes slowly, looking up at the face of her guardian.
"You okay?" Hiroku asked. Hanabi didn't need her Byakugan to know that his concern for her wasn't genuine.
'I guess this is just a mission to him,' Hanabi reasoned. She snapped back to reality upon Hiroku asking the question again, instantly noticing that his Byakugan was active for the first time all day.
"I'm fine. Thank you." Hiroku lifted Hanabi to her feet before turning his attention back to the woman in front of him.
"Alright, let's wrap this up. I have better things to do than stay here and fight you all day."
"Really, now?" Fujiko gave him an annoyed look as she reformed her knives.
"Hanabi-chan, stand back." Hiroku took a couple of steps forward before forming the Chakra Scalpel in his right hand. "Enough games," Hiroku said as he charged at full speed. Fujiko threw the knives quickly, trying to slow him down. Hiroku leapt into the air, avoiding the knives easily before landing in front of Fujiko. She watched as chakra surrounded his entire body.
"Eight Trigrams: Explosion!" Fujiko flew several feet backwards from the chakra burst, however she quickly regained her balance and stood up straight in time to dodge the wild slashing motion of Hiroku's Chakra Scalpel. Fujiko gathered chakra into her leg and delivered a sweeping kick to Hiroku's rib cage, sending him flying through the front door of the lone house that stood on the training site. The Hyuuga woman let a smirk cross her face as she heard the sickening crack of ribs before looking to see Hiroku leaning against the wall inside the building, his chakra covered hand on his chest.
"I'm not letting you heal again." She sped towards the entrance quickly focusing energy to her right palm. Hiroku sidestepped to his right and began running down the hallway and turned the corner.
"Get back here!" Fujiko yelled, as she chased after him. As she turned the corner, her first reaction was to block Hiroku's kick to her head. Thanking her bloodline abilities, she pushed him backwards before launching another palm thrust. Hiroku threw his body against the narrow hallway, avoiding the blow entirely. He pushed himself off just a fast, forcing a chakra-filled punch forward. Fujiko jumped backwards and stared in awe at the crater that Hiroku's punch left. Hiroku took that moment to spin his body around to deliver a jarring roundhouse kick to Fujiko. Fujiko put her arms up to guard the attack, but was pushed backwards against the wall behind her. Before her mind could piece together what happened, her Byakugan caught Hiroku bouncing off the two walls of the hallway back and forth and delivering another kick, sending her flying out the building and leaving another crater on the exterior. Fukijo pulled herself to her feet, moaning in pain. She coughed a little blood as she reformed her Gentle Fist stance.
Hiroku appeared in front of her in what felt like milliseconds, she sidestepped his palm thrust and took a couple of steps backwards. Like a machine, Hiroku turned his body and continued his onslaught. He refused to let this opportunity slip.
'I know I broke some of her ribs; she should be having some difficulty breathing. I can see it. This ends now.' Hiroku began pushing himself harder now. Fujiko was clearly on the defensive; it would soon be a matter of time before Hiroku landed an attack. Fujiko could feel it too. Her breathing was getting heavier by the second, and her movements were slowing. It all came full circle as she felt her body hit the ground from a palm to the chest. She watched as her coughed up blood landed on Hiroku's arm before he pushed her backwards. She watched him form hand signs and form chakra into a small round white ball of energy. She watched as Hiroku caught her limp arm and shoved the ball into her stomach.
"Dragon's Wave!" he yelled. Fujiko dropped into him instantly, unconscious.
Hanabi stared at him wide-eyed as he turned around. "You're not going to kill her?"
"No, not yet. I'm sure that the Council would like a word with her before that happens. Hopefully, she'll lead us to where her companions are." He looked at a visibly shaken up Hanabi with an analytical glare. "Are you okay?"
"I am fine."
Hiroku gave another deep look again. He could see Hanabi trying futilely to stop her rapidly shaking body from moving. Like it or not, this was her first life or death situation. In her mind, the ambush on her earlier didn't count. This time she was wary, yet, still couldn't manage much against a girl who apparently doesn't know any of the advanced Hyuuga techniques.
"Hate to say it, Hanabi, but you will have to get used to this…. Quickly." Hanabi's mind snapped back to reality again as she watched the medic-nin shift his weight more to lift the unconscious woman over his shoulder. Luckily, she wasn't that heavy. He looked at the building once more before de-activating his Byakugan. He looked over to see Hanabi do the same.
"That's definitely coming out of my paycheck," he mumbled.
"Hiashi-sama, Hiroku-san is here to see you. He says it's urgent." Hiashi looked up at the female attendant at the entrance of his room. She seemed taken aback at his disheveled appearance. He obviously hasn't gotten much sleep lately.
"What could it be now?" The attendant shrugged. "Send him in," he grudgingly said. The attendant wordlessly took her leave.
"He better not tell me Hanabi is dead. Otherwise, he's dead." Hiashi dismissed the negative thought as quickly as it came in time to see the door move.
"Don't worry, she's alive." Hiashi looked up to see the attendant, Hiroku and Hanabi at the doorway with a young woman covered in blood over his shoulder those arms and legs were tied with rope. Hiroku tossed her on the floor with a thud. A pain-filled gasp escaped her lips before Hiroku pulled her by the hair to force her to look at the Hyuuga leader. The gasp turned into a scream of pain before she turned to spit more blood on Hiroku.
"Traitor!"
"Call me whatever you want. I doubt you'd understand my logic."
"Hiroku, who is this woman?"
"This woman is one of the conspirators against the Hyuuga," Hiroku said. "If I had to guess, she is mid-upper chuunin level, maybe low jounin level on a good day." He believed he caught her on a bad day. After all, she was covered in blood before they met. No telling whose it was. He really didn't take much time to look if it was self inflicted or if she had killed someone before finding her.
Hiashi immediately activated his Byakugan and formed the dreaded hand sign that haunts all branch members. The attendant and Hiroku immediately dropped to the floor in pain. Hanabi dropped to the ground, shaking Hiroku in a futile attempt to comfort him. Fujiko stood on her knees with defiance in her eyes. Hiashi increased the frequency with obvious frustration, only to hear the other branch member's cries of mercy. Hanabi watched with wide eyes as the veins on Hiroku's head increase to inhuman size to the point of appearing that they would burst at any second.
Hiashi looked over to Hiroku and released the seal quickly. Hiroku turned over and began throwing up on the floor. Hanabi began shaking him again to try to get some response from him, but to no avail.
"You're wasting your time. All that's going to happen is that you will lose another guardian. If I were you, I would just kill him now. You might as well. After that, you might just have sent another member to our cause. Soon, the curse seal won't work on him either. Then, you'll really be screwed." Hiashi gave a cool look that was completely opposite of his appearance a minute ago.
"Who are you with?"
"Why would I tell you that?" Fujiko gave him a snide look before spitting at Hiashi. "Enjoy your last moments of despair. You'll be dead soon. I'll make sure that you watch as we kill your daughters."
Hiashi raised an irritated eyebrow. "What is your name?"
"Hyuuga Fujiko."
"Well, Fujiko. We'll see how long that smirk stays on your face after we get through with you."
"You'll have to get me out of this room first."
Hiashi looked up and looked at the room. Hiroku was still on the ground in pain with Hanabi looming over him. The attendant was crawling for the door in agony. Finally reaching the handle, she used the remainder of her strength to open the door. Hiashi watched her fall to the floor again only to drag her body out of the room in a painfully slow fashion. She desperately wanted to get away before he got anymore homicidal ideas.
Hiashi followed the woman out, going into the opposite direction. The attendant watched as Hiashi turned the corner and left. The woman picked herself up with unexpected strength and ran as far away as she could. She refused to stop until she was out of the compound.
"That was close. It's pretty difficult to fake that for so long." The attendant formed a tiger hand sign and undid the jutsu. Hajime shook his head. "That jutsu is so chakra consuming." Hajime continued walking down the street.
"Fujiko, you fool. You've forced our hand. However, I think we can turn this into a benefit."
"Hiroku, are you okay?" Hanabi asked. Hiroku turned over once more. He still couldn't pick himself off the office floor.
"No."
Both eyes turned toward the door as Hiashi returned with two male main branch members. "Take her to the chamber. We'll deal with her after the ceremony." The two members swiftly picked her up and as fast as they came, they were gone. Hiashi stared at his daughter and her guardian.
"Pick yourself up, Hiroku," Hiashi's voice boomed throughout the small room.
Hanabi stood up first, slowly trying to help lift him up. After a couple of minutes, Hiroku managed to lift himself up and lean against the wall.
"Take Hanabi out to the other side of the compound. She cannot see the ritual of a main branch death yet. Let her train a little if she wants to. Just watch out for her." Hiroku took a deep breath before wordlessly nodding. Hanabi reached out her hand and led him toward the door.
"Hiroku!" Hiashi spoke up. Hiroku turned around, his breathing haggard. "I won't lose my temper like that again if that is any consolation.
Hiroku gave him a exhausted look before walking out of the room under his own power with Hanabi behind him.
Hanabi gave her father a poignant look before she closed the door behind her. She turned to the side to see Hiroku gradually make his way around the corner. Hanabi swiftly caught up and once again stood beside him with unexpectedly gentle eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Hiroku's head jerked toward Hanabi. "What are you apologizing for?"
Hanabi looked down at the ground; her hair wholly covering her face. "I'm sorry for the pain my father caused."
"Sorry doesn't make the hate go away." A cold shiver ran down Hanabi's spine at the word 'hate'.
"Am I to blame?" Hiroku looked down at Hanabi, but she refused to make eye contact with him.
"No." Hanabi's eyes shot up. "It's this stupid elitist hierarchy that disgusts me." He looked up for a moment. "I guess it could be said that you are indirectly to blame because of that." Hanabi looked down again.
"I see."
"That's just the way it is."
"Does this have to do with how you were treated by the other Hyuuga members?"
"Let's not bring that up." Hanabi could feel the malice in his voice.
"I'm sorry. It's just that Neji-san managed to forgive. I don't see why you can't do the same, Hiroku-san."
"Neji and I are in two entirely different situations."
"Are your situations really that different?"
Hiroku grit his teeth. "Yeah."
The rest of the short walk went wordlessly. Hanabi and Hiroku arrived on an isolated area of the compound. The area was pretty plain. The only noticeable feature was a small pond and a small board that was used to practice Jyuuken strikes. Hiroku sat down on the grass, watching Hanabi step onto the water and begin basic moves, his shuriken beside him.
Hanabi watched as each of her movements raised the water ever so slightly, as if her will was enough to control it. She could see the ceremonial flames from the distance. Her thoughts dwelled on Hiroku's body hitting the ground so easily. He defeated the girl who threatened her life without serious injury, but that single seal was enough to bring him to his knees. She thought back to the chuunin exams of a few years ago when her cousin Neji first entered the chunnin exams. She remembered how much animosity Neji held in his heart for the main branch. How pessimistic he was. How depressing his story was. The only reason she was there was because Neji was supposed to be a prodigy of the clan. While he delivered as far as strength was concerned, it was only after her father spoke to him alone that he saw a change in Neji for the better. He managed to forgive. He managed to smile.
Hanabi just couldn't see what made Hiroku so different from Neji. Unlike Neji, she knew next to nothing about Hiroku. She had only seen him once. That was during the chuunin exam at least four years ago. She was stunned when she found out that Hisa was Hiroku's younger sister. Hisa had told her that she was an only child. She had heard bits and pieces from around the other main branch members. What was consistent was the fact that Hiroku's curse seal is on his arm, making him a branch member, he is a jounin, and that he does not live on the compound. All this does not explain the hate. She struck at the air again. She looked over at Hiroku to see a woman that looked in her thirties loom over him. They were obviously talking. The woman had to have been present for a few minutes now. She stopped and walked over to the two.
"So, you're guarding her?" the woman spoke up.
"Yeah," Hiroku answered. Hiroku's eyes met Hanabi's, as he stood upright again. "Hanabi-chan, this is my mother, Hyuuga Hitomi. Hanabi got a closer look at her. Hitomi had long hair tied in a ponytail and was dressed in traditional Hyuuga robes wearing the Konoha headband traditionally.
"Hello," Hanabi greeted with a bow.
"The leader's daughter bowing to me? This is a shocker," Hitomi said. Hanabi turned a light red tint from embarrassment as she lifted her head up. She watched as she turned to her son. Hitomi gave a nod before turning toward the flames location leaving Hiroku and Hanabi alone watching her as she left.
Hanabi looked at Hiroku. There was a small smile on his face. Hanabi couldn't help, but see that this one was genuine.
"You love her?"
Hiroku jolted back to the girl. "Yeah."
"Hiroku-san?"
"Yes."
"Thank you for protecting me."
Hiroku shrugged before sitting down again and looking up. "Just doing my job."
Hanabi sat down beside him, mimicking his motion to look up at the sky.
"You like stargazing?" Hiroku asked.
"I have never done it before."
"Oh." It was quiet once again. "Hanabi-chan, you don't have to talk and act so formally all the time."
"A main branch member must always speak and act with the utmost courtesy at all times to reflect well on the clan." Hiroku instantly thought of her reciting a rule from the unwritten 'Hyuuga Book of Ethics' as if it was right in front of her.
"I guess I should start calling you Hanabi-sama instead of Hanabi-chan, huh?"
Hanabi said nothing.
"I guess that rule doesn't apply to us, sub-Hyuuga." Hanabi tensed up at the hostility in his words.
"Hiroku-san, you are not going to betray the clan are you?"
"No. I'm not a traitor. My loyalties lie with Konohagakure. I'm just like a star in the vast sky, taking orders when need be."
Hanabi looked up again. She could see what looked like embers from the nearby fire rise into the sky that seemed to dance with the stars. It truly was a beautiful sight to behold. She watched until she could feel sleep take over her. She felt Hiroku's hands on her shoulder, her body being pushed toward his. She let sleep overtake her with the fleeting thought of that kind gesture.
'Is this a part of the mission too?"
She didn't dwell on it long before it went dark.
A/N: Well, here is another chapter. It's shorter than the last. For all those wondering what happened with Hinata and Neji, don't worry. They'll get their time in the spotlight soon enough. Also, for those wondering, Hiroku's technique, Eight Trigrams: Explosion is explained in a bit of detail below. Let me know about any other jutsus you want more information about. If anyone has some ideas for other jutsu for the Hyuuga, I would appreciate it. There's only so many I can think of. Credit will be given of course. Again, thanks to the Naruto Anti-Writer's Block Party for their help. Check out the forum. It has jutsus, bloodlines, and creative games to help improve your story. There is a link to the forum in my profile. Check it out. You might find something useful there. Let me know your thoughts. Please review and let me know where to improve. Until next time.
Name: Eight Trigrams: Explosion (JP: Hakke: Bakuha)
Type: No rank. Hiden; Offensive, Defensive, short to mid range (0-10m)
Users: Hiroku
Physical Appearance: Blue chakra surrounding the body.
Function: Blow the opponent backwards.
Mechanics: A variation of the Palm Rotation(Hakkesho Kaiten). It starts off the exact same way with chakra being exerted around the body. Instead of twirling like a top, the user simply exerts more chakra into needles hitting the foe and tossing them back while the needles appear to form a dome to protect the user.
Limitations/Weaknesses: It exerts a more chakra then Kaiten with less range.
