Chapter not Beta'd
Chapter 7: Death Of A Hunter
Naruto's hands shook slightly as he read on. This man, was his blood his family, with a new determination he continued on.
We were called the Four Winds, each of us were sworn to the protection of Whirlpool, and the Uzumaki clan.
Uzumaki Reika, Mistress of the Southern Gale.
Uzumaki Kaito, Tempest Fist of the East.
Uzumaki Kenzo, Bard of the Northern Breeze.
They all fought and died valiantly, save one, by my side. My comrades, my friends, my family.
It began with Kaito, he was always the wild card of our group, he was very worried about his little cousin Kushina. He was leading the pack when they struck, so close were we to our destination, that we had let down our guard. It was swift, and I am hoping painless, one second he was smiling back at us, the next he was missing his head. I wish with all my heart he could have had a warriors death, alas some things we cannot change.
If not for Reika and her fan we would have been taken by their blades as well. With a mighty roar she let loose the Southern Gale, a wicked combination of sealing and wind manipulation. The very air blistered with heat as it tore through the surrounding trees knocking away their projectiles.
We fled quickly and my heart ached to return to our fallen brothers side, but we had to move the enemy was closing in. Kenzo had taken his pipes from his belt it always amazed me how he could focus on music amidst battle. Kenzo was a special case among the Hunters, having trained as a battle Minstrel before hand.
He brought the reed pipes to his lips and began to play, weaving a ballad to our escape. To our ears it was a song of hope, its flowing tones and, triumphant rhythm lit a fire in our very hearts. No doubt Kenzo was working overtime, weaving low tones beneath the hopeful tune. The low tones would linger, carrying with them despair, fear, it would hang in the air like a cloud of stagnant feelings. Should our enemies catch up to us, their fear would play in our favor.
It was then that we came upon it, a base nestled into a sparse clearing. The Suna emblem emblazon on its wall. However, what drew our eyes was not the stone walls, not the shinobi who lined them weapons drawn, and not the numbers that dwarfed our own many times over.
It was the tapestry, that once hung proudly in the Uzumaki clan house. That once told the story of our people, that once as children we all looked on as the images came to life with the words of our ancestors.
Kenzo began to play once more, this time a battle hymn. It started low then swelled with pride, it sounded of the crashing waves, of the beating of drums, of the voices of my beloved Whirlpool joined in one final song. We dare not bring our summons into this fight, they would surly die and do so gladly, that is what we feared.
Not a word was spoken as the battle ensued, retreat was never an option, we all new that. I saw from the corner of my eyes as Kenzo meat his end before a gust of sharpened wind. The final tune he played is what gives me the strength to leave this message. Even as I stand before death itself I can feel his music in my bones.
"Clear the way!" Reika would yell as she brought the full force of the Southern Gale to bear.
Naruto took a moment to smile, even knowing they were going to perish he felt pride well inside him. Clear the way, a battle cry he heard his mother used according to stories he'd been told. Maybe she picked it up from this woman?
Reika was like a force of nature, she cut their numbers in half on her own. She fell to an attack from behind it was a swift end, and she smiled at me before the light left her eyes.
I was the last and they had me ten to one, fire burned in my blood at the loss of my comrades. But a great blaze was still raging at the loss of my home, these men stood between me and what was left of it. I cannot recall how I made it out alive I know at one point one of the shinobi fled, taking with him the tapestry. I gave chase after dealing with the others and found him trying to seal himself inside with it, and all that you see in this room.
I rushed to the door I could not let him seal it I succeeded however there was a struggle, I was stabbed in the ribs with a kunai. I got him back though in his side as well, he stumbled up the stairs, I am sure he has died by now.
With all that is left in me I write this letter, and when I am done I shall seal it within along with my gauntlet. If you are reading this you are of my blood, Kushina's children, her grandchildren, or maybe her name has long been forgotten.
But not Whirlpool, it courses in our blood, it will never be forgotten it has lain in wait here to be found by you. Take what is within this vault, in this place is all that we are, all that we have been, and one day soon you will be.
~Fill me too, the parting glass, Uzumaki Akira.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned.
Naruto didn't respond his hands clutching tightly at the scroll.
"Naruto..."
He turned and Hinata gasped she instinctively reached out to him hugging him around the chest. Naruto adopted a shocked expression his eyes widening accentuating the twin rivers of sparkling tears pouring down his cheeks. He looked down at the small girls hugging him and smiled before returning the embrace.
"You okay?" she mumbled into his chest.
"I think so." he laughed.
There was a moment of silence before Naruto disengaged from the hug. Keyword. Naruto.
"Uh Hinata?" He asked.
"Mhm." she replied.
"You can let go now."
"Oh." she mumbled again before turning red and darting a fair distance away," Oh! I'm sorry Naurto-kun, I was, umm..."
"She was just caught up in the moment." Kurenai supplied.
Hinata nodded as Naruto smiled accepting the explanation. Naruto wiped at his face his tears flaking off and falling to the floor. Kurenai looked slightly amused as she watched fall, they were flakes of dried sugar. His bloodline extended to many aspects of his being, some quite surprising.
Kurenai's eyes trailed over to Hinata who was red faced as she poked her fingers. She would have to talk to that girl about her crush.
"Kurenai-sensei," Naruto asked," could you please bring my great uncles remains above, I need to prepare for his departure, as well as that of his comrades."
Kurenai nodded as Naruto headed outside. Naruto walked up the steps that lead out of the hidden storage room. The sun was dimming in the sky and hints of orange licked at the tops of the trees.
"Naruto." Shino said seeing his friend ascend from the room below.
"Shino." Naruto replied.
"What did you find?"
Naruto hesitated before smiling,"Whirlpool, whats left of it."
Shino nodded happy for his friend.
"Shino, could you help me with something?"
"What is it Naruto?" Shino replied.
"I am going to go prepare for a funeral ceremony," He stated," if you could please prepare a funeral pyre."
"I would be honored."
Naruto smiled as his friend quickly set about his task.
"Thank you, Shino."
~Amai~
Naruto retreated into the forest after exchanging a few quick hellos with the liberated children. The girl from before, still wearing his clothing, had given him a quick hug before darting to the safety of one of the older woman's arms. Naruto sighed before quickly pricking his finger and going through the required hand signs. In a puff of smoke Sokkou appeared.
"Sokkou," Naruto said before he could speak," please request that Mouko-sama gather the personal summons of those known as the Four Winds for a funeral ceremony. I will summon them under the name Four Winds."
"On it." Sokkou replied firmly before disappearing.
With that Naruto began to harvest wood for the pyre, he was sure Shino had already gotten started but he wanted to do his part.
After gathering all the wood he could in his hands Naruto returned to see the funeral pyre being made outside the fort next to the river. Naruto nodded to Shino as he began to build up the fort with his wood. Kurenai made her way over toward them with a bundle in her hands. It looked to be fine white silk she held it delicately as Hinata followed behind her leading the group of freed hostages.
Kurenai set the bundle out upon the pyre and Naruto realized that it was his uncles remains, she had wrapped it in silk from the room.
"I know you probably wanted to do this privately, but we can't leave them alone." Kurenai said.
"It's okay sensei," Naruto said," I don't mind that they see."
Naruto took a stick of wood from the pyre and wrapped a bit of cloth around it before lighting it. He handed the newly made torch to Hinata who took it with a smile. Naruto then made his way from the pyre.
"Back up please I'll need room," Naruto pricked his finger before going through hand signs," Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Four Winds."
In a large puff of smoke there stood four large forms before the pyre. Four Tigers twice the size of Sokkou stood before him. Each had a cloth draped over their fading orange fur.
"Thank you," spoke the one in the center his voice was low and haggard with age," I had nearly lost hope of seeing this day."
"You are Akira's summon, aren't you?" Naruto asked.
"Yes," the tiger responded," I am Hiroki, and those behind me are-"
"Yuzuki," spoke the elegant female female voice of the tiger draped in lavender," I am bound to Kenzo."
"Keisuke," said another male voice from a tiger who carried a red cloth," I am bound to Kaito."
"Noriko," spoke the last in a tender voice from the one draped yellow," I am bound to Reika."
"I am glad you could all make it," Naruto stated," shall we begin?"
The four nodded as Hiroki turned setting down with his tail a package he had held. Naruto opened it having been wrapped in thin cloth. He took note of the five small saucers and the bottle of sake.
"Whenever you are ready." Naruto said as he placed the glasses before the tigers and held one for his self.
There was a moment of silence before Hiroki turned taking walking around the line of saucers before them. The rest turned and followed slowly.
"Oh all the money that ere I spent, I spent it in good company." Hiroki sang in his aged voice.
Hiroki reached behind him taking in his mouth the forest green cloth and tossing it in such a way that it blanketed the remains of his fallen partner. It was a funeral shroud, embroidered on the edges with forest vines, and in the center an orange whirlpool. Naruto in turn poured the sake into Hiroki's glass as the tiger rounded the pyre making room for the next.
"And all the harm that ere I've done, alas it was to none but me." Yuzuki continued the hymn her voice a mix of sadness and contentment at her partners finally being put to rest.
Yuzuki stepped forward she too took the shroud from her back and draped it over the far end of the pyre. Naruto poured her glass as well as she rounded the pyre eyes fixed on the lavender shroud lined with musical notes, the same orange spiral at its center.
"And all I've done for want of wit, to memory now I can't recall." Keisuke said his voice a low haunting bass.
Keisuke came forward draping a shroud of red with gold trimming and spiral center just below the middle of the pyre slightly overlaying the lavender one. He too rounded the pyre as Naruto poured his saucer full.
"So fill me too the parting glass. Goodnight, and joy be with you all." Noriko's tender voice ended in a slightly joyous tone.
She too draped a plain yellow shroud over the pyre at its center the same whirlpool. Naruto poured her glass as well before turning to face the tigers who all stood before their glasses now. He set the final glass at the foot of the pyre before taking the bottle in his hand.
"Of all the comrades that ere I had, they're sorry for my going away." Naruto sang as he stood before the pyre.
His eyes shone with unshed tears, sad for the loss of family he had never known.
"And all the sweethearts that ere I had, they would wish me one more day to stay." he continued his voice cutting through the still air.
"But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise while you should not." Naruto continued as he poured the sake upon the pyre trailing a line from the feet to the chest before deftly pouring a spiral pattern above the heart. Then he filled the saucer at the foot of the pyre and took it up in his hand.
"I will gently rise," he said lowly," and I'll softly call."
They all partook of their saucers before joining in the last verse of the funeral hymn; " Goodnight, and joy be with you all."
Naruto stepped forward the burning in his throat doing wonders to mask the ache in his heart. He gestured to Hinata who handed him the torch with a sad look in her eye. Naruto walked slowly about the pyre lighting it from the bottom on all sides. The tiger summons just looked on heads held high as they silently paid their last respects to their partners.
As Naruto finished his task he once more stood beside the summons gazing at the fire.
"Naruto," Kurenai spoke breaking the silence," your teammates and I will be heading back to the fort to set up camp. Take your time here, but be ready to leave by the morning."
"Hai sensei."
Shino bowed to the collected summons Hinata mimicking him as the others filled back into the fort.
"My condolences for your loss." Shino spoke curtly before leaving with the others.
"Mine as well." Hinata spoke in a small voice following after the bug user.
After the people had all vacated the clearing there was a soft pop as Keisuke stood with six more sake bottles before him.
"Now that they are gone we can continue the ceremony." He stated.
"The part of the ceremony were everyone gets drunk?" Naruto questioned.
"It had always been the way of the Uzumaki to not mourn death, but celebrate life." Hiroki spoke.
"The Four Winds led lives full of adventure, triumph, and love." Noriko added in her soft motherly voice." We gather here to celebrate that life."
"And you Naruto now have no excuse not to join in the festivities," Yuzuki spoke gleefully," as a fully realized Hunter sharing a drink or two in memory of fallen comrades shouldn't be a problem."
"The problem is that a drink or two with you tigers becomes a drink or twelve." Naruto sighed.
"I see no problem with this fact." Keisuke said, tipping his head back to guzzle a bottle in one go.
"The only problem is the silence," Yuzuki sighed." I miss Kenzo's music he always livened up the dullest of days."
"Not just Kenzo," Noriko nodded sagely." Whirlpool as a whole was never without music."
"Mother said that in her letter," Naruto said as he relented pouring himself a saucer." that the thing she remembered most of Whirlpool was the music and the festival at the Summer Solstice."
"Now that was quite the party!" Keisuke bellowed.
"Yes it was," Yuzuki smiled." Why I remember that year Kaito convinced Kenzo to use his music to attract women."
"Reika was far from pleased with that." Noriko giggled.
Naruto was content to refill his saucer and listen to the old cats reminisce, in that night he learned more than he could ever dream of his family. The warmth in his heart matched that in his stomach when he realized that the vault probably held the answers to any question he may have had. So he smiled and laughed with the summons as they drank the night away.
~Amai~
The following day found Naruto smiling as he sealed up the Great Tapestry, the final piece of the vault, within its own scroll. After taking inventory he found himself truly giddy at what was found in the vault. Shelf upon shelf of scrolls on everything from clan history to that of Whirlpool as a whole. Books on subjects ranging from medicine to weapon crafting, all that the merchants and craftsmen of Whirlpool had known and used to make their wares.
In the baskets he found the smoothest silks in elegant whites, vibrant oranges, and calming blues. Each piece embroidered with wave like patterns in gold and silver. In some of the many chests that lined the walls he found beautiful paintings of what he could only assume was the Whirlpool village. High on hilltop someone fashioned many masterpieces. Whirlpool shone in all its glory so many buildings of wood and stone intermingling with winding rivers and streams as the sun rose, or set, or the moon shone its silvery light down upon it.
In other chest he found molds for forging shuriken and kunai, however the were different then the ones he normally saw. Now, Naruto knew from his time in in the weapon shop training with Tenten that there were many types of shuriken but he had never seen any like these. There were only two arms on it which curved heavily forming a circle with a bladed edge. Naruto smiled, as the arms resembled a whirlpool these must have been used by the ninja of Whirlpool. Naruto idly wondered if every village had its own preference when it came to shuriken as he had noticed most Konoha shinobi used the four pointed star type.
The kunai molds were an oddity as well. He compared them to his current kunai and found the blade to be narrower coming to a finer point. His kunai bulged at the base as it was primarily a stabbing and thrusting tool. These kunai seemed uniquely suited to throwing with lighter more streamline look to them.
Along with the molds were notes on forging the weapons, the heat at which to forge, what metals to use and the like. The bottom of the box was lined with cloth and upon lifting said cloth Naruto found something wonderful. There lining the bottom of the box were at least a hundred of the shuriken, and twenty kunai. The handles of the kunai were wrapped in rust orange and a small Whirlpool engraved just above the handle. Naruto took five of the kunai and fifty shuriken from the box placing them in the corresponding pouches on his person.
Weighed down by only six medium sized scrolls Naruto felt light as a feather despite the extra weight. He was even happy enough not to tear into the cowardly townsfolk who came to greet them at the village square. The women shared tearful reunions with their husbands as the children went to their respective homes for some well deserved sleep. All except for a small group of orphan girls who were shoving a distraught young woman in tattered red clothing towards the group of shinobi. When she came to a stop before them the younger girls all darted away hiding behind a nearby building to watch. The girl averted her gaze from the four shinobi who were looking expectantly in her direction. After a moment she found her voice.
"I won't be able to return your clothing Ninja-san." she murmured.
"That's alright," Naruto smiled around his latest sweet. "I have plenty more at home you can keep them. And please call me Naruto."
The girl stepped forward and bowed; "Thank you so very much," in one swift motion she rose and planted a kiss on the Hunters whisker marked cheek." I'll treasure this gift always Naruto-kun."
She was gone in a flash amid the giggling of young girls and aged laughing of the older women who came to greet the returning people. Hinata was caught between jealousy and outrage as Kurenai looked on in amusement as Naruto's face grew quite as red as his sucker.
"Come on." she smiled." Let's go home."
~Amai~
Naruto smiled as he walked through the door of the Wolf Claw. They had made it back to the village just before noon the following day. After a quick mission briefing with the old man he and his team were released for the day. Naruto had it in mind to see about having the unique kunai and shuriken molds he found put to use.
Naruto made his way to the register fully expecting to find his self proclaimed fiance at the counter but instead found it empty. He was saved the trouble of wondering were she was by the arms that snaked around his shoulders.
"Where have you been Naruto?" Tenten asked.
"I was on a mission." He replied hastily with a slight tremor.
"Oh," the girl said sweetly." it must have been quite the assignment if you weren't able to let me know before you left. Quite the emergency to keep me waiting for hours here in this shop three days ago looking forward to continuing your training."
Naruto gulped against the kunai held at his throat.
"It was our first C-rank Buns," Naruto said in a placating tone." give me a break."
"Hmm..." the girl pondered disengaging from her hold." Well I could, but you'd owe me something."
Naruto smirked, normally when this happened Tenten would have the upper hand. However, this time Naruto had something to work with. He had decided on the way back that he would share the Whirlpool shuriken and kunai models with Tenten, as a way of thanking her for her help.
"How about this." Naruto said as he unfurled a scroll and quickly loosing its contents. One ornate chest from the vault.
Tenten eyed the box warily noticing the intricate carvings as well as the craftsmanship, but why had he gotten her a box, a gift from the village he visited on his mission?
"Open it." Naruto said noticing her confused look.
Lifting the lid Tenten's eyes lit up at the sight of the molds as well as the notes on forging said weapons that the box held. When she reached the bottom and lifted the cloth she could barley contain the squeal that threatened to rip from her throat. Pulling one of the kunai from the box she examined it in the light.
She, like Naruto, noticed the difference from those found in Konoha, but Tenten noted other things as well. Like how the wight of the blades was very even unlike the kunai in Konoha which weighed more in the center than anywhere else. This did not interfere to much with the aim as it fell from the center allowing the blade to stay pointed at its target and not spin off at odd angles. However the added weight did cause them to have a considerable drop to them, and the bulge near the base meat for suport when trusting the blade cause some wind resistance.
These blades seemed uniquely suited to throwing and unlike other throwing knives she had seem were not small nor needlessly stylish. They were simple, well made, and effective just as they should be. The thin blade would be more prone to breaking, but then again it is not like she would be going to pick it up if she struck something strong enough to break the blade. It was far more aerodynamic and she would bet money that it flew quieter than standard kunai.
Nodding she then looked to the shuriken her other hand had lifted from the box without her knowledge. The two arms were sharpened to a deadly edge making it unsafe to grip from anywhere but the center. Unlike other shuriken this one had no center hole, something Tenten commended. She felt that the center holes found in small shuriken were quite frankly useless. She could understand the need with the larger models, as the center is the only way to get a spin on it. With the smaller ones the spin comes from the wrist and the central whole interfered with the normal flight path. On top of that it also made the weapon considerably louder when thrown.
Turning back to the weapon she found it to be far thinner than the normal shuriken. The center did thicken slightly, but even then it was only about a quarter inch thick. Moving on to the arms she realized that they created a completely bladed edge to the weapon with no points. It idly reminded her of a Frisbee from her youth that she and the other kids at the orphanage would play with. That also cause her to think of the small boy Naruto once was, hiding in a corner of the field with a mouth full of taffy.
Tenten shook her head to loose those thoughts they always brought a sad feeling with them. She had ignored the boy much like the other kids had. She would tell herself it was cause she was young and it was very easy to just go with the crowd, which was true. Yet when she thinks back to how lonely he looked sometimes, she felt horrible.
Moving back to her observations she realized the significance of her Frisbee comparison. She remembered how none of the kids like to play it with her cause she could always place the disk where she wanted. It was simple to put the correct spin on it and have it veer one way or another, and out of others reach. It was actually one of the things that gave birth to her love of weapons. She smiled when she realized that these would be far more maneuverable than the slandered.
"They are of Whirlpool make," Naruto interrupted." probably some of the last to ever be made."
"These are from Whirlpool?" Tenten questioned, a devious smiled making its way to her face." Does you letting me have these mean your accepting me as your fiance?"
"These aren't Uzumaki clan weapons," Naruto clarified." They are from Whirlpool, I figured that your shop could make and sell them for use here."
Tenten nodded, they probably could.
"But why would you share them with the village," Tenten asked." Whirlpool is your ancestral home I would have thought you would like to keep it to yourself."
Naruto sighed;"To be honest I thought about it, but..."
He smiled as he removed his cowl forgetting how it bothered Tenten when he wore it around the shop.
"Konoha is my home now," Naruto stated." on top of that I don't want Whirlpool to be lost. It takes years to learn to forge weapons with any amount of skill. With my career as a Shinobi if I held on to these they may have never seen the light of day again."
Naruto turned his back to Tenten pointing to the orange swirl there.
"Look familiar?"
Tenten nodded; "Its the symbol that's on the back of all the Konoha flack jackets, its even on a lot of the normal ninja clothing."
"That is the symbol of the Hidden Whirlpool," Naruto stated." Today it is used as a symbol of friendship and goodwill, but for me its a reminder that Whirlpool still lives today."
Turning to face her again he pointed to the molds; "So you take those molds to your boss and help me to keep Whirlpool alive!"
Tenten smiled at the gift, this would be the only shop to sell them bringing revenue to the place she considered a second home. She then stopped as she weight in her palm, the kunai.
"If you were going to have them made here to begin with, why give me these?" she asked.
Naruto stopped short in his path to the door, placing a hand behind his back he laughed with a light blush.
"Well you see," he chuckled."There aren't enough to use effectively right now, and I have no place for them in my apartment so I figured I'd unload them on you."
Tenten smiled; "You got me a gift."
"No I didn't!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"You like me." Tenten spoke quietly, advancing on the fumbling blond.
Naruto inched his way to the door as Tenten walked towards him a noticeable sway in her hips. He watched in horror as she readied herself to pounce and nearly cried in glee when he felt his back hit the door.
Tenten sighed as she watched him disappear into the village she crossed her arms over her chest as she stared out at the bustling streets.
"I'll get you yet Uzumaki," She muttered." and when I do that blade will be mine."
"So that's it." Came a small voice from beside her.
There leaning on the wall of the shop was a young girl, a Hyūga by the look of her. She was wearing a cream colored jacket with a fur lined collar, and her hime-cut dark blue hair framed her lavender eyes quite well.
"Excuse me?" Tenten asked, confused as to who she was addressing.
"I was coming to let Naruto know that our Sensei informed us we would not have formal team training tomorrow." the girl stated." My name is Hyūga Hinata, by the way."
"I'm Tenten," she responded. "Do you know my teammate Neji?"
"He's my cousin."Hinata responded quietly.
"Ah, well Naruto left a few moments ago."
"I know." Hinata stated before timidly turning to face the older girl. "I wanted to ask you something..."
"Well you should come inside then." Tenten said confused at why this girl she had never met wanted to question her, yet wary of listening ears.
After closing the door behind them and making their way into the shop Tenten rounded on the smaller girl.
"Now what is it you'd like to ask." she said.
"Um," she began averting her eyes." How do you feel about Naruto-kun?"
Tenten was taken aback by the question, she moved to answer but found herself drawing a blank.
"How do I feel about him?"
When she thought about it he was a bit of a goofball, always eating his candy and smiling like a loon. Yet, he had a serious side like when they are sparing or learning forms. He was always quick to compliment her skill, and when he succeeded in his training he would thank her as if she had given him s gift.
Initially, she had wanted the Uzubure-do, and he was just a means to that end. She had no dreams of romance and the like,cshe had seen what that had done to the girls in her class who had pined after Neji. She never wanted to neglect her training, she wanted only to be the best kunoichi she could be. In her eyes romance was a hindrance and would only get in the way. When Naruto came along she saw a way to achieve one of her greatest dreams. She would play the part of a wife and do all the duties thereof, but in return, the Uzubure-do.
After training with him and getting to know him she found that he wasn't the worst person she could have been tied to. He was kind and a hard worker, and if she had anything to say about it he would be a powerful ninja. She even found herself entertaining the thought of being the one to help build his clan. To be the matriarch of the new Uzumaki clan would be something. So even if her goal was still the Uzubure-do, being his wife wouldn't be as bad as she thought.
"He's a great guy, I like him." Tenten said.
"So, you want to be with him?" Hinata asked.
"What?"
"You want to be with him," Hinata responded quietly." To be his girlfriend."
"No way." Tenten said bluntly.
"W-what?" Hinata stammered.
"Being someones girlfriend would just be a hassle." Tenten stated." I'll marry him when he finally accepts me, then when I retire I'll have his children, but being in a relationship would get in the way of my ninja career."
Hinata looked down at her feet her emotions running wild within her. This girl didn't want to love Naruto, as she suspected she only wanted his family weapon. Never before had she felt so angry. It was slightly curbed by her more timid disposition, but it was enough to bolster her confidence at the moment.
"So you just want him for the Uzubure-do," Hinata said icily. "At least I know your not a threat."
"What was that." Tenten growled.
"You have no feelings for him." Hinata stated." I know enough about him to know that he wouldn't allow himself to be roped into such a loveless relationship."
"Oh yeah!" Tenten yelled." Then why did he give me these weapons!"
"As a way to thank you for the training." Hinata supplied instantly." He has been trying to think of a way to do it for a while now, he even asked me for help."
"What's it to you who he is with anyway?" Tenten asked angrily.
Hinata reddened slightly; "I-um, that is to say-"
"So that's it," Tenten smirked." you have a little crush on him don't you?"
Hinata was silent her cheeks ablaze.
"I have some advice for you then little girl." Tenten said." Forget him, your better of focusing on your training. I won't let my dream slip away for some schoolgirl crush."
Hinata clenched her fists; "And I won't let mine slip away for some gold digging hussy!"
The mousy Hyūga quickly covered her mouth in shock.
"I'm so sorry I didn't-" she stammered.
"If that's how you want it to be then fine." Tenten growled. "Its a fight."
Hinata stared then nodded smiling; "Fine."
Tenten reached towards the wall for a sword when she noticed the Hyūga girl headed for the door.
"Running away are we?" she mocked.
Hinata smirked from her place at the door.
"No," she said." I'm just getting a head start."
Tenten looked at her confusion in her eyes.
"In the battle for Naruto's heart," Hinata laughed exiting the shop." I won't lose to someone like you."
Tenten stared at the door a look of shock on her face as she contemplated the girls words. A smirk made its way to her face as she moved behind the counter. Reaching under the desk she found a clip board and a pencil.
At the top she wrote: "Operation: First Date."
"I won't lose either, Hinata!"
~End~
Sorry for the lateness.
Now before you all start attacking me about Tenten please understand that this is all for the sake of developing the romance. From the start her motivation was the Uzubure-do so it will take this rivalry with Hinata to get her to connect emotionally. This is going to be the framework for the romantic aspect of the story. Now I know this chapter was mostly filler, but it was very important to the story.
The next chapter will be the Wave Arc, however this will be quite different from normal takes on it so don't worry. I am hoping it is original.
