Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
I DON'T OWN NARUTO
Chapter 7
"You realize I have to leave my mother and sister at the mercy of the elders if I go?" Hinata was pacing the room, agitated. He wanted to get stronger, but to leave his family was like leaving them to the wolves. Hizashi wouldn't be able to protect them all the time and Hanabi wouldn't be able to handle the elders' constant bullying. They would this as a mere act of childish revenge against Hinata, and he would rather face it head on instead of having his loved ones suffer. "I-I can't Kurenai sensei, and besides would Tsunade even let me go? We are part of a tracking team, and she knows she won't be able to depend on Neji for everything…I can't." He finally sat down and put his head in his hands. I will not show tears! Kurenai may know my secret but I will show no weakness to my sensei.
"Hinata, you have to be able to trust your uncle and cousin to take care of your family. Even your sister can manage, and if we're separated for a while, it's only for you to get stronger. If I had a say in life I would've made it simpler for you to be stronger, but maybe you need time away from…everything to help you." What both failed to notice though were Shino and Kiba at the door. They had heard only the part about Hinata needing time away, but both assumed the worst. Kiba pounced on Hinata with Akamaru right beside him, and held him tight as if afraid he would vanish from him.
"Hinata can't go away! If he needs to get away why don't we go on vacation for a little while?" His grip was getting tighter and his eyes shown such a pleading to Kurenai sensei that she couldn't help but chuckle. Shino on the other hand was trying to analyze what was going on. His expression seemed blank but behind the glasses he too, was having a minor breakdown at the thought of Hinata leaving. One of his bugs grew agitated and flew into Hinata's hair and hung on, as if its tiny strength could keep him there.
"Kiba I don't think y-you and Shino understood our conversation." Hinata loosened his teammates grip and ruffled through his hair until he found the bug…it flew back to Shino who turned his head away, clearly embarrassed. "Naruto is going to train with Jiraya sensei, and Kurenai sensei thinks I should do a journey of my own to get stronger…but I can't." Kiba now fully let go of Hinata and stared at him in both joy and puzzlement. Then does that mean that Hinata doesn't have to go?! Please, don't go! Even if those were his thoughts, his expression stayed the same and didn't betray him mind…Akamaru on the other hand could sense his feelings easily.
"Hinata I know it's hard, but if you can't become stronger the elders will find another way to fault you. Look at you now! They did it to you right? I doubt Neji or his father would do something like this to you, you've even said you're relationship is getting better and you're learning more than you have before. That's why they hurt you isn't it?" Kurenai came up to Hinata and placed her hand on his bandaged eye. "If you can prove them wrong, they will have no reason to hurt you or your family. I can't stand by quietly while they hurt and torture you." Hinata stared at the floor and then at his teammates. Kiba who earlier had a hopeful look, now had a grimace on his face. Sensei's can't keep him here if he's gonna suffer…even if Neji has gotten a bit overprotective, I'm guessing he's the reason the elders hurt him in the first place, he can't protect him forever. Shino was now looking at his teammates,
"You should go Hinata…we can help in looking after your family. Get stronger and show those bastards just how wrong they are. Show them you are worthy of being acknowledged as an equal." Shino walked up to him and patted his shoulder, "Show them the you that only we know." And Hinata could've sworn, but would never tell, that Shino smiled…a small smile but it was a smile nonetheless.
"But…the p-problem is I can't go alone and I'm not taking sensei with me." He did have someone in mind, someone who trained him when his father passed away; someone whom his mother trusted enough to keep their secret. His cousin, Ko. But he had his own duties. I don't think the elders would let him leave and train me for a questionable amount of time.
"What about that one cousin of yours? You know the one who used to walk you to the academy when you were smaller?" And just like that, Kiba annihilated all hope Hinata had of protecting the brother he always wanted from this mess of a plan.
"I can't drag him into this, besides the elders—"
"Will have no choice but to accept once I get Tsunade to sign these papers. Even they can't go against her orders." She showed him the documents, which established all that was needed for approval, just the signature was missing. "You can't find any more excuses Hinata, you can go…and I'm sure the elders can spare Ko for a while." Hinata looked up at his senei in shock, who just smiled at his expression.
"I know how close you were with him, even before we became a team. I saw him train you occasionally when you were smaller. I'm sure he'd agree with to go with you with no questions asked." She went to the window and got a pigeon out of its cage, then proceeded to fold the papers into small squares and tied it to the its leg. It disappeared soon after. "Now all we have to do is wait." Kiba, who only showedhis affection to Akamaru and Hinata, hugged him and whispered, "Whatever you choose to do, we will always be here for you, never forget that." (awww kiba :'3) Hinata, who kept himself distant even before he joined team eight, hugged him back. For once in his life he was going to show how much he really cared for his teammates.
"I will come back, I promise." He smiled, and for once it wasn't forced. Kiba felt warmth crawling into his chest and looked down. He felt his chest and felt his heartbeat, What the hell is wrong with me? Shino told Hinata to stay alive and come back as the person he wanted to become, and in that moment all of team eight shared a kinship that they hadn't before. Hinata soon got up and left, he would need to inform Hizashi of his plans.
Lady Tsunade was reading over Kurenai's documents and she couldn't help the smirk that was making its way to her face. It's about time; there is no way I'm passing up the chance to get back at those haughty elders! And with that final thought, she signed the papers and sent her slug to deliver them back. Now let's just see how this all will play out.
Hinata arrived at the manor with a newfound energy, and his previous weariness was all but forgotten. Before visiting his uncle he went to the branch house and went into his room. Even if I look worse without it on I can't let myself look weak in front of uncle. He peeled back his bandages and still couldn't get used to what he saw. The ointment helped with the tiny scars on his forehead and now they were faded and pink, but his eye…it was still as red as before. I'll try; my chakra is almost back to normal…Byakugan! His head swam and his vision was just as red as his injured eye. He quickly shut it off fearing he would damage his eye even more and looked at himself fully in the mirror. His large jacket hid any possible curves while his pants hid his legs. The only problem was his face, which he couldn't change, it was roundish and his eyes were large with long eyelashes. It would be easier if I looked like Neji…or if I had been born male like my father wanted. He sighed and just as he was about to leave he ran into Hanabi. The look in her eyes was pained and bitter.
"I hate that you have to go through this," she placed her hand over his eye, "that you have to suffer this pain to help mother and I." Her next move surprised Hinata, his sister was hugging him and clutching him to her. "It's not fair! Neji got all the luck while you were made to suffer, even if he does something wrong it's you who will get punished in the end…the elders will always find a way to blame you…I hate this!" Her words were bitter and dark while her tears were sincere. Hinata sighed, he had already accepted his fate, but he wouldn't be crushed by it, he needed his sister to understand.
"Hanabi, I need you to do me a favor," She nodded, still holding unto him, "Do not blame Neji or uncle for the rules of our clan, there is nothing they can do about it…but I believe there will come a day when things will change…someday." She looked up at her brother in wonderment, wondering how he could have so much hope, even when he has to live in pain. "Also, I'm going to need you to take care of mother." At this, Hanabi stepped away from her brother and looked at him in confusion and fear.
"Why? Brother…are you going on a mission again? Or is there…something wrong?" Hinata never asked Hanabi to watch over their mother, even when he went on missions. He would just leave food for them, knowing Hanabi could take care of her, but now, something was different.
"Hanabi…I'm going away for a while. I'm going to become stronger and come back; I promise but while I'm gone, do not let the elders discourage you or mother; do not let them make you feel insignificant. I will do everything in my power so that I can get you guys out of here."
"What about you? Where are you going? When will you be back?!" She was now panicking.
"I'll be fine…and I don't know so I'm gonna need you to be stronger than you are now okay?" Hanabi nodded and held her brother. Please come back to us safe.
"Come in." Hizashi was sitting at his desk looking over papers, but when he saw his nephew they fell from his hand and flew to the floor. He saw that his eye was red and that his mark was a bit darker than normal. They activated his seal?! His face was composed unlike his thoughts. He may be hard on Hinata, but he was a precious momento of his brother; he didn't wish any harm on him. Hinata bowed to his uncle and kowtowed to him immediately.
"Uncle, I know that I was assigned as Neji's protector, but please, I beg of you, let me take some time off to train. I will come back stronger I swear!" Silence was his answer. He couldn't bear to face his uncle, couldn't see the rejection on his face.
"All right. I also wish for you to prove yourself Hinata, but the question is who will be your teacher throughout this little adventure of yours?" Hinata felt himself glow with happiness then shrink with reluctance. Would he let me if I asked? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity…I don't want to risk anymore but…
"If it's not too much trouble uncle, could Ko accompany me? I need someone to train me in more ways of the Hyuga style…and this way, if something goes wrong, our secrets would still be protected." So he is still taking the rules seriously…no matter what this clan does to him he remains loyal to those he cherishes. He is still the best choice for Neji.
"I understand, you may take your leave and start packing." Shock. That's all that Hinata could register. He said yes…I can't believe he said yes!
"Thank you uncle! I will make you proud." His face held a small smile as he bowed once again and took his leave.
I wonder how all this will play out.
"Dammit! We have no choice but to agree, and since Hizashi has given that lowly branch permission we can't delay this." The elders around him grumbled in irritation.
" But there is no guarantee the boy will make it back alive…who knows what 'accidents' could occur in two years." She leered. Excitement ran through the group as plans were laid out for the boys' demise.
I need to talk to him…I know we aren't as close as we could be, but I'm trying! I'm sure that if I help in his training more we could grow closer…maybe then he could tell me what happened, and confide in me a little more. He is more than my protector…he's someone I care for deeply and I will stop at nothing for our friendship to grow stronger! Neji rushed off to his home to see Hinata, but as he approached the compound, he ran into Hanabi.
"Neji-sama I am sorry for my earlier behavior…it will not happen again. My mother and I are in your care in the meantime." And with that she left. What did she mean by that?
I'm sorry it took me 2 months to update! With school and the SATs coming up i've been busy but here's chapter 7, now i hope chapter 8 will be here faster ^^; and yes there will be a nejihina moment, i'm progressin their relationship slowly as it should happen, but not so slowly that you'll get annoyed...please stay with me for the rest of the story and i want to thank all my followers for being so patient with me...and i welcome all reviews, i appreciate any advice or opinions to improve my writing, until next time.
