Demons in the Dark: The Hell Gate

Ch 7 – The Hearts That Speak

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The Hyuuga boy looked up toward Hinata's sensei with a smirk, seeing instead Naruto's hateful gaze. Neji could swear that Naruto's eyes were glowing, activating his family's bloodline the Byakugan to look closer. He expected to see something relating to the Kyuubi, believing Naruto's orange flame-like energy to be proof of this. Neji felt that this meant Naruto had been overtaken by the fox, but for now his cousin came to stand before him with a resolve that he'd never seen in her before. He decided to use Naruto against her.

"So, Hinata-sama of the elite Main family graces me with her presence. Are you ready to see the true difference between us?" Neji asked, staring into her eyes coldly. As he did, he saw a glint of orange pass across her retinas. He looked up to Naruto, who still looked down on him with his burning gaze. "Just look at your precious Demon, with our eyes even one such as you couldn't deny it."

"Neji-nii-san…" Hinata said, calling his attention back to her as she looked harshly at him. "… I can clearly see the difference between us. It's clear now… that you can't move on from the past." A look of sheer hatred appeared on his face, Hayate raising his hand before speaking out.

"Begin." Neji rushed Hinata, the dark-haired girl continuing to look into his eyes as his Byakugan flared to life. He struck chakra points above her arms, Hinata moving back a second too late to evade his attack. She cringed at the tightening in her muscles, feeling her chakra flow slowing between her arms and shoulders. Her own Byakugan appeared, Hinata remembering what Neji had said about Naruto. As her eyes allowed her to see in almost every direction, she could plainly see the flame-like energy dancing throughout Naruto's body. She saw it flowing not just through his chakra system, but around it as well. It was almost as though his power wasn't coming from his body, but she could also see a red energy contained within the tenketsu in Naruto's stomach; Tenketsu being the three-hundred and sixty-one points that run parallel to the human circulatory system.

The Tenketsu allow chakra to flow to and from the muscles and organs, thereby allowing humans to utilize chakra as well as withstand harsher conditions. While chakra was utilized as a tool by ninjas, all pure-blooded humans held chakra that kept the body functioning. With the wrong series of tenketsu closed, the heart would lose the ability to beat and refresh blood.

"If that's the best you can do, then this match will be a joke!" Neji continued his assault, rage evident in his eyes. As he threw a palm strike toward Hinata's heart, Hinata's survival instincts pushed her faster than she'd ever gone before. With a strength she'd never found before, Hinata crouched and sweeped at Neji's feet. He jumped slightly, Hinata pushing off of the ground and throwing both hands behind her toward Neji's waist. He twisted to try and avoid her attack, but she had anticipated his dodge and didn't release the chakra. Her hands came forward swiftly, releasing the chakra she'd built up into Neji's sternum as he flipped over her. Hinata's eyes widened in shock, the girl completely unprepared for her own attack to hit such a vital area. Neji landed in a heap, coughing up blood as he landed. Hayate walked around to get a look at Neji, who glared up at Hinata hatefully. "Finally, you show the true nature of the Main family."

"Are you able to continue?" Hayate asked, Neji spitting up more blood as he flipped up onto his feet. Hinata personally saw Neji's heart and lungs struggle to continue functioning, Neji growling a response to the proctor.

"I'm fine… I'll finish this!" Neji spread his stance wide, standing with his body perpendicular to Hinata's and his arms stretched out parallel his legs with his palms facing upward. "You'll learn the strength of the Branch family, you are in range of my Hakke!" Hinata's heart-rate skyrocketed, unable to believe what he was implying. Neji rushed forward, striking Hinata on either side of her chest once. "Nishou!" He followed through with either hand striking points on her abdomen twice. "Yonshou!" Eight more strikes, focused around the hips and shoulders. "Hachishou!" Sixteen followed through across the biceps. "Juurokushou!" Another barrage struck all across Hinata's torso, thirty-two this time. "Sanjuunishou!" And finally, Neji struck each attack zone again in a fearsome barrage of sixty-two strikes, two more landing with additional force directly above either lung. "Hakkeshou: Rokujuuyonshou!"

The entire attack occurred within six seconds, leaving no time for Hinata to react once it had begun. Naruto found himself unusually worried for her safety, not having felt this level of rage since Sasuke's false-death. "Hinata!" Faster than anyone could see, Sasuke and Kakashi has pressed Naruto back against the wall. Naruto's aura had appeared around him, Kakashi and Sasuke struggling to hold him back. Sasuke manipulated his own energy to bolster his strength, but Naruto's power was far stronger than his own.

As Neji stepped back and breathed raggedly, he fell to one knee as Hinata fell to the ground. Sasuke understood Naruto's rage, Hinata's aura wavering erratically. On top of that, the sense of betrayal and loneliness that emanated from Hinata was almost enough to infuriate Sasuke as well. After all, he knew only one person who'd voluntarily attacked his own clan members.

"Call the match, proctor. She won't be getting up from that." Neji said, bringing himself back to his feet. Before his eyes, Hinata pushed off against the floor with only her determination driving her. Sasuke and Naruto felt the pain in her heart filling her with a determination they both knew well from the battle on the bridge, her eyes alight with passion. Neji scowled, preparing his stance once more as Hinata found her footing. "So, all it takes is for the Demon-boy to call your name. Too bad your BELOVED father would never allow him to be with you. Much less let him live at all."

"You try to hurt me, but I know why you're hurting, Neji-nii-san…" Hinata said, Neji's face contorting in rage once more.

"I am not your brother! I have been subjugated along with the rest of the branch family, while you have all been pampered and risen up onto a pedestal!" Neji shouted, his chakra flaring to life in an attempt to intimidate Hinata into submitting without finishing her thought.

"It's not my fault that the Branch house is treated like this… it wasn't my fault that your father died!" Hinata shouted, the stern look on her face alien to Neji. This statement only served to make Neji's hatred burn brighter, driving him to charge at Hinata. As Neji lashed out at her one final time, Sasuke and Kakashi were overpowered and Naruto vanished. As Neji's strike connected, his eyes burned at the blinding orange light that filled his vision. His Byakugan de-activating, he looked up to see Naruto glaring into his eyes with a definite glow from his own. Naruto pushed Neji on either shoulder, the Hyuuga flying back twenty-five meters into the opposite wall. When Neji looked up, he saw Naruto being held back by his Sensei, Kakashi, Kurenai and the Team Ten sensei Asuma.

"I should kill you for this shit! She's family, why would ANYONE TRY TO KILL THEIR FAMILY?!" Naruto shouted angrily, the four senseis unable to completely halt his advance as he very slowly managed to continue stepping forward. Just as quickly as Naruto had appeared before Neji, the Hokage appeared before Naruto with his index and middle fingers pointed an inch from Naruto's left eye.

"That is enough, Naruto-kun. If you fight him now, then you'll be disqualified. Is that what you want?" Sarutobi asked, Naruto stopping his advance to respond.

"Why should I care?! This scum needs to be taught a REAL lesson, just let me show him what his lungs look like!" Naruto shouted, a tear appearing in either eye. "He tried to kill her, a comrade! A fellow Konoha ninja, and his fucking cousin! That can't be allowed, not even in a combat exam!"

"I'm afraid it must be, Naruto-kun. If we make an exception for ourselves, than these exams could never replace widespread war. It would always allow the host-villages to curry favor and influence from the Daimyo of their nations. You must wait until you have your own chance to fight him, in proper accordance with the rules." Sarutobi explained, keeping his hand steady before Naruto. He knew that the blond could feel his own conviction, and hoped the boy would not force him to do anything he truly regretted.

"You better be right Jiji… if Hinata dies, you'd best believe I'll take care of this TRASH properly." Naruto said, Kakashi looking Naruto in the eye.

"Naruto… let it be for now. The next portion of the exams is just like these, but in public. Don't you want to show him up in front of all the dignitaries and officials that favor the clans? Here it's just murder, but there it would really be a victory for you." Kakashi said, Naruto growling as he reeled his power in and pushed his tears down. He shook his head a bit, before he pulled himself from the Jounin grips by turning toward Hinata firmly. He went to the girl who could barely stand, looking at him graciously and smiling.

"I-I couldn't win Naruto-kun, I d-didn't mean to let you d-down…" Hinata said, Naruto ignoring it and pulling her into a hug.

"I don't know why you make me feel this way… but I won't let you die. I won't ever let you die." Naruto held her as gently as he could, Hinata's aura swelling with relief and joy. Naruto felt her slump against him, his only assurance of her survival being how strongly her aura continued to feel. He picked up her legs, turning to send Neji one last glare. "Kakashi-sensei… meet us in the infirmary when you're free." When his sensei nodded back to him, Naruto and Hinata vanished, the door to leave exploding into the hallway that same moment. Everyone in the hall had been intimidated by Naruto's show of force, except for Neji and Gaara. The Hyuuga relished the opportunity to show the power of the Branch house against Konoha's Demonic Weapon, while the red-head was absolutely craving a battle with the enraged blond.

The monitor selected another pair of names, and Kakashi looked at Neji's sensei with disappointment evident in his single revealed eye. Maito Gai, the Jounin instructor for Team Nine, sighed as he looked at Neji with contempt. The boy slowly walked to the stairs, unwilling to meet his Sensei's gaze. The man was a fool to Neji, anyway.

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"You can't just barge THROUGH our doors, Uzumaki-san. I have to ask that you leave!" The medical ninja did what he could to hide his contempt for the Kyuubi sealed within the boy, but Naruto's ability to sense his aura prevented the boy from listening. "I said to leave, now!"

"If you don't want to learn what your little villagers felt, you'll do your job and heal her." Naruto said viciously, his aura flaring to life around him as he pretended to channel the Kyuubi. The man felt the pure rage coming off of the boy, scurrying to obtain a stethoscope. He shook uncomfortably as he tried not to pee his pants, not noticing his hand steady itself as Naruto calmed himself down. This anxiety had been gone since the Nami mission, Naruto's new strength having been more than enough to let him think he could protect everyone.

He felt that Neji would never follow through with it, no matter how much her really hated Hinata. It seemed that he hated all of the main family, but being the eldest daughter of that family Neji was probably trying to get back at the Hyuuga's Elder Council or Hinata's father. In Naruto's eyes, this was an unacceptable way of trying to get revenge. Trusting Hinata was speaking the truth, it seemed that for some reason Neji blamed the Hyuuga Main family for his father's death.

He noticed the medical ninja grow extremely anxious, Hinata's aura still wavering erratically. "What the hell are you doing? Help her!" The ninja cringed at Naruto's voice, turning with tears running down his face and a foul liquid filling his pants.

"I-I-I can't heal this kind of damage, not here. The only way to open her airway back up properly is to p-pretty much soothe it with a m-m-medical jutsu. But with her tenketsu closed off in the places th-they are, I can't get any chakra of any kind to her lungs. If they don't re-open soon, sh-she'll die without life-support." The man was ready to break down, Naruto not caring about his fears.

"What about the hospital? Do they have this life-support stuff? Can they help her there?!" Naruto asked, Kakashi walking in the next moment.

"Y-Y-Y-" Naruto didn't have the patience to wait for the man to get the words out, picking Hinata back up and turning to Kakashi.

"I'll be at the Hospital, sensei. Make sure to remember who I end up fighting against." Naruto was about to begin rushing away when Kakashi grabbed his shoulder.

"Naruto… if you rush her all the way there in the way you do, she won't be able to breathe at all for those fifteen seconds. That could put her into shock with the way her lungs are working now, she can't afford to have you rushing that far." Kakashi said, Naruto cringing at his implication. "If she's going to have any chance, she needs to rest right now. You can't help her unless you can re-open her tenketsu, and you don't seem to have standard chakra anymore."

"There has to be something I can do!" Naruto shouted, his own heart screaming for him to act. His mind was in a state of torture, in direct conflict with his urge to destroy Neji and rush Hinata to the hospital. It was then that he saw a bright blue light that he hadn't thought about since Nami no Kuni. His sword summoned itself to his hand, the medical ninja running in terror with squishing noises accompanying each step. "What the hell?" Naruto felt the sword tugging toward Hinata, but when Orochimaru's sword had done the same thing it had no trouble wrenching itself from Naruto's grasp. This was different, like someone pulling their friend along by the hand. Naruto conceded, walking over to Hinata with the flat side of the sword facing her body. The tip pulled itself toward her feet, the handle pulling Naruto's hand toward Hinata's forehead.

The sword vanished, becoming the light-blue orb that Naruto had ripped from Haku. His vision went dark, the orb of light shining brightly. Kakashi didn't know what was happening, but out of loyalty to his student he stepped out to the hallway and watched for anyone drawing close.

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Naruto awoke in a very bright place. It was kind of creepy, in a way. The area was more or less the classroom at the academy without the ceiling, Naruto being a young child once more. Were he to guess, he would have to say that it was his first day in the academy. He looked left and right, seeing black-and-white versions of the rest of the class. There were, however, three figures that weren't in black-and-white. The first was Hinata, sitting three rows back from Naruto on the other side of the room. She looked at him longingly, as though he held everything she needed.

The second and third surprised Naruto, but on some small level he'd been wondering what had happened to them. "It's been six months, Naruto-kun. This visit is long overdue."

"... Haku-san. So… it was you helping Zabuza then." Naruto never looked under Haku's mask, now seeing the boy standing next to Zabuza in his Hunter outfit without his mask. Zabuza stood with his left hand on his hip, a smile apparent beneath his bandaging. "Sorry to take your sword, Momochi-teme. It's served me damn well."

"That we have, runt." Zabuza said, walking up the stairs of the room to where Hinata sat watching the three interacting. "Not why we made you come here, though. You can chat with us anytime." Zabuza put his hand on Hinata's head, the girl closing her eyes and looking away. "There's something we can do to help the girl stay alive. It'll open those tenketsu things that coward medic talked about." Naruto looked to Haku, the androgynous boy smiling reassuringly. "There's a catch, of course."

"A catch?" Naruto asked, Haku's smile fading as he walked over to Hinata. "Something tells me that this is going to be a strange little favor, isn't it?" Haku chuckled, Zabuza's face remaining even.

"Kind of, Naruto-kun. You see, your power comes from your soul instead of your body. That's how we're here, in your rage you pulled my soul from my body. In taking Zabuza-sama's sword during that rage, you pulled his soul along with mine into it. I'm afraid I don't know how you did that… but, I do know how you could use your power to help your girl here." Haku put his hand on Hinata's shoulder, the young girl turning and looking at him. "She's been very attached to you, and since you showed her acknowledgment in the forest you unknowingly connected your soul to hers. Mind you, it happened so swiftly because of how much she's wanted you to notice her, but the fact remains that you now share a very faint spiritual bond. This means that you could gift her some of your power, but it would influence her chakra system similarly to how yours has been influenced."

"Why would that matter? Didn't you just say this power isn't from my body like chakra is? What does it have to do with chakra at all?" Naruto asked, Haku shaking his head amusedly.

"It's complicated to explain, but your chakra was transformed into your demonic aura when you fought me on the bridge. You've always been connected to the Kyuubi, but its power only touched your soul when your rage erupted. Your soul integrated with the energy, giving your soul a demonic aura unique to you. Over the past few months your body and soul have adapted to it, becoming a mixture of human and demon." Haku explained, Naruto doing his best to keep up without asking any questions. "Sasuke's incident confirmed our theory, but when demonic energy touches a human soul from within, the soul absorbs it. The existing spiritual power mixes with the energy, and the soul begins producing its own unique demonic aura. This aura mutates the body through the chakra system, causing the organs and muscles to utilize demonic power instead of chakra. This transition is the difference between a human and a demon-hybrid, and we believe that even a small infusion of power will set the process in motion."

Naruto was thoroughly blown away, almost unable to believe what was going on, much less what he was being told. If he wasn't the evidence of the event himself, then he wouldn't ever even consider the idea. "You're telling me that to save Hinata for sure, I would inevitably change her into a demon?" Naruto asked, Haku wearing a somber look as he nodded. "Neji was able to see the difference in my energy, there's no way that Hinata would be able to get away with that. She could be removed from her clan! Maybe even exiled from the village! How could I ever live with causing something like that?!"

"We live in your soul, runt. We understand how you feel. And if you take a minute to remember the whole situation…" Zabuza trailed off, Naruto clenching his fists as he remembered his encouragements to Hinata, "… then you'll know that it's partly your fault that she fought that kid. Yeah, she might get exiled, and so might you. But… she wouldn't die." Naruto couldn't help but blame himself for the whole fight, and now he was blaming himself for all of the things that might happen because of his mouth. He was certain that no one would ever kill their family on such a grudge… to kill your cousin because your father died? That didn't even punish anyone involved…

"It's ok, Naruto-kun." Naruto's eyes snapped to Hinata, the girl shocking him with her words. "I knew that this might happen… in fact I expected him to kill me faster." Hinata's eyes held tears, streaming down her face over a sad smile. "I don't want you to hurt so soon after I've been able to be so close to you… you need to know that I don't have much of a real family. Father and Sister are wonderful behind closed doors, and I am so lucky for having been a part of their lives… but if Neji is the one to kill me, they'll never stop feeling ashamed of our clan." Hinata's aura was everywhere, the sky letting loose a downpour of salty rain; as though the sky itself were crying with her. "Every time they perform a ceremony, or even wear our clan emblem they'll remember what happened. And they'll have to bite back and be polite; even if it kills the wonderful father and sister I've gotten to live with. Please Naruto-kun… I don't want to ask this of you, but please don't let Neji take them from me. They'll be able to handle it if you do this, but they'll never be the same if another Hyuuga kills me."

Haku and Zabuza vanished in a bright blue flash, Naruto walking up the stairs and looking into her eyes. "… I told you I wouldn't let you die and I won't. No matter what happens to me." Naruto smiled at her, Hinata closing her eyes as the rain continued falling. Naruto's vision went dark once more, Hinata being left alone in the rain.

"Naruto-kun…"

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Naruto awoke to find his hand over Hinata in the position he'd been in before blacking out, the bright orb having vanished. He smiled sadly as he watched her struggling to breathe, Kakashi walking back in behind him. "Sensei… watch the door." Kakashi rolled his revealed eye, returning to the hallway. Naruto took Hinata's hand, closing his eyes and reaching within himself. He felt through his energy, flashes of memories from his use of the power flooding his vision. As he thought of his power, he saw a whirlwind of flames. As he thought of his sword, he saw Zabuza and Haku standing with smiles looking at him happily. Thinking of his headband, he saw Iruka.

He thought of Hinata, seeing the child versions of him and Hinata standing in the rain within her soul. He imagined fire covering him like a shroud, his aura appearing around him in reality. He imagined it reaching out to Hinata, covering her as well. As his aura crept up Hinata's arm, her breathing began to even out. Within his mind, he saw the energy coating Hinata shift into a brilliant white. Likewise, a white light appeared over her heart as Naruto's orange energy flowed into her arm. After another moment the energy began to surround her body, the shining light from her heart fading into her chest. As Naruto let go of her hand, he noticed a gentle breeze surrounding her.

Her hand reached out and grabbed his, holding him at her side. She began to smile, Naruto heaving a sigh of relief. As her white aura faded into her skin, her eyes opened and looked over to Naruto. While she and her clan all had white eyes, hers seemed somehow brighter now. "Sensei, I did it! She's awake!" Kakashi came back in, smiling at the girl's happy face. Kakashi patted Naruto's shoulder, proud of the boy's commitment to his teammates.

"I need to tell you, if not for her critical condition I would've had to apprehend you. It's for a good cause, but you've been playing with fire Naruto. You need to be careful." Naruto waved him off, not caring about whatever kind of punishment might come down. They couldn't kill him, and exile would open Naruto up to recruitment with rival villages. And with Hinata's breathing corrected, he could breathe easily himself again.

"Naruto-kun, thank you so much." Hinata spoke without a single stutter, smiling joyfully as Naruto continued looking down at her.

"Not a problem at all!" Naruto said, stepping back and tugging at her hand. "Come on, try to stand. Let's make sure you're alright." She managed to get onto her feet without any trouble, feeling lightheaded from a cacophony of new sensations. It was like she was completely weightless, everything seemed sharper to her eyes and she could feel her body surging with a strange energy.

"So this is what that energy of yours is like. It's incredible!" Hinata sounded bewildered, Naruto smiling as she stretched her arms out to the sides. "I feel like I could do anything! Like nothing bad could happen no matter what I do." Hinata said, stretching backwards and causing Naruto to stare at her chest. Hinata was wearing a grin when she came back to standing straight, feeling no trace of the crushing fear or paralyzing embarrassment that she'd always struggled with. "I like this, I like this a lot!"

Naruto found himself blushing at how Hinata was acting, especially knowing the way the young girl felt about him. That coat could really hide a lot… Finding his voice, Naruto chuckled before responding.

"Not even one stutter. Looks like I rubbed off on you a bit!" Naruto said smiling, Hinata taking his hand and walking toward the door. "So I'm guessing you'll be taking me up on that lunch offer?"

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"Your Cursed Seal seems to have given Sasuke-kun rather impressive abilities, I'm sure he'll come to us for more power." Kabuto spoke to Orochimaru, who stood barely disguised in an Oto Jounin's uniform. The snake man smirked, Kabuto continuing. "Interesting events with Uzumaki, as well. He seems to have taken to using the Kyuubi's power rather inventively."

"That he has. I should remember to keep an eye of the boy, if I can extrapolate the way he utilizes that power I may be able to extract it for myself. Continue surveillance here, perhaps even a visit for Sasuke-kun toward the next portion of these foolish exams. We must make sure he keeps us in mind, after all. I will return to Oto for now, my work is done here." Orochimaru walked away from his secret subordinate, the gray-haired boy smiling as he corrected his glasses.

'Another month, Sasuke-kun… and then you'll be crawling to us for the means you require.'