Hey guys! I'm back! So sorry for the late update. It's just that, I'm having summer classes right now and taking up Japanese lessons (Yey!). But I worked hard on this chapter and I hope it's long enough and I hope you like it. And your reviews really got me going. Thank you so much guys. Never fear that I will abandon this story, so just please be patient with me.
And yeah, I changed my name. :p
Now let's get on with this chapter.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Naruto. Curse Masashi Kishimoto for thinking him up first.
Chapter 7: Cages
He was at a loss. For the first time in his life, Hyuuga Neji was at a loss. And he hadn't even bothered to hide it. Because Haji Yuy, Sakura's doctor, was too. Haji had told him everything – why she suddenly quit her shinobi status, why it wasn't even necessary to put a seal on her so she'd stay away from Naruto, and why she was, well, dying.
When Neji first met Sakura during the Chuunin exams, he thought nothing special about her. She was whiny, weak and held her teammates back. And he knew Sakura knew what he thought of her.
"I know you think I'm weak," she had said after the third stage of the test.
She had lost her bid to be a Chuunin that year from a fight with Yamanaka Ino whom he thought that time was just as weak as her. As for Neji, he defeated his cousin with ease. They, the genins were taking a break before the Sandaime met with them. Neji was sitting next to Sakura in the genin's hall. Her teammates were apparently not with her. Uchiha Sasuke had been sent to the hospital and Naruto was probably checking up on Hinata.
"I do," he hadn't even bothered to look at her when he answered.
"I don't mean it, you know. To be weak," he hadn't expected that answer.
"It's not like I don't try, but I'm not from some shinobi clan with bloodline limits," she said.
"Even Ino is from one. Everytime I even have the slightest indication of progress as a shinobi, everyone would seem to be a thousand steps ahead from me, especially my teammates. It's really frustrating," she finished with a sigh. She was almost tearing up.
Neji didn't know why, but what Sakura had said made him grit his teeth in anger.
"Bullshit. You are weak, because YOU are weak. You are weak because all you do is be Uchiha's fangirl. You are weak because you think you are better than Naruto, when EVEN he is twice the shinobi that you will ever be. You are weak because you do not grasp what it means to be strong. Do not ever blame it on everything else, especially your lack of a shinobi clan. You go around feeling sorry for yourself because you don't have a special ability that people from clans have, and it disgusts me." It had made tears from Sakura's eyes continue to stream down her pale cheeks.
She didn't understand how hard it was to belong to a shinobi clan, with all the laws and the cages and rules of propriety and morality. Neji was a strong shinobi full of potential and yet he would always be caged by the confines of the Hyuuga. And here was this foolish girl blaming her weakness on her lack of clan, when all Neji wanted was to be freed from his. It was pathetic.
"You shouldn't have even chosen to be a shinobi if that's what you think of yourself. And if you know that you are weak, then I suggest a change of profession for you before you hold your team mates back more and lose what little dignity you have." With that, he started to stand up and leave the weeping girl.
"I'm sorry," she had said.
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to all the people that you have burdened by being here," he coldly said as he walked away.
Remembering that moment made Hyuuga Neji shiver from both remorse and an aching sense of pity. Back then, he was a cold bastard who didn't have the ability to relate to another human being. He hadn't cared about other people, and was filled with the resentment of his own clan. It wasn't until he had the chance to fight Naruto that he realized how messed up his life was. And ever since then, he had taken it upon himself to change. He never had the opportunity to apologize to Sakura for what he had said to her. But alas, apparently fate was giving him the chance now, when she is lying in Dr. Yuy's clinic bed in an induced coma. It made his heart clench in pain. Fate bites your ass like that.
If it wasn't for that clenching pain in his chest reminding him that he was in the real world and not in some twisted genjutsu, Neji would have never believed Dr. Yuy's explanation of her condition. She had been revoked of her shinobi status for almost half a year and the only explanation he got from the rumors surrounding what happened was that she just simply cracked under pressure. It was not a rare happening for some shinobi to snap from the demands and horrors of the kind of lifestyle that they lead. He even understood when he heard of it, and it didn't bother him one bit.
Sakura was a first-generation shinobi, and had not been prepared for the responsibility of protecting her village. Maybe she had decided to take it easy and just contribute to society the way a civilian would. That was what Neji thought. It was a good enough explanation for her disappearance in the shinobi world. And if the people close to her (the Hokage, Naruto, and Kakashi) were okay with what happened to her, then why shouldn't the rest of them be? It had put all of discussions about her to rest. People and shinobi had their own lives and problems to deal with, especially during the time when the shinobi world had won over the Akatsuki. Everyone was recuperating and had more important things to worry about. Soon, no one ever talked about the pink-haired former medic.
He had never imagined that the rumors were not true, even if they were rumors. When he had demanded the truth from Sakura's doctor, Neji expected the type of truth that would state that she was sick of cancer or some natural thing that made people ill. But Sakura was dying not because of that. She was silently dying because of a forbidden jutsu that she performed to save her jinchuriki of a teammate. It made him realize how Sakura was just a misunderstood soul who only wanted to be strong in order to protect those which were precious to her. She had gone through lengths just to hide her disease from everyone so she would not be a burden. His fists clenched at the thought. It made him frustrated and oh-so-mad because of what his clan had just cold-heartedly done to her. The Hyuuga clan was now serving to thicken the barrier between her and Naruto. He resented the fact. For a genius Anbu with an elite status, he sure was useless.
"It's a good thing you're useless," the doctor said as they were sitting next to Sakura's slumbering form.
"I beg your pardon?" Neji said, turning to the equally long-haired man.
"You are useless because you can't tell any of this to anyone, especially not Naruto," he replied, with a serious expression on his face.
"How is that good?"
"Sakura would have my throat if you knew because of me and told people about her," he added with a chuckle.
"For you to not even inform Tsunade-sama of what's happening…"
The doctor pinned him with a glare.
"You should see Sakura every time she comes here and we attempt to treat her…condition. There would always be this look in her eyes that would tell you that she would rather have her limbs torn apart by a pack of wolves than to have her precious people know what she'd done. All I am ever able to do is grant what she wishes, which is secrecy. It's not right. I know that. But it's what she wants. And I would even bet you that if things were different and you could tell Tsunade and Naruto about her, she would be on her knees right now begging you with all that's left of her short life to keep your mouth shut."
It made Neji's jaw stiffen. This Haji Yuy sure was something. It was no wonder why Sakura had chosen him.
"Still…" Neji had managed to say in the end.
"I know," the doctor said, as if reading his genius mind.
"Don't think that this has not been hard on me too. For a doctor, nothing sucks more than knowing that no matter what you do, your patient will die in the most painful of ways. She doesn't even deserve this."
"What I don't understand is why Naruto and Tsunade-sama would not even bother with her suddenly dropping out of the shinobi business. It is unlike them, to leave her be like that." It really was a mystery to Neji, especially Naruto's indifference with his former team mate.
"Tsunade is the Hokage after all. She has a whole village to look after. If Sakura didn't serve her purpose anymore as a shinobi and her apprentice, then it was only proper to find another to take her place. Maybe like the rest of you people, she also didn't believe in Sakura that much. As for that Uzumaki, well, he has his reasons," the doctor quietly replied.
"Sakura is on her own now. It will be that way until her heart stops beating," he added.
They had stayed silent after that, both trying to process the gravity of the situation, the beeping sound of Sakura's heart resounding in the room. Even in her sleep, she looked pained.
"You know, for a genius, I thought by now, you'd be able to figure out why that Hiashi-sama of yours would do such a thing to Sakura," Haji said while checking Sakura's vitals.
"My uncle is a very complicated man. But one thing is for sure, his intentions are always for the good of the clan," Neji replied, closing his milky eyes and trying so hard to have a shred of logic in his uncle's actions.
"He only ever does to great lengths, and I mean resorting to unlawful acts, if it is for the clan or to eliminate a threat to it." That is why we have caged seals, he thought.
Haji Yuy sat in his chair, his brows furrowing with what Neji had said.
"What even makes Sakura a threat to your clan? Just because she's the first love of his daughter's boyfriend now doesn't mean Sakura can end the reign of your clan," Haji said, the sarcasm obviously lacing his deep voice.
"I don't' know. But he is up to something."
"Damn right he is," the doctor had managed to say. Neji could see that he was worried about his patient. The addition of the caged seal to her already deteriorating condition would only make things very complicated.
"Our main problem now is what we're going to do when she wakes up," Neji said.
"Our main problem?" Haji retorted. Neji could tell that the doctor was surprised.
"I'm in this predicament now. I am as involved in this as you are."
"How do I know that you won't be just a fucking spy?" Haji spat.
"My uncle did not order me to spy on Sakura. Hell, I don't think he's even worried about what happens to her now. As long as the seal in her stays for a year, he won't bother with her. At least that's what I think," he said while gazing at the girl's weak form.
"I'll do what I can to help, within my incapacities," he added, referring to his clan-bound curse to follow, above all, the Hyuuga's orders.
"Hmp. Whatever makes you sleep better at night," he heard the doctor say in contempt. If it were in any situation, he would've been offended. But his mind was in other things.
"We would have to start with another batch of chakra and physical tests. See how the seal is forced upon her system and how it affects her condition." It was surprising how Haji Yuy's voice had turned from one of contempt to one of a professional air.
"If the seal is just about staying away from Naruto, then we won't have any problem," the doctor added. Neji thought he was right. He knew, hell, the whole village knew that the blonde shinobi had not been communicating with Sakura.
"But what about the thinking part?" Neji asked.
"That's the tricky part. Maybe we can distract her, you know? Tell her that whenever she'd like to think of Naruto, all she'd have to do is think of an orange field, yellow sun and blue sky instead," the doctor answered, obviously trying to joke.
That earned him a confused look from Neji.
"Honestly, I think Sakura would be able to handle it. She has a strong mind. And quite frankly, judging by the amount of pain that she was already experiencing before the caged seal, a little more pain from thinking about Naruto would be quite tolerable for her at this point."
Damn, Neji thought. The world was really a fucked up place. It was going to be freakin' difficult from this point out. There were so many answers to find. And for Sakura's sake, they better find them soon.
"This is going to be a long year," he finally said.
A fleeting thought came to mind as he caught sight of a picture that was sticking out of Sakura's pillow. Earlier, he saw Haji put it there after checking on Sakura's pulse. The doctor had muttered something about it being something to chase the nightmares away, at least when she sleeps. Pulling it from under the pillow, he saw that it was a picture of Sakura and Naruto, with the training grounds in the background. They were standing side by side, Sakura with a happy smile and Naruto with a slight blush on his cheeks. It was downright sad to see what's happening now.
What would Naruto do if he ever knew?
One year later.
He knew. He knew that one day, it would come to this. What he didn't realize was that time went by so fast when you spend your life distracting yourself from the reality of your pain. And before you know it, you would have to make a choice.
The twenty-one year-old Naruto was sitting in his office contemplating the events of his lunch earlier with Hiashi Hyuuga. His head was almost hurting too much from thinking as he swayed his chair, not bothering with the paper work that he had to finish by the end of the day. He swore that the closer he got to the Hokage title, the more paper work it entitled.
Remembering what happened earlier made him feel sick. Even the way the head of the Hyuuga clan made him feel sick. It wasn't like Hiashi ever treats him badly. In fact, he is even supportive of his relationship with Hinata, whom he had been dating for quite some time. Hiashi had even made sure to include Naruto in the clan's numerous gatherings and meetings, so he could spend as much time with Hinata as possible. But the way he always looked at him made him grow uncomfortable with the guy.
It was a weird lunch, because only he and Hiashi, with his guard Neji were present. Hinata wasn't even there. Hiashi had asked about his relationship with his daughter. And as much as he wanted to tell the guy that it wasn't his fucking business, he couldn't. Long gone were the days when he had enough passion and guts to speak his own mind, not giving a damn about what others would think. Sometimes he missed that part of him. In fact, he missed many parts of him.
Naruto had informed Hiashi that things were going great with him and his daughter. By all logical standards, it really is going great with Hinata. They almost never fight, they protect each other in the battlefield and support each other in everything. And most of all, she loves him with all her heart. She provides him with physical warmth, and although through all the time they had been together, that warmth never reached his heart, he has willing to bear it. She loves him, and he knows it. As for him, love was something that he could never really give, not even to Hinata, because he had lost it a long time ago. Sometimes he knows that he's not being fair to Hinata, but he also knows that she knows that, and Hinata has enough love for the both of them. At least that's what he thinks.
Hiashi had nodded approvingly at his reply, and proceeded to start a conversation that Naruto would later consider as the turning point in his life.
"How do you propose to move on with your relationship?" Hiashi had said.
It took a bewildered look from Naruto and a long silence in the room before he had decided to beg the older man's pardon.
"I mean, when are you going to propose marriage to my daughter? " the older man stated.
He had to pause drinking his tea at the mention of marriage. If he was paying attention to his surroundings, Naruto would notice how Hyuuga Neji visibly stiffened and clenched his fists tightly at his side. Naruto heard Neji start to speak.
"If I may speak freely, Hiashi-sama. I think Naruto and Hinata are not ready for…"
"Silence, Neji," Hiashi uttered as he pinned him with a threatening look.
"Forgive my rudeness, Hiashi-sama."
The scene that had unfolded in front of Naruto was definitely unnerving. It made him realize how powerful the man in front of him was. A chill ran down his spine as Hiashi had resumed looking at him, expecting some kind of response from the blonde.
With a nervous breath, Naruto replied, "I haven't thought about it yet, Hyuuga-san."
"What is there to think about, Naruto? Surely you would've never been with her for quite some time if you weren't planning on marriage eventually," Hiashi said in a tone of authority, like the one a father would say when reprimanding his child and coaxing him to be guilty for something.
If he wanted to tell the truth, he would've said no, he wasn't thinking about marriage, no, he would not want to be part of their stuck-up clan and yes, he chose to be with Hinata because her cold and unpassionate touches make him numb on the inside. Better be numbed than writhing in pain, right?
Instead, he just hung his head in silence. When Hiashi had put it that way, any other defense on his part would be futile. No father, not even this one, deserved to hear that another man was using his daughter as a beautiful distraction. Naruto did not have the heart to do it. The best he could do was look anywhere but the older man's eyes.
He heard the head of Hyuuga clan sigh and said, "In two months time, Tsunade will throw a party and announce you as the next in line for the title of Hokage. I think it is the most opportune time to propose to my daughter."
As if he wasn't shocked out of his mind already, Hiashi produced from his pocket a brown velvet box and handed it over to him.
"This is our clan's engagement ring. Hinata's mother wore, and her grandmother wore it. It is usually not in our clan's law to marry out of our bloodline, but since you are the heir to the Namikaze clan, I will give you my blessings," Hiashi finished as he downed the rest of his bitter tea.
Naruto could only stare at the velvet box with so many thoughts swimming in his head.
"Thank you, Hyuuga-san. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have something I need to do," Naruto decided as he stood up from the table, hell-bent on getting out of that place as fast as he could.
"Naruto," Hiashi's cold voice reached him.
"My daughter has not loved anyone else in her life. She deserves to be happy. And her happiness will always lie with you," he said it with a different voice, almost that of a loving father. It served to complicate things even more.
As Naruto slid out of the dining room, he failed to notice the arrogant smirk that adorned Hyuuga Hiashi.
Now, in his room, Naruto contemplates on what the hell he was supposed to do. He knew that he owed Hinata so much. She had stuck by him when he was falling apart and stayed with him the time after. To be quite frank, when he was heart broken with Sakura, he would've let any woman in and have a relationship with her just so he would be distracted. But Hinata had been the one waiting in the wing. Everything would just be great if she didn't have a pushy clan.
He grunted and stared at the ceiling. Why wasn't it easy for him? Why was his heart not willing to let Hinata all the way in? She deserved his love. That was for sure. But his heart was being a stubborn piece of useless junk at the moment.
A knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts.
"Come in," he ordered as he heard the door already sliding.
It was not really his day, he thought, as familiar milky eyes greeted him.
"I am here to deliver the report on our last Anbu scout," Hyuuga Neji said, holding a folder in his hand.
Naruto had to admit that Neji had been way weirder than he was before, ever since he started dating his cousin. Every time Neji would look at him, it would be like he wanted to say something and couldn't. At first he figured it was just because he didn't approve of his relationship with Hinata, but he couldn't help but think that it was about something more, something more important.
"Ah yes. Thanks Neji," he said as he handed him the folder. He noticed Neji's eyes falling upon the velvet box on his table, the one that contained the engagement ring. It was too pompous for his taste, the rock on the ring being, well, too big and too shiny. He would've wanted a simple emerald gem to adorn the ring finger of the one he was going to marry. But that's out of the question now.
"You have a choice, Naruto."
"What?" Naruto asked, not understanding what the Anbu genius had said.
"You have a choice. Do not ever think that you do not have one, just because of my uncle." The Hyuuga was eyeing him intently. It was the first time that he thought Neji was telling him something true.
"I know. But Hinata deserves everything that I can give. Her father's right. She deserves to be happy." He sighed, figuring out what he's supposed to do.
"It would be unfair. For you to lead her to believe that your heart is hers."
"Excuse me?" Sometimes he thought that these Hyuugas could really read minds. Neji just remained silent.
"I am loyal to your cousin."
"Are you really?"
"You really need to leave now Neji," he said warningly. He was done with any of the Hyuugas today.
He saw Neji turned to leave but not before stopping to pause after he has pushed the door open.
"There are things in the past that will not remain in the past, Naruto. You need to take a step back from your life to see the damage that is looming over it." It looked like Neji wanted to add more, but closing his eyes, he just proceeded to leave.
It left Naruto confused.
What the hell is that Neji trying to say?
At the Hokage's banquet.
Gaara, Kazekage of the village of Suna, was bored. Social gatherings had never appealed to him. There were always too much pretentions and two-facedness that stank during these events, none of which Gaara had much use for. If it wasn't for the fact that it was Naruto's big day, he would have never considered going to the Hokage's banquet.
Naruto had gone a long way. And tonight, the Godaime Hokage had proclaimed him as the next leader of Konoha. His perseverance had finally paid off and he had managed to win the hearts of the people of his beloved village. For that, Gaara was proud of him. He was the one who changed his death-thirsty life, and for that, he is thankful.
The redheaded Kazekage moved from one table to another, along with Tsunade, greeting and catching up with the other village leaders. It was a tedious task, and an albeit annoying one, what with all the women eyeing him from head to toe and giving him appreciative glances. By the time they were done, Gaara was just itching to talk to and congratulate Naruto and he'd be on his merry-way. As luck would have it, the man of the hour finally showed up beside him in his table.
"Busy night, eh, Gaara?" the grinning blond said as he playfully threw a punch at the Kazekage's shoulder. His bodyguards behind him visibly stiffened, obviously not used with physical contacts with their leader, but Gaara just waved them off.
"Indeed," he said, a small smile creeping up his face as he took in the sight of his close friend. He truly had matured, but he would always be Naruto.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to chat sooner. Hiashi-san just had to drag me and Hinata to meet up with old geezers."
"I know what you mean. I am exhausted myself." Gaara didn't fail to see Naruto unconsciously fidgeting in his seat.
"Is THE Uzumaki Naruto nervous and scared of this sea of dignitaries?" Naruto immediately cracked up upon realizing that Gaara had attempted to humor him.
"What? Naw," he said finally, after a long laugh.
"It's just that, this is the night when I'll propose." Gaara's features turned to one of confusion upon hearing his blond friend.
"Propose what? A toast?" Gaara said, his humor finally failing him. Surely he didn't mean…
"No. Propose marriage. To Hinata." If Gaara was shocked, he sure didn't let Naruto see it.
Gaara knew Naruto all too well. And if his first serious fight with Naruto was any indication of Naruto's feelings, he knew that the blond was head over heels in love with a girl, but not the violet-haired one. When he had first heard of Naruto and Hinata, he had figured that it was just a phase, that Naruto would later realize that as long as he hasn't let go of his former love, he could never be happy with anyone else. Not knowing whether to release a genjutsu or congratulate his friend, Gaara settled with a question.
"Is…this what you want Naruto?" Gaara was no expert on relationships, but it doesn't take a genius (even if he was one) to figure out that Naruto was doing things too fast.
"Do you remember when I fought you back when we were genin? You know, when you were all evil and stuff," Naruto said with a grin in his face. Gaara narrowed his eyes at him and nodded.
"I fought you, not only because I was trying to protect my village from invasion, but primarily because I wanted to protect the love of my life. At that time, all I could ever think about was getting her safe. Sakura…man I loved her. But she broke my heart. I have never seen her in years and I never want to see her again. And being with Hinata made me realize that life is way too short to be in love with the wrong person. Hinata is the one for me. I might not feel for her, the way I felt for Sakura, but we're both willing to give it a try." Naruto finished with a sigh.
"Naruto, you can not choose who you love." Even through Naruto's explanation, Gaara remained unconvinced because he knew that Naruto should at least have the closure he needed with Sakura.
"I can sure try." This was the part where Gaara would just give up and let Naruto have his way.
"I deserve to be happy too, and not be heartbroken all the time," Naruto said as he tried to smile. The redheaded sand manipulator knew that he had hit a sore spot in Naruto by making him talk about Sakura.
"I know, Naruto."
"Well, showtime. I'll see you later okay?" Naruto said as he stood up from the table and made his way to Hinata, asking her to dance. Gaara figured he would propose in the middle of the dance floor. He truly wished for the blond's happiness, he really did. After all, he has been through so much.
The Kazekage decided he needed to some air and proceeded to the balcony which overlooked the Hokage's garden. Waving his bodyguards away, he gazed upon the stars and wondered why deep in his gut, he knew Naruto's decision was the wrong one. Was it some kind of jinchuriki sixth sense? His thoughts were interrupted as whistles and claps echoed through the whole banquet. So the idiot really went through with his plan. Deciding to return to the festivities, he moved towards the door, until a sight caught his eyes. Looking down from the balcony, he saw a pink-haired woman, with her eyes closed, leaning on an old tree.
He debated, whether to approach her or not. And as he turned around and leapt to the ground where the woman was, he wondered once more if Naruto had made the right decision.
To be continued….
So whaddya think? I'm taking my time with this story and I do hope the pace of it is not too slow for you. And Neji and Gaara are two of my favorite characters, so I thought I'd give them a spot in this story. Please please review. If I hit more than 100 reviews for the story with this chapter, then I'll post the next one a lot sooner. I'm not pressuring anyone though *evil laugh*. Let me know what you think. And please no flames.
Til next time! :)
