Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I make no money from writing fanfiction starring, centering around, or otherwise involving Naruto in some way.

As always, thank you so much to those who have reviewed, offered suggestions, and just left good, detailed feedback.

Special thanks to: Ihateheroes (one of my very good writing buddies – I strongly recommend his work, particularly A Fishcake's Affair), Darth Malleus (another of my very good writing buddies – I also strongly recommend his story, The Good Left Undone, which is a Naruto/Star Wars crossover that I am beta-reading for him), BloodIronAngel (for honest feedback), Meech Macko, Kur0kushi (for comments on my writing style - working on it, believe me), Crypton89, Tristan76 (for such great and detailed feedback), BloodIronAngel, Chupii and Not Quite a Drifter

Additional SPECIAL thanks to soprano-in-waiting, Tristan Ludlam and Gakin for pointing out errors and inconsistencies in the previous chapter.

And my most sincere apologies to mtziggorot for the unintentional cruelty of going so long without updating…and even more for not being able to deliver EVERYTHING I said I would in this chapter…but you'll get the rest in the next, please be patient just a little longer…

Further thanks go to all who I might have missed who have left encouraging words for me; they are greatly appreciated, and they have been a great help to me to continue writing and delivering more material to you; please keep them coming!


IMPORTANT! NOW THAT MY GRATITUDE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED, WITNESS MY FIRST-EVER AUTHOR'S RANT:

Many of you have expressed displeasure at Naruto's decision to refrain from sex until he is married! While I respect the fact that you have your point of view, his decision had NOTHING TO DO with a moral stance! His decision was his reaction to his first-ever sexual relationship ending REALLY, REALLY BADLY! He made that decision in order to protect himself and make sure that nothing even remotely like that ever happened to him EVER AGAIN!

For those who have talked about how making sure someone is sexually-compatible before marriage, HOPEFULLY SEXUAL COMPATIBILITY is NOT the main factor in your consideration to marry somebody; your marriage WON'T last long if that's the main concern (I'm married, as are, or in some cases WERE, most of my friends; I would know).

It is not my intent to offend any of you with this, but my point is that characters, AS WE THE AUTHORS WRITE THEM, will NOT always do what YOU THE READERS WANT THEM TO DO! They won't even always do what WE THE AUTHORS WANT THEM TO DO (at least not if we're writing good, believable characters). Naruto, AS I, THE AUTHOR OF THIS STORY, HAVE WRITTEN HIM, made a decision that falls in line with his character and nature AS I HAVE PROTRAYED THEM, and the opinions of several fellow-authors that I trust concur with this opinion. Not only that, but they also agree that this has been made clear, or at the very least it can be easily inferred, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE STORY!

OK! I'm done ranting now! :-)

Well…if you're still here, thanks for sticking with me. And now, Chapter 7!


Chapter 7: The Hyuuga Remember, Part 1: Hiashi and Hanabi

Konohamaru was walking through the streets of Konoha's merchant district with a smile on his face as he pushed Hanabi's wheelchair along in front of him. Hanabi, herself, wore quite a radiant smile, as did their current strolling companions, Neji and Tenten. All of them left Naruto's home quite satisfied with the way the night as a whole turned out. If there was one thing they could all agree upon, it was that Naruto was a first-class cook that could throw together a meal fit for a daimyo!

It had also been a night full of surprises: none of them had known that Naruto had any degree of musical talent at all, much less the ability to play so many different musical instruments with such masterful skill as he had shown them tonight. Certain things were also made quite clear to just about everyone who was at the house: Naruto and Kurenai…it was just a matter of time. Hanabi's smile turned into a smirk as she thought back to the sisterly advice she gave to Naruto. Konohamaru noticed the smirk on Hanabi's face and made a mental note to ask her about it when Neji and Tenten weren't around. He knew what that smirk meant: she had just put a scheme of some kind into motion, and if he didn't miss his guess, Naruto was right in the middle of it. She was being rather tight-lipped about the talk she had with him on his back patio, after all.

As they strolled through the village streets, greeting and waving at many cheerful (and admittedly drunk) people, Konohamaru became more and more curious about Hanabi's conversation with Naruto. He wasn't the type to need gossip, or to look for it, but he had a feeling that this was something monumental…and quite important to Naruto's life. Hanabi might have captured Konohamaru's penchant for mischief, but she wasn't one to dabble in meaningless affairs.

Hanabi looked up at her fiancé, seeing him lost in thought. She posed the question, "What's on your mind, my love?"

'Why can't she just call me "baby" or "honey" or something normal?' he thought in half-annoyance/half-amusement. He turned his attention to her.

"Your little chat with the boss on his patio," he responded in a low tone so as not to be overheard by Neji and Tenten.

"I'll tell you when we're alone, I promise," she told him with a reassuring smile while knowing that waiting in anticipation would just make it worse for him.

"OK," Ko said as he sighed in resignation.

Hanabi just nodded, continued to smile and went back to greeting passersby on the streets.

They made it back to the Hyuuga Compound without incident and entered the grounds, seeing an atmosphere that was just as festive as was in the streets, but without the typical ruckus found in large groups consuming copious quantities of alcohol. One thing that could be said about the Hyuuga Clan: they were good at maintaining a noble appearance, and they knew how to genuinely enjoy themselves without the need for intoxicants. The four of them smiled at the sight as they were all greeted by many of their clansmen, both main- and branch-family.

As they were making their way through the courtyard, they caught sight of Hinata "making her rounds" through the celebration, mingling with her clansmen with a phony smile that was betrayed by eyes that were still as cold as ice. As Hinata made eye-contact with them, her smile dropped for a moment, turning into a scowl before she forcefully plastered it back on. She made her way towards them and began to "greet" them in a sickeningly-sweet voice.

"Good evening, Neji, Tenten, Konohamaru…" her tone showed forcefully-repressed disdain as she greeted the last of the party, "…Hanabi…dear little sister."

They all nodded as she greeted them by name, with Hanabi adding with genuine warmth, "Hello, Hinata. How are you tonight?"

Hinata's jaw clenched as she couldn't help but remember the many times where their positions were reversed in the past. It was always Hinata who tried to be warm, and it was Hanabi who was cold in response. Regaining her faculties, Hinata replied, "I'm well…thank you for asking. Tell me: how was Lord Namikaze's party?" she finished with mild venom.

Hanabi blinked in response and sighed. Konohamaru put a comforting hand on her shoulder, which she clasped with her own while answering Hinata, "It was quite grand. Lord Namikaze is a very generous host, and Kurenai Yuhi is also quite a gracious hostess, as she helped him to host the affair."

Hinata seemed a tad surprised at this. Granted, she had seen Naruto and her former sensei together a lot, and the word around town was that she was under an apprenticeship with him for fuinjutsu, and was also helping him with some projects that he was working on…there were a few rumors that there might be a bit more going on, but she had dismissed them as just that: rumors. Surely Kurenai wouldn't betray her by getting involved with the man who broke her heart and left her…would she?

Hinata's eyes narrowed as she began to glare balefully at Hanabi, "So…you enjoyed yourselves then?"

"Very much so, thank you," Hanabi answered with a genuine smile, hoping still that the sweet Hinata that she missed terribly might still be in there somewhere.

"I'm glad for that. Please excuse me," said Hinata very quickly as she made a rather quick retreat from the party, leaving them rather curious as to what just happened. Little did they know that Hiashi was watching the brief exchange from a few yards away, remembering back to a dark day in the Hyuuga Clan, and particularly in his family…


Hiashi sat with the Hyuuga Elder Council alongside the outer edge of the Hyuuga Dojo Training Floor. He couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction: Hanabi would finally put Hinata in her place and make her pay for publicly embarrassing him and the Hyuuga name when they were in camp all of those months ago. How he hated to look upon that face with all its smug sweetness, though that sweetness had long since left her face in recent months, which confused him.

'Time to ponder on that, later,' he decided as he saw Hanabi and Hinata enter the dojo on opposite sides, both dressed in black Hyuuga training uniforms, and bowing to the elders, followed by Hanabi bowing to her father. Hinata didn't bow to her father, and both Hiashi and the elders took notice of this. Hiashi became enraged at Hinata's lack of respect towards him, while the elders themselves simply seemed to grow curious.

"Hinata?" asked Hiro Hyuuga, Hiashi's father.

"Yes, Grandfather?" asked Hinata in a respectful tone, angering Hiashi even further that she was now making a show of disrespecting him.

"Why is it that you do not bow to your father?" he asked, in a tone that belayed honest curiosity.

"Because he is undeserving of my respect," she answered straightforwardly, causing some of the elders to gasp in shock while Hiro simply raised an eyebrow, more intrigued now than he was before while Hinata continued, "And I am not going to make a show of respecting that evil, hypocritical bastard…" at this, some of the elders gasped while both Hiashi and Hanabi glared and growled, "…simply because he struts around wearing the title of 'Clan Head'. If he wants my respect, let him prove himself deserving of it by showing himself to be an impartial leader…and an impartial father."

Hiro's gaze hardened as he turned to Hiashi, who felt his father's gaze upon him. As soon as he turned to meet his father's hardened eyes, Hiashi glanced downward, fuming but silent. Hanabi simply got angrier and began to unleash killing intent at Hinata for disrespecting and mocking the man who had loved her and supported her throughout her life.

Hiashi brought his gaze up and spoke in a cold, yet angry tone, "Well, Hinata, since you seem so eager to get this duel over with…"

"A moment," Hiro interrupted, causing Hiashi to whip his head around and look at his father. Hiro stood up and walked onto the floor.

He began, "As Hinata has made the claim that Hiashi is not an impartial leader or an impartial father, then it must be implied that Hinata does not trust Hiashi to be fair and impartial as a judge. Would that be accurate, Hinata?"

Hinata simply nodded in response to her grandfather's inquiry, causing Hiashi and his younger daughter to get even angrier, Hiashi because he had been humiliated and had his character called into question once more by his eldest, while Hanabi believed that he would be fair…after all, she had always beaten Hinata fairly in all of their other spars, hadn't she?

Hiro looked at Hanabi, "Hanabi, do you trust me to be fair?"

Hanabi took a moment to collect herself as she looked to her grandfather and nodded in the affirmative.

Hiro then looked to Hinata, "Hinata, do you trust me to be fair?"

"Yes, grandfather," replied Hinata, again, with a respectful tone.

Hiro then turned to Hiashi and the remaining elders, "Then in the interest of showing fairness and impartiality, I will act as judge during this duel. Are there any objections?"

All of the elders remained stoic and quiet. Hiashi himself said nothing, though it was clear that he was not happy with this turn of events.

Hiro then turned to both combatants and began anew, "This is a duel to determine the future leadership of the Hyuuga Clan. As such, certain rules will be adhered to. The match will end when one of you yields, or when one of you is no longer able to fight. As this is a duel and not a spar, I will not step in to end the match for any reason, except to keep one of you from killing your opponent if they have become incapacitated. No techniques are barred, and killing is allowed, as sanctioned by the Hyuuga by-laws in such a scenario."

Hiro then took a moment to glance at both of his granddaughters. Having sized them both up and seeing that they were ready, he added one final comment, "It is customary to allow each combatant one final chance to speak to the other before the fighting commences. Hanabi, do you have anything to say to Hinata before we begin?"

Hiashi smirked as Hanabi mustered as much killing intent as she could and aimed it at Hinata before speaking, "This won't be like our spars, big sister! I'm going to make you pay for disrespecting our father!"

Hiashi turned to Hinata, and his smirk fell when he saw that she was completely unaffected by Hanabi's intent to kill.

Hiro then turned to Hinata, "Hinata, do you have anything to say to Hanabi before we begin?"

Hiashi felt the level of Hinata's killing intent and paled, as it had dwarfed Hanabi's own as Hinata said with a malicious grin, "I'm going to enjoy this."

Hanabi herself began to find it difficult to breathe under the oppressive weight of Hinata's killing intent. Hiashi began to fear for Hanabi's life, now; Hinata had no intention of holding back, and if her killing intent was anything to go by, then Hanabi was in serious trouble!

Hiro announced, "BEGIN!" and Hiashi watched as Hanabi moved to enter the Gentle Fist Taijutsu stance, only to be knocked back by a fierce kick to her solar plexus from Hinata, completely knocking the wind out of her and sending her fifteen feet through the air only to hit the opposite wall and crumple to the floor in a heap! Hanabi began to struggle to get up, but Hinata didn't even give her room to breathe as she was on her in an instant, sending Gentle Fist strikes into Hanabi's back, driving her into the floor as she continued trying to get up, completely unable to defend herself.

Hiashi began to fear more for Hanabi as Hinata's onslaught didn't let up for close to a minute, and with the number of chakra-enhanced blows that Hinata sent into the younger girl's body, Hiashi feared that his youngest was already severely injured. Hinata finally let up after cracks in the hardwood beneath Hanabi became evident, showing that Hinata was hitting her hard enough to create an indentation in the floor.

Hiashi watched on as Hinata stepped back a few feet and asked Hanabi in a cold voice, "Do you yield to your better, little sister?"

As Hiashi watched Hanabi struggle to stand up, he noticed that she was coughing up blood. Hanabi activated her Byakugan and once again attempted to enter the Gentle Fist stance, only for Hinata to declare, "Very well, then, but…" she entered a stance that was very familiar to everyone there, and Hiashi now truly feared that Hinata meant to kill Hanabi. He tried to stand in order to interfere with the fight, but two of the elders restrained him, closing off certain tenketsu points in his body and making him temporarily incapable of performing certain Gentle Fist techniques such as the Palm Rotation that might enable him to get free from their grip. He could do naught but watch helplessly and Hinata finished her announcement, "…you are in range of my Eight Trigrams!"

Hinata, arms outstretched, one front of her, one in back of her, took a squatting stance, spreading her legs, facing her palms upward. She announced her technique, "Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams, One-Hundred-Twenty Eight Palms."

When Hiashi heard this, he cried out, "NOOOO!" as he struggled to get free from the grip of the elders who were restraining him and keeping him where he was. He began to feel more and more helpless as he watched Hanabi adopt a fearful expression, and his fear grew as Hanabi refused to yield the match. Hinata at that point charged forward and began her attack.

"Eight Trigrams…Two Palms!" two strikes struck Hanabi, signifying two closed tenketsu points.

"Four Palms!" two more strikes closed off two more tenketsu points.

"Eight Palms!" four more strikes struck, causing Hanabi to stumble.

"SIXTEEN PALMS!" Hinata's assault didn't even show signs of slowing down, and Hanabi began spitting up blood again.

"THIRTY-TWO PALMS!" Hinata's blows came faster and faster, and Hanabi's eyes began to glaze over, showing severe signs of disorientation.

"SIXTY-FOUR PALMS!" At this point, Hinata began striking Hanabi in places other than on the front of her body, whirling around, striking tenketsu points on her head, and on her back. Hanabi stumbled even more, appearing disoriented.

"EIGHT TRIGRAMS, ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-EIGHT PALMS!" Hinata was a whirl of strikes and flurries at this point, closing off even more tenketsu inside Hanabi's body…but it didn't end there.

Hinata adopted a sadistic grin as she grabbed Hanabi's hair immediately after delivering the last strike of her attack, pulling her head in and sending a powerful gentle fist strike to Hanabi's head just behind her left ear. Hiashi cried out in horror as he saw Hanabi's ear begin to bleed. Hinata then began to deliver brutal blows to Hanabi's face before grabbing her hair closer to the back of her skull and driving Hanabi's head into the wall, again…and again…and again. Hiashi cried in sheer anguish for his youngest daughter as Hinata continued to maul her relentlessly.

"Hinata," came Hiro's voice, gently, yet firmly, causing Hinata to turn to him, "Hanabi has been incapacitated. You've won the duel, and the right to lead the Hyuuga Clan when Hiashi steps down."

Hinata looked at the girl whose head she was holding by the hair, and she noticed that she was convulsing, but not making a sound. Her face was swollen, almost beyond recognition, discolored in several shades of black, blue and purple, with several cuts and gashes covering her once-beautiful visage. One of her eyes was swollen completely shut, and the other just stared off into nothing; she had lost consciousness. Hinata's first impulse was to be completely horrified at what she'd done, but she quickly forced that down as she remembered all of the times where Hanabi had beaten her into unconsciousness, and Hiashi had not only allowed it, but seemed to enjoy it if the smile he had on his face at the time was any indication.

Hinata adopted a cold expression as she threw Hanabi backwards. Hanabi's unconscious body rolled from the force of Hinata's toss and sprawled face-down in the center of the room, her single open eye seeming to stare eerily at Hiashi, almost in an accusing way as her body continued to spasm and twitch. Hiashi looked at his youngest child in horror, wondering if she was alive or dead, and then turned an enraged snarl at Hinata, who simply looked coldly at him.

"What's wrong…Hiashi?" she asked coldly, causing him to pause…it was the first time she had ever used his name instead of calling him 'father'. She added in a tone that was almost as smug as it was cold, "I thought you wanted me to be more like you."

Hiashi's eyes widened at this. Did she really think that he was like this? Is this what his actions said to her? Had he really been this cold, this cruel, and this sadistic to her? He couldn't believe that he had. A single tear rolled down his face as he watched Hinata leave, not even bothering to look back.

As two Branch Family members collected Hanabi's unconscious form to take her into the Medical Ward, so many of the things that he had said to, and about, Hinata, came back to his memory.

"I have no use for such a weak heir."

"Your sister, who's five years younger than you, could already be a better ninja than you are as a graduated genin!"

"Get out of that bed and dry those tears! Start acting like a Hyuuga!" he remembered saying this one when she was in the Hyuuga Medical Ward from injuries given to her by Hanabi.

"Maybe my grandchild won't be the disappointment you are when I raise him or her correctly!" that one was one that he'd come to regret for the rest of his life.

"Hiashi," Hiro began, causing his son to turn his gaze to him. The elders let him go and reopened his tenketsu, but Hiashi was too numb with shock to notice.

Hiro continued, "Behold the fruit of your favoritism."

Hiashi gaped, "What?" he asked as he became angry, "How is what that MONSTER did MY FAULT?"

Hiro simply walked up to Hiashi, spat in his face and punched him in the nose hard enough to break it. Hiashi brought his hands up to his nose as he recoiled from the blow. Hiro began to yell at the top of his lungs, his own fury making his face turn red, "YOU MAKE ME SICK! YOU HAVE SHOWN BLATANT FAVORITISM TO HANABI OVER HINATA SINCE HISARA DIED! AND IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A COWARD, YOU'D ADMIT THAT THE ONLY REASON YOU TREAT HINATA THE WAY YOU DO IS BECAUSE SHE'S THE SPITTING IMAGE OF HER MOTHER, EXCEPT THAT YOU AND HANABI BEAT THE KIND WOMAN THAT SHE MODELED AFTER HISARA OUT OF HER! YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED HERE TODAY, AND IF HINATA IS A MONSTER, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE HER INTO ONE!"

Hiro paused to catch his breath before continuing his rant, "NEVER ONE TIME DID I SHOW THIS KIND OF FAVORITISM BETWEEN YOU AND HIZASHI! THE ONLY TIME YOU RECEIVED MORE ATTENTION THAN HE DID WAS WHEN I WAS TRAINING YOU TO TAKE OVER THE CLAN'S LEADERSHIP! NEVER ONCE DID I LOVE YOU MORE THAN HIM, OR EVEN GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I DID! YOU ARE A DISGRACE AS A CLAN HEAD! YOU ARE A DISGRACE AS A FATHER! YOU DON'T EVEN DESERVE THE TITLE, AND HINATA HAD EVERY RIGHT TO DISPENSE WHAT SHE DID IN THIS DUEL TODAY! IF IT HAD BEEN HANABI DOING THAT TO HINATA, YOU WOULD HAVE WATCHED IT ALL WITH A SMILE!"

Hiashi recoiled more and more at his father's harsh rebuke. His final accusation hit him like a ton of bricks; the shame of it was that it was true. Hinata didn't deserve the treatment that she received at his hand, and the only reason he did it was because it was the only way his arrogance would allow him to deal with the pain that he wasn't willing to feel and resolve at the loss of the woman who was the love of his life.

Hiro brought his son out of his reflection, "You can worry about that, later. Right now, we should probably go and see if Hanabi will be alright."

Hiashi simply nodded, forgetting all about the blood and snot flowing down his face and began to make his way towards the infirmary at a less-than-dignified pace. Once there, one of the nurses pulled him into the Ward and treated his broken nose after he had told her that his father had given it to him. When she had raised her eyebrow, he simply said with a humility that was very uncharacteristic of him, "I deserved it; please don't ask beyond that."

After she was done setting his nose back into place and treating him with medical ninjutsu, he inquired about his youngest daughter. She simply told him that she was currently being worked on, and that the Hokage's first apprentice, Shizune, had been summoned to oversee the procedures that would be used to treat her injuries. Hiashi's eyebrows raised in surprise at this; Hanabi was in need of a doctor of Shizune's caliber? This gave an indication as to just how brutal Hinata had been. Scared for his youngest daughter's well-being, and her life, Hiashi began to fret and worry. The nurse managed to calm him, informing him that she was in very good hands, and that he would be informed as soon as the immediate procedures were over. He was escorted out of the infirmary where he joined the elders and his father, all of whom were waiting for news on Hanabi's condition.

After several hours had passed, an exhausted Shizune walked out of the infirmary and approached Hiashi. Hiashi stood up anxiously, waiting for Shizune to give him an update.

Shizune smiled weakly and sadly, "She's alive and stable."

At this, Hiashi let out a breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he closed his eyes, allowing his relief to wash over him.

Shizune pulled Lord Hiashi aside and asked in a tone that was both stern and direct, "Lord Hiashi, I have to ask how Hanabi sustained injuries of such a magnitude. Unless I miss my guess, those injuries were caused by Gentle Fist strikes…so how did she get them?"

Hiashi filled her in on the duel between Hinata and Hanabi, and about how the rules of the duel were strictly adhered to, so no charges could be brought against Hinata for what she had done, as it did fall under Clan business. Shizune was surprised at what she was hearing; she had heard that Hinata could be cruel and brutal on the battlefield, but she never imagined Hinata doing something like this to anyone in her family.

When Hiashi finished explaining, Shizune continued, "Hanabi will recover, but it won't be a full recovery. I can tell you that the external injuries to her face and her skeleton, we were able to fix without too much trouble; she won't even have any real scars from those injuries. But when we talk about her internal injuries, it gets much more serious. Many of her tenketsu points have been warped and horribly damaged. She'll never mold chakra again; it will be too painful for her to even make the attempt. Her uterus was damaged, but it's honestly too early to tell if this will bar her from ever having children. Her inner ear was damaged on the left side of her head. She's always going to have problems with her balance, now, and it will be a miracle if she'll ever walk again at all, but if she does manage to be able to stand on her feet, she'll suffer severe vertigo, so she'll need assistance for the rest of her life. She'll have to spend most of her time in a wheelchair. She'll never fight again, and her days as a ninja are over. I'm sorry Lord Hiashi."

Hiashi became more and more crestfallen the more he heard about Hanabi's injuries. He simply nodded and gave a quiet "thank you" to Shizune who bowed and took her leave, while also informing him that she would be coming by every day to monitor Hanabi's health and progress, to which Hiashi expressed further gratitude.

Hiashi went into the infirmary and allowed the staff still in there to lead him to his daughter's bedside, ironically the same bed that they always used to put Hinata in when Hanabi had put her in the Ward. Seeing his broken youngest child, face swollen and bruised, and hooked up to tubes and monitoring devices, was almost more than be could bear. His own mind began to super-impose Hinata's face over Hanabi's own, as he himself remembered many days that Hinata had spent in this room. He also remembered that he always wore a scowl whenever Hinata was in that bed, instead of the grimace of anguish and grief that he now felt.

Realizing that in so many ways, he was indeed responsible for what happened today, he did something he had never done before. He collapsed with his face to the ground, broke down and wept.


Hiashi brushed these thoughts aside to make room for more cheerful ones as he made his way over to the party of four that had just returned, greeting them much more warmly than Hinata just had. They all exchanged pleasantries, Hiashi asking about their evening, being told in much more detail than Hinata had gotten from them. He seemed genuinely happy for them all, but Hanabi and Neji could see the anguish and regret in his eyes as he looked over Hanabi. Nights like this were always bittersweet for him: he was thankful for the victory that the Shinobi Alliance had won, but thoughts of the war always brought with them thoughts of Hinata's estrangement from and resentment towards her family.

As he wished them all well, the two couples parted ways: Neji and Tenten presumably to their own chambers, while Konohamaru continued to wheel Hanabi around the courtyard to mingle some more. Even as Hanabi was greeting other members of her clan and celebrating with them, her thoughts found their way back to when she was first told by her father of the arrangement he had made with Konohamaru…


Hanabi opened her eyes and regained consciousness only to feel aches and pains all over her body. She was disoriented, and her vision was blurry; it didn't help that her eyes were not adapted to the bright light in the room she was in…

'Wait, where am I?' she asked herself, feeling the rise of panic. She tried looking around, but she could barely move her head. Seeing that she couldn't turn her head, she began to dart her eyes this way and that, trying to drink in details so that she could get an idea of where she was. Her vision was still blurry; she couldn't make anything out, but she did notice the sterile smell of antiseptics and medical fluids. This helped her to figure out what she was in a medical facility of some kind.

'Why am I in here?' she asked herself in her confusion. The girl began to think hard; what was the last thing she remembered? As she was thinking, flashes began to come into her mind: a powerful kick to her midsection, and hitting a hard surface and collapsing almost immediately after…trying to get up repeatedly, only to feel a force of some kind on her back continue to push her into the floor…pain in her back and ribs from absorbing this force…standing up slowly and feeling dizzy…looking up to see – Hinata? That's right! She had been facing Hinata in a duel for the title of Hyuuga Heir!

More and more flashes started to go through her mind: Hinata saying something that she couldn't make out…Hinata's stance into the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams 32 (or more) Palms Stance, and the fear she felt at seeing it…being jostled this way and that at the feeling of small precise strikes upon her body…a hard force striking her on the side of her head behind one of her ears…after that, it was all kind of fuzzy. She remembered still being jostled back and forth after that hit behind her ear, but the details of what exactly happened to her were hazy; she couldn't remember how it ended.

Bringing herself back to the present, she realized that her eyesight was still a bit blurry.

Remembering that she couldn't move, she tried calling out.

"Hello?" she cried out in as string a voice as she could muster, which was still rather quiet.

'Why do I feel so weak?' she asked herself, feeling confused and fearful once again. She heard the sound of footsteps immediately after her outcry, getting louder; the person making the footsteps was coming her way!

"You're awake!" she heard a familiar voice call out. She tried to squint in an effort to sharpen the image before her eyes. As her vision began to clear a little, she recognized her father's face…but it looked…tired? Ashen? It wasn't the strong visage that she herself drew strength from, but the visage of a man who was exhausted…no, exhausted wasn't the right word…depleted? Yes, her father looked depleted.

"Father?" she said in a quiet, weak voice once again, "Are you…OK?"

She saw him smile, and bring a hand to her face, "I am, now, daughter. For a while there, I didn't know if you would ever come around."

Hanabi frowned in confusion at this, "Huh? What do you mean?"

Hiashi replied, "You've been in a coma for nine days. The staff and Shizune have been working constantly to help you recover, and at times, they had to work so hard just to…keep you alive."

Hiashi then became somber as he replied, "Hanabi…this isn't going to be easy for you to hear. In your duel against your sister, Hinata…defeated you… soundly. But, she didn't stop there."

Hanabi began to grow fearful of what her father had to share. She watched him take a deep breath and listened as he continued, "I'm afraid that…Hinata has effectively made you into a cripple."

She felt tears come into her eyes as he continued to explain what Hinata did to her, keeping his tone slow and even so that he could get it all out, "Your injuries were so severe that you will never be able to mold chakra again. You'll never be able to fight again. In fact, you'll have such severe vertigo and disorientation when you try to stand up without assistance that you'll…never even be able to walk again by yourself…" she had never heard her father sound so broken and defeated as he finished, "…I'm so sorry, Hanabi. This is all my fault!"

She had never seen her father cry before, and it hurt her terribly to see the man whose strength she depended on reduced to such a state.

She tried to comfort him, her voice still straining to make itself heard, "Father…please…don't blame yourself. You didn't make Hinata…do this…to me."

"He might as well have," she heard from a cold voice, at which Hiashi seemed to sadden.

"Hinata, please…why are you here?" asked Hiashi as he turned to his oldest daughter who had just arrived at Hanabi's bedside. Hanabi's own gaze turned to see her sister's cold scowl, which suddenly morphed into a cold smirk.

"Oh, you know…just wanted to see how the hypochondriac is doing," Hinata replied, her tone still cold and biting.

Hanabi felt tears come into her eyes once more as she remembered saying similar things to Hinata when she was in the bed that Hanabi currently occupied.

As the tears began to flow, Hinata spoke again, still with a smirk, "Dry those tears, you disgrace, and start acting like a Hyuuga!"

"HINATA!" Hiashi said in a firm yet saddened voice, "That's enough! You've made your point; please go!"

"Have I?" Hinata asked as she turned to her father, that cold, malicious smirk still in place, "If our positions were reversed, she'd be saying the exact same things to me, and you'd be cheering her on!"

Hiashi simply became silent at that. He turned back towards Hanabi, his eyes closed and his face downcast, "I know…and I'm sorry. Please…leave Hanabi in peace for now."

Hinata simply snorted in grossly-exaggerated disgust as she simply said, "As if a disgrace like her is worth my attention anyway," and with that she turned and walked away, but stopped before turning one last time to regard her bedridden younger sister.

The smirk still on her face, Hinata asked, "How does it feel to be on the receiving end for a change, Hanabi?" and with that she walked away, not looking back.

Hanabi couldn't stop the sobs that were now involuntarily coming from her throat. Hiashi also began to shed tears of his own.

"Father…" said Hanabi, getting Hiashi's attention, "…was I really…that cruel to Hinata before?"

Hiashi responded as his voice quivered with his tears, "We both were, Hanabi. I know that you did it simply because it's what you saw me doing. But, I knew better…and I was still cruel to her anyway. That's why I'm the one responsible for all of this."

Hanabi simply sobbed weakly, really taking in what had just happened, and remembering just how many times she must have made Hinata feel this way. She was experiencing it once…right now. She had done this to Hinata countless times.

Hanabi then asked in a tone both sad and fearful, "Father…what does this mean for me, now? Will I be…put in the Branch Family, and…given the Caged Bird Seal?"

Hiashi answered her calmly, "No, daughter. I've made certain arrangements to prevent that from happening."

"What do you mean?"

"I've arranged a marriage contract between you and Konohamaru Sarutobi."

Hanabi's eyes widened at this, not knowing how to respond. Hiashi continued, "The stipulations of it are that the contract can't be fulfilled until you are of marriageable age, which is still three years off. In that time, the two of you can get to know each other…and in my opinion, it's the best option for you."

Hanabi's eyes closed in response at this as fresh tears poured forth once again. It saddened her that an arranged marriage was her best chance at happiness.

Hiashi noticed this and tried to cheer her up with a smile and some encouraging words, "Konohamaru is a fine young man, Hanabi. He has agreed to treat you well, and to court you properly. If the arrangement is not to the liking of either of you, you have the option to nullify the contract. Remember, you don't have to fulfill it right away; you have plenty of time in which to get to know each other."

Hanabi, not feeling cheered but seeing her father's efforts, smiled weakly and nodded.

"Would you like to see him?" Hiashi asked, surprising Hanabi.

"He's here now?" she asked in response.

"He is," and with this, Hiashi stood up and walked towards the door. Hanabi overheard him saying, "You can enter now."

He turned back to Hanabi and gave her a genuine smile as he left. She smiled weakly in turn, and it was then she saw the young Sarutobi heir walk into the room. He was taller than she remembered, and this was the first time that she had noticed just how handsome he was. His hair was slicked back and groomed neatly, a far cry from the wild spiky way he used to wear it, bangs being held off of his forehead by his Konoha headband. He was in a long-sleeved back shirt and tan pants, with black shinobi sandals. Over his shirt, he wore the jounin vest that he had earned during the war when he had been the sole survivor to return from a seek-and-destroy mission against a patrol of white Zetsu clones, on which his entire squad except for him had been killed. Not only did he complete his mission despite what happened to his jounin-sensei-turned-captain and his two old genin teammates, but he had also brought their bodies back to camp by himself so that they could receive proper funeral rites.

"Ermm…hi," he said with a somewhat shy smile, bringing her back to the present.

She gave him a weak smile as she responded, "Hi…"


Hanabi now thanked any Kami that she could think of that had brought this wonderful man into her life. She still found it ironic and strange that she was much happier now…as a cripple…than she ever was before she became wheelchair-bound.

It had been Konohamaru that had become her strength and inspiration after they started courting each other. At first, she had great difficulty adjusting to her current situation, and frequently found herself depressed, frustrated and angry. She was very difficult to be around; she knew she was very difficult to be around…and yet, Konohamaru simply listened very patiently to every tantrum, didn't take any name she called him personally, and not only encouraged her to push herself to get out of the wheelchair more, but even pushed her to go farther, longer, and try even harder. It was thanks to him that she could even stand up at all now, much less for up to half an hour unassisted…on a good day.

In a few short weeks, she would be Hanabi Hyuuga Sarutobi, and as far as she was concerned, it couldn't come fast enough. She loved this man, and she knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that he loved her with all his being. The thought of being his wife, and of his becoming her husband excited her and made her very, very happy.

Hiashi watched on as Hanabi went through the crowd, greeting people warmly, bringing greater light and joy to the atmosphere much the same way that Hinata used to do. Feelings of regret, particularly at his own mistakes as a father, came back to his mind as his thoughts went in this direction. It was with this in mind that he made eye-contact with his eldest daughter, who was continuing to make her way around the courtyard, very pointedly on the opposite end of where Konohamaru and Hanabi were. Hiashi couldn't help but think back once more…this time to a memory where he had tried to do what he could to maybe bring his sweet Hinata back again…


Hiashi was in his office expecting the arrival of Naruto Namikaze, a man whose presence he never thought he would request. He didn't like the boy, thinking him to be a cocky, disrespectful upstart, but he couldn't deny the fact that he was regarded as the most powerful shinobi ever produced in the Hidden Leaf; he had shown that there was a reason for this by the way he had conducted himself during the War. Naruto had torn through opponents that nobody else except maybe the Kages could even seem to touch. Yes, Hiashi didn't like the boy…but he respected and feared his power and ability. He also knew that Naruto was the only person who might have a chance of bringing back the sweet Hinata that he had destroyed in his hateful stupidity.

He looked over the document that he was going to give to Naruto one last time, making sure that there were no clauses or phrases in it that would make it seem as though he was trying to gain control of Naruto in some way. After going over it for the umpteenth time, he laid it back down and simply waited. After a few more minutes of silent meditation and preparation, there was a knock of his office door.

"Enter," he commanded firmly.

The door opened, revealing a Branch family member to announce the arrival of Hiashi's expected guest, "Lord Hiashi, Lord Namikaze is here to see you at your behest."

"Thank you, Yousuke. Please send him in."

The now-identified Yousuke bowed in response and ushered the tall blond into Hiashi's office. As the door closed behind Naruto, Hiashi stood and extended his hand to Naruto, showing that he regarded him as an equal. Naruto took the hand offered, though his annoyed grimace clearly showed that he didn't want to be here.

"Thank you for coming, Lord Namikaze," began Hiashi, "Can I get you anything?"

"No…thank you," Naruto replied, "If I might ask, Lord Hyuuga, can we just go ahead and get right down to business?"

Hiashi was rather surprised at the respect in Naruto's tone. It seemed that he might have to reevaluate the young man before him with regards to being cocky and disrespectful.

"Yes, of course," he replied and gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"Please, have a seat," he invited Naruto, who sat down in the seat offered while Hiashi went behind his desk. Hiashi took a moment to situate himself before looking once again at his guest and informing him of the purpose behind his summons.

"The reason I have asked you here is because I have an offer to make to you."

"An offer?" replied the young Namikaze with a curious frown.

Hiashi picked up a scroll on his desk and handed it to Naruto, who again looked at Hiashi with a confused yet curious frown.

"It's all in there," Hiashi replied with a nod, "Please read it in its entirety if you would before giving me an answer."

Naruto nodded slowly, his confused frown not leaving his face. What would prompt a man such as Hiashi Hyuuga to treat him with such respect and deference, at least outwardly, when he never had before now? Naruto brushed this question aside for the time being as he opened the scroll and began to read it. What he read there greatly surprised him; he almost stopped reading when he had read over the purpose of the document itself, but as he had agreed to Hiashi, he continued to read it through, noting the details.

The document was an arranged marriage contract between himself and Hinata Hyuuga. Naruto noted that the details and stipulations of the contract were very heavily in his favor, with almost nothing being asked in return by Hiashi. In addition to Hinata's hand, Hiashi was offering a hefty dowery to Naruto totaling several million ryo in value, as well as copies of scrolls detailing several secret Hyuuga Clan techniques. Hinata would take Naruto's name, live in the Namikaze Estate, and become part of his clan with no interference of any kind from him or any of the Hyuuga Elder Council. Hiashi also agreed to finance and sponsor the educational needs of any children that the marriage produced. As Naruto read this, his mind started churning; most clans would use such devices to gain some measure of power or influence over a person, or would at the very least create a situation that was of equal and mutual benefit to both parties involved; in essence, a fair trade. This wasn't a power play or an equitable trade – it was an act of seeming desperation…but, why exactly?

Naruto closed the contract up and handed it back to Hiashi giving him his answer, "I'm sorry, Lord Hiashi, but I must decline the offer."

Hiashi, though stricken, didn't show it outwardly. He kept his features perfectly schooled into a grim business-like expression as he asked, "Are there any additional clauses or stipulations that I can put into the contract that would make it more agreeable to you?"

Naruto frowned in both surprise and confusion at this question. He had never heard of Hiashi Hyuuga assuming such a position of conciliation when trying to broker an agreement of any kind.

Naruto couldn't help but respond, "It's not the terms of the offer, Lord Hiashi…"

Hiashi quickly interrupted, his voice beginning to show some of the desperation that Naruto could see in the contract, "What, then? Lord Naruto, what can I do to convince you to accept this agreement?"

Naruto's eyes went wide in surprise at Hiashi's interruption before he adopted a thoughtful frown once more, "May I put up a silencing seal?"

Hiashi nodded, and Naruto stood up and walked to the door. He molded some chakra into his finger, using it to apply the seal and activating it before returning to his seat.

Once he sat back down, he dropped any pretenses and asked, "Hiashi, what's this really about?"

Hiashi closed his eyes and sighed. Taking a few moments to collect his thoughts, Hiashi opened his eyes and loked Naruto dead in the eye. Naruto saw something that he never imagined he'd see in the eyes of the normally-stoic man before him: haunting and regret.

Hiashi began, "I've made so many mistakes regarding Hinata, Naruto. I didn't realize just how far I'd fallen until Hinata…" Hiashi paused as his voice began to break in an effort to regain control of his timbre. Once he had done so, he continued, "…until Hinata brutally beat Hanabi in a clan-sanctioned duel for the leadership of the Hyuuga Clan."

Naruto nodded, "Yes, Konohamaru told me about that, and about your offer to him. I'm sorry…"

Hiashi nodded, "Thank you. Konohamaru told me about the discussion he had with you. It was actually because you gave Konohamaru Sarutobi such wise advice that I…sought to make this offer to you."

Naruto nodded once more, prompting Hiashi to continue, "Naruto, nobody has ever had such a positive influence on Hinata the way you did. You always did bring out the best in her, and I was too blinded by my own pain to see just how wonderful of a person she was. The truth is that…whenever I looked at Hinata, I could only see her mother..." Hiashi shed a single tear and blinked, his voice never wavering as he continued, "…and instead of dealing with my grief properly…I behaved in a cowardly fashion and used anger to numb the pain as best I could. Hinata paid the price for my cruelty and selfishness. Now, I see her…and I see a twisted and darkened caricature of her mother…"

Naruto interrupted him, "Hiashi, why didn't you ever just look at her as 'Hinata'? She's not her mother…she never was; she was her own person."

"I know that now," replied Hiashi, "Naruto…I just want my daughter back. I want her to be the beautiful, kind, wonderfully good and tender person she used to be! And you're the only person who can bring that person back! Please…" Hiashi got up from his desk, walked toward Naruto's position, dropped to his knees in front of him and bowed low, "…please, help me."

Naruto closed his eyes and gritted his teeth; as much as he wanted to help a man in such a position, he knew he couldn't. If he tried, if would not end well. He could not marry Hinata…not after what she'd done, and he needed to let Hiashi know that.

"Hiashi," replied Naruto. Hiashi picked his head up off the floor to look at him, tears streaming down his face, once more surprising Naruto.

Naruto continued, "Hiashi, what makes you think I can be of any help, here? I'm the one who broke off the relationship. And even if I hadn't, I can't be with a woman who willingly aborted a child of mine."

Hiashi replied to this, "If it's any consolation…that wasn't about you; she did that to spite me."

"That's precisely my point," Naruto responded, "It wasn't about me. I was that child's father, and she never even consulted me about her decision! She did it to spite you, not even caring that it would spite me! I didn't find out until after the fact, and to find out that my feelings weren't even a consideration to her…Hiashi, how can you ask me to marry a woman who'd do that to me?"

Hiashi didn't respond for several seconds. After the silence became uncomfortable, he spoke up, "I am sorry for your loss, Naruto; I truly am. I feel responsible for it all…and I asked you, and made this offer to you…because I could think of no other way…" at this, his voice did break, and he didn't bother trying to suppress his feelings or his tears anymore, "…to bring back my precious daughter! I didn't realize just how precious she was until she was no longer that person!"

Hiashi continued crying in that same position. Naruto put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at the blonde.

Naruto spoke, in a tone that belayed his own heartache and pain, "I can't marry her, Hiashi. I understand, and I appreciate your position, believe me…but I can't marry a woman who would put her family before her spouse. And we both know that this is exactly what she would do if she and I were married; any decision where the interests of her extended family would conflict with the interests of our marriage would end up with the interests of her extended family winning out…and I won't stand for that."

Hiashi nodded, understanding Naruto's position. He wouldn't want to be in such a situation, either. He proceeded to rise to his feet, Naruto standing up with him.

"I understand," Hiashi replied, extending his hand to Naruto to shake, "Thank you for…giving the offer the consideration that you have, and for seeing me on such short notice."

Naruto looked at the extended hand and took it, shaking it in gentle earnest.

Naruto looked Hiashi in the eye and nodded, a newfound respect for the man before him arising within himself.

Naruto released his hand and released the seal on Hiashi's door. Turning to take his leave, he turned back to Hiashi one last time, "Lord Hiashi, if there's anything else that I can ever do for you…please don't hesitate to call on me."

Hiashi nodded in gratitude, "Thank you, Lord Naruto. I extend you the same courtesy. Have a good afternoon."

"And you, sir," replied Naruto, who then left Hiashi to his own thoughts and work.

Hiashi sat back down behind his desk, looking at the contract that Naruto had rejected and handed back to him. He let out a melancholy sigh.

'Hinata…all I can do now is pray that in time…you'll forgive us for what we've done to you,' he thought to himself hopelessly.

'Until then,' he thought to himself, this time with resolution, 'it's time I started accepting responsibility for my failings as a father, and do what I can to try to make things right. If you won't let me do that…I'll gladly bear the blame for my actions against you without complaint…for the rest of my life, if that's what it takes; it's the least I can do for you now.'

He finished his musings on a sad note and started to read through and handle his paperwork and clan business.


Hinata saw her father looking at her with that regret that both hurt and infuriated her at the same time! After a few moments, she quickly made her way out of the courtyard, briskly heading to her own room. After closing the door, she clenched her eyes shut and balled her fists tightly, trying to suppress the tears of hurt and rage that threatened to spill forth. She hated how he would look at her with regret, now. Why couldn't he have just loved her? Why couldn't he have ever just given her a smile? It had to be NOW, that she had long-since given up on him and written him off as a monster, that he dared to show even an inkling of regret that he had wronged her?

And Hanabi! She's sweet to everyone, and it's seen as endearing and wonderful! When Hinata was sweet to everyone, Hanabi and their father derided her as being weak! She simply couldn't win! It was so frustrating…and it still hurt so much. Hanabi…coming back from Naruto's…

'Naruto…' thought Hinata, now unable to hold in the tears as she thought back to the best time of her life: their short-lived relationship…


And that's a WRAP for this chapter! Next chapter, Hinata's story! Again, my apologies for the length of time without an update, but not only was work crazy, I had a VERY difficult time writing this chapter; the next one should come MUCH faster! Please read and review! Thanks guys!