Body Swap
A.N. I'm sorry I updated so late, minna! I was having a writer's block…of how to put this chapter into words…and I had to finish my French final…
Also, I put up a new ShikaIno one-shot called 'Picture Perfect'. He he…I was working on that too…
All right…so this chapter is going to be ALL NaruHIna! (Plus a little explanation from Godaime-sama, of course!)
So I would like to say…PLEASE ENJOY THIS INCREDIBLY LATE CHAPTER OF BODY SWAP!!!
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO. I ONLY OWN THIS
FANFICTION. ANYONE SAYS OTHERWISE, THEY BE TALKIN--#$!
Chapter Nine: The NaruHina
Two figures ascended the steps of the Hokage's tower. One had a look of determination on their face and the other…well…didn't…
Pushing through the door, the two stepped into the room, clearly wanting answers. The Godaime looked up in mild surprise. Most people would knock before going into her office. This was a surprise. Her surprise was immediately replaced with a look of disgust as a nauseating smell reached her nostrils. Holding her nose, she fanned the air around her.
"Geez…did you guys miss like…your baths for a month or something?" She asked. The two before her twitched with mild anger.
"Well," Shikamaru started. "We haven't exactly gotten over the fact that we'd see each other naked, so yes, I guess you could say that." Tsunade stifled a laugh, causing Ino and Shikamaru to glare.
"Well, you guys need to SOMETIME." The fifth stated bluntly. "Anyway…what is it that you wanted from me?"
"Godaime-sama." Ino started. "Shikamaru and I would like to ask you a few questions…regarding the Negai Charms…" She glanced over at her partner, the Nara, only to find him staring off at the clouds through the windows of the Hokage's office.
"You've got a nice view here…" Shikamaru mumbled. He was immediately smacked upside the head.
"Ask her!" Ino barked. She was getting tired of this.
"What? Oh yeah…" Shikamaru said, snapping out of his daze. He cleared his throat as if he was about to begin a speech.
"Tsunade-sama…as you may know, a while ago, a Christmas ball was held at the Sakigake Towers. During the event…Ino and I…we believe we may have found the charm…but we were not able to grasp it." The shadow-possessing ninja explained. His cheeks turned a delicate shade of light pink. He turned his head away in an attempt to hide it.
"I see…now, did you find the charm by…I don't know…hugging, or kissing?" Tsunade said with a hint of mischievousness. Her lips curled up at the ends when she saw both teens turning away, a barely visible red mark flooded into their faces.
"Well…" She said, grinning from ear to ear. "I wish I could explain some things to you, but that would put your chances of returning to your regular bodies in jeopardy." She sighed. "But, I can safely say that you guys are on the right track. Keep it up, and you'll be out of the body-swap in no time."
Ino raised a brow. "Keep up doing what? Kissing?" She asked. After realizing what she said, she blushed again.
"Hmm…something like that. But…you should never deny your feelings."
Shikamaru sweat dropped, realizing that her last statement seemed to not have any relevance to their situation whatsoever.
"Oh…and one more thing…" Tsunade said, with a tint of mischievousness. She was about to continue, but she decided something else. She turned to her assistant, Shizune. "Ne, do you mind calling Naruto and the rest of that group? I have something I need to tell all of them…"
Meanwhile…
'Dark trees loomed high above the forest path, preventing the sun's rays passage onto the dusty path below. Bits of rubbish and debris were scattered everywhere, and the sight was rather repugnant to behold. Corbin the Great cautiously sauntered the area, making a look of detestation as he noted the emaciated troll to his left. The creature gazed into the depths of his pupils with such sadness and suffering as he walked past it, revulsion showing in his eyes and in the air around him…'
"AUGH!!!" Naruto cried out. "Hinata-chan, the big words in this book hurt my head…" Naruto said, crying river tears. The two were currently in a bookstore…why? Naruto. Naruto and his first-grader level of thinking. See, Naruto figured that since they were looking for the charm, and that the charm was paper, they'd have to look where a lot of paper was. And what place has more paper than a bookstore?
And so they went to a plaza with a bookstore.
"W-well, Naruto-kun…" Hinata shyly said. "Why don't you go check some other books?"
"Good idea, Hinata-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, earning glares from other customers. "We should spread out! That way we'd cover more ground! Err…paper!!" He said, almost forgetting about his headache and skipped off to the children's section of the store.
'That…wasn't what I meant…Naruto-kun…' Hinata thought, staring as Naruto began to be harassed by little children.
Hinata sighed to herself. She knew herself that looking in a bookstore for the charm was…a rather dumb idea…but where else would they look? They had no other ideas…and no other leads.
Hinata laughed to herself. Naruto was pretty dumb…but it was his hard determination that got him through the toughest situations. That was the main reason she liked him. His drive…
Snapping out of her reminisce, the heiress noticed a familiar face at the entrance of the bookstore. He motioned her over with stern eyes. Stern…white eyes.
'Father…' Hinata thought. 'What could he want from me?' She cautiously walked over. He led her over to an alleyway right next to the store.
When they were alone, Hinata bowed. It was what all the members of the Hyuuga family had to do to show respect to the leader. Hiashi had a sort of disgusted look on his face as he looked at Hinata…
…No…not Hinata…
…What Hinata was in…
…Naruto's body…
"Hinata…" He started, hiding his disgust. "I've something very important to tell you. It is…regarding your future."
Hinata stared at her father with a confused look on her face. "M-my…future? I don't mean to be rude, b-but what does that mean?"
Hiashi sighed. "I mean, regarding your future husband." Hinata's eyes grew in shock.
"W-what are you implying, f-father?" She asked. She was getting an uncomfortable sinking feeling in her stomach.
"I…I've arranged a marriage…to Neji." Hiashi finally explained, looking away, almost ashamed of himself. "You will be married at the end of the year."
Hinata couldn't swallow it. A marriage…to Neji? But…that would have been incestuous! And besides, she had already devoted herself…to Naruto…
"B-but…" Hinata choked out, giving him a wavering stare. "Why…? Why Neji-niisan??"
Hiashi looked down in shame. "Because you are the heir to the Hyuuga family Main House. It looks rather obvious that you cannot rule over the Hyuuga family."
He stared her down and continued. "Though you have gotten stronger, it appears you're developing in too slow a pace. Neji already knows what it's like to be a leader, him being much more powerful and tactical than you, and he would be the ideal heir to the family. But there is no way for a member of the Branch Family to take the position of the Main Family heiress, unless through marriage."
He stared straight ahead. He obviously didn't like needing to make two members of the Hyuuga family, the noblest family in Konoha, marry each other to strengthen their power.
"I have arranged it so that after you're married, Neji will take control. You will not have to worry about taking on such a big task any longer. It's all taken care of for you."
Hinata looked down from her father's gaze. He thought she couldn't do it. He thought she was useless.
Useless.
UseLESS.
Without use.
Unneeded.
Of no significance.
A hindrance.
The chord of her nerve slowly stretched.
'It looks rather obvious that you cannot rule over the Hyuuga family.'
It stretched longer.
'It appears you're developing at too slow a pace.'
Longer.
'Neji already knows what it's like to be a leader, him being much more powerful and tactical than you, and he would be the ideal heir to the family.'
Longer.
'Neji will take control. You will not have to worry about taking on such a big task any longer. It's all taken care of for you.'
Snap.
Her hands slowly turned into fists.
"I haven't talked to Neji about this yet—" Hiashi was cut off by a small noise from Hinata. He raised a brow. Had she cut him off?
"As I was saying, I haven't—" He was cut off again by the same noise, though it was a little more coherent this time.
"…What did you say?" He asked, his tone sounding a little annoyed and shocked at the same time.
"…I said…" Hinata muttered, looking up slowly. "…No."
Hiashi glared at her. "What?" Hinata didn't care anymore.
She was not useless.
She did not need someone to make her decisions for her.
She was not weak.
She was developing just fine.
She did not need Neji to take over for her.
Hinata glowered up at her father. "I said, no." Astonishment discreetly leaked out of Hiashi's usually stoic face.
"What's the point of me marrying someone if I do not love him…?" She asked. She kept her steady tone.
"I wouldn't want you to marry an idiot from down the street." Hiashi said, regaining his composure. "I'm only deciding what is best for you, and for the family."
"Gomen ne, father. I have already considered someone for my husband." Hinata said, still with a steady tone.
"And who might that be?"
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Silence rang heavily through the air as Hinata's words rang through Hiashi's ears.
'The…Kyuubi kid?' Hiashi bitterly thought. That was preposterous. He wouldn't hear of it.
"That cannot happen."
"Why not…?"
"Because he may very well put our family's power in jeopardy."
"What does it matter? Why do you detest Naruto-kun so much? He can't put our family's power in that much jeopardy, and would it not give us a better family reputation if you let me marry whomever I want?"
"That child, though he may have gotten his status raised a little, is still looked down upon by the older citizens of Konoha. He will bring a bad reputation to our family name, and yours." Hiashi looked down at her. "And in addition to that, he will slow down your shinobi development. As if it hasn't already been held back…"
That was it. Hinata couldn't take it anymore.
"How…how can you say that? All that progression…all my development…" Her voice became a little louder. "It…it was all because of him!"
Hiashi stared her down with mildly shocked eyes. "So…it was through that child that you developed." His eyes were unreadable, as usual.
"Yes…Naruto-kun…he has such a big drive…to be acknowledged. He has…so much determination…that it's inspirational. That is why…" She looked down. "That is why I've become the shinobi I am right now! It's sad…that you cannot accept him…"
Hiashi stayed quiet. He had had enough of this.
"If that Kyuubi boy had been what makes you what you are now, I'm not impressed." He said cruelly.
Hinata's eyes widened.
"If you honestly need that Uzumaki boy to inspire you to become a better shinobi, then think what an asset Neji will be to your improvement." He looked away, almost disgusted. "What is really sad is how you need someone to help you with your development."
Slow and silent tears welled up in Hinata's eyes.
"Perhaps you really are…"
Hinata looked up with wide eyes. 'No…don't say it…'
"Useless."
"NO!" Came a loud shout from outside the alleyway.
"Hinata-chan is NOT useless!" The person came into view and swiftly made their way in front of Hinata.
"How can you say that about your own daughter?" Naruto yelled. Both Hyuugas were shocked.
"N…Naruto-kun…?" Hinata whispered. Her face was red. Hiashi stayed quiet.
"Why can't you just accept her?" Naruto was furious. He didn't like how the Hyuuga family treated Hinata.
"For the head of the family who holds the Byakugan in their possession…" Naruto started. "You're pretty blind."
Spidery veins became evident as Hiashi released the Byakugan. "You'd better keep your mouth shut, boy. You don't know what you're dealing with."
"Maybe I don't…but at least I know how to treat someone properly." Naruto said.
"You're lucky I've no time for this, Uzumaki." Hiashi said bitterly. He walked toward the entrance to the alleyway, but stopped next to Hinata. "My decision is already made, and I'm not about to change it." He whispered. And with that, he exited.
"Arigato…Naruto-kun…" Hinata whispered. They were now sitting on a bench just outside the bookstore. Naruto gave her a foxy grin, which looked kind of strange, since it was on Hinata's face.
"No problem, Hinata-chan!" Naruto said, being the enthusiastic person he was. He then changed his expression. "But…I do want to know one thing…" Hinata looked up.
"Why…do you let your family…beat down on you so much?" Naruto asked, a little unsure of how to put his words. Hinata looked back down.
"I…don't really have a choice…" She mumbled, just loud enough for him to hear.
"Of course you have a choice!" Naruto exclaimed. "Everyone has a choice. You just need to stand up to your father." He said knowingly.
"It's…not that easy…" Hinata muttered under her breath. "Especially…when you can't match your successors…"
Naruto sighed. "I guess I can't really blame you, Hinata-chan. After all…your dad is pretty intimidating." Hinata nodded.
"And also, I guess you kind of feel pressured, being part of the most noble family of Konoha…" Naruto continued. Hinata nodded again.
They sat in silence for a while. They were both in deep thought. Then Naruto remembered something.
"Ne, Hinata-chan? Is it true that I was an inspiration to you?"
Hinata nearly face vaulted. 'He…he heard that?' She screamed in her head. She quickly looked for an answer. Naruto was looking at her expectantly.
"Umm…yes…" She said, blushing and pointing her fingers together. Naruto beamed.
"Really?" He was getting excited.
Hinata nodded shyly. Naruto pumped his fists into the air. "Yeah! I'm so cool!"
"Ano…Naruto-kun…just how much of the conversation did you hear…?" She got worried that he may have heard the part where she said she considered him for her husband.
"Hmm? Not much. I only heard the part where you said that I inspired you to become a better shinobi…and then when your father called you useless…" He got angry right there on the spot.
"But you're NOT useless, Hinata-chan!" Naruto said cheerfully. "You're an important person in my life!" He gave her another foxy grin.
Hinata blushed. 'I'm…an important person…in his life…' She smiled contently.
"But…just why am I an inspiration to you…?" Naruto asked, turning serious again. Hinata turned even redder.
"U-umm…well…" She was looking for the words she needed. "Well…you see…even though the village looked down upon you…" Naruto nodded for her to go on.
"You…you still wanted to be H-Hokage. You didn't give up…even though most people would. You worked hard…to be acknowledged. When you fell, you got back up, and tried harder. That is why…that is why you're an inspiration to me, Naruto-kun." She worked up enough courage to smile at him. "I admire you because you have such a big drive…"
Naruto stared at her blankly. Hinata got worried. Did he think she was weird…?
"Hinata-chan…" He started seriously. Hinata was definitely worried now. And then…
GLOMP!!!
"I'm glad I have such a great friend like you, Hinata-chan!" Naruto said, trapping her in a huge bear hug. Hinata turned red again. Yes, again.
FLASH
"Huh?" Naruto said, looking around. He stopped hugging Hinata. "What just happened?"
"I…I don't know…" Hinata said, also looking around. Something happened…could it have something to do with the charms?
Seeing that nothing else had happened, she brushed off the idea. A bird suddenly crash-landed in between the two teens.
"Eh?" Naruto unlatched the message from the bird's leg. He read the message and then gave it to Hinata.
"Tsunade-baachan wants to see us." Naruto muttered. "Let's go!" Hinata nodded in agreement.
"Alright. Now you all must be wondering why I've called you all here." Tsunade said, sitting back at her desk. Neji, Tenten, Sasuke and Sakura had joined the rest of the Body Swappers in Tsunade's office.
"Well, to start, I'm going to give you a little hint to finding the charms." People's heads perked up. Tsunade smirked.
"Well, I'm going to say that Shikamaru and Ino are on the right track." She mentioned proudly. The others looked at them in confusion. "But…what did they do?" Sakura asked, a little jealous.
"You'll find out later. But that's besides the point." Tsunade continued. "The charms are, as I said, invisible. You can't go out and look for them. They will make themselves visible to you when you and your switching partner have completed a couple of requirements."
"So…what exactly ARE these requirements…?" Tenten asked. The edges of Tsunade's lips slowly curled upwards again.
"That…is something I cannot tell you. It could put your chances of getting back together in jeopardy." Everyone groaned.
"Oh, quit whining. The world isn't served to you on a silver platter." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"But, I CAN say, that once you fill the requirements, you will find the charms. They will appear before you. Do not worry." She took a swig of sake.
"Oh yeah…and one more thing…" She started. Everyone leaned forward, waiting for her to continue.
"You do know that several months have passed since you swapped bodies, right?"
…
"Umm…what's your point?" Tenten asked. But then everyone started to remember…
Flashback
"In addition to that, you have a deadline. You all have a month to learn your lessons. Both kunoichi and shinobi." The blonde 50-year-old said, folding her arms.
End Flashback
…
"OH MY GOD!!!!!" Everyone screamed. "WE'RE ALL GONNA STAY IN EACH OTHER'S BODIES!!!!"
"HOW AM I GOING TO TAKE A BATH?"
"BATH? HOW ABOUT USING THE TOILET?"
Tsunade was having a ball. She was on the ground, laughing, with tears coming out of her eyes. Everyone glared at her.
"WHY DO YOU FIND THIS SO FUNNY?" Naruto screamed.
"Oh…oh gees…oh my gosh that was good…" Tsunade said, trying to get up off the floor. She sighed. "Ah…that gets them all the time…"
"W…what?" Neji ventured.
"Gets them…all the time…?" Sasuke asked.
"Oh my, how fun it is to see you all squirm…" Tsunade said, still laughing a bit. "You see, there is no deadline."
"WHA?" Everyone was now officially confused.
"I just said that because it's way too fun watching you run around like idiots…" Tsunade said before laughing again.
Everyone glared. "So we can take as long as we want…in finding the charms…and you said we only had enough…so we could be your own personal lab rats…?" Shikamaru speculated. Tsunade nodded with a big smile on her face.
Silence, and then…
"TSUNADE-BAACHAN!!!!"
A.N. OMG done. Yay! I enjoyed writing this. Don't worry, minna! That's not all the NaruHina that's going to happen! There's a lot more where that came from! And NejiTen is the featured couple the next chapter! What's going to happen with Hiashi's wedding preparations? Wait and see!
I'll uh…try to submit the chapters faster. I just need to properly plan out the NejiTen part, now. Bye, minna!
-Chippie
