DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR IT'S CHARACTERS ONLY THE PLOT...


Chapter 9


In the morning she woke up groggily and saw a bag sitting on the floor by her feet. She stood and noticed Gaara wasn't in the room. She changed into what she wore yesterday and stumbled into the bathroom. She unwound the bandage and saw it as healing slowly but faster had she not put the blame on. Bandaging it back up and cleaning her teeth, a shower and doing her hair she went downstairs.

In the kitchen there was arguing going on inside. Hinata approached slowly.

"I am not a gym boy! Kyuubi-teme!" shouted someone

"Gym Boy! Gym Boy! Gym Boy!" replied the voice of Naruto, Hinata walked in and saw Hanabi sitting eating coco pops while talking to Tenten and Temari with Neji shouting at Naruto. She giggled and they waved at her.

"Where's Gaara?" she asked

"Kankurou, Kiba and Shino took him to go see Shikamaru with Ino," said Sakura coming in

"Hurry up and eat Hinata-san, the competition begins in 2 hours and its 45 minutes drive away," said Neji

"Hai, Neji-kun," she said chomping down on some toast.

Within the hour they were packed into Lee's jeep, Neji's jeep and Temari's 'stang and on the way to the Memorial Rock Stadium for this years contest. The Shukaku's knew nothing about this other then that Hinata was in it. They were going to be in for a surprise.


Once returning from the hospital Gaara went upstairs and couldn't find Hinata in their room. It was only 11 in the morning but she was always up by 9. He checked most of the room and the garage and still couldn't find them. He turned to Kankurou who was busy putting things away and getting his car keys out.

"Where are they?" he hissed at Kankurou

"Erm….I don't know?" tried Kankurou

"You let them go!" he shouted at his brother "I told no!"

"Well sorry but I wasn't about to stop them!" he screamed back "Now if you'd calm down and change, we're going to go watch!" he shouted again as Gaara disappeared upstairs. Kankurou just shrugged and walked back through to the living room to wait for the bogey man to calm down.


The drive to the arena was boring and silent. Kankurou could still feel the tension in Gaara as he sat glaring out the window. He sighed and shook his head.

"There it is!" cried Kiba pointing to a massive building with lots of cars outside. They parked and walked in showing tickets to the guards and going in. Everyone around them was dressed smartly, in expensive clothes, the guys felt different because they had bullet vest on, baggy jeans and old shirts on.

"Now what the hell is the contest anyway," said Shino angrily looking around

"Hey guys!" called someone behind them, the whirled round and saw the rest of their gang plus two extra Hyuuga's. They walked over quickly, dodging people giving them bad stares.

"In here," said the little Hyuuga girl, they nodded and followed and came to a room to see Neji shouting as Hinata who was sitting looking down in the splits. She was dressed in looks Asian looking trousers and shirt with no shoes. Underneath it became evident she had shorts on underneath.

"G-gomen Neji-kun," she stuttered

"Already telling her off Neji-teme," said Temari putting her hands on her hips

"Iie, she missed the final jump at the end before," he said looking away

"GYM BOY GYM BOY!" shouted Naruto

"Shut up," said Hanabi annoyed as she sat down and started eating a box of cookies by the mirror.

"Could you please press play on the stereo," said Neji "Again Hinata-chan," Hinata nodded and stood up quickly. Lee pressed it and immediately all the Shukaku's cringed as the soft music.

"What the hell is this stuff!" cried Kiba with Akamaru growling

"P-please c-could y-you b-be q-quiet," said Hinata as she started going through the song. They shuffled to Hanabi, her sister to ask

"It's Passion, by Utada Hikaru" said Hanabi "I find it as lame as you but for Hinata and her style its perfect," she explained

"Nani?" said Tenten

"Well 4 years ago was the last time she's competed, father hasn't let her since then," she started explaining and they nodded

"Also she won it because of the style she used, it's like our fighting style, slow, graceful and elegant, everything it's supposed to be," she said munching again "She won this competition that year with this song and has decided to try it again. But she has one other she has to do, I just wonder what music you've given her," she said looking up at the others. They watched as it came to an end and she jumped and went into the splits. A few of the guys flinched at this but others just clapped quietly.

"That was great!" cheered Sakura smiling and doing thumbs up.

"A-Arigatou. Ano….Gaara-san, c-could y-you please p-pass m-my s-supports," she stuttered pointing behind he turned and threw them over, she caught them lightly and started putting them on. She rolled up her sleeved and removed the bandage which caused the attention of everyone on the room.

"What happened?" asked Tenten

"N-nothing," she replied quickly putting the supports on over the cut.

"No it's something," growled Neji gripping he wrist and looking at the cut, Hinata winced and looked down

"I w-walked i-into s-something l-last n-night," she said quietly trying to pull away "J-just l-leave i-it," she added Neji opened his mouth to speak when Gaara cut him off

"She said leave it," he growled grabbing Hinata forcefully and pulling her to him, she went bright red and looked down "Do not tell them," he whispered into her ear, she nodded and looked up

"I-it's a-almost t-time t-to g-go," she said they nodded and headed out, Hinata only caught a small glimpse at Neji death staring Gaara which he returned with a bored look. Temari walked over to her younger brother looking quite bored

"Contain your anger next time, or she's out of there," she hissed before carrying on towards Hinata who was giving Hanabi a piggy back ride to the stands. They filed on in row 5 and sat down. Along the front were several people not including Hinata and were fidgeting and looking equally nervous.


"Okay Hinata-chan, your on 2nd, I have to go sit down now, but remember what we practised and remember that the last competition you went to was the juniors, this is the seniors." Said Neji quickly "Good luck," he said hugging her awkwardly, she smiled nervously and sat and watched.


"Okay so what is this?" asked Kankurou

"Its dance and gym together," said Hanabi looking around the crowd then turning back "What music did you give her?" she asked raising an eyebrow

"Had Naruto mix something up for us," smiled Sakura "Special gang one,"

"Hai, that's what I was worried about, I don't know if the judges would allow it, that sort of…..music hasn't been used here before," she said looking slightly worried then sighing "But she has to dance to it I suppose," she muttered, the attention soon turned from her to the centre of the mats.


Hinata looked up as an old friend of her appeared on the centre stage. An old competitor who now seemed to be the presenter. Mitarashi Anko. She didn't seem like the kind into this but she was. Senior champ in her last year with the longest running title. Well now she just didn't compete, Hinata thought she wanted a more private life then the ones of constantly in the newspaper, although mind you she loved attention.

"Hello everyone and welcome to the 21st ANBU Dance Contest, I'm Mitarashi Anko, the presenter. We have for the seniors, 8 contestants this year performing for you" she called smiling and enjoying the sudden attention "We have Ami, a newbie this year but apparently very good from the looks of things, next is…." She continued on until she mentioned someone's name that interested her "our 6th competitor is Tayuya who was winner last year, but can she hold her title again?" she questioned the audience, she got a loud clap as she read the 7th competitor and finally her "Finally we cannot a returning competitor from a 4 year disappearance, Hyuuga Hinata, the running junior champ although this year it seems she'll be challenging everyone in her way for the new title of Senior champ!" she cried smiling fiercely at the crowd, Ami stood to take her place at the beginning. Hinata breathed deeply, in these you had to perform 2 performances and then one in the finals for everyone. She breathed heavily and sat back and watched. Soon it was Taiyuan's turn.

Dressed in what Hinata called, 'slut' clothes or something, a short, loose skirt and a white tank top which more or less looked like a cheerleaders outfit. She went to the middle of the floor and the music turned on. It luckily wasn't anything like Hinata's but she would give her this, she was good. Very good. I fact Hinata started doubting herself until she saw her mistake. She landed wrongly and only those who'd been to many had seen the few, slight wobbles. Those would cost her marks in this contest. She closed her eyes and tried to relax a little bit then heard her name.

"Would Hyuuga Hinata please stand up to her place," called the announcer, Hinata stood and took the jumper off herself.

"Well first off it seems that she will be entering her junior champs song then going onto a remix of music, which is a first here at ANBU," said Anko smiling, Hinata smiled and waited for it to finish


In the stands the Shukaku's watched as Hinata started the routine. As the verse entered she was on one side doing forward flips across the mats and landing in slower backwards walk over. People clapped in the crowd and some gasped at the slowed down versions of the song. The lights suddenly changed to black and red flashing as she stood in the middle for a loud beating section. It looked like a tug of war but ended with her going into the splits. Hanabi smiled as she watched her sister take the audience by surprise. She heard her cousin counting and mumbling to himself about her performance. Neji-kun always was cautious….. She smiled again as she heard people whispering around her and clapping.

'No wonder she won the juniors….'

'I wonder who trains her……'

'Wish I could do that…..'

Gaara sat in silent awe at his porcelain doll perform. He had been told before hand she was good but he was far more impressed at the determination etched across her pure face. Very good Hinata…….Glad they tricked me somehow…….


(A/N: The next bit is hard to explain but I would be easier if you listen to the song I'm thinking of…….No laughing but the Clovers Cheering song from Bring It On….It's a giant remix…..also sorta ghetto style and stuff so think that kind of music…..)

The song ended slowly and she went down into a handstand and help her legs almost like a person would ride a bike. After 3 seconds she came back up as Anko smiled excitedly at her.

"Well done, certainly stands up to what it says," she said "Now onto her second performance,"

"Matte, Anko-san!" cried Hinata running across the mats, Neji stared at her as she quickly pulled the trousers down to reveal combat shorts and a black tank top. She slipped into a pair of Temari's black ankle converse. She could hear people mumbling and whispering. She saw Tayuya and Ami snicker and she also saw Neji and Hanabi look confused. She nodded her head and stood up.

"Ready?" asked Anko looking slightly amused

"Hai, I'm ready, oh wait the disc," she said handing over the remix cd. They slid it in and she waited for it to come on.

In the crowd there were many confused faces as Hinata started her second dance. It had lots of spunk, Hanabi had to give it that but it was lacking in the elegance of he Hyuuga's. But Hinata wasn't a member so much of the Hyuuga's. She was now gangafied. Her performance seemed to be going well and the look of confusion of the judges faded to an impressed face. Her final bit was coming where she would do her most difficult move she could muster.

Hinata heard her wrist supports strain as she came in for the final bit of the routine. She jogged then went into a backwards hand spring kick then into a final double flip and into the splits. The crowd clapped and after 3 seconds she stood and bowed and smiled to the judges before heading off the mat. At the side she plonked down again to sit and watch the next bit.

"Moving to the next round is Ami, Tayuya, Issay and Hinata, thank you everyone who has competed the next round will begin in 2 hours, go have a decent lunch, you'll need it," said Anko before turning to go away and waving at the audience. Hinata grabbed her stuff and then fell forwards. Someone had shoved her sharply from behind her. She turned and saw Tayuya and Ami snickering at her and she looked down.

"What was that some tramp music?" laughed Tayuya, Hinata stood again and carried on walking afraid she'd be laughed at more. She made it to the room she was staying in and sat down. She put her head in her hands and curled her legs up to her chest and started crying quietly.

"Why did I agree to come?" she asked herself hiccupping slightly "I shouldn't have come, I've disgraced us even more, they don't even want to be here," she sobbed silently. Thee was thumping and shouting coming from down the corridor and the door flew open. In came Hanabi, Neji and the rest of her gang. They stopped abruptly when she looked up and they saw her make-up or mainly the mascara running down her white face.

"Oh! What's wrong Hinata?" asked Temari rushing over quickly; she just looked down wiping her face "You did great!"

"I-I d-disgraced o-or f-family a-and t-the Sh-Shukaku's," she hiccupped into her knees looking away

"Sh, no you didn't we loved it, and so did Hanabi-chan and Neji-teme," she said hugging Hinata slightly, Hinata just carried on crying.

"Come on guys lets get some food," said Naruto smiling

"Fine, Naruto!" cried Sakura dragging the teen from the room. Temari stood and tried to make Hinata stand as well,

"Iie, I have my own food, I'll stay here," she said quietly, Temari nodded and left. When she thought everyone had left she stood shakily and walked to her bag to get her food.

"Don't," said someone, she turned and saw Gaara standing next to the door. She froze where she was and stared at him "I told you that you weren't to enter this contest," he said solemnly, she nodded and looked down, "Then why did you do it?" he asked

"B-because I-I w-wanted t-to," she stuttered looking down

"Hn," was all he said, she went and sat down on the chair and closed her eyes.

"Gaara-san?" she asked

"Hm?"

"I-I h-heard y-you s-sing b-before," she said quietly turning red as she curled up to sleep on the chair, there was a silence before he answered

"Hn,"

"W-would y-you s-sing a-again, y-your v-very g-good," she stuttered as blood rushed to her face, there was another silence before someone spoke


"A brand new baby was born yesterday,
Just in time
Papa cried, baby cried
Said, your tears are like mine
I heard some words
from a friend on the phone,
didn't sound so good
The doctor gave him two weeks to live
I'd give him more if I could

You know that I would now
If only I could
You know that I would now
If only I could

Down the middle drops one more
grain of sand
They say that
new life makes losing life easier to understand
Words are kind
they help ease the mind
I miss my old friend
And though you gotta go
we'll keep a piece of your soul
One goes out
One comes in

You know that I would now
If only I could
You know that I would now
If only I could"


When Gaara finished the song he looked up and over at Hinata. She was lying asleep on her chair. It made him happy that she had liked his singing and that she had wanted to hear it again. He pushed himself off the wall and walked over. Taking off his long black jacket he slung it over her. She smiled in her sleep and snuggled down into the jacket he leaned down to tuck her in and lightly kissed her forehead. He sat back down on the floor his back leaning against her chair and started to meditate.


Okayy I know this is late by I dunno how many days but I was just writing it. It was getting difficult but I promise the next chapter will be up soon...later guys...REVIEW!!!!!!