Chapter 10 - Finally
"NARUTO!" Sakura punched Naruto in the face sending him a million miles away. Tenten, Lee, Neji, and Hinata sweat dropped at the furious pink haired kunoichi.
"Ano, Sakura-san, Naruto was only trying to tell you something," Hinata said. Naruto had kept everyone up the other night trying to plan how to confess his feelings to Sakura. Naruto was about to tell her how he felt but he became so nervous that all he could say was a list of all her flaws and insulted her.
"Like what?! That I'm not perfect and I have so many bad habits?" Tenten patted Sakura's back, "Well Sakura, if you just let him finish you would know."
"Know what? I don't need to hear anything from him. I'm sick of his incessant complaints about me! Why can't the stupid blonde just love me? Can't he see that I care about him? Sure I'm not perfect but I try, for him," Tenten and Hinata hugged Sakura.
"I do care about you, that's why I'm sure now, I love you Sakura-chan," Naruto said.
Sakura turned around and stared at now black eyed Naruto grinning sheepishly.
Lee grinned, "Well our job here is done."
"What job, we didn't do anything," Neji said. Hinata only smiled at her cousin and the tai jutsu user. Tenten locked hands with Lee, "Well we'll leave you two alone."
Hinata winked at Sakura wishing her good luck. The four of them walked away from the two blushing shinobis. As they walked, Tenten sighed, "I hope they get together."
"Ten-chan, my lovely flower, they will get together. Haa... it's a wonderful youthful winter of love. Love is everywhere in the air and because of that Naruto-kun and Sakura-san will truly be together. Like you and I Ten-chan. I remember it was just yesterday when I was trying very hard to confess to Sakura-san but I somehow knew she wasn't the one. It was always you. Now look at us I'm a happy man with a beautiful girl like you. We will grow old together watching the sunset reliving our youth and we'll -
"Lee! Stop it! Not in front of them!?" Tenten exclaimed embarassingly.
"But Ten-chan! It's the youthful season of love! We must show the world our love for each other! Soon Naruto-kun and Sakura-san will be together and they can join us in spreading our youthful love!"
Tenten turned a million shades of red and whacked Lee with her fist. Hinata laughed at them. She thought it was cute. Tenten turned her attention from Lee who was oggling her to Hinata, "So Hinata, who's you prince charming?"
Hinta blushed and took a quick glance at Neji who blushed and turned away. Tenten smirked, "It's Neji isn't it?" she whispered. Hinata only nodded. Tenten then turned to Neji, "So who's the lucky girl that will spend the rest of her life with you?" she asked him. At this, Lee's ears perked up and he ran to Neji with a very curious expression written on his face. Neji's eye twitched and Tenten just laughed. She pulled Lee from Neji, "Okay c'mon Lee we best be going. You promised me you had to show me something anyways."
Lee became excited, "Oh yes I almost forgot. I promise you Ten-chan you will love it."
"Hai, hai." she said. Before the couple left, Tenten went to Neji, "Hinata is a great girl, she cares about you very much. So, don't go breaking her heart, or else I will have to kick your ass," she whispered so only Neji could hear.
Neji watched the couple's retreating backs. He wished Hinata and him could be like that, care free and allowed to express themselves openly. No, he thought they could do that if they wanted to. Who cares about what other people thought. But that wasn't the case. He wasn't worried about just anyone. It was the clan. The clan enforced inter-marriages yeah, but it was different with Hinata and him. He is a branch member whereas Hinata is part of the main house. It would be impossible for them to be together.
Hinata noticed Neji frowning, she held his hand in hers and gently squeezed it. Neji broke from his reverie of sadness, staring deeply at Hinata unable to say anything. Suddenly, he felt her hand tighten in his. Her eyes gazing past him. He turned around and frowned.
Juusuke.
Juusuke was walking around with Sakura and Naruto. Naruto spotted Hinata and Neji and waved his hand towards them.
"Neji, Hinata!" Neji felt that it was disrespectful to just walk away, as much as he wanted to but Hinata walked over to Naruto and Sakura even though Juusuke was there as well. Hinata looked at Sakura. Sakura had a smile on her face and held Naruto's hand.
"Um uh ...we're together now," she said scratching her nose. Hinata smiled and congratulated them. Juusuke said hello to both Hinata and Neji. Although it wasn't noticable, Sakura saw the tension between the three Hyuugas. Strange she thought. It seemed like Hinata didn't want Juusuke around at all. She didn't understand it. Juusuke was such a nice guy. Well, that's what she and several other people thought. As for Neji, he looked as if he was ready to kill Juusuke and send him to hell.
She didn't know what was going on but she wanted to know. For now, she'll let it slide, but next time she would ask Hinata. May be she would be able to tell her.
"Ah Neji, Hinata-chan; I see you are taking a stroll around Konoha. Taking a break from rehearsing?" Juusuke asked.
"Hai, Hinata-sama has been practicing very hard and deserves to take a break."
Hinata was scared. She had confined everything to Neji and she knew how much Neji wanted to kill Juusuke. She was afraid he might do something stupid so she held his arm, "Ano, Nii-san, maybe it's best if we go back home and rehearse some more. I don't want to make a mistake in the ceremony."
"Oh yes, you should practice some more Hinata-chan. You will be the next leader after all." Juusuke smiled to her, Hinata nodded and turned to walk away pulling Neji with her. Neji sent a last death glare at him before walking away. Sakura stared at the Hyuuga cousins. Something was wrong and she wanted to know what it was. She turned to Naruto who was awfully quiet. Naruto said good bye to Juusuke then turned to Sakura, "Something isn't right about Juusuke," he said.
"You felt it too?" Sakura asked. Naruto nodded.
"Naruto, let's say we go figure out what's going on. Hinata's ceremony is only two days from now. I have a feeling something will happen." Naruto wrapped his arms around Sakura, "Don't worry Sakura-chan, we'll figure something out."
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"Juusuke you idiot!" Sakaki slapped him across the face. "What if they suspect you too? Then there will be people outside of the clan that will go against you! Did you even think about that?"
Juusuke rubbed his cheek, "It was only Sakura and Naruto. They won't suspect me and if they did, I will just eliminate them."
"Fool! Our only objective is to eliminate Hinata and make you the next leader. Listen very well. We can not make a single mistake. In two days from now, the ceremony will be held. We have to have Hinata dead by then. I've already finished making the poison. I want you to put it in her food tomorrow night. It will affect her so she will be dead in the morning."
Juusuke stared at his sister, "We will kill her with force not poisoning her."
"Are you stupid? Hinata has gotten stronger. It will be more difficult to kill her by force. It's best if we attack her when she isn't paying attention."
"NO!"
"Juusuke what has gotten into you!" It was then Sakaki notice what was wrong, "Juusuke, no. I don't care how you feel about her. She isn't the same person. This is Hinata. Not her mother. You barely made it out alive twelve years ago. Do not and I repeat do not do anything reckless. Forget about her mother and focus on our plan."
"Fine, but I will have my way."
"You can have your way when you become leader. But right now we have to focus on getting rid of Hinata. Is that clear?"
Juusuke scowled and walked away. Sakaki glared at her brother. If he wasn't going to get rid of Hinata, then she will.
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Hiashi and Neji was training with Hanabi when the door opened. Hinata stepped in following two servants who were holding the end of her long and dragging kimono. Hanabi took a deep breath, "Nee-chan! Oh Kami-sama you look so beautiful."
Hinata walked forward to stand in the center of the room. She was wearing a traditional kimono that revealed her status as the new leader. It wasn't just any kimono. It was her mother's. Hinata refused to have a new one made especially when she had found this kimono somewhere in the compound. Hiashi stared at his daughter. She looked very much like his wife, and seeing her wear that kimono made her look as if she was her twin or his actual wife.
Hinata blushed at the way her sister and her father stared at her, throwing compliments at her. She was happy but there was only one person she wanted to hear say she was beautiful. She turned her head to Neji.
Hanabi looked at Hinata and Neji and smirked. Hiashi stared at Hanabi wondering why she was smirking, once he saw Neji and Hinata gazing at each other, he finally smiled too, "Hanabi, help me to make tea."
Hanabi frowned, "But otousan,"
"Are you defying me?"
Hanabi sighed, "No otousan."
"Good, now come along." Hanabi whined, she really wanted to hear what Neji would say to Hinata. She wanted to see her cousin and sister blush from head to toe and express their feelings but no her otousan had to make her go with him and make tea just so they could give them some time for themselves.
Once they left along with the servants, Neji walked towards Hinata. Her hair was tied in a very intricate bun with a headdress on. Her kimono was white and had red sakura petals falling on the bottom of the sleeves and on the bottom where her feet were. Her obi was an ice blue color. The kimono was very extravagant but plain at the same time. It went very well with her eyes.
Neji was at a loss for words. He couldn't say anything because words alone wasn't enough to describe how beautiful she was to him. Hinata began to worry that she looked ridiculous.
"Wow," she heard.
"Hinata-sama, I can not express enough words to say how beautiful you look." Hinata saw Neji blush a deep red. She was happy. Actually she was ecstatic and close to tears, "Arigatou Neji-nii."
"Are you nervous?"
Hinata nodded.
"Hinata-sama, everything will be fine."
"I know, because I'll have you there next to me."
Neji drew closer to Hinata soon their faces were only an inch away. Neji finally closed the distance and brought his hand up to her cheek. Hinata pressed her hands to his chest savoring the gentle kiss. Her heart fluttered. She could feel him all around her and she didn't want him to go away.
Hanabi silently sqealed in her head. The tea cups shook and a hand quickly pulled the tray away from Hanabi's grasps before it could fall. Hiashi gave Hanabi a look as Hanabi grinned sheepishly rubbing the back of her head. Hiashi stared at the lovers before him. It reminded him of when he and his wife were engaged to each other. It was the same thing, he loved her just as she loved him. Now, it was his daughter Hinata and she loved Neji just as Neji loved her.
Finally, he thought.
Hinata and Neji could finally be happy and they found that happiness from each other.