Chapter 10: The hawk's eyes
Hinata slowly opened her eyes – and realized that she was in the hospital.
She wanted to stand up when a slight pain went up her shoulder that was wrapped in bandages. She ignored it and stood up.
She slowly walked towards the window and pulled the curtain.
It was evening already but she was happy that she had a long rest.
She opened the window and a light, cool breeze went into the room, making her shiver but refreshing her at the same time.
Meanwhile Naruto still was asleep in another room and Sakura waited for him impatiently and with worry.
"Wake up!" she thought, hoping he would at any moment.
But he didn't.
She looked around the room and noticed that the room looked similar to the one in which Sasuke used to be hospitalized.
"This room brings back memories. The day I realized that they had a rivalry…that could end in hostility," she thought, remembering the fight that Naruto and Sasuke had.
She continued peeling the apple that she decided to give to Naruto.
"What about Sasuke? Is he going to try to kill any of us again?" she thought suddenly and stopped working on the apple.
"Whatever he tries to do, he won't succeed," she thought determinedly.
"Sakura?"
She turned her eyes to the bed and saw Naruto awake, a smile on his face.
She smiled too.
"Naruto! Finally you are awake. Have a piece of this apple," she said, extending her hand to give him the piece.
But before he took it from her she let it drop accidentally, reminding her of Sasuke again.
She looked at the piece glumly.
Suddenly she felt Naruto's hand close to her and she turned to look at him.
He hungrily took a piece from the plate that was in her other hand.
"I'm going to give you a piece. Can't you wait?" she said angrily, receiving a mischievous grin from him.
"Sometimes I think he didn't change at all," she thought and smiled.
Meanwhile Hinata was lying in her bed, trying to rest. She turned her eyes around the room when she spotted a tray with rice balls and a glass of water.
All of a sudden, hunger overwhelmed her and she ate everything in just a few minutes.
She stood up again, noticing that her shoulder didn't hurt anymore.
She smiled.
"I feel better now. I hope that Naruto feels better too," she thought and decided to look for his room.
She was about to open the door of her room when suddenly she heard a loud explosion. She turned to the window but was blinded with bright light – as bright as lightning.
She closed her eyes.
"What is happening?" she thought.
The light slowly faded and revealed the total destruction of several buildings, leaving behind fire and chaos.
"W-who did this?" she wondered when she heard quick footsteps.
"We have to be quick before more people get hurt. Sakura will meanwhile heal the injured people in the hospital," she heard someone say.
Suddenly the lights flickered and went off.
"It must be one of the Akatsuki members."
Hinata's eyes opened wide.
"T-this light! It must have been a lightning style Jutsu. And as far as I know…Sasuke uses jutsus based on lightning."
She remained silent for a minute…and remembered his words before he flew away.
"I did it…for the future."
"He's after Naruto! I have to warn him before it's too late," she thought and opened the door.
She dashed through the hallway, Byakugan activated. Her eyes darted quickly from left to right, always hoping him to be in one of the numerous rooms.
Meanwhile Naruto quickly stood up from the bed, despite Sakura's warning not to and opened the door.
Suddenly he stopped walking, confusion in his face.
In front of him stood a mad Sakura.
"W-what are you doing here still?" he asked and received a serious look from her.
But he noticed that there was worry as well.
"You know that you shouldn't get off the bed. You know that you're still weakened from the poison," she said, voice rising steadily.
"I'm fine! You know I heal fast from my wounds. There's nothing to worry," he smiled at her.
"Don't play the hero!" Sakura screamed all of a sudden.
He was startled.
"Sakura?"
"You know that you still need to rest. And even if you're fine, I won't let you go," she said, slowly lowering her head.
"If you don't, then you can say goodbye to the village. Do you want to sacrifice a whole village for me? Sasuke is the one attacking and he decided to kill everyone! He won't leave even a tree standing," Naruto said with serious eyes, annoyed by her stubbornness.
"I don't want to hear it anymore," she said in a low voice, closing her eyes.
"What!" he said and slowly was getting angry.
"That you pretend to be so strong and could solve any problem," she cried, close to tears.
"I'm not pretending, Sakura! I am!"
She looked at him, tears in her eyes.
He was surprised to see her in this condition.
"You still don't know?" she murmured.
"What?"
"You still don't know how I feel about you," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
His eyes opened wide.
"I bet you already forgot the day when I told you that I -" she said but was interrupted when his hand touched her shoulder.
"Look at me!" he said in a low voice.
She raised her head, a troubled expression in her face.
"Do you see my face? Can you see the determination in it? It's the same determination that made me give you the promise. And this determination will not let me die. As long as I can protect this village I'll live. As long as I have my friends, this determination won't break," he said seriously but with a smile.
She stared at him with wide eyes.
"And as long as I have you…I have enough strength to fight anyone – even Sasuke."
"Naruto!"
"When you told me the truth that day I knew that I wasn't alone – even if I had my doubts about it at first."
"There are so many people here who need your help and there's no time to worry about me. I'm needed outside. I'm needed to protect the village. Let's both do our jobs and we won't fail," he said.
Sakura stared at him silently.
"But if you…need medical assistance, let me help you," she said.
"I'll promise," he smiled and dashed past her.
Sakura smiled.
"When I began training with Tsunade…I did it to protect you and Sasuke. And I think I can…if I'll do my best as a medical ninja," she thought, remembering her reason for becoming stronger and reviving her determination.
She ran off to heal the injured.
Meanwhile Hinata searched floor after floor but couldn't find Naruto anywhere.
She finally reached the door to the roof of the hospital.
She opened the door and was faced with dark clouds and rain.
She stepped to the middle of the roof when she noticed a feather falling down.
It was a dove's feather.
"He is after Naruto but why did he save us then? Why did he mention this word?"
Hinata was silent and stared at the feather.
"Future! What does he mean with 'future'?"
Her eyes opened wide.
"Sasuke!"
He stood behind her and remained silent.
"What is the future? What do you mean?"
She noticed him stepping closer and turned around.
He stopped and stared into her face.
She was silent, waiting for his answer.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why didn't you kill me?" he asked.
"Because…I know some people try to help you. There are people who don't want to see you die – because you are important to them," she said.
She saw him smiling – in a sad and mocking way.
"And what about you?" he asked.
She opened her eyes in surprise.
"It was an order, right? Wouldn't it have been better if you obeyed?"
"I told you that I did it for my friends," she replied.
He remained silent for a moment.
"Now answer me!" she said loudly but he remained still.
"Say it!" she shouted, surprised by her own voice.
"The future is my clan. And the first step towards my clan is the destruction of anyone who forced my brother to kill them," he said, eyes cold and hard when remembering the night again.
She didn't say a word.
"What do you think future is?" he asked suddenly.
She looked at him with surprise.
"I-I…don't know but I think it's a good thing," she replied a bit nervously since he activated his Sharingan.
Sharingan – eyes that can see everything – just like a hawk's.
"So do I," he said and stared into her eyes – into her Byakugan.
She stared back, feeling no fear when looking at him.
"I'm not afraid of your genjutsu anymore," she thought bravely, despite feeling still a bit uneasy.
He stepped closer but Hinata didn't move from her spot.
"I won't cower and I won't run. I will fight…and win!"she thought, still watching him coming closer.
Suddenly he stopped.
"Why did he stop? Isn't he going to attack?" she wondered.
He drew his sword, a smile on his face.
"Soon the Uchiha clan will be revived and respected," he thought.
"He stopped…so I have to attack instead," she thought, concentrating chakra into her feet.
She charged while her eyes concentrated at his every movement.
But there was no movement at all.
"Why isn't he moving?" she wondered but remembered that he just wants her to come close enough so he can use his Chidori Nagashi on her.
She picked a kunai and concentrated chakra into her hand.
"I have to divert his attention," she thought and threw it.
But he didn't move.
Instead, he just blocked hit with his sword.
"Is that the best you can do?" he asked, self-confident.
"No!" he heard her say from behind.
He turned around and could avoid a kunai that was flying close to his face.
Suddenly she dashed a palm towards him but he could avoid a hit by moving to the side, causing her to move past him.
He quickly turned around, sword in his hand.
She did the same and could block his attack with another kunai.
She dashed her other palm towards him when suddenly he took hold of it.
She tried to pull her hand back but he wouldn't let go.
"Then I you leave me no other choice," she murmured.
She formed a palm with the hand that was still in his grip.
"8 Trigrams Sky Palm!"
Suddenly there was a strong burst of air coming from her palm, sending Sasuke several meters into the air.
She stepped forward, kunai in her hand.
Suddenly there was a puff, revealing only a tree trunk.
"He's gone!"
"Behind you," said a voice.
She turned around, seeing that he was completely unharmed.
"How did he escape?" she wondered, angry that she couldn't land a single hit.
She concentrated chakra into her hands, while trying to find out how to distract him.
She noticed that he was charging.
"Just come closer…so I can hit you this time," she thought.
She was ready to attack, only waiting for the right moment.
He dashed his blade towards her but she ducked, dashing her palm towards him.
But she missed closely.
She used her other palm but missed again when trying to avoid a hit from him.
She started to feel tired but was determined to keep going.
Her hands formed fists now, trying to land a hit.
But he blocked her attempt.
She was about to use the kunai but he grabbed her wrist and threw her towards the ground.
She slowly stood up, seeing that he stepped closer.
"How is this possible? How come I have no chance against him?" she thought angrily.
She watched his steps.
She watched his weapon.
She watched his face – for any sign of carelessness.
But there wasn't any – no matter what she tried, he always was cautious enough not to let his guard down.
She looked into his eyes.
"His Sharingan is the reason why I can't hit him! He sees every movement of me…as if I'm too slow," she realized.
She clenched her teeth in anger.
He stopped – and smiled.
"I thought you would be stronger but I guess I was wrong," he said, seeing her angry face – angry at herself.
She realized that he stood right in front of her, eyes looking into her.
"I…I still won't give up, even if you can read all my moves. I will find a way…to defeat you," she said determinedly but her face revealed doubts.
"Why do you still keep fighting even if you know you have no chance?" he asked.
"Because…if you give up, you have let not only yourself down but also the people who believe in you. If you give up, you will lose all your hope…and start to believe that it was destined for you to lose. But you have control over destiny. And you never know whether you have a chance or not unless you fight until the end," she said.
He looked at her silently as if thinking.
"Just like Naruto," she murmured, remembering his fight with Neji.
"Even Naruto is not perfect," he said.
"What do you mean?" she asked confused.
"Even Naruto couldn't stop me until now, even though he tried everything to bring me back to Konoha," he said smiling.
"That's why he will one day," she said, smiling back.
He looked at her in confusion.
"Maybe he didn't manage it till now but he will learn from his failures and that will help him to defeat you one day," she said.
He narrowed his eyes at her.
"And that's why I'll continue fighting," she said determinedly, her palm facing him.
He looked at her, no emotion in his face.
She looked back, thinking of a way to outsmart him.
"I destroyed all my bonds with this village for the sole purpose to become stronger – stronger to defeat my brother. And I did a good thing since the village is responsible for the death of my clan. And nobody is going to stop the future – my clan," he said, remembering the night he left the village.
"Not even you," he said, eyes fixed on her the whole time.
"You're wrong! The way you think is wrong," she said, trying to make him understand.
His eyes turned abhorrent but Hinata wasn't intimidated.
"You make it sound so easy. But you don't understand the crime the village committed. You are all unaware that you're living a life full of deceit," he said.
She lowered her head, his words starting to confuse her.
"Maybe what he says is true. Maybe the village did a mistake," she thought, looking at her feet.
There was silence – only the thunder and wind would break it at times.
She felt the wind blowing around her.
She remembered the day when Naruto left the village with Jiraya.
She promised herself to be stronger – much stronger.
And now was the time to prove it.
She lifted her head, revealing determination and confidence.
"Maybe they did a mistake…but they have learned from it. If you decide to continue destroying the village, there will be war…and many people will lose their lives. And you will turn to a murderer…and kill innocent people – loved ones, just like your brother," she said, her voice trying to show sympathy.
Suddenly there was a punch that caused her to trip backwards.
"Don't dare to talk about my brother like this again. They killed my loved ones and so I will kill their loved ones," he said, anger in his eyes.
She wiped her mouth, her eyes turning serious.
"But you might destroy the last thing that kept you bound to this place," she said, hoping to change his mind.
"I have nothing left in this village – my bonds died years ago."
"But-"
"And even if I have any, I'd break them sooner or later."
She opened her mouth to say something but he charged immediately at her.
She blocked a punch from him with her hand.
"Please listen –"she said but couldn't continue talking.
He dashed his sword towards her.
She stepped backwards, to avoid a hit when suddenly she tripped and lost her balance.
She noticed Naruto stepping onto the roof, seemingly out of breath.
She let go of his fist so she could support herself against the ground.
But there was no ground.
Hinata screamed.
She was falling from the building.