The final chapter at last. The bad news is that now this story shall come to an end. The good news, now I can get to work on the final part of this story line! Also, you can finally see why I gave this story it's title.
Chapter 10)
Tsunade would have been startled by Naruto bursting into her office if she hadn't been expecting it. She could hear the boy calling out her name as he ran toward the door. Now she watched as Naruto ran up to her desk, slamming his palms down on it out of frustration.
"Grandma, why won't you let me have ramen anymore!? And don't give me that nutrition crap! I eat plenty of stuff besides ramen and you know it! Why?!"
Tsunade sighed, trying to ignore the ringing in her ears from Naruto's shouting. "Naruto, to be honest I didn't really want to do it. I do want you to have a more nutritious diet, but I wouldn't go as far as prohibiting you from your favorite food. I suppose it's time to tell you what's been going on."
Naruto blinked, confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Have you noticed that you've been having some off days lately?" Naruto thought for a second and nodded, "Well, the truth is that you've been set up by the same man who used you to harass Hinata."
Naruto's eyes widened, a wave of anger surged through his very being. He was about to voice his outrage when Tsunade held up her hand, signaling for him to remain silent.
"Before you go off and do anything rash, I'm telling you that I have the situation under control and there's no need for you to be involved even though you have every right to be. Just let me handle it and I assure you that we will work everything out. What I want you to do is go to Hinata and explain everything to her and apologize, for real this time."
"Wait, Hinata's back already?"
"Her father and her got back from their trip early. Go to her and if anyone gives you trouble over it tell them you've been ordered to do so by me."
Naruto looked hesitant, his gaze falling to the ground. "But, I can't. I wanted to before, back when I was still doing all that stuff to hurt Hinata's feelings. But that guy, he was blackmailing me and I'm afraid that if I do tell her everything that he might do something."
"I've already taken care of that Naruto. And even if he does try something he won't get away with it. He's already done far more than enough. Now go, think of this as a mission."
Naruto left without another word, now dead set on setting things right with Hinata. A few moments after he'd gone, Tsunade put her plan into action. Asuma, Kurenai, Gai and Kakashi all entered her office.
"Naruto is on his way to see Hinata, if I'm correct than we can expect Twisted to be somewhere in the vicinity as well. I don't think I need to tell you that this may be our only chance to catch him so failure is not an option. Twisted may not be the worst threat that this village has ever seen but he is still a threat and shouldn't be underestimated. Don't let your guard down for even a second and unless absolutely necessary don't hold back. Any questions?"
They had none, they understood their mission fully. Tsunade dismissed them and got up to get ready herself. She didn't' think it would be necessary, but she wanted to be ready to face the man herself if need be.
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Naruto reached the Hyuga estate, nearly out of breath. He had run as fast as his legs would carry him and then some. As he neared the front gates he saw Neji. The boy was standing next to the gates, almost as though he had been waiting for Naruto. The blonde boy walked up to Neji, catching his breath.
"Neji, where's Hinata? Is she here yet?"
Neji nodded, "She and Hiashi-sama have been back since this morning and are resting after their journey."
"Can I see her? I need to tell her. That I'm sorry for everything."
"I know, but I think it would be best if you spoke with her father first. He's still not too pleased with everything that transpired between you two and I doubt he'll just let you in to speak with her. Follow me."
Neji led Naruto inside, advising the other boy on how to approach Hiashi. When
They reached Hiashi's study, Neji going in first to inform his uncle about Naruto. A moment later Neji allowed the other boy inside. Hiashi dismissed Neji, wishing to speak with Naruto alone. Naruto began to feel uneasy, he was hoping to have the older boy with him for moral support. Nevertheless Naruto stood straight, convincing himself that he'd be fine as long as he remembered what Neji had told him.
An awkward silence filled the room and Naruto waited for Hiashi to speak. He would have started the conversation but wasn't sure how to go about it. It wasn't like he was on a friendly basis with Hinata's father and didn't want to do anything that might cause the man to like him even less. Hiashi's gaze stayed on Naruto throughout the course of the next couple minutes until he finally broke the silence himself.
"Well? Are you going to speak or just stand there? Neji told me you had something important to say and I do have other, more important matters to attend to."
Naruto tensed, becoming nervous, "Well…I wanted to see Hinata. I know that I was mean to her and I feel really bad about it. I thought about what I did and I just want to tell her that I'm sorry."
Silence filled the room for a brief minute before Hiashi replied, "And just how would this apology be any different from the times you told her you were sorry before?"
"Because I mean it this time! I mean, I meant it all those other times too but…"
"But you found it far more tempting to upset her again, making any apology you'd given to her prior absolutely pointless."
Naruto let his gaze fell to the floor. Hiashi had a point, all those times he had said he was sorry and then he'd just go and… Hinata had every right not to trust him after that. The blonde boy cleared his head, now wasn't the time to be moping to himself. He had to see Hinata and set things right, starting by clearing things up with her father.
"Okay so I was wrong to do that, but this time I want to make up for everything I did. I want to let her know how sorry I really am."
"You're sorry alright. A sorry excuse for a friend, which is what you were to my daughter. To think she actually admired you."
Naruto's eyes widened, "Hinata…admired me?"
Hiashi nodded "She most likely still does. You inspired her to train harder, to become both a better person and shinobi, just because of who you are. She spoke very highly of you during our trip, when I asked her to tell me about what went on between the two of you. She told me everything you did, but refused to believe that you did it completely of your own will. It would seem she's rather taken with you."
Naruto absorbed the older man's words. He had no idea that Hinata had thought of him that way. And then there was the last thing Hiashi had said. 'She'd rather taken with you'? Was that supposed to mean that Hinata liked him!? Naruto felt even worse now, but it also strengthened his resolve.
"If what you're saying is true, then I'm definitely gonna tell her how sorry I am for what I did! No matter what!"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Hiashi's lips. "I think I'm beginning to see what Hinata was telling me about you. I'd like to see more of it, perhaps then I'll understand why she's so fond of you."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"I'm issuing a challenge to you."
" Are you saying you want to fight me? Cuz if you are then I'm not backing down!! And when I win you have to let me see Hinata!!"
"If you insist, this way."
Hiashi led Naruto out to the courtyard where Neji and Hinata usually trained. The two stood across from each other in the middle of the courtyard, ready for their match. No words were exchanged and neither of them made a move. It seemed as though Hiashi was waiting for Naruto to make the first attack, taking up a defensive stance. Knowing that he couldn't afford to hold back, Naruto summoned five shadow clones and had them attack. Hiashi stood his ground, taking out the clones with simple Taijutsu.
Naruto took the mere seconds he had while Hiashi dealt with the clones to fling shuriken at him. Hiashi saw the attack and with a single sweep of his arm, knocked all the shuriken to the ground, the metal of the weapons bent out of shape.
Backing up a bit, Naruto called out several more shadow clones, surrounding Hiashi. Hiashi quickly went into a rotation, taking care of all of the clones closest to him. When he slowed to a stop the remaining clones swarmed him. Hiashi dispatched them one at a time, not even really trying. Naruto smirked and made another clone. Rather than join the other clones in the battle he had the new one help focus chakra into his right hand. The charka swirled into a blue orb of whirling chakra. His best jutsu ready, Naruto and the clone leaped into the fray, seeking to take advantage of Hiashi being distracted by all the clones attacking him.
As he grabbed hold of a clone and defeated it, Hiashi quickly noticed Naruto, the real one, approaching with an attack ready. Hiashi changed his focus from the clones to the real Naruto, striking him down with a gentle fist. Naruto vanished in a puff of smoke, it had been a shadow clone. While Hiashi was momentarily caught off guard, the clones grabbed him and held him still. The real Naruto, who had been hiding among the clones, charged at Hiashi, a ball of whirling chakra in his hand.
"Rasengan!!!"
Hiashi went into another rotation at the last possible second. All the remaining clones were destroyed and the real Naruto was sent flying across the courtyard and into a wall. Naruto fell to the ground and got back to his feet. Hiashi sped towards the boy, getting behind him and striking him in the back with a gentle fist. Naruto stumbled forward, barely able to keep standing. The force behind that strike had been far greater than the ones Naruto had gotten from Neji in the past. Naruto turned to face Hiashi again, only to find that the man was already upon him. With quick, precise strikes, Hiashi sealed off all of Naruto's chakra points and shut down his chakra network. Hiashi ended his attack with another gentle fist to Naruto's abdomen, knocking the wind out of him and sending him flying across the courtyard once more.
Naruto tried to get back up, but couldn't feel his legs. He wasn't able to move his arms either. This was just like when he fought Neji in the chunin exams, only worse. Knowing he had only one option left, Naruto called on the power sealed inside him. He called on the chakra of the Kyubi.
The familiar feel of the powerful charka surged through his being. The strength returned to his limbs and he stood back up. He could feel the other changes too. The way his fingernails became more claw-like and how his canines grew slightly to give him a more feral look. His ocean blue eyes became a vicious red as he glared at Hiashi Hyuga.
Hiashi noticed the changes as well and he was in no way oblivious to the reason behind it. Naruto was calling on the power of the demon inside him. It looked like Hiashi just might need to take the boy seriously after all. He got into his stance, waiting for Naruto to attack him.
Naruto couldn't help but smirk. He had just gained an edge in battle. Now he'd beat Hiashi for sure and then he could go and see Hinata. Naruto was about to attack Hiashi, but hesitated. Hiashi was glaring at him in a way that Naruto was more that used to. It was the way the villagers had always looked at him as he grew up. The way they looked at him because of the Kyubi that was sealed inside of him. Hiashi was glaring at him because he knew that Naruto was using the demonic chakra of the Kyubi, and he didn't trust it.
Trust, that was the whole reason Naruto had come here in the first place. To show Hinata that she could trust him again and apologize to her. But first he wanted to gain Hiashi's trust as well. And would he really be able to accomplish that by using the power of the Kyubi to fight him? No, he wouldn't. Naruto calmed himself, his features returning to normal as the Kyubi's chakra receded back from where it came.
"I give up, I don't want to fight you anymore."
Hiashi stared at the boy for a moment, and then relaxed. He wasn't sure, but he could've sworn he just saw Naruto suppress the Kyubi's power by sheer will alone. The Hyuga leader now felt he had an understanding of what his daughter saw in the blonde boy.
"That's it? You're done?"
Naruto nodded, "I came here to apologize to Hinata, not to get into a fight with you. I almost forgot about it and let myself get caught up in all of this. And I know that it won't be the same, but…I would really like it if you could just tell Hinata how sorry I am for me. I'll show myself out now."
Naruto ran off, completely oblivious to the fact that Hinata herself had just witnessed everything that had occurred. Her bedroom overlooked the courtyard and she had a very good view of the match between her father and crush. Seeing Naruto take off, Hinata rushed out of her room, dead set on catching the boy before he got too far.
Naruto made his way to the front gates, having slowed to a walk. It seemed that he would have to wait just a little longer to see Hinata again, so that he could apologize in person. But for now, he only hoped that her father would tell her.
"N-Naruto-kun wait!"
He stopped at the sound of her voice, turning to see her. Hinata was running up to him, her father and Neji at the front doors. She reached him, stopping just a short distance from where he stood. Naruto wanted to say something, but words failed him. He didn't know where to start; luckily for him Hinata did.
"Why? Why are you leaving Naruto-kun? Neji told me that you came here just to see me and you're just going to leave like that?"
"I don't want to leave Hinata, but I don't really have much of a choice. Your father would only let me see you if I beat him, and…I lost."
Hiashi, hearing this, walked over to them "Odd, I don't remember that being the purpose of our challenge. It was merely so I could see what it is about you my daughter admires so much."
Naruto blinked, "Wha? Really? So I don't have to leave?"
"You're free to leave, but I believe you wished to speak with Hinata first. Something along the lines of an apology?"
"Oh right!" Naruto turned to Hinata, looking her in the eyes. "Hinata, I'm really sorry. For everything. I never meant to hurt your feelings of make you cry. I didn't even like most of the stuff I did to you anyway and I swear I never even looked at your diary. I know I can't expect you to forgive me just like that, but I hope that we can at least be friends again."
Hinata smiled, a small blush on her face. "I…I forgive you Naruto-kun."
His eyes widened, incredulous. "You do? Even after all those other times I said I was sorry and then upset you again?"
"Of course, I just wish I knew why you did those things Naruto-kun."
"I can explain. This guy came into my apartment a while back and offered to pay me if I did some tasks for him. I didn't know what I was getting into at first and I wasn't thinking about how you'd feel about it. But when I finally decided to tell him I wasn't doing it anymore he began to blackmail me. He had these pictures of you and was gonna spread them all over the village."
"B-but you did that!"
Naruto shook his head, "The ones he had were way more embarassing and I didn't want anyone to see them. So I kept going along with his stupid plan and when he took your diary I just didn't want to be part of it anymore. I fought him and lost. Then he made me give you your diary back and tell you I read it. I'm sorry Hinata, I really am."
Hinata was silent, trying to absorb everything she had just heard. She didn't know what to say. Her father on the other hand did.
"Ridiculous. I can't believe you would make up such an excuse for your behaviors like that. Honestly who in the world would want to hire you to do what you did to Hinata."
"It's true! He called himself Twisted and he really did have me do all of that! I just never figured out why."
Hiashi still didn't believe him. He was willing to give the boy another chance but just wouldn't accept his story. Hinata however found it much more credible than her father did.
"Naruto-kun, was this Twisted person that same man in the cloak I saw you with in the woods?"
"Yeah that was him. See? Hinata saw him too!"
"And so have we!"
Naruto, Hinata and Hiashi all turned their attention to the front gates where Sakura, Ino, Lee, Tenten, Kiba and Shino had all gathered. Naruto looked at them all, both confused as to why they were here and what he had just heard.
"What?! Why are you guys here!?"
Neji smirked and went over to join the group, "Naruto, all of us have seen Twisted and spoken with him. Not only that but he manipulated us just the way he manipulated you."
Naruto stared at them, trying to make sense out of what Neji just said. After a good couple minutes it finally clicked. "You guys were the ones who have been making my life suck so much this past week?!?"
Neji nodded, "We apologize Naruto, it took a little time for us all to figure it out. But we can all agree that Twisted is definitely the one who's repsonisble for everything that happened."
They all began explaining what had happened from the moment Neji had first suspected Twisted being behind Naruto's behavior towards Hinata. Each of them told about their encounters with the mysterious figure, Hiashi, Hinata and Naruto all listening.
Meanwhile, Twisted himself was skulking about in the top branches of some trees nearby. He had been watching everything that had occurred since Naruto had left Tsunade's office and was a bit displeased with the results.
"Well that was fun while it lasted, I never guessed he'd actually challenge Hiashi and then throw in the towel. Such a shame, I hoped that he'd keep going on with the fight. Oh, well. I wonder who I should target next, maybe I could exploit the tension between Ino and Tenten."
He felt a kunai being raised towards his neck, "I think you've done enough already."
Twisted suddenly found himself surrounded by four skilled jonin. Kakashi, Asuma, Gai and Kurenai had found him while he was spying and quickly approached him. Kakashi had the kunai against Twisted's throat and Gai had taken a firm grip on the man's arm in case he tried to sneak away. Twisted chuckled and shook his head.
"So now what? You going to try and imprison me?"
Kurenai glared at him with pure rage, "How about going down there and admiting to what you've done so you can clear Naruto's name!"
"My, my such malice. It doesn't suit you Kurenai, not at all."
Kurenai made an attempt to strike the man, but was restrained by Asuma. The four jonin escorted their prisoner down to the ground and over to where everyone else was. Heads turned and eyes widened as they all saw Twisted being brought out in the open. Naruto out of everyone was the first to react, pointing at the cloaked figure and glaring.
"That's him! He's the one who started all this! You guys actually caught him?!"
Twisted scoffed, "That's a rather generous way of putting it. I let my guard down and they surprised me is all. It doesn't matter really. I could escape at any time if I wanted."
They ignored his statement, Kakashi nudging him. "Say it."
"Keep your mask on! I'm getting to it!" Twisted turned to adress the group. "I'm the one who's the mastermind of all of this. All the credit belongs to me. Naruto was just a pawn I cast away. Then just for the fun of it I got more pawns to kick the brat while he was down."
Naruto desperately wanted to beat the guy senseless but retrained himself. He could tell that the others didn't like what went on any more than he did, even Hinata was staring at the prisoner coldly. So instead of attacking him, Naruto looked for the answers he'd wanted for so long.
"Why!? Why did you want any of it done at all!?"
"I was bored. I first saw that Hinata girl and you one day while you were out on a mission, something about a bug I think. Anyway I couldn't help but notice the way she acted around you and desperately wanted to exploit it for my own entertainment."
"What, you mean me and Hinata's friendship!?"
"No you idiot! She likes you and you're just to oblivious to see it! I found that rather interesting and thought 'what would happen if he treated her badly? Would she still like him the same?' And then after wards I decided to pull the same stunt on you, making Hinata's friends do my dirtywork. I wanted to see if you'd compare how you felt to how she felt as well as whether or not it would make you try to make up with her. I even went through the trouble of having things start out small and then escalate into more drastic measures. And I must admit, this whole thing has been very entertaining from start to finish."
There was a minute of unesy silence. Everyone having a hard time believing what they had just heard. He was bored, that was his excuse for tormenting Hinata and Naruto? It was safe to say that this only furthered their dislike of the man.
Gai shook his head, "You are one sick and twisted little man."
"Why thank you, now if you'll excuse me I'll be going now."
Twisted quickly pulled free of the jonin and threw down a smoke bomb to give himself cover.
"You fools won't be catching me again!" He began to laugh, satisfied he had tricked them yet again. However he spent so much time laughing at them that he forgot to make his escape. The smoke dissapated, Twisted still stadning in the same spot and everyone was starting at him like he was an idiot. His laughter died down and he cleared his throat nervously. "Oh yeah, I was supposed to run."
Before any of them could make a move, Twisted leapt back, about to sink into some shadows. Naruto was a step ahead and threw some flash bombs he had in his ninja tools pouch. The boy knew that Twisted needed the shadows so he could stop the man by getting rid of them. The flash bombs went off, creating light on all sides of the man, eliminating any shadows on the ground near him. Everyone shieled their eyes just in time, except Twisted who, even though his face was covered in a specter hood, was blinded by all the flash bombs. He stumbled around, not able to see clearly. He used his hands to try and find his way and came in contact with something soft.
There was a massive murdering intent around him all of the sudden. As his vision cleared he could figure out why. He had accidentaly gotten hold of Hinata's chest, the poor girl blushing bright red and looking upset. Twisted quickly discovered that the killing intent he sensed was mostly coming from Naruto. The kyubi's chakra was surging through him and taking form around his body.
'Oh great like I didn't give the kid enough reasons to hurt me.'
Forgetting entirely about his ability to merge with the shadows, Twisted resorted to the much more pirmal urge of running for his life.
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Kotetsu and Izumo stood at their post at the village gates. It had been a long and boring day. The boredom was quickly shattered as a man in a cloak ran past them, clearly in a state of panic. As he ran past they could hear him scream.
"He's gonna eat me!!"
Not even a minute after that, Naruto in his one-tail form with a predatory look in his eyes. The two ninja looked to one another.
"Did that seem odd to you?"
"Nope."
The two went back to what they had been doing before and ignored the sounds of screaming as Naruto caught his prey.
End.
Well its finally done. At least for now. I got plans for a sequel to this one that I hope to start soon. Keep your eyes open for it and until then thanks again for reading!