Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or make any money off of my stories. Here are some signs to look for in case I ever buy the rights:
Kakashi and Iruka will come out as a couple.
Ino will end up with Sai.
Please read and Review!
This chapter is also slightly disjointed! I probably should have broken it into more than one chapter.
Someday in the Future
Chapter 10: Neji's Requiem
It was night and pouring down freezing rain when they entered Konoha. The precipitation soaked through their clothes, the cold seeped into their bones.
Sasuke walked next to Naruto as the blonde was leading the procession down the path. Team Hawk followed behind Naruto and their leader, feeling fear as to what will happen to them. Hinata followed them, her head down; her body swayed showing her emotional exhaustion. Kakashi and Sakura walked close together in the back, watching the Hyuuga heiress.
They crossed the village gate, at which nobody stood guard, and proceeded through the empty streets. All occupants were home, warm in their beds, unaware of the loss the village took just a day before. They entered the Hokage Tower, the ANBU standing guard moved into action.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you are under arrest" the one hidden by the porcelain Tiger mask growled as it reached for their weapon.
"I don't think so" Naruto growled as he grabbed Tigers arm. "We are going to talk to the Hokage, NOW" he allowed the menacing chakra of the Kyuubi to rise to scare the ANBU. The slit pupils resting in his golden red eyes shone brightly as he glared down Tiger.
The ANBU backed up, still fearful of the powers of the Kyuubi, allowing the group to enter the Hokage's office. Naruto entered first.
Tsunade sat behind her desk, her chin resting on her hands. The scattered papers and damp puddle on the desk indicated her previous activities.
"Wasn't that a bit overkill, Brat?" She joked, unable to hide the sleep from her voice. It was clear she was asleep at her desk, again, and the rise in chakra woke her up.
"Aw, come on, Baa-can. They were in the way." He reached up and scratched the back of his head with a smile on his face.
"What was so important?"
The rest of the group entered, allowing Tsunade to look over them all. When she saw Sasuke her eyes opened wide.
"Kakashi report" She barked as she pinched the bridge of her nose to avoid the oncoming headache
"Mission failed. We were ambushed by cloud ninja. Naruto smelled Sasuke took off after him, I got there, and they were fighting. We were once more ambushed by rogue ninja and fought. As we were sealing bodies, Neji was struck with a poison kunai. Sasuke died protecting Naruto and with the last of his life Neji preformed the One's Own Life Force Jutsu on Sasuke. He then decided to come home and his team followed."
"Tiger, Sparrow!" Tsunade called to the ANBU outside her door "Bring the chakra cuffs." The cuffs were to be placed on Sasuke and his team. "They will have a trial before the clan elders and council, until that time they will be placed in jail. Naruto, Kakashi you escort them. Naruto, come back when you are done, Kakashi, bring Hyuuga Hiashi back with you. Along the way, let him know that the trial for Uchiha Sasuke and his team will be tomorrow. We will have a more important issue to discuss upon his arrival."
This may be the most odd mission report she had ever received, and even more baffling, Team Hawk let the chakra cuffs be placed on and WALKED with the ANBU. Now, it was time for the heavier stuff, a clan leader to talk to about the death of their shinobi. She looked at Hinata, the girl had bags under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in days; her sunk in cheeks suggested she hadn't had the desire to eat either.
"Hinata, Sakura, sit down" she gestured to the couch along the wall. Sakura wrapped her arm around the heiress in silent comfort. No more conversation was made until Naruto, Kakashi and Hiashi arrived.
"Hokage-sama" the head of the Hyuuga bowed, his eyes raked over his daughter for a moment, disgusted she let her emotions show so easily.
"Hyuuga-san, on the latest mission, I regret to inform you, that Hyuuga Neji was struck down by the enemy." Tsunade's voice was distant and even. Silence befell the room, except for a soft, shaky inhaled breath from the violet haired kunoichi.
"How?" Hiashi asked in slight disbelief.
"Protecting his wife." Sakura spoke from her position on the couch.
"His what?"
"Wife" Hinata spoke up, her eyes gazing into her fathers. Her pale lavender eyes were devoid of emotion, "He proposed to me, if you would have accepted we would have been wed in the summer. However, when the poison we realized there was no antidote for the poison he asked Kakashi-sensei to marry us" Hinata spoke, her voice was quiet and even, yet one who knew her could discern it was full of sadness.
"The Law of Kohonagakure states that 'On a mission, a Jonin rank or above can perform wedding ceremonies over consenting parties, if they feel the circumstances warrant such a decision.' In the eyes of the village, Hinata and Neji were legally wed." Tsunade added.
Hiashi cleared his throat to remove the emotional lump, "We shall alert the elders and plan his funeral. Come Hinata." he fought to keep the self-disappointment from his voice. He had failed to keep his vow to his brother, to watch over Neji, to protect his nephew. Worst of all, in doing so, he had failed to protect his daughter's heart. The Hyuuga left the room.
Upon arrival at the compound, Hiashi turned to his daughter, "Head to bed, tomorrow will be even longer than today."
Once in the safe confines of her room, wrapped in the warmth of her blankets, Hinata surrendered to her tears.
Outside her door, Hiashi listened to his daughter's quiet sobs. "I am sorry, Hinata." He whispered into the darkness as he remembered the pain of losing the woman he loved.
The next morning, Hinata and her father summoned a meeting with the elders.
The Hyuuga leader and heiress walked into the council room and knelt on mats on the one side of the table. One the other sat Hiroyuki, Hiroshi, Hotaka, Hideo and Haruo, the members of the council. Being the lowest ranking, and only female, in the room, Hinata poured the tea. The intricate dance of speech and action during this meeting was now underway.
"Councilmen, we have summoned a meeting to discuss recent events that will have a lasting impact on the Hyuuga." Hiashi spoke with the grace and practice of years.
"And what may that be?" Hotaka spoke.
"Hyuuga Neji was struck down in battle on the last mission protecting Hinata. His funeral will take place tomorrow. After, I officially resign as leader of the clan and will appoint my eldest daughter as the leader." Hinata looked at her father in surprise
Uncharacteristic gasps came from the members of the council before the council leader, Hiroyuki, spoke "A change in Clan Head always creates unrest, and the branch will be furious their most gifted died protecting a main house. Hinata is not strong enough to deal with what could come."
"I do not think the branch will be a problem" Hiashi spoke once after a drink of his green tea. He sat the porcelain cup on the saucer, with a small clink.
"They have been at unrest since the issue with Kumogakure." Haruo pointed out
"Yes, however, they respect my daughter already."
"Respect may not be enough to keep the peace." Hiroshi said before taking a drink of his own tea.
"When they find out Hinata is Neji's widow, there will be no problems."
The council was stunned into silence and all turned their stares on the previously forgotten violet haired young woman. Hinata tried not to shake as she looked up and met the eyes of the council.
"Why were we not informed of this?"Hideo nearly growled, his voice betraying the flat voices used during these meetings.
"He had asked me to marry him and I agreed. We were then attacked. After the battle, Neji, Sakura and I were sealing the bodies. One was not dead and threw a kunai. I did not see it coming, but Neji d-did and dove in front of it. When we realized we could not get the antidote in time, he asked Hatake Kakashi to m-marry us." Hinata spoke in the most powerful voice she could muster, trying hard not to stutter or break down.
"Hatake Kakashi wed you, you say?" Hiroyuki stroked his chin as he watched Hinata nod. "He is a respected jōnin, a former ANBU." His long, bony finger tapped against his lips before he continued, "I think, fellow councilmen, this is a wise move. After all, the branch wouldn't want to upset the memory of their prodigy. I motion to support Mrs. Hyuuga taking over the clan. All those for?" There was nobody in the room did not notice the council leader calling Hinata, Mrs. Hyuuga, which showed his support for the marriage.
"I" all in the room answered some more begrudgingly than others but all cast their support.
"At this time tomorrow, the Hyuuga will be under new leadership." Hiroyuki added calling an ending to the meeting.
Hiashi and Hinata stood, bowed before the council and left the room. Once the doors closed behind them, Hiashi placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder and gave a small squeeze. As the clan head and heiress they headed to the court room for the Uchiha Sasuke trial.
The heads of the Hyuuga Hiashi and his daughter were seated in the first row of the jury bench. The other clan leaders and their heirs filed in to the jury benches. The room soon filled with ninja and civilians alike. Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Tsunade entered last.
Tsunade sat behind a desk on a platform at the front of the room. The elders and clan heads sat to the side Sasuke sat behind a bench on the left of the room where Kakashi told him to sit. The other desk to the right of the room had Shikamaru. The rest of the spectators sat behind the benches, Naruto and Sakura directly behind Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you have been charged with desertion, attempted murder and attempted annihilation of the village. Why now? Why come back here?"
"My reasons are my own Hokage-sama" Sarcasm dripping off of the honorific.
"The clan heads as well as the Konahagakure elders will be judging your trial. If they deem you unworthy you will be killed immediately" Tsunade knew better than to look at her successor because she knew his face had fallen and his skin paled at her words, but the Uchiha didn't flinch.
"Let me handle this, Sasuke" Kakashi whispered to him with a signature hidden masked smirk.
"Uchiha Sasuke, is charged with deserting the village, attacking the villagers, including the next Hokage and destruction of and attempted annihilation of Konohagakure." Shikamaru began "For these crimes the punishment should be death" The Nara ignored the outcries of the fangirls as he sat down facing the Hokage.
Kakashi stood and began pacing in front of the jury of elders and heads. "How can Uchiha Sasuke be blamed for his actions? His whole life he was lied to and wanted nothing more than justice and acted on his own to achieve it. And along the way he destroyed one of the main threats to the village and one who was perceived as such. He also exposed the single greatest domestic threat. I would say in the end, he more than made up for desertion. As for killing village members, I would like to point out that not only has no villager, but the traitor Danzo, has fallen at the hands of Uchiha Sasuke, but on several occasions he could have killed Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Sai, Yamato and myself. He had us all beaten at one point or another but never delivered the final blow. I move to have Uchiha Sasuke cleared of all charged and have his property and money returned to the only living Sharingan user who can still pass the trait on." Kakashi sat down, his mask hiding a small smirk.
Tsunade stood "Now that we have heard the arguments the jury will deliberate. Court will reconvene when a verdict is reached."
The elders and clan leaders stood. Any being groomed to head their clans were allowed to follow to participate in the discussion.
"We need to destroy him; he is nothing but a threat to the village" the elders nodded in agreement the second the door was closed.
"No, he needs to stay, why, his blood limit is needed by this village" Aborame Shibi spoke
"Not to mention the Sharingan controls the Kyuubi; none of us could take the holder down if he runs ramped." Hiashi added
"All the more reason to destroy it. We cannot risk the beast running wild again" An elder reasoned
"Everyone knows how protective Naruto is of Sasuke-kun if something happens to him by the hands of the Village the fox will come out. AND Sasuke-kun will not hurt the village if his heart lies with someone faithful to it!" Ino piped up
"My daughter may be right" Her father added
"Uchiha will never be happy if forced to marry someone chosen for him by this council" Izunaka Hana added, unhappy in her own arranged marriage to Aburame Shinichi, Nephew of Shibi.
"Perhaps h-he can choose to m-marry someone he wants in a given time period?" The Hyuuga Heiress spoke up.
"He would most defiantly want to marry me and I am loyal to the village. Just give him time to try and win me over and the problem will be alleviated" Ino once again piped up.
The elders could see they were outvoted. "Very well, he will be given a week to find someone and wed or else he will be killed. All in favor?"
Everyone in the room raised their hands. The group congregated back to the meeting room and took their previous seats.
"Have you reached a verdict"
"Yes, Hokage-sama, we the elders and clan heads and heirs find that Uchiha Sasuke may live however he must find and wed a person of his choosing within a week or he will be treated as a traitor. He will stay on the Uchiha compound under the watch of ANBU guards."
Cheers erupted from the females in the crowed followed by a clamoring of which he will choose. The jury was dismissed.
The Hyuuga did not stay for any longer than necessary. Arriving back at the compound, Hinata went to bed it was a long day but tomorrow would be even longer.
Hinata awoke the next morning after a fitful night of sleep.
She sat up and stretched her tired muscles. Today would be the day she said goodbye to her husband. At that thought, a wave of nausea crashed over her. Scrambling as fast as she could, she had made it just in time to empty the contents of her stomach, which was not a lot since she hadn't had the urge to eat.
The older branch member, Hanakura, entered the room quietly. She was there to dress the heiress. The room was empty but the sound of vomiting could be heard from the attached chamber. Rushing in, Hanakura saw the heiress as she curled into a ball on the floor with tears streaming from her eyes, her body being racked with sobs. The stress of the past few days was clearly too much for the young heiress.
Hanakura pulled her into a hug and soothed her hair. She held the much younger girl until she stopped shaking.
"Come, Hinata-sama, let's get you dressed and ready." Hinata nodded and allowed herself be lead to the dressing pedestal. She untied her dressing gown and allowed it to fall in a soft whisper of silk.
The older woman dressed her in a traditional kimono of mourning. It was black silk, causing her pale skin to appear even more translucent. Her hair was brushed and left to lay against her back in a soft violet wave.
Hiashi appeared at his oldest daughter's door.
"Hanakura-san, please let me speak with my daughter." She bowed and backed out of the room.
"Hinata, I have something for you." He placed a plain white gold band on the back of her left hand. He then handed her a larger one that matched, "These rings belonged to Hizashi and Hitomi. I was asked to give them to Neji for his wedding. I think it is only right you have it now. We should get going."
She stood and quietly followed her father. The rest of the clan was dressed in their best, waiting for their leaders to head to the Memorial Stone, where Neji's final resting place will be.
An hour later, Tsunade began the service. There was a framed picture of Neji when he made Jōnin, his face betraying nothing. Next to it was a photo of him and his parents, shortly after his own birth. Lastly there was a photo of him and Hinata the day they met. Their eyes were locked in a silent conversation and smiles graced both of their lips. Surrounding the frames were white flowers.
All of the Ninja stood as they paid their respects. Hinata was seated to the side, next to the casket, proclaiming her as the wife. As the eulogies pressed on, Hinata fingered the cool metal now encasing her finger in a position of significance.
Tsunade moved behind her, drawing her attention. She stood as everyone paid their final respects to their fallen comrade. As they past her, they hugged her and offered their condolences, although most of those present were confused as to why she was seated in such a seat of importance.
The last in line were Sasuke and Naruto. After they had whispered his 'thanks' and 'good-byes' to the Hyuuga, they moved in front of Hinata. Naruto pulled her into a tight hug. She drew from his warmth, allowing it to seep into her body. He pulled back from the hug when Tsunade called the woman's name.
"You are the last to say 'good-bye'." Hinata nodded and gathered her courage. Naruto and Sasuke stood in the same spot. The rest of the Ninja were back in their original places.
Hinata allowed her finger tips to brush over her husband's cold cheek. She took his father's ring and placed it on his lifeless left hand. The same hand that had held her, caressed her, loved her.
"I love you, my husband. Someday in the future we will be together again." She dropped a kiss to his cold lips before she backed away slowly. She looked over at Tsunade and nodded then moved back to her seat. She grabbed Naruto's hand and held it tightly as they closed the casket and lowered it to the ground.
Hiashi moved over to the podium and cleared his throat. "Today, I Hyuuga Hiashi, resign as the head of the noble Hyuuga clan. I appoint, Hyuuga Hinata, my daughter and wife of the late Hyuuga Neji, as the new leader."
Mumbles rippled through the crowd but were quieted when Hinata fainted.
Hinata opened her eyes, light assaulted her sensitive eyes. Rhythmic beeping filled her ears.
"Hey, you're awake" someone spoke softly to her side. She turned to see bright blue eyes staring at her.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You haven't eaten or slept much in the past week, normally your body would draw on its own store of nutrients but the baby needed them more" Sakura said as she entered the room.
"Baby?" She asked.
"Baby" Sakura confirmed. Hinata smiled brightly as she laid her hand across her stomach. It was bittersweet. She began to weep.
"Hey, hey, hey, Hinata, don't cry" Naruto stroked her hair. "Sasuke and I are going to be there to watch out for you and the baby, so will your team and all the others of the Konoha 11" he sat on the bed and embraced her, he began rocking back and forth.
Sasuke then did something very out of character, he sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around the pair on the bed and rocked with them. He owed Neji his life, for that he will lay his life down to protect Hinata and the baby.
Hiashi, having been filled in by Sakura, looked in the room. Seeing the two holding her as she cried his mood lightened. They would help her through her pregnancy, he would help her with her clan duties and the baby would help to heal her heart, just as Hinata and Hanabi did for him.
Hinata was going to be alright.
A/N: Did anyone else cry?
Epilogue is the next chapter.