a/n:
All I can say is thank you so much for all the support despite my super late updates. Thank you so much! Really! And I would like to apologize for not being able to update regularly, you know, college life. Mix up a little bit of ahem-relationship-ahem-and-ahem-boyfriend-ahem. Also some health complications. I cry. But I'm all fine now! It just happened to be allergies(and they're annoying).
I would like to give a huge thanks to my beta, Serious Sam-san, for being so patient and kind all this time. You're the best!
So, with no further ado, finally... after gabazillion years, I present you all the 9th chapter.
IX. Home
It was another hot day in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. The sun was high overhead, the sky was cloudless and the summertime breeze greeted the entire village. Despite the increasing temperature, the training grounds served as a cooling spot because of the amount of dominant trees offering plentiful shade.
Just like Hanabi preferred it.
She threw another Kunai towards her target and blocked several shuriken coming towards her location by using her newly perfected Kaiten jutsu. The barrier of chakra effectively deflected all the shuriken, leaving the girl unscathed. But when she deactivated the jutsu her exhaustion left her breathing heavy and she sunk to her knees. Her long strands of her hair hung loosely over her shoulders, since the rubber band she had used to secure it snapped when she did her jutsu earlier. Beads of sweat trailed down from her forehead, and her fair skin was tainted with dust and dirt.
"You've done well today, Hanabi. That is all for our session." Tenten praised her as she rolled her weapon summoning scroll back up.
"I… I can still go on!" Hanabi firmly declared in-between gasps for breath.
"No. You're exhausted. As a ninja, you should know the limitations of your abilities and stamina. Pushing yourself too hard will only lead to poor performance at our next training session, so I suggest you get some rest." Tenten dictated to her student. "After all, we've been training nonstop since early in the morning. Let's go, I'll walk you back home."
"S-sensei doesn't have to walk me home." Hanabi said, "I can go on my own."
"I'll walk her home." A foreign voice said from the shade of the trees. It was Konohamaru.
Hanabi's eyes widened, surprised at the sudden appearance of the boy. "Konohamaru-kun! What are you doing here?"
"He's been with us ever since we started training." Tenten said. "You've been out of it lately, Hanabi. What's bothering you?" the weapon specialist asked concernedly. It had been a while since she too had heard about Neji, and she worried about her former teammate and his cousin. She had an idea that it something exclusive to the Hyūga clan, but she still couldn't help thinking about them.
Hanabi's sad eyes were fixated on the ground as she stood up on wobbly legs. "It's… nothing." She said hesitantly.
Tenten knew it was a matter that concerned her family specifically, and she knew she didn't have the right to pry since she wasn't a Hyūga, however it was the first time she'd ever seen the cheerful and cunning Hanabi look so bothered and depressed. Before she could tell Hanabi anything else, a brown eagle in the sky caught her attention. And as much as she didn't want to leave her student behind, she knew she had another urgent mission from the Hokage.
Konohamaru gazed sternly at Tenten and made a nodding movement, as if to say that he could take it from here.
"All right. I'll leave Hanabi to you, Konohamaru. Both of you be careful on your way back." Tenten reminded them before she disappeared in a swirl of leaves, as she used the shunshin to teleport to the Hokage's office.
Without sparing Konohamaru a glance, Hanabi numbly began to walk away. Her steps against the short grass of the training grounds were short and slow, indicating how exhausted she was from the training. Unknowingly, she didn't notice her footing and clumsily tripped over a uneven patch of land. Luckily, just in time Konohamaru caught her arm and helped her maintain her balance, preventing her fall.
Still, those Hyūga eyes stared off into the distance.
"Just what the heck is wrong, you idiot?!" Konohamaru asked irritably. "You're not yourself! You look like a mess!"
Hearing Konohamaru snap at her like that finally made her focus on him. But instead of matching his irate nature, the girl remained silent, and the pained expression in her eyes stung his heart.
Those strong-willed and always determined Hyūga eyes held a sadness and misery that he'd never seen before. Tears pooled at the corners, and she desperately tried to hold them back.
What happened to Hanabi to make her feel like this?
"L-Look, I didn't mean to yell at you," Konohamaru nervously stammered, "I-I'm sorry. I was just… I was just worried, that's all." Sometimes, he hated himself for not being really good at dealing with girls, especially when it was Hanabi. "Just… what's wrong?"
This time the dam finally broke, the tears overflowed and Hanabi fell to her knees and started to cry.
"H-Hey!" Konohamaru frantically crouched in front of her, unsure of what to do now that the girl had broken down. He watched helplessly as she buried her face into her palms and sobbed like a helpless child. He knew very well that Hanabi never showed weakness – not to her father, not to her clan, not to anyone… and especially not to him. She was a splendid girl who shouldered everything on her own. She was expected to excel at every task she was give, whether it be a shinobi or the future leader of her clan.
However beneath all that… she was still just a girl. Albeit a very strong girl.
Konohamaru couldn't imagine what was going on in her mind to make her breakdown like this. Unless…
Suddenly, the panicked look in Konohamaru's eyes was replaced an intense glare. He grabbed her arms gently and made her look at him.
"Did someone hurt you?"
When she didn't answer, his shoulders tensed, "Who is it?! I'm gonna beat his ass for hurting you and making you cry!"
Yup. No one. No one makes the girl of his dreams cry.
Sensing his tension, Hanabi answered with a weak shake of her head. "I-It's… it's not… that…"
The anger in Konohamaru's face faded and his eyes softened at her fragile state.
"Then what is it?" He gently asked, his grip on her shoulders loosening. "You… you can always talk to me, Hanabi. You can't always shoulder everything on your own, like always. I… I want to help you. I-I want you to you know you can depend on me too." He paused and stared directly into her eyes, "We may still be young, but… I want to be the man you can always count on."
Hanabi's eyes widened at his words. Her teary eyes locked with Konohamaru's brown determined orbs, and at that moment she suddenly felt something different about him.
Just by looking into his eyes, she knew that she could definitely trust him.
Feeling safe and secure with him, she decided to surrender herself into his arms. She slowly leaned closer to him and pressed her head against his chest. Seconds later, Konohamaru's arms were gently wrapped around her slender figure.
"Do you remember her…? My sister…?" Hanabi began in a weak soft voice.
Konohamaru froze for a few seconds. Hanabi had never talked about her sister to anyone. He could only respond with a slight nod.
"I never met her… you know that, right? Naruto-nii-san must have told you already. She died before I was born. She was treated awfully by our clan… even otou-sama was harsh to her because she didn't perform very well as a Hyūga successor." Hanabi narrated, "All I could see was her picture in our altar… I never knew who she really was, but okaa-sama often told me that… my sister was a very kind and gentle girl. Even Neji-nii-san was very fond of her because of her kind and caring nature." She paused and her shoulders tensed again.
"But despite all that, everyone else in the clan detested her. I heard there were times the other clan members badmouthed her, even when she was already dead. Just a few days after the kidnapping and the sabotage she tragically involved in… m-my clan stopped searching for her." Hanabi bit her lip and tried to hold back her sobs, "Sh-she wouldn't have survived the waterfall… she would have died right away so the clan decided it was a waste of time to keep searching for her. I overheard the clan elders say that once and I couldn't help myself so I yelled at them a little. I wanted to protect my elder sister… but they refused to change the way they thought about her."
Konohamaru could feel Hanabi's body trembling in both in rage and sorrow.
"I-It was just s-so quickly… they assumed that she was dead. Without any proof, without finding my sister's body… they declared that she was dead, despite my late Hizashi ojii-san's effort to search for h-her." Hanabi ground her teeth and shut her eyes tightly, as if she were trying to stem the river her tears streaming down her face, "The elders and the rest of the clan… decided to stop searching for her b-because… b-because… of m-me. B-because my mother was having me, they thought that i-it was better t-to be rid of my sister. 'It's like the Gods answered our prayers. We got rid of such a disgrace to the clan…' I heard that from my own g-grandmother…"
Even Konohamaru's own rage was starting to rise upon hearing Hanabi's story.
"But…" Hanabi continued with such a broken tone of voice. "Four days ago… the Rokudaime Hokage came to our house." She paused and clung tightly to Konohamaru's shirt.
"He informed us… that my sister, Hinata… is alive after all these years."
Konohamaru's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "N-nani? But how…?"
"Naruto-nii-chan and his comrades found her…" Hanabi replied solemnly, "For almost fifteen years… she was trapped in Orochimaru's laboratory."
The only sound that could be heard was Hanabi's wracking sobs – because the words stung her heart even more. For all those years, she'd thought her sister had finally found peace, wherever she was.
But in the end, even after all this time… without anyone knowing, she was all alone, in a place that held terrors only dreamed about in nightmares.
For fifteen years, her dear sister had continued to suffer… because the elders and the clan simply didn't care.
.
.
"We're almost there, Hinata." Naruto looked back at the indigo-haired woman following behind him. "Just a few more minutes, and we'll be home."
He smiled brightly, trying to dispel the tension and put her more at ease, but when he saw the expression on her face, his smile dissolved and he grew worried.
"Doushita?" Naruto asked in concern.
Her eyes were fixated on the ground and she refused to meet anyone's gaze. Ever since they'd set foot back in Fire Country, Hinata had been very quiet and she didn't speak to anyone they initiated a conversation with her. Sakura and Naruto tried on a few occasions, but the banter back and forth died out quickly. They assumed she was just tired but right now, they all felt something different about her.
Suddenly, she stopped – causing everyone else to stop as well, since she was walking in the center of their group.
"…home." Hinata spoke ever so softly as she clasped her hands nervously together. "I… I never thought that… I'd hear that word again."
"Hinata…"
"Ever since I got to that place… I never thought that I-I'd be able to go back home." She raised her head, showing Naruto one of the brightest smiles he'd ever seen in his life. Unshed tears sparkled at the corners of her eyes, but they were definitely tears of happiness.
"Everyone…" she sniffed, "For finding me and taking me back home… hontou ni arigatougozaimashita."
Even she had never thought that she'd be able to experience such joy again. And everyone smiled with her – even Sasuke, who almost never showed a hint of emotion – was moved by her kindness and purity.
"What are you saying, Hinata?" Naruto laughed as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "W-we're not even there yet. Thank us when we get there, all right?"
"He's right, Hinata." Sakura agreed. "It's time to get you home."
She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and nodded. "Hai!" she exclaimed.
That's right. I shouldn't be afraid anymore, Hinata thought to herself determinedly. I can still change my life… I can start again. I won't waste this chance that Naruto-kun, Sakura-san, Shikamaru-san and Sasuke-san had given me.
They crested another hill and there, laid out before them was the Village Hidden in the Leaves. The huge gates were swung wide open, as if they were inviting her inside, where she would be safe once again.
Hinata couldn't believe it… This was the place she'd left more than ten years ago. Finally… after so long, she'd come home.
However, when they reached the front gate the cheerful atmosphere of their group vanished when out of nowhere, three ANBU appeared in front of them and blocked their path.
Instinctively, Naruto moved to stand protectively in front of Hinata. "What's going on here?" he asked threateningly.
"We've come for Hyuga Hinata." One of the masked ANBU, who was wearing an eagle mask, replied. "Hand her over to us."
"What for?" Naruto asked, his glare hard on the three ANBUs blocking them.
"You're taking her to Ino for interrogation and further investigation, aren't you?" Sakura suddenly spoke, "She's undergone several tests and dialysis in Sunagakure for over a month. The results showed she doesn't have any abnormalities whatsoever, so I don't see the relevance of putting her through that again. She's tired from the journey and in my professional opinion, she shouldn't go through any more stress for a while."
"This is Konoha protocol." Eagle replied tartly. He turned to look at the Nara in their group. "It was established by Shikamaru-san and the Rokudaime Hokage themselves. Prisoners and test subjects who are affiliated with Orochimaru must undergo interrogation for the safety of the village. There are to be no exceptions. Your job here is done and the Rokudaime Hokage requests the presence of everyone else this instant… especially Uchiha Sasuke."
"Now, hand Hyuga Hinata over." Another ANBU wearing a cat mask said.
Naruto's body trembled with rage and the color of his eyes had changed to a deep cobalt blue. Before he could tell the ANBU where to shove both his demand AND his attitude, Shikamaru stepped in front and confronted them.
"Those found that are not citizens of Konoha are brought straightly to interrogation. Those that are citizens of Konoha are taken to their families first before they are brought for the interrogation. However, Hyuga Hinata has been proven to be the long lost daughter of the Hyuga clan, and our mission is to bring her safely back to their compound." Shikamaru replied firmly. "So unless her family specifically asked for her to be interrogated first, you need to get out of the way."
"It was the Hyuga clan that suggested she undergo the protocol first," Cat explained smugly. "Our orders are to take her the instant you all returned and since it comes from the Rokudaime himself, you have no authority to oppose us. The Hyuga clan wants her investigated immediately."
Sakura frowned at this. "Her… own family?
Shikamaru ground his teeth in irritation. "Troublesome. We can't do anything about this. "
"As if I'd give her to you guys so easily! Kakashi-sensei would never order something like that!" Naruto growled threateningly, "You're not taking her anywhere! Quit being an ass and let her meet her family first!"
"Move aside, Uzumaki Naruto." The third ANBU in a Rat mask said threateningly. "She must be interrogated. And if you won't give her to us willingly, we'll have to take her by force."
Readying himself for a fight, he shifted to a defensive stance, "I'm not handing her over. And if you think you three are enough to take me down, then c'mon… try it." He grinned menacingly. "I dare you."
However, before the first move could be made, Hinata strongly pulled Naruto's hand to get his attention.
"I-It's fine, Naruto-kun…" Hinata relented, forcing a weak smile. "It's village protocol… and an interrogation won't hurt much. I've been through far worse so I'll be fine."
After all… my own family agreed to this, she thought to herself.
"But you just can't-!"
"I'll be fine, Naruto-kun." She repeated determinedly. "If this is the last step I have to take in order to be able to return home, then I am willing to take it. I've waited for so long… lost my hope for so long… but now that I'm here, I won't let my weakness take me over."
"Hinata…" Naruto's eyes had reverted back to their original sapphire blue as he stared at her. She'd been so brave for all these years. She might think she was weak and a coward but Naruto knew that with everything she'd been through, Hinata was stronger than them all.
"So, please… let me go with them." Hinata said. "I completely understand that this is protocol. If it's for the safety of the village, then we can't make exceptions, even for me. Right?"
Naruto held his breath; torn between granting her request or fighting these three cocky ANBU who wanted to take her away.
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata pleaded.
Naruto sighed irritably and turned to his comrades. "You guys go on ahead and report to the Hokage." He turned back to the ANBU and glared hard at them. "She's not going alone to this interrogation. I'm coming with you guys."
"That will be fine, as long as you don't interfere with the process." Eagle stated, taking a few steps closer to Hinata so that he could cast a sleeping jutsu on her. However, before he could proceed Naruto stepped in front and held up his hand, stopping him.
But before the ANBU could proceed, Naruto blocked her from him and glared dangerously at the ANBU. "The moment I see her get hurt," he said threateningly, as he glared icily at the ANBU, "she's coming with me and you're taking her place."
Eagle froze on the spot and flinched at the dangerous tone of Naruto's voice. He was glad that his mask was on, otherwise everyone would have seen the rivulets of sweat tricking down his forehead.
"I understand." He replied. Naruto moved aside and he raised his hand, casting the sleeping jutsu on her.
The next thing the Hyuga maiden knew was darkness taking over her mind.
Yamanaka Ino briefly read the report that was handed to her by the ANBU. As expected of Sakura,she thought to herself as she spared a glance towards the unconscious woman seated on a metallic chair.
Even thought she'd been in a six year coma, she'd recovered remarkably well.
The moment the ANBU arrived with Naruto, who was carrying the Indigo haired maiden in his arms, Ino immediately remembered who the girl was. It was only yesterday the Hokage summoned her to perform a special interrogation requested by the Hyuga Family – the elders, to be more precise – and it made her wonder why they demanded it be done as soon as she returned to the village.
Now she understood. Hyuga Hinata was supposedly long dead, but instead she had been captured by Orochimaru and been used as one of his test subjects.
It had been almost two years since she was given this… responsibility. Every encounter she had with Orochimaru's test subjects left nothing but a bitter taste in her mouth and a lingering, almost foul miasma on her mind. It seemed like every case was worse than the one before, and it frightened her more times than she'd cared to admit.
No matter how hard she tried, the memories she had seen couldn't be erased anymore.
Ino placed the report down on the table and she took a seat in front of the unconscious Hinata.
She recognized this girl… indeed, she was Hyuga Hinata. One of the girls in her same class while they were still at the academy.
Shy… soft-spoken… pure… innocent…
How the hell did she survive being trapped in Orochimaru's laboratory for so long?
She glanced at Naruto, who was standing outside the interrogation room watching them with an obvious amount of concern through a rectangular glass window. Beside him were the ANBU guards tasked with delivering Hinata to her. She pressed a button on the intercom so that he could hear her.
"Don't worry, Naruto. I'll make sure she'll be fine."
Naruto nodded. "I'm counting on you, Ino."
Ino flashed through some hand signs. "Shintenshin no jutsu!" she declared, placing her hands on either side of the Hinata's head.
A moment later, she was inside the Hyuga's mind.
.
.
Ino could see Hinata's memories quite clearly. The first one she looked into was when the Kumogakure ninja had kidnapped her.
In the middle of the night, the Kumogakure caravans were travelling silently and cautiously out of the borders of the Fire Country. But all of a sudden out of nowhere, two ninjas appeared and slaughtered the entire group.
'Yakushi Kabuto…' Ino murmured to herself as she watched cast a genjutsu on the guards and kill them without mercy. His genjutsu also masked the arrival of a second person who attacked the caravan from the opposite side.
Screams of agony pierced the silent night. The two men worked with terrifying efficiency, killing everyone in sight. Then she shivered as a pale, angular face with snakelike eyes filled her vision.
'Orochimaru!' Ino spat. Bodies littered the ground surrounding him, and he'd finally found the prize he'd come to claim – Hyuga Hinata, who had backed herself into a corner of the wagon and was trembling in fear.
Suddenly, Ino's view shimmered and she was looking at a different part of Hinata's memories.
"No one wants you to come back." Ino heard Kabuto say.
Hinata's chest ached as he said the words. "Th-That's not true. My mother—"
Kabuto interrupted her. "Everyone gave up on you. They all think you're dead – especially since Orochimaru-sama and I went to great lengths to insure they believed that. They stopped the search for you after only a few days. As far as your family is concerned, you're nothing more than a memory."
All Ino could do was watch the poor girl cry from the genjutsu user's venomous words. Her heart ached for Hinata…
And then another memory appeared. It tore into Ino's heart even more.
Ino could see Hinata as a child, partially awake and sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by a woman named Madoka. Soon, they came to a stop in front of a white double door… and on the other side, she would be subjected to her first experiment under Orochimaru's hands.
She screamed as searing pain ran through her veins. It was excruciating. All she could see was the blinding white light of the laboratory. Chemicals were injected into her right arm, one after another. At first it felt like fire, then she would go numb for a while, and then the pain would start all over again… and again… and again.
"-sama! She's—ying! We—stop! Dying!"
Ino could barely watch the scene. But the memories kept coming. Ino witnessed every moment of pain and suffering Hinata went through since she'd been taken by Orochimaru. Finally, she reached the point when Hinata turned 12 years old and she was on her first mission with Kabuto…
But all of a sudden, the images blurred and everything went pitch black.
'What in the-?'
Ino tried to penetrate Hinata's mind again, but she could do nothing. It was like there was something blocking her from accessing her memories.
'She's fighting me? But she's still under the genjutsu… that shouldn't be possible!' Ino muttered to herself.
When she tried again, a deafening scream echoed in Ino's ears. The sound brought her to her knees and any attempt to minimize the damaging volume was useless.
'Wh-what's going on…?'
A woman was screaming, but it wasn't Hinata's voice. She tried one last time to access the girl's memory but this time, the darkness decided to attack her.
"GET OUT!"
A foreign voice screamed at Ino… and she instantly froze in fear.
.
.
.
Right outside the interrogation room, Naruto waited for Ino to finish. His anger was boiling over that Hinata still had to undergo this process despite everything she'd been through. He believed in her. He knew she wouldn't bring any danger into the village. There was no point at having a special interrogation like this.
What made him even angrier was the fact that her clan was the one that requested the interrogation immediately upon her return.
Interrupting him from his thoughts, the entrance door of the observation room flew open with a loud bang and revealed the Head of the Hyuga clan. Naruto had never seen the man so enraged before.
Hiashi walked across the waiting room and grabbed the ANBU by collar. "Who gave you the authority to take my daughter without my consent?!" He slammed the ANBU's body against the wall and glared at him. "I command you to take her out of there this instant!"
"Hiashi-san!" Naruto called urgently, trying to get his attention but the stoic clan leader failed to notice him, since he was blinded by rage.
The other two ANBU tried to restrain Hiashi, but then he activated his Byakugan. "If she's been hurt, every single one of you will pay!" he hissed ominously.
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. Why was Hiashi so enraged if the request for a special interrogation came from the Hyuga clan? He was about to intervene, but then a commanding voice came suddenly came from the door.
"Enough of this, Hiashi!"
Still grinding his teeth, the nerves of the Byakugan slowly disappeared and returned to normal. Hiashi's grip left the ANBU's collar and he turned to glare dangerously at the new arrivals.
The Hyuga elders.
"They are not at fault. They are simply doing their jobs that were assigned by a higher authority." The Lady Elder said firmly. Despite her age, she glared back at the furious clan leader without one hint of intimidation or fear. "This is the protocol that the Hokage himself enforced. I see nothing wrong with performing this investigation on that… girl."
"I only agreed for her to undergo this process once she had been returned to Haruka and I!" he shouted back as he walked closer to the Hyuga elders. It was now clear who was ultimately to blame for his daughter being brought here the moment she returned to the village. "How dare you… How dare you request for the Hokage to perform this interrogation with the false approval of my name?"
The male elder spoke this time. "It was the clan's vote. The majority wanted for her to undergo the protocol first before returning her to the estate. You and Haruka were in the minority, so we had no choice but to circumvent your authority and report to the Hokage ourselves. You may be the leader of the clan, but your decisions are circumspect and jaded with a crucial item such as this."
"You, of all people, must ensure the safety of the clan first and foremost before anything else." The lady elder finished smugly.
"She is my daughter. It is my responsibility to bring her to safety! She is part of the clan and a huge part of my life!" Hiashi shouted back. "You have no right to do whatever you feel like to her!"
"Have you forgotten, Hiashi? Your daughter is still related to us by blood." The lady elder continued arrogantly. "She is my granddaughter as well, so I have just as much of a right to get involved in matters concerning her as you do. And I was the leader before you, Hiashi. I always consider what's best for the clan over what's best for me. So even if you hadn't agreed for her to undergo this interrogation, the majority of the clan's decision supersedes your personal feelings. There is nothing you can do about it."
Both elders looked through the glass window separating the interrogation room from the waiting room. "If that girl becomes a threat to the clan or the village, she is under our responsibility. It is best for her to be further investigated. For the clan's safety. For the village's safety. And even for her own safety." The male elder said.
The deafening silence clouded the waiting room as they all watched the on-going interrogation, but the blond-haired ninja who remained silent throughout the exchange finally had enough – and decided to voice his opinion.
"Bullshit."
The Hyuga's turned to face him, especially the elders who were surprised by his foul language.
He clenched his hands as he stared in undisguised rage at the elders. "Bull. Shit." He enunciated, causing them to narrow their eyes in contempt at him.
"Best for her my ass. Don't make me fucking laugh!" Naruto shouted. "You've never thought about what's best for her – just yourselves! And you think what's best is that she shouldn't even exist at all! For all these years, you and your clan have been very fucking relieved that someone 'took care of your problem' for you. I'll bet my life that even though you're her grandparents, neither of you shed a single tear when you heard she was dead! Or am I wrong, you decrepit old fossils?"
"This is none of your business, boy. We are…" the lady elder spat back, but Naruto immediately cut her off.
"I know exactly who you are – and I'm not intimidated or impressed. And I'm not one of your clansmen, so I don't have to follow any of your rules – especially the one about giving you any respect, you shriveled up raisin." It was like a dam had burst and the words were just rushing forth – not that Naruto would have stopped himself if he could. "All these years, none of us knew that she was still alive except for Orochimaru and Kabuto. They were the ones involved with her disappearance, so I'm going to hunt them down and make them pay… which is probably a relief for the two of you, since you don't have to worry about me coming after you."
The male elder narrowed his eyes. "Is that some form of a threat?"
"Call it whatever you want." He growled. "But let me remind you – who was it that abandoned her in the first place? Who did everything in their power to ensure that she was dead, keeping your precious Byakugan safe? Who were the ones who called off the search because they assumed she couldn't have survived the fall, even though there was no concrete evidence? It was like you were sentencing her to death! And now that she's back and alive after all these years, you suddenly consider her your granddaughter again?" he breathed heavily and icily glared at the elders, "That's total bullshit."
"You never saw her as your own flesh and blood... so don't you dare… don't you dare say that you're doing what's best for her because she's your granddaughter," he said aggressively. "Someone like her doesn't deserve to be treated like that. Not by you. Not by anyone."
"I'll be fine, Naruto-kun." She repeated determinedly. "If this is the last step I have to take in order to be able to return home, then I am willing to take it. I've waited for so long… lost my hope for so long… but now that I'm here, I won't let my weakness take me over."
Naruto knew Hinata was still doing this for her clan's sake. But despite all her efforts and earnest desire to finally get back to them, they still treated her like an unwanted child – a disgrace – even after suffering all these years.
"Naruto…" Hiashi said, feeling grateful that his daughter had found a friend like him… but at the same time, his words also pierced his heart because at one time, he had treated and thought of her exactly the same way.
The lady elder seethed in anger as she took a step closer and fearlessly looked Naruto in the eye. "The clan will never have use for a failure." With those venomous words hanging in the air, the lady elder and her husband turned their backs and left the interrogation room.
Still clenching his jaw, Naruto made a move to go after them but Hiashi grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Naruto… let it go." He said dryly. "They aren't worth it."
The blonde hero blinked a few times. "Are you sure, Hiashi-san? Because I think everyone would feel a lot better if I broke their legs."
Hiashi actually laughed at that, and Naruto joined him. Some of the tension, anger and rage that had been permeating the room seemed to dissipate… and then the door to the interrogation room opened, revealing an exhausted Ino.
Naruto rushed to her side and immediately inquired about Hinata's condition. "How did it go, Ino?"
She leaned against the doorframe, dropping the clipboard she was holding. Instinctively, Naruto came to her assistance. "Hey! Are you okay?" he asked in concern.
Ino straightened herself and thanked him for his support. "There's no need to worry about it. I just got exhausted from performing the mind jutsu on her. And she's fine." She offered Naruto a reassuring smile. "She'll wake up in an hour or so. We'll be placing her in a special room and once she wakes up, she's good to head home."
"That's a relief…" Naruto said as he spared a glance at the unconscious Hinata who was being gently placed on a stretcher. "So… what did you see in there, Ino?"
The expression on Ino's face changed quickly and both Naruto and Hiashi noticed this. Her blue eyes gravely looked down at the ground while her hands began to tremble. She reached for Naruto's shoulder and grasped it tightly. "Make sure that you'll always be there for her, Naruto. She'll probably have traumatizing nightmares from the memories I've seen. I didn't see it all, but what I did was more than enough. Those memories could break her anytime. "
The medics carefully moved Hinata out of the interrogation room, and as she was being carried out, Naruto stared at her peaceful face. Every night since they'd found her, he wondered how she managed to live with those horrible memories still haunting her. She handled herself well and he adored her strength and pure heart. She smiled, laughed and merrily talked with them as if nothing was wrong. However, beneath those angelic features and vibrant smiles there still hid a dark past that no one could ever erase.
Hiashi numbly walked towards the stretcher and slowly reached out his calloused hand to touch his daughter's face. Tears built in the corner of his eyes as he finally saw his long lost daughter. All he'd ever given her were painful and sad memories, and there wasn't a day that went by where he didn't pray for her forgiveness. He hoped that this time he could set things right for the both of them, and let her know how much he regretted treating her the way he did.
Naruto watched the scene as if he could read what was on Hiashi's mind. Before he could follow them out, he felt Ino's grip tightening on his shoulder and caused for him to look back.
Ino sharply stared into his eyes. "Be there for her, Naruto. No matter what… always stay with her."
Naruto caught the seriousness of the kunoichi's voice and he nodded determinedly. He knew very well that Ino had seen a lot of traumatic memories from different people, ever since she took her father's place as the head of the Special Interrogation Unit. Also, being also the student of the former Godaime Hokage, she learned so much to keep doing her job professionally. No matter how hard it was to keep those fears to herself, she endured it and suffered the consequences. But right now… what Ino had seen in Hinata's mind shook her to her core.
"I will." Naruto said determinedly.
"And… don't worry. She's not a threat to our village." Ino wearily picked up her clipboard. "I'll write my report to the Hokage immediately and inform him of the results."
"I see. Thank you, Ino." Naruto said sincerely.
Upon bidding their farewells, Naruto and Ino parted ways. For now, at least he was relieved that Hinata would be allowed to stay in Konoha again after so long. Who could possibly think she'd ever be a threat to the village? She loved this place, and he'd seen the look on her face when Sakura said she'd be able to come home. It was one of the rarest smiles he had seen… and he knew well that she couldn't be happier. Hyuga Hinata would never be a threat. Never. That was his resolve.
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Upon hearing Shikamaru's team was back, Kakashi promptly summoned them to his office for a crucial discussion. He wasn't surprised to see that Naruto was gone, since he expected that the blond would never leave the Hyuga maiden's side. After all, Kakashi also failed to prevent things from happening. He wasn't in favor of the interrogation, but since it was the Hyuga family's decision, there was nothing he could do about it.
Sasuke, Shikamaru, Sakura, Tenten and Shino were all present so he decided to begin the meeting.
"Several weeks ago when Shikamaru's Team was in Sunagakure, Neji met Yakushi Kabuto during their mission in the Village Hidden in the Lakes." The Hokage began. Everyone in the room was shocked of the announcement since no one had ever heard about Kabuto or Orochimaru since the war. "For now, Neji is on a mission with Kabuto in search of Orochimaru."
"Then that means the reason why Neji left that day was because of Kabuto?" Tenten urgently asked.
"That's right." Kakashi nodded, "I have sent Sai and his ANBU team to search for Neji, but as of this morning they still haven't found any new leads. The reason why he joined Kabuto to search for Orochimaru was not clearly stated, but it seemed that Kabuto had already told him that his cousin, Hyuga Hinata was alive. According to his letter, Kabuto only agreed to let him join him on his journey as long as he came alone. Neji knew how crucial it was to join him on this mission, so he gave a letter to Tenten and Lee as a disguise to inform me of his discovery about his cousin and Yakushi Kabuto."
"Did he state his reasons as to why they had to search for Orochimaru?" Sasuke asked.
"He only said that it was for his cousin. Nothing else." Kakashi said, "He requested back-up, since he wasn't sure if Kabuto could be trusted. If he sees something odd, he'd be leaving signs behind to suggest where they were headed and could be found. Right now, Sai and the others haven't found anything yet but his team has already conducted a vast search. This could only mean that Neji and Kabuto are headed somewhere off the grid. If Neji needed help right away, we wouldn't be able to get to where he is if the team failed to find his signs."
He paused and turned to look at Sasuke, Tenten, and Shino. "That's why I'm sending you three after Sai to help him track down Kabuto and Neji. You are scheduled to leave right after this meeting and catch up to Sai and the rest of his ANBU team while Shikamaru, Sakura and Naruto remain here to keep an eye on Hyuga Hinata. You are all dismissed."
"Hai!" They all answered to the Hokage.
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Once they exited the Hokage's office, Sakura immediately approached Sasuke to find out what was going through his mind after the discussion.
"Sasuke-kun," she called out.
He halted his steps and turned back to her. His impassive eyes showed no emotion, as usual.
"Are you… okay?" Sakura asked carefully as she worriedly stared back at him.
"What are you saying, Sakura?" Sasuke deadpanned.
Sakura looked down and sheepishly rubbed her left arm. "Well… you're being sent again to look for Kabuto and Orochimaru. I just want to know if you're bothered by it."
Sasuke scoffed at the notion. "You're talking nonsense. Being bothered by Orochimaru or Kabuto is the least of my concerns. If I find out that they're up to something, I'll be the one to stop them." He said in a dangerous tone of voice. He then took a step closer to Sakura and placed a hand on her shoulder. "And… this time, I'll definitely return for you."
Sakura's head suddenly rose up and she found his sharp onyx eyes staring back at her in a very serious manner, however this time, she could feel the warmth in them.
"It's a promise." He said and quickly landed a soft peck on Sakura's forehead before turning away to proceed on his mission.
Sakura froze in place, dumbstruck and unable to move. All she could do was watch Sasuke's departing figure. Her eyes were wide and her cheeks were undoubtedly turning a darker shade of red. Did Sasuke-kun just…?
"Oh yes, he did. Good for you, forehead." A female's voice from behind Sakura just had to ruin the most perfect moment of her life. "Who could have ever thought your gigantic forehead would be an asset to your dear Sasuke-kun?"
Sakura turned and came face to face with her former love rival, Yamanaka Ino and narrowed her green eyes at the blond medical ninja. Just when she and Sasuke were finally making progress with their relationship, Ino just had to ruin things with her impeccably bad timing.
"Mind your own business, Ino-pig. Anyway, what brings you here?"
Ino, still in her lab coat, waved her clipboard in front of Sakura. "I'm here to deliver my report to the Hokage. If you remember, I took my father's position as the head of the Special Interrogation Unit. I just finished interrogating Hyuga Hinata."
Sakura's eyes widened. "How was it?" She wanted to get the other half of the picture. Sakura might have healed her body, but Ino had seen her mind… and all the horrors from the girl's past.
"It… didn't go so well." Ino said in a somber tone. "But she's safe to stay in the village. She's back in the recovery room with Naruto and Hiashi-sama. Don't worry, I've checked her condition and the interrogation didn't cause any undue stress. She'll be regaining consciousness anytime now."
"I see. That's good to hear." Sakura nodded in agreement. "I'll be going to see them now, since Kakashi-sen… I mean, the Hokage assigned Shikamaru and I to keep an eye on Hinata and Naruto." She glanced around and muttered under her breath, "Speaking of that lazy bum, where's he gone to?"
Ino's demeanor changed and she motioned for her friend to come closer.
"What is it, Ino?"
The blonde's face became gloomy. "I… I don't know, Sakura. I-I'm not sure of what I saw – heard, perhaps – in Hinata-san's memory."
Sakura didn't like the sound of that. "What was it?"
Ino shivered involuntarily. The icy chill that traveled up her spine seemed to settle in her eyes as they stared at her with the slightest amount of fear.
"It was like… I heard a different voice."
It had been half an hour since the interrogation ended, and Hinata was still lying unconscious on the bed in the recovery room. Naruto was just beside Hinata, leaning against the wall as he watched the maiden peacefully sleep and the wall clock just ahead of him. The couch was occupied by the Hyuga leader as he patiently waited for Hinata to regain consciousness. The tension from the conflict earlier with the elders finally cooled down, since their focus right now was to ensure Hinata's well-being. But whenever Naruto recalled those harsh words the elders said earlier, he couldn't help but feel his blood start to boil. He felt like he didn't do enough to defend the girl from all the unforgiving criticisms that the Hyuga elders said.
"Her features… she resembles Haruka so much."
Hiashi suddenly spoke as he stared fondly at his daughter. "I'd recognize her immediately. I wouldn't forget her. She was one of the most important treasures in my life… that I failed to protect and acknowledge all those years ago. When… When she was taken, it was too late to realize how much she mattered to me, and not a day goes by that I wish I could turn back time and change the past." He clenched his fists tight and lowered his head in guilt, "I… I have done nothing for her as her father. How could she possibly forgive me for all the pain that I caused her…?"
"It'll be fine, Hiashi-san." Naruto reassured him as he continued to watch Hinata. "The first time I saw her again in that abandoned laboratory… she looked nothing compared to what she is right now. She looked so skinny, pale, and sickly… like she was the most fragile being I've ever seen. She was scared… traumatized… as if anyone who'd come near her would hurt her. And seeing her like that stabbed at my heart." He shut his eyes and a faint smile formed on the corner of his lips, "But… when we told her she could come back to Konoha once she got better, it was like she was the happiest person in the world. From then on, she worked hard to get better as fast as possible. She did everything she could just so that she could come home."
Hiashi lifted his head up as he continued listening to Naruto.
"She even asked me if the village would welcome her home. To be honest, I was ready to take her away when the ANBU showed up earlier, but she was the one who insisted on going through with the interrogation because all she wanted was to go home. If it was the final step she had to take, she wasn't afraid to do it. That's why I doubt she wouldn't be happy to see you, because I know that the last thing she wants to feel right now is sad."
Somehow, his words managed to comfort Hiashi's heavy heart. He couldn't help but be amazed and humbled by how big his daughter's heart was... and how far the boy whom everyone in the village called 'monster' was willing to go to protect her.
Overcome with gratitude, Hiashi swallowed thickly. "Thank you…" he replied simply.
At the moment, it was all he could say.
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Hinata could feel the last dregs of sleep leaving her mind. Slowly, she opened her eyes and the first thing she recognized was the blurry image of yellow and orange in front of her. When her vision finally adjusted to the lights, she saw Naruto leaning against the wall by the foot of her bed, welcoming her with a smile.
"The interrogation is over, Hinata." Naruto said gently. "You did great."
Hinata propped her body up and was surprised to find that she didn't have any pain in her head at all. "H-how did it go?" She asked, since she couldn't remember anything that happened after the ANBU used the genjutsu on her.
"Ino looked into your memories with her clan's special ability," Naruto explained. "It went pretty well, but… I guess she saw too much of your memories. She's giving her report to the Hokage right now."
Hinata looked down into her lap. "Oh… I see…" she said softly. However, before she could ask how "Ino" felt after seeing her memories, she sensed another presence inside the room. It was strong and familiar, and her heart raced just thinking of who might be in the room with her and Naruto.
Her eyes sought out the source… someone sitting on the couch, staring back at her intently with the same Hyuga eyes she possessed. Her breath was caught in her throat, and her body trembled as a host of emotions surged forth.
"O…Otou-s-sama…" She said hesitantly, almost hopefully… as if she were afraid she was still under the genjutsu and this was nothing more than a dream. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
Hiashi numbly stepped closer to his daughter. His hand reached out for her face and caressed it gently. "I—I never th-thought… I'd be able to see your face again… or hear you call my name." He knelt down and clutched his daughter's hand, afraid that if he let go she might suddenly disappear. He lowered his head in shame. "For everything I've done… For all the pain and loneliness I've caused you… I sincerely apologize for everything, my daughter. I–I failed as your father… you didn't deserve to have any of this happen to you…"
Seeing her father like this broke her heart. She knelt down beside him and placed her hands on either side of his head, forcing him to look at her. She didn't want to see him suffering and blaming himself for what had happened to her. Deep down inside, she knew Kabuto was lying when he said her family didn't care she was gone. And right now… all her doubts vanished by the moment she saw her father break down in tears and apologize to her.
"I… I shouldn't have stopped searching…" Hiashi sobbed, "I should have continued believing th-that you were alive…"
"Otou-sama…" She interrupted him gently. She'd heard enough. She could feel the pain and sorrow her father must have felt all these years. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she smiled fondly at him. "Tadaima, Otou-sama."
Hinata dissolved into her father's arms as he pulled her into a warm embrace.
It was the very first time she'd felt her father's arms around her. For so long… she wondered how her father's embrace would feel. It was better than she ever imagined, since she never expected that she would make it back home someday. Seeing her father or Naruto… it was nothing but a hopeful picture in the back of her mind that she longingly wished to happen, but during those years in that horrible place, that hope withered, and that picture slowly faded.
But in this moment… everything was different.
"Let's get you back home," Hiashi said softly. "Your mother and your sister are waiting…"
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"How is she?" Hiashi urgently asked Tsunade, who'd been called to the compound to check on his wife, Haruka. Behind him stood Naruto and Hinata, who both looked anxious to hear how she was doing.
"Haruka will be fine. She just had a little panic attack when she found out that the clan elders overrode your authority and submitted Hinata to the interrogation department as soon as she arrived in the village," Tsunade explained. "Hanabi was the one who called me since I happened to be in the neighborhood. She just regained consciousness a few minutes ago, and I told her you'd be bringing her home very soon."
"I presume that everything went well with the interrogation," Tsunade mused as she glanced out of the corner of her eye at Hinata. "I think it's best to talk to Haruka as soon as possible, since she's still a bit anxious and the longer you wait, the more that might turn into another panic attack. Her body is weak enough as it is, and avoiding any more stress would definitely be a good idea."
"I understand." Hiashi intoned, agreeing with her assessment. "We will take it from here, Tsunade-sama. I will send someone for you immediately if anything happens again."
"Then I'll be leaving." She cocked an eyebrow at the blonde standing next to Hinata. "Naruto, why don't you escort me out of the compound?"
Naruto frowned. "What? Why? You can walk on your own, baa-chan. Besides, the front gate isn't that far–"
Tsunade gave him a piercing, icy stare – and he froze on the spot. "I said… why don't you escort me out of the compound, Naruto-kun?"
Her tone was sweet, but somehow it still sent a shiver of fear down his spine. Her look told him that if he questioned her again, he'd be leaving the compound unconscious, and probably with a concussion.
He was the Great Hero. He stopped the Fourth World Shinobi War. He was the vessel of the nine-tails. And yet, he was scared of someone who was old enough to literally be his grandmother?
"Saa, let's go… We shouldn't keep these two from seeing Haruka." The terrifyingly wicked smile never left Tsunade's face.
Yup. No doubt about it. He was still scared.
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Once they properly excused themselves, Naruto started to argue with Tsunade.
"You could have told me like a normal human being, baa-chan! I was gonna give them their personal time, but really…. adding ' –kun' to my name…." Naruto shivered again. "It gives me the freaking creeps."
Tsunade snorted disbelievingly. "You weren't going to leave them alone. Even if you were married to Hiashi's daughter, Hyuga business is still Hyuga's business." She hissed back, "And how I said it was perfectly fine! If you weren't so dense, you would have picked up on my hint in the first place! Then you wouldn't have looked like a clueless idiot in front of Hinata and Hiashi."
"Che! You're gonna get wrinkles on that fake face of yours, baa-chan!"
"Oh, shut it!"
Tsunade punched Naruto lightly on the head. "That hurts!" He exclaimed as the spot began to swell.
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Hiashi and Hinata watched Naruto and Tsunade bicker back and forth with stunned look on their faces.
"Nee, otou-sama… Did you call her "Tsunade"? Wasn't she one of the legendary Sannin along with Jiraiya-sama and…" She stopped suddenly when she realized whose name she was going to say. Her face turned grim.
Hiashi saw the solemn look on Hinata's face and immediately understood why. "Yes. She is Princess Tsunade, the First Hokage's granddaughter. She became the Fifth Hokage and has since retired, so that she could focus more on Konoha's hospital. She was very thoughtful to consider being your mother's doctor when she retired."
"Oh. I see." Hinata said. She remembered. She was that lady Naruto kept calling "baa-chan" in his stories, specifically the one where he and Master Jiraiya went off to search for her, so they could bring her back to be the new Hokage.
When Tsunade and Naruto were out of their sight, Hiashi began to lead Hinata through the hallways of the compound.
"It's time for you to meet your mother, Hinata."
Hinata could feel her heart jumping into her throat.
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When Haruka heard someone slide open her chamber door – she presumed it was a servant assigned to guard her – she was already up from her bed and readying her haori for a trip outside. "My health has been restored. I am not ill and I will go to where my husband and my daughter are." She said defiantly to whoever entered her room, not noticing who it really was standing behind her.
"Haruka."
Haruka was started at the sound of her husband's voice. She didn't expect him to be back so soon. "Hiashi!" she said urgently as she approached him. "How did it go? Where is she? Did they harm our daughter?" she asked anxiously as she stared up to her husband's eyes, hoping for the best outcome she could hear.
Hiashi tried to soothe her anxiety. "Everything is under control now, Haruka. You have nothing to worry about."
She still wouldn't let it go. Not until she got her answer. "Is it over? Did… Did they take her? Please… Please tell me that they didn't take her away or lock her out of the village…"
Hiashi gently placed his hands on his wife's petite shoulders. "I told you, Haruka…" A rare smile formed on Hiashi's face. "You have nothing to worry about anymore."
Haruka blinked confusedly, and for a moment, she wondered if her assumptions were right.
Her husband wouldn't come back here so easily if…
Her husband wouldn't tell her not to worry anymore if…
Suddenly, Haruka heard light footsteps from behind Hiashi and then… a young woman appeared in the doorway.
Her eyes immediately widened. Time may have changed her, but there was no mistaking who it was.
"Oh, God…" Haruka whimpered, her eyes full of unspoiled tears as she finally saw the precious treasure she had once lost. She slowly made way to the girl behind her husband. A hand covered her mouth to control her sobs, but it was a poor attempt since her tears streamed down her face.
Haruka stared directly at those lovely, tear filled lavender eyes staring back at her, which matched her level of emotions. "Oh God… Hinata…"
Hinata tried to hold back her own tears and stifled a sob. But seeing the woman who cared for her all those years when no one accepted her or loved her for who she was…it brought back all the wonderful memories she had with her mother, even those that she had forgotten all those years she'd been trapped in that horrible laboratory.
"O…Okaa-sama… Okaa-sama…" Hinata sobbed and she couldn't find any words to say.
Haruka pulled her into a warm embrace, the tightest she could manage with her frail body. "I–I finally get to see you again, after so long. I'd been hoping…" she caressed her daughter's long indigo hair as Hinata cried in her arms. "I never stopped loving you, my daughter. I never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped praying for you…"
"I missed you, Okaa-sama… I missed you s-so much…"
Hiashi wrapped his arms around his reunited wife and daughter. Their family was complete once again and finally, after so long he saw Haruka smile from the bottom of her heart.
And for the moment, it was more than enough.
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Naruto mumbled to himself as he made his way back down the hallway to where he was forced to leave Hinata and Hiashi. "Damn, old lady. Calling me creepy names and punching me on the head just to borrow money for her stupid gambling addiction… che. She's going to regret this someday." Then, he saw a familiar figure sitting on the porch near the koi pond.
It was Hanabi.
"Oi! Hanabi!" Naruto called out to her as he approached, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your mom and dad? Plus, you know your sister's home, right?"
Hanabi's attention didn't leave the grass underneath her bare feet. "I don't know, Naruto nii-san," she sighed, "it just feels… different."
Naruto took a seat beside her, noticing the troubled look on her face. "Is something wrong? Don't you want to meet Hinata?"
Hanabi's head shot up and she stared at Naruto in shock. "Of course I do! I've always wanted to meet my sister." She replied instantly. "It's just… I don't know how to face her…" Her face turned sad once again as she stared at the pond filled with Koi fish.
"I'm happy to know that she's alive after all this time, but… I was the reason why the clan gave up on searching for my sister. I–I was the clan's priority. They saw me as her replacement and that she shouldn't have existed at all." Hanabi was torn and uncertain. "I don't know what to say to her. I don't know if she'll like me."
"Baaakaa." Naruto said as he ruffled her hair, making a tangled mess of it.
"What are you doing, Naruto nii-san?" Hanabi swatted his hand away and glared at him. "Geez. What was that for?"
"How could Hinata possibly hate her own sister? Besides, she'll never hate you, you idiot. It's all in your head." He playfully bopped Hanabi on her head. "She was even happy to see your father and welcomed him with open arms." He leaned closer and discreetly whispered, "Not to mention, he was a pretty big jerk before your sister got kidnapped."
"But still… what if she doesn't like me?" Hanabi asked.
"Then why was she so eager to undergo the interrogation, even if her own family was the ones who requested it from the Hokage?" Naruto argued. "I'm telling you Hanabi, she wouldn't go through all that just to come home and hate everyone. She would have stayed in Suna if that was the case. It's all in your head. And when she sees you, I know she'll be very happy."
"But… how do you know?" Hanabi challenged him.
"Because your sister is the most kindhearted person I have ever met." He stood up from the porch and offered his hand to the younger Hyūga. "Let's go. I know you're dying to meet her now."
The most kindhearted person… Hanabi thought to herself as she looked at Naruto's hand. For a moment, she hesitated… but that faded as soon as she grabbed his hand and went to see her sister.
And Naruto was right, because Hanabi didn't regret her decision. The moment her sister had seen her, she was wrapped in a joyful embrace.
The night was peaceful as the stars shone brightly in the cloudless dark sky. The perfectly shaped full moon glowed brightly, giving off sufficient light for two ninjas journeying through a forest engulfed in mysteries. It was said in an old myth that the Forlorn Forest could only to be seen beneath the thick mists on an island located in the far east, when the moon was full on the third day of the fourth week of summertime. Word had spread around the world that no one had the courage to explore the depths of the forest since it bore secrets that mankind was not ready to know. That in the deepest part of the forest… was a cave that lead to the darkest place called "Hell".
However at this moment, the stories told in the myths didn't matter to the two ninjas exploring the depths of the forest.
"I can sense something." The ninja said as he landed on a branch of a nearby tree. Right behind him was his companion who halted as well.
"What is it?" the other one asked.
Enhancing his Byakugan, Neji examined a huge stone deeper in the forest that appeared somewhat out of place. Upon further examination, it seemed to be blocking a cave of some sort. He could see an aura surrounding the huge stone, and he'd never before seen such a unique and extraordinary powerful chakra wave. On the mountain surrounding the stone, he could see faint images of an odd, ancient writing Kabuto had shown him before.
"This is it. I've found the cave that you speak of. It's just ahead." Neji said.
"Good. We'll find Orochimaru-sama in no time. Now we have no time to waste." Kabuto readied himself to jump out of the tree and advance towards the stone, but Neji suddenly pressed a kunai against his neck.
"Remember, a deal is a deal. You have mine and I have your word." Neji growled dangerously, "Now that I've helped you find what you're looking for, tell me what all this is about and how it involves my cousin."
To be continued.
a/n:
So there it is. We're getting there. The Mystery part. Mwahahaha. I hope I get to update soon... but when I take a look at my planner... I cringe.
So what do you guys think that there is about with the "mystery part" I'm talking about? Leave a review as always! Reviews make the world go round~!
See you at the next installment! Let's pray for a miracle update. *crosses fingers*
Vocabulary
Nani-what
Honto ni arigatougozaimashita- thank you very much
Hai- yes
Tadaima- I'm home