(A/N: Hello again, sorry this took a while but I've been going back and editing earlier chapters. On that note I have finally decided to look for a beta, if you are interested P.M. me.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A Fox's New Skulk
Chapter Eleven: The reason behind
The Hokage sat as members of the council droned on about the preparations for the upcoming Chunin exam. Most of their reports could have been delivered in less than five minutes; however there seemed to be a competition among the council members as to who could talk the longest. The standing record was forty three minutes from a seafood merchant.
When a particularly long winded silk merchant finished the Hokage stood to close the meeting. "Thank you all for your hard work on behalf of the village."
"Excuse me, but there is one other matter that demands our attention." Mebuki Haruno said.
"And what would this matter be?" Several members from the civilian side of the council traded glances, he hated when they did that. It meant they had gotten up to something behind his back and hours of headache for him.
"The reassignment of Naruto Uzumaki from his current squad. With the Chunin exams at hand a replacement for him must be found." Mebuki said.
"Why do you believe that Naruto needs to be replaced?" The Hokage sat back down, of all the council members Mebuki was perhaps the most annoying. She possessed an underserved amount of entitlement.
"Obviously he can not be allowed to take the exam with Sasuke and my daughter. Sakura has informed me of his limited progress, in fact he often skips their training all together. We can not allow his lack of skill to endanger their passing. Also I have heard that the Kazekages own children will be participating. If the, creature, was to injure one of them imagine the incident it could cause." Mebuki said.
The Hokage decided he needed to cut her out now if he wished to sleep that night. "You seem to be under several misconceptions. You have no say in the matter of who is allowed to and who is not allowed to participate in the Chunin exam. You have no say in who is placed on which team. And you have little idea of the level of skills possessed by Naruto."
"You can not honestly believe that he would be anything but a liability," Mebuki said.
"I do. Your request is denied." The Hokage stood and left the council room before she could protest.
Naruto sat in the bleachers waiting for the kunai tournament to start. He wore the henge of what he thought Shino looked like without his coat and glasses. The tournament was broken up into categories by the participants rank, armature, Genin, Chunin and Jonin.
The armature division finished, Konohamaru managed to get third place. The contestants for the Genin was short with only ten contestants, there were fewer the higher the division. So far the average score was one in five outside the center ring.
"Next up number seven." The crowd went quiet as Sasuke, wearing a henge of Naruto walked onto the field. Angry mummers followed him. He made an impressive attempt, all of his kunai pierced the center ring but their grouping was loose.
The crowd began booing; some threw whatever trash they could lay their hands on. Even Sasukes glare didn't silence them. Naruto watched, stratified as Sasuke stalked off of the field.
"Now number eight, Tenten!" She managed to land all five of her kunai clustered in the center of the target. It took two judges to dislodge them.
Sasuke was pissed, there was no other way to describe it. How dare they treat a Uchiha that way. If it wasn't for the girl he would have won the torment hands down. He shoved past Chunin waiting for their number to be called.
"This proves nothing. Naruto is not right. Those people were his clones." Sasuke was so engrossed in convincing himself that Naruto was wrong and had tricked him he didn't notice the looks of people he passed, the scowls and angry glares. He also failed to notice when the side street he walked down suddenly became empty. Until two men in paper masks appeared before him.
"Getting above yourself again demon." The one wearing a pig mask said. He threw a punch at Sasukes stomach. Sasuke easily dodge and struck his attackers elbow. The pig masked man jumped back cursing.
"You dare to attack a Uchiha?" Sasuke said.
"What the hell are you talking about demon?" The man wearing a lizard mask said.
"Hey Sasuke, you're still wearing the henge idiot!" Naruto said. He had followed Sasuke by roof top from the tournament.
"Shut up!" Sasuke released the henge.
"Shit it really is that Uchiha kid." Pig said.
"Idiot! The demon knows clones, that's a henge now!" Lizard said. He charged Sasuke throwing kunai attached to chakra wire, they sailed around him forming a net.
Sasuke smiled. "Fire release: Flaming pinwheel jutsu."
A cone of fire shot from Sasukes mouth, severing the chakra wire, the burning ends fells to the ground. Lizard was to slow and crashed through the flames. He rolled, his clothes on fire, part of his mask burned off. "Damnit you brat! You'll pay for that!"
"Idiots, that really is Sasuke Uchiha." Everyone turned to face the newcomer. He wore an ANBU style mask, white with a single blue line under his left eye.
"It is?" Pig said.
"Yes, and he's worth a nice bonus." The masked man said.
"Are you idiots done talking?" Sasuke said.
The masked man made a quick series of hand signs. The earth swirled around Sasukes feet pulling him down to his knees. He was trapped in the road. Sasuke brought his hands together, the masked man threw a chain weighted by two metal balls. They wrapped around Sasukes hands breaking the seal he was forming.
Sasuke tried again. The masked man jumped at him, a kunai aimed at Sasukes eyes. Naruto threw one of his weights; it struck the masked man in the shoulder. He staggered sideways; Sasuke freed his hands and repeated the seals the masked man had made. His feet came free.
The masked man threw a kunai with an explosive tag towards Naruto. It struck the building below his feet. Naruto jumped. The tag exploded knocking him into another building. He fell to the ground. The masked man was one him in a second; he grabbed Narutos arms and braced his foot on Narutos back. "Try to break my shoulder you monster."
He pulled until Narutos left arm popped out of its socket. Naruto gave a strangled grunt of pain. The masked man laughed, and sensed Sasuke a moment too late. Sasuke drove his kunai into the man's armpit. The man screamed, Sasuke kicked his back. He rolled onto the street and pulled several smoke bombs from his vest. He threw them at Sasuke, they exploded in front of his face.
When Sasukes vision cleared the men were gone. Naruto climbed back to his feet, his left arm hung limp. "Thanks Sasuke."
Sasuke grabbed his arm and jammed it back into its socket. Naruto collapsed and almost blacked out. "What the hell!"
"I fixed your arm, be grateful." Sasuke said.
Naruto experimentally flexed his fingers, his arm hurt but he could move it again. "Fine, neat trick."
Sasuke looked to where the masked man had been. "Did you have anything to do with this?"
"Of course not! Why would I have my own arm nearly ripped off?" Naruto said.
Sasuke was learning to use his Sharingan to detect the small muscle movements when a person lied. Naruto displayed none of those movements. "You owe me."
"I owe you?"
"I saved you."
"And I saved you! If it wasn't for me that freak would have cut out your eyes!" Naruto said.
"I didn't need your help! I could have handled him myself, he was nothing compared to my brother." Sasuke said.
"You're right, compared to your brother he was nothing, and he almost ended your little plans of revenge. If some lousy Chunin level shinobi can finish you in a few seconds what chance do you have?"
Sasuke grabbed Narutos jacket. "Shut up I will kill him."
"How? You're nowhere near as strong as he was at your age." Naruto said, ignoring the killing intent his teammate was directing at him.
"I will get strong! I have to! There is nothing else for me. No past or future."
"That's a messed up way of looking at it." Naruto said.
"He took everything from me."
"At least you know what you lost, and at least you had it. I never knew my parents; I know nothing about my family. I know what it's like to go home to a dark house."
"You don't know anything! You don't know what it's like to be betrayed." Sasuke said.
"Want to bet? At the academy I was taught the wrong Taijutsu style so I couldn't pass. They sabotaged me at even chance."
"All that proves is that you're an idiot. You have no idea the pressure I am under! Itachi was a prodigy so I have to be too. I have to be the best for this useless village. You have no idea what it's liked to be judged by everyone."
Naruto grabbed Sasukes arm and spun him around pressing him against the wall. "No idea? My apartment was blown up because some nut-job that's never meet me decided I should die! I am attack on the street, over charged, sold rotten food. Don't talk to me about being judge."
Sasuke stumbled when Naruto let him go. "Fine your life sucks too. Why should I care?"
"At the academy you beat me in everything. We were both going at it alone. I found people to help me and now I'm as good as you."
"Dream on." Sasuke said.
Naruto ignored him. "Imagine how strong you could be if you got off your high horse and asked for help."
"Itachi never had help."
"You're not your brother Sasuke. If you try to follow his path you'll die. And do you really think he managed to kill your entire clan by himself? No matter how strong he was there were dozens of Jonin in your clan. Not one of them was able to call for help?"
Sasuke was furious; no one had dared to speak to him like this in years. Now some no name loser dead last was lecturing him. And a voice in his head sided with Naruto. "You don't get it. anyone who helps me is a target."
"Are you really so self-centered? You think your brother is just lurking around waiting for you to make a friend so he can kill them?" Naruto said.
Sasuke remained silent. He knew how paranoid it sounded but that didn't mean it couldn't be true. "Everyone in this village is pathetic. I need to get stronger, but there's no one here who can teach me what I need to know. I need power not friendship!"
"Making bonds with other people doesn't make you weak. You're sabotaging yourself. If you were serious about killing your brother you wouldn't waste everything you've been given, all the help you've been offered. Do you think your brother hasn't been training?" Naruto said.
"I know!"
"Ask Sakura to the festival." Naruto said.
"What?"
"Ask Sakura to the festival. If you're so sure that friends are useless then prove me wrong." Naruto said. It was a gamble but he had to get through to Sasuke or they could all die in the Chunin exam.
"Why would I waste my time with her?"
"Because, if you try, and after the Chunin exams you are still sure that friends are worthless. I'll teach you the Kage Bunshin."
"What if she declines?"
"She won't, she likes you." Naruto said.
Sasuke snorted. "I'm not an idiot Naruto; I know that she likes me, that she loves me. I know why all the girls love me. I am the last Uchiha. My children will inherit the Sharingan. They want the power that comes from that. When I said Itachi took everything that included my future. I can't trust anyone; do you have any idea what it's like to be used for your power?" Sasuke said.
"I don't know about being used for your power but I know about trust. You'll never know who you can trust until you try." Naruto said.
Sasuke thought it over. Either he became stronger, which he doubted, or he learned a Jutsu that he had been unable to find. It seemed no one knew it, no one that would show him anyway. "Fine."
Sakura waited at team sevens normal training ground sitting on a branch, when Sasuke had told Kakashi he was going to compete in the kunai tournament their sensei had taken the opportunity to 'wonder the road of life' leaving Sakura to read through another scroll.
Sasuke appeared next to her on the branch, she nearly fell from the tree. Sasuke studied her. After the massacre he had been in shock, still it didn't take him long to realize why he was suddenly so popular. Not only with the females in his class but Genin and Chunin as well as some older women. Since then he hadn't allowed himself to entertain ideas of developing any kind of relationship.
Because of that though he wasn't sure how to ask Sakura out. He decided it didn't matter, this wasn't a date, he was only doing it to prove Naruto wrong and learn the Kage Bushino. Naruto had been right about her doing anything he said so he would keep this simple.
"You're going to the festival with me, meet me here tomorrow at five." Sasuke said before jumping from the branch.
He watched Sakuras reaction from under a bush; she was jumping around pumping her fist into the air. "Alright I did it! Me and Sasuke!"
For the first time he doubted his plan, was the Kage Bushino worth spending time with Sakura if she was going to act like this?
Kurenai walked into the Hokages office, his age seemed more pronounced on his face then before. Still he smiled when she entered, until he saw her face. She only wore that look when she was there to complain about Narutos treatment. "I take it this isn't a social visit?"
"No sir, have you made any headway with finding the person who tagged Narutos apartment?" Kurenai said.
"Not as much as I would like. Several people from the list of customers divided their orders and sold them for a large profit. We have had limited success with locating the secondary buyers." The Hokage said.
"I see." Kurenai said.
"I know you; you didn't come here just to find out about the investigation." The Hokage said.
Kurenai smiled, the Hokages mind was as sharp as ever. She explained about their trip to the bank. She was impressed by the amount of killer intent he released. "Cobra, take a squad and bring in the management, also start an investigation into the bank itself."
An ANBU appeared next to his desk, bowed and stepped out the window.
"Mom guess what!" Sakura said the moment she got home.
"I hope it's good news, the council meeting didn't go as well as I had planned." Mebuki said.
"It is! It's the best! Sasuke asked me to go to the festival with him!" Sakura said.
"That's wonderful! We need to hurry and get you ready! There's so much to do." Mebuki said. She insisted on taking Sakura to get a new kimono that very moment.
The tailor Mebuki had chosen was crowded, she shoved through the crowd using her elbows when people failed to move pulling Sakura behind her. "Move, official council business!"
When they made it to the counter the clerk tried to send them back. "You must wait in line! No cutting no cutting!"
"We will be seen by a tailor right now or I will have this establishment closed by sunset!" Mebuki said.
"You and what army?" The clerk said.
"Any I want, I am a member of the village council. So unless you want to be kick out of this village we will be seen now." Mebuki said.
"Fine fine!" The clerk took them into a fitting room. "You wait, tailor here soon."
Less than a minute later a young woman entered the room. "What can I assist you with today? Something for the festival?"
"Yes, my daughter will be escorting a very important person." Mebuki said.
"Alright, first I will need your measurements." The tailor said. She wrapped a cloth measure around Sakura scribbling notes onto a pad of paper. "Do you have an idea of the color and pattern you would like?"
"Bring us anything with Cherry Blossoms on it." Mebuki said.
It took two assistants to bring in the rolls of fabric. Sakura and her mother began looking through them. The tailor sat down to catch her breath while they searched for the one they wanted.
"This is perfect!" Sakura said holding up a blue fabric with brown branches and light pink Cherry Blossoms.
"No its not, this is." Mebuki said holding up a roll of pink fabric with white cherry blossoms on it.
"That's nice, but this one please?" Sakura said.
"No, we will take this one. We need it done by noon tomorrow." Mebuki said.
"I will try but we have a lot of orders, you really should have come sooner." The tailor said.
"It will be done at noon tomorrow, even a minute late and a squad of Jonin will insure you don't do any more business in this village. Also see what you can do about padding the chest a bit." Mebuki said.
"Mom!" Sakura said.
"Hush, it won't hurt. Now come along we have another errand to finish before we go home." Mebuki directed Sakura to their bank, a large crowd was milling around out front. Mebuki shoved her way past angry merchants to the front of a building. ANBU stood outside the door keeping them back.
"What is the meaning of this!" Mebuki said.
"Orders from the Hokage, several employs of this bank are suspected of treasonous activities. We are investigating. The bank will resume normal operation tomorrow, provided we find nothing else. Now please leave." Cobra said.
"I am a member of the council! I have heard nothing of this and I demand you let me in!" Mebuki said. Several merchants yelled their support.
"The Hokage does not need council approval to investigate and act on treason." Cobra said.
"This is unacceptable!" Mebuki said.
"That's a shame." Cobra said.
Mebuki stormed home cursing the entire way. "I will send word to your instructor that you will not be in training tomorrow so you have time to get ready for the festival."
"Yes mom." Sakura said.
Hinata woke early, in just a few hours she would go on her first date, and with Naruto. She prepared to meet with her team in a happy daze. A knock at her door brought her back to reality. "Come in."
The door slid open, a branch member bowed on the floor, their head pressed to the wood. "I am sorry to disturb you, but your father has requested that you meet with him in the main training hall immediately."
"Thank you." Hinata said. She hurried to the training hall trying to recall anything she could have done to warrant a conversation with her father. Lately he had seemed content to forget she existed.
Hiashi sat with several of the elders and Hanabi. Hinata bowed to them. "You, requested to see me father."
"I understand your Jonin instructor has seen fit to allow you to participate in the Chunin Exam." Hiashi said.
"Yes father." Hinata said.
"You will understand if I have my doubts about your abilities. To insure you do not embarrass our clan any more than necessary we will test you. If you do not act to our satisfaction you will not be allowed to take the exam." Hiashi said.
"I am supposed to meet with my team soon." Hinata said. Her mind racing.
"We will send a message that you will not be joining them today. You will spar with Hanabi, if you are able to land a single hit against her then we will allow you to compete, however if you are hit, you will fail. Hanabi do not old back." Hiashi said.
"Yes father." Hanabi said. She took and clans stance.
Hinata slid into her own. If I fail then neither Shino or Kiba can enter the exam either. I can do this. Her spars with Naruto flashed through her mind. He had managed to get inside her stance before, if she could mimic his movements she could beat Hanabi. The trick would be not getting hit until she found her opening.
Hiashi raised his hand, then let it fall. Hanabi charged, using the aggressive style her clan favored. Hinata waited, Hanabi had dominated their matches for years. Her heart quickened. Hanabi struck, Hinata blocked it brushing her arm aside. Their arms became a blur of chakra strikes. Hinata was panting but she knew she was fast enough, her family was wrong about her skill.
There was the strike she had been waiting for. Hanabi tried to hit Hinatas stomach. Hinata bent backwards at the waist, her sister strike sailed over her. As Hinatas hand touched the ground her legs shot out and wrapped around Hanabi, she twisted and her sister fell. Hinata spun and struck Hanabis stomach, not using Chakra.
The training hall was dead quiet except for Hinatas ragged breathing. Slowly she got up and offered a hand to Hanabi. She slapped it away scowling. Hiashis face was impassive. "Hanabi, I instructed you not to hold back."
"I did not father." Hanabi said, bowing so she did not have to meet his eyes.
"Then you have slacked greatly in your training, we will have to, correct, that. Return to your room until I send for you." Hiashi said.
Hinata couldn't keep the smile from her face, she had done it. She had beaten Hanabi, she could take the Chunin exam.
"I do not know how you did it but we will allow you attempt the exam. However to insure you do not disgrace the clan I believe extra training is in order. Hugin, if you would?" Hiashi said.
"Of course." Hugin said. His eyes had the same dead look they always possessed and a twisted smile distorted his wrinkled face.
Hinata took her stance again. Hugin grunted as he stretched his arms. Hiashi singled them to begin. Hugin jumped into the fight, his strikes as forceful as ever. But had he always been so slow? Hinata began to gain confidence, her training was paying off, she could easily move faster than him.
Somehow he managed to dodge the few strikes she attempted but barely. Then he used the same strike that Hanabi had. Hinata bent back at the waist again to avoid it. Hugins hand shot over her. He switched the strike and slammed his hand down onto her chest with an explosive burst of chakra.
Hinata gasped, the air was driven from her lungs. Her legs buckled. Suddenly Hugin was as fast as ever, he drove a series of hits into her stomach and abdomen. She lay coughing on the training mats. Hugin picked her up and set her on her feet then let go. Before she could fall he hit her in the back of her legs and slammed her shoulder into his knee.
She caught herself and dodged, spinning on her hand. She tried to kick his face but he stepped back, in a desperate move she sent a burst of chakra from her foot. It was enough to startle him. She brought her legs underneath herself and sprang at him. Aiming a strike at his wide gut.
Hugin caught her by the wrist and pulled her forward, as she stumbled past he drove his elbow into her back. Tears sprang to her eyes. Hugin loomed over her. "You dare to have the audacity to try and attack me with such a vulgar trick? You have grown above yourself. You are nothing but a weakling who disgraces this clan."
Hinata struggled back to her feet trying not to retch. "I, I am, not. I am not weak!"
She charged Hugin, his grin vanished when she delivered a powerful strike to his left shoulder. He stumbled, his face twisted in rage. "You bitch!"
Hugin forgot the clan's style and punched Hinata in the shoulder sending her to the ground. Then in the stomach. He kicked her thigh and grabbed her ankle throwing her into the wall of the training hall. Several of the elders were chuckling at his treatment by the disgrace of the clan.
He took a moment to compose himself and contain his anger. Then strolled over to Hinata who was struggling to stand. He struck at her, her shoulders, stomach, throat. When he finished she was a crumpled mess that could barely breathe. She bled freely from several cuts.
Hiashi motioned for two members of the cadet branch to remove her from the training hall. They carried her to her room, one stood guard while the other released enough of her chakra nodes for her to move on her own. Though it was still very painful. They left before she had a chance to thank them.
Hinata slipped in and out of consciousness until sometime in the afternoon when Hanabi came in. She frowned at Hinata; she knew if she lost to her again this could be her fate. How dare she try to do that to her. "I am to accompany father and the elders to a feast this evening. You are too great of a disgrace to our clan to come."
Once she left Hinata lay there crying. She had been wrong to believe she could stand on the same level as the rest of her clan. She was too weak, too pathetic. Her throat was raw from crying, she didn't want to move. But her desire to see Naruto was stronger and she forced herself to move, she needed to see him. Her muscles popped and cramped as she tried to sit up. She was forced to open more of her chakra nodes before she could stand. She bit her lip as she opened them.
The kimono she had picked out to wear was dark blue with pale butterfly's, it was a struggle to put it on. After she was finished she examined herself in the mirror. She looked horrible, her eyes were red from crying, a cut on her cheek was still swollen and the strikes stood out as blue and yellow blotches on her pale skin. She readjusted her kimono to hide as many of the bruises as she could. Her festival mask would have to hide the rest.
The mask was painted like a tiger; the stripes had a slight curve to them. She made sure her father and the elders had already left before she set out to meet Naruto, she left early to insure she reached her destination in time. Her legs refused to stretch without cramping and she was forced to take small slow steps.
Naruto fidgeted as he waited for Hinata. He leaned against a training post, paced, tugged at his kimono and then leaned against the post again. Absently he ran his fingers along the edge of his fox festival mask. There were a thousand ways he could mess things up. He had spent most of the day pestering Ayame for advice.
He spotted Hinata slowly walking towards their meeting spot. "Hinata!"
Her head jerked up when Naruto called. He could clearly see her injuries. "Hinata! What happened?"
She tried to hide behind her mask but Naruto gently removed it. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"I, it was, family, training." Hinata said. She nearly jumped at the killing intent he released. He protectively wrapped his arms around her. She collapsed into him.
"We can skip the festival." Naruto said.
"No! I mean, I really, do want to go." Hinata said. She refused to let their date be canceled because of her.
"Alright, if you're sure." Naruto said. He would have preferred to let Hinata rest but he was smart enough to know he couldn't win an argument with her. They began walking towards the festival, Naruto walking slowly so Hinata could keep up and use him as support. As they approached the festival Naruto pulled down his mask. He also kept a protective hand around Hinatas shoulder.
Sakura was pissed. Her mother had hired an assistant to help her with her makeup and hair. The assistant was an older woman who had spent the last two hours making snide comments about her. First she insisted on redoing her kimono and nearly strangled her to give her 'proper' curves. Then she had applied pale makeup with neon pink high lights despite Sakuras objections. The only thing Sakura liked was the intricate bun the assistant wove her long pink hair into.
Mebuki arrived just as the assistant was finishing. She studied her daughter, "This could work."
After the assistant left Mebuki set a security box on the table. She opened it and pulled out a long hair pin with a jade tag hanging from one end. On one side was carved the sharingan, on the other was the Uchiha clans symbol. Sakura stared at it. "It's beautiful! Where did you get it?"
"It is a Uchiha artifact I bought several years ago." Mebuki said sliding it into her daughter's hair. "Beautiful. You might just pull this off. Remember try not to act like yourself, be quiet and polite."
Sakuras eye twitched. "Yes mother."
She was still fuming when she left to meet Sasuke. Once she was a block from her home she tore out the padding from her kimono and stopped at a water fountain to wash the makeup from her face. Sasuke asked me out so I'll be me. I'll show her.
People along the street stopped as Sakura passed, following her movements. Several men went as far as to take a few steps after her. Their behavior was odd enough to cut through Sakuras fuming and draw her attention to her surroundings. She was completely creeped out by their behavior. It was almost like they were under a Genjutsu, one of the 'frowned upon' ones mentioned in her Kunoichi classes.
But she didn't even know how to cast any of them. Still the reaction of the people she passed was too strong to ignore. The glass eyed look, the jerky movements. How though? If she didn't cast it then it would have to be anchored to an object. That would take some skills, high Chunin or even Jonin. And she would have to be wearing the item but all she had was the kimono, and the hair pin.
Sakura stopped and slowly reached up to feel the hairpin. Her mother wouldn't. She couldn't. It was crazy. Still better to prove it right now then worry about it. She removed the hairpin and slipped it into her kimono. The effect was immediate, the nearest people blinked in confusion and walked away.
It had to be a coincidence she reasoned. She walked another block then put the hairpin back in. People began to watch her again, a few hesitantly followed her. She ripped out the pin and rushed down the street. A narrow ally offered her a place to hide and think.
The first thing a student at the academy learned was to never use the ninja arts against a civilian. While there were exceptions the hairpin was definitely not one of them. If someone caught her with it she could be kicked off her team and banned from being a shinobi. She couldn't just ditch it though; there were ways to track it back to her, or her mother.
Her mother, she wouldn't have knowingly given her a prohibited itemed. She couldn't have known, she was on the council. She knew the laws.
Sakura pulled out the hairpin and cupped it in her hands; its weight seemed to have increased since she left her house. All the times her mother had asked about Sasuke flashed through her mind. But now they had a new layer. Her mother had pushed her towards the last Uchiha since the massacre. And she had been swept up with all of the other girls. Her mother hadn't just supported her she had driven her.
She didn't want to admit it but she wasn't sure it had been a mistake that her mother had given her the hairpin with a Genjutsu on it. Did she really think Sakura needed that much help? Or was it just a maneuver to increase her own standing. No the reason didn't matter right then she needed to do something before she was caught with it. There were ways to remove Genjutsu from items, but Kakashi had never taught them how to.
If she didn't hurry she wouldn't be able to meet with Sasuke. She put the hairpin back into her kimono and hurried towards the meeting spot. She was just reaching the first training ground when she saw two people walking towards her, one was hidden behind a festival mask but she recognized the other as Hinata. She looked like she had been worked over more than once.
Sakura had a moment's concern for her fellow kunoichi then she remembered Hinatas sensei was a Genjutsu expert, she might be able to help her. But they weren't exactly on friendly terms. Her fingers brushed the hairpin, would it be wrong to use the Genjutsu to remove the Genjutsu?
The hairpin nestled on her head as she raised her hand in greeting. "Hinata! How are you?"
Hinata and her complain paused, just watching her. "I, I am, just fine."
Sakura gave a small twirl. "How do I look?"
"Wonderful." Hinata and the masked boy said together.
"Good, so Hinata I just need to borrow you for a moment." She grabbed Hinatas hand and pulled her from the road leaving her companion watching them. Once they were out of sight she stopped. "Hinata, your sensei is good at Genjutsu right?"
"Genjutsu? Yes, she is." Hinata said. Being so close to the hairpin seemed to strengthen the effect. She had begun squirming.
"Can you remove a Genjutsu from an item?"
"Remove? Sure." Hinata said, she was moving uncomfortably close to Sakura.
Sakura pulled out the hairpin. "I need you to remove then Genjutsu from this."
Hinata blinked. "What?"
"There's a Genjutsu on this hairpin, I need it removed. Can you?"
"Alright." Hinata activated her Byakugan, everything seemed fuzzy but she had the urge to assist Sakura however she could. The Genjutsu was strong; the hairpin appeared to be covered in a glowing web of cobwebs. She made a series of hand signs and struck the hairpin. The threads fell away dissolving into the ground. It had been strong but poorly made, relying on power rather than subtlety.
Suddenly her mind refocused. Why was there helping Sakura again? There was a moment of confusion as she tried to recall. Sakura picked up the hairpin. "So the Genjutsu's gone now?"
"Yes."
"Thanks!" Sakura put it back in her hair and hurried to meet Sasuke.
Naruto watched Sakura run down the path. Hinata stepped out from the trees, she seemed dazed. "Hinata? You ok, what happened?"
"I'm alright, there was a Genjutsu on her hairpin, and she wanted me to remove it." Hinata said taking Narutos hand.
"Why was there a Genjutsu on her hairpin?" Naruto didn't want to admit it but he had felt jealous of Hinata when Sakura had pulled her into the trees.
"I, I think it was one of the Genjutsu that is supposed to make you more desirable to other people." Hinata said.
"She's going to use that on Sasuke?"
"No, if she was then she wouldn't have had me remove it."
"Well whatever, if it's gone there's no problem." Naruto said. His only focus that night was Hinata. They stopped as they reached the main avenue, festival stalls lined the street. Colorful lanterns hung between them.
Both paused to watch the activity, neither had truly attended a festival before. Naruto had attempted to but he had always been run off and finally he had given up, accept for the odd prank. Hinata had never been allowed to attend festivals when she was younger, being expected to attend clan functions. After she was released from her duty by the elders because they saw her as an embarrassment she had no reason to attend any of the festivals.
"So Hinata, what do you want to do first?"
"I, don't know. I have never been to a festival before." Hinata said, she pulled down her own mask to avoid any awkward questions about her injuries.
"I guess we should just see what looks interesting then." Naruto said as the slowly made their way down the row of stalls. Most were selling various cheap souvenirs such as paper festival masks. Further along they came to stalls selling food. For the first time Hinata realized how hungry she was. At that moment her stomach gave a loud growl.
Hinata covered her face in embarrassment; sure her face was red enough to see through the mask. Naruto maneuvered them to a stand selling dango and bought her some. Hinata moved her mask just enough to eat, the dango was gone in a few bites.
They made their way towards the game stalls, the streets were crowded and people bumped against them. Hinata smiled behind her mask when she felt Naruto tighten his hold on her. They wondered the games trying a few, several stalls had signs in front forbidding shinobi from participating.
Hinata stopped and looked at a large blue Koala bear hanging at a stall where costumers threw balls at a stack of metal bottles. Naruto followed her gaze and walked to the stall. "I'd like to play."
The man behind the counter looked up from a box. "Sorry were closed."
"But the festival just opened!"
"Yeah well look what some crazy Kunoichi did." He said pointing to the end of the table where the bottles were set up. The last stack was bent and twisted; a metal bottle was half torn from the one below it. The ball was imbedded in the wall of the building behind the stall.
Naruto pulled out some ryo and set them on the counter. "Then how about just selling us a prize?"
"Gotta play to win." The stall owner said shoving a stuffed fish into the box.
"You're packing up anyways why not make a little more?" Naruto said adding a few more ryo notes.
The man looked at the money, his greed winning out. He scooped up the money. "Grab one and get out of here."
Naruto reached up and unhooked the blue Koala bear handing it to Hinata. She wrapped an arm around the stuffed animal. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know." Naruto said as they walked on.
Hinata ran her fingers over the stuffed animal. It was one of only a handful of gifts she had ever received, and it was something no one in her clan would have ever gotten. They would think it was beneath them, which just made her love it all the more.
Her stomach growled again, she was thankful for the mask so no one besides Naruto could recognize her. He pulled her to a less crowded area and looked at the darkening sky. "How about we get something to eat?"
"I would like that." Hinata squealed when Naruto scooped her up bridal style and carried her along the roofs. "Naruto! What are you doing?"
"Sorry but we need to hurry." He gave her one of his mischievous grins.
Hinata buried her head against his chest. The night was turning cold and she was glad for his warmth. He set them down near Ichiraku. A crowd was out front waiting for space inside to open up. Naruto ignored the front entrance instead leading her to a set of stairs around the side.
They came out on the roof; a small table loaded with food had been set up with several colorful festival lanterns. "Teuchi let me borrow the kitchen and Ayame helped me so everything is edible."
"You, you made all of this?" Hinata said. There was Ramen, zenzai and cinnamon rolls. It all smelled wonderful.
"Yeah, I'm not as good of a cook as you but I hope it's not to disgusting."
Hinata sat down and removed her mask taking a large bite of a cinnamon roll. "This is very good."
"Really? You're not just being nice?" Naruto said picking off a small piece of a cinnamon roll to test it for himself.
"No you are a very good cook." Hinata said. True it would not have passed the standards of her clan but it was still wonderful. Especially after everything that had happened to her that day. She was just starting to relax when there was a loud explosion. She jumped back and crashed into Naruto, he put his hands on her arms to calm her down. Another firework went off.
Ichiraku had an un obstructed view of the firework show. Naruto didn't release her; instead he pulled her back until she was leaning against him. They sat there together watching the colorful explosions.
Naruto leaned down and rested his chin on her shoulder. She smiled at him, the night was perfect. Then he kissed her. "Which one of us was it again?"
"Who cares?" Hinata said returning his kiss. Then hiding her head behind the Koala bear.
"You know this thing is cute but I'd rather look at you." Naruto said setting the stuffed toy aside. Then moving their heads closer together.
They stayed on the roof until the fireworks were finished and the streets began to clear. Then Naruto carried Hinata home. He had offered to let her stay at his apartment but she had regretfully declined. She didn't want to give her father any reason to forbid her from participating in the Chunin exam.
(A/N: Hope you enjoyed as always.)