AN - Hi :) Thank you so much to all the amazing people who reviewed! Those reviews give me inspiration to continue writing the next chapter :)
Reminder:
Precipice ~ Hinata: 13, Kakashi: 23
Eclectic Love ~ Hinata: 18, Kakashi: 28
Precipice — Chapter Twelve
"You didn't have to do that!"
Hinata's heart flinched at the screech. Her body remained still, unchanging—numb. She made sure to take in the girl's bloodshot eyes and tear stained cheeks. She would not forget. She would not allow herself to.
"You could have stopped... You didn't have to do that..." The girl murmured to herself, shaking her head back and forth, not taking her eyes off the person in her arms.
Hinata's eyes went to the other teammate.
The boy was glaring daggers, his hand twitching for his weapon pouch. But, his suffocating heart, drowning from the tears he refused to let fall, was betrayed through his quivering jaw.
Her eyes then fell on the boy in the girls arms, lips blue and mouth parted in a breath that would never be fulfilled.
"Why?"
The fragments of Hinata's heart pierced her soul at the girl's whimper.
"Answer her!" The boy screamed in rage.
He burst forward, kunai in hand.
Hinata didn't move, didn't prepare herself for that familiar slice of a kunai through her burning skin.
It didn't come.
Two Jōnin stood between them.
"Get her out of here," a voice gritted out.
Hinata looked up to the Jōnin from Kumogakure.
His face curled in disgust at Hinata's dispassionate eyes.
Kakashi bit his tongue from saying anything. He placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder pushing her away from the growing crowd.
"Hyūga."
Hinata stiffened. Her eyes opened to the shaded wood of her porch. Her body, curled over her bent up knees, straightened. She refused to meet Sasuke's eyes.
Sasuke's brows furrowed. He glanced away. "Ah-" He closed his mouth.
"Please leave, Sasuke."
Sasuke pressed his lips together, wanting to do just that. But, something in that moment, something in her, made him stay. "You were crying."
Hinata sighed, leaning against the wall of her house. "Leave."
"No."
Hinata refrained from sighing again. Her cool facade contrasted her tear stained cheeks. She stayed silent.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke pushed.
"Why are you here?"
Sasuke looked away. "Kakashi-sensei said you made Chunin." When Hinata didn't say anything, he added, "Is it true?"
"Does Kakashi-sensei have a reason to lie?"
Sasuke huffed. "Is that why you were crying? From the exams?"
"Does it matter?"
Sasuke scrunched his noise in a scowl. "Stop answering my questions with questions."
Hinata stared back with dispassionate eyes. Following his request—and ignoring him completely—she stood and turned to make her way inside her home.
Her face didn't show her surprise when Sasuke blocked her path.
Twisting his hand in the collar of her shirt, he pulled it towards himself as she maintained her ground, his scowling face a foot from hers. "Stop crying. I can't have the person that beat me looking so weak."
Hinata glanced at his hand before meeting his eyes. "For someone so stoic you're very emotional." She grasped the hand tugging on her shirt.
Sasuke looked down. He stumbled back, releasing her, as a blush coated his cheeks. "Sor-"
She continued, "I'm weak because I cry? No. Weak would be if I cried and didn't get back up. I'm already up, as you can see, so your opinions are unnecessary and unwanted, Uchiha-san."
Sasuke stood silent with that same blush.
Hinata's focus drew to the new person that appeared in her peripherals, on the border of her yard at the forests edge. She gave the ANBU a nod.
Fixing her shirt, she walked past Sasuke. "Oh, and Uchiha-san?" She caught Sasuke's eye. "Many girls may be alright with you staring down their tops—I'm not one of them." She stopped, "Don't touch me again."
Hinata didn't wait for a response. Meeting the ANBU she felt his hand place on her shoulder before he transported them away from her home.
The muggy air shifted. Goosebumps rose on her arms as cold nipped at her skin. She looked around at the foreign location.
The splintered wood beneath her feet parted randomly, exposing the drop below her. She stood on a bridge with red rusted guard rails lining each side. Iron pillars reached the roof, losing the battle against nature as they corroded. Pieces chipped off; half fast repairs were made with the same doomed metal.
She forced herself to clear her mind. She felt like a mouse in a cement cage: everything inside her pulled at her to escape.
"Hinata."
Hinata snapped to attention at the voice. She bowed at the waist. "Danzo-sama."
"Come with me."
Hinata followed behind, keeping a distance.
Danzo paused.
Hinata stopped with him. Her heart fluttered.
"Come here," he ordered.
For only a fraction of a second Hinata hesitated before she hurried beside the intimidating man.
He continued with Hinata at his side.
"You did well," Danzo stated, his eyes forward.
Hinata peeked up at him, unsure of what to say to the praise.
Danzo continued. "I was unsure if you would complete this mission. What you did is proof of your commitment to the village. You understand what it takes to keep the village safe, not to just current threats, but threats of the future."
Danzo stopped before a metal door. He turned to face Hinata, his hands placed atop the cane in front of him. "Most are willing to give their life for the village. Few are willing to sacrifice their definition of right. To the team of the shinobi you killed," he watched closely for a reaction in Hinata, content when he didn't see one, "you were the villain. But you ensured the safety of Konoha shinobi of the future. Is this something you are willing to sacrifice?"
Hinata stared Danzo straight in the eye. "I will give everything for Konoha."
"I will request your immediate induction into ANBU," Danzo followed. "You will continue to train with those I send to you for the time being."
Hinata gave a nod of acceptance. "Is Root a part of ANBU?" She dared to question.
"Root is a faction of ANBU," Danzo drawled his brief explanation. "You will be of better use to me in ANBU. Be prepared for a mission at any time, however."
Hinata bowed her head, "Yes, Danzo-sama."
Danzo gave a stark nod. "Past this door is where you will get your ANBU uniform." He was sure Hiruzen would agree to his request. He was aware of Hiruzen's own interest in the girl; the experience one gained from ANBU—if they lived through it—was invaluable.
Hinata turned around to the door. She swallowed her nerves before pushing it open and stepping through.
Kakashi's eye did not leave the spot from where Hinata disappeared. He couldn't recognize the ANBU, leading him to believe it was one from Root. Like an itch he could not scratch, a feeling in the back of his head gnawed at him in warning. He'd thought he was done with Root. It caused him enough problems for one life time.
Surprise was his initial reaction to the name being mentioned, anger followed. It burned hot, searing the tendrils of his control.
His anger did not aim towards Hinata—he could not fault someone for going down the same path he once took. The arrow pointed to Danzo. Taking advantage of those lost in the dark: it was his speciality.
Kakashi sighed. Turning on the branch he balanced on, he brought his attention to his other student.
Sasuke had begun to make his way back to their training ground, his gaze focused on the dirt as he became lost in thought.
Kakashi bursted forwards, using the trees as a well laid out path. His hands stayed stuffed in his pockets as his expression took on a mask of disinterest. He hid his unease at the turn of events, it seemed the world ran in a full circle.
He hopped down. "Yo." His mask hid his smile at Sasuke's flinch turned scowl.
Sasuke pressed his lips together, looking away.
They kept silent, both sets of eyes glancing around at their surroundings.
Sasuke fiddled with the lining of his pockets. His grown out hair brushed the back of his neck as he looked to the cloudy sky. "I've updated my goals."
Kakashi brought his attention to Sasuke. He blinked, "Huh?"
Sasuke glanced at a tiny ruffling in the trees. "What you asked us that first day."
Kakashi cocked his head. "Oh. Right. That's good."
"Aren't you going to ask how?"
Kakashi's cheeks twitched. "How?" His interest officially peaked as Sasuke's cheeks tinged a barely noticeable pink.
Shuffling eyes forced themselves forward. "I know who will revive my clan."
Kakashi bit the inside of his lip, holding down his smile and trying to restrain the laughter that bubbled in his chest. 'Kami, I don't ask for much… But, please…' He cleared his throat. "Really? Who's the lucky girl?"
"Hyūga."
"I see."
Sasuke gave a nod.
"Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to tell me this, Sasuke. Neji's a lucky boy."
Sasuke's eyes widened. "What?!"
"No need to be shy. Many of my friends are-"
"I meant Hinata," Sasuke growled at his teasing sensei.
Kakashi scratched the side of his head. "No need to be so defensive. Nothing wrong with being gay. Honest mistake seeing as Hinata's not a Hyūga."
Sasuke huffed.
"So why are you telling me this?" Kakashi had a feeling this wouldn't end here—his student was never much of a sharer, at least without reason.
"Because I want you to stay away from her."
Kakashi coughed to cover a chuckle that escaped.
The pair stopped; Sasuke giving an icy glare and Kakashi lifting a brow in question.
"And why is that?" Kakashi asked amused, leaning in with interest.
"You're always reading those books. I don't want you corrupting her." Sasuke scowled at an image of Hinata, dressed identical to Kakashi, giggling with her nose pressed into the page of one of those perverted novels pervaded his mind.
"I see." Kakashi picked up his walk.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his sensei's back. He jogged to catch up, "Good."
Kakashi laughed, his eye glimmering at this wonderful gem he'd been gifted. "I didn't say I would," he clarified.
Sasuke almost growled, "Why not?"
"Being a little controlling, aren't we?" Kakashi mused. "Kunoichi don't usually respond too well to that."
"Whatever," Sasuke mumbled, his arms crossing over his chest.
Kakashi didn't restrain himself from releasing another laugh. 'This is gonna be great.'
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I had hoped I could end your involvement before it got to this point."
Hinata's stance didn't falter, her expression remaining neutral as she stood before the Hokage. The skin of her deltoid still burned from where the needle had pressed. Red ink now tattooed the skin, permanently marking her as property of Konoha—as an ANBU of Konoha. A line drew down from the top of her shoulder, twisting into a curl that was shielded by a line drawn from the bottom of the toned muscle. A cat mask tied to her belt loop, resting against her thigh.
Hiruzen sighed. He tilted his head to the side, staring at the wall of his office. "If you wish it, I will separate you from this matter completely." It would be difficult, but he owed it to this young girl who had been unfairly thrust into this battle—his battle.
Hinata cocked her head slightly in thought. When she started this she did not know she would be entering such a dangerous game, however, she would not go back on her word. "I promised my life to Konoha. I will not run now."
Hiruzen nodded, his lips tilting in a despondent smile. The children of Konoha were his own; his heart sunk at the thought of placing any of them in such a position. It was different for the generations like his own, generations surrounded by war, where fighting was the only option. Here, it was a battle unneeded. Lives wasted.
He massaged the bridge of his nose.
Hinata stayed silent. If this game of kings and sacrificed pawns had lasted so long there would be no way a nameless piece thrown in between could bring one side or the other victory.
"Do you understand what this will entail, Hinata? It is no normal mission." His rock hard eyes searched for any uncertainty or hesitance. When he did not see any he slumped back against his chair, his age finally showing across his face. This situation rang too similar to one in the past.
Deciding on something, he spoke. "When you first approached me that day with the scroll I was incredibly proud." Danzo clearly picked wrong in choosing Hinata as a pawn; though a small part of his paranoid mind thought that perhaps Danzo knew Hinata would inform him of his proposal. If that were the case everything would need to be treaded even more carefully. But having an informant in Root was too rare an opportunity to pass up.
Hinata broke eye contact as her body flushed with heat, uncomfortable with the praise.
His lips tilted up. "You probably don't know this—and it will have to stay between us—but Kakashi was approached by Danzo in his younger years also. He joined Root for a short time."
Hinata's head snapped back, her eyes wide.
Hiruzen chuckled, resting his clasped hands atop his desk. With his twinkling eyes he looked as if he were recalling a fond memory, not a part of his twisted past. He laughed again, giving a shake of his head. "He was even included in a coup to eliminate me."
Hinata's eyes widened further, her mouth parting in a gasp.
"Don't worry. He eventually told me of the plans; even going so far as to end it himself."
That did not ease Hinata's shock. She swallowed, rethinking her interactions with Kakashi since she'd been unceremoniously pushed into the organization.
"I'm sharing this with you," Hiruzen answered Hinata's unasked question, "because I want you to know that I will not fault you if you choose the wrong path for a time. In fact, I believe it will be inevitable. Things will get complicated. Choices will need to be made. You will choose wrong sometimes. That's okay."
Hinata's facade crumbled for a split moment as a heavy weight pressed against her chest. She forced her eyes away in an attempt to regain herself. She bit the inside of her lower lip. She'd never been gifted such understanding. She'd never been allowed to be anything less than perfect.
Hiruzen paused, his own disposition melting in sympathy. He cleared his throat. "I do have two condition, however…"
AN - I hope you liked this chapter! I tried to add a little humour to lighten the mood a bit lol. Let me know what you thought! Thanks for reading :D :D
