Chapter 12 – As Time Goes On (part2)
Shikamaru was walking around the streets. After finishing his chores for the day, he decided to head into town to get a new barrier to learn. Yoshino had threatened Iruka, the library and several others to not give Shikamaru anymore material about the subject. Shikamaru thought that was pretty hypocritical of her since it was her who pushed him into learning that in the first place. Surprisingly, his father came to the rescue.
Without her knowledge, Shikaku would get him a scroll that he could learn from. Knowing Shikamaru, it would take him a couple of months to get down. He told Shikamaru that he was proud that he was learning something else. He even teased him about liking the art of barriers. Shikamaru would shrug it off but in reality, he did enjoy learning about barriers.
He was making his way to the vendor that his family used.
"Hey there Shikamaru, what can I help you with?" the vendor said.
"I was wondering if I can get a set of explosive notes. The ones that don't make such a bang." Shikamaru said.
"Ah, the firecracker ones, I'll get some for you." He said. It didn't take him long to retrieve them and he gave it to Shikamaru. He paid for them and left. He now had some stuff to work with and his mother would be none the wiser. He made his way home to learn his second barrier.
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Eleven year old Hinata was preparing to go to sleep. She had an interesting day. Not only did she win in spars today at the academy, she was able to win against her sister Hanabi. She was always hesitant to fight her because she cared for her a lot. By Hyūga law, Hanabi should have been branded with the curse mark. However, due to her own weakness, her father had taken over her training. Seeing her as the stronger sister, the elders favored her and she was spared from that fate.
It was something that she let slip to her friends. They understood of her reasons and plight. Naruto asked if that was the reason she holds back sometimes when she joins him and Kiba in sparring. When she confirmed that, Naruto thinks that she's weakening herself. It wasn't that he believed her to be weak but he reasoned that since she's accustomed doing that, she might get herself killed. Hinata did not see it like that and was worried.
Naruto thinks that she should have like a battle mode where she would fight without holding back. Hinata thought about it and was actually trying to develop such a mode. It wasn't easy because she was just naturally nice. She tested it out today and she was somewhat successful. She was happy and promised herself to thank Naruto tomorrow. As she stood up to go to bed, she heard a hiss. She looked around until she laid eyes on Naruto. He gave her a grin and waved. That's when she realized that Naruto was watching her in her sleep clothes.
Face red and steam coming out of her ears, Hinata fainted.
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When Hinata opened her eyes again, she noticed that she was in her bed. Her head hurt and she wondered what happened. That's when Hinata saw Naruto at her bedside and everything came rushing back. Seeing that she might faint again, Naruto quickly spoke.
"Wait Hinata, don't faint on me! We need to talk!" Naruto shouted. Hinata quickly got herself under control but it was very difficult.
"N-Naruto-kun, w-what are you d-doing h-here?" Hinata asked with nervous energy. Naruto looked at Hinata and couldn't help but kick himself. Another a week ago, Ibiki had called him clueless and un-attentive. Naruto did not know what he meant by that and Ibiki told him to just stop being hyper and start paying attention to thing around him. With annoyance, the blond did just that and paid attention.
That's when he noticed that Hinata would blush when she was alone with him. He started to notice how nervous she would get around him and her fainting spells was something that only happen with him, no one else. Asking the women he knew, he got an explanation. Tsume, Hana, Ayame and Miyuki, who laughed at him and called him a fool, all told him that she had a major crush on him. Naruto tried to deny it but he remembered the way he acted toward Sakura. Feeling like an idiot, Naruto decided to talk to her. He suck into her home and confronted her.
"So, I hear that you have a crush on me?" Naruto asked straight up. Hinata was shocked by this and wondered who told him. "Oh man, I can't believe I didn't notice or that no one told me. Did everyone know about it but me?"
"S-So you know? I-Is that why you're h-here?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah, I'm here for two reasons. One is to apologize for ignoring your feelings. That was a crappy move on my part." He said.
"I-It's okay. I-I know that you aren't that attentive." she said with a blush.
"Yeah, I'm going to try and change that. The other thing is I was hoping that we can just be friends for now?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"Well, after getting over that crush on Sakura, I'm not really into crushes and stuff. I'm not saying that I don't like you or anything but it's more of a friend type of like. Not to say that it might not change or anything, I guess what I'm trying to get across," Naruto was cut off by Hinata touching his mouth.
"I get it Naruto and I accept that. We are still friends." Hinata said with a smile. Naruto grinned as well and was glad to still have his friend. That's when the door to Hinata's room was thrown open and several Hyūga, including her father, entered the room. Hiashi looked at Naruto with his Byakugan blazing.
"What do you think that you are doing in my daughter's room boy?" he demanded. Naruto gulped and saw the looks on their faces that promised pain and suffering.
"I wasn't doing anything, I swear! I only came to see Hinata and talk to her about something! I only saw her in her pajamas!" Naruto exclaimed. That did not help him as the group closed in on him. "Alright, let's calm down and talk like gentlemen. Then talk about this, SMOKEBOMB!" Naruto tossed something on the ground, which exploded covered the room in an orange smoke. Naruto jumped out of the window and ran. The Hyūga were close behind him.
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"Okay, I think that we can settle this calmly. Naruto no matter what you think, sneaking into a girl's room is wrong and should never happen. Hiashi, I don't believe that Naruto would do anything inappropriate with your child. I will definitely have a talk with Naruto about the birds and bees. With that said, would you please leave Naruto alone from now on?" Hiruzen asked. The two looked at each other before nodding, Hiashi took his leave with a finally glare toward Naruto. He needed to speak with his daughter. Naruto looked at the old Hokage who just sighed and had Naruto sit down for a very difficult talk.
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"HA HA HA HA HA! Oh my Kami, my stomach, it hurts so badly! So, not only did you anger the Hyūga, you had to have the talk with the Hokage? Oh man, I wish that I was there to listen in." Kiba said with a tear. Shikamaru and Choji were laughing. You couldn't tell with Shino but Naruto swear that he was smirking. What was worst was that news got out about his actions. The females were calling him a deviant while the males congratulated him and Hinata. The talk he had with the Hokage did not help. Also, he could not help but feel that someone was watching him, prepared to take him out if he even made a move toward Hinata.
Nearby, a beautiful Hyūga woman watched from a distance, a kunai in her hand. Her orders were clear from the clan head. She watched careful for any movement. She was a bit concerned because she knew that Hinata cared for the boy. Still, orders are orders.
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Kiba was out looking for that guy he met during his jogs. One day, he just did not run into the man any more. He was kind of bummed due to his advice. He really helped him a lot those times he ran into him. Because of the squats he suggested, Kiba's and Akamaru's Tunneling Fang was better than his sister's. He also gave him some advice about studying a little bit of the tiger style of taijutsu. It really helped him with his claw techniques. Kiba was becoming one of the academy's top fighters thanks to his training and Guy's advice.
He had asked his mother about Guy and she told him that he now had a team to look after. Kiba understood but it was coming close to graduation and Kiba wanted another edge. So he and Akamaru began to search for Guy. It wasn't hard and he found the man working with a guy who was a carbon copy of him. Kiba had to rub his eyes just to make sure but he wasn't hallucinating. Might Guy noticed him and gave him that bright smile.
"Ah, Kiba and Akamaru, how are you on this clear day!" Guy exclaimed.
"I'm doing good sensei. I was hoping to get some more advice but my mother told me that you got a team." Kiba said.
"Yes, I have got me a very youthful team. Lee, come her and meet a fellow taijutsu user." Guy ordered. Lee ran up to them and gave the two a salute.
"Yosh, my name is Rock Lee! It is very good to meet you!" Lee greeted excitedly.
"Yeah," Kiba said with caution. This guy was just like Guy in every sense. He turned his attention back to the older one. "So, I was wondering, is there is a way to add my element to my jutsu?" Guy got serious and looked at him.
"There are many ways. I, myself, can do it but I'm afraid that you are too young and not ready to learn such a thing." Guy said. Kiba looked a little dejected but then Guy got an idea. "I have come up with an excellent idea! Why don't you join me and Lee in training on the weekends! Lee can use a sparring partner!"
"Sure, I don't mind." Kiba said.
"Yosh! Let us show our power of improvement!" Lee exclaimed.
"Lee!" Guy shouted.
"Guy-sensei!" Lee shouted and the two hugged. Kiba was then hit by something that made his eyes go wide.
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"What the hell happened to him?" Naruto asked the two genin. He was just coming from a calligraphy lesson when a Hyūga and a girl with two buns in her hair stopped him. Apparently, they needed him to come collect his friend. Naruto was confused until he found Kiba laying on the ground in the fetal position. Even Akamaru was in that position.
"They must have looked into the sunset. It's the only answer." Tenten said.
"What the hell does that mean?" Naruto demanded.
"Pray that you never get to see it Uzumaki. It is the most evil thing ever." Neji commented. Naruto just looked at the two and back to Kiba. What in kami's name was the sunset?
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Choji pushed his opponent hard and made sure that he could not counter. Choji made a skilled sweep with his staff, knocking the larger boy off his feet. Choji thrust the butt end of the staff in the guy's face and waited. The boy nodded, admitting defeat. Choji mentally cheered for his victory and couldn't believe. He had finally won a match. It had taken a year but Choji had finally won. He helped his opponent up and bowed to him. He did the same and the two shook hands. They then bowed to the sensei that was happy for their match.
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Shikaku entered his home and made his way to greet him wife. He knew that she might be in the kitchen making supper. When he entered, he found Yoshino right where he thought she would be. He gave her a kiss, letting her know who it was. He looked around and he did not find his son.
"Where's Shikamaru?" he asked.
"He and his friends are going to some secret spot where they hang out." Yoshino answered.
"So, that means he's with Choji, Kiba and Naruto?" Shikaku asked.
"Don't forget Akamaru. You know how he is." Yoshino said with a chuckle.
"I'm surprised that he didn't trap you in a barrier and went out." He said.
"Something I know is your doing but I allowed him to go because we came to a compromise. He does his work, no matter how troublesome, and I will let him have some fun. Plus, he hasn't figured out how I have been getting out of his barriers as quick as he put them up." She said smugly.
"Oh, he knows that Naruto helped you." Yoshino snapped her head to look at him. "Shikamaru's known for a while now. Naruto didn't give you up but he knows that you have been tutoring Naruto in exchange for some of his seals that disrupt them." Shikaku said with a grin. She glared at her husband and muttered something about 'smarty pants Nara men'. Shikaku just chuckled and read his paper.
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Authors' Notes – Enjoy the new chapter.
