I'm finally finished. Apologies on the long wait, but -enter excuse here-. Hope you enjoy.
Hinata laughed hard enough that tears. She had to lean against the side of the door frame to kept her standing.
"Really," She said, coming out of the bedroom and sat down at the table where Naruto was finishing breakfast.
"Yeah," Naruto said, jamming another piece of toast in his mouth. "You should have seen it. They had to dunk the guys head in the lake to get the fire out, but that was around two in the morning. You were fast asleep when that happened. Did you have a good sleep? I didn't wake you up, right? I'm pretty sure you were fast asleep when I came back." Hinata laughed, cordial this time.
"I had a wonderful sleep, and you didn't wake me up," Hinata said, taking a sip of tea she brewed. "I didn't even hear you when you came in this morning."
"That's good." Naruto paused from grabbing another bit as his attention was drawn to the clock hanging on the wall. "Oh shoot. I was suppose to meet Iruka at the academy in a couple of minutes." He rushed out his chair, grabbing his headband and jacket. "Remember when we kind of ditched Iruka. Well, I promised Iruka that I would help around the academy to make up for it."
"So you won't be back till in the evening?" Hinata finished, beginning clean the table as Naruto continued to rush about the room.
"Yeah," Naruto said sadly, taking a second to sulk childishly. "Man, I don't even remember school being that long. Anyway, he kind of asked for you too, but I told him you were sick so that should cover that." He rushed to the door, then skid back to the main room grabbing his headband that was still lying on the table. "Oh, and I'll remember to buy you new sunglasses afterwards so you won't have to wear that mask." Before he rushed back to the door again, he grabbed Hinata into a bear hug with a small lift. She giggled and hugged back. "See you later." He waved good-bye and he was out the door.
"Goodbye," Hinata said cheerfully before he disappeared. As the door closed behind him, her cheerfulness vanished away. "Goodbye." Her second farewell wasn't as joyful as her first, or more as not at all. She slowly sat back down at the table, nervousness quickly filling her body. She stared anxiously at her hand. Gradually, they began to shake slightly. Her legs began to shake restlessly. She sat there for minutes thinking; remembering. The more she began to remember, the more nervous she began to feel.
Hinata shot her head down, looking down to the floor, when Neji removed her mask, almost backing out of the door. Neji grabbed her shoulder before she had a chance to take a step back and pulled her inside the apartment. Hinata tripped on the step, managing to catch herself and leaped back on her feet. Neji proceeded by shutting the door and locking it.
"I wasn't going to run away," Hinata said defensively, backing into the apartment.
"I was only taking precautions," Neji said sedately, ignoring her confession. "Your behavior indicates that you are not a person of confrontation. I will only leave when you tell me what I want to know. Starting with my previous question, who are you?"
With little courage, Hinata was able to only look straight at him for a few seconds before her sight would drop again, her confidence draining away.
"Well...um. My name is Hinata," Hinata answered timidly, her voice was no more than a whisper.
"Speak Louder," Neji ordered irritably, stepping closer into her personal space. Hinata instinctively took a step back, almost bumping into the table. She dared not to look up again, knowing his intimidating stare would simply render her silent once again.
"My name is Hinata," she said, slightly louder.
"Better," Neji said calm and satisfied. "You're the person that made the rumors fly around. But from what I can speculate, they are nothing more than exaggerations." Hinata remained silent. A hand then grasped her chin and yanked it up, forcing her to look into his mirror eyes. Hinata stared anxious, to shock for words. Neji glared, as examining her visage. Her nerves calm a bit as she became more familiar with the curious eyes staring down at her. "There seems to be no doubt that you have the distinctive trait of the Hyuga clan, but show me."
Hinata agreed by activating her byakugan for a brief moment. Neji released his hold.
"If you are here now," Neji continued reposed. "Then where did you come from? As long as I have lived, Hinata Hyuga didn't exist in this village nor in our clan."
"I come from another Hyuga clan," Hinata replied hesitantly.
She cringed under Neji's skeptical stare. She couldn't blame him. The words sounded foolish herself.
"Another Hyuga clan? Don't suppose this clan is in another Konohagure that you're from."
"Actually-"
"Do you take me for an idiot?" Neji interrupted angrily. "Do you expect me to believe that nonsense? It no surprise that you managed to trick that imbecile, Naruto, with your lies-"
"Do not talk of Naruto in such a manner!" Hinata abruptly shouted, her stance strengthened with visual confidence and irritation. It surprised her when she realized that she had managed to get Neji to step away. Aware of her sudden outburst, she attempted to keep her posture, unafraid and determined. "What I tell is the truth. I come from another hidden village of the leaves; another ninja village. There is another Hyuga clan with the same gift as do the ones here. There are people living there too, my friends and my family. They are real and Naruto believes me."
"Then why don't go home?" Neji asked calmly, but still clearly annoyed. Hinata opened her mouth reply but nothing came out. She knew the answer, but something caught her words and kept from being spoken.
"Because," Hinata managed to spurt out. A dark, extremely red blushed formed on her face and the thought of Naruto on her mind. She had to force herself not to drop her head. "Because I..wanted to..learn." A failed lie. Neji looked at her curiously.
"Learn," Neji repeated with a dull humor. "What could you possibly learn in a place that is exactly like your?"
"The land is different. The villages are different. The people are different. We are not the same," Hinata explained.
"If there are two of the same villages, then why is not common knowledge?"
Hinata sighed calmly, dreading the question that baffled her as well.
"I do not know," Hinata said quietly. Silence appeared when Hinata was suppose to elaborate, but she didn't.
"I see, typical," Neji replied bored-like. "From your fun and games, you failed to think up of a proper story." His attention was diverted for a moment at her glanced at the clock on the wall.
Hinata glanced at the time also. It was nearing one in the morning.
"You don't belong here," Neji continued. "I would suggest that you leave immediately but you would most likely give me another excuse." Hinata frowned, unable to reply. "But I will humor you. Come by the Hyuga district tomorrow. I'll give you till the end of tomorrow to have proof. If you don't come, I'll assume that you have gone home. But if you are here, I'll personally make sure that you are gone."
He then turned around, walking to the front door. Before he left, he made one final statement.
"Besides, who will miss someone who doesn't exist."
Hinata knew what she had to do. She couldn't run away like when she was younger. Not like she had a place to run to, nor did she find it right for her to simply run away. This place was her home now.
Then why was she avoiding confrontation?
Throughout the morning, Hinata had to find things to ease her mind, even if it were for a little while. Usually, calming activities, all that would do anything but calm her nerves. She finally had given up after lunch when she realized that she couldn't eat.
Either from her agitated self or from the lack of food, she grew tired and restless from just sitting. In one swift movement, she strode from her seat to the door and left the apartment with locking the door this time.
Naruto stood in a daze. As it would seem as his attention would be up in the sky. Others would beg to differ after witnessing a shuriken graze across the top of his head, probably cutting off a few hairs.
"What are you looking at?" Sasuke asked curiously. He took a few steps back as a shuriken flew past him hitting it's designated, bulls-eye target. Naruto ignored his question till he was taken out of trance by another shuriken that passed across the front of his face.
"Huh? Did you say something Sasuke?" Naruto asked sheepishly, dodging another shuriken by taking a step forward. He also didn't seem fazed by the sharp, flying projectiles that would sometimes cut across his paths.
"What are you day dreaming about that's so intriguing? You've been spaced out for a good five minutes," Sasuke explained irritably. He then picked up a Shuriken on the ground and flicked it on the closes dart target. The only one that stayed put while the rest of them were scattered on the ground. An quiet awe irrupted from their audience.
"Nothing," Naruto replied too quickly, failing to look suspicious. "Just thinking."
"Good one," Sasuke said impassively. He turned to the students lined up on the other side of the field once he noticed the fleets of shuriken stopped. "Alright, clean up and head back inside."
The group of young boys followed the order with only few complaints.
"How come the listen to you?" Naruto asked annoyed, noticing their subtle behavior. "When I do it, they don't listen." They moved back into the academy building, observing the students from an open window. "So, what's next on the agenda?" Sasuke took out a small note from his pocket.
"Some paperwork that we have to explain about so don't go dozing off again about whatever you were thinking about," Sasuke discoursed, giving the small note to Naruto, his attention turning back to the students.
"I was thinking about last night, for your information," Naruto began straightforward, folding the note uncaring and shoving it in his pocket. "Wait a minute, that's right. You weren't there, were you." He laughed. "Oh boy, did you miss a show."
"What show?" Sasuke asked, suddenly interested. Naruto snickered some more.
"Shikamaru told me you left early. There was like a bonfire party after the fireworks, thanks to yours truly," Naruto said proudly, a smug grin wide across his face. "You should have been there. Everyone was really excited and they started to pass out free food. Man, I don't even know how long I was up. Must've been early in the morning though - Sasuke, where are you going?" Naruto watched stunned as Sasuke quickly jumped out the window.
"I need to go," Sasuke explained almost hastily.
"Go. Where? Now?"
"Yes, you know how to teach a class. Don't you." Naruto coughed a fake laugh. "Something came up, I need you to do it alone now."
"Something came up, when?" Naruto yelled. Not to his surprise, but to his utter most rage, Sasuke had vanished leaving him alone with the student who simply gave him odd looks.
Hinata was practically walking naked through the streets; metaphorically speaking. She didn't dress in her usual disguise, feeling more comfortable with walking around with her own clothes. Though she felt relax, the felt the more vulnerable.
She took the back roads, knowing that less people would travel those paths. She only past a few people who either minded their own business or too occupied in their own business to notice. Only one persons she saw notice. He looked familiar; a Jounin with a tendency not to take off his sunglasses and a familiarity of crows. He spotted her and she did what one would do; smile and wave. He did a few double takes as she walked by, but he didn't make a scene.
It would be lie if she wasn't nervous when she entered the quiet and eerie atmosphere of the Hyuga district. It wasn't long till she saw a familiar white wall surrounding the area and her family name hanging above the entrance way. Her feet took her into the compound, first entering the immense courtyard with the main house surrounding the perimeter. Two men sat the edge of the walkway at the front building, too occupied in their game of cards to notice. Not until she walked over and cast a shadow over their playing field.
"Excuse us, but-" one of them began but cut himself off as he looked up. The other one did as well obviously curious. He was well expecting someone else other than her.
"Excuse me, I need to speak with Neji. Is he in?" Hinata asked nervously, doing a well job of keeping her voice steady and clear. Their cards fell out of their hand and left forgotten on the walkway as the rest of their game.
"Who are you?" the first one asked, shaking his head as if snapping out of a daze.
"My name is Hinata and I am here to see Neji please," Hinata asked more relaxed, but still twiddling her fingers timidly. Neither of them seemed to notice as their eyes were locked on to her face; more specifically her eyes.
"I'll go get him," the second one finally replied, having trouble tearing his sight as he rose to leave.
"I'm sorry did you say your name is Hinata, as in Hinata Hyuga," the one left behind asked dumbfounded, standing up on the walkway. He noticed how he towered over Hinata and quickly dropped to the ground, only making a small difference in height. Hinata nodded in reply. "I apologize if I sound obvious, but that would mean you must be with us. How come I've never seen you before?"
"I come from another Hyuga clan from another leaf village," Hinata explained, not that much surprised when she received nearly the same response as everyone else.
"Is that still your story?" Neji accused, appearing down the hall.
"It's the truth and I do have proof," Hinata replied, keeping her head held high. She walked back until she was standing in the middle of the courtyard. "Do you agree that the fighting technique of the Hyuga clan cannot be mimic by anyone outside of the clan." She took a familiar stance with an open palm by her hip and the other help out in front of her. "I know the technique and I can show you." Neji peered skeptically, but nonetheless, stepped off the walkway.
"If it's a fight you are asking for, then I accept," Neji said Arrogantly, walking confidently in front of her. He mimicked her stance, standing noticeably more taller than Hinata. "Begin when you're ready."
Immediately, Hinata responded by quickly activating her byakugan and swiftly sliding her feet across the ground, thrusting her hands forward towards Neji. Neji quickly activated the same blood trait as well, dodging the attack with a side-step. Neji quickly spun around to the side, aiming a shot to her ribs. Hinata stepped back, successfully dodging his attack.
Their feet danced against the ground as they both skillfully dodging each other's attacks. Hinata's heart raced as the fight raged on, sliding across the dirt and the air. It became frustrating as Hinata notice his swiftness was far greater than hers, but she had no time to think about that. She was fighting to show her knowledge through the traditional style.
Hinata turned a final time, catching an open area through her vision. She pushed forward chakra through the palm of her hand just a Neji spun backwards; an opening from his back.
Just as Hinata's hand was nearly inches away from Neji's back, like a mirror, an open palm was replaced in front of her own hand. Suddenly, she flew back across the ground as Neji sent his own wave of chakra against her own. The power difference significantly noticeable between the two.
Hinata's feet momentarily left the ground before stumbling back down, almost tripping her backwards until she felt a body cushion her fall, instead of a concrete wall she knew to be there. She looked over her shoulder.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?" Hinata asked, short of breath. Sasuke was interrupted before he could start as Neji call across the courtyard.
"You talked as if you knew the Hyuga fighting style perfectly. It's disappointing to see that this is your best, unless you're holding back."
"We'll talk later," Sasuke said quietly. He gently pushed her forward, back on her feet again. "For now, you have to fight. They don't particularly care how you fight, just how well you can fight. In other words, you have to win."
"Win," Hinata whispered to herself, questionably. She didn't quite understand why but she didn't have time to think. She took a few steps in front of her and got back into her stance, but instead of having her open palm towards Neji, she turned her hands inwards. A small change that would seem unimportant but made a grand difference.
There were more peers surrounding the courtyard than before. She could tell from the corner of her vision, but she didn't let it distract her. She stared straight at her opponent, Neji. He held a calm but suspicious countenance.
"I'm ready," Hinata answered confidently. The next second, both Hinata and Neji raced towards each other. In swift motion, they collided, blocking each other's attacks. They twirled again, striking and dodging, neither of them landing a blow. She noticed that Neji wasn't as quick as he was before, finding more openings as the battle progressed.
Near the heat, just like time had repeated itself, she found another opening. She pushed against the ground, turning faster, aiming to cut his rib cage. Like a memory, Neji spun around, aiming against her attack; an open palm against her diagonal hand. He sent another wave of chakra like before. Hinata countered it with a wave of her own.
Instead of fly back like before, she could feel herself cut through the push, feeling the rush of chakra run beside each side. She winced slightly, half of her left shoulder becoming numb with pain.
After the attacks, they both stopped into complete silence. Hinata let her arm limp on her side., without a word, but suddenly gasped when she spotted a lock of Neji's hair fell on his shoulder.
Till next time... Oh, and though I don't mention it. I appreciate every review that is sent. They are a great motivator and make me really excited...I mean, REALLY excited. So, all in all. Thank you.