Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Promises Made
Chapter 21
Hiashi stood in the secret room, a slight frown on his face as he watched the soft golden glow.
Hinata at his side looked on in wonder, but said nothing as she wasn't sure why they were here.
Her father took a deep breath and sighed before he looked down at Hinata again. "Remember Hinata-chan…this won't hurt at all…and I think it is necessary so that we can make sure everything is ok with you."
Hinata looked up at her father, than nodded solemnly at him. "I understand father." She mumbled before stepping forward onto the marked area on the floor.
As soon as she was centered, the disk flashed brightly and a voice boomed at her. "Who are you?"
Hinata looked back at Hiashi, who nodded in encouragement before she looked straight again. "I am the pure heart." She said as she remembered her father's coaching, and a chime sounded somewhere in the room before the image of the fourth Hokage appeared.
His face was serene, and he had his arms crossed behind his back. After a few seconds the image smiled. "Hello. I am Namikaze Minato, Yondaime Hokage of the village hidden in the leaves. You…are now or were the holder of the intensity of the Kyuubi no kitsune. Please understand…it was not my intension to put this in you…in fact I would have been content if it had remained where it was originally…but since it has migrated to you there are things you must know. If I can answer any questions, now is the time to ask them."
Hinata's face showed shock as she processed what was said so far. No one had told her that she was the host for the Kyuubi's intensity…whatever that was. Maybe that was that dream I had about the door with the paper seal! She thought with a small amount of excitement.
For some reason, she was frightened though.
When she first discovered that Naruto had the Kyuubi's power, she was so terrified she didn't know what to do or say…she just wanted Naruto to stay away from her…until she saw the pain it caused him and she realized it wasn't his fault, and she felt horrible for hurting his feelings.
Hinata looked at the image which still stood there smiling and asked the first thing on her mind. "What is the intensity?"
The image of Minato smiled even more before answering her. "That is a very good question. The intensity is the sheer force of will that was the Kyuubi no kitsune. A simpler way to put it would be like determination. When there is something you want or want to do, if you want it bad enough, you get it, or do it. This is very similar. The Fox lord was more then just raw power…it was intelligent that for some reason had turned to evil, and had to be stopped. I cannot tell you why it turned to evil…I just know that it did.
The Biju are mostly neutral, not bothering in the affairs of humans as we are to them as ants are to us…but I digress. The problem with the intensity, it is more then a normal person can handle. It is a power of a different sort and not to be taken lightly. It basically unlocks the hidden potential inside of a person…but it may have uncommon side effects."
Hinata nodded as she absorbed what the image said, but mostly would look up a lot of the more difficult words later. "Side effects? What side effects?"
Minato became serious suddenly and Hiashi frowned at the usually jovial man. "Sudden and erratic mood swings could be one…another more serious one would be a complete change in personality or attitude. I was still studying possible effects when I made this image… but the one that worries me mostly is the possibility of the two parts, power and intensity merging again in one person."
Hinata looked at Hiashi with a frown and he nodded at her gently, giving her the ok to ask her question despite the fact that he had a sudden sinking feeling of dread.
Hinata nodded to her dad before she looked at the image of Minato again, a little worry creeping into her for some strange reason as well. "What would happen if a person had both?"
Minato's face looked grave as he thought for a moment. "I do not know for sure…because there was no time to test these theories…but I believe that the person will start feeling more of the negative emotions. Anger, jealousy, hate, fear, and these emotions will always be so far in the extreme end it will begin to change the person's personality to better suit the level of these emotions. If you were a kind person, you will become mean. If you were generous, you will become miserly. If you are friendly you will become hateful…and so on and so forth. Now as I said these are all just theories…practical research was not possible nor was it feasible." Minato cocked his head but there was no longer a friendly smile on his face. "If someone does have both the power and intensity…it is best they got rid of one or the other. Unfortunately again, I could not tell you of anyway how because again…this was in the experimental stage. It is possible to use my seal again on whoever posses both, but that would also remove the mentality from the person as the removal process has three stages, plus whoever used it would have to summon the death god again, forfeiting their life as well." The image seemed to pause for a moment as if in thought before continuing. "What I do know is the power instills confidence and well being, while the intensity gives a false sense of confidence, and causes one to be reckless, or unyielding. Yin and Yang if you will. I truly wish I had time to test these theories, but I do hope for the best for whoever you are. My best advice, be ready. If the prophecy comes true then there is plenty to be afraid for."
And the image faded back into the walls of the room.
Hinata looked over at her father with a frown. "Daddy…what does it mean? Do I have both the power and the intensity? What about Naruto-kun?"
Hiashi unsure of how to answer could only stand there and also wonder, what about Naruto?"
O
The very object of this conversation was forcing himself to concentrate as hard as he could.
Without his "momma" and without Hinata he didn't feel like there was much else he had going for him.
If he couldn't be a good koishii then he would do his best to be a good ninja…but Naruto noticed his concentration was not cooperating, and he was having trouble balancing his chakra. It seemed his chakra level kept bouncing up and down, and he couldn't get a handle on it no matter how he tried.
Neji was sparring with him earlier that morning, but Naruto guessed he gave up in disgust after mopping up the dojo with him.
Naruto decided to stay and try even harder then before. I'm just in a slump…I know I can get this back…nothing to it. He thought as he began a kata again.
After five minutes when Naruto stumbled again, this time falling, he thumped his fist against the floor hard and growled in frustration.
"What's wrong with me?" He shouted as he struck the floor again.
"Perhaps you can tell me what you are thinking Naruto-kun? Maybe we can figure it out together?"
Naruto looked at his mother and tried to smile, but it only lightly touched his lips. "I don't know mother…maybe I just wasn't meant to be a ninja."
Izumi scowled at him before she poked him on the end of his nose with her index finger. "Aiya Naruto…that is a lie and you know it." Kneeling in front of him, Izumi placed a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me what bothers you my son?'
Naruto thought for a minute before he shrugged at his adopted mother. "I can't explain it mother…it is like something is missing. I feel like I have a weight in my head that is pulling me in one direction and it is making everything that much harder. I can't balance my chakra, I can't concentrate on my taijutsu, and if I do I stumble or trip over my own feet! It's so frustrating and I don't know what to do about it…and now Hinata-chan…"
Izumi's eyes narrowed as she leaned towards him. "What about Hinata-chan?"
Naruto frowned as he shook his head. "I..I think she doesn't love me as much anymore."
Izumi blinked as she leaned back before she placed both hands on his shoulders and gave them a squeeze. "Your father and I have noticed that the two of you seem…strained. Has anything strange happened between the two of you?"
Naruto looked at the floor, still frowning before he answered. "Hinata-chan…we don't bathe together anymore…and she won't change in front of me, and she is hiding something from me. I know it! But she always tells me something stupid, or tells me I am wrong, that everything is ok. But mother…I can see it, I know the difference!"
Naruto's voice had gotten a few degrees louder and higher as he finished off the last sentence, and Izumi could see the pain and frustration in his eyes and on his face.
Many thoughts ran through her mind as she thought of possible reasons, but she still asked her son what she thought was important. "Why do you think that is Naruto-kun?"
Naruto huffed as his shoulder slumped, looking defeated. "I think it's my fault. I should have never took Ino's side at her party…Hinata is my Koishii and I should have supported her…maybe then she would still love me."
Izumi frowned slightly before she took Naruto's chin between her fingers and tilted his head to look at her. "Naruto-kun…I have told you once before…never doubt Hinata-chan's love for you. And do not think this is because of that incident at the party. Hinata was angry then, but she also realized it was her fault, not yours. You were trying to protect another person who had done nothing wrong. I had a long talk with Hinata about this, and she understood what she did was an over reaction. I am surprised that the two of you did not make up for that Hinata said that she and you wanted to talk about it and you're father released her from training earlier that day so you could…did you quarrel again?"
Naruto blinked at her question then frowned. "I remember that night mother. We did not quarrel…but we did not talk about Ino's party either."
Izumi frowned deeply as she looked away from him for a moment, than wondered what would make her daughter act so strangely. Hinata was not the shy sort around her Koishii…they slept naked together for a long time, and would bathe together…Izumi entertained the idea of Hinata having certain "changes" taking place in her daughter…but she ruled that out almost immediately. Hinata was still too young for THAT to be happening. Izumi had not gone through puberty until she was thirteen so Hinata shouldn't be having that as an issue. The other alternatives made her believe that she was ashamed for some reason…then Izumi's eyes opened wide as her head snapped to Naruto again and he shrunk back from her stare. "What? Mother I didn't…"
And Izumi shook her head quickly. "Listen my son…has there been a time where you were not with Hinata for a long period of time…at some point when she might have been alone with someone else?"
Naruto still agitated by his mother's look nodded quickly. "Well yeah…she doesn't let me rub her down anymore…she goes to the masseuse."
Izumi's eyes hardened as she put two and two together and got three. "The masseuse…" She said quietly, but Naruto recognized the look on his face and tried to pull back from her, hands around his backside and a whine in his voice. "No mother I didn't do it!" he pouted.
Seeing Naruto's reaction, she softened her features, and pulled Naruto in a hug. "No Naruto-kun…I know you didn't do anything wrong, I am just thinking about your koishii's behavior, and I think I know what is going on…but it is not a good discovery."
Izumi kissed Naruto on his forehead and smiled down to him as she looked into his eyes. "Do not fret Naruto-kun. I promise I will get to the bottom of this and we will fix it…it might take a little time, because Hinata-chan is not comfortable with what has happened, but I know she loves you and we have to help her through this."
Naruto nodded to his mother, still confused, but if mother Izumi said she would fix it, then he knew she would. "Alright mother. I will wait and have faith in you and Hinata-chan."
Izumi rose to her feet, pulling Naruto with her and she rubbed his head with affection. "Why don't you go get a cookie from Alma and try and relax. Once your father comes home I will talk to him so we can take care of this."
Naruto nodded as he bowed out of the dojo.
Izumi watched him walk out, but her frown returned as she thought about the implications and she was hoping beyond all hope that she was wrong…but just in case she wasn't, she raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Instantly, a ghost corp ninja was standing in front of her. "Yes lady Hyuuga?"
Izumi still frowning turned to him and spoke in a low voice. "Find Hizashi-sama and have him meet me in my husband's drawing room, and find the masseuse that has been giving Hinata-chan her rub downs in the last month…I believe it will be the same person that works here in the clan house."
The nin nodded and bowed at the waist to her. "At once Lady Hyuuga." The nin was gone before Izumi could blink, and now she had the beginnings of a bad taste in her mouth as she tried not to think about what a member of their clan may have done to her daughter.
O
Hinata walked through the hallway to her bedroom with a frown on her face. It seemed a lot of the family members were doing that this day.
Her father was very curt with his answers to her whenever she asked a question, so she wonder if on top of the bad news she had done something wrong.
I don't think I did anything wrong…do I smell bad? She thought to herself as she raised her arm and sniffed at her pit, but smelling only soap she shrugged.
Maybe there was something going on she didn't know about.
She didn't understand everything that was said at the Minato-sama's house, she knew in time her father would explain if it is important for her to know.
Reaching the door to the room she shared with Naruto she stopped and placed her hand on it.
She still didn't know what to do about her and Naruto-kun.
They were drifting apart, and she knew it, everyone could feel it…especially the two of them. Unfortunately Hinata was lost as far as what she could do or who she could talk to about it.
It seemed so unfair that she had to suffer like this, and in turn was making Naruto suffer.
After a few seconds she sighed then opened the door and stepped inside. Seeing Naruto wasn't there she assumed he was still in the dojo, and went into the bathroom to relieve herself and change for her practice.
O
Hiashi walked into his office with a frown as he thought about all of the problems that seemed to keep cropping up.
He wasn't sure of any way to do anything and it seemed that everything was coming apart at the seams.
Naruto not being able to do simple exercises, Hinata who's mood swings had become so erratic no one knew what she was going to do half the time, and the other half afraid of what she would do.
Before he could get any further in his thoughts he looked around and saw Izumi, scowling at a clan member, the masseuse if he remembered correctly, and Hizashi looking murderous, hands clenching and unclenching.
Crap. He thought. What happened now?
Before he could say anything, Izumi turned her glare on him and he shrank back wondering if he forgot to put the lid down again. "My wife? What goes on here?"
Izumi pointed her index finger at the masseuse who looked on the verge of tears. "This…man…has committed a crime against us…something vile and most heinous!"
Flashback
The man knelt in front of the table as Izumi sat in the heads position. "You wished to see me Lady Hyuuga?"
Izumi nodded as she tried to maintain her composure.
The man looked a little nervous, so Izumi began to think she knew what was going through his mind. Baka…did you think you would get away with it forever? She thought as her eyes narrowed.
Hizashi listened to Izumi's words earlier before the man was brought in, and he looked skeptical, but the charge Izumi was making was serious, so he would help her to find out the truth.
"You have been giving my daughter her rubdowns after her training recently have you not?"
The man nodded with a huge smile on his face. "Oh yes Lady…it has been a great pleasure."
Izumi blinked, and Hizashi jumped slightly, arms uncrossing partially. "W..what do you mean?"
The man looked at Hizashi and smiled. "Well the Lady Hinata is very friendly and generous…she was embarrassed at first, but then she started coming to me more and more and I was very honored."
The man seemed to beam with pride and Izumi began to feel sick to her stomach, but she had to make sure.
"D..don't you realize you have done something wrong? You have taken something precious!" She stammered but her anger carried her through.
When she said this, the man's face fell then he put his head down and nodded. "I..I guess I am caught. Gomen…I did not think anyone would notice."
Hizashi glared hate filled daggers at the man's bowed head as he shouted at him. "Y..you admit it? You did not think anyone would notice? Are you insane?"
Izumi was sputtering and could not get her mouth to work in conjunction with her mind. The gall of the man to say something like that so casually! "D..D..don't you realize what you have done? Why did you do it? Why!?"
The man bowed at the waist, forehead touching the floor once before he rose again. "I am sorry. I did not think anyone would mind if I took a little…but it smelled so good I could not resist, and I end up taking it more and more. The lady Hinata did not mind, in fact she insisted…but I know I should have been more responsible. Again, I am sorry…I will replace it."
Hizashi almost lunged at the man "NANI?? You cannot replace what you have taken!"
The man looked taken aback for a second before he nodded. "I understand…but please let me try and make amends, I will take full responsibility, but do not make my family suffer, it is my fault that my son and wife enjoyed it too."
Izumi swooned as she couldn't believe an entire family could be filled with such deviant behavior.
Hizashi was red face and could barely hold back the rage he felt at this man and his cavalier attitude…and his family too? How could such a man exist? "Your wife and son also??"
The man nodded as he looked a little sad. "Yes…they resisted at first, said it wasn't right…but I convinced them because I told them it was the most wonderful feeling…" He said with a dreamy look on his face.
Izumi almost came across the table on him, just as the door slid open and Hiashi walked in.
Recall
Hiashi blinked as he turned his astonished gaze to the man kneeling in front of his writing table looking glum. Assuming the demeanor of the clan head he frowned at the man as he spoke to Izumi. "I see…and what has been his crime?"
Hizashi was livid as he spat out, "He has molested the Lady Hinata!"
Hiashi's eyes almost exploded from his head as he gawked at his brother, Byakugan activating from the sudden surge of shock and anger. "NANI??? He has done what?!"
The man in question looked from Hizashi, to Izumi to the now murderous Hiashi and shook his head and hands negatively before he began bowing and screamed out, "NONONONO! I DIDN'T! MY LORD I WOULDN'T DARE!!!"
Hiashi growled deep in his chest before he roared at the still bowing and groveling man. "Pervert! My daughter has not even come of age! What kind of sickness do you posses?"
It was said the clan head was usually a very cool customer, that is was not easy to make him angry or angry enough to show his rage. The masseuse still trying to plead his case to the three enraged adults could already see the hangman's noose closing on his neck, just as he got a stay of execution.
All eyes turned to the privacy screen door as they heard a boy screaming down the hallway.
It sounded like he was shouting over and over again. "Mother, daddy, help!"
It got closer until Naruto burst through the door and landed on his knees at Hiashi's feet panting.
"Daddy….Daddy…"
Hiashi dropped down to his son's side a frown still upon his face. "What is wrong…tell me Naruto!"
Naruto tried to catch his breath, but was having trouble but gasped out the story as best he could. "Hina-chan…hurt…bleeding…"
Izumi jumped to her feet and stood next to Hiashi. "Where is she Naruto?"
Naruto pointed backwards, and they could see how frightened he was so it must have been very bad. "Our room…blood…hurt…" He said just before he jumped back to his feet. "Medic…help…Hina-chan!" Naruto turned then ran from the room as fast as his legs could carry him, Hiashi and Izumi a micro second behind him.
Hizashi, not wanting to leave the man that caused his niece so much pain cracked his knuckles before smiling at the man in a way that made him want to go to the bathroom really badly. "Well…just the two of us now…"
Quick Flash
Alma didn't have any cookies ready, but she promised to bring him some when they were done.
Naruto reached the door to their bedroom and walked in then closed it behind him. I guess I'll just lay down for a while…try and relax. He thought.
So with a shrug he took off his Gi top until he could practice with Hinata and his father later.
Unfortunately as he lay his top on the bed, Hinata screamed from in the bathroom.
Naruto ran to the door and yelled through the door. "Hina-chan what's wrong?"
Her voice came back immediately, frightening him more.
"Naru-kun…help me!"
Naruto flung the door open and blanched in shock at the sight before him.
Hinata stood over the toilet, blood along the inside of her thighs, and her hand pressed in a very delicate spot. "I'm bleeding…Naru-kun I'M BLEEDING!"
Naruto freaked out…then panicked as he screamed over his shoulder, "I'll get mother and father!!"
Out the door and halfway down the hall, Naruto ran into Alma…literally, and fell on his butt groaning. Alma was not a big woman…but she was solid.
"Naruto-kun? What is wrong, why did Hinata-chan scream?"
Naruto pointed back over his shoulder, panic returning to him as he forced himself to his feet. "Hinata-c..chan is b..bleeding!"
Alma nodded quickly and pointed down the hallway. "Go get your parents!" She yelled as she hurried into their bedroom, guards appearing in the hall.
Naruto ran as hard as he could, dodging people and yelling the whole way until he finally reached his fathers office door, but because of his momentum, he could not stop as his socks slid when he tried to put the breaks on, and subsequently flew through the closed paper screen door.
Recall
At some point, Hiashi could not slow his momentum, worrying that somehow another assassin had gotten into their home and attacked Hinata this time, did not pay attention to his speed, (like father like son) and slid into Naruto who was slowing to a stop, and they both slammed into the wall…Naruto taking the worst of that encounter as his head cushioned their impact.
Izumi continued past, as father and son became a scrambling mess with four arms four legs and no sense. She barreled on until she reached the fiancés bedroom and burst in and could hear Alma trying to calm a hysterical Hinata.
Izumi ran into the bathroom and at first was shocked…then took a couple of steadying breaths as Alma turned to her and explained what had happened while trying not to laugh.
Hinata still crying looked at her mother, who sighed happily since her daughter was unhurt. After a few seconds, Izumi smiled gently at her daughter. "Is this the first time this has happened Hinata-chan?"
Hinata nodded slowly as she looked at her mother. "Mother…what's wrong with me? Why am I bleeding? Why am I getting hair? Why does my stomach hurt so much? Why do I want chocolate?"
Izumi stroked Hinata's head and tried not to laugh herself now, mainly in relief. "Hina-chan, do not fret so…I will explain everything to you…let us clean you up first and then we will…"
And Hiashi and Naruto burst through the door, Hiashi looking worried and ready to kill or cradle at the same time. "Is she ok? What's wrong? Ow! Why are you throwing things at me?"
Naruto ducked back out of the bathroom as toothbrushes, a toothpaste tube, rolls of toilet paper and whatever else was in range came flying at him and his father, all thrown by a red faced Hinata who began screaming. "DADDY? GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT!!!"
Alma, who stepped out right behind the Hyuga lord closed the door as and held her stomach as she tried hard not to laugh…failed miserably, but still tried as she picked a washcloth off of Hiashi's shoulder before she bowed to him. "Apologies Hiashi-sama…Hinata-chan is in a little distress because…her friend came to visit her for the first time."
Hiashi blinked as he looked at her incredulously then shook his head. "What? Her friend?"
Naruto frowned around Hiashi, who still looked confused.
Alma got an exasperated look on her face as she leaned closer and tried to whisper. "She got her P-E-R-I-O-D." She spelled out then raised her eyebrows at him.
Hiashi took a few steps back from her, shock etched on his features before his eyes settled on Naruto, who suddenly felt very self conscious. "Daddy…I didn't do it…" Naruto mumbled as his father's eyes hardened on him.
As the about to be terrified boy tried to back away, Hiashi grabbed him and slung him over his shoulder. "Yes I realize that you didn't do it my son…now I am going to ensure that you don't do it!"
Naruto's eyes were wide and his complexion completely white as Alma began to laugh hysterically, one hand going to the wall to stop from falling.
O
That incident, lead to the discovery that the masseuse was innocent of touching Hinata inappropriately, but was guilty for taking some of the massage oils home with him.
The man was sufficiently terrified but later forgiven as the family apologized to him as well. Luckily he was a fast talker, and Hizashi chose to listen.
Hinata was told by her mother what was going on, and how to deal with it and that while certain parts of it were embarrassing, she would be ok.
That was followed by an even longer talk about the blossoming of a young girl's body and a whole lot of other things, while uncomfortable…it wasn't too painful…some of which Hinata and Naruto discovered on their own.
Naruto…could not agree.
His father, while doing his best to be objective, told him every wrong thing he could think of and had Naruto so frazzled by the end of the night, he slept in the dojo rather then go anywhere near Hinata for the fear of getting her pregnant by bumping into her!
It wouldn't be until a few days later, and Naruto falling asleep in class…twice in the same day that Izumi talked with him.
After his mother talked to him, and made him feel much better, Izumi vowed to NEVER let Hiashi explain sex to anyone ever again!
While Hinata knew what was going on with her…Naruto did not receive full details, both parents deciding to leave him partially in the dark to prevent embarrassment…so Hinata's behavior did not change towards him…so the cycle continued.
O
Four months later…
It is said that for every bad thing that happens, a good thing will even it out. Unfortunately no one ever said when this good thing would happen.
Every day for one hundred and twenty days Naruto fell into a steady spiral of decline. His skills had become so faulty he could not complete a kata, his concentration had slipped to the point he couldn't pay attention in class, and it was almost impossible for him to learn anything.
Eventually, Iruka talked with Hiashi and with the Hokage's permission pulled Naruto from the academy so they could find what the problem could be and if it could be corrected.
He was taken to the best doctors, and even had a mind walk performed by Yamanaka Inoichi…and then the horrible truth was revealed.
Naruto was losing himself.
Inoichi's assessment was a part of Naruto, something that made him whole in his psyche was gone. Because of that missing piece, Naruto was going backwards instead of forward. At the moment, Naruto's mind was like a house with a big section of its foundation gone. Everything that was him was crumbling, and they had no way to stop it.
No one knew what to make of this. The seal was intact, and the kyuubi's chakra was still visible in his chakra network…so no one knew what the cause was or how to fix it.
No one knew how bad it would get until Alma came and got Izumi while she was baking and Hinata was in school. When Alma told her she needed to see Naruto, Izumi's heart fell.
At first, she could see Naruto in the family room, his back facing them and everything looked innocent enough, even normal for the boy as he and Hinata still did this on some days. Izumi looked at Alma with a question in her eyes, so Alma called to him. "Naruto-kun?"
When he turned around Izumi saw how cute his face looked, and then she froze with realization.
Naruto was sucking his thumb.
Naruto hadn't done that since they first got him home…and there he was, looking for the most part like a three or four year old.
Izumi girded herself then walked over and knelt next to him. "Hello Naruto-kun."
Her stomach dropped when he answered her. "Hi mommy."
His voice sounded so childlike it scared her. "W..what are you doing my son?'
He smiled at her when he showed her a page full of scribbles. "Colo'ing." At one point he was drawing trees and rough shapes of people and houses…now all that was there were lines that were all mashed and jumbled together chaotically.
Izumi nodded as she smiled at him, before she reached out and hugged him to her, trying hard not to break down. "Oh my little boy…" She said as a few tears squeezed from her eyes.
Naruto accepted the hug for a few seconds, before he whined at her. "Want colo…no hugs."
Izumi nodded as she let him go but kissed his cheek, which he promptly wiped off before he put his thumb back in his mouth and started coloring again.
Izumi and Alma said nothing else to each other as she left to find her husband and some semblance of balance.
When Izumi told Hiashi, his shoulders slumped, and he put his calligraphy brush down before he looked at his wife. "Let's take him back to Inoichi…maybe…"
And that was where the conversation ended.
After another evaluation, Inoichi looked apologetic, and saddened. "I am sorry Hiashi-sama. There is nothing I can do. At the rate of decay, Naruto's mind will have reverted back to it's infancy in another two months if not sooner."
Hiashi nodded as Izumi broke into tears and her husband quietly hugged her. "Is it possible after he reverts, he could recover, maybe re-develop?" Inoichi scratched his chin frowning before he shrugged. "It's possible…but I can't tell you for sure. I have never seen anything like this before. I cannot understand it. There is nothing physically wrong with him, and his brain seems intact. I wish there was something I could do." With a somber acknowledgment of thanks, the parents returned home, Naruto skipping along obliviously.
A few days later, Izumi couldn't find Naruto, and as she looked around the house, she finally found him. He was in Hiashi's study, sleeping in his father's lap.
She didn't say anything at first, but she did hear her husband speak to the sleeping boy.
"It's ok my son…I won't leave you. The council can kiss the shiniest part of my ass, you are still my son and I won't abandon you…my brave little man. I don't care what happens…I am still proud of you."
Izumi bit her index finger as she came forward. "W..what has the council said my husband."
Hiashi looked at her with a start then quickly swiped at his face with one hand. "Hello my wife, I did not hear you come in."
Izumi closed the door behind her, walked over to him and lightly placed her hand on his shoulder. It took a few moments, but Hiashi finally took a breath and let it out. "They have deemed him unworthy of Hinata since his mental faculties are failing. They have said he is to be placed in the hospital where he will be cared for when he finally…" But Hiashi couldn't finish his sentence as a few new tears fell from his eyes.
Izumi squeezed his shoulder and he took a deep breath and cleared his throat. "What of Hinata?"
Izumi frowned as she knelt at his side. "She is taking this badly. Hinata blames herself, why I do not know, and she becomes angrier every day. I had to talk to her yesterday because I heard Naruto crying. When I went and looked in on them, Hinata sat on one side of the room, Naruto on the other, but when Naruto saw me, he began to cry louder and point at Hinata. When I asked her what happened, she said she was tired of him always hugging her, and doing everything she did, so she pushed him away, and he had fallen down. She was so angry I could feel it in the air."
Izumi's face looked troubled before she shook her head. "She doesn't understand what is happening to Naruto, and I tried to tell her that Naruto is more sensitive now then before because of what is happening, she got angrier, than left the room in a huff."
Hiashi was having trouble believing this was Hinata, his precious, kind, little girl that didn't have a mean bone in her body. He wanted to say it seemed like sibling rivalry…but they weren't siblings. Looking to his wife he asked a hard question. "Should we put them in separate rooms…until we can find a way to explain it to her so she will understand?"
Izumi frowned and shook her head in confusion. "I don't know my husband. If Hinata hits or pushes him again, we may have to…his mental state is so fragile right now, all he understands is she is being mean to him. I do not want to split them up my husband…but I am afraid of what Hinata may do to him."
Hiashi nodded and was about to say something, when the door to his study slid open with a bang startling them both, and there stood Hinata, angry tears in her eyes.
"Fine! If that is how it is then you don't have to worry about me and what I will do!"
Hinata immediately turned and ran down the hall before either stunned parent could respond.
Hiashi stood and they both hurried to catch up to her, but she had a good head start on them, and Naruto was so much sleeping dead weight in Hiashi's arms that they put him on the bed in Hinata's old room so he would not slow them down any further.
They had the house hold go on alert to find her, but if they had waited, they would have heard her before they rushed out.
O
Hinata watched as her parents came into her room, and then rushed out again before she started crying hard sobbing for the confusion and hurt she felt.
Her koishii, didn't talk to her as much anymore, but he was always hugging and hanging on her…then he always wanted to do what she was doing. Normally, this would have pleased her greatly…but couple that with all the things that happened in the recent past, people talking mean about Naruto all the time in school…it just became a big ball of pain inside of her.
And the fact that Naruto was no better then a baby brother now, emphasis on the word baby…well she tried to stay loving and supportive, but it was just to hard to do.
Hinata was upset before this new development…but now hearing her parents practically blaming her for what has happened to Naruto…at least that is the way it sounded to her.
Why else would they take him away?
Sure…she was upset, but she wouldn't hurt Naruto…again…on purpose.
Hinata slowly climbed from under her bed, and looked at Naruto's sleeping face.
He still looked cute to her, his little whisker marks twitching when he would breathe.
It hurt Hinata to see him like this…Naruto-kun isn't a big baby! Why is this happening? She thought in frustration.
It didn't make sense and it hurt her so deeply to see him helpless like this.
It wasn't long, maybe ten or fifteen minutes, when Hinata thought of the only thing her little mind knew she could do to try and help him.
With a little smile, Hinata closed her eyes. "Momma." She whispered and a few seconds later a familiar nose bumped against her back.
She turned and smiled, but immediately knew something was wrong. The eyes were darker, the fur looked more like flames then ever before, and the familiar shape began growling at her.
Hinata backed away until she put the bed between herself and the Kyuubi, but Naruto choose that time to wake up and look around. "Nata? Where mommy?"
Hinata watched as the fox head turned and oriented on Naruto and seemed to smile. In a panic Hinata reached for Naruto as the fear began to grip her, but she fought to suppress it to protect the one she loved. He may be a baby now, and pissing her off…but he was her baby and she wouldn't let anything hurt him!
"Naruto-kun…come here…come on…give me a hug."
Naruto smiled at her, but when he turned to go towards her, the head of the kyuubi swung, catching Naruto in the side, and knocking him into the wall next to Hinata.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata screamed as he slid to the floor, a moan of pain escaping him. She dropped down and hugged him to her, and he rubbed his side and began to cry. "Nata…hurt…" which made Hinata angrier and angrier until she stood in front of Naruto in her righteous fury, blocking the path to him.
What Hinata didn't notice was the angrier she got, the brighter the Kyuubi's color got. Until it seemed the sun was in the room with them.
Defiance in her stance, Hinata would not back down as the beast growled at her again, causing her to lash out in her anger. "You aren't our momma! You're just some dumb old mean thing! Our momma wouldn't hurt us ever! Go away mean old fox!"
The fox's great head loomed over them and seemed to grin wider before one of its tails lashed out and knocked Naruto over again, and a new wave of tears and wails left him.
Hinata screamed in fury, eyes turning completely black, as the aura surrounded her.
The room began to shake as the foxes and her aura began to clash and battle for supremacy when Hinata seemed to surge forward, screaming at the top of her lungs, "YOU'RE NOT OUR MOMMA! YOU'RE NOT OUR MOMMA!"
And each utterance made the black aura surge higher and higher, forcing the other back further and further.
In the midst of this battle Hinata heard as if from far away, "Nata…scared!" and she felt Naruto's hands holding tight to her shirt, and once again, she knew she would let nothing hurt Naruto. Her aura snapped forward, completely enveloping the fox, until Hinata finally screamed out, "You're not our momma, I HATE YOU!!"
And across the entire Hyuuga compound, a sound like thunder directly over head crashed, startling everyone, before a flash of light that overwhelmed the senses seemed to come from the corner of the main house.
When they got upstairs, guards stood around at Hinata's door until Hiashi and Izumi pushed past them and slid the door open, but no one could explain the sound or the light, for on the bed slept two children holding onto each other, sleeping peacefully, both with three whisker like marks on either side of their cheeks.
O
Next Episode: Birds of a feather…