Chapter 27
Hinata stepped inside, inside her home village… She inhaled the scent, inhaled her childhood, her surroundings. It was like nothing had changed, everything looked like before. Her heart was pounding, like it were to burst out of her chest. Her nervousness wasn't made to be hidden. It was impossible to hide her feelings… Especially when returning to the place she grew up in with people she loved and despised...
The villagers weren't paying attention to her, wearing her black hoodie, coat and pants made her look almost invisible. Looking in the sky she noticed the clouds gathering together as if her coming back isn't that pleasant. "Konoha. I still love you" she headed towards the hokage tower, while the rain poured down on her clothes. The people were complaining about the weather. She saw two guards 'guarding' the hokage tower. One was gambling and the other almost fell asleep on his chair. She walked through unnoticed.
What she expected was that Tsunade would be sitting there filling in her papers, not knowing about the sudden attack Akatsuki had planned on Konoha. She was surprised of the fact that Shizune wasn't sitting there, registering all the visitors and shinobi's who entered the Hokage's tower.
Not even ninja's were guarding the door behind which the Hokage was seated.
Hinata Hyuuga was planning to speak to the Hokage and now she was nervous. Not only because of her sudden return, but also because of the fact that she felt something very familiar... " What's this feeling?" She thought settling her hand on the big, wooden door. She knocked on this door, completely paralised by what she saw in front of her, or who she saw...
"Hinata..." it was barely a whisper, the cloack he was wearing told her he, Naruto Uzumaki, became Hokage.
"Naruto-kun" she did not know whether she pronounced it in reality or it was just a dream, an illusion, a jutsu? Maybe, it could be a jutsu, but Hinata's limbs were paralised, her eyelids felt heavy; but her hands were pleading to touch him, to conclude he was reality. It was impossible for Naruto too; her existence was like a magnet that pulled him towards her. She looked in his eyes, she still remembered them, of course she did. The shock was written on his face, which didn't surprise Hinata at all; for him she was dead.
Naruto saw Hinata and immediately thought she was a ghost , but her wet clothes and those beautiful eyes showed him she was really standing there. He also noticed her exhausted look , he saw how heavy her eyelids looked, like they could close any second and open when they got their rest.
She tried hard to stand on her both feed and remember her purpose there, why she was even there?
" I have something very important to-"
But before she could even finish her sentence she felt strong arms embracing her. She now remembered very clearly why she loved this person, why she always longed for this embrace, but now that she couldn't accept it, it happened... Hinata knew that this wasn't the same love she had for Naruto backthen... but the love she felt at this moment was more then enough to care for him.
"Hinata, it's really you" stroking her head lightly he kept embracing her, as if she could turn into dust in any minute and disappear like before.
"Yes Naruto-kun, I mean Hokage sama, I am still alive."
"Huh? Oh that; you noticed the cloack and the position I'm in!" He grinned, the typical Naruto grin she would drool away from... but that part didn't change, her cheeks were heating up lightly. Just like before. He was back, his grin, everyone would call him an idiot, or a dobe, and she would never understand why, because even his slightest humor would make her happy; she would smile and laugh the whole day, and even the shit of a father she has, would never change that.
"Hinata, you're alive! You can't imagine how much we missed you, there is so much you gotta tell me. And you need to meet everyone; they will be so happy to see you, I swear! Common, let's go meet everyone right now!"
Hinata registered his words and immediately drew back from him, from the warmth he was vibrating.
She frowned and turned away from him, taking a few steps aback.
"Hinata, I see how you've changed" abruptly she turned her head towards him questioning his words.
"I mean, of course you're as beautiful as before, " duh, she blushed at this comment.
" but still, you've changed. There is something not Hinata alike in your eyes..."
She did not answer him, avoiding this comment was the only thing she could do.
" you must have endured something very painful, please..." he said stepping towards Hinata.
"Please, tell me everything"he said with a pleading look.
"Why do you want to know Naruto" she said flatly, it wasn't a question, but he still answered her.
"Because I want to protect you, so you will never suffer again"
"Who told you I was suffering?" Silence...
"It's a long story,so let's take a seat, Naruto-kun"
"I'm glad you're saving the formalities, I'm getting tired of this Hokage shit... thank you Hinata."
" for saving the formalities?"
He nodded: " and of course for returning back to Konoha, to me"
She felt tears forming in her eyes and she didn't even refuse to make it visible. Normaly she would be ashamed of her pathetic looks, but now was the moment she didn't care of such things.
Her mouth and eyes where smiling and her heart was reassuring her this was right. . .
Meanwhile in Konoha
"You gotta be kidding me , right?" Tenten was walking down the streets with Neji, but they were abruptly stopped by Lee.
"I know, but Naruto knows best, he's the Hokage after all..." Lee answers calmly.
" Hokage or not, he could buy his ramen himself, I am not his slave!" Now Tenten was patting Neji's head:
"Calm down, we will get him his ramen and continue our day peacefully, everything is allright. Now come on guys, let's hurry!" She walked ahead of them and waved optimistically back.
"What's getting into her?" Neji asked raising an eyebrow.
"I dunno,but we're young, so we cannot complain,Neji!"
Now Lee was raising his arms,Neji noticed he had an idea, but he didn't like the idea of Lee getting an idea.
"Now, let's bet on this new green skinny shirt! Who get's Naruto his ramen first will get the price!"
"Lee! Please keep your youthfulness to yourself and your outfits too , no one needs it" Neji hissed with a warning look in his eyes.
" Oh come on Neji!please, please, please, please!"
"I'm stikking to my first decision"
"Pff, you're youthfullness is boring as ever..."
"Yeah, I know..."
"Common boys let's already bring Naruto his Ramen!"
Back to the Hokage!
"Naruto, we don't have time, Akatsuki will be here soon, they want you,…, but I won't let them have you"
"That's why you're here?" he asked her, taking a few steps back.
"Hinata, where were you all this time? Sakura told me about the kidnapping and your father confirmed your death, what happened?"
"Naruto, you'll understand everything, …"
She told him everything from the start of her and Sakura's kidnapping. The last time she saw her own teammates alive. She confirmed everything Sakura said and told him how she hoped someone would come to rescue her. But no one came.
Then she mentioned Itachi's name the first time, explaining how he was assigned to watch over her and how they grew attached to each other. Also the time when she heard the gossip about her fake death, provided by her father, and how they let her return to Konoha, but her father killed Neji and Hinata was saved by Konan.
"What?!" his eyes were fuming.
"I knew there was something very strange about his behaviour, but who would have thought a person could possibly do something like that!"
A short silence filled the room.
"But Hinata, Neji lives. A few weeks ago he awoke from his coma and told us he forgot everything that happened. He even couldn't remember your name, Hinata."
"You-You mean, he's alive?" nodding Naruto turned around, clearly thinking about something.
"We'll have to do something about your tyrant of a father, but the problem is his power and status, on top of that he's a smartass too," facing Hinata again he continued; "But that won't stop me from eliminating him!"
"No! Naruto, I can't let you do that!" Hinata said shaking her head.
"Because I want to do it myself. He's not my father anymore, that's what makes it more easier for me, please, leave that to me"
"As you say, Hinata, but stay on your heels, his people are everywhere. You know that better than me"
"Of course" she said with a small smile. "Oh Naruto, I'm so happy Neji is alive, that gives me hope, that everything will be fine"
"That's because everything WILL be fine, as long that I am the Hokage no one will hurt my friends"
"But Naruto, I still haven't told you everything…. After Neji's 'death' I was taken back to the Akatsuki hideout by Konan, she saved me from dying in front of the gates. I grew only more and more attached to her and …"
"And?"
"And Itachi, …, Naruto, we're lovers"
"What?" his eyes turned sad and the glint in his eyes disappeared.
"You love him? But how? He's an"
"An Akatsuki, I know. But he's been more than good to me and loved me, so I repaid him by loving him back. We've been together from the beginning. And of course in the beginning everything was tense, but now we feel real love. Naruto, I can't live without him, that's why I never returned back to Konoha, I lost everything here and found everything there."
Naruto didn't say a word, he was totally speechless and yet he wanted to yell, and hope it wasn't true.
"Naruto, …, please, I beg you, don't blame me"
She reached for his shoulder clutching her chest. "Please Naruto, don't blame me"
After a long silence: "…I won't, Hinata if you're happy with an Uchiha, then so be it, but I hope that in the end it won't hurt you"
He subtly removed her hand from his shoulder and put on a fake smile to reassure her everything was fine.
"So Hinata, you couldn't leave your love, but you left for my safety?" he said smirking and trying to shake of his hurt feelings. His way of smoothing the situation was joking around, he's Naruto Uzumaki after all.
"Haha, of course I did, you're one of my only childhood friends" ' and you're my first love'
"They already caught all the kyuubi's, you're the last one, Naruto. Knowing you won't leave Konoha they will attack the village and that will happen very soon. So please let's play safe and prepare ourselves for it"
"You're right, but uhhm, Hinata, how can you fight against Itachi?"
"I'm not planning on fighting Itachi, my only goal now is to stop Akatsuki from catching you. I believe in Itachi, I know he won't be in danger as long as I'm playing with the smart cards. And of course my plan is to protect you."
His smirk was now replaced by a hearting smile. He was glad her gentleness didn't disappear, even after living with the Akatsuki for so long.
"Then let's discuss our plan" he said placing himself behind his desk.
"First of all, Pain will attack, I would want to help you by predicting his attacks, but I never saw him fight. I heard that he uses corpses as puppets, but I never saw it with my own eyes. One thing I'm sure of is that he is very strong. Then there is Konan, she will attack us too, and even our friendship won't help me, because she follows Pain's every step. His word is a command. I'm afraid of him telling her to kill me, because then there's probably nothing that can stop her."
"So Pain and Konan? But what about the others?"
"Pain commanded them not to leave the hideout. They have to prepare their chakra to extract the Kyuubi "
"So he's already sure he'll get me?" he said frowning.
"Please don't underestimate them"
"For the beginning, let's evacuate the village and prepare the shinobi's"
"Naruto, I have only one request"
"What is it Hinata?" he asked her softly.
" Don't tell anyone anything about me, please, I have to do something about my father, but let it be a surprise."
"Okay, I like surprises"
Meanwhile in the Akatsuki hideout
"Itachi" Madara stepped into his room.
"Where is the girl?" Itachi smirked at this.
"Why do you need her right now?"
"Just answer me! She left? Returned back to Konoha?!"
Itachi smirked, Madara's nervousness was quite amusing, but his smirk changed Madara's expression:
"Then so be it. We'll have to visit Konoha now and take back what belongs to Akatsuki"
Itachi's smirk disappeared, he knew what Madara meant by that, attacking Konoha, now. He was afraid, now that Hinata wasn't by his side, but he had to trust her and believe in her. 'She'll return' he kept repeating to himself.
"Since when do you need Hinata?" he asked him concentrating on his words, he had to play cool, or else Madara could take the harsh way.
"Actually, I don't need that bitch, but she's a hostage and a reason to visit her village, that means the Kyuubi. Haha, what?! You thought I meant that pathetic girl? That's insulting…" Madara said clutching to his heart.
With that he disappeared, leaving Itachi alone.
"You're a real pain in the ass" now the serious game was starting.
"Itachi,"
"Konan? You're still here? I thought you already left for Konoha with Pain"
"Pain is almost there, he's planning on entering Konoha without any cautions. He's being serious, Itachi"
"I know"
"You know what will happen to Hinata if he finds her on his path…" it wasn't a question, they both knew this could never end well.
"Even I can't stop him, …" she said looking away.
"You know? I always thought about what purpose me and Nagato shared during our whole life… What we had in common…. After Yahiko's death I betrayed myself and him. He wouldn't want us to become like this. I know that well now, but back then I lost all my sense by losing him. I tried everything to persuade Nagato to break his contact with Madara, but he wouldn't listen. I'm waiting for the right moment, because I know he'll think back to the moment him, Yahiko and I were a team."
"…"
"Well, time to go now, he's waiting for me" she sighed and turned around without looking back at the anxious Itachi. He, of course, didn't show it, but still; everyone could sense his fear for the reality.
Hinata's POV
I turned around and looked out of the window, wishing I was still by Itachi's side. My head was spinning from the sudden realisation of being without him. Naruto, as always smiled and showed me his grin.
"Well, good luck." He said waving and then running his hand through his golden hair.
"Thanks" I smiled back and left his office. Running though the small corridors I realised putting Konoha in Naruto's hands isn't a bad thing at all. I always believed in him, but now I was certain he would be the best Hokage ever. Still running while hiding my chakra I heard voices and footsteps on the other side. I hurried very quickly and hid myself in one of the offices. Soon I discovered who these people were and seeing them brought back my vulnerability. Naruto already told me Neji was alive, but seeing him running with his teammates right next to me and grinning at Lee's jokes… that made me wanna cry, realising crying was in my not to do list, but that didn't stop me from smiling and bringing me back some hope, that I needed.
When they turned and disappeared in the corner I stepped out and sighed. Hurrying to the Hyuuga compound and reserving all the chakra I have to beat my father.
Normal POV
Hiashi Hyuuga already prepared all the formations. His youngest and now only daughter would become heir of the Hyuuga clan. He didn't miss his oldest daughter, but there was still a feeling of dignity in him, to find out whether she was dead now or not. To bury her properly so his dead wife wouldn't kill him in their afterlife. Hanabi was in the training room preparing for her exams, she was so excited about her top scores, which made her father the proudest father on earth. Looking back at his daughter, who was still training he decided to take a walk in his big garden full of thousands different plants. He remembered his wife planting all these by herself with their first daughter. So delicately and caring, as if she put a small part of her soul in each plant. The both resembled so hard that it scared him. What he also couldn't forgot and would never forget was that car accident his beloved died in… That was the moment everything turned black. Hiashi was defeated.
Back to Naruto
"Hokage sama, we got you your ramen, it's still hot, so hurry up and eat!" Lee stumbled in with the plate in his hands.
"The ramen can wait!" Naruto shouted back, his frowning his eyesbrows.
"What?!" Tenten shouted. "You command us to bring you this, we waited for half an hour at the ramen shop for it to be prepared AND NOW YOU'RE DITCHING US?!"
Naruto massaged his temples , like the previous Hokage would do it.
"Shut up! And listen carefully!" At this the three of them looked shocked back at their Hokage friend.
"We are under attack, I just received information on Akatsuki. They planned an attack on us, and that horrible day is today." He stopped for a while, breathing in. " I need you all to collect all shinobi's right in front of the Hokage basement. I expect you all here in 10 minutes! Now go!"
Neji, Lee and Tenten removed their shocked expressions and replaced them with determination. This was a serious case, they had to hurry up.
When they were gone:
"Now I need to speak to the granny and… Sakura"
With that he jumped out of the window and planned every step he would take from then on.
With Hinata
Hiashi squirmed. His eyelids were very heavy, but he couldn't move his hands, nor his feed, as if he was tethered.
"Well, well, well, look who's awake now?" he heard a feminine voice, but still could not register all the happenings nor his surroundings.
"Where am I? Who are you?" he looked panicking, because he couldn't do anything, he couldn't fight if this was a killer. But as an answer he received an angelic giggle.
"You don't remember? Already? I never thought you were that old, father" the person said still smiling, that you could hear through the voice.
But Hiashi's mind turned around, everything he could imaging, but not his daughter turning against him.
"Hanabi? Why are you doing this?!" he screamed. Now he could sense her angriness.
Hinata's POV;
I felt so unimportant…. That moment was embarrassing and disgusting, her father couldn't even identify his murderer.
"If this is your preparation for you juunin exams I'm very proud of you, but you can't hold this jutsu that long. It hurts your father, darling"
I saw him grinning, like I was planning on releasing him any time soon.
"No, father, you're wrong. I'm not Hanabi"
"Hinata"
"Well, yes, smartass. I always knew you were a bum of a father, but this? Haha, this is disappointing and it hurts" I said clutching to my heart and playing hurt in front of him.
"Why can't I recognise your chakra? Why can't I move or see? What did you do?! You bitch release me immediately!"
"Ah, okay, here you go, you'll be free now, hell no! What? Did you think I caught you to release you alive?" there was a small pause, which brought Hiashi shrills over his back. He couldn't recognise his daughter, his weak, non-existent daughter.
"Okay, you know, I feel kinda low for turning off your eye chakra. Here you go" I said pinching his skin right next to his right eye.
"I'm returning you your right eye. So I can beat everything the hell out of it. Then I will turn on your left eye and spare it, so you can see how I torture the rest of your body"
"H-How can you do this to your father? That's sadistic" My grin grew wider. His comments sounded ridiculous; and pathetic.
"thank you, I learned from the best"
I heard his piercing voice of agony while cutting out his eye. Admiring the proud of the Hyuuga clan and dropping it on the ground, because it was nothing to me…
Sakura
"Sakura-chan…"
"Naruto? What is it?" she said dropping her smile.
"I love you, Sakura-chan"
"Wh-" he cut her off with a passionate kiss. He was in love with her, Hinata made him realise it once more...
"I'm sorry, 'kiss', sorry 'kiss', I was being an idiot"
He ran his hand through her pink hair and pushed her inside. Still making out.
Nothing but moans and their feverish bodies.
Sakura reached for his arm and pulled her to him, watching him carefully.
"Naruto, I love you too"
Their breathing slowed down. For a moment he admired her rosy lips and flushed cheeks, but Sakura saw he had something on his mind;
"... Naruto, I see there is something you wanted to tell me, go ahead."
"Sakura-chan, Konoha is under attack,not yet, but it can happen every second. That's why we have to prepare ourselves"
"What? Who told you that?" She asked letting him go and frowing.
"I can't tell you yet, but you have to trust me"
" I trust you Naruto-kun, but I still have to know"
...
After a small pause, Naruto sighed:
"I really can't" he said with pleading eyes.
" Forgive me, "
"Don't be so dramatic,if you can't you just can't, but if you trust the source, I trust it too, so let's prepare ourselves for the worst"
"See, that's one of the thousands aspects I love about you" giggling she pushed him fully inside.
With Hinata.
She finished what she began. Her father was sitting in a chair, he resembled a doll without a master to control it, his limbs were hanging on his torso, but there was no feeling nor movement in his body. Mentally he was dead, but in reality his soul hadn't abandoned his body yet.
"See father, I am worse than you expected." She looked at him, viewing herself as a monster, but that didn't matter at the moment. She was sure she wanted this, there was no turning back now.
"…H-Hin-Hinata" he muttered, which was almost impossible to do with a few teeth in the mouth.
"Kill me" that he said with a very stern voice; almost as if he was prepared for this. She wanted to tell him that she would do that for sure, that he didn't have to ask for it, but that's only what she wanted, because her mind didn't even comprehend what he was saying.
"You desire your death?" she asked with a hurt voice, which wasn't her intention.
"Already- 'breathing heavy'-a-a long time ago" he was talking, but it was difficult to combine the words and form a well formed sentence.
Trying to get up he moved his arms to his body. Knowing he's not capable of doing anything crazy Hinata let him take his position;
( this: '-' means pause)
"After losing her- I wanted to follow her lead and die too- but having two daughters held me back"
Hinata was trying to ignore the fact that he was talking about her mother.
"What do you wanna say ,dear father?" she asked him now grinning to play on with her devilish self.
"You know very well what I am talking about" he said in one breath.
"- You and your mother were- heading home while a storm - was approaching. I-I couldn't wait till you two got home. I still remember Hanabi and me sitting in a chair outside- waiting for you to a-arrive."
"But we never made it together" Hinata said completing his sentence.
"-" Hiashi went silent for a moment.
"Go on" she said sternly, but now with tears in her eyes because of the memories in the back of her head.
"That night the whole Hyuuga compound was going crazy. We all saw it on the news. It was even registered on a camera. I saw my wife die and I couldn't do anything about it."
Hinata was clutching her mouth shut now, she didn't want him to know she was crying.
"I forbid these video's, -visited every p-police centre and burned them all. Everyone who dared to talk about it -was tortured till death. I –w-was not recognisable. But there was more…. -It was since then that I hated you and wanted you to disappear."
Hinata was listening carefully now, dropping her knife on the ground. It fell, providing a sharp metallic sound.
"My wife died, protecting you. They found -you h-hidden in her embrace. Her -body was your shield. She died and you didn't even get a 'cough' scratch; When I saw you the other day, I let you sleep in Hizachi's house because I could kill you with my own hands. But I knew she wouldn't appreciate that. That's why I hated you, despised your kindness, appearance, everything you got from her. Everything reminded me of her. Of course it was never your fault, but still …. You will never know"
Now Hinata remembered it. Her getting home and seeing her father completely devastated, his eyes red and poufy, there was no Hyuuga proudness in it. Just a cold, broken look, but especially for her there was a look full of hatred. She also remembered everyone hating her for no reason. The only person that showed her some compassion was her uncle and his son she lived with for some years. She always thought it was just to train and get the ultimate Hyuuga strength, but that wasn't the reason. They protected her, and cheered her up, knowing her father did all the hatred things.
Her throat was completely clogged, she couldn't say anything.
"Hinata, I know you love Hanabi, please, protect her well, her and Neji. They are the only people you can trust form now on. I care for you, my daughter, I care, I care, I care" he kept repeating it over and over as if to convince himself that he really did. He didn't stutter, nor did he show weakness.
"Father, " she looked at him. Hiashi was pointing his hands to his chest. Bringing his hands together and muttering a jutsu. Hinata didn't recognise it in the beginning, but then her jaw dropped.
"No! Stop it, Stop doing that! Father please!" she screamed regretting everything, not only the situation she was in now.
"Farewell my dear daughter, I care- for you" he said sticking his fingers firmly in his chest and providing his last breath. It was hurting Hinata, of course, who wouldn't get hurt? Well? Is there anyone?
"I don't know what to do" she muttered under her breath. She embraced his body and carried him out of the room of torture.
That's it for now, 4666 words in one chapter ,cool or cool? I'm sorry for the lateness, again, but here it is! And read review, do what you want. I just want to finish the story, it's getting to an end, okayyy?! Please love me, don't hate me… I hope no one is disappointed,…and if you are then please keep it to yourself, I don't wanna get hurt. Another point: don't hate me if you find mistakes, try to ignore them please.
I really love you all, not lying. I thank you all so much ! Ciao!
