Warnings: Slight Konoha bashing. Dark fic. Violence. Blood. Gory scenes. Lemon scenes
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Twenty Eight: Chuunin Preliminaries Part III
Hibiki (formerly Hyuuga) Neji screwed his eyes shut tightly beneath his blindfold, trying to ignore his cousin's screams currently going on in the arena below him, tightening his arms around his body, fighting tooth and nail to not just go down there and to stop the match then and there.
Over with Team Gai, Higurashi Tenten and Rock Lee were both holding back a very pissed off Hyuuga Kisuke to prevent him from jumping down to the arena, and disqualifying his cousin.
It isn't a match at all. It is a slaughter.
Nearly everyone in the village knew that the Hyuuga clan are masters at close hand-to-hand combat. It is common knowledge. And it wasn't until the end of the Third Great Shinobi War and when Namikaze Minato became the current Hokage that he made sure that all Hyuugas – at least the ones who were ninjas, knew at least some form of ninja arts like kenjutsu or even ninjutsu. But still, all Hyuugas are to at least master the Gentle Fist before they can even think of attempting other ninja arts.
And now, that 'tradition' is coming back to bite the Hyuuga clan in the ass as they watched their heiress getting pummeled down below by a very vengeful Oto-nin by the name of Kinuta Dosu. It is unfortunate that Hinata could not so much as get close to Dosu, as he is a long ranged specialist, and could keep her away from him easily by using those sound blasts of his. Clearly, he is in an entire league of his own, different from his other teammate who now has to say goodbye to his ninja career for good.
Neji gritted his teeth tightly. In their original timeline, would that have been him down there beating Hinata to within an inch of her life? No wonder Sayo had been so furious with him back then that she had kicked him right into the wall of the arena when Hayate had called their match!
It wasn't until nearly two years later when he learned from Sakura that his match with Hinata back then had caused severe damage to her health and her heart that she could not handle long and tedious tasks without it acting up. Hence why Hiashi-sama had been so worried back then, and had kept Neji as his elder daughter's personal bodyguard even as her little sister had been named as the heir. Hanabi had been worried about her sister too, and her first act as heiress is to put all kinds of clan protection that she knew of on her sister in order to prevent the clan elders from putting the Caged Bird Seal on her.
"Stop it!" Kisuke growled.
"Calm down, Kisuke!" Tenten struggled to keep her teammate in place. "I know how you feel, but if you jump down there right now, you'll disqualify your cousin! There is still a chance that she might win. But if you jump down there right now, not only will she lose, you will tear her pride to shreds!"
That managed to stop Kisuke moving for just a few moments. He remembered when Gai-sensei had gave them that pep talk the day when each of them had made their first kill as rookie genins when a supposedly simple C-rank mission had gotten bumped up to an A-rank.
And what of pride? True, if you go to his aid now, his life would be saved. But at the same time, you would also tear his pride to shatters.
Pride? Who cares about that? If we don't go and save him now—
Listen, the three of you. Listen, and you must remember this well. There are two kinds of battles. A battle to preserve life, and a battle to defend one's honour. And each and every single time whenever we fight, we must determine the kind of battle that we are actually engaging ourselves into. Call it foolish pride if you must, but you must let him finish this battle alone.
Kisuke shook even as Tenten and Lee finally released their holds on him, finally seeing that he wasn't about to jump down to the arena and stop the fight.
'That's right. This is a battle that Hinata-sama is fighting to defend pride. Her own pride. The Hyuuga clan's pride. The village's pride.' Kisuke shivered, tightening his arms around himself and screwing his eyes shut so that he can't see the fight going on below him. 'This is a battle that I can't interfere in. Don't die, Hinata-sama…'
Gekkou Hayate watched with barely hidden anger at the 'match', if one can even call it that. Finally, as he saw the Hyuuga heiress slumping down to the floor, and making small noticeable motions to get to her feet, he took his chance. He, along with all Konoha jounins here, have no wish to see a Leaf genin fighting for her life in the ICU, even with the elemental nations' best medic currently present in the village.
"I'm calling the match!" Hayate called out quickly. "Winner, Kinuta Dosu!"
But the Oto genin either didn't hear or just plain ignored Hayate as he pointed those 'air blasts' things on his arms at Hinata who was just struggling to stay on her feet. "Die!" he snarled.
"Stop! The match is over!" Hayate made a quick movement towards Dosu.
But he never reached the Oto-nin.
There was a resounding crack as Dosu was kicked into the wall behind him, causing several large cracks to appear in the wall, along with having the cement of the wall knocked out due to the impact made. The impact was enough to cause the Oto genin to black out immediately.
Sasaki Rihan caught the Hyuuga heiress in his arms as she passed out, ignoring the gobsmacked expressions on everyone's faces, especially Hyuuga Kisuke who looked as if he had just swallowed a lemon.
An extremely sour lemon.
Rihan laid Hinata gently down on the ground even as Hinata's jounin instructor appeared on her other side, screaming for the medics. Hyuuga Kisuke leapt down to the arena a moment later, running towards his cousin's side, barely being restrained by his jounin instructor who had arrived, along with nearly all the other Leaf jounins.
Ignoring them all, the silver haired Tsuki-nin placed two fingers by Hinata's neck, then examining her pulse by her wrist, and a frown appeared on Rihan's face.
All Tsuki-nins were trained in first aid and the most basics of medic ninjutsu before they even became a genin. It is the one requirement in Tsuki for them to even become ninjas, as they would not always have a medic with them, and must at least learn the most basic of medic ninjutsu to save their own lives if necessary.
"This isn't good." Rihan muttered, placing Hinata's hand gently back onto the ground. He can barely feel a pulse. That Oto-nin sure got her good. He gave a glare at the Oto-nin who is currently getting dug out from the walls by some Konoha chuunins.
"What?" Kurenai asked, panicked, looking from Hinata to Rihan and back again. "What is wrong with my student?"
Ignoring Kurenai, Rihan turned his face upwards to the second level of the arena where his team is. "Haku!" he bellowed at the top of his voice.
The ice maiden was beside Rihan even before he had finished yelling for her, concentrating on the Hyuuga heiress who is going dangerously pale. Haku narrowed her eyes dangerously when she felt for a pulse and found the same thing that Rihan did – that she barely has one. At least, not a strong and stable one.
"I'm performing emergency treatment level one." Haku said quickly, looking at Rihan, and Kyo immediately shunshined next to Rihan, both boys listening intently to Haku. All ninjas of Tsukigakure no sato were trained in all kinds of battle situations, including ones where the medic-nins requires support to save their patient.
"What is going on?" Kisuke asked. "What is happening to my cousin? Where are all the medics?"
"We have no time to lose!" Haku snapped. "I'm afraid that this is way out of the league of the medics that you have here. This girl only has moments left before her heart stops beating. I'm going to try to save her life." She turned towards Rihan and Kyo. "I'm going to attempt emergency treatment level one. I need you both to support me."
Both boys nodded. They knew what emergency treatment level one means. It basically meant that they are the 'batteries' for Haku, and is there to sustain her chakra level, and also to pour chakra into her patient to at least keep them alive long enough in order for the medic to work their magic.
"Let's get started." Haku ordered, even as green glowing chakra surrounded her hands and she pressed it down on Hinata's chest after unzipping the latter's jacket, revealing the black fishnet shirt worn beneath.
Katou nee Senju Tsunade who had been one of the jounins down on the arena was shocked and surprised at the amount of healing chakra that this girl is currently pouring into Hinata that had to be two times greater than the chakra capacity that a normal genin her age should have. The blonde medic had wanted to heal Hinata herself, but had held herself back when she saw that the Tsuki medic had it all under control. And she herself was curious to know just what they are capable of as well.
Tsunade had heard from her old perverted teammate in the past who had heard from his old students who are currently the rulers of Amegakure that Tsuki is supposedly at the top in the sealing arts. She knows for one that Minato had nearly drooled at that when Jiraiya had told them, and that they had an entire library full of fuuinjutsu scrolls and books that is enough to make any seals master green with envy.
Seals masters are pretty rare after all.
In fact, Tsunade only knew of her old teammate, Minato, and the wife of the Tsukikage to be seal masters. And the Tsukikage's wife is supposedly the best that there is, having been the one to design the seal to hide the entire village of Tsukigakure from prying eyes. Even the civilians from the neighbouring villages in Tsuki no kuni doesn't exactly know the exact location of the ninja village, and nearly every single ninja village on the continent has been trying to track down the exact location for years.
And if the rumours that Jiraiya had heard from Yahiko are true, Tsukigakure is also supposedly there at the top when it comes to medic ninjutsu. They took it extremely seriously there, and has medic ninjutsu advanced to the point that it could make even her, the Queen of Elixirs, green with envy, and look like a complete amateur.
And right now, as Tsunade watched the Tsuki genins at work, she realised that those rumours are true. The female Tsuki jounin, Tsukishiro Seina, doesn't seem worried in the least, and was watching the genins calmly from her place on the second level of the arena, her male companion beside her – Momochi Zabuza.
More and more chakra Haku poured into Hinata, and she doesn't seem tired in the least, though that could be due to the fact that Rihan had his hands atop Haku's shoulders, and was currently pouring his chakra into her. Kyo was pouring his chakra into Hinata, and both boys looked as if they have done this before which they probably had.
Tsunade watched on in interest, and Kushina and Minato both watched on with interest as well. They have never seen a medic procedure like this before, and it seems strangely effective, as Hinata had already regained some of her colour and complexion. Even the visible injuries on her person are slowly healing.
The bruises on Hinata's face are fading away slowly, and Tsunade made a mental note to meet up with the Tsukikage or whoever that he will send if he couldn't make it during the final round of the chuunin exams. Such a complicated looking medic procedure, and yet a genin can do it in their village. What other medic ninjutsu were they capable of? No wonder they have hidden themselves away ever since the end of the last shinobi war!
The entire arena was watching this in awe, and the three Tsuki genins either didn't notice or didn't care, as they were all focused on healing the injured girl in front of them. Kisuke was praying to every god that he ever knew that his cousin would pull through, though he knew that if she does, the Hyuuga clan, and by default, Konoha, would owe a life debt to Tsuki for saving one of their own, especially the heiress of a prominent ninja clan.
It is extremely old ninja traditions at work, written down from the time of the Rikudo Sennin, and had remained until today. Having owed a life debt, Konoha and the Hyuuga clan would be duty and honour bound to help Tsuki in the future, and even to protect them if necessary, particularly the ones who have saved the life of the Hyuuga heiress.
"I'm moving onto her heart." Haku stated, moving her glowing hands down to Hinata's chest, and she frowned at what she had found. "This isn't good."
"What?" Kurenai asked, panicked.
"Her heart is…extremely messed up." Haku frowned, trying to make sense of what she can feel. "I'm not sure just how much I can fix, but I'll try my best. If you rush her into emergency surgery, it'll be too late for her. There isn't a moment to lose."
Hearing that Hinata's heart is damaged caused Tsunade and Kushina to pale instantly, as they both knew just how dangerous and tricky an injured heart can be, having healed their share of patients during the war who suffered from heart problems due to lack of oxygen going through their veins due to severe blood loss. The two women then glared at the Oto-nin who is still getting dug out from the arena walls.
Sasaki Rihan sure can kick hard…
Haku then moved her hands so that she is now touching the area where Hinata's heart is. "Kyo, her left side." She commanded.
Kyo nodded and obeyed, moving his hands to Hinata's left side and pouring chakra into that area alone to stabilise the condition of the injured heart.
Haku then closed her eyes and started getting a 'feel' for the heart's condition as she started fixing the damage, just like how Seina-sensei had taught her during their medic lessons. The heart is the one organ that is the trickiest to treat, especially since it is the one organ that holds the human life, and also the most vulnerable. Thus, whenever treating injuries that the medic could not see, they have to 'feel' it by using their own chakra – a medic technique that Seina had came up with a few years ago.
Kisuke activated his Byakugan, and was almost taken aback by the amount of chakra that he could see was getting poured into his cousin. He was shocked to see that nearly all of Hinata's internal injuries were nearly healed, and that the damage that her heart had suffered is slowly healing.
"She's getting her colour back." Kushina said in amazement and shock, shocked that a mere genin could perform such an advanced medic technique that she thought only Tsunade could do. Just how much more advanced in medic ninjutsu is Tsuki, compared to Konoha?
Haku nearly jumped when a hand tapped her arm, and she turned only to see Seina's solemn face. Nearly all surrounding Leaf ninjas jumped as well. When did she get there? They didn't even see the Tsuki jounin until she had 'announced' her presence!
"Enough, Haku." Seina sighed. "She's mostly healed now. Let the Konoha medics take over. You don't want to stave off training for the next five days, do you, whilst being restricted to rest?"
Haku frowned before she let her chakra die, and both Rihan and Kyo fell onto their behinds, sighing in relief. It might look easy, but it is really difficult to control the exact precision of their chakra to just pump in enough for both the medic and the patient. There is a reason after all, why both boys never learned any medic ninjutsu beyond the most basic ones that are required for them to be genins.
Tsunade nodded gratefully to Seina and Haku as she examined Hinata, and bellowed for the Konoha medics on duty that day to 'grab a stretcher' and to 'get their asses and the patient to the emergency room'.
"Thank you very much!" Hyuuga Kisuke, to the surprise of everyone who knew him, bowed to Haku. "Thank you!"
Haku waved his thanks away. "I'm a medic. I'm just doing my job," she said.
Rihan meanwhile, was glaring at Kinuta Dosu as the remaining medics took him away on a stretcher, having managed to dig him out at last. And by the looks of it, he has suffered at least five broken bones.
"Don't, Rihan." Kyo placed a hand on his shoulder as Rihan reached for his sword. "It's not worth it. At least wait for the finals."
Rihan scowled. "Che."
There was a ten minute intermission as the arena grounds were mopped up for the next match, and Tsunade had returned by then, stating, to the relief of all Leaf-nins, that Hinata is all right. There wasn't much for her to heal, as Haku had done most of it. Now, all that remains is for Hinata to rest and heal up in the hospital.
Tenth match was Sabaku no Gaara versus Rock Lee.
It was quite easily the bloodiest match that anyone had ever seen in their lives, and just as un-merciful. Gaara was practically just toying around with Lee, tossing him around like a ragdoll, and had crushed his arm and leg before Hayate had ended the match.
It was with a very sombre mood that the eleventh match was announced, Akimichi Chouji versus Hyuuga Kisuke.
The poor Akimichi was simply no match for the angry Hyuuga who needed to blow off some steam because of what had happened to his cousin, then his teammate who had nearly died just before his match. The end result was that Kisuke attained a win without so much as a scratch.
The last match was Aburame Shino versus the last Ame genin. The match was a quick one, as Shino basically just drained his opponent of all his chakra before the Ame genin collapsed from chakra exhaustion.
And so, all the genins who have qualified to the final round of the chuunin examinations were then told to line up before Mitarashi Anko who held out a box and told them to draw lots, much to their confusion. The lots that each genin drew had a number written on it. As Sasuke wasn't there, Sakura had drawn for him.
Anko wrote down the numbers that each genin that had qualified to the next round onto the clipboard that she had with her, and she then cleared her throat.
"All right, the numbers that you lot has drawn will determine your opponents for the final round of the chuunin examinations," she stated, turning her clipboard around and showing the genins the line ups for the finals.
First Match: Namikaze Takara versus Sabaku no Temari
Second Match: Sasaki Rihan versus Kinuta Dosu
Third Match: Aburame Shino versus Sabaku no Kankuro
Fourth Match: Tatsuyama Kyo versus Uchiha-Hatake Sasuke
Fifth Match: Yukina Haku versus Sabaku no Gaara
Sixth Match: Winner of fifth match versus Hyuuga Kisuke
"There will be one month before the finals of the chuunin examinations will take place." Anko stated. "I suggest that you use this time wisely. Dismissed!"
XXXXXX
It was late at night, and Hyuuga Hinata couldn't sleep at all.
With the number of tubes and wires currently attached to her person via the several machines by her bedside in the hospital, Hinata could not really move around much. The doctors and medics have all told her how lucky she was. If those Tsuki-nins haven't been there, and had done all that they could to heal the most serious of her injuries, she would have been on a one-way trip to meet the Shinigami himself.
Her father had nearly tore down the door of her hospital room in a panic not even five hours earlier, with an equally panicky sister, a worried cousin, and her uncle who is the only one to keep his wits and composure with him, and had offered to pay the hospital for the broken door.
Her father and sister have heard from Kisuke about the severity of her injuries, but before Kisuke could finish his story, both have bolted off, without hearing that the Tsuki-nins have managed to bring her back from death's door. Hiashi and Hanabi were very relieved to hear this, and have tried to find the Tsuki-nins to thank them personally, but none of them could be found at all.
Most have assumed in the beginning that they must have gone back home to train for the finals, as not all the finalists would be staying in Konoha for the one month break, but Minato had said that they hadn't gone home. As such, no one knew where they are, only that they are somewhere in the village still.
"You look well," said a voice from her windowsill, and Hinata nearly jumped. She then turned only to see the silver haired Tsuki genin – Sasaki Rihan, sitting on her windowsill, one leg propped up, leaning with his back against the window. "That's a relief."
"My cousin told me what you and your teammates have done for me." Hinata said, bowing her head to him. "Thank you."
Rihan waved her away. "We did what anyone would have done," he answered. "Furthermore, if you want to thank anyone, thank Haku." He turned to look out of the window at the full moon in the sky. "Have you ever gone moon gazing before?"
"Huh?" Hinata blinked at this odd question. "N-Not really. I used to go stargazing with my mother when she was still alive. But I don't do that anymore."
"I see." Rihan smiled a small smile. "Maybe it's Tsuki tradition or something, but the inhabitants of Tsuki goes moon gazing from time to time. The view here in Konoha is different from what we can see in Tsuki." He added. "Things always happen on nights when there is a full moon. The moon has strange powers after all. It is what we believed in Tsuki."
"I heard." Hinata said quietly. "I heard the rumours that there is always a moon to be seen in the skies in Tsukigakure no sato. And the only time that you can see the village is only on the nights of the new moon." She glanced at Rihan who had a calculating look on his face. "Is that true?"
"Who knows?" Rihan said mysteriously.
Hinata giggled before she winced as she pulled on her injuries and held her chest, clenching at the fabric around her heart. Bandages were bound around her chest, as Dosu had done quite a number on her. Tsunade had restricted her to bed rest for a month, and no strenuous activity. Before her family had left the hospital after visiting hours were over, her sister had proclaimed that she would come by to visit every single day so that she don't get bored, and she will drag Kisuke with her as well. Kisuke's annoyed look had caused Hinata to laugh then.
Rihan looked at Hinata without saying anything. He sighed. "Haku didn't want me to say anything, but I think it best if you know should you ever attend the finals," he said, and Hinata turned towards Rihan. The silver haired genin had a serious look on his face. "I'm up against Kinuta Dosu in the finals." He informed her, and Hinata nodded, already knowing this bit of information since her cousin her already filled her in. "And I won't show any mercy." Rihan's voice was cold. "If you thought what Kyo did to his opponent is scary, then you'll have to find a new definition for that word once you witness what I will do to Kinuta Dosu. I seriously have no idea if I will be able to hold myself back from killing him." Rihan sighed loudly. "I hadn't been this pissed for a long time now." He muttered darkly.
"But… Why?" Hinata asked, pale, as she remembered what the Tatsuyama heir had done to his opponent during the preliminaries. If Kyo can do that, then what can Rihan do? "I'm not your teammate or even from the same village, so why…?"
Rihan glanced critically at Hinata. "I don't need a reason," he said simply. "Same as how we don't need a reason to save you. More than anyone else, Kyo and I knew what it is like to be belittled and spoken down to. I grew up with Kyo, and saw what he had gone through as a child. And Kyo especially knew what it is like." He sighed. "You're the Hyuuga heiress. You should know of the Tatsuyama clan's reputation around the elemental nations." Hinata nodded timidly. "Then you should know what they could do. Even in Tsuki, the Tatsuyama clan is feared. They are respected, but at the same time, they are also feared for their power. And who could blame them? Kyo nearly lost control of his power once when he lost his temper. If Sayo-sama, our Tsukikage's wife, hadn't been in the vicinity, let's just say that both Haku and I wouldn't be here today."
Hinata paled. She then smiled weakly at Rihan, a part of her feeling happy that a complete stranger actually cares enough for her to do something like this to her opponent in the chuunin preliminaries.
"Can I give you a message?"
Rihan raised a brow. "Depends on the message," he stated bluntly.
"Don't kill him." Hinata said. "Please."
Rihan raised a brow. The next moment, he then nearly fell off the window as a new voice entered the conversation, and both genins turned only to see Yukina Haku perched on the windowsill on the other corner, giving both Rihan and Hinata weird looks.
"As much as I would love to see you continue playing Romeo and Juliet in the middle of the night, Rihan, sensei is calling." Haku said sarcastically, and Rihan blushed. "We're leaving in ten, so say your goodbyes." She then nodded to Hinata politely and vanished with a quick shunshin.
Rihan sighed. "I guess they found me," he muttered. He glanced at Hinata. "Well, I have to be going. I'm afraid that I won't be seeing you for a month at least. My sensei is taking us to train in the woods just outside Konoha. Something about too many potential spies in the village." He grumbled, and Hinata giggled. "I'll see you at the finals?"
Hinata nodded. "If the medics have cleared me by then, yes," she said. "Good luck for the finals."
Rihan grinned darkly. "I think that it's Kinuta Dosu who needs that luck more than I do," he said mysteriously. "Bye. I'll see you again, Hinata-san."
He then vanished.
A/N: Sorry for the late update, people! I have an extreme case of writer's block, and not to mention I'm busy catching up on all my games from where I've last played it, seeing as how it's currently my holidays. And it's back to school in a week! Where did all the time go?
Anyway, finals next chapter, and yes, Sasuke bashing galore too. He won't be that much of an ass, as he had Sakumo and Sakura as his adoptive parents in this story, and Kakashi as an older brother of sorts. And regarding Sayo, she will make an appearance along with Madara during the invasion arc.
So I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review!
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