Summoner-nin
Part Three: Team Kage
Chapter Eleven
Everything started to change once they turned ten. Rumours began to spread about the youngest Uchiha liking long hair. It didn't surprise Hinata one bit. Mikoto had had long hair. But it was surprising to see how many girls began to grow their hair after word got out, and it was rather distraught for their class when Sakura and Ino decided to be best friends no more. It was like an overnight phenomenon. One day they were all sunshine and rainbows, and the next they were sitting at opposite ends of the classrooms giving each other looks. Months later the insults of "Ino-pig" and "Forehead girl" became the norm among the countless fangirl cries.
The boys and girls also began to notice the differences between them at ten, not only in dress and behaviour, but also in smell. It was distressing at times to not have Kiba sitting across from her during lunch, and when Hinata asked Shino about the Inuzuka's absence, he would reply, "They have decided to skip class." It was understood that "they" were Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji and Naruto. What they did during their escapades outside of the classroom while class was in session was beyond Hinata, but the next morning they would always walk into the Academy with shared secretive looks and inside jokes.
Hinata always felt left out from their excursions, but Shino explained that it was the only time Kiba could be "one of the guys." Contrary to Shino's intention of trying to comfort Hinata, it only made her sadder to not be "one of the guys," so to speak. She adapted to the change in their group dynamics with relative ease (or so she had convinced herself) when Kiba, Shikamaru and Choji would sometimes bring back gifts from their excursions – a lollipop, a plushie, a cookie – anything to cheer her up and to apologize for missing out on the lunch she had made for them the previous day.
At least Shino stayed at her side, she had thought morosely.
The only upside to the occasional disappearances of her friends was that they became good friends with a certain blond that made her heart pound THUMP, THUMP and her face go red like a volcano. She even got to talk to him at times.
"H-Hi, N-Naruto," was all she would usually get out before she fainted.
It was getting to be quite tedious, actually.
It wasn't only her peers who were changing, but also Hinata herself. She had not noticed herself, but Zero certainly noticed. It was in the way her uniform began to chafe against her breasts, and when she mentioned it offhandedly on a mission, One and Three had shifted awkwardly, and then Two and Four proceeded to explain to her what bras were and how the girls were going to let the men finish the mission and go bra shopping instead.
It had been embarrassing, especially when Two – err – Anko (for they had decided to change out of their uniforms to shop in a civilian town far away from Konoha) picked up a pair of lacy red panties and began to instruct Hinata on sex. "Check his bank account before spreading those legs, missy!" Which prompted Four – err – Tsume to give a very long and very loud lecture to Anko about "corrupting the innocent!"
Hinata still had no idea what sex was. Perhaps she should ask the Hokage?
Things started to spiral out of control when Team Kage had made camp one evening after acquiring the Bat Summon. The nocturnal rodent had been insistent on drinking their blood, in particular the Summoner-nin's "sweet, singing blood, yummy!" They had been left with cuts and bruises, and their uniforms had grown stiff from the dried blood. Needless to say, their first aid kits were used up within the hour, and when Zero went to take care of nature's business…
"AH!" she cried out.
Team Kage appeared at once to see Zero sitting on the forest ground, all curled up and crying.
"Zero," One said passively. "Report."
"I-I'm bl-bleeding!" she squeaked, burying her head in her arms and rocking back and forth.
"We are all bleeding," Three analyzed.
Zero shook her head vehemently.
"Explain," One commanded.
"I-I'm b-bleeding d-d-down th-there," she stressed.
"Down where?" Three enquired.
"It is her monthly," Four Point Two informed after a sniff in the air. "It is her first, I believe."
After that comment, things got weird… well, weirder than usual. One and Three promptly returned to camp as Two and Four fussed around Zero, who was but a little girl. Four Point Two had stayed behind for guarding purposes, his ears twitching every now and then as Two and Four explained to Zero about "girls becoming women" and "growing up," and Two had been very passionate about Zero to "never sign the prenup!" In which case Four had to give Two another very long and very loud lecture about "children being impressionable" and that Two really just had to "shut up from now on!"
Hinata had no idea what a prenup was.
Days later, Hinata understood that her monthly came every month and that it was worse than any missions she had ever been on. Again, she wished she was "one of the boys."
xxx
Hinata groaned, curling up into herself when another jolt of pain ran through her stomach. It was already well into the morning and she had yet to rise from bed, having foregone her morning training, her morning walk through her garden, and breakfast. It hurt sometimes to even breathe or move, the cramps were steadily getting stronger and stronger with each passing monthly.
"Mistress, are you alright?" Kinshou asked worriedly, pushing her nose and whiskers into Hinata's cheek before pulling back to settle on Hinata's pillow again.
"I-It hurts," Hinata whimpered, eyes closed shut.
Tora would've been pacing along the length of her room if it weren't for the Squirrels and the Sheep in the way. Grousing, his eyes took in the Beavers and Rabbits littered on her bed, to the Moths and Ladybugs on her walls, and the Spiders and a damn Bat on the ceiling. This did not include, however (and much to his chagrin), the Robins and Sparrows at her window, the two Phoenixes perched at the end of her bed, a Dragon (cursed Dragon!) curled at one side of her head, a Tortoise taking solace under her bed, three Scorpions beside the Tortoise, the Moles outside, a Shark in the pond (an f-ing Shark! How the Hyuga did not notice was beyond Tora's comprehension) and a Horse in the closet – a Horse.
"Ow," their Summoner-nin sounded weakly.
They waited and then-
"Who summoned this Manda?" a venomous hiss sounded in the room.
Tora rolled his eyes as Hou-ou flew over to the dresser and pried open a drawer. There, among their Mistress's pyjamas and socks, was the Snake King, all coiled up at the size of the average python. At least, they thought, he was not his normal house-size. It was distressing enough to have to hide with so many in one room already.
"What is this?" Manda demanded, slithering out of the drawer. Several Mice stepped back when he eyed them, his forked tongue tasting the energies in the air.
"It is our Mistress," Hou-ou, the only one patient enough to reply, explained. "It is her monthly, and she has yet to learn how to control her Summoning during these trying times."
Manda paused, his eyes sliding to his Mistress sweating in bed and crying out, and immediately snarled at the other Summons. "And you have left her in this state? You weaklings! You imbeciles! You are useless to her!"
Tora roared, hair rising and eyes rolling. "It is easy for you to say, Snake! I do not see you aiding our Mistress!"
"'Our?'" the Snake King echoed with a mocking laugh. "You are not even Bound to our Mistress! And you dare to lay claim? Know your place, you household cat!"
"You filthy vermin!" Tora snarled, claws out and sharp. "We are to end this now! I will eat you!"
"Good luck!" Manda jibbed. "I'm full of poison! MAY WE DIE TOGETHER!"
"Will you both hold your tongue?" Ryujin roared, cold mist forming on the windows and icicles beginning to drip from the ceiling. "You are disturbing her rest!"
Both Tora and Manda visibly shrunk. Hou-ou merely blinked. Kame continued his nap underneath the bed. Hinata gave another painful groan and accidentally summoned a Fawn, who took refuge in the closet with the Horse. After several months of this charade, the Summons understood their place at such a confusing phase their Mistress was undergoing.
"She requires warmth, I think," Kinshou sounded after a long moment of awkward silence.
"I will do it," Manda volunteered vindictively, slithering towards the bed.
"You're cold-blooded, you idiot," Tora mumbled.
Manda hissed.
Tora growled.
Ryujin let out a warning snarl and they both quieted.
"Mistress," Hou-ou said, not at all worried by Hinata's pale pallor. All human girls went through the same process, and her Mistress was anything but weak. "Phoenixes are known for our healing capabilities. I believe that after you have recovered from this cycle, we should explore such strategies to deter future… mishaps."
Hinata could only nod, her bangs plastered on her forehead from sweat, and cried out again when another painful wave ran through her. A Wolf was the result of said pain.
"Will she be alright?" Ookami questioned, alert at once.
"This is normal for female humans," Kame assured him, his head sneaking out from under the bed. "She will be fine, much like the three months before."
Ookami nodded and moved for the ensuite bathroom, only to pause when two Mice slipped in the room, announcing, "Lady Hanabi is coming!"
All at once, in a flurry of feathers, fur and insect pincers, the Summons unsummoned themselves in an instant, leaving only Tora to contend with the younger Hyuga. He would never admit it, but for once he was glad to see the girl, if only to get rid of the other Summons. They had been encroaching upon his territory, after all.
"Onee-sama?" Hanabi asked, carefully opening the door.
Hinata managed to open her eyes briefly to see her sister's small head peak in, and smiled. "C-Come in."
Hanabi entered, softly closing the door behind her, and made her way to Hinata's bed quietly, eyes wary and her small mouth marred by a frown. She did not understand why every month, during the same week, Hinata was sick. Sick enough to prevent her from going to school, and Hanabi understood that Hinata liked school. When she asked their father about this, he did not give a complete or even a precise explanation. She could not find the logic in how this pain and Hinata being sickly was simply being a girl.
Hinata smiled again when she felt Hanabi's small hand brush the bangs from her forehead, a gesture Hinata did often with her. Breathing easier, after Hanabi pressed a cup of water to her dry lips, Hinata willed sleep to come to her. It was usually better after a brief nap or even a whole night's sleep.
Hanabi watched her sister slowly fall asleep, glad to give Hinata some small relief. Her eyes scanned her sister's trembling body and she felt… hopeless. She did not know what was wrong with her sister, and did not know how to help. She thought that perhaps she should visit the herbalist as she carefully shifted the comforters from her sister's form to get a better gauge on Hinata's symptoms… her eyes squinting for a better look… her gaze zeroing in, and zeroing in, and-
Tora tensed.
"Onee-sama," Hanabi said calmly.
"Hm?" Hinata sounded sleepily.
"Why are you bleeding down there?" the younger Hyuga asked.
Hinata bolted upright, crying out when another bout of pain hit from her stomach. "Wh-What?"
"You are bleeding," Hanabi informed, and then furrowed her brows. "Did you not know? Is that why you are sick?"
Hinata finally turned to her sister and startled. "H-Hanabi!"
Hanabi frowned at her reaction. "Yes, onee-sama."
"Y-You," Hinata stammered in awe. "Y-You've a-accomplished the Byakugan!"
Hanabi blinked, and then looked to the wall to see that, indeed, she could see through it. It was not a marvellous feat for a Hyuga, she supposed, so she merely turned back to her sister, slightly disconcerted that she could see Hinata's skull, and said, "I believe I just did."
Hinata nodded mutedly, amazed and proud.
"But that was not my question," Hanabi said. "Do you know that you are bleeding-"
"You must go to father at once!" Hinata interrupted her. She did not want to explain her period to her sister, and certainly there were more important things than her period right now! Hanabi had just unlocked the Byakugan, for crying out loud! "You must get proper training – NOW!"
Tora winced. He had not heard his Mistress sound so loud in all these years.
Hanabi only blinked and calmly nodded. "I will."
"Now," Hinata pressed, fighting off another wave of cramp pains. "Go."
Hanabi frowned, but said no more as she left the room with a quiet, "Remember to drink lots of liquids."
Hinata cringed and fell back onto her bed once her sister was gone, guilty for being so rude, but mortified at the thought of having to explain her period to her five-year-old sister. It was not right, in her mind, and Hanabi should be a little more excited to have her Byakugan now… It had taken Hinata two to three years more than Hanabi to unlock hers…
"You should sleep, Mistress," Tora said, brushing his cold nose against her forehead.
"Y-Yes," she said, closing her eyes because, she knew, she had failed her father again.
xxx
She sighed into the breeze, hugging her jacket close around her one-piece, and giggled when she saw Kiba and Akamaru dive into the ocean and purposefully splash Shikamaru – his hair going limp in his ponytail. Choji, sitting on one of those floatation devices, laughed out right while munching on a bag of chips. Shino was settled under an umbrella on the beach, guarding their drinks and snacks, his kikaichu lazily weaving in and out of the umbrella's shadow.
It was the third summer that they've gone to the beach. It felt good to be around each other again… even if it were a little awkward this time around…
"Gross, aren't they?" Ino asked, wrinkling her nose at the boys.
Hinata gave a wobbly smile. This year Choji had asked his parents if Kiba, Shino and her could join the Ino-Shika-Cho on their annual trip to the beach. It was both exciting and frightening to be included on their holiday retreat, even more frightening that her father allowed her to go. She had thought that she could be "one of the boys" on this trip, but Ino made it… sort of… difficult – NOT THAT SHE COULD FAULT INO ON ANYTHING! No, Hinata couldn't possibly begrudge Ino for sticking to her. Ino didn't seem fond of any boys, save for Sasuke, of course.
"Hinata," Ino asked with a perky smile, her sunglasses perched oh-so-grown-up on her head. "Do you have some sunscreen in your bag?"
"O-Oh!" Hinata stumbled, quickly digging into her tote. "U-Um…"
Ino laughed and said, "Here. I'll get it."
And before Hinata could blink, her tote was suddenly in Ino's hand. She felt a little offended at Ino's forward and brash behaviour, but mostly intimidated in how confident Ino was with her beautiful blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes. Hinata had heard many of the boys speak of their ideal girl (one would have to be deaf to not hear Kiba), and the combination of blonde hair and blue eyes was the majority preference.
Ino was so lucky.
"W-Whoa!" Ino gasped.
Hinata blinked, confused with Ino's reaction. It was only sunscreen.
"Y-You can take it out," Hinata said quietly, wondering why Ino was still looking inside her tote as if she had found a buried treasure.
"Y-You!" Ino stammered, her big blue eyes boring into Hinata's with awe.
Hinata stepped back, intimidated by Ino's unblinking stare. She was perplexed and scared at the same time. Did Ino not like her brand of sunscreen? "Wh-What's wrong?"
Ino sneaked a look to her right, and then to her left, and then to her right again. She made sure that they were alone before saying in a reverent hush, "You have your period?"
Hinata jolted, her face going red in an instant. "Wh-Wh-What?"
Ino gave a sly smile before taking her hand out of Hinata's tote and – there! – right in her hand was a pad!
Hinata squeaked and hurriedly grabbed her things from Ino's greedy hands and buried the feminine hygiene product back into the side pocket inside her tote – the one that was zippered, but obviously it did not deter Ino. Offended and scared, Hinata could not look Ino in the eye. She did not understand why Ino would look through her stuff so blatantly and to rudely go through her pockets! She was a little bit angry now!
Ino smile faded and she looked guilty. "Sorry, Hinata… I just… I guess it's a girl thing?" Hinata furrowed her brows in confusion. "Girls kinda," Ino explained uncomfortably, "look in each other's bags. It's what we like to do, and talk about the things we have and want."
"O-Oh," Hinata sounded, understanding dawning. It was completely different from how the boys were. They pointedly stayed away from a girl's bag. It was just a no-no – a BIG no-no. In fact, she distinctly remembered Kiba being scolded (and hit) by Tsume when he had tried to rummage through Hinata's book bag in search of her notes. "I-I see."
Ino shifted her toes awkwardly in the sand. "F-Forgive me?"
Hinata blinked, and then smiled. "Y-Yes."
Ino beamed and then quickly latched herself onto Hinata's arm. "So, tell me."
"T-Tell you?" Hinata enquired, confused again.
Ino leaned in with a cheeky grin and whispered, "About your period."
Hinata's face went red again and she avoided Ino's eyes. "I-It's… okay?"
"Does it hurt?" Ino asked, curious and upbeat.
"D-Does yours?" Hinata felt brave enough to enquire back.
Ino's face faulted. "I… don't actually have mine yet…" It was Ino's turn to be embarrassed, but Hinata didn't know why she would be.
"Th-Then y-you're lucky," Hinata assured her – was actually jealous of her. "M-Mine hurts… a lot…"
Ino winced in empathy. "Really?"
Hinata nodded, for once feeling sage and wise. "S-Sometimes I c-can't even c-come to school."
"Wow," Ino gaped. "That sucks."
Hinata agreed.
"But at least you don't have to listen to Iruka-sensei's lecture for a day!" Ino cheered.
Hinata giggled at Ino's enthusiasm as they both sat down by the edge of the beach, the ocean curling around their feet, and discussed girly things. Not "one of the boys," but certainly (or at least Hinata guessed) "one of the girls." For hours they discussed hair barrettes, dresses, nail polish, and how the older girls at the Academy began to wear bras. By the time the sun set, Hinata felt like she and Ino were friends.
"Hinata," Shino interrupted the girls quietly. "It's time to go home."
Hinata saw that the sun was already at the horizon and nodded. "Okay."
They both pretended not to notice how Ino shrunk from Shino's kikaichu.
Instead, Hinata picked up her tote and waited for Ino to stand before following Shino back to their group. She giggled when she heard the Ino-Shika-Cho fathers roar in laughter, already drunk, much to the chagrin of their wives. Yoshino was waving for Hinata to come closer as Ino's mother called for her daughter. Choji's mother quickly gave them both a sandwich to munch on as they started their journey back to Konoha.
"Whoop!" Kiba crooned with a fist in the air. "That was awesome, wasn't it?"
Akamaru barked in enthusiasm as Shikamaru sighed. He didn't even have the strength to mumble his usual phrase of, "Troublesome."
"We should do it again later in the summer," Choji agreed with Kiba, passing a bottle of honey-sweetened green tea to Hinata.
"Ah-em," Ino coughed pointedly, and did not uncross her arms until Choji handed her a bottle too.
Hinata shared a smile with Choji.
"Perhaps we should invite Naruto next time," Shino spoke.
Hinata ducked her head and began to gulp down the cold tea… as if that would douse her red face.
"What?" Ino shrieked. "No way! That guy has no manners at all!"
Hinata felt insulted on Naruto's behalf.
"Haha!" Kiba laughed. "That's so true. That guy's just too uppity for me!"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru sighed.
"But," Choji paused to swallow a mouthful of chips, "he's nice. And he's fun."
Shino nodded. "I do not see why he should not come."
"Are you serious?" Kiba asked as Akamaru sniffed pretentiously. "He'll eat all of my hot dogs!"
"B-But I thought he is your friend, Kiba," Hinata said quietly.
At that, the boy's protest died and the group got silent, much to Ino's surprise. Even Shikamaru didn't contradict the Hyuga, even when he was the opponent of all things noisy and upsetting and hyperbole. Choji, on the other hand, shared a look with Shino that clearly read, "Victory is ours!"
Kiba coughed awkwardly. "He is. My friend, I mean." Hinata nodded. "I mean, I was just joking, Hinata. He's totally welcomed to come next time."
Hinata smiled and Kiba's shoulders relaxed.
"It will still be troublesome," Shikamaru felt it right to put in his two cents.
Choji grinned and shoved the Nara's arm playfully. "You know you want him to come."
Ino blinked. She thought she saw Shikamaru smile then, but wasn't so sure.
"I'll make cinnamon rolls for next time!" Hinata announced brilliantly.
Yoshino grinned. "You can make them at my house!"
"No, no." Choji's mother shook her head. "Mine would be better."
"That's true," Ino's mother attested. "Naho's kitchen is the best among us three – by far."
"Oh, please, Hanae," Naho flittered. "Yoshino's not that bad."
Yoshino laughed. "We should all go to your kitchen to bake. I'll bring Hinata, and Hanae will bring Ino. Good?"
"Good," the other two mother agreed simultaneously.
Hinata caught Ino in the eye and smiled a smile so wide that Ino couldn't help but let her lips curl upwards too.
It had been a beautiful summer.
xxx
"It will be better to let the others in first," Shino said. "Why? Because then we will not be crowded. Why? Because no one wishes to miss the first day. Why? Because the first day is usually informative. Why? Because-"
"Why," Kiba cut in, his left eye twitching, "are you talking like that?"
Hinata looked from Shino to Kiba, and then to the kids entering the Academy. It was the first day of school after the summer holidays, and she was pretty sure she had just seen Shikamaru and Choji slip in already. Ino had been one of the first to enter. They were the one of the few lagging behind, momentarily suspended due to Shino's… strange speech pattern.
"My father informed me to acquire more critical thinking skills," Shino informed. "Why? So that I may understand myself better. Why? In order that I may adapt to situations quicker. Why?"
"Shino," Kiba interrupted again, disheartened. Akamaru whined at his Master's feet. "So you're gonna explain everything you say now?"
"Yes," Shino replied with a nod, and left it at that.
Kiba raised a brow and looked to Hinata, who only smiled and shrugged. Understanding this, Kiba nodded and told Shino, "Just wanted to make sure. C'mon, we gotta get our seats before someone else takes 'em."
Hinata smiled at Shino, who smiled back, and they both followed Kiba into the Ninja Academy.
Her tenth year had changed everything.
xxx
Yep, I am now making up names for characters (i.e. Ino and Choji's mothers). Cheers!
the point
