A/N: I would like to say, like almost every chapter, THANKS for your support! Really, I finally had the way to see the reviews of chapter 26, so I want to say thanks to all those who reviewed that one…even the couple of flames about MY Hinata, like many of you called it. it sounds funny, really.
And I used Daddy Yankee song because I only got the lyrics from him. I like him, as one of my favorite reggeaton singers ever. But the artists that can make great moving/shake it songs are Wisin & Yandel, but since I couldn't get their lyrics --
From chapter 26 I would like to say thanks to: kou-aburame, Janique, kenshinlover2002, Uchiha Kaede, hinata0817, AuroraStarPhoenix, Jigoku Hoshi, yutakako-chan, XxAnonymous1xX
LoNeLyRiCeBaLlà I missed your reviews, and your story is getting better, keep it up! and by the way, Daddy Yankee is from Puerto Rico, he is not Mexican. And I'm aware of that since I used to listen his first underground song…yeah that long ago.
Jigoku Hoshià Yeah, interesting, thanks.
kenshinlover2002—Here's a update for you…thanks for your support.
Mekhi---OH GOD, you even did that to read this story! I used to do that when I began into reading fanfics as well! 10 straight hours! That is awesome, and if you hate to read and make you read this until now, you should use this in your next assignment, really. I did one using a couple years ago a Dragonball Z fanfic for a psychology class. I got an A. do you think that I'm that good writing? Thanks, I started this as a try and an experiment and got this far, I'm even amazed with myself about it! and if you had to register to just comment here, I'm glad…really glad.
Pshhhh—Here's an update and some of your questions are going to be answerd here.
yutakako-chan—I love that Goo Goo dolls song, so Sasuke I though of him having the singer's voice performing it…(drools) great.
The Norwegian Dragon---yeah, very funny, but it never happened…just in case.
Cursedenigma—Your review looked more like a novel critic, the only thing left to say was 'two thumbs up!'. But thanks, I read yours like a couple of times by the way that it was written. Wonderful.
NanamiYatsumaki--Thanks for your support, here comes next
Yishiambutsui—here comes more, enjoy…
Mayumi Norika—I almost cried while writing that scene, very touching, don't you think?
Lems—Hey Lems! Here comes your expected chapter.
Nameless—Jiraya's part came out from nowhere, it came into my head and didn't leave me alone…I had to write it. And Sasuke's part singing, I made it because I think he would look too awesome if he just sing in a episode (that would never happen). No matter if he had the voice, he looks too cute as a performer.
RcR—I have to tell you that is not that I don't like Sakura, is just that I can't stand her (is not that the same thing!). The Hinaphobia thing came to me like a WOW…funny, really funny. I love the CIGARO song! I use it to have fun when I'm hanging out with my pals! Is really funny to be at the red light in a car and have it a maximum volume, the other people's face are worth of it.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, I have bad grammat, eviol spelling and I don't konw Backstreet Boys' "I still..." lyrics that are posted in this chapter.
Chapter 28
Rain,
Droplets of rain covered the whole village since the next day of the party. No one was out, even the ninjas called out from training to prevent to get sick. After two days with non-stop rain, it was the best to do.
It was raining, like it happens every year. That's how Sasuke remembers about how it was since that tragic night. It rained, he realized that it was true, everyone was dead.
Slowly he woke up early, just to take a bath and put on today's clothes. Instead of his usual attire, he was wearing a black kimono. Taking sip of an almost warm green tea, he steps outside without an umbrella, only to be covered suddenly by one.
Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi were dressed like him, waiting outside of his apartment with umbrellas on them. He sighted, he was forced to inform about the importance of today. Today, like every year, he visits the Uchiha cemetery and gives his prayers to everyone who did that day…and his parents. But this time it was different. He had killed their murder; he wasn't going this time alone.
Not at all…
Little by little, while walking through the streets of Konoha towards their final destination, people started to add the group. First it was team Asuma; Shikamaru, Chouji and Ino. Continued Gai's team; Neji, Ten-Ten and Lee and finally Kiba with Kurenai and Shino. Not sign of Hinata anywhere. He didn't expect her to appear, but somehow he though that he would see her today, something inside him was still telling him that.
They finally arrived to the Uchiha commentary, which was no so far away where the Uchiha compound is placed. While walking through to be seen as an endless valley of graves, they started to see around. And slowly, it stopped to rain. The dark sky over them was telling that it will stop for a while, then it will comeback stronger than before. Everything around looked dark and sad, like dead was still wandering around, looking to complete its task. The deeper they went through the place; more crows appeared on the dead trees of the area.
Naruto: Maybe is because the rain stopped that there are so many birds here, right?
Seeing back to Sasuke, he was too focused on where he was going to see around, maybe he is too used to see the depressive look of a commentary after all. Then Naruto looks away, on top of a small hill. From the distance can be seen that at least there lies a lively cherry blossom tree. But due to the darkness of the day, it looked more like gray/dead instead of the living pink that usually has.
Then a presence was evident in there, and the closer they went to that hill the more evident it was. Neji and the others formed guard, at the top of the hill was seen a human form. Standing just there, Sasuke turns to stop Neji to use the byakugan, "I will have to ask you to not use ninja techniques here. No matter what happens, I will not allow fights in this sacred place." And with that they continue their walk in silence.
When they reached almost up there, they noticed that indeed was someone standing there. It was holding up a traditional umbrella over and wearing a black silk kimono with little red flowers on the bottom of it. Then they noticed that it was singing a song, it was low but the lyrics can be understood.
"Who are you now?
Are you still the same
Or did you change somehow?
What do you do?
At this very moment when I think of you?
And when I'm looking back
How we were young and stupid
Do you remember that…?"
Sasuke and the others ended in front of the two head-stones of the hill. They were Sasuke's parents. It was a complete irony that the only place that reminded with such beauty was the most painful of all. Then when he looks up to meet who was there, he got impressed.
Instead to face his parents' head-stone, it was facing the opposite side of them, but when she continued singing…his eyes opened wide. He can recognize that voice everywhere.
"No matter how I fight it
Can't deny it
Just can't let you go…"
"I still need you
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you"
It was Hinata; the one singing in that hill was Hinata. Still singing and looking down, like no bothering who was there, who was watching her singing. But what was getting curious everyone is why she was in the opposite side of the head-stones and why she was looking down. It took the best of Sasuke and he decided to see, only to get a mayor surprise.
Behind his parents gray head-stone, there was a black one. Looking closer, he read what he guessed it was.
It was Itachi's head-stone.
Hinata didn't seem to care that Sasuke was looking and kept singing.
"Now that you're gone
Instead of moving on, I refuse to see
And I keep coming back
And I'm stuck in a moment
That wasn't meant to last (to last)"
"I try to fight it
Can't deny it
You don't even know"
"That I still need you
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you"
Sakura and the others felt offended. How she dares to put such thing like that here! Itachi was the one who wiped out the whole clan for Kami's sake! And why she decided to come today, when the anniversary of the tragedy is taken place! But then team seven looks back at Sasuke, he was still in shock with what he was seeing. Then he looks up at Hinata, she was still looking down.
"You didn't bring his ashes…" said in a low voice the captain, and Sasuke barely heard the question.
"Excuse me?"
"You didn't bring at least his ashes…right?"
"…No…"
"…" then there was silence, until she spoke again, "That was something that at least should have been done. He was an Uchiha after all…"
"Excuse me, but let me remind you Hinata that it was Itachi who brought the rest of the clan here." responded Sakura, and then Kakashi put his hand over her shoulder, remembering her where they are standing.
The Hinata chuckled a little, getting Sasuke's attention, "That's true, but still he was still called Uchiha Itachi, the missing nin. So no one cared to disown him from that title, even you called him like that when he came once to Konoha, right?" she says then looks up at Sasuke, which he nods. It was true, the day that he came with his teammate Kisame to get Naruto, he called him Uchiha Itachi. He was still an Uchiha, and he killed his brother with his name on it.
"It was your duty to disown him for high betrayal, and still didn't do it. you killed a member of your own clan and brother by blood. In the end both are the same. And everything was for power…"
"This is not the time or place to talk about it..." commented Neji.
"Then tell me why," responded back Hinata to Neji, "Because it will end like the Hyuuga clan and me, you had your time to amend your mistakes and never move a finger about it. When you saw me leave and did what I did; now the elders want to solve the differences. Don't give opinions when you can't deal with your own relatives, Hyuuga."
"You would never deny your Hyuuga blood Hinata."
"And Itachi never denied his Uchiha blood…is the same thing…"
"Why…?" asked suddenly Sasuke, looking down. Hinata couldn't hear what he said and waited for him to repeat it. "Why you came here today? Why from all days? Is this the reason that you wanted to come back from Suna so soon?" then the others looked impressed, except Naruto and Kiba. Everything was making sense; does it mean that she came back for the Uchiha massacre anniversary?
"He used to come every year, and I was always here with him. We used to just stand here, looking at the head-stones. And I used to ask the same thing every year."
Then Sasuke looked up at her, did Itachi used to come to Konoha? Why anyone never noticed it before? Did Hinata hide him when he came?
"What you used to ask him?" asks the last Uchiha, he wanted to know. He wanted to know how deep their relationship was.
"I used to ask him every year if he ever regretted what he did..."
Sasuke opened his eyes wide, why she wasn't giving him the complete sentence? "…And he never used to answer me; he used to avoid it, until the last time that we came here, like a year ago…"
Sasuke: Where is she heading too?
He noticed that her lips were trembling, like saying all this was difficult for her to hold, to let it go without showing emotion.
"He told me…that he was actually starting to doubt if his reasons were great enough…to be away from me like we had to be."
Then it was official, Hinata and Itachi were more than student and teacher. He was thinking about it since the beginning, but she never gave the true so direct, so hard to swallow. His eyes and temple seemed not affected, but on the inside, everything was looking for something to hold. And the only thing that was keeping him intact was that Itachi was now gone; now he had to wait for her to decide to go on. Suddenly someone appeared between the two.
"Hinata, why are you still here…?"
It was Tatsuha.
"I have nothing to do today…I couldn't sleep at all…"
Then the monk stood beside her, looking at the black head-stone. When he saw something interesting and turned to her, "Hinata, why there's no date of death on the stone?"
"…" she didn't answer at all.
"Hinata…"
"…"
"…You have to face it. Not matter what you do, he is already gone…"
"But what can I do when I still have him alive here," then she puts her hand on her chest, pointing at her heart, "he became my reason to exist, he became my family…and he'll come for me someday…"
In that moment Tatsuha took her shoulders and shook her a little, "Stop this nonsense. You are young; you can go on and find another reason to exist in any other…"
"I tried…" then he stops to hold her shoulders and takes her face between his large hands. "All this years, I've tried to find another support. But he became more than a sensei, he became…"
And lighting break through the dark sky.
"Is enough, you will come with me, or I call Yuki and the others." Finished the monk, his face was full of concern and stoic. Hinata looked at him and knew that he was dead serious.
Giving a last look at the head-stone, she kneels and puts a hand on the dirt, blue chakra forming from it. Little by little, a plant started to grown from it, surrounding part of Itachi's head-stone. When she puts it away, a big dark black and red orchid bloomed from it.
Then the monk took her hand and he pulled her with him, walking pass Sasuke and the others. Sasuke stood there looking at the orchid, it reminded him so much of her kimono…of Itachi's Akatsuki cape…
It was getting dark and the rain was taking over the sky and the village again. After being accompanied by Tatsuha and the others almost all day, Hinata was finally aware to be alone, and walked through the rain with her umbrella.
She was soon walking towards an old wooden bridge. It connected the village with the training grounds, towards the woods. Standing at the middle of it, she turns around and looks down at the bridge, looking at the reflection of the river under it. Due to the darkness of the sky, she wasn't looking her reflection at all. It was more like a shadow.
Then she was looking directly at the woods, silently staring at them. Taking the umbrella down, rain was covering her completely but still looking towards the woods.
And she started to remember. Remember how they met. Remember how they became close. How they ended being so unite.
She started to remember Itachi...
Flashback
The Hokage walked where he is used to meet little Hinata, close of the K.I.A. (kill in action) monument. And like it was usually happen, she was there smelling the flowers that made the place special. I have to remember that she is still a little girl after all. thought the old man before reaching her. "Hokage-sama, you're late today." Says the little girl while still looking at the white roses.
Sarutobi sights loudly, she always says that he is late, and is always for mere seconds. "I have a reason to come late today Hinata. I want you to meet someone." In that moment, she stands up and turns around, "Hokage-sama, I told you that I don't want anyone know about…"
"I know, but for you to keep progressing, you need a teacher, a sensei to be more exact. That's why I brought someone that I know can handle your case quite well."
"Hokage-sama…" warned Hinata when she heard someone coming from behind the bushes.
"Hinata-chan let me present your new master/sensei. Uchiha Itachi, meet your student/apprentice Hyuuga Hinata."
Then their eyes met, raven ones with pearly ones. Then she turned to see Sarutobi's face and mocked. "Is this some kind of a joke? He can't have more than 15…"
"That's why I think he is perfect for this Hinata," cuts off the Hokage, "Itachi is actually the genius of the Uchiha clan and demonstrated his talent since early age. He is actually a jounnin."
"Wow, great…" mutters the girl while getting a snort from Itachi like saying 'I'm right here you know'.
"And besides, you two belong from the most powerful clans of Konoha, so I think that he is enough challenge for you, don't you think?" winks the old man to the duo. Itachi just started at her, frowning by her stubborn attitude.
"I'm leaving you to let you know each other better. See ya then." And the old man disappears in a poof, leaving Itachi and Hinata alone surrounded by flowers.
The two started at the other, no really wanting to say a word. It seemed that time stopped in that place since none of them moved a muscle. Finally, Itachi decided to break the ice.
"So, you are the bento girl?" asked out of nowhere,
Hinata looked at him raising an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
"You're the girl that my little brother Sasuke brought lunch for messing hers at the academy, right?"
"So you are family with Mr. Popular, this is getting exiting…" responded with sarcasm the Hyuuga, crossing her arms over her chest. "Beside of making social conversations, shouldn't we train? That's what you're here, being my pouching bag…"
"You should respect older people brat."
"From one brat to another there's no such thing…"
"I'm in a higher ranking that you so…"
"And I bet that your daddy reminds you that everyday, right?"
"You tell me that, I know that you are the heir of your clan…spoiled princess…"
Hinata had enough with him, "Take that back…"
"…What…?"
"I'm not a spoiled brat; I'm not like you, Uchiha prodigy."
"Ah, the princess is getting mad, let's see…where are the maids…?"
And with that she charged at him, surprising Itachi with her speed, but it wasn't enough to stop him. Blocking her attack, he expected her to give all her strength in that kick, but when she hit him on his left cheek and made him step back, he knew that she was something else. "Take that back…" she hissed, while still fighting.
"If you make me fall, I'll do it. Until then you'll be 'bento princess' until you can shut me up."
"Argh!" and they continued fighting, mostly Hinata attacking and Itachi blocking her with ease. They continued until the sun jaws setting down, Hinata had to go back home before they start to make questions.
"I hadn't even got started." Says Hinata while cleans her face. Itachi just frowns, he knows hat she can't hold another attack. Getting up the rest of her stuff, she packed everything and turned to leave. "At least I see that I can have fair training after all. See you tomorrow."
"Let's see how you wake up tomorrow, bento princess." Responds Itachi, getting back a kunai that landed next to his face, hitting a trunk.
"I'll make you swallow your words Uchiha," responded Hinata before disappearing into the woods. Itachi just smiled, Sasuke chose a very different girl. And quite strong too…
The days continued like that, and no more than insults were made towards the other. Hinata kept trying to hit him while he just blocked them and gave her more insults. One day, their training turned into another direction.
"Why instead of trying to hit me you don't use your bloodline limit? You're a Hyuuga after all." Asked Itachi out of nowhere, making the place stop moving around them.
The she stops the attack and raises an eyebrow. "I thought that the Sarutobi told you about It." then Itachi sights loudly, how he hates to deal with her. "I asked him, but he told me to ask you instead."
"Because…I want to survive without a clan name over Me." by her response, he opens his eyes wide. He never expected such response from a six year old brat. Even he in those times had though of something like that. "I want to be a great ninja for my own efforts, not because my genetic ability helped me to."
"Since when you ended with such stupid conclusion?" asked again Itachi, somehow he started to like to anger her. It makes her move and hit faster. "You are not here to hear opinions; you're here for training so let's go." Then she continues with her attack, and Itachi was still dodging them with ease, making her madder.
"If you answer me, we can make more than just attack and dodge." Says the young teacher, making her stop practically in mid air. Hinata steps away and looks at another direction. this guy is weird, but I can't be the best if I just attack and all. Damn…
"Fine, but for now on you treat me like an adult. Don't hold back because I'm a child. I won't progress like that."
"…Fine…just tell me and let's see what we can do…"
"…"
"…and…?"
"I hardly know you and you expect me to tell you right away?"
"You already made a promise. And I said that I'll do my part…now is your turn to respond."
Hinata frowns and thinks for a second, maybe she can delay this a little it more. "Just give me a sample of what you promised to teach me. I can't run from my promise after all, right?" asks the Chibi, making Itachi looks at her a little annoyed.
She's smarter than I though. Very well… "Fine, follow me." and she did, they kept walking until they reached to a river. It was on the outskirts of the village, a place where the kids can't go alone. she was lucky to be with Itachi after all.
"This is something that you're usually to learn after you finish the academy. But since Sarutobi swear that you have talent, let's try this." And after that, she notices that he is still talking and walking to the water. She decided to wait for him to fall into it; it can cool down his arrogance. Then that never happened, he kept walking over it.
Hinata was out of words, how that can happen! "…." The Itachi turns to see Hianta's jaw on the ground, and he smirked by it. "What, Impressed? You can learn this today. But it depends of how capable you are, bento princess…"
And those two words wake her up from the impression. "Stop calling me that!"
"Then prove me wrong and do it…"
"Fine Mr. Uchiha, I'll do it." and then she steps on the water…falling into it instantly. She gets out of the water, shivering due to the freezing temperature. From a far distance, Itachi is watching everything and shook his head amused, If she asks for help, then she can do a better work. but when he looks up, she falls into the water again. And again, and again, and again…until she finally falls on her knees beside the river, her lips turning almost purple for the cold water.
Itachi decides to walk there and see what was wrong. Getting almost there, he sees that she is up again. What she is doing? then he sees that she takes out her jacket at toss it away. With pure determination in her eyes, she puts one of her foot on the crystal almost frozen element. And it stood with difficulty.
Itachi couldn't believe that she was getting the technique without being explained yet. He wanted her to ask him for help and then he can brag about being the higher rank and all, but it seemed that this time he was wrong.
Stepping the other in the water, Hinata was having a difficult time holding stand still, but kept her eyes towards Itachi. He noticed her look and then he looked down, she was not seeing his face, she was seeing his feet. Looking back at her, she wasn't using the byakugan, since there weren't the famous veins around her eyes or any change in her vision.
She was looking at how the water was moving in circles around his feet, a clear sign of chakra manipulation. Looking back at her feet, she was doing her best to keep her chakra balanced in both feet, but her manipulation was almost perfect. At her age I hardly managed to develop the sharingan…how…?
Seeing that he was looking impressed by her talent, he turned back where he was, at the middle of the river. If he stands there longer, she may notice his impression and brag about it forever…and that wasn't what he wanted. Closing his eyes, he started to analyze of what he wanted from her…why he was taunting her so much. Maybe is because she is Sasuke's little crush.
When Itachi opened his eyes, he sensed a presence near by, almost in front of him. looking t his left, he saw something that impressed him completely.
Hinata finally made it to walk in front of him, and stood in a fighting pose. "I'm cold and close to get sick. You better give me a good spar now." Says the Chibi ninja, making him gasp by her eyes. Something was true, she wasn't a mere child.
Because her eyes showed maturity and desire.
And as she asked, they sparred. She almost lost her concentration and fell into the water few times, but after almost midnight, he called enough. The deal was to be until sunset, but she managed to walk into the water until night. After she was dismissed, he walked back home.
Walking back to the Uchiha compound, Itachi started to think about what he saw today. She is something else; I don't see why she doesn't want to use the byakugan. Using it will make her even better than Sasuke. And as I heard from him, she is the average of the class. Coming form the Hyuuga clan must be a shame at all. The question is, why? Tomorrow I will not let her go until she tells me.
And that's what happened. Itachi kept calling her 'bento girl' and 'bento princess' until she tells him about her reasons to not use the byakugan. Finally giving up to his stubborn ways, Hinata lies back in the grass and looks at the clouds. "Why you want to know such thing?"
"Because I'm your trainer and I need to know your motivations to decide if I improve you or not."
"…"
"I'm waiting, and no more attempts to avoid the topic."
"…fine..." then she looks at the blue sky, damn there are not clouds to watch today. "As you know, I'm born as the heir of the Hyuuga clan." She looks beside her; Itachi just lay there and nodded. "Is always expected to have a male to take the place. But as many of you know, female makes weak bloodlines, according to you."
Itachi nods again, he hadn't heard anything interesting yet. "Since I remember, I always felt this need to read and learn. I actually learn faster and is not necessary for me to see a jutsu to know what is about. So when I developed the byakugan even earlier than Neji, I decided to hide it."
"And why you did that? And who is Neji?" asked out of nowhere the Uchiha, so the Hyuuga girl is a born genius case just like him and Sasuke? Interesting.
"Neji is my cousin and the actual champion and prodigy of the clan. He is a slave, coming for the branch side. And since he is getting all the attention and pressure to be better and keep loyal to us, he hates me. like I care what he thinks of me. they compare me with him all the time; the guy is a year older than me for Kami's sake!"
"So since you are a girl and the birth right heir, they wanted you to be strong for the will of the bloodline and future of the clan." Responded Itachi, he knew what it felt being in that position. One day he'll take his father's place and lead the Uchiha clan.
"Yes and as they expect, I ended to be freaking weak and useless since I'm a girl. Seeing this as their justification, I decided to never show them what they can do. They can think anything they want, but they'll never know what I can do. Until…"
"Until what?"
"My little sister Hanabi was born. She showed some talent and they are now comparing me with her. They say that she can be a better heir, so be it. like I care…" then she stands up and looks away. Itachi know that she did that to hide her emotions. She is good at it.
"I want to explode my abilities; I want to know how far I can go. I don't care about clans or things like that…" then she looks at the sky and see crows leaving the woods. "…I want to be free, just like them."
Itachi was impressed; the duty to be a heir, the pressure to be the best. Being in that position means that you can't make mistakes, you can't ever be selfish. You live, breath and die for the clan.
"That's why, Uchiha," she says then turns to meet Itachi's eyes, "I need you to stop holding back on me. If I die, I want to die fighting, getting better. If I die, then I wasn't strong enough to be in this world."
Itachi saw himself in those eyes, the same determination that he used to have at her age. Be the best of die trying it. smirking a little and after thinking a little, he stands up beside her. "I believe that we both have the same motto Hinata-chan," she snorted by the 'chan' thing but let it pass, it sounded different form him. "So since Wednesday we can be our true selves from now on."
Then she looks at him impressed, "but, today is Monday, and you just said…"
"Like you, I have duties with the Uchiha clan too." He responded, smirking at her. This is the first time that he smiles at me. I thought that he didn't know how…
"Can you make me a favor?" he suddenly asked, after picking up his stuff. Hinata did the same then they met before leaving back to their homes. "Can you stop the 'Mr. Uchiha' or the 'Uchiha-san' thing? My name is Itachi. Maybe Itachi-sense can sound fine sometime."
Then Hinata turns around, ready to leave. "Someday, somehow, who knows…" and she runs back at her home.
"I have to remember that she has Sasuke's age." And he turns to leave.
And the weeks passed by like this, with hard training and some socialization. They found each other sharing things and stories. And the trainings became harder and more difficult. Hinata could easily get hurt with something dislocated or something like that and never said a thing until he sees the purple bruise. He calls it a day and tells her to go and recover, but she returns the next day with bandages and almost back to normal. He though that she went to a medic nin to fix it.
And one day, something that she didn't expected.
It was noon and the students at the Academy were dismissed. Sasuke was running out since he lived a little far away. But when he looked at the gates, his pace slowed. "Brother, what are you doing here?" asked both impressed and happy to see Itachi looking for him.
"I just returned for a mission and decided to come for you before hitting home and get busy with my duties." With this Sasuke smiles and gets happy, he can share time with Itachi. Then Itachi stands up and meets someone, "You must be Uchiha Itachi, I've heard a lot about you."
Itachi and Sasuke identified the man immediately, he was a Hyuuga. "Nice to meet you Hyuuga Hiashi, and this is my brother Sasuke." Gestured the young ninja in a nice manner. In that moment he looks down and meet someone behind Hiashi's leg. "And that must be your daughter, right?"
In that moment Sasuke freeze for a moment and then tries to get closer to her, "Hi, Hinata…" smiles nicely Sasuke.
"H-Hi Sasuke-san…" in that moment Hiashi looks down at her with disapproval due to her shyness. "Hinata, meet Uchiha Itachi. You should say hi to him too." Then Hinata looks at Itachi, with a look that said 'what are you doing here'.
"Hi, nice to meet you Hinata-chan." She only bows back. Hiashi was about to scold her when Itachi stops him. "She is like a traditional lady. Shy and graceful, she will be a great wife someday."
"That would be great if she wasn't the heir of the clan. But what else can I do? She can't even aim a shuriken right…"
Itachi: "…Oh, I see…" She is great with weapons, I can say that… "well, we have to go, nice to see you Hiashi-sama, Hinata-chan…" then both brothers bow at them and leave.
Walking back at home, Itachi looks that Sasuke s acting happier than normal, and he know that is not for him. "Hinata sure is a cute girl Sasuke." Saying this Sasuke looks up at him and pouts. "I know…but she never wants to talk to me. all the girls at the class wants to talk to me except her. I don't know what I'm doing wrong…"
"Don't feel bad Sasuke, is obvious that she is the shy type. You must be direct and ask for being courted. She is from a traditional clan, so you must respect that." With that Sasuke looks better and continued they talk towards home…
The next day…
"What was that." That was the first thing that Hinata said as son as they meet to train. It was more an order than a question and Itachi was wondering why she looked so upset.
"What are you talking about?" asked innocently the teacher.
"You know what I'm talking about. Is about that you appeared at the Academy yesterday and talked to me like we already know each other!" responded an angry Hyuuga, while sending fists directly to his face, she was angrier than ever, he sighted by it. "It was nothing…"
"Nothing? Your brother treated me like we have never met before. We see each other everyday at the class you know." Responds the girl, sending another kick to his face, he blocks it easily.
Don't you get that he set his eyes in YOU! though Itachi, he was planning to help Sasuke with this predicament, but it seems that this one was tougher than anyone he met in his life. "Sasuke is like that when he is nervous. Don't worry, it won't happen again…"
"That's not why I'm mad about…"in that moment they stop fighting, why she is angry then? "You skipped our training yesterday. I ended training by myself…and I didn't make any progress at all." She ends and gives her back to him. Itachi put his hand in his forehead, she though that he was going to stop training her?
"Sorry for that Hinata."
Then she turns around and looks at him weird. "…" Itachi touches his face and tries to see why she was looking at him like that. "What? There's something on my face or what…?"
And the next thing he sees is Hinata's face too close to him, and her hand on his forehead. "Maybe you have fever…"
"Can you tell me why are you acting like this? It annoys me." hissed Itachi, she can get into his nerves sometimes. "Is just that you just called me Hinata. No bento princess, or Hinata-chan…just Hinata." by her affirmation, he looks away.
"So? I can call you whatever I want, got it? you're nothing special at all…" by that he hears giggle, turning back at her, he sees that Hinata had one hand on her mouth and the other on her stomach, she was laughing.
"Sorry…but you…sounded…so funny…explaining it…Itachi-sensei…" and then she burst into laughter, and then she stops when she sees that Itachi put his hand over her forehead too.
"What are you doing?"
Then he looks down at her and smiles… "You just called me Itachi-sensei."
Since then they acted like student and teacher, she followed him in anything he asked. And he heard everything that she told him about the Hyuuga clan and the Academy; it seemed that she hated everything.
One day…Itachi came to the training place, and he looked darker than usual. "Itachi-sensei, something's up right?" asked Hinata without care, they trusted enough to talk directly and with confidence.
He looks back at her, his eyes held a million of questions at the same time. where he should start? "Hinata, did you regret coming to those missions with me?"
She looked at him completely impressed, it was true that in her very first mission class-C she had to kill an attacker, but that was a week ago! And she told him that she was ok. "If I ever regretted going with you, I would have stop training with you Itachi-sensei."
"That's not the point." He responded harshly, and Hinata looked at him weird, "Sensei…"
"I didn't want the story to be repeated with you Hinata. I started to be in missions and killing people when I was nine. You are only seven…"
"Sensei, it was my decision to accept and go. And besides, no matter how many times it passes," and then she takes his hand, "as long as I can be useful for you in battle, I'll do it. You're my first family sensei, and I don't want to loose it." by this his eyes went wide, did she said 'first family'? Hinata notices his reaction and decided to explain.
"My father always wanted to have a boy to be the heir, that's why he keeps me with this haircut and this outfit. He never wanted me…but destiny gave him two girls and my mother is long gone." She looks back at Itachi and he is still listening, "And since no one at that house doesn't care about me, only about with whom I'll mix up in the future, I decided to not care about them anymore…they can die any day."
"Hinata…"
"They hurt me so much sensei…once he told me that he wished to never let me met this world…and I used to wish that he can finish what he wanted to do…until…"
"Until what…"
"Until," then she looks back at him, "Until I met Sarutobi-sensei and you, I never felt something like this. Your support is all that I need to find a reason to exist. And I swear to do my best to make you proud of me, no matter the cost." Itachi just lay back on the grass, he decided to give his words too, then he can tell her what he wants to do.
"Actually, you became my reason to exist too." By this she looks at Itachi impressed, why someone like can be a reason to exist to someone? "No matter how high I get, everyone expects me to go higher. I know that my mom and dad love me, but I never had the joy to live my childhood Hinata, and never lived an anonymous life like you do right now…" he hesitates for a moment, realizing that he was looking weak in front of a child, but when she touches his shoulder like a way to say 'go on', his confidence comes back.
"You never asked me to be better, only to be enough to depend with. I can see your need to be loved and understood, and I'm looking the same thing. And when I saw you killing that man with so much ability and confidence, I thought that I failed to keep you untainted, I started to think that I messed up your life. That I was making the same mistake that everyone did with me. but now…"
Then he stands up and looks back at her, "I believe that I have a real reason to be alive, a real reason to keep being the best Hinata, and you gave me that." In that moment he kneels and takes her hands, she looks up at him confused.
"That's why, I want to know if I can trust you with what I'm going to do. I need you by my side Hinata…" and without thinking twice, she nods.
is that when the plan to kill Uchiha Shisui and the annihilation of the Uchiha clan happened.
That night…Hinata was waiting at the wooden bridge, she had her backpack ready and was under an umbrella. Due to the rain the place became dark, completely black. She heard footsteps approaching the bridge, she knew who it was.
Itachi stepped in front of Hinata, and when he stopped, part of the blood on his metal chest fell on her face. He knelt down immediately to clean it off, she looked like it was nothing. "I let Sasuke live…" he said, like it was a matter-of-factly. Hinata was surprised by what he said.
"Did he see you?" she asked desperately, if Sasuke saw him, he can tell anyone and then Itachi will be hunted. "He saw me, and he is still on the compound…"
"…Why?" asked the girl out of nowhere.
"Hinata…"
"Why you let him live! They'll going to hunt you and kill you. And if the ANBU or the Hokage send people to get you…I…I…won't be allowed to protect your back like I'm used to and…" and the he hugged her, and to his surprise, she hugged him back.
Their embrace lasted for a while, until she spoke again, "Take me with you." he suddenly pulled back and looked at her eyes again, is she serious?
"No…"
"Take me with you sensei, there's nothing for me here! I know that Sarutobi sense will be sad, but at least he has a lot of people who cares for him…but I…"
"But there's still Sasuke…"
"Stop it! Stop comparing me with him, it hurts me Itachi…it hurts me…"
Then he hugged her again, God he wanted to take her away, but she doesn't know about his future plans. He wanted to add her into them, but it was too soon. And he knew that his thoughts were not healthy when it comes about her.
He was acting like a sick pedophile and didn't want to hurt her.
"Is too soon to take you with me Hinata. The people f the Hyuuga clan will think that I kidnapped you and more people will be sent to kill me. I promise to one day, when you are old enough, to take you away from here."
Hinata pushed him to look at his eyes; it was too dark to see, but still the thinks that he is not lying. "But why not now? I am strong enough to fight! You know what I can do…"
"And that's why I trust that you can become stronger and wiser. Maybe one day I'll come and find you happily married with kids." Then she pouts and snorts a little, "I'm pale as a ghost, no one wants a wife like that." She responded,
But Sasuke does… he thinks before he stands up and leaves, but she grabs him by his collar and pushes down again. "Did you really promise to come for me Itachi-sensei?"
Then he leans and whispers to her, "Even if I die, I'll come from hell to get you…Hinata." and that was the last night that Itachi was in Konoha.
And like he promised, he came, many times per year. But never to get her out of Konoha, always saying the same thing, 'I promise to one day, when you are old enough, to take you away from here.' and like every time, she used to trust in him and let it go. He came all the time, he cares for her.
Then, two years ago…
It was the last night that Sasuke slept with Hinata; she gave him the blanket and slept there one more time. The night after that happening, she received her expected visitor. And like always, she opened the window without hesitating, "Itachi…"
"Why Sasuke was here last night?" that was his 'hello', since he came to tell her 'goodbye' and for her bad luck Itachi saw it, he started to ask questions about Sasuke coming there.
And she didn't get it, at first he always talked about her at least talk back to his brother, but now that he came to talk to her and tell her 'goodbye', he was now questioning everything. And it became harder for her when she told him about the messages…
"Last night was the last…"
"That's the same that you told me the last time…"
"But now he got the message. I gave him one of my blankets…"
"Why you did that!" asked surprised Itachi, if it was another topic, she could have laughed by his reaction, but he was dead serious and she was quite pissed by his attitude already.
Getting annoyed by his attitude, she turned and walked to the door and placed a couple of paper seals at the door. Then she walked passing Itachi, closed the window and placed the same paper seal on it. When she finally walked and stood in front of him, she breathed hard.
"Why the fuck did you have to get mad for a fucking blanket!" she screamed at him, making Itachi raise an eyebrow. Crossing his arms on his chest, he looked directly at her.
"Did you just put silence seals on your room so you can scream at me?" He mocked, making her frown and step closer at him.
"You were the one who started screaming. Besides, I don't get why you're so mad about me giving a blanket to your brother…"
"I am not mad."
"Itachi, you are. Your nerves are actually showing." In that moment he turns around, avoiding looking at her. After so many years knowing each other, it was obvious that he can't hide his emotions so easly. He can be quiet and reserved around the AKatsuki and anyone around him, but when it comes to a head-strong woman like Hinata, it was almost impossible to do.
Yes, a woman. Through the years, it had been difficult to share time with her. He didn't want her to stop meeting others for only wait for him to take her away from Konoha. But every time she started to stop to insist to take her away. But then he noticed that she was never a spoiled princess, she was always an adult mind in a child's body. She always spoke and thought like a grown up, he can never say if he ever had a little girl as a student.
Hinata was stunned, was Itachi actually…jealous? Then she shook it for a moment; that was impossible. He was her teacher and best buddy; he would never look at someone like her. He always told her about looking more feminine and lady like, so there was no way that Uchiha Itachi; the S-class criminal would put his eyes on a girl that matched his little brother's age.
"I don't see his reason to come here and sleep. And even, to you ending giving him a blanket." He spoke again, trying to finish this situation here and now.
"He told me that he felt comfortable with my scent. And it was the only way to make him stop touching…"
Then Itachi pushed her against the wall, making her gasp by his reaction. His movement took her by surprise completely, why the hell he did that! "What did you say?" he whispered hoarsely at her, making Hinata to just look up at him, regaining her breath back due to the impact of the crash.
"Itachi…is not what you think…" she said, still trying to get out from his grasp.
"He touched you? Why you never told me anything?" then he looked down at her, his eyes, compared to other times when he is under stress or mostly mad, he wasn't showing his sharingan. She relaxed a little when she looked at his eyes; he was completely full of concern.
"Compared to him Itachi, you're the one actually touching me. He only embraced me a couple of times, nothing too personal at all." she said, trying to calm him down, but when after said that he hadn't move a muscle at all, she knew that something was unusual tonight.
"Itachi…what's wrong?" asked the ninja, sounding more than a whisper. But when her eyes locked with his, she wasn't prepared for what came next.
"Forgive me for what I'm going to do…Hinata." and he bent down and kissed her.
He expected her to struggle; he expected her refusal, to tense. But when her arms encircle around his neck and she started to kiss back and relax, he knew that no matter how bad and sinful sounded, it was absolute heaven…
End of flashback…
Then she was back to reality, the lights around her were gone. She was in absolute dark, still looking at completely darkness. But she didn't felt scared at all, she always enjoyed being evolved by darkness.
Sasuke had been training and passing time alone today. The nearly absolute confession of Hinata about her relationship with Itachi was too much for him to handle today. At least his desire to be by himself today was granted by the others, for Sakura's sadness.
Then he suddenly noticed that it went dark faster than usual, it was because if the rain. Walking back to the village, he notices at the middle of the bridge that someone was standing there, under the rain. He was in the same condition too, but this person was wearing a kimono, and it somehow it looked stupid walking out like that under the rain.
While getting closer to the person, he started to notice that he started to recognize the figure.
It was a woman.
She was wearing a black kimono.
An umbrella was open beside her.
There were no color in her eyes.
Conclusion, Hinata.
And when he was getting closer to her, he stood behind her. After mere seconds surrounded by the only sound of the water drops falling, he understood that she wasn't aware of what was happening around her.
Maybe she was drunk, again.
And when he was about to turn and leave, her once strong body fell back. Sasuke ended catching her and hold her against his chest. '
Hinata didn't know what was happening, only that something warm and strong was holding her, supporting her. and she closed her eyes, comfortable with that warm body.
A/N: OMG, this chapter was long and hard to type because my studies weren't letting me write it at all. I spent like two straight hours typing and my hands hurt, but I hope that you like this chapter.
And those Itachi/Hinata fans must be glad by this one, and I hope that you like what is here. but to tell you something, it won't be the last Ita/Hina moment in this story…I won't say anything else.
