"The White Nights describes the few weeks around the summer solstice during which sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete. The sun does not set until late at night, and twilight lasts much longer."
Temari sat in the alcove with an open book, her sharp eyes not on the page her hand was positioned on, but upon the courtyard of the school.
Students were milling about, gossiping in front of the gates without a sense of urgency. A few girls stood almost directly beneath the rocky nook she was reclined in, oblivious to the hawk-like neutral who sat above them with a picky look.
A boy erupted in laughter after being told a particularly crass joke about a teacher. A few seniors huddled around in a serious discussion about the upcoming tests. Two young girls stood in the morning sun, taking shots of each other with a Polaroid.
Among those laid back naivetes were the few scattered selecteds, finally in school on time, supposedly after an unwarranted holiday.
A seemingly bored Sai entered the gates with an inscrutable look on his face, waving an odd hello at Temari who returned the wave reluctantly; he spotted her too easily. It could seem weird to others, like he was waving at the birds or something. The niche she'd fit her lithe body into was small, and rather high up. No naivete in his or her right mind would try climbing into it- too dangerous. But then again, this was Sai, and oddity was never an issue for him. He was from a different mold to begin with.
A few minutes later, Ino and her pack of Yamanakas flocked at the main entrance, ignoring the fact that they were blocking half the path. She might have sensed Temari, but chose to walk through without much show, only slowing a little to shoot a curious look at the stony junior building. Yamanaka Jun blinked and looked around once, entering the freshman building without giving much thought to his surroundings. He was only dimly aware that the watcher team was observing him from different vantage point of the school, but this was only due to knowledge of the traditions that followed every year after a bout of White Nights. It was much like a homeroom check, only less vigorous, for the only thing they had to do was show up-never mind if they weren't on time. From way across the courtyard, on top of the freshman building, sat Kankuro, his body folded against the metal rails that dangled slightly above the open top of the structure where Hinata first had the unpleasant encounter with the Inuzukas. Tapping his fingers to the music that blared from his headphones, he cracked his fist, hardly bothering to see if the crude pencil marks on his sheet added up.
Yet another five minutes- Amano entered languidly, followed by Ryuha. Both kept a bit of distance from each other as if to resist conflict on their first proper day after the White Nights fiasco, but Kiba was not here to rouse up another brotherly feud. That was, sort of expected. They both looked up at the alcove and met eyes with her, blending through the crowd of naivetes like magic. The two tall boys disappeared through the junior building.
Kankuro signaled at her, pointing at his watch, indicating it was nearing homeroom time. She nodded and motioned at him to go on; she'd just stay a few minutes more. There was plenty of time. Her brother nodded and slipped through the rails, pausing to see if anyone had noticed. He flipped down to his building in a flash. She spotted a group of Inuzukas as soon as he left, with another few Uchihas in tow, Miharu simpering in front with her round bright eyes fixed upon the nook Temari was up in. Check.
Before she chose to move, a group of first year Aburames entered, followed by Shino, a quiet group. Shino noticed her right away as well, but chose to nod slightly instead of waving outright. She nodded back, and mindlessly ran a list through her mind.
So far, so good. There wasn't much trouble on the first years' end, and mostly everyone had arrived on time. Things were going smoothly.
Except for the real reason she was here.
The second bell rang.
White Nights: Summer Solstice
Chapter 5- Beauty of Oblivion
(Session#1–Outsiders)
(Konoha High)
Hinata entered the school gates without much fanfare, clutching her books to her chest.
She was running a bit late, but it couldn't be helped. She purposely dawdled so that Neji and Yurie would go ahead without her despite their worried harried looks. She had enough of their coddling. She also had enough of Neji staring at her sometimes like he did not know who she was anymore. And she could not stand the way everyone seemed to eyeball her a little, staring her like a former specimen gone mad. As if she's lied, about having been a naivete. There was a certain distance, and she could not comprehend how far she was from her former self.
Having being told time and again about the divided sectors within the school ground, she took extra care not to get lost like she did the first time. And miraculously, she hadn't encountered any cocky looking maroon heads so far, so maybe she was doing okay. But was the homeroom Room 304? Or Room 403? This would have been hilarious if it weren't for the fact that she really had no one to check with. A group of Aburame girls she knew by sight passed her by with a few curious looks, but she couldn't bring herself to ask them.
Without even Tenten to accompany her, she felt, might as she tried, a tad bit lonely. It was obvious how awkward things would be between the two now, but it didn't seem fair. None of the naivetes really warmed up to the timid girl. They played plenty of attention no doubt, but even the naivetes knew there were some sort of tight cliques (or so they thought) involved in the school, and the Hyuugas were big on cliques. So she remained on the fringes.
The second bell rang.
Now she really had to decide fast. Room 304, or 403? Yurie or Neji, or even Ryuha would have accompanied her...had she thought to ask! Hinata trotted towards the direction of the stairs, chiding herself at the mistake. She didn't want any of them to baby her, but this was a stupid careless mistake on her part. She didn't want to stand out any more than she already did by arriving late for homeroom.
She started to run.
(Sophomore Building, Level 4)
God he was thirsty.
The second bell had already rung, prompting him to rush to class, but he was thirsty. It was a ridiculously happy-go-lucky sunny, stifling morning, and he hadn't bothered with a shortcut on his way to school. Sweat shone on his forehead as he rammed the bottle on the first water fountain he reached and filled the bottle halfway. He downed the bottle of water in a flash, sticking it under the tap again as he swallowed. He pushed down on the cool metal button and eyed the thin stream of water that trickled into the plastic rim. No hurry. A tardy would look bad, but it wasn't as if he was cavorting with the devil...or worse, a Hyuuga. He drank deep.
He noticed right away the light footsteps that echoed behind him. The footsteps began fast and light, tapping against the tiles of the floor. But then it dwindled to a hesitant crawl as it approached the water fountains.
Sasuke turned to the source of the footsteps, and offered it a greeting.
"...You're tardy you know."
Even as she cringed, Hinata's heart jumped in joy for the first time this morning. Finally, someone addressed her in a normal, everyday manner. After days of coddling and odd stares, not to mention the morning walk where everyone ignored her, this was a welcome difference.
"But so are you."
Sasuke raised his brow at the unexpected comeback, and took his bottle off the fountain. Water had overflowed and wet his shoes. He kicked off the moisture and replied:
"But this is our sector. You're trespassing. "
"But no one's around... it's class time. "
"So we're under false pretenses, big deal. Class time is not the issue here. "
He started to walk away, his cheeks flaming for no reason. It wasn't anger, but he felt like he had to get out of here fast ...before he made a mistake. But what mistake?
"But I thought this was our sector..."
He stopped, turned, and gave a her a look. He scrutinized her as if he would a car.
"So you finally memorized the school sectors. It's probably for the best."
The last sentence sounded hollow, as if he was convincing himself. Hinata stared quietly at the tiled floors, trying to fathom the workings of his mind. He looked too blank and dull to be Sasuke, like he couldn't bothered to get mad at her anymore. He sounded as if he purposely did not care. Was he avoiding her? In any case, it looked like he would move away soon, so she quickly blurted out:
"Sasuke... can I ask...? Why did Haruno Sakura put me in the dome? It's like it was a taboo question: no one would tell me why... what did I do wrong?"
He paused again. Her questions were like treading on ice. Shaking his head, he muttered under his breath:
"Why the hell do you assume you did wrong..."
"What?"
"...You did nothing, it was my fault. My fault and an hefty mistake on Haruno's part. Period. And just in case you forget, we're both late."
Without looking back, he raised his right fist. On his wrist was the face of an analog watch. She couldn't tell the exact time, but it was obvious they were both pretty late. So she figured her initial idea of blending in with the mass had gone down the drain. But class time did not matter now that she'd come face to face, alone, with Sasuke. There were so many questions she had, and no one answered. They always shied away from her inquiries. Sasuke was her best bet.
As always.
"Then just one more thing-!"
She ran to keep up with his speedy lanky steps and managed to get a grip on the corner of his shirt. He stood abruptly like a robot and looked down. He stood at least a head and a half taller than her; not as tall as Neji, but it still strained her neck to look up directly at his face from his side. He looked down at her then hastily raised his head, his eyes fixated at a school ad campaign pamphlet stuck on the walls.
"What."
She released him.
"I just...wanted to ask... What's with the key...?"
She struggled with her load as she attempted to fish the key out from her breast pocket. He silently watched her struggle, then swooped down and removed the load from her before it all clattered to the floor. It was an unexpected gesture and her own cheek flared, but she managed to retract the brass key and raise it to his face.
Sasuke grimaced inside—fuck, the key. How stupid of him to have given it to her in front of all that…people watching.
"...it was just."
He paused. If he tried explaining to her now, it would take the entire afternoon, up to the night. The two of the standing there in front of the water fountain, him gabbing away as they remained the stagnant holdup in the hallways as the students milled around in a fast-forward motion. He pondered, then thought: maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
But let's get realistic. It would be bad enough to be caught in the hallways missing class, and with a Hyuuga girl to boot. Think of what will ensue, taking into factors that resulted from the previous White Nights. Think of the reactions. Fantastic. He didn't even want to think of what Kiba's face would look like if he found out. Come to think of it, he couldn't picture exactly how Kiba would react. It's been some time since he had met up with his former best friend, and it looked like Kiba himself was laying low as well.
"It's just something, spur of the moment gesture type of thing. Don't think too much into it."
He was actually curious of what her reactions would be like, had he taken care to explain the motives behind his actions. But again, let's be realistic.
It would've been a million times better for the others if he'd given the key to Haruno, but everyone knew that wasn't going to happen. Even Sakura knew.
"...is that really all there is to it? "
He felt like scratching his head. She really knew how to ask questions that had no answers.
"...do you want it back? Or, I could safe keep it for you until you want it back, if that's what you want."
This was the timid Hinata speaking again, and Sasuke's frustration bubbled out.
"No. Are you for real? Jesus...it's just this stupid, thought I had at the moment. Look, can't you just hold on to it and assume it's just a keepsake from your, i don't know, mother or something? "
Hinata laughed unexpectedly at the uncanny image of Sasuke as her mother. It left him confused. Sasuke took a step back, ready to run. Nice that she laughed, but did he already make a mistake? He wasn't that much coherent. And he had been crass again just this very moment, but seeing that she laughed, she'd taken it lightly? She never seemed to mind his ugly attitude. Or... uh... shit.
His head's gone nuts.
"...and by the way. Your class is on the third floor."
He walked away briskly, leaving her in a silent curious daze. She had more words crammed up in her throat, but it seemed worth it to watch his back as he walked away. Then she broke out of her daze and panicked.
He'd taken all her things with him in his haste.
(Freshman Building, Level 3)
Kiba walked in on his pack of Inuzukas inside an should-be empty freshman classroom. There was the usual pack: Touru, Kazu, Kei, and even Kaoru who seemed to be tossing her basketball randomly at people who walked in. This time, it was Kiba, and she chucked the ball at him with all her force. Blocking it easily, he went to sit down on one of the chairs amidst a boisterous cheer led by Touru. Their selected hadn't been himself lately, and they were all cheered to see Kiba make at least an effort to blend in again.
Touru leaned over towards Kiba as he passed on the ball back to Kaoru again.
"Oi, hear about Lee?"
"Lee? "
Kiba echoed back. Kazu snorted at the mention of the Haruno boy, and leaned back on his chair.
"The Haruno twerp hadn't been around here ever since school properly started up again. We figure it's because of Miss Haruno selected being in a house arrest and all, but... just checking up."
Kiba blinked. Right, Sakura was on house arrest.
He did have a vague idea of why Lee was staying clear of the Inuzuka den; the poor kid must be dying of accomplice's remorse. He didn't have to mention 'that' to these kids right here. Honestly, they were all his kin and they all knew how to appreciate a funny joke when they saw one, but things always got a little out of hand when the Inuzukas got involved. Especially when it was on someone else's expense. Better stay clammed up.
"Nah. I bet the kid's gotten tired of being the odd one out."
It was plausible, and they all bought it.
"But really, it's getting seriously boring here without anyone to pick on. Think we should recruit?"
"Recruit who? You think there anyone who excel at being a Haruno than Haruno Lee?"
The five of them guffawed minus Kiba, who only pretended his mirth at the direct jab at the Haruno line. Yes, the Harunos were mostly seen as a cowardly and somewhat pretentious line, but they saw with their own eyes, of Haruno going down for Sasuke didn't they? They didn't see Lee trying to testify right there with his sister, so they shouldn't know about that, but still. The jokes didn't register anymore. Nor did they seem that much funny.
Touru picked on the glum vibes emanating from their selected and quickly turned the subject away from the Harunos.
"Say, what about Jun? That skinny freshman kid? The one that looks like a girl. He takes classes with you doesn't he Kei?"
Inuzuka Kei blinked then slashed a quick veto.
"You don't mean Yamanaka Jun. Ino senpai would be down on our asses like a hawk if we ever toy around with that kid."
"Fuck. You're so right, that would be a nightmare...but then who should we recruit? Any ideas?"
"Tamura?"
"Not worth the effort. We'd have more fun with an inchworm. Any more ideas?"
Kazu shrugged then attempted to snatch the ball from Kaoru's hands. She rolled her eyes and chucked it at his face, but before it hit target Touru had intercepted the ball while Kei stood laughing.
"What are you laughing at?"
Kazu sort of snarled, and began to conjure up an insult, then stopped himself just in time. It just didn't do.
Kei, if challenged, would definitely fight back, unlike Lee. The kid might've had a green name tag, but he was an Inuzuka freshman. That made a lot of difference. Those dog-headed kids would go down fighting, happy to have a swipe at a senpai any day. Inuzuka Kei just smiled on, realizing what had just taken place, and what had not. Touru good-naturedly slapped Kazu's back as he threw the ball back to Kaoru. She caught it and started up another intent conversation about her run-in with a Aburame girl down at the basketball court.
Kiba remained stoic, standoffish. He knew right off that it wasn't just Lee's presence they were missing, or (even though they didn't really say so) Sakura's. They were missing something more and they all knew it.
They've been talking for over ten minutes without having mentioned Sasuke and...'that Hyuuga girl' who wasn't a naivete anymore. It just might have been a coincidence, but he knew they were all a little uneasy about the whole deal. It was their head selected they were talking about. They couldn't just mouth him off, not when he ranked higher up than their direct authority, Kiba. But they sure as hell couldn't just forgive Sasuke for having turned on them during the White Nights battle. The way he quickly wiped off one thirds of their fighting unit...impressive, yes, but hardly praiseworthy considering the reasons behind his actions.
"...Kiba, we actually have something, we'd like to discuss."
Touru suddenly spoke up, and Kiba broke out of his thoughts. He hadn't realized they've all been silent for some time.
"Discuss? Discuss what? "
"Uh...don't take this the wrong way, but you sort of know how the Hyuuga line is laughing at us nowadays. "
The look on their faces darkened, and Kiba realized the Hyuuga line had been borderline taunting in earshot, about Sasuke having a soft spot for their prize faux-naivete, Hyuuga Hinata. No wonder they all looked pretty riled up; the quick temper in their blood would never let this sort of insult pass by.
"I think I know what you're talking about."
"Right. And we fucking hate that sort of shit. So we want to get a little even with them. "
"...even?"
Touru shrugged uneasily, as if what he would say might anger Kiba.
"Not really get even but, it's kinda deeper than that. What I'm making now, is a...kind of a proposal."
Proposal...?
Kiba suddenly recalled with some distaste, the "proposal" Uchiha Miharu had offered during White Nights. Jesus, what was it with people and proposals? It just all seemed such a fucking nuisance. Let the elders make the proposals, negotiations and whatnot. Proposals, getting even; same thing. What's got to be deeper than that, he wondered sarcastically. He was sick of it all.
"...What proposal?"
(Sophomore Building, Level 4)
Literature class was almost at an end, and Hinata was on her last nerves.
She so desperately wanted to have a proper chat with Sasuke as she did before, it was almost physical torture. Fate has kindly decided that she should not have friends. Didn't she at least deserve this? Just a nice chat with somebody who didn't see her a downright phony and a freak?
"...and Assignment sheet two and three and four will be up on the school archive, so please download the lot and turn them in by Thursday via mail."
Hatake sensei underlined the scrawled assignment thrice and ended class. A few naivete boys groaned at the workload as they grabbed their book bags and stuffed in their paltry notes. The clownish boy called Rock Lee made an exaggerated moan. Tenten fled the classroom almost as soon as the bell rang, and the rest filed out slowly. It was lunch time anyways, no need to hurry.
Sasuke himself packed slowly (he had returned her books to her silently at the beginning of class) and stood up without acknowledging her much. It pained her to see this, but it also made her more determined to get him to talk. She gathered her notebooks at a fast speed and was about to follow Sasuke out of class when a large hand cupped her shoulders and stopped her.
"Hinata. May I have a talk with you."
The low voice demanded closure on something. Sasuke turned, and his eyes briefly flickered at this interaction, but then he walked out. Hinata turned slowly to face the teacher; even his good looking face did not put her in a better mood. What could he possibly want with her? She'd better not be failing anything, because if she was, she'd-
"I hear you're not a naivete anymore."
She flinched. So it was to be "this" kind of talk. She was a little alarmed at first; she hadn't realized Kakashi sensei was involved. He seemed so much the quiet type that mostly kept to himself. She never spotted him among the elders, nor did the kids mentioned that their eye candy of a teacher ever really had much to do with...this all.
"...I guess I'm not. "
His eyes, two quiet gray pools of ice dulled.
"That means you're behind. "
"...behind?"
She looked up and met his serious eyes, the scar that ran vertically from his lids to his cheek ever so more distinct. Hatake Kakashi set down his workbook, and sat lightly on his desk, motioning her to sit as well.
"You're a sophomore in Konoha high. And you're not a naivete. Do you know what that means in this village, Hinata? "
"...I don't know... "
"It means you're part of the fighting force. You're a candidate for White Nights, a predetermined participant. "
She froze in her seat, and her numb hands dropped two thirds of the books she'd been carrying. Before the lot tumbled to the floor, Kakashi was over there in a flash, the books all neatly piled on top of his hands. One of his knees against the floor, he handed the books back to the terrified girl. He smiled wearily.
"I know you're scared. You had quite a fright there inside Gaara's dome. You shouldn't have been there, not without proper training. "
"...training? "
"I'm sorry to say, once you're in this fold, it's impossible to get out. So you have no choice but to go along with the system we have implemented in this village. Come summer solstice, you'd be marched up to No Man's Land and ushered into the dome. You'd line up with your line, the Hyuugas, the Aburames, the Uzumakis and so forth in the east sector of the forest. And you'll fight. You're going to have to face the Uchiha line."
The words hit her like a five ton truck. She knew giving up her naivete status would be dangerous, but she hadn't foreseen it would be this horrific. She'd have to face the maroon headed dauntless Inuzukas. She'd have to face the icy aloof Yamanakas. She's have to face Sakura, who brought this upon her. God forbid, she might have to face Sasuke.
"Hinata? Can you hear me?"
The warm hand shook her lightly and she snapped out of it.
"Look. I'm going to help you. You're not just going to be forced into the dome, none of the such."
"...but... you did just say, that I'd have to-"
Kakashi mentally smacked himself.
"Well yes. You will have to go in. But when you do, I promise you'd be ready. You'd be able to take care of yourself. Starting of tomorrow, I'll train you personally. I'll see to it that you be able to defend your body at the very least."
"I won't be a burden?..."
He was a little taken aback by the question. His was firm as he reassured her.
"You won't. I'll make sure of that. You might even help your line, if anyone should be in a tight spot. That sound alright to you?"
Hinata blinked. And suddenly realized she was blinking back tears.
She asked in a small voice:
"...are you going to make me useful?"
Kakashi cocked his head in puzzlement. The girl was near tears, but he didn't know if it was from fear or...
"...cuz I'd really...really, like that."
Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha Sasuke, who'd been eavesdropping on the conversation just out the door, both hung their heads. They both weren't much good at seeing a girl or a woman cry. Girls crying always brought about a sense of uneasiness, like they really couldn't do anything about anything. But Hinata was smiling through her tears, and that brought upon much more confusion to the preferably simple idea they'd had about the act of crying. Sasuke, even though he was outside, could see her crying childishly like she had so many times in front of him. But it did not rile him up anymore because he'd seen what she had behind those tears. She was not just some naive cowardly idiot.
It's just that no one gave her a chance.
"Well..."
Kakashi finally found his words as he gave her the compliment he'd given to Nara Shizuka, all those years ago.
"You're braver than you look, do you know that? You're a brave kid."
Hinata smiled broadly. And there was the sound of shuffling feet. It seemed like the teacher-student talk was almost over, so Sasuke slowly started down the hallway, and flitted midway to the stairs. But not before he heard her last words. And he smiled despite himself.
"Thank you. I'd like to be that too."
(Freshman Building, Level 3)
"...are you nuts...?"
"I'm, no "we're" serious Kiba. Look, even the neutral line seems to be teaming up with the Hyuugas, we're definitely in the wrong here! We need some balancing!"
Kiba faced Touru with an skeptical scowl.
"What d'you mean the neutral line is teaming up with the Hyuugas? I don't see Temari, Shikamaru or Kankuro going out of their ways to diss us? Or you're not saying Subaku Gaara is waltzing out of his mansion on his crutches and cavorting with the Uzumakis?"
Kaoru shook her maroon bob and butted in.
"Well there's always been that stupid student council thing. They at least have a good rapport there, at least among themselves. It's sickening. "
Kiba groaned.
"Seriously Kaoru, that council thing is just an act, isn't that a given?"
"And to top it off, we heard about Kakashi."
"...what? ...You mean Hatake sensei?"
Having rolled him in, Touru hastily continued:
"You know a few decades back, the Hatake clan was wiped out on a rampage on our side?"
"...yeah...yeah, actually I do. But what has that got to do with, balancing, or whatever you're calling this? "
Touru lowered his head and spoke rapidly in an undertone. It was obvious he had this all thought out.
"Well, only two survived out of that massacre, and that was Hatake Kakashi, then 9, and Hatake Sakumo, his father. After that fiasco, there was that huge trial and all, even bigger than the one we had for Sasuke. Hatake Sakumo made a treaty with both lines, stressing that they were going to duck out of the whole neutral business after Sakumo has served his final years as the watcher. That was both his sentence and his wish, to be dropped off from the town's hierarchy. I bet Kei and quite a few of the younger generation don't know nothing about this, but before that shit happened, there were three neutral families in Konoha: Nara, Subaku, and..."
"...Hatake. "
Kiba grimly finished the sentence. He'd heard the stories and picked up a few grim details from pieced conversations that the elders and his uncle had had.
The three families used to go around with taking the main watcher role, with Hatake being the watcher, then Nara, then Subaku, then back to Hatake again. But during Sakumo's term, a huge argument had blown up between the Hyuuga line and the Uchiha, and Sakumo had sided up with the Hyuugas. No one specified what had exactly triggered the argument, but this much was clear: the Uchiha elders were livid. They felt the unspoken rules had been broken, and the cogs that had held up the precarious White Nights system crashed. The Uchiha line got hold of the then dome keeper, a young Subaku girl, and forced her to build a dome around the Hatake residence while the massacre took place.
Many casualties. But none was much questioned, for quite a lot of the people agreed that Sakumo had made a mistake in so blatantly siding up with the Hyuugas.
Seeing the conflicted look on Kiba's face, Touru pushed on.
"They're supposed to be neutrals aren't they? They're breaking the rules. I mean, look at Hatake Kakashi's background. The treaty clearly dictates that he should officially quit and sever all ties with the White Nights business, but see how he's been! "
Kazu swerved in and added a few words of his own:
"Shit, I still remember when that Nara Shizuka topped herself. They could've just put Shikamaru on that role, but nooo, Kakashi had to get involved didn't he?"
"Yeah. Who's to say he hasn't got a few ideas of his own? Ambition? Such as revenge on our line? Think about it Kiba."
Kaoru threw her ball down on the floor and stepped up.
"We all have a really bad feeling about Hatake Kakashi "volunteering" to teach Hyuuga Hinata. I'd say the elders has gone soft in the head. He's dangerous."
"Nah, the "entire" watcher team looks fishy to me. Those lot, always thinking high of themselves and all. Fuck them. "
"It ain't like we're doing this just for fun Kiba. We have our reasons. But we can't do anything without the consent of our selected, can't we?"
Touru cautiously studied the Inuzuka selected's face.
"You in?"
(bloodiedsugs30's words on WNSS)
Arc 5, and this time, it's Sasuke and Hinata's story.
The other arcs, although it involved Sasuke and Hinata, were equally focused on other characters, especially Shikamaru and Kiba. But I swear Arc 5 will revolve around SasuHina, mostly because now they have room to grow out their relationship. Everything's a little more laid back now they're back in school, and they also happen to have one more thing in common: they've both become outcasts of sorts for various reasons.
One more thing: I know some of you might be disappointed that Hinata isn't some super powered awesome heroine...but I wanted to portray the Hinata that I'd come to love in the original Naruto series. Sweet, timid and bold, a loyal girl who knows to stand by her beliefs. Someone who knows the virtue of self-sacrifice, someone who's not a downright genius, but who develops her inner strength as well as her outer one. I do promise though, by the end of the story, she'd be someone you'd all be proud of, even more than you are of her now.
Kakashi sensei and Gaara will also take more part in Arc 5. Thank you for reading.
Bear with me.