Sanctuary

Chapter 38

The bonds of family and friends hold strong

Hinata ran her hand through her long hair once again as she worked behind the ever growing pile of clan paperwork on her desk with only one thing on her mind. Where the hell was her father! Hyuga Hiashi had been gone two weeks now, the first week having been planned to go to a nearby hot springs higher up in the mountains. Hinata thought nothing of it when her father didn't arrive on the exact day of his scheduled return, things happened and she being a kunoichi completely understood this, however when it was the end of day two with no word from her father, Hinata began to get worried. Her concern only grew as the week passed with no word from the aging man. Fearing for her father's safety, Hinata sent Neji, who willingly obliged, to search for the former patriarch.

Sitting at the desk as she completed and filed all the forms, the indigo haired girl's concentration was lost by a knock to the door.

"Lady Hinata! You have an urgent request to see the lady Hokage at once!" A young genin said watching as Hinata stood with a quickness and left the room after giving the child a quick 'thank you'. Her mind was racing. Had something happened to her father? Had he been ambushed? What did Neji find? Did it have anything to do with this situation at all? As she hurried to the tower, Hinata climbed the stairs two at a time making it up the steps in record time. Shizune lifted her head from her work after spotting Hinata and immediately led her to the Hokage's office where Tsunade was waiting. As Hinata entered the office she was greeted to the sight of both Hyuga males much to her relief.

"Thank goodness! Have you any Idea how worried I was, you were due back last week Father, what happened?" Hinata said visibly relaxing seeing that her father looked healthy and in one piece. It was not Hiashi who answered, but Tsunade.

"Hinata, it is believed that your father hunted down and killed the village's most recent missing ninja Shimura Danzo." Tsunade said in a firm voice. Hinata stared curiously at them both.

"What? No, he was going to the hot springs in the upper mountain village for some time off, I practically had to force him to take some relaxation time because he does so much around the compound!" Hinata said in outrage. "Besides, he's sick hunting down a class S missing ninja would be too dangerous especially in his condition. My father knows well enough to draw the line, as bull headed as he can be he's no fool." Hinata closed her eyes and took a breath as she waited on Tsunade's response.

'Would he really be such a fool to go outside the lines like this? It's not like him…'

"Even the smartest of men can make foolish choices when their protecting what's nearest to them." Tsunade said sagely, her voice still with its no-nonsense tone. Hinata nodded her head, as much as she didn't want to admit it, there was a huge possibility of her father doing something stupid especially with the history Danzo had with her parents.

"I understand completely Lady Hokage, what are the charges?" 'Please don't let it be anything too crazy…'

"Unauthorized leave, reckless endangerment of search individuals, Unauthorized search and destroy of a missing felon… The list could go on Lady Hyuga. I'm sorry to say this, but because your father is a shinobi under my rule, he'll have to be incarcerated until a fair hearing can be managed for him, what he did was foolish." Hinata stared in shock, her father was going to jail! Her mouth went dry, but suddenly she remembered something.

"My father is no longer a shinobi under your rule Lady Hokage, because of his weak heart he could no longer be the clan leader, and because I had a feeling he may attempt to use his techniques outside the village on missions to prove himself able I had his shinobi status revoked completely. Now he is but a mere civilian, one of many in the Hyuga household. Because Clan leaders are responsible for the civilians in their households, I will end up being his judge and jury, if that meets with your approval, and believe me, I will not be lenient with him." Tsunade smiled for the first time that meeting.

"I approve of this, it means less paperwork for me." She said gesturing to the large piles of paper stacked behind her desk. "You are all dismissed."

"Thank you for your leniency Lady Tsunade." Hinata said with a bow as she walked from the Hokage's office, the two men following behind her. They had made it a safe distance from the Hokage's office when Hinata whirled around and for the first time struck her father outside of training. The resounding echo of the slap could be heard, and Neji stood and watched with wide shocked eyes as Hiashi looked at his daughter in disbelief.

"What you did was absolutely stupid!" Hinata said her voice shaking with rage as the two Hyuga males exchanged a glance, Hinata was livid for the first time in a very, very, long time. "Did you think you had some kind of score to settle? Were you trying to prove yourself? What was the point? He could have killed you! Do you know how worried I was? And poor Neji! Your foolish acts could have gotten your nephew killed!" She snapped, angry tears in her eyes, but as Hiashi opened his mouth to respond Hinata quickly cut him off.

"I sent you away to relax, not for you to take advantage of that and go on some suicidal mission! All I asked from you was to take a break and you lied to me! You promised to relax and think about your health and you couldn't even do that much for me, your daughter! So now I'm not your daughter, I'm your clan head. Hiashi Hyuga you're on house arrest indefinitely, and should I give you permission to leave the grounds you're going to have a Hyuga escort at all times!" Now she rounded on Neji actually making the taller boy flinch, but the voice Hinata used with him was much softer.

"Neji, take him to the compound and inform one of the night guards to keep stationed outside his room. I-I'm going home I can't handle this right now, good night." Without waiting for a response Hinata sped off towards the Namikaze house that she and Naruto shared.

The pale glow of lights reflected in the windows, but instead of going inside Hinata walked along the side of the house and entered their training grounds immediately she took her stance and began brutalizing the practice log working out her frustrations with every strike. She had been so focused on the outlet of her anger that she didn't even notice Naruto who had walked over to her until he was only a mere step away.

"Tough day Hinata? Granny Tsunade told me that your dad came back, shouldn't you be happy about that?" he asked tilting his head to the side watching as Hinata took another breath as she backed off of the training log, her palms raw and red from her angry strikes. As she turned to face her fiancé, the blonde could clearly see the emotions reflecting in her pale eyes.

"I'm so happy that my father and Neji are home safe, and I'm relieved to know that right now their sleeping safe and sound at the Hyuga compound, but what my father did frustrates me to no end!" Hinata said, her temper flaring up once again as she began striking the log once again.

"It was so stupid!" *Thwack* "Why would he do that?" *Thwack thwack* "Danzo was gone, he was no longer a threat to me!" *Thonk thwack thonk* "Not only that but he must have aggravated his heart fighting that man!" Now she faltered and looked at her raw palms. "My father is…he's not as strong as he used to be….not anymore." Hinata said wiping the sweat from her brow and letting out a shuddering breath. Her emotions were so jumbled right now Hinata didn't know what to do, so she went back to striking the post again. Naruto flinched as he watched each strike hit harder and harder than the last leaving red palm prints in her wake.

"Hinata, your dad may not be as strong as he used to be, but he's far from weak…" Now Hinata spun around to face her beloved blonde pouring out her heart's fears and concerns.

"But why Naruto! Why would he do that! He's not the protector anymore, I'm not some little girl who can't handle herself, he could have died! What he did was so absolutely reckless! It was-It was…" She said fisting her hair tightly in her hands in frustration.

"It was reckless yes…but you're his daughter Hinata. You're a person he holds so close to his heart that he'd even give his life to destroy a threat to your safety, happiness, and wellbeing. He loves you…give him a break." Naruto said softly wrapping his arms around the emotionally conflicted Hyuga and pulling her into a hug.

"But he could have died." She whispered softly resting her head on his chest and listening to the reassuring heartbeat.

"But he didn't. You however did." Naruto said shocking the girl out of her anger. Now Hinata looked at the blonde in confusion.

"How do you think your dad felt knowing that you went against an opponent far stronger than you, and because of that you died taking him out? How do you think he felt knowing that his eldest child died protecting one of the people who she held nearest and dearest in her heart? Did you think about helping me or was it instinctual? Your dad acted on pure instinct to remove a threat from his family and you did the same exact thing. I know for a fact that if I ever even so much as considered threatening a hair on Hanabi's head even in nine tails form you'd fight me to the death if it meant protecting your sister. They say that the bond a parent shares with their child is one of the strongest bonds that are ever formed; those that nearly match that are the bonds between siblings and close friends and lovers. Hiashi only acted so foolish to make sure you'd stay safe, that was his number one priority, and his actions showed it. What had once been a threat to his wife became a threat to his child, and threats need to be exterminated, what do you think would have happened in a few years had he not been killed. You could have been targeted again, or even worse, Hanabi. Even if you don't want to admit it, you know your father did the right thing, hell he beat the majority of us at it. Do you really think I just wanted to sit back here and do nothing? Of course not, I wanted to hunt the guy down since day one, and I know for a fact the entirety of the remaining Konoha eleven would have been right along with me, not to mention quite a few others. The key point is that he was protecting one of the people most precious to him, and when a person's fighting to keep safe someone they love even the most craziest choices will be right." Hinata closed her eyes.

"You're right… about everything, I would have done the same exact thing. I think more than anything, I was afraid to lose my father and my brother. Those two along with Hanabi are the only true blood family I have left in this world, and the thought of losing them tortured me to no end. Love makes us do crazy things doesn't it?" Hinata asked looking up at the blonde with a smile.

"Yeah, it does."

The morning sun shined brightly on the dawn of a new day, but although the weather's outlook was far from gloomy, the same couldn't be said as a trio of ninja said their good byes in a small un named village near the border of fire country.

"Thank you for teaching me Anko sensei, your lessons and wisdom will be of great use here in my village." The boy said bowing to his teacher.

"Don't mention it Blondie, just don't forget that you'll always be my student and you're welcome to join us in Konoha once again."

"Thanks… Hanabi, it was an honor to be your teammate. You accepted me without a second thought, even after you learned about my family and my past. I'm glad to say that for the first time in a really long time I can actually consider someone a friend, and you're a great friend Hanabi." Amon said as he gave the girl a hug. Hanabi smiled as they took a step back from each other and she offered her hand to him which he took happily.

"You will always be my friend, take care of yourself and make us proud, ok?" Hanabi said with a soft smile. On the outside she kept up her confidant face, but on the inside her heart was breaking, once she let go of his hand, she'd be leaving her best friend behind.

"Yeah, and try not to make us look like a bunch of pansies, show off what we taught you, but don't give away your secrets!" Anko said as she grinned at her two students and taking in the mental image of them together for what could possibly be the last time. "Well it's time for us to go kiddo." Anko said placing a hand on Hanabi's shoulder flashing a smile and a wink to the blonde before her.

"Hopefully we'll meet again someday Amon. You know where to find us." Anko said as she turned and walked down the path into the woods. Hanabi smiled and slowly released her friend's hand.

"I'll always remember the time we shared being team Anko…even if it wasn't official…I've gotta go…so I guess this is good bye." Hanabi said as she took a step back.

"No, it's not good bye, that would mean we'd never see each other again. I'll see you later Hanabi." These words made Hanabi smile brightly.

"Yeah, I'll see you later Amon." With a final look Hanabi hurried after her sensei.

"So, did you tell him?" Anko asked watching as Hanabi finally caught up to her.

"No, as much as I like him I know that he'll never see me as anything more than a little sister. I'm fine with that though….why ruin a good thing?" Anko nodded

"Alright, if you say so." Hanabi nodded with a smile as they headed back to the hidden leaf village, after all it wasn't good bye, they'd see each other again someday.

Thanks for reading guys, and I'm sorry for the horribly long wait, I've finally got my laptop 'Andy' back ^_^! Apparently when the jerk who broke my laptop threw it on the ground it messed up the mother board. Luckily all the files and chapters were saved and weren't lost when they fixed my computer! I'm going to start updating regularly now that I've got my baby back! This story's almost over, and don't worry, I'm not skimping out on the fighting scenes, that'll be in the next chapter. Much love for all those who waited and who enjoy reading my story, you all truly make me feel blessed! Thanks in advance for the reviews!