A/N: I have returned from the depths of IRL problems to continue this story. Don't worry, I'll finish this fic, even if it takes me a little while.
Time for chapter 29
Enjoy!
Temari sighed as she leaned back against the trunk of the tall tree she was sitting in. As per her previously established orders, she was watching Shikamaru Nara. The point of the distant stalking was to gather information and establish weaknesses to exploit in combat, but the lazy genin was making her job unbelievably difficult by being as close to an inanimate object as a person could be. The shadow user was currently sleeping in an open field, and had been for nearly thirty minutes.
'Do you exercise at all? You haven't done a damn thing since the prelims' the fan wielder grumbled in her mind as boredom and frustration overtook her. After five more monotonous minutes of mundane observation and silent seething, Temari swung her legs over the branch and hopped down to the ground.
"Screw this. I'm just going to go wake him up" she muttered to herself as she dusted off her shirt and rose to her feet. As she stretched her legs and prepared to cross the distance between the tree and the center of the nearby clearing, she heard an audible shift to her left, prompting her to glance in the same direction.
"Why were you in a tree?" Hinata, who had been walking along the path that passed underneath the tree, asked curiously. Temari studied her for a moment, searching her memories for the Hyuga girl's identity, recalling fairly quickly. Not being one to beat around the bush, the sand kunoichi answered honestly,
"I'm here to observe your teammate. I have orders, and I intend to follow them. Although, I'm starting to wonder how worth it this is. He doesn't do anything" she explained. Hinata laughed a bit and looked out into the field, where Shikamaru slept.
"That isn't going to change any time soon. He does his training within his own mind. You'll never be able to siphon information by just watching him. Speaking to him may be difficult as well. He isn't the most sociable person" she said. Temari sighed and shook her head.
"Why'd I have to get paired with him? If it had been that Neji guy or your other teammate, I would at least have something to watch" she complained. The Hyuga girl snorted.
"Count yourself lucky. Both Neji-san and Naruto-kun would tear you limb from limb. Tenten-san is a far cry from both of them" she retorted. The sand kunoichi raised an eyebrow.
"Naruto-kun? Gotta say, that's kind of a shocker coming from you. I've been known to be a little harsh with the men I pursue, but what you did was a little much, even for me. What did he do? Kill your cat?" she asked in reference to Hinata's preliminary match with the blonde. The heiress remained silent for a moment.
"Absolutely nothing. He simply was himself. He did what he was supposed to do, and it did him wonders. I made the error of mistaking his progress for my own failure. In the midst of my meltdown, I decided that he deserved to be punished. For what, even I did not entirely know" she said. The fan wielder scowled.
"Let me get this straight. You transformed into the literal incarnation of satan and tried to kill him all because you were jealous? That's it? That's more than a little fucked up" she said in a disgusted tone. Hinata nodded dejectedly.
"Believe me, I know. I've had it drilled into my skull by every single person close to me. Naruto-kun included, albeit a bit more gently. I regret what I did. I really do. I treated my beloved like a rat" she said. Temari pulled out a kunai and began to file her nails.
"I don't like you. You're a pompous brat" she said bluntly. Hinata scrunched up her eyebrows and gave her a questioning look.
"What about what I just was pompous?" she asked skeptically. The sand kunoichi shrugged and eyed the girl.
"Nothing. Your words are nice and rehearsed. It's all so damn eloquent. So well polished. You have that speech on standby for any occasion that the topic is broached. Besides, I don't live under a rock. I've seen you hauling Naruto around, looking happy as can be" she said. The Hyuga girl growled defensively.
"So what if I have a few select things I have in mind as set response? It doesn't change how much guilt I feel" she countered. The fan wielder stabbed her kunai into the tree trunk, causing Hinata to flinch.
"I never said you weren't feeling guilty. What I'm saying is that you're still being selfish. Let me guess, after the preliminary round, you decided that you were going to spend more time with him. You were going to make it up to him. You were going to show him just how much you cared. You're trying to drown your mistake in guilty affection. Have you ever wondered, just for a second or two, whether or not he wants to be around you?" Temari asked. The heiress scowled.
"It isn't even a question. He would have told me as much if he didn't" she said firmly. The sand kunoichi sighed and shook her head tiredly.
"You aren't getting it. Based on the looks he was getting from your own people, he isn't popular. Maybe it's for a good reason, but either way, he clearly doesn't have a big fanclub. Point is, Naruto would never say no. He would never turn you away. Not because you're some angel, but because he has nobody else to turn to, save for your sensei and that moron. Deep down, I think you know that" she said while jamming a finger towards Shikamaru's sleeping form.
"What are you suggesting?" Hinata asked dangerously. Temari began to walk away towards Shikamaru, leaving the heiress alone by the tree. Before she fully entered the clearing, she glanced back over her shoulder.
"That you're taking advantage of his terrible situation. If what Gaara told me has any substance to it at all, then you're in dire need of a reality check" she said as she finally made her way into the clearing. Hinata silently watched her shake and awaken Shikamaru before shaking her head and continuing her trek down the path.
'How many times will I be reprimanded for this? It seems the powers that be have opted to give me an extended punishment'
Gaara chuckled to himself as he observed a pair of young children. With one week remaining in the preparation period between the preliminary and final rounds of the exam, the Jinchuuriki had little to do beyond silently wander the streets of Konoha and occasionally settle to eat. The children he had been observing for the past five minutes couldn't have been older than eight years of age, and certainly acted as such. Childish remarks were plentiful in their conversations, all of which were prefaced by the female component of the pair crossing into the boy's personal space.
'The girl appears to be a member of the Hyuga clan. Fascinating. I was under the impression that they rarely left their estate' Gaara thought to himself as he watched them. After another few minutes, the girl became aware of his presence. She immediately tensed and tapped her companion on the shoulder to gain point him in Gaara's direction.
'It seems I've been discovered. I wonder, did she sense me, or did she simply catch sight of me?' he thought to himself. The children gawked at him fearfully for a moment before the boy took several shocking steps toward him, much to the dismay of the girl.
'She seems to be aware of who I am. The boy doesn't seem to be entirely informed, but his body language suggests that he can still sense my chakra' the redhead thought to himself. As he was approached, he stood up from the bench he had been sitting on, a smirk slowly spreading across his face.
"Can I help you?" he asked. The young boy stopped his advance roughly ten feet from Gaara and jammed a finger at him.
"No, but you're going to need help. Naruto is going to smash you!" he proclaimed. Gaara stifled a laugh as he gave the boy an unblinking stare.
'Oh, so he does know who I am. He's just too stupid to keep his mouth shut' he thought so himself humorously. The redhead tilted his head to one side and allowed his grin to widen.
"Riddle me this, boy. What if I do have help enlisted? What then? Do you still believe that your comrade can strike me down?" he asked. The boy frowned.
"What do you mean? The matches are one-on-one. You can't bring help" he said. Gaara chuckled and took a step forward.
"My case is a bit unusual. You see, the 'help' I speak of is a part of myself" he said as his eyes shifted from blue to gold, prompting the already-petrified child to stumble back and fall to his rear end. Gaara stared down at the boy for several moments, feeding on the fear radiating from him. The Jinchuuriki's aura could be felt throughout the street, as was shown by its sudden emptiness.
"I must say, I'm less than impressed by the people of Konoha. All so cowardly that they would abandon a child out of fear" the redhead said as he took another step forward. Before he could make another move, the girl rushed to her companion's aid and assumed a taijutsu stance.
"Go away. Leave him alone" she hissed, her dojutsu now active and flaring. Gaara laughed out loud at the turn of events.
"Now this is just adorable. Frozen with fear until your dear companion is threatened. A natural, and pathetic instinct. Let's see just how far into the depths you're willing to fall to follow that inclination" he said darkly as sand began to flow from the gourd on his back. The Hyuga girl's eyes widened and her knees buckled as terror overtook her. She turned her back to the Jinchuuriki and latched onto her terrified companion to shield him. The expected onslaught never came.
"Hanabi-sama, Sarutobi-san. Go back to the estate. Right now"
Hanabi slowly opened her eyes and glanced up. Neji had appeared, and was standing between them and Gaara. The Hyuga girl nodded and slowly let go of Konohamaru before helping him to his feet and pulling him along by the hand back towards the Hyuga estate. After they were gone, Gaara spoke.
"I was wondering when you would emerge from the shadows. What were you waiting for, exactly?" he asked. Neji scowled as he assessed the redhead.
"For you to move to harm them, which you did. You disgust me" he spat. Gaara grinned once more and put up his hands in a gesture of faux defensiveness.
"I never planned on hurting them too badly. I was simply drawing you out. Now, if just threatening them a bit hadn't worked, then maybe I would have roughed them up a little" he said coldly. The Hyuga boy growled.
"You would maim a child?" he asked dangerously. The Jinchuuriki shrugged and conjured his sand back into its gourd.
"Not without reason, no" he said. Neji felt his blood boil at the heartless implications of Gaara's answer. He then took a step forward.
"Why were you so bent on coaxing me out into the open? What is your motive?" he demanded. The Jinchuuriki shrugged.
"Nothing in particular. Equal parts boredom and curiosity, I suppose. With less than seven days left to prepare, I have little to entertain myself with, and I was also unsure of why you were trailing those children. If I had to guess, you act as the girl's bodyguard" he explained. Neji clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Yes, I do. Both she and her sister. I would suggest that you leave my sight. You and I may end up facing one another in the final round, and I assure you, my ire is something you want nothing to do with" he threatened. The redhead smirked.
"It seems that empty threats are commonplace in your clan. Hinata, who I would assume is that girl's sister, staked a similar claim. It's clear to me that you're less of a pushover than she is, but I would still caution you against running your mouth" he said menacingly. The Hyuga boy felt a bead of sweat trickle down his face as the air became tense and rigid.
"So far, I've only encountered one person in this village who hasn't reacted to my chakra the way you are now. He happens to be my opponent, which is convenient. I fully expect you to bludgeon my elder brother, so once I mash Naruto into a fine paste, you and I will meet. I suggest that you grow accustomed to the chakra of a Jinchuuriki within the week" Gaara said as he walked past Neji, who was admirably still despite his fear.
"Have a fine afternoon" the redhead called mockingly as he disappeared into the now-reforming crowd. Once his presence had vanished completely, Neji released the breath he had been holding.
'Psychopathic, demon-carrying, and terrifyingly intelligent. Uzumaki-san, I fear for your safety'
Hinata sighed tiredly as she closed the door of Hanabi's room and rubbed her eyes. It was nearly midnight, and both her sister and Konohamaru had required comforting and reassurance to be put to bed at all. Konohamaru had been arranged to stay in the estate that night at Hanabi's request. The heiress glanced down the hall and spotted Naruto, who had willingly ceased his nighttime drilling to aid her with the children, leaning against the wall.
"Every day that passes, the more I want to beat Gaara senseless" he said in a tone of barely-suppressed anger. Hinata leaned against the opposite wall and nodded.
"I would be concerned if you weren't feeling a bit angry. His actions are reprehensible. Neji's explanation makes sense, but to target children at all is just disgusting" she said. The blonde ran a hand through his hair.
"Thank god Neji was there to step in. I would have raised hell if either Hanabi or Konohamaru had gotten hurt. He's just doing all of this to goad us. He's just doing it for the hell of it. He's trying to get under mine and Neji's skin" he said. The Hyuga girl chuckled sadly.
"Perhaps this is just my competitive side speaking, but if I had beaten you, Sarutobi-san would not have been dragged into this. Just my family would suffer, and the stress of the situation would be less crippling for you" she said. Naruto shook his head.
"I care about your family, too. You guys have done a lot for me, and I would still be angry if this had nothing to do with Konohamaru. His involvement does add some fuel to that fire, though" he said. The heiress smiled.
"I'm glad you care about us, because we care about you. Especially myself. Our doors are always open" she said warmly. The Jinchuuriki returned the smile.
"I'll keep that in mind. I might have to take you up on that sometime. Unlike my apartment, this place actually has air conditioning" he joked, earning a tired laugh from Hinata. The pair lapsed into silence after the joke. Once roughly thirty seconds had passed, the Hyuga heiress spoke.
"It was brought to my attention today that I may have been...forcing my presence upon you a bit. That I may be taking advantage of your lack of social status. Does any of that resonate with you? Be honest, and don't worry about hurting my feelings" she asked carefully. Naruto thought for a moment.
"I would appreciate some privacy sometimes, I guess. I really do appreciate the amount that you visit me, it makes me happy. Sometimes, though, I just want to be alone with my thoughts. As for you taking advantage of me not having many friends, that isn't really your fault. You can't control how many people want to be around me" he replied. Hinata sighed.
"Okay, I will do my best to give you more space. Would it be okay if I still came to visit you a few times per week?" she asked hopefully. The Jinchuuriki laughed a bit.
"Hey, don't overreact. I never said I wanted you to stop visiting me. Your visits are the highlight of my day, even if that really isn't saying much. Just try to be a little bit less forward on days where I seem to be really tired, okay?" he said. The heiress nodded.
"Yes, absolutely. I can do that" she assured him eagerly. Another spell of silence then cast itself over the hall, but was broken in half the time.
"You're going to be a good father some day, Naruto-kun" Hinata said, earning a look of confusion from the Jinchuuriki.
"What gives you that idea?" he asked skeptically, clearly unconvinced by the sudden statement. The Hyuga girl gestured to her sister's room, where Hanabi, and much to Hinata's disapproval, Konohamaru slept.
"You managed to both calm down and reassure them both with incredible ease. You even managed to convince Hanabi to go to bed, something even I struggle to do" she explained. Naruto shrugged.
"I just told them that they were safe and that I was going to make Gaara pay in blood. After I said that, they were totally fine" he said. The heiress sighed.
"Such morbid wording. At least it did the trick. Either way, thank you for cutting into your training to help me. I really appreciate it, Naruto-kun" she said gratefully. The Jinchuuriki smiled and stretched to begin his walk out of the hallway.
"No need to thank me. This was more important than any training I could have been doing. I also got a free dinner out of you, so I have absolutely nothing to complain about" he said. Hinata reddened a bit at the compliment to her culinary skill. She watched him slowly walk down the hall for a moment before calling out to him.
"Would you like to be walked home?" she asked. Naruto glanced back over his shoulder and shook his head, much to her initial disappointment.
"I'm not going home. I'm going to help your guards keep watch. If Gaara comes back, which I doubt he will, your guards aren't going to be able to handle him. Maybe I'm worrying too much, but I'd like to be sure. And before you ask, I don't want you to help. Get some sleep" he said. Hinata sighed and made her way up to him. She then leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"Be safe, and if you need anything, come and get me" she said. Naruto stared at her blankly before nodding and smiling a bit.
"Will do, now go to bed" he said as he walked away. Once he rounded a corner and disappeared from sight, the heiress folded her hands over her chest.
'Yes, you'll be a fine father, and an even finer husband'
A/N: Sorry for the longer wait, folks. I had some stuff to take care of. Hope you all enjoyed. Tell me what you thought :)
See you next chapter! Read and review!