Chapter Thirty-Three
The sound of Aunt Kushina making breakfast awoke Hinata from her slumber. Every instinct deep down told her to keep her eyes closed, but she knew it was a fool's errand. Time was passing, and she was almost out of it. She opened her eyes to see Naruto smiling at her, "Good morning," he greeted, "sleep well?"
She nodded slightly, unsure how to respond. "Yes, thank you," she said as she slowly got up. When this is all over, we have a lot to talk about you and me. As much as Hinata was afraid of revisiting the past twenty-four hours, she knew at some point they'd have to.
"Why don't you go shower first," he yawned, looking at his watch, "We don't have long to get ready."
Hinata extracted herself from the couch, hearing the joints in her back popping. In few short minutes, she was showered and back downstairs. She was still wearing her mission gear from yesterday. Aunt Kushina had a hot bowl of congee and a side of bacon waiting for her. "Thank you, Aunt Kushina."
"You're welcome," she said with a smile before turning to Naruto, "Son, why don't you go shower, I'll have your breakfast ready when you get back down." As Naruto left, awkward silence held in the air between Hinata and the woman she treated like a second mom. Hinata had just slept with Kushina's son. Even though she and Naruto hadn't done anything, she couldn't help but feel like she'd been caught doing something extremely naughty. Kushina sipped her morning coffee and smiled thinly, "So, how was Hokage Rock?"
Despite Kushina's non-threatening demeanor, Hinata treated the question like an interrogation. "Pleasant," she answered.
Kushina's mouth curled at one corner, "You know, my husband and I used to go up to Hokage Rock all the time, stunning view, and quite romantic in the early evening."
She was baiting her for sure, "Umm… yes, it was… quite beautiful."
"My son," Kushina turned pink, "he didn't try anything, did he?" Kushina laughed nervously.
"Umm," she fidgeted nervously, "no, he didn't try anything."
Suddenly, Kushina raised an eyebrow, "Wait a…. did you?!" Kushina yelped in surprise.
"A… a kunoichi doesn't kiss and tell!" Hinata exclaimed thoughtlessly, instantly wishing she could suck the words back in from Kushina's ears.
"Ah ha!" Kushina laughed, "So you did kiss him!"
Hinata's heart threated to explode like a poorly formed Rasengan. "I… uh.. umm… ahhh.. ummm…" Hinata instinctively fidgeted with her fingers.
Kushina suddenly looked terrified, "He wasn't that bad at it, was he?!"
"NO!" Hinata protested, "He was great… he was…" she paused, noticing Kushina's smile returned. "You were baiting me, weren't you…" Hinata again fidgeted nervously.
"Hey, it's okay," Kushina patted her on the shoulder, "I was sort of expecting it."
"Expecting?" Hinata asked confused.
Kushina spooned a helping of congee before continuing, "You two are getting to that age: you're both going to be thirteen in a few more months. Heck, my Minato was only thirteen when he rescued me.
Hinata and Kushina both sighed dreamily. The story was insanely romantic every time it was retold – the handsome young yellow flash of Konoha rescuing the red-hot habanero princess and sweeping her off her feet. "I wish, I had things half as well sorted as you two did."
"Let me tell you something," Kushina pointed her empty spoon at Hinata, "We were far from figured out for a long time, I assure you!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I knew I loved him with all my heart," Kushina explained, "but remember were genin, and not on the same team, either. We both started going on missions a lot after becoming a couple, frequently not together, and then there was time Mount Myoboku."
"That's right," Hinata suddenly felt deflated – whether or not she won today, Naruto would be leaving in less than a year.
"Hey, why the long face?"
"It's just that," Hinata sighed, "He'll be gone for almost three years."
"Yes," Kushina said thoughtfully, "my little boy will walk out that door one morning and not return until he's a man." Kushina closed her eyes, possibly against tears.
"Aunt Kushina, I- I didn't mean to upset you," Hinata stammered.
"It's okay, I just forgot how soon it would be coming."
"How… did you two get through?"
Kushina blushed, "Well, the day he left, I gave him a lock of my red hair tied with a red ribbon and a photo of me." Kushina tented her hands, staring longingly at something long ago, but not far away. "And he left me a photo to remember him by." Kushina extracted a simple pewter locket shaped like a heart from beneath the collar of her shirt. She delicately opened the locket, showing a positively ancient photo of Minato, maybe age thirteen at the oldest.
"He's handsome, just like Naruto," Hinata smiled, "So the distance didn't hurt?"
"Oh, it hurt plenty," Kushina corrected, "I just kept reminding myself it was worth it. And it made us stronger when he did get back." Kushina grinned, "First thing he did was take me up to Hokage Rock!"
"Oh… oh!" Hinata blushed, "Please tell me that wasn't where Naruto was made!"
Kushina burst out laughing, "No, silly, that was much later…" Kushina trailed off as she turned red as her hair, as if laughing inside at some private joke.
"What is it?" Hinata asked.
"A lady… does not discuss such things…" Kushina chuckled, "You'd better finish your breakfast; Naruto will be down soon."
Hinata resumed eating, and soon a freshly dressed and showered Naruto bounded down the stairs, "All right, let's make this snappy – a long day awaits!" Naruto began shoveling in his breakfast as there was a tapping at the door.
"I got it," Kushina said, getting up to answer the door. She opened the door, "Good morning, Konohamaru!"
"Reporting for duty, master!" the boy bowed. Konohmarua was dressed in a dark blue field uniform, looking strangely older and more mature than the roguish student with a disturbingly large collection of girly magazines she remembered him as.
"The escort is ready?" Kushina asked.
"You'd better believe it," an arrogant voice called behind the boy.
"Duck-butt?" Naruto called incredulously with a mouth full of congee, "What are you doing here?"
"Here to escort her and your dribbling gob on a date, what do you think I'm doing here?!" Sasuke replied indignantly.
"Boys, settle!" Kushina commanded. "Is everything ready?"
Sasuke nodded, "Overwatch and close escort are all in place." He turned to Hinata and Naruto, "I'm just waiting on them."
Hinata felt her heart thunder in her chest and her appetite disappear. "Let's get this over with." Hinata stood from the table. Do or die, let's not die!
Hiashi Hyūga stood at the gate to the Hyūga Compound. He felt every bit as solemn as the family fortress to his back. He hadn't slept a wink last night, neither had his wife. When the call came from Kushina that there had been an attempt on Hinata's life, his already frayed nerves began to short circuit. Father denied any involvement in the attack. His mind soon wandered to his twin brother who was now standing next to him. Hizashi had been one of Hinata's earliest critics. As far back as Hinata's second birthday, Hizashi made a point to highlight Hinata's squeamishness around a crowd. At least one time, Hiashi had to activate his brother's cursed seal when he sensed his brother's murderous intent – hoping to replace Hinata with Neji.
"Whatever happens today, brother," Hizashi spoke, "there is no shame in whatever daughter loses her status."
Hiashi suspected it was a barb, only Hinata faced serious loss in status if she lost today. Hanabi, would only lose her right to challenge for leadership if she lost today. However, he appreciated his brother at least trying to reach out. "The only shame, my brother," he paused, turning to Hizashi, "is that Yukio is not here." Hiashi bowed his head in sadness. The death of Hizashi's wife and Neji's mother was mourned by all of the clan, and she had been a peacekeeper among the brothers and their father. Hiashi sighed; her death had been the death of any hope for a peaceful transition in the family as one generation took the place of the next.
"What would she say if she were here now?" Hizashi wondered aloud.
"She'd probably scold us for acting like children fighting over a toy."
"She was…" Hizashi choked momentarily, but he regained composure, "a remarkable woman." He turned to Hiashi, "Strangely, Hinata reminds me of her."
"Does she, now?" Hiashi asked, intrigued.
"She does not give up, right up until the end," Hizashi shook his head, "and she shows remarkable strength when most people have already written her off."
"She does," Hiashi replied, seeing the veritable parade approaching. Team Seven, Team Eight, and Team Ten approached, along with Kushina and young Konohamaru, forming a perimeter around Hinata. Along the nearby rooftops, Hiashi could spy Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Lord Fourth, himself. And just like Yukio, she brings together an unlikely group.
As they approached, Hinata looked nervous, but surprisingly well-rested and calm. Hiashi had a team ready to move Hinata's belongings should the worst happen, and the same team had the order to unpack her belongings and put them back neatly should she win. Hiashi would worry about handing over the clan leader's private quarters later – when this was all over.
The group arrived, making way for Hinata and Naruto. "Father, I've come to face the challenge." She took Naruto by the hand, "And he is my trainer and my witness."
Hiashi nodded grimly, "Naruto, you understand the penalty of intervening is her forfeiture."
"I do," he nodded.
"You are the only outsider in the compound during these events; you are to act as observer and coach, nothing more. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You'll have to disarm before you are admitted, son," Hiashi said. Naruto handed over a kunai and allowed Hizashi to pat him down, searching for concealed weapons. Hizashi nodded. "This way then," Hiashi guided them into the compound.
A whole swarm of butterflies circled in Naruto's stomach. The next thirty minutes or so would decide Hinata's fate and the fate of the Hyūga Clan. As if that wasn't enough, Part Two of the Chunin exam was only a week from today. When it rains, it pours. When this was all over, he needed desperately to take some time off. He hadn't slept well in weeks, and they had been training hours daily nonstop for months - even Naruto was starting to feel burned out.
Hinata entered the small antechamber dressed in a black two-piece exercise sweat suit. It would allow her full use of her arms and legs, and it could be easily removed my medics if necessary to save her life. Despite the mask of calm, he could see her lip quivering. A quick glance at the clock on the wall indicated why. Five minutes to heaven or hell. "Na-Naruto," she quivered. She looked ready to cry.
Finally, he could take it no more, "Hinata!" He embraced her, terrified this might be the last time. "We got this, right?" he asked as much to reassure her as himself.
"Yes," she cried, "we've done this a million times! We know what we're doing!" She continued to cry as she desperately clutched to him.
"We'll get Ichiraku's afterwards," he didn't release her, "It'll be my treat!"
"Naruto," she pulled back, staring nervously into his eyes with her mysterious amethyst orbs, "what if the worst happens?"
A thousand words hung in his throat. Oh god! It was one thing to move her out of the compound and help her start over, but the thought of her dying today had been an abstract concept until now. You can't die today! There's too much we haven't shared yet, too many things we haven't seen in the world, too much… Naruto pulled her back to him, speaking the desperate words and emotions swirling inside him through his kiss. For a long moment, they stayed wrapped up in each other, praying time would stop and leave them here. A chime of the clock reminded them that time would wait for no one, no matter how desperate.
"Hinata," Naruto separated himself from her warm rose petal lips, "it's time!" He straightened himself, and she made sure she was presentable. "Let's go!" He nodded and they exited the room hand in hand.
The bright sunlight of late morning initially caused Hinata to pause as they exited the ready room. Despite the warm summer air and her choice of clothing, she felt cold all over after separating from Naruto. Nevertheless, she willed her legs to carry her into the courtyard. The elders, including Dad and Grandfather, were standing along one side of the courtyard where she and Hanabi had fought on New Year's Eve. At the opposite side, stood Hanabi in a sweat suit identical to the one Hinata was wearing. I wonder if they planned it this way. Planning a repeat showing, gentlemen?
Naruto walked her to starting mark, still holding her hand. His hand was sweating. There wasn't time to discuss what they had shared just now, and she wasn't sure if there'd be time after. She wanted to tell him how incredibly happy he'd made her when he was near. She wanted to say thank you to him for helping her grow. There will be time for it later, just win! As he separated from her, she called back to him, "Remember, don't try stopping the fight under any circumstances." She smiled, he smiled, and Naruto walked back wordlessly.
"Ready, sister?" Hanabi stood at her mark. She already had her Byakugan activated.
"Ready," Hinata said with determination.
"Ladies," father spoke, "when the fight starts, it continues until one of you is knocked out or surrenders. Whomever is still standing will be the leader of the Hyūga Clan." He glanced at each of them. "Make us proud! Bow!" Both faced Father and bowed. "Bow to each other!" Hinata and Hanabi exchanged pleasantries. "On your marks, fight!"
Hanabi lashed out with Gentle Fist immediately. Despite expecting it, Hinata was still a bit off-guard by the ferocity of the attack. She yielded ground. It didn't matter; as long as they didn't leave the courtyard, there was not any out of bounds. Hinata got her block up and activated her Byakugan.
Hanabi was much more refined in her technique this time, clearly the result of long practice and discipline from Grandfather. Hinata matched a flurry of hand strikes with an impossibly faster series of blocks – focusing her chakra to move faster and form a barrier to hold off Hanabi's attacks. You're not the only one who has been practicing, little sister! Hanabi disengaged for a moment, opening the distance between them. Hinata refused to take the bait. Hanabi's chakra began boiling in frustration. That's right; burn off all your energy.
"Hanabi," she called out to her sister, "it doesn't have to be like this." Hanabi lashed out as expected. Hinata had her guard up, and the attack faltered as Hanabi spun through a roundhouse kick before surging with a follow up one-two series of punches. Hinata let them close enough to appear dangerous but remained careful to keep her guard up and avoid any gentle fist attack. Keep her attacking!
This time, Hinata disengaged, letting Hanabi blast past her. As she surged into the narrow window that was her sister's blind spot, Hinata rapidly whipped her fingers through the multiple shadow clone hand seals. She was soon joined by five clones. "Hanabi," they spoke in chorus, "you don't have to do this!"
"Shut up and fight!" Hanabi charged at the clones, piercing chakra points on three of them in one pass, causing them to dissolve. She's distracted, go for it! Hinata made a quick leg sweep that Hanabi dodged as one of the clones charged forward recklessly. Hanabi dodged over the leg attack but was so distracted from the approaching clone she didn't notice Hinata slip away, summoning a dozen more clones.
"Hanabi, we're sisters!" Hinata and her clones pleaded, "Why must we fight?"
Hanabi surged at the large number of clones, clearly unable to tell which was which. She'd cut down three quarters of them, but Hinata summoned thirty more, crowding her and the courtyard. "I'm not your enemy, little sister," Hinata called out with her clones. "I love you, the baby sister I cared for as a little girl!"
"Shut up!" Hanabi lashed out, this time tears joining the long beads of sweat on her face. I'm getting through!
Hinata summoned as many clones as she could, setting up the finale for her plan as her clones filled every inch of standing room remaining the courtyard – crowding Naruto and the elders. "Hanabi, if you want it so badly, take it!"
"GAHHHH!" Hanabi screamed as she began tearing thought the clones as fast as she could. Hinata didn't bother replenishing most of them, just a few here and there to hide her movements while forcing Hanabi to continue expending her energy. Hinata, too, was starting to feel the first signs of fatigue as she continued summoning clones. This would be impossible without Nine-Tails! Hinata felt a certain grin of approval in the back of her head, perhaps a sign that Kurama appreciated the recognition.
Hanabi continued the thrash about as the clones began thinning, being replaced by fewer and more spaced copies. She's set up, now let's finish this! Hinata let all the clones dissolve suddenly. She was on her knees at the far end of the courtyard. "Is it worth it Hanabi?" She called out. "Any one of those could have been me, and you could have killed me. Is the title of clan leader worth it!" she yelled. "If you want it so badly, come and get it!"
Hanabi wasted no time charging across the courtyard, her face cherry red and streaming long rivulets of sweat and tears. Hinata didn't flinch as Hanabi threw a strike that would hit the chakra point in the front of her neck, paralyzing her lungs and probably her heart. Hinata knew would be dead in seconds.
As the strike hit home, Hanabi grinned in triumph. Hinata grinned as she emerged from her sister's blind spot as the kneeling shadow clone disintegrated. I'm sorry, little sister! Before Hanabi could do anything, Hinata struck with one finger, piercing the chakra point at the base of Hanabi's skull. Hanabi went rigid at first, and she then fell forward like one of Naruto's failed early attempts at a shadow clone. It was a seldom-used Gentle Fist technique, even for seasoned clan members, and the clan considered it the mark of a true expert to drop an opponent in battle with it.
Hinata guided her now paralyzed sister down softly to the ground, and she immediately knelt next to Hanabi, making sure that she was, indeed, still breathing. "Don't try to get up, Hanabi, you'll be paralyzed for about twenty-four hours or so," she whispered. Despite the paralysis, abject terror carved into Hanabi's face, clearly expecting Hinata to subject her to a slow and painful death. Hinata had no such intentions; she gently stroked her sister's hair lovingly. "It's over, Hanabi; it's time for us to move on as a family."
Hinata sensed and saw the elders covering their mouths with surprise. They all really thought I was going to die! Hinata grinned, and she stroked her sister's silken hair. Now time to make sure this never happens again! Hinata stood up, her grin turning to an indignant scowl as she stalked toward the elders. The elders had expected her to deliver a killing blow, but she wouldn't give them the satisfaction. For so long they had undermined her, turned Hanabi and others against her; never again. Hinata was no longer the heir of the Hyūga Family, she was its leader now. And she would stay their leader until the day came when she passed it on to her son or her daughter. Time to remind them why it is a bad idea to undermine the clan leader!
"Your champion is beaten!" she roared with a growing ember of anger. "You thought you could drive us apart and rule from the shadows, no more!" Hinata's chakra began flowing as she eyed her grandfather, burning a brilliant purple as she began slowly channeling Nine-Tails, not enough to begin transforming the way Naruto did, just enough to make clear she'd been holding back. "I now am your clan leader!" she shouted, eyes cutting the air all the way to grandfather, "And anyone who can't live with that can form a line right now!" Hinata's fists clenched into tight masses of burning chakra, ready to strike down the first person foolish enough to speak out of turn.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Naruto and Neji, concerned, but clearly approving. Father, too, hung back from the group, his face impassive except for the slightest curl of his lip. Hinata's attentions was suddenly captured by a flicker in the corner of her blind spot. Instinctively, she leapt back and to her left, capturing view two masked figures standing atop the awning at the rear of the courtyard. One was the same guy in the red jumpsuit and Oni mask from last night – his claws were already out. The other wore a stark-white robes and a horrific mask in the visage of the hellish Shinigami – the soul consuming death demon.
She knew it was a man in a mask, but that didn't settle well on her already over-strained bladder. Last night there had only been one, now there were two, and both had murder on their minds – she didn't need Byakugan to see that. The one in the Shinigami mask gestured, and a barrier ninjutsu sealed the courtyard all around, trapping everyone. The wicked Oni snapped a finger, and a series of tiny explosions erupted under the elders, much to Hinata's surprise. So, they aren't in on it!
The elders began coughing as the small blasts kicked up a fragrant dust that Hinata had burned into her memory – Black Sleeper! Even from this distance, the scent was overpowering as when Naruto trained her to recognize it after her third birthday. Hinata watched in horror as the elders, Father, and Uncle Hizashi collapsed to the ground. Only Naruto and Neji had reacted with enough speed to avoid being affected; Naruto arriving on her right and Neji on her left. The man in the red jumpsuit leapt downward from the awning, extending the long metal claws he wore on his hands toward them. I have a very bad feeling about this! Either they were going to pull off a miracle, or her reign as clan leader was soon to be the shortest in history.
Naruto watched from the sidelines as Hinata issued her challenge to the clan elders. Waves of relief washed over him, knowing that months of training and careful prep work had gone according to plan. He had no doubt this was not the end but only the beginning of challenges to come. Hanabi for sure needed to be sent to the hospital and probably would need serious counselling for months or years to undo the damage her grandfather had done – maybe even counselling for the whole immediate family. The rest of the clan would need a serious attitude adjustment with the arrival of its new leader. It didn't matter; they had won without question. Naruto sighed, thinking of how good a celebratory trip to Ichiraku's sounded for lunch – he could almost taste it. He involuntarily licked his lips as he imagined the taste of heavenly ramen.
As he licked his lips, he also tasted the heavenly memory of the kiss he and Hinata had shared just before the match. Naruto's heart began thundering and his toes curled instinctively. Will she want to kiss me again? Will it be as warm and thrilling as the first time? Will she want to be my girlfriend now? The questions swirled in his head, and a particularly naughty part of his brain conjured the image of them on a picnic far from any prying eyes and the two of them refining their technique. Naruto's lip curled into a sly grin without prompting.
Hinata suddenly darting back and away shook him back to reality. What the hell!? Before he could say it, he saw what had set her off. The man in the red robes! Naruto dropped into a low stance, reaching for the kunai in his belt – the same kunai he had surrendered at the gate. SHIT! Before he could chide himself further, Naruto heard the god-awful fizz sound of explosive tags at his feet.
Naruto snatched Neji by the arm and thrust both of them forward toward Hinata. Rather than the massive boom expected in their wake, the tags sounded like firecrackers with a familiar poppoppoppop! Naruto prayed it was a cruel joke, but the wafting scent of Black Sleeper dust told him this was part of something much more elaborate.
Naruto arrived at Hinata's side, Neji flanking her other side. The man in red vaulted down in front of them, brandishing his wicked rake-like claws like a wild beast. Dammit, this isn't how this was supposed to end! A trip to Ichiraku's and about twenty-four hours sleep was in order! After everything he, Hinata, and others had suffered for, he'd be damned if some freak in a costume took her away.
Hinata kept her Gentle Fist charged, as did Neji. He on the other hand, could do little with no weapon. Charging in headlong would just get him killed. On second thought, it might make a good trick, wonder if it will work twice? Naruto made the hand seal for shadow clones, summoning dozens to swarm their opponent. "Hinata, Neji, like we practiced!" The array of clones raced forward in a frontal assault.
Hinata broke right and Neji broke left, racing toward the now thoroughly swarmed opponent trying to desperately cut down the clones. Naruto maintained his focus, staring through his clones' eyes, looking for anything he could hit that could cause damage. There! One clone rammed a fist into the man's left flank under the ribcage. The next thing Naruto saw was the clone being impaled and disintegrating. A normally crippling blow in a fight hadn't even stunned the monster!
Hinata's attempt at a gentle fist strike was thwarted by the need to backflip away from a bladed swipe by the assassin. Neji fared little better – barely stopping his forward momentum in time to avoid being impaled by the silvery blades glinting in the midday sun. The man in red slashed twice at Neji before spinning into a roundhouse kick that landed squarely in Neji's solar plexus. As Neji staggered backward, the man slashed across the boy's chest and abdomen, carving angry red rivulets across his torso. "Neji!" Naruto and Hinata screamed in horror as the man's other claws made a much deeper set of wounds in Neji's left thigh. Neji screamed as he fell to the ground, struggling against the torrent of blood spilling from his leg.
Naruto raced forward as he saw the man turn his attention to Hinata. Unarmed or not, he wasn't about to let the bastard make so much as a mark on her. Naruto summoned more clones. The claws began raking at Hinata as she responded desperately by weaving a wall of charka. She's already exhausted, go! The clones went high, and Naruto rolled low as the red Oni slashed at the more prominent attackers. Putting his full weight into his attack, Naruto came out of the roll and slammed the heel of his foot into the enemy's knee with a sickening CRACK!
Naruto's triumph was short-lived. As the man's knee gave out, one of his bladed claws pierced Naruto through the left shoulder. The sickening sensation of frozen lightning striking him shot down Naruto's left arm and up to the corner of his jaw. Naruto began taking stock of how badly things had just gotten. Being stabbed in the shoulder was, despite what he'd seen in movies, one of the worst spots to take an injury in battle. On top of it, he could smell Black Sleeper Sap on the blade. He'd been poisoned, and he'd be combat ineffective shortly. If I live that long! The sedative effect of the sap on the blade was already making him feel disconnected. The red devil began raising his right hand with an eye to impale Naruto through the throat. GET UP! MOVE! He tried moving his limbs, but he was pinned in place and unable to focus.
"Get away from him, YOU BITCH!" a hellish shriek caused the demon to pause. The dark mass of Hinata's form leapt like a panther about the slaughter its prey. With one arm pinned by Naruto, the man lashed out ineffectively with his free arm. Hinata didn't even need to dodge the awkward strike as she hit the man in the left ribs with a Gentle Fist strike. The man staggered backwards, his blade making a disgusting sucking sound as it withdrew from Naruto's shoulder. An enraged Hinata didn't stop as she hit the man again, and again, and again.
Despite feeling dizzy and exhausted from blood gushing hot a sticky down his front and the black sleeper running through his veins, Naruto struggled to his feet as he counted Hinata's twelfth strike on the man in only a few second. The man in red crumbled to the ground like a sack of rice. Hinata paused, hunched over her knees, then falling to her knees, and she began heaving from sheer exhaustion.
Naruto's exhaustion was replaced with an absolute adrenaline rush as he saw the second man in white leaping down from the awning, the barrier he was maintaining evaporating as he descended. The man in the reaper mask had donned a set of long claws like his companion, and he was descending toward a defenseless Hinata. SHIT! Summoning all his strength remaining, Naruto lunged to put himself between Hinata and the path of the blades.
From the corner of his eye, Naruto saw another mass approaching. Ignore it, protect her! As he covered Hinata with his body, Naruto felt something heavy shove both of them aside. There was a sickening squish of blade going through flesh and a gurgle of a man's lungs filling with blood. As Naruto focused his eyes, he saw Hizashi Hyūga in front of them, impaled through the chest by the assassin's three blades.
"UNCLE HIZASHI!" Hinata screamed with wide eyes.
The clearly dying man locked eyes with Naruto. "Pro..ect… er…" he wheezed. Despite the lack of voice, Hizashi grabbed the outer blades protruding from his chest with enough force to warp the blades outward. The last noble act of a man sworn to protect his brother's family was to become dead weight on the enemy.
Naruto saw the opening created by Hizashi's sacrifice – the enemy's bladed arm was now uselessly stuck in place. Searing rage overcame Naruto as he fought back against exhaustion to summon shadow clones; he also summoned his chakra to his right hand. Building, rotating, and concentrating his chakra, Naruto charged headlong at the reaper, struggling to keep his aim centered as his vision began doubling. "Rasengan!" he shouted as he slammed the concentrated mass into the man's face. The massive blast left Naruto temporarily blinded and deafened as his opponent went flying.
Naruto watched his opponent land and roll before hitting a structural column of the house. The man didn't get back up. Content he was done fighting, Naruto let his knees give out. Everything was becoming hazy. "Hizashi…" he stared at the lifeless corpse of his rescuer and the blades sticking out of the man's back. He was too numb to do or say anything else. Naruto instead collapsed face down as the poison finally overcame him. "Naruto!" he could hear Hinata shout. "Naruto!" she clutched and turned him over. "Naruto!" Sound and vision were becoming unfocused, but Naruto stared at Hinata's face, still lovely despite tears and worry. Naruto couldn't fight it any longer, "Hinata," he whispered as he closed his eyes, frightfully unsure if he'd open them again.
The waiting room of Konoha Hospital was painfully familiar as Akemi Hyūga paced waiting for news. Akemi cursed herself for sitting out the duel. Had she been there and not hiding in her room, waiting for the end like a frightened child hiding under the bed, she could have done something, anything! Instead, she only reached the courtyard at the first sign of trouble to find the barrier sealing her out and everyone else inside. By the time she'd reached Lord Fourth, Kakashi, and Kushina for help, it was all over. When they entered the courtyard, they were greeted by a grizzly sight. Hizashi had died heroically. Hiashi and most of the elders were barely conscious and severely sickened by some kind of Black Sleeper Dust.
The kids had fared no better. Hanabi was paralyzed from having her chakra blocked. Hinata was physically uninjured by bordering on catatonic as she struggled to tend to Naruto and Neji. Naruto and Neji were both suffering severe stab wounds – Neji barely clinging to life. How did this happen! His leg looked like it had been mangled in a machine! Now he has no parents! Will he ever walk again!
"Akemi," a raspy, tired voice came from behind her. She turned to see her husband moving with a walker, escorted by a medical-nin.
"Darling!" she ran to him, placing him in a vice-grip. Akemi prayed that she wasn't hallucinating her husband standing here alive with him.
"Akemi…" he whispered, "Hanabi, Hinata?" His face was pleading.
"Physically, they're both fine. Hanabi's chakra is blocked; she won't be able to move for a day or two."
"Neji!"
"He's…" Akemi began crying, "… in surgery right now. Lady Tsunade is with him right now!" Akemi left unsaid there was a reasonable chance Neji would lose his leg even if he survived. By the time Sakura, Ino, Kushina, and she had reached him, Neji had been in severe hypovolemic shock after nearly bleeding out from a cut to his femoral artery. They had lost his pulse several times in the short span of time it took to reach him and Lord Fourth to transport him to the Hospital.
"What about Naruto?" he asked grimmly
"Alive, exhausted, but alive," Kushina called as she approached from behind.
"Kushina!" Akemi ran to her friend, embracing as they reached one another. "Is he?"
"He'll be fine, it looked a lot worse than it was," Kushina heaved, tears leaking from her eyes. "My husband and Kakashi already took him home; I doubt he'll be awake any time soon." There was something unsaid in Kushina's violet eyes. Akemi knew deep down knew Naruto's miraculous physical recovery would not likely be accompanied by as swift of a psychological recovery if Hinata's current state was anything to go on.
"He's a strong boy," Hiashi said grimly. He shook his head, "But I must admit, I'd never wish any such thing on my worst enemy's child.
"Lord Hiashi!" Tsunade raced down the sterile hospital hallway. She was dressed in green scrubs with dark sweat stains, suggesting she'd been on the surgical team with Neji.
"Tsunade!" Akemi gasped, unable to collect her thoughts, "Neji?"
"He's going to pull through!" she replied to everyone's relief, "We managed to restore blood flow to the leg, but it may be several days before we know for sure what kind of damage he'll have." Tsunade shook her head. "But I have bad news," the legendary medical-nin stared at the ground.
"Tsunade, what has happened!" Kushina's red hair flailed wildly with concern.
"The dose of Black Sleeper Dust the assassin used was significantly stronger than it needed to be," she looked at Hiashi, "You were lucky to be standing apart with your brother… most of the Elders…"
"What happened to the Elders, Tsunade!" Hiashi exclaimed as his eyes became wide with terror.
"Only three made it," she shook her head, "I'm sorry Hiashi, you father is dead."
Akemi instinctively clutched her husband as he shook, a spasm of pain in his face. Unexpectedly he became calm, "Perhaps it is for the best," he said. "He couldn't have survived having lost control of his clan twice."
"Lady Tsunade," a medical-nin's assistant approached, "Lady Hyūga is requesting her mother."
Akemi locked eyes with Tsunade and Kushina, "Go," they told her in unison, "Treatment room eleven," Tsunade said.
Akemi ran the short distance from the waiting room to the treatment room. Hinata was seated on the exam table, curled in a ball. She was still in the same black sweat suit she'd been wearing in the courtyard, still stained with Naruto and Neji's blood. "Baby!" Akemi shouted as she ran to her daughter, wrapping her in a hug. Hinata remained wordless, letting the hot stream of tears from her eyes.
"Mom!" Hinata cried.
"I'm here, Hinata!" Akemi's own tears ran.
"Naruto?"
"He's fine, they let him go home, but he needs to rest; so do you!"
"Neji?" Hinata whimpered.
"He's going to live, but they have to keep him here. He's going to be here for a while." Akemi didn't know if it was a good idea, but she felt that Hinata needed to know. "Most of the elders didn't make it… your grandfather didn't."
"Hinata convulsed violently, sobbing uncontrollably, "IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"
"Hinata, you couldn't know this would happen!"
"NO!" she sobbed, "I knew, and I said nothing! I was too scared that I'd fail without him!"
"Hinata…" Akemi paused, wondering where this was going, "…what do you mean?" she asked confused.
Hinata held out a scroll. After Neji and Naruto had been evacuated to the hospital, Akemi watched Hinata walk up to the assassin dressed in red and search him. She'd found the scroll attached to the man's belt. When she read it, Hinata collapsed sobbing before becoming unresponsive, clutching the scroll to her chest.
"Mom… I knew something was wrong last night… I wasn't the target… NARUTO WAS!" She held out the assassin's orders. Indeed, it was a contract on Naruto's life.
"Hinata," Akemi clutched her, "that doesn't make it your fault!"
"Had I just let him stay home!"
"He might have died, and you might be dead, too, had he not been there to support you!"
"Mom!" she sobbed, "He can't know! He'll blame himself!"
"Hinata," Akemi rocked her gently, "There is no blame. Evil men do evil things! That's why we have shinobi like you, like Naruto, like your father, and Neji."
"Had I just said something…"
"It wouldn't have changed his mind," Akemi said, "I've seen how the boy looks at you. Had he known ahead of time, he still would have been there because it meant so much to you, clan leader."
"Mom," Hinata's sobbing intensified, "I'm not ready to be clan leader! Not now, not ever after screwing up like this!"
"You will be," she reassured her, "Give it time. Your father was not perfect when he started, and I know your grandfather was anything but perfect. Give yourself time," she rocked her like a baby, "and you'll one day be a great clan leader!"
"Mom, what about Hanabi?" Hinata squeaked weakly, clearly exhausted from the day's events.
Akemi hesitated. "Hanabi is still paralyzed, but she'll be fine," Akemi lied to herself as much as she was lying to Hinata. Doctor Nakamura had admitted Hanabi to pediatrics the moment she arrived at the hospital. Even in her paralyzed state, Hanabi was convinced Hinata would try to kill her to settle the score. The girl's physical state had also been dramatically worse than expected. Hanabi was moderately dehydrated, and she was fifteen pounds lighter than she had been at her annual physical in mid-April.
Akemi held her daughter, her clan leader, stroking her hair. She thought about Neji, Hanabi, Hizashi, her husband, and all the heartache each of them had endured. In a sea of sadness and lamentation, she clung to her daughter. Hinata was alive and so was the future of the Hyūga Clan. She thought of Minato, Kushina, but mostly Naruto. Because of that boy, their family had a future. As she held Hinata, Akemi wished Naruto a speedy recovery, grateful she had been there almost thirteen years ago. We gave him a chance, and now he gave us a chance. Make the most of it!
