I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! This chapter is the start of the war series, hope you all enjoy!
For the most part things were kind of going like shit, as Hinata had predicted.
These White Zetsu's were troublesome and basically was there to wear soldiers out against the main opponent. Hinata, along with many other Hyuga's, her father and brother included, was assigned in a unit that required short range fighting, the second division, the ones on the front line. She would often scuff at this, the Hyuga's were so faithful and willing to sacrifice to a village as flip-floppy as Konoha. The intelligence of the Nara's was loved, the mind capabilities of the Yamanaka's were loved, The Uchiha's were feared, the Akimichi's were loved in general especially with the family connection of the Nara's and Yamanaka. Hell, she even believed the Inuzuka's with their loyal ninken were viewed more positive than a Hyuga. What were the Hyuga to the Hidden Leaf Village?
She felt like this was hard for her to answer sometimes.
Of course, there was the political answer drilled into her since birth, the Hyuga's have been around for centuries and hold a strong bond and alliance with Konoha. Vowing to always protect the village and the people in it. The people in the village saw them as scary ghost eyed freaks, either that or stuck up people that had the ability to kill you without making it obvious. The Hyuga culture was not understood and was beyond outdated. The Hyuga family curse seal being one of the major things outdated.
Really, what was the point of it?
Hinata never understood the point of it, if it was so important to have it on the second offspring than why was Hanabi without it? Was she viewed as more important and if she stayed they would just place it on her instead because she is the Hyuga they felt needed to be contained more? It would be a cold day in hell before Hinata would let that happen to her, but still, she never understood the point of controlling someone to that caliber. Neji didn't deserve it, he was a good man, an amazing Hyuga, a leader. Hanabi didn't deserve it either. Someone should change this fucked up clan, and it wasn't going to be her. Just thinking about the corruption and elders and bull shit that would go with it made Hinata's skin crawl. She was a proud Hyuga, but she didn't see herself as someone to lead them to salvation.
Her thoughts than drifted off to her heroic brother Neji. He was pushing himself too much, his eyes were tired, and his Byakugan needed time before it was back to how it used to be. Currently Kiba was picking at him and Hinata had just finished conversing with Shino about her over pushing herself to take up were Neji left off. She had to remember it was out of concern and not take it as an insult. She also almost laughed at the irony of how she did not want much to do with Konoha and wanted no responsibilities of leading the Hyuga clan, but she was someway and somehow now doing both.
It was all for a reason she told herself.
That's right, and that reason's name was Kabuto. She's going to get to him, and she was going to kill him, she just had to be patient.
"What will you do when you come across Kabuto? Will you leave after he is…defeated?" Hinata did not have to turn and look at Neji, her Byakugan active already and she was set on patrolling the area while everyone rested. It was night and they just had an annoying day dealing with these fucking White Zetsu's along with reincarnations of former loved ones, an opportunity of rest came about, and she'd rather have the others at their best. Eye's still focused performing her task at hand she spoke in a low voice, "I would not leave you during a war brother, be real with yourself. Why would I leave you and Naruto out here with hundreds of these annoying foes? If anything, me finding and stopping Kabuto will better aid Konoha and their allies."
Neji remained quiet just looking off into the night wood line, "I wish you would reconsider and stay when this is all over." Hinata remained quiet for a moment, stopping herself from the sarcastic remark of them probably dying and not making it out the war, she pushed that thought aside and spoke, "I would get the seal removed somehow from your skin Neji. In return, I am sure you know that it would go onto me. I am the prime target for them to mark when this is all over with, if I stay, I would be giving away my freedom. The Hokage, Naruto, father, no one could stop it. If I stayed, a civil war would break out."
"The branch family does nothing but respect you lady Hinata." That was the problem, that would be the root of the civil war.
"Hmm, but the main family, my initial family does not. I wish they would see you as their leader Neji."
"Stay. Become the leader this clan needs. Hanabi is not ready to see the world how we see it. Become leader, then when Hanabi becomes of age and matured the right way than pass it down to her. You have the support of me, your father, Hanabi and if it resulted in outside aid you have the village hero's support."
Hinata finally turned her head to look at Neji with her all seeing eyes, glad to see his chakra was finally coming back full strength. "Neji…why do you care so much if I stay or not?"
"The Hyuga's are your family, we can get you through this Hinata. You are not as alone as you think. I would give my life to protect you, because you are a Hyuga, you are my mission to protect and… because you are my sister."
Hinata remained silent for a moment and Neji believed she would let the conversation die when she turned her head back to focus on scouting the area. He knew that she did not want to stay in the village, and she felt odd being around the Hyuga's once again after years of being absent. He wished that she saw that the pain and trauma she was overcoming from Orochimaru was making her stronger than anything she had gained from being with that vile monster.
"The first thing we can work on is removing your curse seal, they will fear us more when you are without it."
Ino was fine for the most part, not like she had much of a choice. She was holding her own fine and actually felt like she performed better on her own if she wasn't going to be paired with Hinata. She wasn't with people that she was around on a daily with and that was fine, she knew that was part of the job description. She wasn't with Choji, Asuma or Shikamaru. Shikamaru was someone everyone wanted on their side, so he ends up taking up high ranks and in charge of the Fourth Division, Choji by his side of course. Really, she wouldn't have it any other way. Asuma was in the fourth division as well, all being commanded practically by the sand siblings.
Shikamaru knew better than to address the reasons why things were set up the way they were too often, he knew Ino didn't care and had trust in him. They discussed it once, and that was enough. She always trusted him, it never changed, ever.
People around her felt like she had big shoes to fill, being that her father was head of the intelligence division. She held her own just fine, she wasn't one to follow ethics, so she had to adjust a little. Working with Shikamaru's father made things better when he arrived since he understood her to a certain degree. He pushed her and would make jabs of what her father was able to do, knowing this would fuel her to push herself even more. She was able to communicate to all the allied forces and the best part she was able to do some side digging.
She was able to find Kabuto.
That pain in the ass nuisance was tucked away in a cave westbound, surely he had known that she would have been able to pin point him eventually. Was he waiting for them? Or was he really that cocky that he thought he was as stealthy as a fucking sneak. Yeah right, more like a pituophis catenifer snake, they fake like a rattle snake to scare off a threat and they're not even poisonous. Just like Kabuto, a fucking fake. She wanted to so badly just leave, find Hinata and kill the bastard once for all.
The problem with it all was leaving behind everyone that needed her to pursue Kabuto. There was no way she could leave everything up to Hinata though, what if something happened? She couldn't live with herself. This was their fight, but she knew if she left she would be setting so many people up for failure. She was needed there, she had to honor her father. This was the world at risk, millions of lives at risk, she couldn't be selfish. Ino frowned at this, not liking her ultimate decision. She summoned a messenger bird and wrote down a note she was hoping she would never regret and sent it off to Hinata.
"You made the right choice." Ino at first didn't answer Shikaku and looked off into the distance the bird left off too. "You think so."
"I know so. You cannot be her backbone forever. She has to fight this inner demon on her own."
Ino balled her fist up and looked over her shoulder at the older Nara, frustration clearly on her face. "You do not understand. Hinata has been in this internal debt to me ever since we got stuck with Orochimaru. Every mission I was sent on she made it her goal to make it up to me. Every man that vilely touched me she made sure never walked this earth again, she killed Orochimaru for wronging me and her. She could have cared less about his goal of getting the Sharingan! Anything I asked Hinata to do she did without question. She gave up an opportunity of getting her curse mark removed for my sanity! Everything Hinata does is for other people and never herself, she doesn't deserve to be alone during this."
Shikaku placed his hands on the young blonde in front of him, how she didn't realize the fight she had in her that was so much like her father. She was an exact copy of him, Inochi would most certainly have been very proud. "Trust me when I say this, Hinata definitely has to face this alone, because she is the only one that is capable of getting herself out of the darkness that is going to follow after she kills Kabuto. You cannot help her like before, neither can Naruto. She has to do this on her own, it'll help her find her path in the end."
Naruto came across Sakura in the first division, him and Sasuke providing aid to the divisions that needed it the most. Ino and Shikaku were relaying messages among every one of the divisions that needed aid the most and to beware of the White Zetsu's that were impersonating allies and killing within the divisions. Everyone was slowly starting to aid one another in the same space. Naruto heard word that Neji was recovering from over using his Byakugan and that Hinata was taking lead in his place. It made him happy to see Hinata stepping up to the plate, he was also worried that she was trying to please too many people at once. An unnecessary way of her getting redemption. His fear was that she would be burning out too fast before she confronted Kabuto. He didn't know where the bastard was, but he felt like it was only a matter of time before he let himself be known for Hinata and Ino.
"Naruto, I see Sakura has reunited with you and Uchiha-san. A team seven reunion already."
Naruto sent a grin at Neji and looked him over again to ensure he was recovering fine, "Nice to see you're doing fine, I didn't want Hinata to have to do everything." Neji snorted at the humorous insult and grinned back, "I'll choose to ignore that statement. Lady Hinata has been nothing but a prime leader for not only this unit but the Hyuga clan. Lord Hiashi and I are beyond pleased." He spoke in that tone that only a Hyuga could that would annoy your very soul; Naruto was sure that he was doing it on purpose and gave the serious man a pointed look. His mind soon started to drift back to his lavender-eyed beauty, just like he figured, she was pushing herself.
"Don't go pushing her too hard Neji."
"Trust me when I say that she listens to no reasoning on the matter. She pushes herself for her own agenda, you should know that."
Naruto frowned at this, when he got more time he would seek her out to talk to her, maybe than she wouldn't push herself so hard. However, now wasn't the time, the enemies were hitting them pretty hard, they had casualties and fatalities. Now was not the time to have feelings involved. From what him and Sasuke were able to gather it was two Uchicha's, Madara and some Tobi named guy. Two men with their own version of how the world should be and their idea of the perfect world. He couldn't stand people that couldn't see the real world for what it was, if they wanted the world to change so badly then change the real world yourself. Through hard work, dedication, heart and effort, don't force people. Honestly, Naruto was so glad Sasuke wasn't on their level of arrogance.
Well Sasuke wasn't ENTIRELY on their level.
"Glad to see you all are doing well. Get some rest, I have assigned two Hyuga's to watch post for the first shift and have instructed them to not under any circumstance leave one another side. There is some hot grub set aside when I got word that you and the others were heading this way. You guys deserve it." Naruto gave Hinata a warm smiled and was itching to touch her, to bring her in for an embrace, but once again decided against it. This was not the setting.
"You're leading the Hyuga clan now? I thought that was assigned to Neji." Hinata looked over at Sakura, who inquired about the leadership, "I am temporarily, until Neji is all healed. I am sure you heard about his injuries Sakura-san." Sakura and the others turned to Neji when they heard the older Hyuga snort at Hinata's comment and grinned at her.
"You're leading just for this duration Lady Hinata?" The two Hyuga's gave each other a grin that implied they held information that no one else knew and Naruto discovered that even in the middle of a fucking war, he could be jealous, even if it was her family member. Naruto made a sound of annoyance when Sasuke elbowed him in the gut, the Uchiha giving him an amused look. This caused Neji and Hinata to turn towards Naruto and raise an eyebrow at the same time. That seemed to push the firecracker blond over the edge.
"I can't… Hinata do you have a moment." Naruto practically dragged the Hyuga female away further into the wood line and DARED an enemy to try him at that very moment. Once he was sure they were far enough away to the point it was almost dangerous he turned and looked at Hinata, who at the moment was giving him a curious look.
She didn't look tired, but he could sense that she wanted sleep, reason why she asked the two Hyuga's to take watch he concluded. She had been in battle and that was no surprise to him, with her being in the second division and being the first ones thrown in combat. She wasn't as battered as the others and he was happy to see that, also she did give in some and wore a black long sleeve shirt under her preferred vest with the Hyuga clan symbol on each shoulder.
He just couldn't help himself from saying something about that, "I wished you wore the Uzumaki symbol instead." Hinata looked at the symbol on her shoulder and then turned to Naruto giving him an amused smile, "Hmm, I think I like Naruto when he is jealous."
Naruto than cocked his head to the side and gave Hinata a blank stare, he then backed the smiling Hyuga into a tree having her back against it, trapped. His stare turned more heated and he reached to palm her neck and then semi-softly grip the back of her hair. "I think it would be better for everyone if I was never jealous. You don't want to go down that road Nata."
The part of him that wanted to stay professional vanished as he bent down to kiss her, it was a light kiss, but he soon realized it was something that he needed. He felt like what he needed right now was her, and by the way she reacted to the kiss, she needed him.
And then a messenger bird came and ruined the whole mood.
"What the fuck?" Naruto watched as the messenger made sure Hinata was the one to receive the note and vanished, he watched as she opened it and read it over. She didn't make a big reaction from the news, but her lips thinned out, showing that she was affected by it. "Ino has found Kabuto's location and has given me the coordinates."
"What?! So, is she going to leave? Can she find another Yamanaka that has her capabilities to take over?"
"Yes. She should be half way there now Naruto. I must go now. Will you be able to travel back alone?"
"Tsk, not a problem. I'll let the others know what's going on. Hey, you be safe for me Nata. Come back to me, I don't care if you come back all psycho even, just come back to me." He went down for another kiss, meaning for it to be quick, but Hinata pulled him in for a deeper kiss. She ran her hands through his hair in an uncharacteristic manner and felt around his whole body, like she was trying to have it burned into her memory.
The two then separated, Naruto breathing heavier than usual, almost forgetting where they were, and Hinata then went off deeper into the wood line until she vanished. Naruto made his way back to the others and noticed Shikamaru's division made it to them in a short time span.
"Oi Shikamaru come over here for a minute!" He wanted to let Shikamaru in on what was going on between Hinata and Ino. Once the Nara made his way over Naruto informed Neji, Shikamaru and the others about Hinata getting notice from Ino about Kabuto's location.
"Yeah, so according to Hinata, Ino was already halfway there." Shikamaru eyes widened at this and Naruto felt his stomach randomly drop. Something wasn't right. Please, now was not the time for bad news.
"What are you talking about? I just talked to my father through Ino, and Ino is still at HQ, she can't leave, no other Yamanaka has the skills to do what she can do. Everything would fall apart if she left."
Sasuke, immediately before Naruto had any time to react, grabbed him from the back into a bear hug type grip, "Naruto, we are in the middle of a war. I'm sorry, but you can't go after her."
Ohhh Hinata is a little liar, that sneaky little minx! Well that is all for this chapter, I will see you all next Thursday. I believe I will be posting the first Vengeance Lemon Story next week as well since I am on the conclusion chapter of this story. See you guys, and thanks for all the support!