Taking notice of Naruto's sullen face after taking on the seemingly still living Akatsuki, Hinata takes courage to approach her crush that night. Little does she know that Obito has business with the Jinchuuriki as well. Dragged into the tsukuyomi with the blonde shinobi, Hinata's counterpart takes her place, and it isn't long before chaos ensues. [RTN movie re-imagined/Hinata-centric] (T for cursing, like a lot, so be warned)
A/N: The jump from one universe to the other will be labeled as [Menma-verse] and [Naruto-verse].
I've just confirmed that the RTN movie isn't canon so if things seem off in terms of 'hey, this shouldn't have happened yet/we should be past this point in the timeline' just think of this as an AU (as it technically is), so just you know, flow with me guys. Don't think too hard about the details.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
-[Menma-verse]-
Walking out of her family's estate, Hinata was a ball of clashing emotions. She would have liked to spend more time with her family, but she knew she shouldn't. It would be all the more difficult for her when the time came for her to leave.
Hanabi had been the most difficult to push away, as she seemed to want to stick by her sister's side wherever she went. Had it not been for her mother's help, she probably would have been stuck within the clan walls unable to leave as she'd never been quite good at denying her little sister whatever it was she wanted.
Her weak state of mind excused her from her duties as it had been apparent the recent 'spar' with 'Menma' had brought on unbelievable changes. Every time she did something, everyone would look at her with a great look of stupefaction. Rather than being seemingly worried, her clans-people were quite eager for her to rest, and though it made her question 'why', Hinata decided to quickly accept before they had a change of heart. She needed to find Naruto.
Looking behind her to make sure she was out of the range of her family's doujutsu, Hinata turned forward to leap onto the closest rooftop, when she stopped her motion at the unexpected company before her.
"Hinata, Good morning. Are you feeling better?"
Hinata had to blink several times before she could believe what her eyes were processing. It was Uchiha Sasuke. And he was...smiling. It wasn't a full-blown sunny smile like that of Naruto, but still...the small crook of the corners of his lips were definitely upwards and directed at her. Hadn't Naruto told her Sasuke was basically the same person as before? But then again it came to light that even Lee was not the same person, unfortunately.
Worry marred his face as Hinata did not reply. Sasuke took a step closer to her as he said, "Are you still feeling faint?"
Instinctively, Hinata stepped back as she tried to grasp the identity of Sasuke in this universe. The gears in her brain worked quickly to spit out a response. "Ah! I'm feeling much better. Thank you for asking Sa...Sasuke...-kun." Was it okay to call him that? Genuinely curious, she asked, "Were you passing by?"
"I came by to see if you were okay."
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Sasuke's smile widened in unison with Hinata's broadened eyes and her deepening blush. This was too easy. Uchiha Sasuke was an opportunist. When he'd witnessed the sudden change in Hinata, he stepped back to observe if this was simply an act to get to Menma, or if the infamous Hyuuga Hinata had truly done a complete 180.
Hinata's fainting had done the deal for him.
With the confirmation, his mind got to working. Project 'Wooing Hyuuga Hinata'. Not cause he was interested, no. This was all to get back at her for ruining him.
Truth be told, she'd been his first crush at a very young age. He didn't remember what exactly the event had been for, but their respective clans had gathered to discuss some important matter. Sasuke had been antsy, fidgeting in his uncomfortable formal uniform when suddenly she came into his line of sight.
One look at those big pearly doe-like eyes, and he was taken. He'd spent that whole day staring at her from afar keeping silent as he's been instructed by his mother. He didn't know her name and he'd never thought to ask. It was a bit of an embarrassing thing to admit when he spent most of this time complaining about girls, but Sasuke was confident he'd recognize her and soon see her again, since she looked to be about his age.
And see her again he did. Just not in the way he'd imagined.
Even at that age, Sasuke had been confident. All girls fawned over him and though he didn't like it then, he was sure she'd fall under the same spell. Self-assured steps took him before the girl who was apparently named Hyuuga Hinata, and he let his charm do the rest, or at least that was the plan.
"Hi, my name..."
"I know who you are."
"Oh...umm, yeah..." Of course, she knows! He was Uchiha Sasuke. Getting back some of his composure, he started to say, "I..."
"Are you going to confess to me?"
"What! No!" How did she know?! I mean, I wasn't going to say anything now, but am I supposed to? The bored look on her face withered his previous optimism to nothing. "Actually, I..."
"Good. I'm not interested in you, Uchiha. So, go away."
Sasuke's shattered heart turned to ashes a few seconds later, when he saw Hinata chase after his best friend Menma, as he looked on with shock and betrayal.
And that was the end to his short-lived first lov...ahem, crush.
And now...now he could get his revenge.
In most cases, Sasuke simply existed and women would swarm to him, but once in a while, he had to make the first move to get to the point he wanted. It was his duty and goal to spread 'love' in all of Konoha and beyond as opposed to the choices his brot... Itachi had made.
Once in a while he'd take requests or be challenged to pursue someone in particular, such as Sakura as per Menma's demand; and though she'd been difficult in the beginning, Sasuke could see her leaning towards his coercion as of late.
Hinata on the other hand, he hadn't tried anything with her ever since that fateful day.
She grew up beautifully. An independent skilled kunoichi with a spit-fire personality, but he had his pride and frankly speaking, Sasuke really did not want to die.
He'd once jokingly asked Menma why he'd never told him to try and flirt with Hinata, as she was one of Menma's most motivated followers (Unbeknownst to anyone else, Sakura hadn't been the first or last of Menma's commissions). And he was really curious as to why. Just to, you know, put his mind at ease.
Menma had looked at him for a long second, before he replied, "You'd be flirting with death."
Listening to his gut-feeling and his friends' words of wisdom, Sasuke had decided not to open that particular door.
Until today.
The sweet girl before him, this Hinata, he could work with.
Even if Hinata went back to the way she was, he'd have a one-up on her. A fun story to tell of how she was in love with him but was in the end rejected by him, as he did with those who got a bit too clingy. And even if she never did go back, he'd still do the same, just to stroke his own ego. There was also the plus of helping out his friend by ridding of his most avid stalker, but really, it was mostly for Sasuke's own greed.
To get his plan in motion, Sasuke took out his signature rose and handed it to Hinata. "For you."
Hesitantly accepting the red rose, Hinata murmured, "Ano...thank you. I... I don't know what to say." She really didn't. Hinata had never dealt with a 'nice Sasuke' before.
Still frolicking in his own little world, Sasuke looked at Hinata's lowered head in wonder and amusement. He remembered how whenever the Hyuuga heiress got into some kind of trouble, her mother would come to her daughter's defense saying something along the lines of how Hinata was a delicate flower beneath all the cursing mad-like rage. No one had believed her, of course, but Sasuke was inclined to believe this may have been what the Hyuuga matriarch was talking about. Before he could comment, or lay out some flowery phrases, Hinata spoke first.
"How...how are you doing Sasuke-kun?"
"...What?"
"I was just wondering if you were well?"
"Ummm... yeah. I'm... well."
"That's good. It relieves me to know that." Sasuke didn't know it, but Hinata was thinking of Naruto. Though it was not real, she hoped her friend could enjoy the chaste moments of life where his best friend was living a good life as a Konoha-nin. With a gentle smile, she said, "I'm really happy to see you again."
"..."
A little embarrassed by her sudden desire to ask such a random thing, Hinata quickly said her goodbye before she could wait for a reply. "Thank you again for this. I have to find Na...Menma-kun, so ummm, maybe I'll see you later. Bye."
Unable to stop her like the day he'd been rejected for the first time in his life, Sasuke stood stock-still watching Hinata's disappearing back.
It wasn't until his name was called that was struck out of his reverie.
"Sasuke-kun, there you are. I've been...Oh my gosh! Sasuke-kun, did something happen, your face is really red!"
Turning to the girl shrieking at him, Sasuke tried to recall who it was. He vaguely remembered her being one of his many prospects, but his mind just kept going back to the one who'd left him moments before.
Using her Byakugan, she'd easily found him, but even from afar, she could tell that unlike her, Naruto's first night had not gone as smoothly as her own. "Naruto-kun!"
"Hinata!" Forgetting his current situation at the sight of Hinata's familiar face, Naruto greeted her happily, "Are you okay?!"
"I think I should be the one asking you. What happened?" Hinata looked at the scattered garbage surrounding Naruto and the dark bags under his eyes. Had he slept on a bench through the night?! Worry dripped from her eyes as she unconsciously reached out her hands to touch his face.
Remembering himself, Naruto abruptly got up from the bench he'd been occupying. "It's not what it looks like! I mean... it kind of is... but ummm... I'm fine. Yeah." He didn't know why, but he was embarrassed. He didn't want Hinata to see him like this. After he'd reluctantly seen Neji leave with Hinata's unconscious body, he'd kept watch until he saw them enter the Hyuuga compound. He thought of slipping in to make sure she was really alright, but the threat of the Byakugan kept him at bay. Trusting his gut that she'd be fine, he'd left to go back to his home and rest, only to find that apparently he was now homeless.
If it had been Sakura or any of his other friends for that matter, he would have complained and tried to get some sympathy on his part, but the unbridled worry from Hinata had him taking a step back. "But, you're okay. right?"
"I'm fine. Thank you." She wasn't 100% sure of that, with what had happened not too long ago, but she didn't want to add more lines to the wrinkles on Naruto's face. Hiding the hand she'd reached out behind her back, she clenched it a few times as she drove her thoughts away from the unintentional rejection. Hinata instead focused on how she could help with Naruto's homeless situation.
Seeing the wheels in Hinata's head going into overdrive, Naruto started to walk away from his 'bed' at a slow pace so Hinata would follow. "Let's try to figure out how to get out of here first. If we can figure that out, then it solves everything else."
Catching up to walk beside him, Hinata nodded to Naruto's proposal.
But before they could get to any conclusions, they were stopped in their tracks by a friendly voice.
"Hinata-chan, Menma-kun!"
It was Sai. This world's Sai. Dressed like a painter and smiling quite brightly next to a painting that looked like...nothing they could identify. Noticing their attention upon his work, Sai excitedly asked. "What do you guys think?"
"What the heck is that supposed to be Sai?" Naruto couldn't help his honesty; he really didn't know what he was looking at. There were lines in differing colors and shapes of varying sizes, but his mind couldn't compute what it was supposed to be.
"It's the scenery before us."
Looking at the picture and the view of Konoha a few times, Hinata took a try. "...Ummm, it's very...abstract, Sai-kun."
"Well, it supposed to be a realistic painting, but everyone has their own view of the world."
Looking at Sai laughing boisterously, Hinata and Naruto exchanged a look of confusion as they could not think of a polite response.
Not waiting for one, Sai continued, "I hope with this I will finally be accepted to art school and pursue my dream to be an artist. It is most unfortunate I will have to leave the Yamanaka flower shop, but to become a true artist, it is a must."
Not wanting to stay there any longer, Naruto grabbed Hinata to make a quick exit. "That's great Sai. We gotta go now, so, later!"
Having gone a fair distance away from Sai, Naruto spoke to Hinata. "Let's go to the Hokage. If anybody knows anything, it's Tsunade-baachan."
Before she could give a sound reply, Hinata witnessed Shino murdering his family with a bug spray. Traumatized, it was Hinata's turn to take a hold of Naruto's sweater to run to the Hokage Tower at mach speed. They needed to leave this place!
Indeed, Naruto had been correct in approaching the Hokage for the information they needed. There was the sudden appearance of a masked man wreaking havoc by means of targeting jinchuurikis, whom Naruto and Hinata believed to be Tobi. The retrieval of the Red Moon Scroll was now imperative with the threat and Jiraiya's recent passing in keeping it safe; and though they'd been successful in joining the away team, it seemed this world was not going to make anything easy, with the sudden introduction of Naruto's parents.
Unlike how happy Hinata had been with seeing her mother and uncle again, Naruto was quite obviously livid.
Following Naruto in his quick retreat to a secluded street, Hinata could only look at the small tremors traveling through his body. "Naruto-kun..."
"I'm sorry you have to see me like this Hinata, but...Agh!" Unable to contain the resentment, Naruto hit the wall before him. He'd held back well enough so it wasn't destroyed, but there was an obvious beginning of cracks upon the structure. "How, how...how could he bring back those people!" He didn't want to say it, acknowledge who they were.
Hinata was possessed with the need to comfort as she lay one gentle, yet firm hand upon Naruto's shoulder. She didn't say anything and she had no words to give. Though she'd been hesitant before, this was beyond her own discomfort and embarrassment; her friend needed her.
As if her calm had travelled to him, Naruto slowly got back his composure and he took a deep breath. Slowly releasing some tension, the bristling fumes left him. Finally facing Hinata, Naruto gave her a wry smile. "Thanks, Hinata."
Hinata shot back an encouraging smile of her own.
"Let's get that Red Moon Scroll and go back home."
"Hai." Slowly retracting her arm back to her side, Hinata asked, "Will you be okay with sleeping at Menma-kun's home for one night?"
Right...he'd forgotten about that. Good 'ol Hinata always thinking ahead.
"Or we could try and get you a room for one night at a hostel? I would offer my room, but that would be inappropriate..." It was the best she could think of with the options at their disposal.
"I'll be fine. It's just one night, and we still have to keep up appearances, but thanks a lot Hinata." What would I do without you?
Hinata's worries quickly dissipated with the success of their mission. It was not without some ups and downs, but in the end everything worked out to their favor. Seeing a peek of Naruto's reconciliation with 'his' parent's, she'd stepped back to give them their space, and tend to Kakashi and Gai. She knew it was something to worry about, but she couldn't help being happy for him.
Finishing up with the (weirdly) overly exhausted two shinobi, Hinata was called to attention by a not so familiar baritone voice.
"Hinata."
She nearly squeaked, "Minato-sama!" Abruptly standing from her kneeled position, Hinata bowed before she looked him in the eye. The resemblance was uncanny. If she didn't know before, one look would have been enough. The spiky blond hair, those kind blue eyes, the gentle smile and that aura, the warmth of the sun; there was no doubt about it, this was Naruto's father. A replica, but still, a very accurate one indeed.
Minato had heard a curt explanation from the Hokage when Hinata and Menma had run out together as soon as they were dismissed. His son hadn't changed that much, but Hinata, it was quite the eye-opener. "You don't have to refer to me so formally, Hinata."
"Hai!" Hinata was a bundle of nerves wrapped in red. She was speaking to the Yondaime of her world, Naruto's father. She'd done well enough before to not let her heart rate spike when she heard Kushina joke about how 'Menma' was trying to get close to the 'Hyuuga heiress', but now, she was close to feeling quite faint.
Chuckling at the girl's frantic desire to please, Minato was quick to express what had been on his mind lest he lose the chance. "I wanted to apologize for what happened in your spar with Menma, and thank you for your assistance with my wife." From what he knew Hinata's skills in healing were on par with her skills in combat, but he'd never known she also concocted her own balms; which were apparently also top notch.
"Oh no! You don't need to apologize!" In truth no such thing happened, so she felt all the more guilty as she waved her hands in denial. "And I'm just happy I could be of assistance to you." Slowly lowering her hands with her gaze, Hinata calmed with the view of the grass by her feet.
"Hinata, I wasn't going to say anything... but I'm rooting for you. I think your good for my son, although he'll probably take some time to admit it." Whether it was the hard-headed, brash Hinata or the gentle one standing before him, as long as they loved his son with their whole being, it gave his troubled mind some reprieve. "So, don't give up."
"...Thank you, Minato-san..." This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't...real...but boy, did she wish it was...
A/N: And now a whole chapter dedicated to our Hinata.
I was contemplating between updating this first or my other fic, but the words to this chapter came to me a lot quicker, so I finished this first.
Next up, we'll go back to mixing it together and as you guys can tell from the flow, we are nearing the end. Yay!
Thank you guys again for the support.