Happy Monday Everyone!
Sorry again about the delay. I really have no excuse. I got lazy. But I'm so glad I finished this. Already working on Wednesday's chapter. Hope you enjoy~
"Kyuubi Speech"
"Midnight Speech"
"Everyone else's speech"
"Thought Speech"
Chapter 35
On with the story
Hinata tossed and turned atop her bed, her eyes shut tight, sweat beading down her brow.
A huge crowd stood together with expression of extreme distress, anger, and frustration. It looked like they'd been through hell. The crowd stood in a huge market square of Konoha. Many of the buildings around them were damaged. There were hundreds, if not thousands of people gathered all together. They all looked in one direction towards the source of their stress.
A small group was gathered in front of the crowd, looking down at them from atop a podium. Typically this elevated podium was used by village leaders to give announcement and conduct village meetings. This particular meeting was the single most important meeting of the village's history.
A demon stood in front of the crowd, 6 long furry fox tails swinging behind it. The demon's eyes were a dark violet color with slitted pupils. Two furry golden ears sprouted from atop the demon's head. It's skin was smooth and blemishless. It stood on two feet, hands resting elegantly against it's pelvis. It was very difficult to distinguish the demon's gender. Male or female, it was eerily gorgeous. Even it's voice as it spoke was ambiguous.
"So many chances. You've received countless opportunities to be better, to free yourself of hate, to push past your base natures yet over and over again you're proven yourself incapable." The demon spoke out in a gentle yet resounding voice which echoed through the square.
"They attacked because of you. This is your fault and no one else's, demon." A strong voice spoke out from the crowd.
All heads shifted to that man as he walked forward. His Byakugan was flared, staring up in defiance at the demon.
Hinata watched from the side with a helpless expression, the girl frozen with indecision.
The demon looked down at the man with a tranquil expression. It's feet suddenly lifted off of the group as it descended from the podium and down to the front of the crowd, floating slowly through the air. A serious of dread welled up in most of the members of Konoha village upon seeing the demon float.
"Naruto please don't do this." Hinata managed to whisper out desperately.
Naruto ignored her, his gentle gaze settled on the elder Hyuuga. Naruto's bare feet settled on the ground without a sound. Most of the citizens took a step away from the boy. Naruto was noticeably shorter than the elder Hyuuga, and much younger. No more than 16 years old.
"Me? My fault?" Naruto questioned curiously.
His demeanor was strangely calm, tranquil. The Hyuuga gritted his teeth, staring daggers at the teen.
"If it wasn't for you they would have never come here. If it wasn't for you my daughter would still be alive." The hyuuga spat out.
"And my brother."
"My mother!"
A chorus of cries resounded from different people in the crowd. Naruto glanced towards them all.
"I see." Naruto spoke out simply.
Hinata couldn't take it anymore. She ran between the pair, standing in front of Naruto and the Hyuuga. She turned to the man, staring up in alarm.
"Father please listen. It's not his fault. We don't have to fight each other. We can live peacefully, all of us together, as a family." Hinata pleaded.
Hiashi narrowed his eyes, not bothering to even look at his daughter.
"Your mind has been taken by this demon. I failed you and your sister. I won't tarnish her memory by even considering joining one of these…things." He spoke out sternly.
"So be it. I don't blame you for your ignorance. It is simply who you are. Know that in your final moments I strike you down not in hate, but for the sake of love." Naruto said before suddenly floating high into the air above the crowd.
He held out a single palm towards them, a dark red orb of chakra forming. A wave of panic washed over the crowd, crazed screams of terror echoing though the square. Many tried to flee but ran into a thin aura of red chakra which encased every single villagers in a huge dome. An opening appeared in the ceiling of the dome, making way for the large, swirling orb of dark energy.
"Naruto please stop! I can convince them. I just need more time! Don't do this!" Hinata screamed up to him frantically, tears pouring from her eyes.
Naruto finally took notice of Hinata and sent her a sympathetic gaze.
"I'm sorry Hinata-chan. I told you, no one comes before my family." The teen whispered out as that ball of chakra launched towards them.
"NO...NARUTO!"
Hinata's upper body sprang up, her lids snapping open, the girl waking from her nightmare. She heaved frantically, staring at the dark wall of her room. Hinata wrapped her arms around herself, the girl's tweenage form shaking.
After a moment to compose herself Hinata got up, sliding away from her blanket to settle her feet on the ground and slip them into her night time slippers.
Hinata left her room, heading with soft steps down the hall towards the kitchen. Once she arrived she retrieved a glass cup from the cupboard and poured herself a some water from the sink faucet. Hinata stood alone in the dark for quite a while, staring down at the ground in quiet contemplation. Her distress was evident. After a while she made her way back, passing by the living room.
"Another nightmare?" Spoke a deep voice in the darkness.
Hinata paused, slowly shifting her gaze to the side. Her father was kneeling down in the living room with his eyes closed, the man seemingly in the middle of a deep meditation. Hinata turned to him, the girl rubbing one arm nervously.
"It's ok father. They come and go." She whispered tentatively.
Hiashi opened his eyes to gaze upon her, his intense stare making the girl fidget.
"You've been greatly distracted in the past several weeks. I allow you your freedom to spend time outside of the academy as you please because until now you've met your obligations. Perhaps that was a poor decision." The man spoke out sternly.
Hinata quickly bowing at the waist.
"I'm sorry father. I won't continue to be distracted. I'll work even harder." She stated in alarm.
Hiashi narrowed his gaze before looking forward and away from her. The man closed his eyes, exhaling calmly through his nose.
"See that you do."
Hinata nodded in understanding, beginning to walk away.
"Hinata." Hiashi called out again.
Hinata stopped in her tracks, almost flinching from his voice.
"While a shinobi must carry many burdens it is unwise to carry them alone when aid could alleviate it." He lectured.
Hinata reply immediately, the girl turning around and nibbling into her bottom lip.
"I don't know what to do. I don't know how to ask for help. I'm trying to be strong but…" The girl spoke out in a quivering voice.
Hiashi nodded his head.
"Come." He said while rising to his feet and placing his hands within his sleeves.
Hinata nodded obediently, following her father as he led them outside of the house and through the Hyuuga compound along a trail familiar to them. Neither spoke for a time, the constant chirping of crickets and gentle breeze of the nighttime air surrounding them.
"It is time you told me the truth Hinata." Hiashi finally spoke up.
Hinata hesitated, looked up at him with a conflicted gaze before bowing her head.
"The truth?" She asked in a barely audible voice.
"I know that you spend most of your time with that boy. Naruto Uzumazi."
The hairs on the back of Hinata's neck stood up when Hiashi gave that confession.
"He knows."
Hiashi watched her reaction closely, both continuing to walk forward despite the tension mounting from the incoming conversation.
"Did you truly believe you could keep a secret like that from me Hinata?"
Hinata didn't answer, the girl keeping her eyes averted.
"I'm am the head of the Hyuuga clan, but more importantly I am your father. You cannot keep secrets from me."
Hiashi let his intense gaze bare down on his daughter now.
"How long have you known?"
"Long enough. You've grown strong during your time with him. You hold back when you spar with Hinabi but I notice how strong you've become." He explained.
Hinata finally looked up to her father. That was the closest to a compliment she'd ever received from him.
"Yet it is through that restraint that makes you weak. I believed that by allowing you freedom you would come to be strong in body and mind. But you aren't even strong enough to speak truth to your own father." Hiashi stated with a disapproving frown, almost as disappointed in himself as he was in Hinata.
Hinata flinched from his harsh tone but didn't look away.
"I am stronger father, and I never lied to you." She spoke up louder now than her previous whisper.
"You avoided telling me the truth."
"I did, but I never lied. There are truths which are hard to bare and I would not want to complicate our lives by burdening you with a problem that I should be able to fix on my own." Hinata explained.
Haishi listened intently, scanning the girl's face.
"That problem being?"
Hinata clenched her fists, a conflicted gaze in her lavender eyes.
"Telling you about it before I have a solution would only make the problem greater. I will solve this father. Please believe in me. Trust me." She called out resolutely.
Hiashi looked down at her for a while longer before shifting his gaze forward along their path.
"I will believe in you as much as is reasonable. However for obvious reasons I cannot simply trust the judgment of a 12 year old. This problem you have, it sounds like it requires my interference."
Hinata went wide eyed, stopping in her tracks. Hiashi stopped, keeping his back facing her.
"Please don't."
A long silence fell over them.
"Can you love someone and hurt them at the same time?
Viens appeared along the side of Hiashi's head leading towards his eyes as his Byakugan flared.
"He hurt you?" Hiashi questioned in a serious manner.
Hinata shook her head frantically.
"No it's not like that. It's just…it's hard to explain." Hinata stated while wrapping her arms around herself.
With his back still facing her Hiashi watched her daughter carefully, his Byakugan allowing him nearly 360 vision.
"The answer is yes. You can love someone and hurt them at the same time." Hiashi whispered with a far off look in his eyes.
Hinata stared at the back of his head, noting his strange tone.
"Love is pain. Love is bliss. Love can be the greatest thing in the world but make you feel worse than you could ever imagine." Haishi went on before turning around to face his daughter.
Hinata stared up at him attentively. This was the most they'd spoken in a long time.
"You know nothing of love. Not at your age. If you think you love this boy then you are mistaken. I want you to reconsider spending so much time with him"
Hinata gasped, a pit forming in her stomach. She took her time, mulling over what he said.
"Is that a command?" She questioned.
Hiashi paused now.
"No. You are free to spend your time as you see fit. It is a suggestion from a person who truly loves you."
Shock showed on Hinata's face. He hadn't heard him spoke those words out loud since…well she could hardly remember. She couldn't help a small trickle of tears that began to flow down her cheeks.
"Thank you father." She whispered while standing up tall and strong. "Thank you for believing in me. I won't take this for granted." Hinata said before returning to his side.
Hiashi began to walk with his daughter by his side once more, hiding the look of concern and frustration on his face.
Flashback...
"You want me to do what? How can I just ignore the fact that my daughter is spending time every day with that DEMON!?" Haishi barked out.
Sarutobi sat at his desk smoking a pipe as he usually did. As opposed to Hiashi who was visibly seething the hokage maintained a calm visage.
"I understand the gravity of what I'm asking…"
"I don't think you do. Allowing her to spend time with that monster at all was hard enough, now you are telling me to continue to allow this after what IT did? Just take a look outside. You want me to continue to have my oldest daughter under the grasp and influence of that thing!?" Hiashi raged.
Sarutobi starred at the man in silence, not bothering to turn around and look on the recently disaster-torn village. Haishi let the silence linger before eventually calming down to match the Hokage's gaze.
"I assume you have read the report and have been briefed on the situation." Sarutobi replied, ignoring the man's outburst.
"I have." Hiashi stated begrudgingly.
"Then you understand the gravity of our situation. Removing one of Naruto's close friends at this time may spell the doom of Konoha. For the world at large." The old man explained.
Hiashi gritted his teeth but otherwise stayed silent as the hokage finally rose from his seat. He moved over to the window to now look out on the village. It was very clear the damage Naruto and Kyuubi had wrought.
"I won't force you to do this, it is not an order. I simply ask that you consider it. This may be the best chance to secure our future." Sarutobi spoke in a solemn tone.
Haishi was speechless, the man's mind racing. He closed his eyes, releasing a deep breath, calming himself.
"Is there no other way?" Haishi spoke out much softer now.
"Do you think I'd ask you to do this is there was?" Sarutobi questioned, turning to look Haishi in the eyes.
In an uncharasticis show of distress Hiashi bowed his head, reaching an arm out to brace himself against the Hokage's desk and lean weakly against it.
"She is my oldest. She's supposed to carry the Hyuuga name. I lost her mother. I took the life of my only brother with my own hands. I can't lose her too." Haishi whispered.
Sarutobi walked forward to place a hand along Haishi's shoulder. Haishi stayed in that vulnerable posture.
"I shouldn't ask this of you. It's not right. No matter the situation I shouldn't ask to make your daughter a part of this when she is so young." Sarutobi explained with a heavy sigh.
Haishi stared down at the desk for a while before rising, straightening his posture. He placed his hands back in his sleeves.
"She is a Hyuuga. It is her duty to sacrifice for her family. Hinabi is on the best path to leading the family. Hinata…" Hiashi began but had to pause, the man visibly shaking.
He turned his back to the Hokage, a far off gaze.
"Today I'll mourn her loss." Haishi spoke out resolutely while beginning to step forward.
"Haishi." Sarutobi called out, making the man stop.
Haishi stayed silent, waiting for the hokage to speak up.
"She's still your daughter."
Haishi turned his head to gaze upon the Hokage with a narrowed gaze.
"Under the influence of that demon? Not anymore." The man stated before storming out of the office.
The door slammed behind Haishi, the noise echoing through Sarutobi's office. He sat back against his desk, bowing his head.
"What have I done?"
"What could you have done?" Came a voice from the side.
Kyuubi stepped out from the shadows, sauntering towards Sarutobi. She took a spot next him, settling her butt atop his desk and crossing her legs.
"I just destroyed the relationship of a father and his daughter." Sarutobi spoke out with agony in his voice.
Kyuubi scowled, the woman showing her teeth and elongated fangs.
"No, he is blind. Even if you explained to him Naruto's intentions he'd never believe it. He is so closeminded that he can't even comprehend the possibility that their friendship is genuine. He is a victim of his own ignorance. You cannot take that blame onto yourself." Kyuubi lectured.
Her words did little to improve the man's mood.
"I can't see how I am free from blame in this. Who is to blame is not what's important. What's important is that because of what I said today he'll never treat her the same." Sarutobi lamented.
"Speak freely Hiru-kun. You don't have to hide your meaning. I know I am to blame for this."
Sarutobi lifted his head to glance over to Kyuubi in silence. Kyuubi tore her gaze away with a snarl, her nails made clawed marks in the wood of the Hokage's desk.
"This is madness. Madness and stupidity." The woman exclaimed in exasperation.
"Can you blame him? After the attack happened what little chance Naruto had to integrate peacefully into the village was lost. Despite your intention, many will see Naruto as nothing more than a demon. A monster. The only way for Hinata to befriend Naruto or be intimate with him is to accept the person Naruto is now. To accept Naruto's plan. To accept the fact that Naruto is a demon who's interest are intrinsically opposed to that of humanity. If she were to accept him now, no matter Naruto's actions or intention, many would simply see her as a young, foolish girl being manipulated by a demon. That's what Hiashi sees. If Hinata accepts Naruto it is only because her mind has been tainted. Many can not be persuaded from this. What could be said or shown to them that would prove otherwise? Nothing that a cunning demon couldn't say or do." Sarutobi went on.
The man's stared off into space, more rambling incessantly to himself. Kyuubi moved away from the desk, maintaining a strained yet still regal posture.
"Obviously. To most when they look upon our family all they'll see are tricksters, evil devils attempting to steal their loved ones away. Lessons misconstrued as manipulation, kindness interpreted as bribery. Our love seen as a grand illusion designed to lower their guard and steal their soul away or some other such nonsense. Because you cannot see, because you cannot feel, because your heart, mind, body and soul are separate and isolated you can never understand. You'd even go so far as to ostracize your own children and call that love, driven mad with fear, hate and confusion." Kyuubi ranted.
Sarutobi stared at her back, allowing her to vent. Kyuubi turned her head to look back at Sarutobi with a heated expression.
"I should just kill you all and be done with it."
Sarutobi took a tote from his pipe and huffed a cloud of smoke from his nose. Despite the ancient demon's rage Sarutobi seemed unfazed, almost numb to her hatred and killer intent.
"Do you truly blame us for being who we are? You who knowledge that these downfalls are purely a result of our nature?"
Kyuubi didn't answer immediately, the woman simply seething. Sarutobi continued.
"There is a famous allegory. The scorpion and frog. The scorpion and frog need to cross a stream. The scorpion promises to not sting the frog if the frog helps it cross the river. The frog agrees, carrying the scorpion on it's back as it swims. Half way across the river the scorpion stings the frog and they both drown. Why? Why would the scorpion do something when it meant it's death?" Sarutobi went on.
Kyuubi sneered, turning around to walk past Kyuubi towards the window to look down upon the broken village.
"Because it's the scorpion's nature. Of course I know this story and it's point."
Sarutobi nodded, staring up at the ceiling.
"Yet would you blame the scorpion for simply acting on it's nature?"
Kyuubi narrowed her eyes.
"The scorpion doesn't have a choice. You do."
"Do we?" Sarutobi quickly retorted, drawing Kyuubi's gaze.
"Are you claiming to be devoid of free will?"
Sarutobi huffed another cloud of smoke.
"I'm saying that regardless of that, many of us would still find a reason to sting the frog, to act on our nature. Choice allows a few us to fight against that nature but most of us can't and wouldn't if the situation were dire enough. Do we as a species truly have a choice to act against our nature. When viewed as a whole, how are we so different than the scorpion? Lets say it's one very large frog and a million scorpions. 90% are able to resist stinging the frog but 10% cannot. If all it takes is one sting to sink the frog than it doesn't really matter if the scorpions had free will. The frog will sink because it is in our nature, and choice almost guarantees many will succumb to that nature. If we are to be judged as a collective, to sink as a collective, then free will or not, the outcome is the same. If you cannot judge the scorpion than how can you judge us?" The man finished.
Kyuubi stared at him for a long while, a mixed expression in her eyes. It was hard to discern when Sarutobi turned his head to meet her gaze. Kyuubi looked away, out on the village again.
"If those scorpions stung my baby I'd destroy them all to protect the children that remain, but Naruto wouldn't. He'd try to save as many as he can and he'd allow some of his own family to be stung in order to maintain peace. That's the kind of person Naruto was before I found him, who he is even now. Had I not found him he would have lived a life of constant sacrifice. He'd sacrifice his blood to this village, his life to this village, even his children to this village. He'd carry an impossible burden and all of it would be in vein. He'd die a failure and all the good he'd accomplished would be washed away with time, consumed by the darkness of the very people he'd save. He'd find happiness, but it would be fleeting under the weight of his responsibility and guilt." Kyuubi went on.
Sarutobi turned his full attention towards the woman now.
"Even now I'm going to have to tell him that his relationship with Hinata is destroying her relationship with her father. Show him this conversation. He'll blame himself and waste time trying to make it right. He'll be in so much pain and I can't stop it because humans cannot see. We have to endure this endless cycle of pointless drama. A father treating her own daughter with anything but love even if he believes she has been corrupted is madness." Kyuubi spoke in a shaky voice.
"I don't believe that Hiashi will stop loving her." Sarutobi finally spoke up.
"What does it matter if the outcome if the same? If he begins to treat her cruelly or with apathy because he believes he has already lost his daughter? All because he is incapable, no, he refuses to understand us. He is the type of man that wouldn't even consider the possibility of a demon's motivations being pure. Can't see past his own bias no matter what evidence was presented. Because of his ignorance we have to continue to suffer, my baby has to continue to suffer. Trying to save people that will struggle and thrash as we attempt to stop them from drowning because they are so afraid of the person trying to rescue them. They don't even realize just how horrible their existance is. How could they? They've only lived this life. They don't know what it's like to live in true harmony. Compared to your society ours is a paradise."
Sarutobi scrunched his brow in thought.
"I do not doubt that your people live in peace. Though it seems that the very reason for your current frustration is that you and Naruto are not in harmony. You want to destroy humanity, Naruto wants to save it. Your desires clash with each other. You would call this harmony?" Sarutobi questioned.
Kyuubi gaze a weary smile.
"It is what we do that matters. Our people can disagree, we even fight and argue. Despite being of one mind, one soul, one heart, we are still individuals who sometimes have opposing goals. Harmony doesn't mean we agree on everything all the time. It means that even when we disagree we still act in the best interest of the whole and most importantly we accept each other's decisions because we understand them. We understand that no one would put their own selfish desires over the needs of others in our family. No one would sacrifice other family members for their own ambition. We trust each other completely because we understand each other completely. I know exactly why Naruto does what he does. I can feel his motivations as if they were my own. Which is why despite being frustrated by his decision I'll support him as best I can. If the cost becomes too high I'll end humanity myself and he'll accept my decision because he understands me perfectly. Our society follows and supports the actions of those with the strongest wills. I'd never wipe out humanity without his permission. But if the day came where I truly believed that the cost was too high, Naruto would grant that permission as is his nature to do so. At the very least he wouldn't condemn me for it. Even before we act, we accept." Kyuubi took a far off gaze.
"Harmony is acceptance. Harmony is love despite it all. Even when we disagree, because we know that we'll always take care of each other, we'll always do what we think is best for each other. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we are wrong. Those are learning experiences for us, opportunities for us to grow. We aren't perfect but it is precisely this fact that makes our unity so beautiful. Despite being individuals we still live among each other in peace, support each other's decisions even when we disagree, and accept each other's actions even when the outcome isn't ideal. We are united in a way that you can't possibly comprehend."
Sarutobi nodded in understanding.
"You know Kurama-chan, you don't have to actually inform him about this. Would it not cause less suffering to Naruto if you simply kept this to yourself?"
A sad smile grew along Kyuubi's painted lips.
"After that day we don't keep secrets from each other, no matter the cost. Hinata won't be the first. Many more will come. Many who's pain will bring suffering to my family. Whether we cause it or not. No matter what he does, no matter what choice he makes, what details he alters, he cannot save everyone. No matter what life he chooses to live. Had I not taken him in he would have the same types of choices, come face to face with the same reality. He cannot save everyone. But he'll try. I know he'll never stop. No matter how much it hurts, how much he has to give. He'll never stop. And they'll never stop hurting him. Not as long as they remain."
Kyuubi glanced over to Sarutobi. The sadness he saw in her eyes was indescribable. A hard lump formed in his throat.
"This truly is hell."
Sarutobi stood up straight, making his way over towards Kyuubi. She looked back out on the city with a dull expression, on the subject of her ire. When he made it to Kyuubi Sarutobi carefully slid his fingers along the side of her head, intwining those digits within her thick mane of silky red hair. His hand made it up to her fluffy red fox ear to lightly massage into the flesh. The woman let out a soft sigh.
"Take me to Izanato's 4th birthday. That's one of my favorites." Sarutobi proposed.
Kyuubi glanced up to the old man in appreciation before closing her eyes. As she did Sarutobi's eyes glowed dark violet.
"Happy birthday...we all say YAY! It's Izanato's birthday, what a great day~"
About a dozen children skipped about in a circle, moving around a particular child in the middle. Most of the children had faces like foxes, though some had human shaped faces. What they all had in common were the fox ears atop their heads, the fox tail's attached to their tail bones, and their demonic red eyes.
A white haired boy with dark brown skin smiled brightly as his brothers and sisters circled him. The children were all in a sunny grass clearing. Off to the side a younger version of Kyuubi sat atop the lap of that same burly brownskinned, white haired man from before. They were smiling contently while watching over their children.
"Who old are you!?" The children chanted.
"FOUR!" The boy in the middle shouted in joy.
"Four million kisses for Izanato!" The children screamed before engulfing the boy and peppering his face with kisses.
Sarutobi and Kyuubi stood off to the side watching the phantasmal memory. Kyuubi had a gentle smile across her face. Sarutobi watched the scene for a moment before turning his attention to Kyuubi. He reached over to grab her hand. Kyuubi glanced over to him with an adoring expression, squeezing his hand affectionately.
"I have an idea. How to get more people to say yes. To Naruto every person will matter, every yes and every no." Sarutobi stated.
"Oh?" Kyuubi questioned quirk a quirk of her brow.
"Later. Let's enjoy this right now." Sarutobi said while looking back out on the jovial scene.
Now the children had picked Izanato up, holding him above their heads and tossing him into the air. The area was filled with childish laughter.
Kyuubi's eyes lingered on Sarutobi, the woman stepping a bit closer to him. She leaned her head along his shoulder and watched the scene with him. For a few moments, for both of them, all the troubles in the world disappeared.
End Flashback...
Hiashi escorted Hinata to her room, neither having spoken much since their entire walk back to their home.
"Goodnight." Hinata spoke out meekly while tugging her covers up to her neck.
Hiashi simply nodded, closing the door to Hinata's room. He stared at the door, staring through the wood at his baby girl. The man gritted his teeth, falling to one knee and punching the floor in a controlled fashion as to not create too much noise. Hiashi watched Hinata through the door, fixated on her face. The man began to shake, a conflicted look in his eyes. Finally with a look of determination he stood up and swung open Hinata's door.
Hinata nearly jumped out of her skin when Hiashi rushed into her room, the girl had just been staring up at the ceiling. She looked at her father in confusion.
"We need to talk."
That's the end of the chapter. Please review~
I really contemplated having Hiashi keep the secret that he knew exactly what Hinata was going through. But in the moment I just couldn't do it. I like resolving issues head on. Can't wait to write the next chapter. It'll definintely be on time~ See you Wendesday~