Well, I have returned here. To of course, publish another new story! This time, from Naruto!
As the description says, this is an AU that focuses on Hinata during an aftermath that so far, is an unknown result from something. The rest, well, is up for Hinata to find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Hinata wakes up in the middle of nowhere.
That's the first memory she has, and that's the only memory she has before the... the thing happened.
Madara Uchiha had done something, and then something happened. Except she could not remember.
Standing up, she saw there was absolutely nothing around. It just looked like a wasteland.
Stupidly, she realizes later on, she calls out for someone. Anyone.
There is no answer. It should have been predictable.
There is no one. And she doesn't see anyone.
She wanders for days. Luck being on her side when she finally finds one outpost of the Ninja Alliance with supplies.
During that time wandering, she only finds nature. There are no people, though there are animals.
It's only with an additional week that she's finally able to pinpoint where she actually is. And now knowing where to head, she doubles her effort.
By the end of the month (how long had she been unconscious?), she'd returned to Konoha and was at the gates.
The village is empty, and she see's exactly why.
Roots from tree sprouting from underground, hanging under them were coccons. And Hinata knew what was inside.
People.
She'd know, since she was being ensnared into one before she blacked out. After that... well, she awakened.
She tried to get them free, she really did. But no matter what she tried, it wasn't enough. The tree always wrapped them again.
Eventually, after hours without end, she stopped. Forcing them out was of absolutely no use.
She had to figure something out.
She had to somehow release them.
But... what?
In the end, Hinata headed to the Hyuga compound once she realized that it was getting close to night.
Tree Roots were also there, with people hanging from them.
Hinata settles in her room while the thought of them just dangling up there stays in her mind.
She's not able to sleep that night. Even though her room is in pristine condition, and makes her unable to see them.
So instead of sleeping, she tries again. She tries to remember how she was set free. Could she replicate that for everyone?
But as always, she's unable to remember. Like each night where she doesn't sleep.
The only comforting thought was that they weren't in pain at least, and even then, she wasn't sure if that was true.
By her own brief experience, there was absolutely no pain. Only you being unable to move while the Roots took you.
And the moon shining down on them, but it hadn't done so in a month.
Maybe it was a Genjutsu? It did seem to fit the pattern.
But it wasn't a normal one. No. It was simply to powerful. The fact no one got free from them meant that they either didn't realise it, or they couldn't.
She truly hoped it was the latter.
Still, she knew what to do the next day. She knew what to do, and feeling better, she was able to sleep.
She dreamed of a happy aftermath of the war.
Waking up during the morning, Hinata realized something. She hadn't changed in a month.
And, everything still seemed to be working, so she could at least dress herself more comfortably if she was going to do this.
She did it quickly, before beginning her focus on one matter.
Freeing someone from a Genjutsu from the outside. There had to be something.
At first, she tried not to actually search the forbidden knowledge in the Hokage's tower, but the longer it lasted, the more desperate she was. She simply didn't find anything that was working.
There were quite a lot of ways to break out of a Genjutsu, she now knew that. But none of them worked.
So, knowing she was breaking the law, she went in the Hokage's tower for the knowledge.
Eventually, she was walking in and out of the Hokage tower like she owned the place.
(She didn't. But who could blame her, in the situation she was in?)
She was surprised by what she found. But she did find something that fit what she was hoping to find.
Ignoring the rest, she worked on it. The only way she could. By testing it on a cocoon.
She found her hopes demolished, two weeks later.
Either she couldn't use it properly, or it wasn't working.
She wasn't sure what would have made her happier.
An entire day passed where she didn't move from her futon. Enough that her body protested due to various reasons.
Another passed where she really didn't do anything productive.
And another with frustration. She ended up training to think of something else.
After that?
She was depressed.
Was she all alone?
Was she just... doomed to remain alone forever?
She never would get her chance to have a family of her own. Or even confess to Naruto.
All of that because of Madara Uchiha!
Wait.
What happened to Madara Uchiha?
And that's it for the first chapter. And yes, you read that right, first chapter. I had thought of just making this into a One-Shot, but the concept simply demanded me for more. So, there will be more!
Still, the entire idea came up to my head while I was reading something else, specifically, another Hinata-focused fic called Leech. And honestly, inspiration hit me hard, and we've got this. Might also be because I like Hinata and decided to make a story focused on her.
For now however, I'll be going. The update schedule is for whenever, so except them at random times or if I'm hit by motivation. Until then, see ya all next chapter!