Here's another chapter. The motivation I have for this surprises me, at times. Maybe because hearing the OST ''Daycare'' is giving me this tragic feeling and makes me want to see it happen? Well, if you guys want to listen to something, you know what to do. Either way, let's keep the usual.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Or Hinata for that matter, even with what I have her go through.
The information Tsunade had left here about Mount Myoboku was surprising. But at the same time, not so much.
On one hand, it was told there was a path, even close to Konoha. On the other hand, it didn't say where.
That alone was a problem. A huge problem, in fact. A problem that she didn't have the answer to, considering she had no idea where it was.
Hinata had one idea, but it would still make her need to wait for however long it takes by making her clones scout ahead.
She had a lead, but it would take her time. Time she right now, could not waste.
She needed to raise her number of clones, so that each of them could scout ahead. But for that, she needed more Chakra. Which meant she needed to use it more often.
That also meant she needed to regulate it well, or she was very much never going to have enough chakra for a proficient usage of the Shadow Clones.
On the plus side, she knew exactly what to do with the Shadow Clones. This village couldn't run itself, and she was not planning on letting it crumble.
Summoning her highest amount of clones, being 4, she sent them to work while she went to look for a book. She does distinctly remember Kureina-sensei mentioning that there was a way to increase your chakra in case rookies desperately needed it. Right now, she did.
It takes her little to no time before she finds it. Sitting on a vacant chair, she thoroughly reads it.
She looses one clone due to a malfunction while she's doing that. Immediately, she tries to create another clone.
She doesn't have enough Chakra.
Grumbling to herself, although she was nearly done with the book, she heads towards the Library and look for how to fix that mess.
It takes time, but she eventually sends another Clone to fix it up. This time, it all goes well.
Hinata thinks back on the book, and about the trick. To keep one's chakra inside the body and keep it spiraling. It would build up her chakra.
It's something she willingly does, in the end.
Something stands in front of one of the cocoons.
It's night, and none of the clones would ever consider that there was in fact an intruder in the village.
Raising it's arm, it tears it out to see a face. Eyes forever closed. The tissue already goes back to wrapping that section.
But it was of no importance to the one watching. No.
This was exactly what he needed.
It's early June, by the time she's confident enough to send her Shadow Clones scouting around the village for this pathway.
By now, she's able to make 10 of them. 12 if she really tried.
She has to admit, it's worked wonders. With the Shadow clone's constant usage, as well as her training to keep in shape, and she was pleased.
It wasn't enough, but she was pleased.
She just had to keep this going all the time, and she might just be able to reach a whole new level.
Her hair had grown longer, along with her just growing up. And honestly, just thinking that time passed hurt.
She had her clones to keep some company, but, they all knew it wasn't exactly the same thing.
And yet, she had to wait and be patient if she ever wanted to force Madara Uchiha to ever get them all freed.
If only the scroll that had the information about Mount Myoboku actually told where the path was. Sadly, Tsunade must have thought someone ill intentioned might see it since there was no mention of where.
So, she was stuck in that loop of her current daily life. For she had never stopped training. There was simply no way she ever could.
And yet, she grows more knowledgeable in other paths. Her clones maintain the village, and when they vanish, she gets the knowledge.
She also realizes that food would be a problem. The crops that were held likely were dying if not already. And she had no clue how to fully make it work.
She did the exact same thing that was expected, and looked it up. She sent a clone to test things out.
It's the general situation Hinata has when it's not about growing stronger. Nourishment and everything for a normal life, she needed that. So, along with looking for the path, her clones worked on that as well.
Was it weird that Konoha was run by just one person?
Likely. And the mental exhaustion she received every time didn't help. But it was worth it, she knew it. There was simply no way she would stop now.
It's during October that one Clone might have found a path. By now, she's able to make 14 Clones without too many problems.
She personally checks the path and honestly, she's not sure if it's actually it. However, at the same time, what does she have to lose with a month?
She's got time, so, so much time. But at the same time, that month could be used for something more productive. She just can't think of wasting even a month. Not anymore.
So, she forms a Shadow Clone with as much Chakra as possible, and sends it away. No matter how long it lasts, she'll at least know something.
The remaining clones and the original simply keep doing their daily lives. 2 days later, the Clone vanishes. It's Chakra supply having run out.
It wasn't as long as she had hoped, but it was better than nothing.
Hinata then decided that to simplify her search, she took the most advanced map in Konoha and marked each road. Each one displayed were not leading to Mount Myoboku.
Each one that didn't, might lead to the place.
By November -and she realizes it's been a whole year since she was in her loneliness- she found only 5 roads. And she was pretty sure there was more.
Hinata was exhausted of this constant seeking and confirming. And although she didn't stop, she had to focus on something else.
In the end, she decided to work on her nature affinity.
Fire -just like everyone else in the village- and Lightning.
She already knew what she could do with fire. Lightning on the other hand was actually a good question.
Something she had time to consider and find out.
With little to no time wasted, she went on to work.
It's December 27th, her birthday. And also the day she turns 18.
Hinata didn't celebrate. Instead, she decided to make another visit at the academy.
Why, you may ask? To reminisce of the good times. Before all of this happened.
Just... to remind herself of what she can get back. What the end of her goal actually means.
To remind herself of never giving up.
She sees her younger self, on that desk. The shy person she was back then. She sees every single classmate she had here. The shenanigans they went through while in their time here.
She smiles.
She'll succeed one day. She swears.
And that's it for today. In the end, although Hinata's goal is to go to Mount Myoboku, she can't quite head there yet, so she has to do something else while she tries to find the correct path, and that's going to be a nightmare to deal with. Next chapter, we're in for perhaps a longer chapter that won't span over months. Well, the next chapter will answer that.
Also, I actually have a comment to answer here. And more times than not, if there is any question, I'll post the answers for everyone to see and not in PMs. Let's get on with it.
Zyronix: A spoiler you say? All I can say without revealing too much is that everything goes exactly like canon does... until Kaguya appears. After that, Canon goes straight out the window. Also me kinda making things up and hoping it makes enough sense. But we are getting answers as to what happens to Team 7 eventually. Just... maybe not anytime soon.