Hiya,
Is there any one still out there still reading this? *crickets creek* ...lol
I hope this installment finds you well :)
I know its been a long time after I've updated, my apologies. This one is slightly shorter than the others, but I aim to have another one out pretty soon :p
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, messaged, favorited and followed! I love them so much, so keep them coming!
Huge shout out to: A sunny place for Sasuke, callionope, Hilda9Achillius9Fitra, mac2, necee90, farahb, Guest, mArda, alysha. , traciss, xGuiltyXGigglesx03, Lowism, Guest, kandita, huri chan, chocolatemonsters.
Random Rant:
You know, I couldn't wait to become independent, have my own place, do my own thing... etc. And yet, when it finally happened, I kind of wanted to give it back. The freedoms and privileges I once took for granted have now become treasured memories, and while I really enjoy living life on my own terms, sometimes I just want to go home, eat my mothers excellent cooking and be in the company of my wonderful (but slightly mad) family. *Sighs*
I suppose only a nutcase can understand and appreciate another nutcase.
Sasuke fumed at the revelation.
A secret marriage document hidden in the Uchiha archives?
What a load of shit.
He knew the place inside and out; the rooms, treasuries, hidden passages, galleries – everything. If such a document existed, it certainly wasn't with the Uchiha. However, the copy Naruto had was genuine, which meant that the second copy had to be somewhere. But where?
Betrothal scrolls (now out dated) gave clans a way to secure alliances, especially during times of war and unrest. Betrothal ceremonies were private affairs and only a selection people were allowed to be present during the signing and blood oath. Usually, these people were the parents of the to-be-betrothed couple and a respected elder or advisor who served as a witness from each clan. Therefore, that meant that someone from the Hyuuga knows about that scroll.
Hiashi Hyuuga knew (obviously) but interrogating him would be futile considering he was a first class asshole.
But still, why would he go against a pre-agreed match? Clans were extremely fickle about their honour and prestige. And why was there no uproar from the other clan to proceed with the marriage as planned? Hinata was a nice girl, wife material, who would be accompanied by a substantial wedding dowry for the grrom. Who wouldn't want that?
Sasuke eyebrows furrowed as he walked up the steps to the Konoha library.
For a mousy little woman, Hinata sure came a suitcase full of trouble.
Pushing the door open, he strode into the sections on clan histories. Everything stored in the library was freely available to the public. Sasuke knew he wouldn't find the other document here, but at least he could get some ideas about where it could be. Apparently, someone had already beaten him to it.
"Nara." Sasuke addressed coolly. "Shouldn't you be out there enjoying the festivities?"
The Nara genius offered him a wry smile. "Ack, festivals are too troublesome. And since you're here and not out there, I already know your answer so I'm not going to bother asking."
"Good call," Sasuke smirked. He pulled up a chair noting the extensive pile of books and scrolls on the table. "I don't imagine your wife would share your view."
The lazy genius rolled his eyes. "Ino can barely stand, let alone walk. I think its safe to say I'm off the hook given her condition."
"Ah… How much longer?"
"The baby is due in two weeks… but it could be lot earlier." He replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. Even in the dim light, Sasuke could see the dark circles around the Nara's eyes. These last few months couldn't have been easy for him with the bullshit Hyuuga drama and Ino's pregnancy complications. "You didn't come here to make small talk…"
"No. I want to know if there's any hope of finding this… scroll." Sasuke leaned back in the chair. "The dobe thinks it's hidden in my compound. I can assure you it's not."
"Ah." Shikamaru lit up a cigarette, and pointed to some large volumes. "These are official documents pertaining to the Hyuuga clan over the last fifty years. If the second scroll exists, these should help us find it." He took a drag, and then passed him a large, heavy scroll. "Take a look at this."
Sasuke opened the scroll, scanned the contents and scowled. "A lineage tree. What about it?""
He'd seen a hundred of these before, when his parents made him learn and memorise the lineages and prominent members of noble clans – a tediously boring and unnecessary exercise, in his opinion. Wouldn't it be more useful to spend that time training than learning a bunch of people's names he didn't really care for? He remembered asking once, but his mother answered him with a sharp tap with her wooden spoon on the back of his seven-year old head. Needless to say, he never asked again. If he ever had kids, it was a damn good way to punish them when they misbehaved.
Shikamaru sighed. "Look at Hinata's mother's side. She was also from the main family, but there were two daughters – only one of whom was married to Hiashi Hyuuga. So, where's the other one? She's not mentioned anywhere else apart from her birth."
"We're looking for Hinata's betrothal scroll. Nobody gives a shit about her aunt."
"The Hyuuga tradition dictates that second daughter, aka Hinata's mother, cannot marry unless the first one is married. Therefore, shouldn't she have been wed to Hiashi Hyuuga instead? or even someone else?"
Sasuke crossed his arms and stared back impassively. "I couldn't care less about Hyuuga marriage politics. Stop wasting my time and tell me something useful."
Shikamaru regarded the lone Uchiha and sighed. There was no reasoning with stubborn, think-headed people. After all, he was married to Ino.
Well, at least he wasn't pregnant and hormonal...
"The answer lies in Hyuuga history. There's definitely a pattern:"
"Miyako Hyuuga. Main family. Only daughter of Koji Hyuuga and the most skilled kunoichi of her time. Her abilities, beauty and grace were documented in extensive detail until her eighteenth birthday, after which she completely disappeared from history."
"Kazumi Hyuuga. Main family. Youngest daughter of Masaki Hyuuga – betrothed to the son of the clan head at that time. Yet, no marriage documents existed suggesting that such wedding took place."
Sasuke grew perplexed as volumes were hurled in his direction.
"Akira Hyuuga. Main family. Only daughter of Hiroki Hyuuga, head of the clan. Betrothed to the Sasaki Hyuuga – the strongest Hyuuga shinobi of his time, also suddenly 'vanished' without a trace."
"Ayame Hyuuga. Branch family. A renown tracking ninja. Betrothed to the clan heir. Also somehow 'mysteriously disappeared'."
Sasuke read through the passages relating to all the Hyuuga women. Their characteristics were listed in meticulous detail and everything about them was documented right from their birth to lineage, appearance, height, weight, characteristics, skills, and abilities. So, if they died, it would therefore make sense that those details too would be listed in equal detail.
But they weren't. Strange.
The Uchiha lineage scrolls were more or less the same, but everything had been accounted for; including the date of birth, marriages, children; date, place and circumstances of death from the time well before Madara Uchiha's time. It was clan protocol to record everything in detail in the event they needed to be consulted at a later date.
After scanning through two very large scrolls; 'Konoha Registry of Births', and 'Konoha Registry of Deaths.' It didn't take long to discover the discrepancies.
"There's a definitely something going on here," he said finally. "Clans never omit or delete details – the information is far too valuable, which means it has to be hidden somewhere."
"Exactly. The question is where? It's not the kind of information that clans are going to let you dig up or openly cough up. Worst of all, a Hyuuga might be needed to unlock the contents."
Sasuke nodded in agreement. Only a sharingan user could read the stone tablet in the Naka shrine. It was designed so than clan secrets, were kept, clan secrets. "The Hyuuga must have hidden it on purpose so whatever it was, it must have been bad. No clan wants their dirty laundry aired out in public."
"Right. And now, we need a way to find something that isn't meant to be found. How troublesome…"
Hinata was really enjoying herself at the festival.
Sakura and Naruto's vibrant personalities never ceased to entertain her. They were such a refreshing change from all the people in her life who were more or less stern, calculating and/or emotionless. Sasuke included. She stifled giggles as Sakura explained to Naruto for the millionth time why ramen did not constitute as a staple meal, and that he needed to try other food groups. Naruto, having evolved from instant ramen, had learned to cook a very simple version of it at home, of which he was extremely proud. Naturally, He argued his case with a passion.
As she nibbled on her dango, Hinata vaguely wondered where Sasuke could be...
Sakura, on the other hand, was about to loose her patience with her blonde knucklehead of a teammate. After all these years, she couldn't figure out how someone could have one food three times a day and still order the same thing when they ate out. It was ridiculous! For a long time, she had been trying to change their hangout place from Ichiraku ramen to something a bit more… tasteful. But as expected, Naruto argued against it and Sasuke (despite agreeing with her) couldn't be bothered helping.
But persistence was key and she wasn't about to give up!
Now that another female was in the group, there was a good chance that the odds could turn in her favour. Sakura was becoming increasing jealous and irritable of other teams who went to nice restaurants and hang out in places other than training grounds. Sakura reasoned that Hinata, a high-born lady, was accustomed to a certain quality and standard of food and would no doubt share her viewpoint. Naruto, would therefore agree to it (albeit begrudgingly) to make Hinata happy. It was a fool proof plan.
Sakura smiled her prettiest smile, putting her game play to into action. "I heard there's a new restaurant that just opened up in town. Ino says their sushi is to die for. What say we try it out this Friday?"
Friday was Ichiraku noodles day.
7 pm on the dot – it was the only appointment Naruto was ever on time for.
Naruto looked up hesitantly. "I don't know Sakura. Friday is Ichiraku ramen night."
"Yeah, but we how about we try something different this Friday night for a change?"
"Do they have ramen?"
They didn't - she triple checked to make sure.
"I don't know..., but they might! We could try it and find out."
Naruto slurped at his noodles. "Why can't we just go to Ichiraku?"
"BECAUSE WE ALWAYS GO TO ICHIRAKU!" Sakura slammed her hands on the table. "Geez Naruto! it's bad enough you force it on me and Sasuke, but Hinata-chan too? She's probably sick of eating all that ramen but she's just too nice to admit it!"
Hinata felt like a sleepwalking deer awoken by unexpected headlights. How on earth did she get dragged into this?
Naruto looked at her, eyes full of hurt. "Is this true Hinata-chan?"
She gulped uneasily. The look plastered on the pinkette's face was… scary to say the least, and her eye twitched madly. Intuition told Hinata that she would seriously regret it if she took the wrong side in this food war. And truth be told, there was only so much ramen one could eat.
"Um, ramen is… great Naruto-kun, but other things are good too. I'm sure if you if you try something else, you might find that you really like it."
Naruto sighed dejectedly, expecting her to say something else. "Okay… if you say so, Hinata-chan."
Sakura glowered in triumph. "See Naruto!" She goaded, "I told you! We'll have a great time!"
YES! Now she would finally be able to wear that fancy one shoulder dress Ino had given to her for her birthday and the matching heels she bought on sale last week!
Hanabi watched her sister laugh with the hokage and medic. She smiled ruefully as she observed her sister. Hand over her mouth, Hinata giggled demurely - the epitome of grace, elegance and poise. It was peculiar - the sight made her happy and miserable at the same time...
Sasuke strolled out of the library after going over some plans with Shikamaru as to how they could get their hands on that second scroll. Shikamaru had also pointed out the possibility that Hinata might not know about the scroll and to tread cautiously. As if Sasuke needed telling. Hinata had made significant improvements in the last few months and he was hesitant to ask her something that could send her back to the darkest place in her life. She still had nightmares of course, but they were remarkably less frequent. And she had her good days and bad days.
Sometimes, as they walked through town getting the groceries, he would catch her looking longingly at the Hyuuga compound. Her eyes would become misty and Sasuke pretended not to notice when she wiped the tears on her sleeves. Angry as it made him, he could understand that even though that the Hyuuga compound was her prison, it was also her home. The people inside it were her family and she still loved them, even if they did not love her in return.
But strangely enough, he heard her talking in her sleep again a few nights ago; only this time, instead of screaming, she was speaking calmly, happily. She must have been talking to someone in her sleep and a repeated a particular name over and over again…
Hanabi.
Sasuke vaguely remembered that Hinata had a younger sibling. Perhaps that was her name? Who knows. Sasuke wondered why Hinata was yearning for a sister who didn't lift a finger to help her or try to get in touch with her since she left. Still, it didn't change the fact that Hinata was in for rude awakening.
Sayuri was dressed to kill.
Decked in an elaborate fushia kimono, she was on the hunt for the young man she had seen at the bar. Surely, he had to be here somewhere. Most of Konoha was out on the streets tonight, partaking in the festivities. Her byakugan was on, and focused on locating his unique chakra pattern.
Sayuri was not raised to be a shinobi, rather, she was taught how to be a lady. A wife. A mother. But Sayuri hated the idea of being tied down to one man – especially if he was inferior to her. Her current suitors included men twice her age, and those that were young lacked in either nobility or shinobi finesse.
Hiro was a brainless fool destined for nothing but failure. If she hadn't set up his wedding to Hinata, he would probably be destitute and drunk. Their father hadn't left them a single penny of his inheritance which was to be expected since illegitimate children were not allowed to inherit property under Hyuuga law. Miyako, her bumbling half sister, inherited everything after their father's death and was now happily married to an ANBU Hyuuga shinobi. And it was a love marriage. How on earth she managed to snag a catch like him with her plain looks and chubby features was beyond Sayuri's comprehension.
Sayuri knew she had to secure an excellent marriage prospect. A man with wealth, prestige, and power. These were the qualities she had seen in that man. Sayuri was not naïve. She was experienced in the ways of intimacy, and she knew how to seduce and please a man. Countless men had complimented her beauty and she would use all the charms at her disposal to obtain him.
As she turned the corner of yet another fruitless alleyway, something unexpected caught her eye.
Halting in her tracks, Sayuri quickly hid behind a fruit cart as she spied an unexpected target.
Her sister-in-law. Hinata.
Chatting animatedly with the hokage and the medic, her sister-in-law looked positively radiant. Sayuri swallowed bile the in her mouth as she took note of the beautiful red and gold kimono she was wearing. Where did she obtain it? She didn't have a single penny in her possession - Sayuri had personally made sure of that. Her sister-in-law filled out the kimono quite well, and it was obvious she was in good health. She had colour in her cheeks, her skin looked smooth and her hair was shiny.
The Uchiha was treating her well, it would seem.
Too well…
At this rate, she would never come back to the Hyuuga. The ANBU and Hokage office pestered the Hyuuga on a daily basis but they couldn't trespass on Hyuuga property. It was the only thing stopping them from finding Hiro and arresting him.
Rumours were that the Uchiha was a difficult man to deal with, loathed women, and prized his privacy and solitude more than anything. And yet, here he was sheltering their disgraced heiress. The Hyuuga had been counting on the fact that he would inevitably get rid of her, and once she was on her own, she would be forced back into the Hyuuga compound. But much to everyone's dismay, the Uchiha still hadn't thrown her out, and it was now apparent that he had no intention of doing so either.
Was it perhaps because they are... intimate with each other?!
The nerve of that treacherous little witch – she was still married to Hiro!
Sayuri's mouth curled in distaste. She wouldn't be able to take on the Hokage and the medic and but after a long time of waiting, Hinata, excused herself and headed for the ladies restrooms. It was the chance she had been waiting for…
Sasuke reached the group and immediately noticed Hinata's absence.
"Where's Hinata?" He barked out without preamble. "You shouldn't be letting her out of your sight."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Oh, relax Sasuke, she just went to the bathroom less than 2 meters away. Geez, let the girl pee in piece."
Sasuke shot his teammate his angriest glare and made his way to the women's toilets.
He sensed her chakra inside and knocked loudly on the entrance.
"Hinata? Are you in there?! Come out now." No response.
So he knocked again. "Hinata! Did you hear me?" Still no response.
Alarmed, Sasuke didn't pause to think and kicked open the door to the women's lavatory.
The sight in front of him made his stomach churn and anger surface.
Hinata was on the floor struggling to breathe as an unknown woman choked her from behind. She lay in a pool of blood, the kimono was torn to shreds.
Fury ripped through him.
He grabbed the assailant by her neck and threw her against the brick wall; smashing head against the mirror, shattering it. The assailant cried out in pain as she collapsing onto the sink. But he was far from done yet. Sasuke pulled her up by her hair to face him, eyes bleeding into crimson.
"Who are you?" she choked out, blood streaming across her face from the nasty gash on her forehead.
Sasuke's sharingan spun wildly. "Your worst nightmare."
Yay! End of Chapppie.
Ok... I think I'm just going to leave it there... Tee hee :)
What going to happen now? Oh, and a bit of Hyuuga mystery?
Please review and Message! I absolutely love them and anxiously and impatiently wait for them!