Chapter eleven:
In the face of mice and men.
Hinata stood rigid as several squeaks bounced shrilly around the grand antechamber while she tried to ignore the growing pain in her feet. If she hadn't had the stern upbringing of the Hyuuga, she would have already yelled in righteous feminine fury at being ignored even though she was cooperating with the old geezer mice. It was during this time that Hinata wished she could have been born into the Inuzuka clan, nobody expected them to hold their tongues during a debate.
"Young Hyuuga." she looked up towards the council as a huge white mouse, the oldest, looked down towards her. She could easily see great disdain and a form of loathing on his features as he studied her battered form wrapped in bandages and covered by her white clothing. He gave a swish of his flesh colored tail before continuing. "you are to be tested in the ways of our kind in order to become the next mouse summoner." it was so factual, so plain that simple sentence that tried to cage her in. no, Hinata had to stop this, she had to leave right now, not become a holder for a summons. Hinata gave a small cough to clear her dry throat in anticipation for breaking a Hyuuga clan law. She was going to speak her mind.
"forgive me…but I cannot take your test, I have to leave right now…I do thank you for this attempted honor though but I have to leave." Hinata felt sick to her stomach. If her father could see her now, she wouldn't have been able to walk for days. She watched through lavender-white eyes as the mice looked both appalled and curious, she could not see which was the stronger emotion.
A small beige colored mouse stood up from its seat and squeaked out in its feminine voice, "what do you mean by this mockery of our generosity. Not wanting to take the test. How can you refuse this honor that is only bestowed upon a few? You should be thanking us for this, not running away." Hinata flinched. She wasn't running away out of fear but because she knew Ioku would be coming after her and then her friends.
She spoke in a calming tone, "I am sorry but I must leave right now. My reasons are my own but I assure you I have the honor necessary to refuse such an offer." the female mouse shifted angrily in her place but didn't comment back. Just as Hinata was about to turn around, the voice of the old leader mouse flowed around her, "but you may not leave this realm until you have been tested, Young Hyuuga Hinata of Clan Hyuuga, for you see-this test is given to all who manage to find themselves here…if you want to leave just take the test and then you may be free to go…with or without a summons." though it would be cool to be the first of the group to have a summons, Hinata knew she was very young and had her konoichi duties on top of being a child ninja. Plus summons are given to a holder when they are very young, just mere children themselves. How could she be responsible if her first summon…the future boss summon…were to be killed because she was a novice shinobi. So green behind the ears that she smelled smoke if she burned.
She sighed, "I will take your test." wearily she felt someone, maybe Kimoko, grab her arm and lead her away from the council room. She had a few hours before the ordeal began, might as well get some sleep and food into her. Medical attention would be given before and after the test so that was one less worry she had to deal with. She vaguely wondered what Naru or Lee would say. She smiled, Naru would be so jealous while Lee would be crying waterfall tears in a corner. Those two were so alike it was almost scary.
She watched as Kimoko suddenly stopped and looked down the tunnel that would lead back to her rooms before shaking her fuzzy head and pulled her down a different tunnel, this one leading further west the the others.
She saw a light up ahead and squinted as it got steadily brighter. Kimoko stopped and grinned at the little girl beside her. "ya can open yer' eyes now Hinata-kun." she laughed out right when the younger's eyes flew open in shock and awe.
The room was a gigantic cavern below the two beings as both stood on a ledge overlooking the place.
The ceiling was covered in giant glowing crystals that gave of a sunny gold light and heat. As several small waterfalls lined the walls, she could see plants: trees, flowers, bushes, grasses covered the ground in all directions. Bugs such as butterflies, moths and bees flew lazily throughout the air, without a care in the world. She noticed movement farther down and gasped in awe as she spied mice of many shapes and colors milling about on the comfortable lawn. Hinata looked up at Kimoko, "what is this place Kimoko-san?"
Kimoko glanced down at the younger and smiled, "it's a park that us mice go to have some relaxation, oh look my mate brought the kids here, would you like to meet them? They haven't met a human at all and would like the experience." Hinata smiled and nodded. Both turned to walk down a crudely carved staircase before walking across the springy grass.
Hinata gave a small giggle when she noticed Kimoko run on her fours towards a big grey mouse as he waved his furry arms in the air. He was bigger then Kimoko was and had several scars that were partially hidden by the kimono-like top he wore. Behind him were several little mice that were the size of a small puppies, their colors ranged from pale grays to a dark blackish-blue. Hinata grinned when she was motioned over and nodded really fast when she was offered the chance to hold one of them. Pupil-less eyes watched closely as Kimoko gently picked up the one with blue-black fur, the runt of the litter, and placed the little male into her arms. She couldn't help but coo when Kimoko's mate-Hibachi, told her that he and his litter mates hadn't even opened their eyes yet.
She was invited to dine with them at their picnic and even got to take a small nap, all the while holding the small mouse babe.
Slowly though, while she slept, several groups left and Hibachi slowly gathered up the little ones, gave his mate a kiss on her fuzzy cheek and followed the other groups out. Kimoko watched them go before she nudged the small Hyuuga awake, it was time for the test.
0-0-0-0-0
Hinata was led by Kimoko into a small chamber outside the arena, to change into some better clothes- a formfitting sleeveless shirt that tied up at the neck in a pretty pale purple color. She notice that the fiber was actually a form of metal chain mail. A pair of pants the tied at the ankle and were slightly baggy in the knee and leg area. A pair of slightly heeled shinobi sandals, they had been left there by a former holder, and finally a parcel was put into her hands by her new friend before Kimoko left wishing her all the luck.
Hinata smiled in thanks before opening the wrappings on her gift and smiled when she saw what was inside. It was a cloak made out of wolf fur, it was the fur from that alpha male that had attacked her and quickly tied the leather knot at the base of her throat, right above the throng that held the fang. She was so ready to kick ass and take names.
Slowly she stood up and walked towards the lighted tunnel that led to the stadium. It wasn't a moment after she walked out when a massive roar, made out of squeaks, erupted around her. She felt pale when she noticed that the stands were filled to bursting with the rodents as the cheered her name and placed bets. Looking over towards a booth she noticed that the council mice were beckoning her over, she went.
The elder mouse rubbed his white fur in thought before addressing the young Hyuuga. The crowd was completely silent as they waited fro the signal. "Hyuuga Hinata of Clan Hyuuga. This test was designed to have a holder understand their summons better, as such you will have to think like a mouse, plan like a mouse to overcome this obstacle course. If you fall or become too injured you forit your right to leave and become a holder until proven worthy. If you complete the course, you may leave and /or become a holder for a summons. If you wish to sign the contract upon completion you must swear an oath in blood to protect the scroll and the mice who will fight for you in battles…do you agree with these terms."
Hinata slowly nodded, "yes honored elder, I agree with these terms." the large white mouse nodded and gave a small whiskered grin.
"let the test commence!" a roar went up in accordance. It was time.
0-0-0-0-0
Hinata suddenly dodged a razor sharp scythe as it flew by her ear less then an inch away. She felt her eyes widen as more sliced through the air coming right for her. It was a dicey chance that she would not win as more blades flew through the air and popped out of the ground as she raced along the first stretch of the obstacle course. It consisted of holes everywhere, each one holding a blade sharp enough to slice a hair length wise, it didn't help that there was no pattern and all just popped out at random.
She felt her legs tense as she prepared to jump over several of the holes, no easy feat, and instantly regretted her moment of rashness. She had felt the muscle bunch up, before launching herself high into the air and felt the rush of displaced air and sound and the stinging bite that lanced up her shoulder blade before easing out of the fleshy tissue as she descended. Hinata winced as the volume of the mice rose higher when the precious blood welled up from the shoulder down her back and arm. Looking up she noticed a lazily spinning scythe overhead and winced as she put a hand over the wound, remembering that pressure was key to becoming stable. where did that monster come from? I thought I passed the ceiling scythes at the beginning of the course. with a grunt, she noticed that she was nearing the end of the first obstacle and pushed herself harder.
In the stands
Kimoko watched from her seat as Hinata muscled through the course, exhaustion evident in every line of her body. She was proud of the little human girl, who didn't give up even though it would be easier then the life she would have to lead now. She had watched her when patrol had found and brought her in, now she was watching her battle for the right to leave. She sniffled silently as her mate tried to offer some comfort but still felt sad and depressed.
Her mates dark eyes smiled at her as his voice was soft, "all good things must come to an end, old girl. We just have to make do with the time that was allowed us." she gave a tiny grin.
"I hate when you make me feel better." a soft chuckle was his answer.
She was just settling her son down when the flowery-copper scent of blood permeated the air around her. She jumped out of her stone seat and would have run down the steps if her mate hadn't grabbed her arm. Hinata-chan is hurt. How? Why? These are made to force a trial not to force compliance. Where is she, where is she? There! she gritted her sharp teeth in anger when she saw the scythe make a downward swing at the pale-eyed girls unprotected shoulder and nearly snarled in a rare occurrence of rage. Sabotage.
Hibachi watched his Kimoko out of the corner of his eye. He had known her for many years and had so far kept them in a happy mate-ship, but even he knew when to back down from her rage and admit defeat. His dark eyes watched his mates little friend maneuver and jump around the blades in a dangerous but oddly beautiful dance. He felt that anger bubble somewhere deep in his chest when little Hinata pushed her pale hand to her scarlet shoulder, he was a father himself so seeing someone so young hurt so bad, bothered him immensely. Still he would not go down there and halt the trial nor would he allow his mate to do so also, it would just end badly for all parties involved. Hibachi shook his head in pity, whoever had tried to sabotage this trial would not even have time to plead their sins to the council for retribution, Kimoko would kill them and unsurprisingly, he could care less.
Looking down when a small, but high pitched squeak erupted around the couple, both Kimoko and Hibachi stared at the wriggling bundle of blue-black fur as their tiny son tried to move out of his mothers tight hold. The two older mice looked deep into each others eyes in silent question before focusing on the rest of the trail and their agitated son in equal amounts of worry.
0-0-0-0-0
Hinata forced her muscles to hold up her small body as she ran and dodged small rounded balls that flew in all directions like a silvery mass of hornets. Her pink lips tightened when another flew close to her nose. She knew to be extremely careful, each little ball of silver was covered in a seal that caused it to explode in a shower of fire and metal shavings. Really not pleasant.
Pale lavender-white eyes burned from the putrid smoke and the want to use her Byakugan. She was narrowly slipping past the segments that had her fearing for the end as she slowly made the corrects, albeit slow, hand signs that would enable her to increase the flow of chakra to her eyes. Hinata knew that even one mistake in this place would lead to her demise, of this she was certain. four more segments, just four more. that's not even a hundred feet away, I can do this, I will do this! Byakugan flaring and body ready but fluid, she pushed off her spot with a growl that was so uncharacteristic of the sweet and mild girl. She was done playing the fool; she knew medical justu, was brought to a summoner world and had two best friends who would be very disappointed in her if she never came home. Determination flowing in her blood she ran. Hinata ran like she had never run before. Her eyes were focused on the flag that marked her finish line, its bright florescent color cheekily beckoned, so focused was she that, Hinata never saw a weird black ball join the fray of silver but she definitely felt it.
The first thought in her mind was 'ow'. the second was feeling as if her whole body was having the skin pulled off her bones slowly as liquid fire dripped onto her. She smelt a sickly sweet smell of charred flesh and hair and decided that concentrating on not losing her lunch was more productive then worrying about how badly burned she was. Her eyes burned as tears fell from the abused orbs and her body screamed in agony. Dimly she could hear sounds of a struggle taking place: high-pitched battle cries and squeaks, the sounds of metal striking metal and underneath it all, the gushing sound of blood and liquids being spilled. She fought to rise her body when a shadow fell over her, Hinata turned to yell and fight when she realized it wasn't an enemy, she calmed and said through cracked lips, "Kimoko-san?"
The overly large mouse cried softly before pushing a small bundle toward the fallen girl. She was hurt, sad and angry. Both her litter and Hibachi had been slain by the women with the crazy eyes and only the youngest had lived besides her, not that she would live for much longer-she had been cut on her stomach by a long dagger and everyone knew it was fatal. But all that aside, she had a favor to ask of the tiny girl, one she hoped would be fulfilled. "Hai, Hinata-chan…I have to, ask ya or something…please sign the scroll…save my son, please." no use beating around the bush when one was dieing. "His name I will leave to you and you will have complete control of the scroll. I beg of ya' Hinata-chan. Please." her strength was failing her and soon she would die. She didn't want to leave without her son nor did she want him to be alone. If Hinata-chan took him in and made him her boss summon, she would die happy. She felt her body grow cold as a smile grew on her face.
"Kimoko-san…I will."
With a desperate burst of strength, Hinata threw herself onto her arms and knees, and crawled forward until she grabbed the baby mouse, he had big ears for one so tiny. She suddenly gasped when his eyes opened, large round eyes the color of pink crystal shinned when they saw her. "His eyes are pink, Kimoko-san. pink like the dawn. I will call him though, Yakennonokarasu-blacker than black." Kimoko smiled warmly, "that is a good name Hinata-chan, Yakennonokarasu. You both will go so far…I wish I…could have…seen…it…" Hinata smiled at her new partner, "you look a lot like you dad, but I wonder if you have your moms personality. What do you think Kimoko-san? Kimoko-san?" she looked over at the still form of her new friend and sobbed quietly when she noticed the soft, motherly smile on the fuzzy features. "rest easily Kimoko-san…you have earned it."
With a shaky breath, Hinata quickly got to her feet and walked unsteadily back to the judges berth. A large scroll was placed reverently on a steel podium. Its coloring was of several shade of grays and blacks, colored in a pattern of swirls. Gently moving Yakennonokarasu to her other arm, she cracked open the scroll and looked for an empty space. She, along with Naru and Lee had all been taught about what to do with a summoning scroll and your partner, so it was Childs play to write her name in some blood-courtesy of her bleeding shoulder. It was when she gently cut Yakennonokarasu's paw on his right, that made her cringe in sorry, before placing his bleeding paw onto the paper right under her name. now they were partners until they died. Gently placing the heavy scroll across her back and carrying Yakennonokarasu in her arms, Hinata moved into the dusty, smoky arena.
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Ioku was furious. No scratch that, she was beyond furious.
That little Hyuuga slut had ran and ran and ran from her one too many times and now she seemed to have run herself into a trap. A fitting end to the little chit. She had traversed many miles to find out where in the nin levels of hell the bitch had disappeared into, when a mouse had told her to follow. Long story short, she was here and now most of those pathetic excuses for breathing space were gone.
Now back to the girl.
She had seen the dark haired child relatively quickly, but the combined wave of mice had temporarily blocked the girl from her view. It would seem the little brat had managed to gain some popularity- how quaint. She felt a rush of something white-hot travel through her body and it took her a moment to realize that it was a combined mixture of jealousy and hatred. Ioku snarled low in her throat as another mouse fell dead to her poisoned weapons, the hot smell of blood covering her hands and arms up to her elbows as she grinned in insane glee. This was why she and her teammates had been chosen by their master-they loved too kill and she was no exception nor did she feel an ounce of regret or conscience when performing slaughter. To her, anyone was prey and those unlucky enough to be chosen to become her playthings always died in the most gruesome of ways.
She scanned the room and smiled murderously when the flash of black and purple entered her gaze. The little slut was not going to die, such a shame as it was, the master had plans for those three children, very specific plans and she dare not even kill one for a second. Ioku grimaced, she could still feel the bite of a whip slashing through her skin, a warning to try to control the urge to kill this prey. Her master was dangerous like that, hurting them just enough to get the message across without making them rebel.
Ioku ran forward, occasionally sliding on spills of red before jumping forward just as Hinata turned her pretty little face. The surrounding air was split by the harsh crack of a hand hitting face, it made the insane women smile happily when the pale ivory of her victims face glowed scarlet. She gave a malicious cackle before hauling the dazed but fighting child to her feet. Another slap, brought the girl back to awareness. Ioku dragged the girl forward, ignoring the giant scroll and little bundle tied to her back, before pulling out a square piece of paper with odd swirls and kanji written on it. With a quick flick of the wrist, Ioku sent it sailing in the air before sticking to a broken column. Within seconds a flash of light and a bang tore throughout the area making Hinata and Ioku close their eyes and grit their teeth in pain. When the light had died down, Hinata audaciously opened her pale orbs to look at what happened and stiffened in shock.
Instead of broken stone and rubble, there was a vast wasteland with a huge compound sitting right in front of the two women. High walls were backed by tiny, moving specks on their perimeters which Hinata took to be guards while the completely flat wall surface left no room to climb. She felt Ioku pull her forward to the giant iron gate and winced when the whole thing shrieked in tension as it was forced open. Her eyes jumped at the two gatehouses - one on the outside and the other in the compound. Both were made out of a combination of stone, probable sandstone, and metal bracings. Their roofs were tiled and covered in a shiny substance that she thought might be a type of oil. come to think of it, the walls outside had that same look. Hmm, I wonder what it is. Maybe they use it to blind their opponents or does it serve some other purpose. I'll have to think of this when I'm alone. She mentally nodded at her thoughts before focusing once more on her dilemma. Walking across the gates threshold, she didn't notice any guards around the inside of the compound, this worried the young Hyuuga, especially because she knew they were being watched.
And angry voice snarled right in the space over her head, "come on Hyuuga slut. If you make me late, I will not hesitate to go against me master orders and kill you myself!" Hinata mentally rolled her eyes. If Ioku had wanted her dead she would have done so already, no her master must be cruel and dangerous if he could subdue the sadistic women and cheat her out of a prize. Which begged the question -what did Ioku's master want with her or an even more disturbing question, what did he want with them. A flash of chakra had the young girl turning to face Ioku and somebody else. He was large and built like a seafaring vessel with scars and stuff all over his face and arms. His skin was a chalky white color that she thought one only got after years of living underground. He gave a calmly grotesque smile that made her skin crawl as the man walked closer to Ioku and herself. His countenance was smug and cocky as he was practically nose to nose with Hinata's murderous captor. The only thing that made her more scared was the simple fact that even Ioku seemed disgusted and wary around the big male.
0-0-0-0-0
The mans dark eyes showed an amused disgust at his female teammate but that still didn't stop him from grinning like a demented loon. "well well, Ioku-chan, it would seem I have beaten you to our masters favor. You look worse for wear, did this little girl of only seven really give you such a hard time…my she is a pretty thing, isn't she…though not half as beautiful as my Naru-chan." He grinned when the tiny girl shivered in horror, though if it was because he showed her attention or if the mere mentioning of his beautiful Naru made her aware. Untoku thought it might be a combination of both. He gave a mental sigh when Ioku started to screech at him, most of which he blocked out but not before he heard her call him a "pedophilic-asshole with a shitty disposition."
With a smile, he motioned towards the shadows. What came out next would give Hinata nightmares for years.
It was some hybrid-thing. Something that might have looked man but was anything but. It had bulging muscles that made the veins stand up from its skin in a macabre of blue/gray tendrils over skin. It was at least seven feet tall with a pot belly-ish stomach and a stooping back. Its skin was the color of rotting things and smelt just as pleasant. Its face had too be what nightmares were made of; it had pure, opaque eyes that had no pupils and bulged from their sockets as the swiveled around independently from their opposites. Its pointed ears could be mistaken as elfin, but for the tattered and shredded flesh they were anything but. Its mouth hung in an open and almost dumb look as it snapped its long, sharp teeth in annoyance. The teeth themselves were yellowed and hung and grew in different directions. Its large nose sniffed the air in a delicate way. Its huge feet thumped the ground as it slouched over, surprisingly fast for its misshapen size and shape, before coming to rest beside the trio.
Untoku snapped his fingers and spoke to the beast, "take the little one and put her into a cell. no torture, I want to have someone question her, maybe he will do. Make sure you don't hurt her, she will fight back and try to keep your smell from stinking up the cell or else its your big ugly head that's going to be mounted on the masters wall." the beast gave a bow that looked mocking before it slumped over too her.
Hinata gave a startled shriek when the big hands of the thing suddenly shot out an lifted her up effortlessly. It smelled rancid and it was all Hinata could do not to throw-up on her meager picnic meal from earlier. She looked over at the two grown ups before the slamming of a big door suddenly cut off her view. With an angry turn she started to claw violently at the monsters exposed head and felt dismay when it just shook off the small rivers of red blood, not even a grimace of pain crossing its horrid features. She felt its other hand drop away from her and used this chance to throw a barrage of kick and punches at the beast, nothing happened, it just continued to slump forward on its journey to dump her in a cell for questioning which could very well equal torture under the hands of someone else. With a scream, she lunged forward, before feeling a tight pinching at the base of her skull. Hinata tried to turn and look behind her only to realize that she couldn't move at all, she was briefly paralyzed.
Cold dread filled the seven year olds body as both the child in her felt nothing but fear and panic while the konoichi part of her felt fear but was slowly analyzing her situation. She needed to get out of here. Her pale eyes watched as wall sconces and doors flew by her vision as she tried to think of a plan to get out of here and couldn't help but think that Naru would have been so pissed with these people…NARU.
Panic suddenly hit her as she remembered the man saying that Naru was being held here as well. Was she okay? Did she fight well? Was she hurt? Hinata was helpless to stop the questions that flooded her head as her worry turned into hysteria. Those…bastards…were holding her friend and most likely chasing the other one. Now she felt anger, anger that she wasn't able to stop those evil men and woman. The weight of her fathers failed expectations and her clans embarrassment taunted her from the corners of her mind saying that she was weak and that she didn't deserve happiness for being a burden on others. A tear dripped from her eyes as she thought that they must be right.
Hinata didn't even look up when the monster threw her into a moldy smelling cell and quietly thanked the gods when he finally locked the door behind him and left.
A movement at her back made the pale-eyed girl shoot up, vaguely making her realize that she wasn't paralyzed anymore, and gather the tiny infant mouse wrapped in her wolf pelt cloak as he wrinkled his tiny button nose in obvious discomfort. Hinata dried her eyes and tried to comfort the baby summon saying, "shh, shh Yakennonokarasu, please settle down. I will find us a way out of this problem and then we will return to Konoha and you will get to live in this really nice compound with me and Naru and Lee. You will like those too, they are very loud and Naru can be a sarcastic little thing, but I don't doubt that they will shower you with attention. Then once you get a bit bigger and can move on your own, we can start training together. I will have to talk to Anko-nee and see about how to take care of a summons, but I don't think you will get along with hers, she is a snake summoner." Hinata held the pink eyed male as she talked to him about her friends and the compound where they lived. She talked about her few classes at the academy and was glad she no longer had to go. Hinata didn't tell him about her family nor her clan, but she did tell Yakennonokarasu that she was no longer the heiress of clan Hyuuga and was considered a clan less child before she lived with her friends. She even told him of his parents and some of his siblings and how they loved him and trusted her enough to but him in her care as was his mothers dieing wish. A few tears leaked out of Hinata's pale eyes as she told him of his mother and how she had died shortly after hearing her name him and even told the baby mouse to be proud and strong like his parents who gave him a chance to live a life.
Shivering in the chilly cell, she pulled the now sleeping Yakennonokarasu closer to her body, offering up her own warmth so the baby mouse could continue to sleep in a semblance of comfort. Her own comforts she had already abandoned as she laid her back up against the back of her summoning scroll. She had too keep both safe, even if she died of wounds, starvation or hypothermia.
With that she gently laid her body in a rigid position, content with waiting out the night in a sleepless discomfort. Her pupil-less eyes watched the door to their cell with wary and nervous paranoia.