Laughing In the Silence

A/N: Naruto Universe = Property of Kishimoto

Chapter Three

"You may stay in the spare rooms in the servants' quarters," said Hyuga Hiashi as he slid the door open to a spartan room. There were three beds lined up against the wall, and a nightstand between each.

Mother and father shouldered their bags and walked past Hiashi, looking around in disdain. "Is this how you treat your guests? We're here to protect your clan…it's common courtesy to allow us to stay in your house," mother crossed her arms and glared. She's not one to mince words.

Hiashi gave a cold smile, the corners of his mouth curving stiffly upwards. "Inuzuka Yasoen…the Hyuga clan is the strongest in Konoha, frankly, we don't need your protection. You're only allowed here because of Hokage-sama's orders. Normally, ah…your kind would not be permitted on my property."

"What is that suppose to mean?" Father flared up beside me, I smelled the musky scent of his anger, and looked between the two anxiously.

Hyuga's smile widened, and he suddenly bowed. "Welcome, thank you for protecting me and my family," he straightened, white eyes gleaming sardonically, "we're eternally at your debt."

Akamaru growled in my arms, snapping his jaw loudly. I stroked his head, glancing at the arrogant man before me in contempt. As Hyuga turned to leave, I blurted out, "Where is Hinata-chan staying?"

Mother and father both looked at me strangely. Hyuga's mouth thinned to a straight line, "She is staying with Neji in the branch house…not that it's any of your concern, Kiba-kun."

I watched him turn and strode down the corridor, shoulders back and head high like a king. Swiftly, I held up my hands and flipped my middle-fingers at him. I hoped he saw, with those damn white eyes of his.

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Shino and I met in the garden outside the servants garden, and moodily stationed ourselves atop a tree. Neither of us said a word, but from the feeling of it, Hyuga Hiashi was rude to Shino's family too. I played absentmindedly with the scroll pockets on my flak jacket, passing time. Our patrol duty ran from afternoon until well into the evening. Mother gave me some buns for dinner, but I ate them all even before making my way to meet Shino.

Akamaru sat in my lap, sleepily blowing at he crumbs of the buns with his nose. I craned my need over Shino's hair and gazed to a very tall tree in the distance. By focusing my chakra to my eyes, I was able to make out Hinata and Shikamaru's figures, partially hidden among the branches. Their flak jackets blended against the leaves around them, but Hinata's white neck stood out…I squinted at her.

"Hey," Shino poked me suddenly, "you've been weird all day. You're not loud."

I gave him an annoyed look, "And you're extra nosy today. Leave me alone."

Shino lower his head and allowed his glasses to slide partially down his nose. A pair of golden eyes looked at me in astonishment. "What the hell?"

Ignoring him, I turned to look into the spacious courtyard of the Hyuga main house. I saw Hiashi practicing their Gentle Fist taijutsu with a skinny girl in a blue jacket. It must be the infamous Hanabi. After she graduated the academy last year at age nine, her ruthlessness in combat was notorious in the village. That girl is a bit of a sociopath, in my opinion. Her strength made her cold-blooded, like a snake. Even I am always careful in her presence, because anything might give her a reason to strike me.

As I watched, they stopped and began to talk. Feeling curious, I focused my chakra to my ears, and listened.

"Hanabi, you're not working hard enough today, at this rate, you will not be strong enough to head the main house when you grow up," Hiashi sounded light with his reprimands, like he was saying only for the sake of sounding stern.

She whipped around to face her father, dark hair flying. "Who else but me? Hinata-sama will never be the matriarch of the main house. I was watching her today," I'm sure she was smirking, "she's been chuunin for three years now, and she still has trouble focusing her chakra to walk up a tree. What a weakling."

Hiashi was oddly silent at Hanabi's words, then said, "Dinner time", and walked into the house.

I watched Hanabi follow him in, feeling contemptuous. I wanted to leap down the tree and tell them that Hinata had no trouble with focusing her chakra, and in fact saved me when I fell.

And she's also kind, gentle, and sweet. She may not be able to win her battles like you Hanabi…but that's because Hinata has a kind heart, and doesn't hurt people ruthlessly like you! I thought, You skinny bitch, no one likes you.

After a while, my eyes glazed over, and Akamaru began to snore in my lap. It was quite a rude awakening when a kunai landed in the space between my legs. A bit more north and I would have no children in my future. Akamaru leaped onto my shoulder as Shino and I sprung up and got into position. I quickly focused my chakra to my nose, and smelled a foreign scent amid the leaves in a tree across from us.

I leaped for that spot, a kunai clenched in one hand. As I burst through the leaves, arms outstretched, I saw a small figure shift away quickly. The light-blue material of his or her clothes caught my attention, and the small stature told me that it was a child. Hanabi's name came to mind, and I felt anger flare up within me.

"Get back here you little bitch!" Snarling, I kicked hard against the branch and launched myself after her. Akamaru leaped from his perch on my shoulder and caught up with Hanabi. I couldn't see what he did, but I heard him howl in pain.

"What did you do, you stupid dog?" I heard a boy's voice down below, and quickly dropped out of the tree.

Facing me was a slender boy in a patterned blue jacket with a Hidden Mist forehead protector tied around his forearm. His hair hung loose in a messy black mess over his shoulders, and he was prying Akamaru off of his arm. I stared at him, kunai in hand, feeling a little unsure. Shino dropped down beside me a few moments later, and we approached him with menacing looks on our faces.

He held out his arm at me, "Could you get your stupid dog off me please?" For such gangly little child, he had a very commanding voice.

I stared at his arm. It was made entirely of metal, with each joint meticulously crafted to function like a real hand. Not knowing what to do, I carefully, scooped Akamaru off of him and stepped back. He followed my gaze, then sighed as he stroked his arm.

"I'm here to take revenge against Hyuga Hanabi." He told me, "Please don't get in my way."

Shino spoke up, "You...are the Mizukage's child aren't you?"

The child nodded shortly, and then looked toward across courtyard at the shadows of the Hyugas against the window. "She took my arm…and so I will take hers."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," Shino stepped before the boy and crossed his arms. "Back me up Kiba."

I stepped forward, then stopped. Looking at the grim face of the child, and remembering Hanabi's vicious words…I felt as if he had the right to fight her and take revenge.

Just then, I felt two blasts of wind as two more figures appeared behind us. I turned and saw Shikamaru and Hinata, both with kunais ready in their hands. There was a scowl on Shikamaru's face, and a troubled look on Hinata's. She seemed to recognize the boy, because she blushed and gave him a quick bow.

The child's eyes widened in anger at the sight of Hinata's apologetic eyes. "You!" He shouted as he launched himself at her.

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tbc!