Laughing In the Silence
A/N: Naruto Universe = Property of Kishimoto
Hey guys, thanks for all the support ^_^. I will try my best to make this a good story.
Chapter Four
Hinata didn't waste time to stand about and gape at him. She quickly crouched forward and crossed her wrists in a defensive position. As the boy kicked fiercely at her face, she threw up her arms and sent him flying backwards into the court yard. A quick flurry of seals activated her Byakugan, and she stood in a defensive stance with her palms raised gently as she watched the boy climb to his feet.
"Gomen nasai Homizu-kun," Hinata never lost her apologetic tone as the child staggered toward her, his metal arm outstretched before him.
In a flash, Shino and Shikamaru disappeared from behind me, and seized both his arms. Shino waved his hand over Homizu's head, and allowed a torrent of Destruction Bugs to fall.
"I will give you ten minutes to explain yourself to me," Quietly, Shino said in a monotone, "do anything stupid, and my Destruction Bugs will release toxin and kill you."
"Shino-kun…" Hinata looked unhappy.
"No, I'll tell you everything. Then you will understand," Grimly, Homizu began his tale. "Two years ago, Hyuga Hiashi and his daughters, Hanabi and Hinata were on an ambassadorial visit in our Hidden Mist Village. I was eight at that time, and have just graduated from the Ninja Academy. The Hyugas were staying in my house, and I kept the girls company while Hiashi met with my father…Hanabi was a fierce, restless girl. Having to become bored of our garden, she activated her Byakugan and began to knock birds out of the air with her kunai. Hinata argued with her, saying that it was cruel of her. They got into a fight…or rather, Hanabi attacked Hinata. I remember vividly when Hanabi snarled at her sister, calling her a spineless weakling. I'll never forget the killing intent that shone cold and bright in her brilliant eyes…but it was all I could do to keep her from dealing a vicious blow on her sister…I took the full impact with my right arm. It felt like it was being shattered from the inside…that night father had to amputate it…"
He trailed off, and looked expectantly at us. I felt a flush of anger, followed by pity. The boy's solemn blue eyes were nothing like the clear cerulean of Naruto, but a heavy, moody indigo. He deserved his revenge…I felt as if I should even help him get it. An image of staking Hanabi to a tree with kunais sprung to mind. Guiltily, I pushed my violent thoughts out of mind, and turned to look at Hinata.
"I'm sorry Homizu-kun, but I cannot let you hurt Hanabi, I will fight you."
Homizu looked stunned for a moment, then nodded. "You have a great sense of honor, and I respect that in a shinobi. However, your sister do not deserve to be a shinobi, I will ask you to step aside one more time," he looked around at all of us, "then I would have to kill you."
Instead of answering, Hinata lunged forward, extending her palms before her. Her hand struck his chest and made a solid sound, and his figure swayed and melted into a puddle of water. "Water clone!" Quickly she whipped around, and ducked just in time to avoid several shurikens.
Shino bent over and allowed the bugs that were on the water clone to crawl back onto his arm, brows knitted in thought. I focused chakra on my nose, but couldn't smell him at all. Odd, I thought to myself.
Suddenly, Homizu burst from a clump of leaves and came at us with a kunai between each finger. I felt myself smirk slightly, a shinobi knows when to hide himself and when to attack…clearly this one slept through the lessons on ambush.
Shikamaru activated his Shadow Copy no Jutsu, and lengthened his shadow to grab onto Homizu. But the boy continued to move after he made connection. Shikamaru started loudly, and everything suddenly fell into place with a click.
"It's another Water Clone!" I shouted, "That's why I couldn't smell him."
"Oh no!" Hinata broke into a sprint towards the house, leaving us behind. We followed suit, and a loud splash indicated the release of the Water Clone. Akamaru howled in excitement, I dropped him so that he ran beside me.
"Hanabi-sama! Father!" Hinata slid the door open and ran into the house. All the servants were lying on the ground, unconscious. Hanabi was no where in sight. "Genjutsu!" She murmured, performing Cancel on the nearest man.
"Dasu-kun, what happened?" Hinata shook his shoulder urgently.
Akamaru barked, and ran into the corridor, "Follow me!" I shouted as I ran after my dog, "We don't have time to question the servants!"
Just as I ran out of the room, I was hit head on by a heavy object. It was Homizu's limp body, with his jacket shredded to rags. I looked up and saw Hanabi standing down the corridor, panting as she picked shards of ice out of her hair with her left hand. I quickly looked to her right hand, and saw that it was incased in a block of ice. As I watched, she extended her right arm and caused the ice to shatter into tiny pieces. She probably expelled chakra from the openings in her arm, something only the Hyugas can do.
Hinata rushed at Hanabi, looking worried and relieved. "Are you OK sister? Do you want to me examine your arm?"
Smirking, Hanabi took a step back, "Do you honestly think I need you to help me? Did you come here to save me? Did you honestly think that this little brat can defeat the future matriarch of the Hyuga clan? Weakling."
We all stood silently as she turned and walked out calmly, trailing water behind her.
Hinata came back to us, looking defeated and very, very tired. I placed a comforting hand on her waist as we went back into the room to revive the servants, and she let me. It felt as if she was trying very hard to hold herself up on her own.
"Cry if you want," I murmured, letting my lips hover just beyond her dark hair.
She swayed as if to lean into me, but didn't, hugging her arms around her torso. A stream of tears course down her cheeks, dripping onto her jacket. Just as I sighed and started to walk away, I was stopped by a tug. Over my shoulder, I saw her cling to the corner of my shirt; head bent over to hid her eyes. With shaky hands, I covered her hand with mine, and squeezed it.
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tbc!
