Disclaimer: Naruto do I own not. ^__^ I love rearranging sentences…

Destinies Changed, Hearts Changed: Part IX

All eyes were on her and she could feel the dozens of unrelenting gazes penetrate through her, as if prying into her for the secret she had refused to release. Hinata averted her gaze over to Hanabi who stood out a bit in front of everyone else, but behind her father. The two sisters locked gazes. Hanabi's eyes showed the utmost hatred at her sister and Hinata could feel herself shrink away. It was most uncomfortable for her, to stand there, under everyone's stares. Whispers could be heard, and no doubt they were about her.

Neji was still at her side though he was supposed to be with the branch members behind her at the door. Her father took a step towards her and everyone had immediately ceased talking.

"Hinata."

He spoke to her in a stern and commanding voice. She lifted her head to look up at him.

"You know your would-have-been future, but that has all been changed."

She narrowed her eyes and backed away from him as he advanced on her. Her would-have been future had been death, but she had escaped that by running away and getting healed. Neji, by this time had been escorted outside, much to his disagreement, and she felt even more vulnerable now that her only friend in the family was gone. The only one she could trust.

"Take this new road in life as a better prospect."

Her eyes widened at what her father had proposed.

//No//

They were going to do that to her. They were going to brand her with the seal. The whole family surrounded her, all there to watch her predicament; there was no way for her to escape.

Hiashi had started on his seal. Now all he needed was to go press his fingers against her forehead and the seal would spread to her whole body. But she wouldn't stay still; she kept on edging further and further away from him.

"Rei, Hiruma." He ordered two branch members behind her.

They seized her arms and held her in one place as she tried thrashing around to loosen their grip.

//I…I won't let them//

She thrashed as much as she could with both of her arms pinned behind her by Rei, and Hiruma, who shoved her down onto her knees.

The kimono was too tight and stiff to move easily in and there was no way she could push herself back up when her arms were pinned to her back. They had forced her to the ground, Rei's knee to her back as Hiruma jerked her head up to meet her father who stood in front of her.

She shook her head wildly, making Hiashi unable to pin point where her forehead was, at a point, she even tried to bite him and Hiruma. Her head them suddenly snapped back by force as Rei grabbed her hair and pulled back.

It hurt. Not the physical pain of cowering on her knees right then to the whole family—but how her family had hated her…disowned her…wanted her dead…and now trying to confine her to one way of life for the rest of her own life. She could feel the tears start to leak out of the corner of her eyes.

All she asked for, all she wanted in her life…was a feeling of acceptance from them.

~~~

The entire place was tightly secured and he wouldn't be able to get in there without a big commotion.

I can kill them all easily

//No…That could cause trouble for Hinata//

Do I care?

//We'll wait//

Everything then seemed to quiet down and from his perch on the tree, he could see Neji be escorted out of the room.

The other boy looked disturbed and angry at the same time as he argued in a hushed tone with his escort. Gaara watched as his head whipped to the side where the closed door was and then suddenly knocking out his escort.

Shukaku grinned from within.

Let it begin…

~~~

A loud crash behind her disrupted and jolted Hiashi from her and Rei suddenly flew right off her and straight into Hiashi who doubled back.

"Hinata-sama!"

Neji appeared beside her with the branch family members in disorder behind him.

He extended a hand down to her, but stopped halfway through, paralyzed, with his gaze locked right in front of him.

"H-Hanabi…"

Her younger sister appeared on the other side of Hinata with two fingers pressed at Neji's forehead. He froze on the spot.

Hanabi opened her mouth to execute the incantation for the seal, but she suddenly stopped and jumped backwards.

Everything and everyone around them was pushed back by a powerful force that seemed to succumb all around them. Two green eyes glowed near the hole Neji had made and visible green chakra swirled around it forming distinctly into a raccoon that clawed at a few close victims before it retreated to reveal a furious Gaara at the broken doorway.

Neji took the distraction to pulled Hinata roughly to her feet and run towards Gaara at the doorway. The red-haired boy kept everyone at a distance as his chakra started to swirl again to open up a way for Neji and Hinata.

The ominous presence around Gaara was familiar to her. The strange glint in his eyes held what it had before during the fight with Sasuke, but his mouth was pressed into a thin line rather than malicious grin.

Let's finish them…

Ones who were knocked away by Neji or Gaara had started to pick themselves up now. Hinata had broken away from Neji's grip and now grasping tightly onto Gaara's arm. She took the chance to trust him. If this wasn't Gaara again, she'll die…but either way, she rather be dead anyway.

//No…Get Hinata out first//

Shukaku obeyed grudgingly.

They had no problem making it out of the Hyuuga estate, as Shukaku in Gaara's body had taken the delight to destroy everything and anything in their path with as much grace as a stampede of wild elephants.

It was the middle of the night and the commotion of Hinata's escape woke many of the neighbors up as they regarded out their windows in confusion and irritation of the noise.

Hinata breathed out heavily as she clung onto Gaara's arm. Running in a kimono wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do, keeping up with Gaara and Neji was a whole different story to that as she had stumble, tripped, and all that as she tried to keep up.

Can I go kill them now?

//NO. Get her away from here…far away…back to Sand…then you can come back and wreck havoc//

Gaara had made up his mind of which direction to go and he pulled her with him. Neji faultered back and Hinata stopped.

"Neji-niisan?"

Neji shook his head.

"You two go your way…I'm going to stay."

Her eyes widened.

"T-They're going to kill you!"

He still refused to go.

"You have your life, I have mines."

She opened her mouth to protest one more thing, but Gaara tugged at her arm to leave.

"Wait."

All three of them whirled around to meet Hanabi.

The younger girl glared at Hinata with vehemence as her long black hair billowed into the wind and the moonlight accentuating her paleness in contrast. No doubt they were sisters, as Hinata looked the same with her now long Prussian blue hair. The difference was of Hanabi's sharp features and Hinata's soft outlined visage. Hanabi was pretty tall for her age…or given that Hinata was slightly short for hers, but they were almost level eye to eye.

She held out her right hand with a kunai pointing sideways.

"Hinata."

Hinata shrank back and Gaara took a step in front of her.

"Y-Yes…?"

Her sister took a step forward, her fist with the kunai still outstretched.

"Let's make this winner-takes-all…one final match. Just you and me."

~End Part IX~

Ahh…I'm sorry for the delay of one week for this chapter ^_^;

Last week was impossible for me to get anything done…I was sick half of the week…after-school projects…a home show escorting thing…and then my parents decided to go snowboarding….…at the same time really depressing because I lost my spot as 'section leader' in orchestra to an annoying, bossy guy who thinks he's better than everyone and makes corrections at ME, telling me I'M wrong. Little dumb freshman shouldn't go around telling their upperclassmen as WRONG and that they SUCK. I wouldn't be over this issue if he had just TALKED to me nicely…but noooo…the egotistical boy had to make me MAD!

*breaths* Alright…sorry about that rant…just needed to get that out of my system…

Remember when I said chapter nine would be the conclusion? *bows head* I lied. This story would be around at least 2 more chapters long…as much as I've planned ahead so far…

Wormkaizer-*squeals* I'm getting my Gaara plushie soooon!! YAY! For now, *glomps imaginary Gaara plushie*

Kaisui-I would have thought so about Neji/Hinata…but there's more of that pairing around than Gaara/Hinata

Rune-Rune-Nope, not ending yet…I really have no idea how I am going to end this either.

Chaotic Bystander-Gosh, I soo know how that feels with a younger brother…I have only one younger brother, but my younger cousin, his age is always over and it feels like I have two pesky little monsters running around. .

Irrel-About chapter 7…*hangs head* I'm sorry I paired Lee and Sakura up…*cries* I'm soo sorry Lee-kun! ^____^

Nebula-Good news! Its not the end!!

Cute-Hehe..I'm drawing a Gaara/Hinata picture…and I'm trying to figure out how to use photoshop now…they just look really cute together somehow…

Genin-I'll get to your story once I have time, alright? ^^ Thanks for reading mines!

EmeraldBlossom-^^ I try updating on time…guess I procrastinated on this chapter a bit too much…

Animewatcher-*gasp* How could you not like Gaara?! The poor boy just needs some love .

SilverKnight7-^__^ THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS!

Eowyn-sama-Yay for imagery! Haha…I hope this chapter has a sufficient amount of imagery…

Kiwi-^^ I know how it feels to wait forever for an author to update…so I try not to do that to some of the readers.

Black Lace Princess-Hehe…They're together ^_^ and truly, I think Gaara/Hinata are really cute together, and not just personality-wise either.

Cookie6-You'll see Hinata bust out some new moves next chapter ^^ as soon as I make up some…*laughs* But if you have any ideas for new techniques…feel free to suggest some.

Buras_Mew-Wow…you were serious about reviewing every chapter…haha…and YAY! I dunno how many peoples, but thanks for adding me to you favorite author/stories list! That just makes me feel my story is somewhat…good…kinda…

Nightsiren02-Thanks! I just had to make one with Gaara that isn't Sakura….…no offense, but she ANNOYS the heck outta me!

Tina-He's not too OOC is he? I try to keep him in character, but can't really, because if he was, Hinata and the rest of them would've been dead by now, and there would be no story…haha…

Ame