A Place To Belong
Standard Disclaimers Apply
A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews and encouragements, I really appreciate them. Like I said, I'm not really very knowledgeable about the Naruto techniques and stuff so I'm researching it just to make the story and jutsu stuff more believable, however I will play around with the timeline and events somewhat. Review Responses at the end of the chapter.
Pairings: NejiHina, SasuHina, Kakashi/Kurenai (I love this pairing and I like Kakashi better than Asuma, no offense to the Asuma/Kurenai lovers)
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Chapter Three:
To bear all hardships with silence and dignity was the Hyuuga way.
One was not to stagger under the weight of responsibility nor show any outward sign of any weakness whatsoever.
Stoicism seemed to be the principal ruling factor in the house whose walls were as flimsy as paper. The Byakugan allowed one to see all and there were things that should never be mentioned. Things that were better off kept secret from the rest of the world.
Many people said that the Hyuuga strength lay in their Byakugan and in the gentle fist style that no taijutsu in the world could completely defend against.
The gentle fist whose strength lay not in brute force but the subtle invisible strength of chakra released onto the opponent. One may block the physical strike but one can never escape the chakra flow released as it entered the blood and attacked the opponent from the inside out.
It was subtle, invisible, powerful and deadly.
Just like silence.
Just like tradition.
Just like pride.
Neji was escorting her once more to the ninja academy where she was training to be a kunoichi. As always, their walks were silent and filled with an air of dark doom as each one intent and focusing on anything other than the fact that they were walking together.
Hanabi was rarely allowed to be outside during the hours after her training at the academy. She was expected to report back home after her classes and begin her training with her father. Once Hanabi became genin, she expected the rigid schedule to relax somewhat since she would have to train with her new teammates and her Jounin sensei.
Or maybe it would further intensify, as she would have to balance her training with her team and her training at home. Hanabi was not looking forward to that plausible possibility.
To be strong, to escape her fate, this was the price she had to pay.
But because of her pursuit of freedom from the cursed seal's cage, she was making Hinata and Neji pay the price too. Because Hanabi had wanted to be strong, had indeed become strong, she had highlighted Hinata's weakness and made herself the more acceptable candidate to produce the next heir to the Hyuuga clan. Hanabi had not only usurped Hinata for the position as heir, but also as Neji's betrothed as well.
Hanabi didn't want to marry Neji.
Neji belonged to Hinata.
Hanabi knew this because she saw them together, because even though she was not allowed to talk to her sister, no one had said anything about not watching her oneesan from afar. Hanabi had seen how Hinata had blossomed under Neji's gaze. Hanabi had watched as the anger and resentment in cousin Neji's eyes melted under her oneesan's gentle smile.
Hanabi had watched Neji and Hinata gradually accept their fated marriage.
Neji and her oneesan seemed happy now.
Hanabi had watched them smile and high up in her room, behind the glass window and the curtain that obscured her from view, Hanabi had smiled as well.
Maybe the house really was starting to change and maybe there would be hope for her happiness as well.
She, Hanabi, was being groomed as the next heir, she didn't have to fear the seal any longer.
Hanabi had her dream in her hands now.
She was to be the next clan leader…but like some things, it seemed that the Hyuuga way perverted it in some way. Hanabi had attained her dream but it didn't make her happy like she expected it too.
It only made her feel bad.
The unexpected price her dream, her goal, had cost her, her cousin and her sister, all weighed heavily on Hanabi's young shoulders.
Hinata was sad.
Neji was mad.
Hanabi was lonely.
Guilt was nothing new to Hanabi. After all, her birth had heralded her mother's death and now on top of everything, she had this to carry too.
To bear all hardships with silence and dignity was the Hyuuga way.
One was not to stagger under the weight of responsibility nor show any outward sign of any weakness whatsoever.
And so Hanabi walked beside Neji everyday and not once did she say anything.
"I won't be able to escort you for a few days. My team and I are being sent on a C class escort mission," Neji informed Hanabi tonelessly. "Your father already knows. He wanted me to tell you."
Hanabi nodded.
He bowed to her before he turned and left.
.
"As you all know, the Chuunin exam is coming up in a few months. Since the original teams in your batch of genins are unbalanced, some already attaining Chuunin status-"
"Like me! Hahahaha!" Naruto declared smugly.
"Yes Naruto, like you," Kakashi said nodding.
"Ha! Take that Sasuke bastard!"
"Shut up, dobe…"
Kakashi sighed, "Anyway, there will be a reshuffling in grouping to provide teams missing a ninja or two, teammates they could take the exam with," Kakashi continued. "Since Sakura and Sasuke are both still genins, your team will be receiving another genin to take Naruto's place in the upcoming exam."
Sasuke looked up, surprised.
A new teammate, great they'd probably be getting some green genin with not much experience in battle.
"Won't that mess up with the team dynamics? Teamwork was necessary in the last exam and well, we're kind of used to working with each other now. Bringing in someone else will make it a bit unbalanced," Sakura piped in worriedly. She hadn't planned to take the Chuunin exam but Sasuke wouldn't be able to if she didn't go.
"That's true and that's why the new teams will be announced next week," Kakashi said. "A ninja needs to learn how to adapt quickly. You can't just get too comfortable with a set group of people and depend on them constantly. You have to be able to conform with change and this is a good way to help you do that. Besides, the Chuunin exams is still relatively a long way away so you will have time to assimilate this new person into the team."
"But what about me? So, I'm not team seven anymore?" Naruto asked frowning. He didn't want to be away from Sakura-chan damn it! His blue eyes narrowed and his cheerful face contorted in a thoughtful frown.
"Good riddance."
"What did you say Sasuke genin?"
"Shut up dead last."
"Ha! If I'm dead last how come I'm Chuunin and you're still genin?" Naruto ranted thoughtlessly.
Sakura looked down at the ground and Sasuke frowned and looked away. Kakashi sighed and punched Naruto over the top of the head.
"AW! Hey that wasn't necessary!" Naruto complained as he rubbed his head. He hadn't meant to bring up that bad memory. Sakura looked sad, remembering how Sasuke had left her without a second thought when he'd gone off to pursue Orochimaru and join him.
"Naruto, you'll still be team seven but for next week until the Chuunin exams, the new team will be active. This will give you more time to assist on Chuunin level missions. You did say you want to become strong and the best way to do that is to work at it with higher level missions and to train hard."
Fire burned in Naruto's eyes as he nodded. "Alright, I'll do my best."
Kakashi smiled at his pupil's enthusiasm. "Anyway, we have a mission of the utmost importance. It will be tricky and we are given very little time to accomplish this goal."
Sakura looked slightly worried but Naruto eagerly leaned forward, an excited smile on his face. The mission intrigued Sasuke as well but his face didn't betray his excitement.
"What's the mission? Tell us already!" Naruto said when he became impatient with Kakashi's overly long pause for dramatic effect.
Kakashi looked solemn. "It's to find and apprehend a missing…"
.
Cat.
A stupid cat!
He should be practicing getting stronger and becoming a better ninja instead of trailing after a stupid cat who doesn't even want to be found. Not that Sasuke blamed the cat; he'd seen how the owner smothered it with 'love'. The poor cat barely had enough room to breath with the way its owner clung to it.
He really wasn't prone to whining and complaining, it was ungainly and useless and a waste of his time and energy, but sometimes he wished he was able to indulge in it once in a while like Sakura and Naruto both seemed to do naturally.
"I've spotted our target. It was headed towards section 4-A but I've run across some deterrents and won't be able to continue pursuit."
It was Sakura.
"Deterrents?" Naruto asked through the com-link. "Are you okay?"
"Fine…just got tangled in some vines…" came Sakura's slightly embarrassed reply.
Sasuke sighed. It still galled him sometimes that out of the three of them, it was Naruto who had progressed to Chuunin while he and Sakura were still both genins. Granted, it wasn't through lack of ability in Sasuke's part, that he was still a genin. Part of his punishment for running off to Orochimaru was the delay in his status advancement. He really should be grateful they were even allowing him to take the upcoming Chuunin exams at all.
"Who's closest to sector 4-A?" Kakashi's voice broke through Sasuke's reverie.
Sector 4-A was the Konoha quadrangle near the center of town.
"I am," Sasuke said. "I'm going after it now…"
.
Hinata was walking past the large fountain in the middle of the town square when a small blur streaked between her ankles. She looked down and smiled. "Oh, hey there kitty!" Hinata said as the fat cat began to rub against her leg, purring. Hinata recognized it as the poor cat she and her teammates had been tasked to find and return to its owner a few times. "Don't tell me you ran away again…Tora," she said as she bent down to pick it up. "I bet someone's trying to find you right now." The cat arched it's back, purring in feline bliss as Hinata continued her gentle petting. "Come on, let's go find the team looking for you…"
"You caught it."
Hinata was so startled she almost dropped the kitty as she whirled around to see who had spoken. When she saw who it was, she almost dropped the cat again. "U-Uchiha-san…"
Sasuke's eyebrow quirked; why was it that out of all the females in his acquaintance, it was only Hinata who looked to him as if she'd rather be somewhere else whenever he was near her? He tried to remember if he'd bullied her in the past but he'd never been prone to bullying when he was younger. He'd always just kept to himself. When he'd been under Orochimaru's control, did he somehow hurt her and forgotten about it?
Is that why she cringed whenever she saw him?
Sasuke frowned, he really shouldn't be thinking about it but it was just odd to see a female her age actually want to get away from him instead of draw closer.
It was actually a novel experience.
He inched a bit closer and smirked inwardly when Hinata backed away discreetly. Hn…amusing.
"Y-You were l-looking for…" she looked down at the cat dangling between her hands.
"The cat. Yes. Hand it over." To Sasuke, it was a perfectly acceptable sentence; short, quick, concise and to the point. To any other person it would have sounded rude but Hinata was used to being spoken to like that by her family and she didn't find anything wrong with Sasuke's blank tone at all. It was actually quite polite since it lacked the undertone of scorn, ridicule, pity or a combination of all three that colored most of her relatives' words when they spoke to her.
She handed the cat over but Tora refused Sasuke's hold and kept trying to get back to Hinata.
"You better return the cat with me," Sasuke said not exactly relishing the thought of carrying a struggling cat he couldn't harm and who had no qualms about leaving deep gouge marks on his skin.
"Oh…uh…" she really didn't want to but she couldn't think of an excuse not to go. Both Shino and Kiba were still out in their Chuunin level mission and Kurenai-sensei was out on a mission as well so she had no one waiting for her at home. Hinata fiddled with her fingers and studied the dirt beneath her sandals.
Sasuke kept his black eyes on her, looking bored. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
"Uh…n-nothing…" Hinata said as she took the kitten in her arms once more.
Sasuke nodded and touched the com-link in his ear. "Sasuke here, mission accomplished."
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Kakashi stood to one side reading his book and looking nonchalant as if two of his three students were not just now bellowing for all they were worth. Naruto was yelling at Sasuke for being a show stealer and trying to get the glory all for himself as Sakura berated Naruto for picking a useless fight with her Sasuke. Sasuke sighed and ignored all of them, leaning his back against the wall and crossing his arms as he frowned down at the floor.
Hinata shifted on her feet and fought the sigh working its way up her throat. Where was the woman who owned the cat anyway? She was starting to get a headache from the noise team seven was making. The Hyuugas never lowered themselves to shouting unless absolutely necessary and Hinata had grown up in that atmosphere. Kurenai-sensei rarely yelled and Shino was always quiet. Kiba was loud but his noise wasn't like this. Hinata didn't even pay attention to the words Naruto and Sakura were exchanging.
Naruto was loud even when it seemed unnecessary at times he still retained the trait. Perhaps it was due to the fact that no one had paid attention to him for so long. He'd had to shout to make himself known and heard so now, it was an ingrained habit. Kind of like her stuttering and nervous tendency to play with her fingers. Neji had helped her a lot to conquer those bad habits but Hinata noticed that she'd been digressing and was stuttering and playing with her fingers more and more since her altercation with her family.
She really missed Neji.
Naruto…she really had gotten over him hadn't she?
She admired his strength, his determination, but she couldn't help thinking about how loud he was compared to Neji; how Naruto was brash compared to Neji's silent nature. How he would rush into things and situations when Neji would have stepped back and surveyed the situation first before deciding a plan of action.
When did she start thinking of Neji as so much better than Naruto?
Not exactly better because that was unfair to Naruto. The blonde ninja had wonderful attributes as well and Neji was not perfect but Hinata realized she preferred Neji now and that he was more suited to her tastes. So this was why Kiba and Shino hadn't really understood her crush on Naruto before.
If she and Naruto had gotten together, a very big if since it was highly unlikely, Hinata wondered if she would have eventually gotten over her fascination with him. Would she have woken up one day and realized that she'd mistaken her admiration for him as actual love? It seemed likely, now that she thought about it. It was never actually love. She loved him as a friend but as a life partner, no. Naruto fascinated her, he was loud and strong and determined and even though people ignored him, he still found ways to be heard. Hinata who had long lived in the shadows of her family had longed to be like him and perhaps in wanting to be like him, she had mistaken it as actually liking him.
She had been young after all.
"Hinata?"
Hinata blinked and look up to see Kakashi smiling down at her. She blushed at having been caught not paying attention and stammered a response. "Gomen nasai Kakashi-sensei…what was it that y-you were saying?"
"I just thought that the woman would like her cat now."
Hinata's horrified eyes looked over to the woman who was gazing longingly at the cat in Hinata's arms. "Oh! I-I'm so sorry!" she said as she thrust the cat towards the lady. "I-I didn't s-see you…"
"That's okay, I'm only glad to have my little kitty back!" the woman said as she cuddled her cat to her ample bosom.
"Ha, Hinata-chan was actually the one caught the cat, not Sasuke bastard!" Naruto said flashing Hinata an encouraging smile and a peace sign.
Hinata smiled back at Naruto.
"I really don't blame the cat for trying to escape all the time." Sakura mumbled when the woman left after paying for the successful mission.
"Hey guys, let's all go out for Ramen!" Naruto said. "Sir Kakashi, why don't you come with us? I heard Asuma-sensei goes with his team when they eat out."
Sakura nodded. "Hey yeah, and Ino told me that her Asuma-sensei is so much better than Kakashi-sensei because he usually pays for the meal half the time! We can't let her have the best sensei!"
Even in this they still competed.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Well will you look at the time…I have an appointment I've got to keep."
"Ha! You're never on time!" Naruto yelled as he grabbed on to Kakashi. "Don't be such a stingy ass sensei! Look, Hinata's here too and I'm sure she wants to eat out as well, right Hinata-chan?"
"Oh…" she really did want to leave. She looked down at her fingers and hesitated.
"See Naruto, Hinata doesn't want to go," Kakashi said. "I guess we all need to take a rain check on that meal! Hinata's busy right now so stop bothering her Naruto, I'm sure she has more important things to do. Anyway, when Hinata can go, I'm game." Kakashi gave himself a mental pat on the back. After all, Hinata never liked to impose on anyone so most likely she wouldn't ever take him up on his offer, saving him from actually treating her and the rest of his team out. Sure he was Jounin and was paid better, but Naruto's appetite for Ramen was legendary. "See you around!"
"But-!"
Hinata looked up Naruto to see his disappointed face. She may not have a crush on him but he was still a friend and Hinata didn't like to see anyone feel bad because of her. "W-Well…Anou, I g-guess I wouldn't mind…if it's alright w-with y-you Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi was surprised.
"Alright!" Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "Go Hinata! You're the greatest."
Hinata blushed.
"There Kakashi-sensei, Hinata will come so you have to treat us!" Naruto crowed happily.
Sakura grinned, "I know the perfect place to eat. There's this new restaurant that just opened…"
What the heck, Kakashi thought as he smiled beneath his mask. He might as well treat them out. They did deserve it after all and besides, Hinata looked uncomfortable enough about speaking out. He was sure that if he declined to buy her and his three pupils lunch, not only would Sakura and Naruto yell him to perdition, Kakashi was pretty sure Kurenai would pin his balls to the wall.
Not to mention the entire Hyuuga clan might come after him for distressing their heir.
"Well, it will be an honor to treat you to lunch Hinata. Unlike a certain blonde haired loudmouth, you have good manners."
Naruto was engaged in a heated discussion with Sakura on which place they should eat at when the Jounin's words penetrated his Ramen preoccupied brain. He turned to Kakashi and scowled. "Hey! What do you mean we don't' have good manners!"
Sasuke sighed, "Dobe."
.
"I heard you treated Hinata out for lunch with your team?" Kurenai said as she slipped into the seat across from Kakashi. The small tavern was a favorite hangout of most of the Jounin but Kurenai was rarely seen there except when she had Anko tugging her through the door.
"Yeah, we were on the feline recovery mission."
"Poor cat."
"Your student seems a bit different from the last time I saw her." Kakashi said as he flipped through his beloved Icha, Icha Paradise.
Kurenai's left eye twitched as Kakashi would have the audacity to read his dirty book in front of her. She restrained her hand, which longed for an intimate meeting with his face. "Different? How so?"
"She's your student, Kurenai…Naruto tells me she's living with you?"
Kurenai's previous order of black coffee appeared and she thanked the server before staring down in the murky depths of her drink. "Yes. Her father did it again, the bastard. One day I'm afraid Hinata's not going to want to come back to her family. When that time comes, they would have realized exactly what they had thrown away."
"You're very protective of her, aren't you?"
"Someone has to be." Kurenai said with a sad smile.
Kakashi didn't say anything, his eyes still trained on his book. Kurenai decided it was the nice thing about talking to Kakashi. He rarely showed any reaction at all, as if nothing could shock him. His eyes rarely lost their lazy half-lidded expression; like you could tell him anything and he would accept it and not hold judgment. There was something very reassuring about that.
"I talked to my team about the Chuunin exams. Hinata's the only one in your team not yet promoted right?"
Kurenai nodded. "I thought Sakura was studying to be a medic-nin? Does she want to take the test or concentrate on her apprenticeship with the Hokage?"
Kakashi's eye looked thoughtful. "Hn…"
"I talked to Asuma and he said that Chouji's body took a beating with Sasuke's retrieval and it's taken him this long to finally recover. His family thinks he should wait a bit though and Shikamaru's already a Chuunin so it's only Ino who will be taking the Chuunin exam this year."
"You talk to Asuma a lot huh?"
"Sure, we both like black coffee and see each other on the small café across town," Kurenai said with a shrug.
Kakashi turned a page of his book.
Kurenai took a sip of her coffee.
"Well I hope Hinata fairs better living with you than I did the last time…"
Kurenai choked on the warm liquid.
Kakashi grinned beneath his mask.
.
Sakura was feeling a bit weak as she had expended her chakra trying to master another healing jutsu that Tsunade had taught her. She gave Hinata a weak smile when the girl showed up for the shopping excursion they had planned earlier in the week. "Hi!"
Hinata nodded, looking concerned as she took in Sakura's appearance. "Are you alright?"
"Just over extended myself a bit," Sakura said with a shrug. Naruto and Sasuke both liked to push themselves over their limits and they didn't seem to be the worst for wear, why was it that she was always the one who took the most time recovering her strength? It was frustrating sometimes to be teamed with those two. Their exponential strength, power and improvement made her advancements seem minor. Sure she had the best chakra control but they were learning that too and aside from that Sakura really didn't really have anything else that she could do better than both boys.
"W-We could go shopping another t-time, I wouldn't m-mind…" Hinata said.
"How about we just go sit at a café somewhere instead?" Sakura suggested. It was nice to have a girl friend who she didn't constantly feel like she had to prove something. Hinata was shy and introverted but Sakura didn't mind. Hinata was a good listener and even though sometimes she had to be coaxed to do something, it was oddly endearing. It was like having a little sister to take care of in a way. Besides, being with Naruto all the time, Sakura kind of liked the silence and relaxed atmosphere around Hinata.
"Okay," Hinata said smiling.
As the two girls walked to the coffee shop near Kurenai-sensei's house, Sakura remembered something she'd seen in the hospital and turned to Hinata. "You know, you really should consider taking up medicine," Sakura commented as she pushed a wayward lock of pink hair out of her eyes. "Your chakra control is really good and I think you'll be an asset, plus the medicinal creams you make are really great."
Hinata smiled.
"Oh hey, I saw some of your relatives in the hospital visiting Neji," Sakura didn't know any Hyuugas personally except for Hinata and to a lesser degree, Neji, but it was very easy to know a Hyuuga. Their white eyes were like non other. "Shizune-san ushered me past the room before I could see if you were there though. So how's Neji?"
"W-what?" Hinata asked turning wide eyes towards Sakura. "N-Neji's in the h-hospital? What h-happened to him? Is he alright?"
"Weren't you there?" Sakura asked, surprised. "Well, Neji arrived a couple of days ago and I thought your family must've told you…there was a problem with the mission and he took a hit."
Neji took a hit? Hinata's breath hitched in her throat and she swayed as blood rushed to her head. Neji was hurt…why didn't anyone tell her? Why didn't Shin?
"He depleted his chakra but he's alright now, just recovering. Ten-Ten and Lee also got injured as well as their sensei, but the mission was successful though."
Hinata stared at Sakura and blinked a few times, trying to dispel the tears trying to leak out of her eyes.
"We can go back to the hospital and you can visit him," Sakura said grabbing her friend's hand. "Let's go."
"N-No, I…I think I need to…do y-you mind if we go out another time?"
"Oh, uh, sure…" Sakura said, letting go of Hinata's hand. She stood still as she watched the other girl go. Something was wrong with Hinata but Sakura really didn't know her that well to pin point what it was.
.
Opening his eyes was a battle that Neji fought valiantly and almost lost. Inch by inch, he raised his eyelids which seemed to be weigh heavier than those weights Lee strapped to himself. Light permeated his vision, blurred and searing but he didn't care. After being in darkness so long, the brightness was a welcome change. Everything wavered and he closed his eyes for a bit, to rest them before he opened them again, this time with a little bit more ease.
A sound came from outside the door.
Neji turned his head towards the sound a little too quickly for his body's comfort and his eyes flashed as stabs of pain raced up and down his spine.
"Please, please I need to see him…"
"I'm sorry…Hinata-sama but we're under orders…"
Hinata-sama? Neji's eyes widened slightly and despite the screaming protestation of every single nerve ending in his body, her forced himself to sit up and get up off of the bed. Each step he took towards the door sent sparks of agony all through his system but he ignored it and planted one foot in front of the other. When he finally reached the door, he caught the doorknob and rested for a bit, his heart beating a staccato drum beat against his chest. He fought for breath and ignored the pain.
Hinata…it was Hinata's voice and he could hear it right outside the door.
He opened it with difficulty, almost falling.
Damn it, he felt so weak!
She finally came into his view. Her face looked tearstained and her white eyes had that same lavender sheen only she possessed. Neji barely noticed the minor Hyuuga clan members blocking her path to him.
"Hinata-sama?"
Her eyes met his and she smiled albeit tearfully. "Hai, it's me. Daijoubu desu ka, Oniisan?"
Hearing her voice, hearing her call him older brother was more painful than any torture he'd ever endured. It was hard but he forced himself to reply. "Yes, I'm alright, Hinata-sama."
"Yokatta."
Neji remembered being rushed into the hospital with Gai holding tightly to his hand and telling him that he was going to pull through. He remembered the Hokage herself tending to him, saying that his body was being attacked by a strong concentration of poison that was altering the flow of his blood and chakra dangerously.
Neji could still remember the mind-blowing pain as his insides were twisted.
He'd wanted to see Hinata in those moments during the treatment where he would surface through the black cloud of unconsciousness and wake into the pain only to be drugged again. It was Hiashi who came though and it was with the reminder that Neji should take care of himself.
He could not die.
He had a responsibility to live for the clan.
"Please Neji-san, you must get back to bed, you are not yet well," Miroku said as he turned worried eyes to Neji. "Hiashi-sama will be displeased if your condition worsens."
Neji's weak body was screaming with fatigue but he kept his back straight and his feet planted firmly on the ground, not showing the pain he was feeling as he glared at Miroku. "Why are you detaining Hinata-sama?" he asked frostily.
"We have been ordered not to let anyone in except Hiashi-sama, the elders and the doctors."
"Hinata-sama is the daughter of the head of our clan, she is the eldest and a Main House member. Who are you to not respect her wishes?" Neji asked coldly.
Both branch house members did not speak. They were still both young Chuunin and from a very minor part of the family. If it had been seasoned Hyuuga Jounins, Neji's tirade would not have worked but these two were still a bit impressionable and crumbled under Neji, the Clan genius's glacial gaze.
Through all of this, Hinata kept quiet and fixed her eyes on Neji's face.
.
Neji closed the door and leaned his back against it, breathing heavily from the exertion.
"Niisan…"
"I'm fine," Neji said.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit you sooner niisan," Hinata whispered as her eyes studied the bruises all around Neji's arms, his neck and body. It was where the Hokage had had to force the blood flow, hitting each point precisely to maintain regular chakra flow while Neji's body fought off the poison with the help of medicine, jutsus and herbs.
She touched the markings on his pale skin, tracing them with a fingertip. Neji's muscles jumped at Hinata's touch and he turned to look at her. She was staring at his arm as if mesmerized and she was crying.
"What's wrong Hinata-sama?" he asked.
"It's just that…I don't like to see you hurt…" she said softly.
"I'm a ninja. We both are. It's part of our life."
"I know," she said softly as she entwined their fingertips and raised his hand to lay against her cheek. "I know."
Neji closed his eyes. "Why did you take so long to come…?"
"I didn't know you were here," Hinata answered.
He should have expected it. After all, he'd been ordered to keep away from her hadn't he? Of course they wouldn't tell Hinata that he was here.
Hinata told Neji he needed to lie down and insisted on helping him even though he didn't want her to. When he was in bed again, she sat on the chair at his bedside and looked down at her hands. Neji looked up at the ceiling and said nothing.
"H-how is Hanabi?"
"She is advancing quickly. She is considered one of the best ninjas in the academy."
Hinata smiled, feeling proud of her sister despite everything. "I'm glad." She fiddled with her fingertips and sighed. "W-What about f-father?"
"He's doing well. He's pleased with Hanabi's progress."
"I don't think father will be very pleased to find me here."
"No, he wouldn't," Neji agreed.
Hinata nodded and sighed softly and started to stand up. "I should go."
Neji's hand snaked out and caught her wrist. He didn't look at her. "Stay just for a bit longer."
Hinata bit her lip and looked at his hand.
Neji released her, "Gomen nasai Hinata-sama, you may go."
"I…I t-think I'll stay for a bit longer," she said sitting back down again.
Neji closed his eyes.
Hinata watched him silently.
.
Hanabi walked into the hospital room behind her father. Her keen eyes detected the stiffness in the guard's demeanor and she was sure her father was aware of it as well. The cause was revealed when Hiashi walked into his nephew's room to see him lying in bed asleep with Hinata holding Neji's hand and her head resting on the bed as well.
Hiashi stiffened.
Hanabi watched, expressionless.
"Hinata."
Hanabi watched as her sister stirred from sleep, as did Neji. It was her cousin who saw her father first before her sister did and Hanabi saw Neji's hand tighten around Hinata as if to reassure her.
"F-Father…"
"What are you d-doing here?"
"V-Visiting Oniisan…"
"Hanabi is here. You may leave now."
For a moment, Hanabi thought that Hinata was going to burst into tears and was surprised when she didn't.
"Y-Yes father," Hinata said as she stood up and gave Neji a smile before walking to the door.
"I will talk with you," Hiashi said as Hinata passed him. "Hanabi, stay here."
"Yes Father," Hanabi said as she walked over to Neji's bedside and sat down in the chair her sister had occupied not even a minute earlier. It was warm.
The door closed behind both Hiashi and Hinata.
Hanabi looked at Neji's whose hard-set jaw spoke volumes of the inner conflict he was having. He was worried for Hinata; Hanabi didn't need the Byakugan to see that.
"Father will punish your guards and they will be replaced."
Neji didn't reply.
Hanabi didn't really expect him to.
"I told you that the more she tries to stay close to you, the more she will be hurt. Don't be selfish, can't you see what it's doing to her?"
"If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened," Neji said tonelessly. There was no accusation or malice in his voice, only cold hard facts.
"I didn't wish for this. I only wanted to escape the cage," Hanabi said. "You should be able to understand that more than anyone."
Neji did.
But id didn't make things any easier.
.
A/N: I know that scene with Hinata and Neji was out of character but they've grown up and they were both in love and desperation kind of makes people do weird things I guess. Hiashi may be a bit too harsh on Hinata but he did go over her for Hanabi in the anime, I'm just taking some liberties and expounding on that. Well, I won't make any more excuses except I wanted to write it. Not much SasuHina romance yet since I don't see Hinata jumping over to Sasuke just because Neji is unavailable…not yet at least. (evil laugh) Just wait and see, I've got this story all planned out and I'm having a blast writing it!
Faith999 – Hi thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Don't worry about Hinata, I love her strong too but it's going to be a journey, we can't have her just wake up one day and be all super strong right? But she will find the potential within herself, promise.
Shinakastar – Hi, I'm glad you're enjoying the fic. Don't worry, this story is about self discovery and growing up. Uhm as for the pairing, it's NejiHina and SasuHina, how can she have both? Just read! (grins)
Junsui Chikyuu – Hi thanks for adding me to your favorites! Don't worry, I have an idea for this fic and Hinata will actually get them both. How? Well, just continue reading. Like I mentioned she will grow up and find herself in this fic and hopefully I will be able to do a good job of writing that. I love NejiHina too but I love SasuHina as well. What I hate is Sakura so I usually don't read stories where she is a prominent character. It doesn't really show in how I write her in this fic but I hate her with a passion most people reserve for love. (blinks) That sounds a bit extreme…hn. Anyway, I will try and continue to make this fic enjoyable and a good read. Hopefully I will succeed.
Bittersweet Mika – Thank you! I'm glad you think that this story is well written and I hope you weren't disappointed in this chapter.
Kiseki – in the interest of saving the house my parents built, I updated. (grins) Hope you are enjoying this story!
Deadgalwalking – Thank you so much for the review and the support. Yup, as long as people like it and review I think I will continue it.
Random Person – (hugs) Thanks so much for the fabulous review, definitely inspiring. It's reviews like that that I love to receive because the reader actually discusses with me the facets of the story that they liked and the insights I tried to put in. Thank you so much I really appreciate it. As for Hanabi, well someone told me that she is always portrayed as this cold omnipotent girl who either ruins everything for Hinata or helps her. Well, I tried to make Hanabi into a girl who is afraid of the seal, that's all. Like you said, another victim to the Hyuuga way.
Ann – thanks! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Ganymede – I love SasuHina too. Have you read Reasons for a Kiss? I love that fic. You're absolutely right. Both Hinata and Sasuke are fundamentally the same, they just deal with their situations differently. Sadly, not much SasuHina exists in the web and so I dedicated myself to writing them. NejiHina and SasuHina fics are my addictions but I'm starting to be swayed to the GaaraHinata and some well written NaruHina fics as well.
Lady Eros – Thanks, hope you liked this chapter! Thanks so much for the review!
Parasites of Raven's Wings – Hopefully, you liked this chapter and wasn't disappointed? Oh well, I hope you still like the story though.
Ame no Megami – Not much SasuHina yet but don't worry, that'll come soon. Wonder who the new member of Sasuke and Sakura's team will be? (smiles)
Saturnova – Hi! Thanks for the review. Sorry for the confusion there. English isn't my first language and I'm kind of fond of run-on sentences and other grammatical mistakes…oh well, hope it doesn't detract much from the story though.
Aemilia – One of the reasons I love NejiHina is the angst factor. So juicy, so heart wrenching! Thanks for supporting this fic. I appreciate it!
Ayonoi – How Hinata becomes strong will be a process she will undertake. I hope people won't mind the liberties I will be taking. It's kind of hard though since I had to really research the Naruto world like how to control chakra, different jutsu styles and such. Kind of daunting…but it's enjoyable to write something about Hinata becoming strong. I like fics like that but there aren't that many where she' partnered with either Neji or Sasuke. (sigh) I hope you liked this chapter though.
Lily – thanks! I like slow character development too. Don't you just hate it when they suddenly all of a sudden fall in love and start making out? I hate that, especially with Hinata. She's simply not the type to be like that in my opinion. Anyway, hope you liked this chapter and wasn't disappointed.
Kichou – Hi gurl! What's up? Sorry to hear about the troubles you've been having with Get Out Of My Head. Anyway, don't worry there will definitely be some SasuHina action in this fic.
TigetWolf – Thanks for the support! Don't worry, Hinata will show them how strong she can be. I love stories where Hinata reaches her potential! (grins)
Morgannia – Thanks for the review! I know, jealous Neji is yummy. Naruto isn't as cute as Neji but Sasuke can certainly give him a run for his money! I love Neji/Hina/Sasu love triangles too but sadly most of the fics I see are Neji/Saku/Sasu which just breaks my heart cuz I don't really like Sakura.
Question
Would you like Sakura to concentrate on her studies as a medic first? If that's the case then Ino will be in Sasuke's team. So which team do you want?
Hinata, Sasuke, Sakura?
Or
Hinata, Sasuke, Ino?
Or
Hinata, Sasuke, Ino, Sakura?
PLEASE REVIEW!
