Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
It's almost 1 AM here...and I have completed this fic's next chap. Thank you for all reviews. Keep it coming guys. I hope you had a great Christmas and a happy new year to all of you. This is for Zero-Kun. Thank you for teaching me how to make sigs.
Deemed to be forgotten
Nightmare
"Naruto-kun, what are you doing here?" She asked.
Naruto smiled.
Hinata smiled at him too. "So, are you going to answer my question or not?"
Naruto laughed softly. "It's really fun seeing a more confident Hinata…" He said.
Hinata blushed.
"Would you smile again…for me...?" He requested.
She raised an eyebrow "Why?" She asked.
"Why?" He laughed softly again. "It's because I like to see your smile…" He said.
She smiled again. I mild breeze passed them.
"Tsunade and Iruka-sensei already knows…" He said.
"…Really?" She asked.
He raised his head to look at the stars. "Yeah…" He said.
She looked at the stars too.
"Hinata…" He whispered.
"What?" she asked.
"They're going to announce it tomorrow, right?" He asked.
"Well, if you're talking about me being the official Hyuuga head…yes…they're going to announce it tomorrow…" She said.
"Is there going to be a big gathering?" He asked.
"Yeah…they already invited all important people…they invited my friends too…all who cares for you shall be there…" She smiled at him.
"What time?" He asked.
"At the afternoon, before dinner…"
"Oh…" He scratched his cheek and jumped down from the bough.
"Are you going already?" She asked.
"Yeah…" He smiled. "Take care of yourself…you have a big day tomorrow… Good night…"
"Hey, Naruto-kun…" She said in a hurry.
"Are you going to reveal yourself to the others tomorrow…?" She asked.
Naruto looked down on the ground and sighed. He then looked at Hinata. "Tell those who care for me to stay for a little while after everyone leave…" He grinned. "Good night, Hinata…" He said.
"Good night, Naruto-kun…"
Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke.
---
"I can't believe it…" Tsunade whispered. She was still there on the forest. As much as she wants to think about Naruto, there was still the child that stole the scroll. She turned around and faced the child tied to a tree. He was trying to escape.
"Oi, gakki…" She called. The boy who was trying to escape stopped and stared at her. "Tell me your name…" She said.
"Yasuhiro Hidetada…" The child whispered.
"Well then, Hidetada…why did you steal the scroll?" She asked the boy.
"I…" He looked down on the ground. "S-someone told me that I would get stronger when I steal it…and use it…" He said.
Tsunade sighed. "Do you know how dangerous the jutsus in here are?" She asked.
Hidetada shook his head.
"A small boy like you cannot handle all these…" She said.
The boy looked down again. "I…I'm sorry…" He whispered.
"Who are this boy's parents?" She asked.
"He is an orphan, Tsunade-sama." Iruka said.
"Then he lives just like Naruto?" She asked.
"Iie, someone takes care of him…" Iruka paused. "Hyuuga Hinata takes care of him and checks on him once in a while…she also supports his daily needs."
"Ah…Hyuuga Hinata…" Tsunade whispered. "Hmmm…"
"Are you going to do something to Hinata-nee because of me?" He asked.
Tsunade and Iruka stared at the child in silence.
"Please…don't do anything to her because of me! She didn't do anything! If you're going to punish her…punish me instead!" He pleaded.
Tsunade smiled. "I won't punish your Hinata-nee because of your bad deed…"
The boy's face lightened up.
"But…you will still get punished…" She added.
The boy grinned. "That's okay…as long as you don't punish Hinata-nee!" He exclaimed.
Tsunade faced Iruka. "Untie the boy. His punishment is up to you since you are his sensei…I'm going back to the tower…"
"Hai Hokage-sama!" Iruka said.
"Shizune, let's go back…" Tsunade said. Shizune took the scroll and they left the area.
There was an awkward moment of silence as Iruka glared at the boy who was tired to a tree.
The boy looked at him guiltily. "I-Iruka-sensei…" He said in a guilty tone.
Iruka sighed and approached the boy. He stood a foot away from him.
"Before I untie you, promise me you'll stay put…" He said in a low tone.
The boy slowly nodded.
Iruka untied him. "You're lucky, Hide-kun…"
The boy looked at him with a confused expression. "What do you mean, Iruka-sensei?" He asked.
Iruka sighed. "That scroll is forbidden…I'm sure you know what that means." He paused. "The punishment that would be given to a shinobi who purposely steals it is very harsh." The boy looked down on the ground. "Hmmm…this situation…" Iruka groaned. He started to mumble things to his self.
Hidetada silently waited for his punishment.
Minutes passed by while Iruka thought of the punishment.
Hidetada got bored. "Anou…Iruka-sensei…" He whispered.
Iruka who was still deep in thought said "Nani?" He asked.
"Who was that man?" He asked.
"What man?" Iruka asked.
"The one who caught me…" Hidetada said.
"Oh him…" Iruka scratched his cheek. He smiled in a warm manner.
"Why did you cry awhile ago?" He asked.
Iruka laughed softly.
"Well…follow me…we're going to visit something…" Iruka said.
---
Hidetada traced the engraved letters in the tombstone. "U-zu-ma-ki…Na-ru-to…" He read. He then turned his and looked at Iruka as if he was waiting for Iruka to say something.
Iruka looked at the tombstone quietly.
"Iruka-sensei…?" The boy asked.
Iruka snapped out from whatever he was thinking of. He scratched his head and smiled at Hidetada. "I guess we have to take that down…"
Hidetada questioned him by raising an eyebrow.
"That man who caught you…he is Uzumaki Naruto…" Iruka said.
Hidetada looked confused. "Eh?"
Iruka laughed at Hidetada's cute and confused looked. He ruffled the boy's black hair. "You pick up things slow…" He grinned.
Hidetada cocked his head sideward.
"That's why I said we have to take that down…he's alive and we don't need any tombstone for him if he's alive…" He smiled.
"Oh…" Hidetada's voice trailed off. "How did he 'die' then?" He asked.
Iruka sighed. "That's confidential matter…deep stuff for a kid like you…" He said.
"Is he a good ninja?" Hidetada asked.
Iruka nodded. "Well…I'm not so sure if he had gotten stronger…it's been a long time since I last saw him walking..." He said.
"Pretty deep stuff…" Hidetada whispered as he read more of what was written on Naruto's tombstone.
Iruka rubbed his chin. "Hmmm…I almost forgot your punishment…"
Hidetada lowered his head guiltily.
Iruka shoved his hands in his pocket. "Well, well…let's see…you stole the Scroll of Forbidden Jutsus…because…" He sighed. "A stranger told you to steal it. You ran away from me when I noticed what you were doing. You were then caught by Naruto…you tried to escape but you were caught again…" Iruka squatted beside Hidetada. He faced the boy and looked at him in the eye. He grinned. "I've decided what your punishment will be…" He smirked at the boy.
---
The sun was high up in the sky. Its heat scorched his skin. The boy wearing black soiled t-shirt and shorts gritted his teeth as he pulled out another weed from the soil.
"You'll weed the Hyuuga clan's garden!" Iruka said.
"Nani?!" Hidetada exclaimed. "But…but…that garden's so huge!!!" He said.
Iruka's smirk grew larger.
He then sighed after he pulled a weed that had roots buried deeply on the ground. "At least…If I'm lucky…I'll get to see Hinata-nee" He whispered to his self. His face brightened up with determination. He pulled up his sleeve. "Yosh! I'll try and finish it quick!!!
---
Naruto watched the kid from afar. "Weeding…?" He asked. "That's his punishment…?"
He shook his head. "They've grown softer…" He sighed.
They were way softer when you were a student!
Kyuubi exclaimed.
"Hmmm…?" Naruto asked.
Instead of getting a punishment, you even became a Genin… Kyuubi hissed.
"My case was different…" Naruto said. "Topic closed." He added.
---
Hidetada raised his head. His face faulted when he saw that he was only able to weed just a small part of the garden. He started in the morning and it was already noon.
"So it was true…" A female he knew said. He turned around and saw Hinata staring at him with eyebrows raised and her hands were placed on her hips.
Hidetada sweatdropped, he grinned at Hinata.
Hinata sighed. "What has gotten in your head? Why did you try to steal the scroll?" She asked.
Hidetada sweated more. He forced a laugh.
'I'm so screwed…' He thought. 'Hinata-nee is soooo angry…"
"Stop grinning at me, young man…" She said. "That grin won't take you away from my wrath…" She smirked at him.
'God help me…' Hidetada screamed in his mind.
"God, you sound like a mother Hinata…"A man said.
Hinata and Hidetada turned their heads and they saw a hooded man standing near the shadows of the garden.
Hinata smiled while Hidetada only stared at the stranger.
"…Na--?"
"You…! Who are you?" A man cut off Hinata.
Hinata turned her head again and saw her cousin Neji charging towards Naruto.
Naruto got into fighting stance instantly. He didn't want to hurt Neji though. Neji quickly reached for his kunai holster. He brought out his kunai and he charged at Naruto with it. Before Neji hit Naruto, Naruto pushed him. Neji opened his hand because of the impact and Naruto caught it quickly. Neji was thrown a step back. He closed his eyes and shook off the effects of the impact. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw fierce blue eyes and a kunai pointed at his head.
"Is it just me or you haven't been training that much?" The fierce blue eyes were replaced by kind ones.
Naruto flipped the kunai and caught it in its blade without cutting his fingers. He lowered it to Neji's chest with the handle facing him.
Neji stared at the kunai.
"I don't need your kunai. I have lots of them…" The man said.
Neji took it and placed it back in his holster.
Neji then looked at the hooded man. "Who-Who are you?" Neji asked. He stared at the blue eyes he saw and he felt familiar with it.
"You're that Uzumaki guy right?" Hidetada asked.
Naruto slightly turned to face the boy with soiled clothes.
Neji laughed sarcastically. "What are you saying? The only Uzumaki I know is dead…" He hissed.
"Got up on the wrong side of the bed, Neji?" The man asked.
Neji's eye twitched. "Hinata-sama, do you know this man?" He asked.
"Yeah…" Hinata said with a sweet voice that erased all tension in the garden.
Neji's eyes widened as the man removed his hood.
"No…it can't be…" He whispered. His mouth was wide opened.
"Heh, I know what you're thinking… It's hard to believe because you saw me at my coffin lifeless…" Naruto said.
"…How?" Neji was only able to say that.
Naruto sighed. He'd have to tell his whole story to make things clear. Saying it once before everyone would make it easier and faster. "I'll tell you when everyone else is here…" He said.
Neji just stared at him dumbfounded. His once white cold eyes that he wore when he charged at Naruto changed into kind and warm ones. "Welcome back…" He said.
Naruto smiled and he offered his hand. Neji took it and shook it. "You have grown stronger…" Neji said with a smile.
"Ten years can do a lot…" Naruto said.
Neji then turned around to face Hinata and Hidetada. "What's the kid doing here?" He asked pointing his fingers at the boy.
Hidetada's purple eyes twitched. He never liked Neji anyway. For him, Neji was an arrogant and cold man. But what was before him puzzled him; he seemed pretty…kind towards Naruto. He opened his mouth to say something but Hinata placed her hand in his shoulder to calm him. She knew that he didn't like Neji much.
"It's his punishment…" She said.
Neji smirked at the boy. "Punishment…?" He laughed sarcastically again. "Why did he do something wrong again?" He asked.
Hidetada clenched his fist. He cursed Neji and Neji's arrogance inside his mind.
"Don't be so hard on the boy…" He said.
Neji looked at Naruto. "You don't know how much trouble that boy brings to the Hyuuga name…"
Naruto shifted his attention to the boy. "He's a troublesome kid, eh?" He asked.
"More troublesome than you…" Neji crossed his arms.
Naruto laughed at Neji's comment.
"You were always…Konoha's loudest ninja…" Neji paused.
Naruto grinned and scratched his cheek.
"But still…you have better eyes than mine…" Neji added.
Naruto's grin became a warm and true smile.
"Anyway, your father wants to talk to you, Hinata-sama…he says it is a matter regarding…" He shot a glance at the boy. "…lord Hidetada…" He said it mockingly.
Hidetada fumed with anger.
"Otousan…" A small girl said. Naruto searched for the girl and saw her standing by the house's entrance. She was a girl at the age of three. She was wearing a kimono. Her hair was tied in a bun. Her white eyes glimmered with happiness. At the corner of his eye, Naruto saw Neji smiling sweetly at the girl.
"Nami-chan…you wandered around again?" Neji asked and approached the girl.
"Hai…Otousan…" The girl replied with a cute voice. Neji lifted her up and took the girl in his arms.
"Neji…" Naruto called out. Neji looked at him. "Is she your daughter?" He asked. Neji nodded. "Anyway…don't tell anyone about me…I'll tell them myself…" He said.
"Naruto…make sure that that kid stays put…don't let him do anything that would put Hinata-sama's name in trouble…again…" He then entered the Hyuuga main house.
There was silence as Neji left.
When he was out of sight the boy groaned. "Why does he hate me so much?" He asked.
Naruto patted the boy in the head. "He likes to play cold…and arrogant…" He said.
Hidetada sighed. He then smiled at Naruto.
---
"Father…" Hinata whispered as she slid the door open gently.
She saw her father arranging his robe. He turned around and looked at her. He looked…angry. It must be one of those days that he had a bad dream…Hinata joked inside her mind.
"Hinata…" His firm voice brought her mind back to the world.
"What is it, father?" She asked.
Hiashi sat at the tatami and Hinata sat across him.
"I know that someone has already told you…" He said as he closed his eyes.
Hinata stayed silent.
"…the matter regarding the boy…Yasuhiro Hidetada…Am I right?" He opened his eyes.
"Hai…" Hinata replied.
"That…boy has already brought the name of our clan too much trouble…" He sighed. "…And last night, he stole the Scroll of Forbidden Jutsus. I am actually surprised that Tsunade-sama let him have a light punishment. He should have had a harsher one…" He suggested. "But then…I trust the Hokage's judgment…" He stood up and approached the window. Hinata's eyes followed him. He opened the window and fresh air filled the room.
"What are you trying to say, father?" Hinata asked.
"Hinata…my daughter…" He turned and faced her. "You cannot take him under your wing anymore." He said firmly.
---
The boy smiled at him. "Is that so, Naruto-san?" He grinned. "I would like to talk to you much longer…but…I'm sure you can see that I really have a lot of work to do…" He said.
"Don't overwork yourself…" Naruto said.
---
"But father…" Hinata said.
"Hinata…as I have said, that child has already brought too much trouble to this clan's name. I don't know why, but trouble seems to always follow that child." He said.
Hinata looked down at the ground. She bit her lower lip. The shy Hinata was coming back.
"Starting today, you'll have more obligations…more responsibilities…" Hiashi said.
Anytime now, she would start twiddling her index fingers. She took a deep breath and pulled herself together.
"Sooner or later father, I will have to face this responsibility when I have a child…" She said.
He sighed. "Yes, I agree…but having your own child is a different matter. By that time, you'll have your husband who shall help you in taking care of him. Your husband shall share the responsibility of taking care of your child with you. And my daughter…you have no husband yet…and Yasuhiro Hidetada is not your child…" He pointed out the fact.
Hinata sighed in defeat; she did not win this round…
"Father…at least…let me take care of him until I find someone who shall replace me…" She said.
Hiashi looked at her silently. "All right…" He said. "But…when you find someone…he shall not be your responsibility anymore…" He said.
Hinata raised her head to meet her father's eye.
"I can still be friends with him, right?" She asked.
Hiashi smiled. "You have to get going now, it's already noon and the party is at the afternoon. The maids have told me you have not eaten yet. A Hyuuga head must not overlook her health…" He said.
Hinata smiled at him. She bowed down. "Hai, father…" She said.
---
Naruto sat on a patch of grass hidden by the big tree's shadow. He watched the boy as he weeded the garden. He wanted to help the boy but this wasn't his punishment after all…and besides…he needed to think of what he's going to say later.
Naruto sighed and he continued to observe the boy. Hidetada reminded him so much of Yoshi… a boy he met back then…the one that lied dead on the ground that night…
He clenched his fist and punched the ground. He promised his self one more time that he'll get that bastard who sent his pawns to kill the innocent boy.
Hidetada shifted and saw Naruto's look…he shivered. Naruto looked like he was ready to kill someone. Naruto's blue eyes were full of anger and hate…
Naruto looked up. Hidetada dropped the pile of weeds he gathered in his hand.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked.
Hidetada shook his head. "Hey, Naruto-san…" He whispered.
"What is it?" Naruto asked as he put his hands at the back of his head. He lied down and closed his eyes.
"Anou…" Hidetada took one deep breath. "Are you happy?" Hidetada asked.
"Happy about what?" Naruto asked
"Are you happy that you're still alive?" Hidetada asked.
Naruto sighed. "I…" He muttered. "I think I'm better off dead…" He said.
Hidetada gathered the weeds back in his hands and he threw it in a bag. "Why?" He asked.
"This second life of mine has brought me more pain and suffering…" He opened his eyes and stared at the calm blue sky.
Hidetada was puzzled. He just recalled the picture that his Hinata-nee showed him once. It was a picture of Iruka-sensei class. Naruto was there with a big grin on his face. He said to his self, 'I wonder what happened to him…I could really tell by that picture that he was happy…'
Naruto stayed silent. Hidetada pulled more weeds.
"At least…" Hidetada whispered. Naruto sat up and looked at the boy. "You made someone happy…" He smiled.
"Who did I make happy by being alive?" Naruto asked.
"Hokage-sama…Iruka-sensei…Neji-san…" Hidetada enumerated. "…and last but not the least…my Hinata-nee…" He grinned at Naruto. 'The way I see it, she likes you…' He said in his mind.
Naruto smiled. Hidetada was right; at least he made someone happy.
"Hey kid…" Hidetada looked at him. "You haven't old me your name yet…" He reminded.
"Ah, I'm very sorry!" He said. "I'm Yasuhiro Hidetada! You can call me Hide for short." He grinned at Naruto.
Grrrr…
"Hmmm…what was that?" Hidetada asked.
Naruto raised his hand and scratched his head. "That…was my stomach…" He laughed. Hidetada laughed with him.
"Looks like both of you are having fun…" A female said. It was Hinata.
Hidetada stopped laughing when he heard her voice. He turned around slowly to face Hinata. "D-did your father do something b-bad to you?" He asked.
Hinata closed her eyes. "Well…he…didn't…" She said.
"S-sorry…" Hidetada said. "For what I did last night…"
Hinata approached him and ruffled his black spiky hair. "That's all right, Hide-kun…we're only human." She smiled warmly at him.
Naruto stood up from the patch of grass. He caught the attention of the two.
"Are you going already, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.
Naruto patted his stomach. "I'm afraid I need to eat." He said.
Hinata just stood there. She was planning a short picnic with Hidetada but looks like shy Hinata did come back. She wanted to invite him to the picnic. "O-oh…" She was only able to say that and she cursed herself inwardly.
Hidetada saw the look on her face. He knew she wanted to say something to Naruto. He smirked and pushed Hinata a step forward. "Go tell him whatever you going to, Hinata-nee…" He whispered at Hinata.
Hinata raised an eyebrow at Hidetada; seems like he did notice what she felt for Naruto.
"See you—."
"Naruto-kun…!" She cut him off.
"What?" He asked.
"Would you like to join us…we're going for a picnic…" She said.
"Sure." He answered.
Hinata smiled. "Hide-kun…you should go home and take a shower and change your clothes." She said.
"But…I'm still doing my punishment…" Hidetada said.
Hinata smiled at him. "Don't worry, If Iruka-sensei asks where you've been…I'll tell him that you had your lunch break with me." She said.
---
Hinata is good…
Naruto thought after he finished his lunch. He certainly liked her cooking. They were near the training grounds. A forest that grew thicker surrounded the clearing where their picnic was held. Naruto smiled as he watched Hidetada play in the fields
"He's still a kid…" Naruto said.
"What?" She asked while she put away the plates. She stopped and looked at Naruto. Naruto pointed his finger at Hidetada. Hinata smiled. Hidetada was now chasing butterflies. She giggled. "He just eleven…" She whispered.
There was silence for a moment. "Where are his parents?" Naruto broke the silence.
Hinata closed the picnic basket. She sighed. "They're gone…"
Naruto suddenly recalled all the loneliness he felt when he was just a child. "How did you meet him?" He asked.
"I…I was from the Hokage tower. I just submitted my report to Hokage-sama. It then suddenly rained when I was on my way home. I picked up my pace and bumped into him. He was crying…his clothes were torn and soiled…I think he was just at the age of five by that time and I was seventeen. I took him home. I bought him new clothes. I became fond of him and we became friends…" She said.
"Tell me more." Naruto urged her to tell him more.
"He stayed at my house for a year but father bought him an apartment the year after we met so he moved away. I still had contact with him but I became busier that year so I wasn't able to see him often. I was just able to send him what he needed." She paused. "Maybe…maybe…he became lonely that time…that's why he became Mr. Trouble."
"He's lucky…" Naruto said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean…the both of you act as though you're really tied by blood. An orphan would be lucky to find someone like that." He smiled.
Hinata looked down on the ground. She looked like the weight of the world suddenly fell on her shoulders.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked after a short moment of observing her.
"It's just…uh…" She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "He's 'luck' won't last anymore…" She stated slowly.
Naruto just looked at her in a manner that his was urging her to explain.
"F-father said…he said that I cannot take him under my wing anymore…" She paused. "He said that trouble always follows Hide-kun…and he would only bring problems to us…"
"Who would take care of him then?" Naruto asked.
"I-I don't know…" Hinata raised her head. "Can you take care of him?"
"I'm—…" Naruto stopped speaking. His expression changed into a serious one. He moved his head around slowly to scan the environment. Hinata, who was alarmed by his cautious behavior, had proceeded to scan the surroundings herself. She was now facing Naruto with her back. Naruto on the other hand, seized this chance to use his enhanced sight. His blue eyes now had vertical slits.
"Is there something wrong?" Hinata asked in a whisper that only Naruto could hear.
"Just keep quiet…" He replied.
"Hey, Hinata-nee…!" Hidetada shouted after a couple minutes of scanning the area passed. He got Naruto and Hinata's attention quickly. Hidetada was running towards them. His hands were clasped in a way like he was holding inside it. His smile reached his ears and his eyes were filled with mirth. Hidetada laughed in a jolly way. The clearing was filled with the sound of a child laughing.
Suddenly there was a flash of blinding light…
Both Naruto and Hinata closed there eyes. When they opened their eyes, they saw Hidetada fall to his knees. He coughed out blood and this alarmed Naruto and Hinata. They stood up and rushed by his side.
Hidetada fell in Hinata's arms. Hinata cried when she saw the deep wound in his chest. The boy became weak and he eventually opened his clasped hands. A beautiful butterfly with splendid colors in its wings flew out of Hidetada's hand.
Naruto watched the butterfly as it flew away. Memories of a bloody night flooded his mind…he closed his eyes and opened it only to be greeted with the sight of a bloodier Hidetada.
More and more pictures of a room stained with an innocent boy's blood filled his mind…
It was a nightmare for him…
So that was it...hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave your reviews.
Next chapter might be titled:
Uproar
I think my next update will be next year...