Tangled Souls…
Destiny, Will and Love intertwined
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers APPLIED. Especially I don't Own Naruto, Kishimoto-sensei does.
Genre: Romance, Try hard Humor, could lead to angst or drama, few adventures, less fight scenes. I, myself, still has no Idea where this story would lead.
Full Summary: Naruto, Hinata and Neji. If the three were tangled by Destiny, how will they change it? What do they do if others still comes in amidst their already tangled lives?
In the present Naruto has what he wanted, STRONGER and ACKNOWLEDGED. Hinata's not the shy girl that she was before. Neji discovers what he wanted to do, to protect Hinata. But in a sudden twist of fate, their lives becomes connected to each other. They thought it was a good change and won't get any better anymore. But Destiny doesn't think so, can Will and Love be enough to change it? What do they do if others still comes in amidst their already tangled lives?
Notes: The characters are between the ages of 16 (Naruto-tachi) to 17(Neji,Tenten,Lee). Orochimaru's dead. Akatsuki's disbanded. Itachi's still out for the kill. Tsunade & Jiraiya are in their 50's. What else? Hmmn… Oh well, you know the drill right?
CHAPTER III
Actions in the leaf: Reunions and Recollection
Hinata slammed her hands on the desk which startled Neji for a bit causing him to face the serious looking Hinata. He stood up and walked until he was only a meter away from her. His eyes showed curiosity and worry of what could have caused such reaction. They were in the giant underground library kept by the Hyuuga Clan which also kept most of the secrets of Konoha since its creation.
"What's wrong Hinata-sama?" Neji inquired.
"Neji-niisan… Look at this…" Hinata answered pointing at the picture in the book that shows the symbol of the Aoiki Clan. "I can't seem to remember well but I think I have seen it some where."
In the picture was a hard oval outline in black color and within it was an a spiral of yellow whose center had a sphere of blue. Even Neji was quiet surprised, he did seem to recall seeing it somewhere and like Hinata, he could not remember where. "Hinata-sama, don't worry. In time we can remember it. Even I think I saw this before."
"Alright, if Neji-niisan says so, I'm sure we will." Hinata agreed and smiled back.
The two then returned to what they were doing. Neji right now was reading about the clan where the Shodaime and Nidaime came from. Its history was very long and from time to time it connected with their clans history proving Hiashi's story on how the Hyuuga and Aoiki clan were great supporters of the said clan.
Hinata, on the other hand, was still engulfed with the Aoiki clan's history. Trying to find facts that would lead to the discovery of the clan's disappearance, they knew that it would just be in vain but still Hinata was stubborn enough not to let go of the subject.
'Kinda reminds me of Naruto…' Neji thought, since it reminded him of the blonde's stubbornness. Although he knew that HIS was ten-times more than Hinata's stubbornness. Neji looked at the time 'There's still an hour before practice.'
"Uhmm… Neji-niisan, it's been ten days…" Hinata stopped, not sure if she would continue her question.
"And?" Neji somewhat had a vague idea on what she wanted to ask 'judging from her expression, she thinks its not right to ask about it.'
"Well…, are there any news from the Hokage about anything?"
'Hmmm, that's not good enough…' Neji thought, deciding to give her the information he knew she wanted in the first place. "Well, not much. The Shinobis are still loaded with work. There's been more requests for Leaf shinobis from different countries and villages this year than before. It could be due to result of the previous Chuunin exam. Then, Tsunade-sama's been scarier now than before."
Hinata was surprised. "Why is that?"
"Well, it seems that Naruto and Jiraiya still haven't returned from their mission nine days ago. Although she already sent two jounins to find out what happened to them."
Hinata's expression turned from surprise to worry. "Why? Did something happened to them?"
"We still don't know. We will know when the Jounins returned." Neji answered back.
"Oh I see… I just hope that they get back safe."
"Goddamnit! Where the hell have you two been?" Shouted a very irritated Tsunade in the office where missions were being assigned. Her eyebrows were twitching and veins are almost popping out of her face just by looking at the two people in front of her who has been the cause of all the trouble on a certain mission. "Did you know that even Koyuki-hime was so worried and bothered us non-stop for almost a week now? She's been telling us to send reinforcements! Look at what you did! I sent Lee and Tenten out there two days ago just to waste time!"
The two people in question were just standing quietly in front of her like children that were being reprimanded by their mother. Jiraiya was grinning nervously, trying to think of ways to calm Tsunade down. Sweats were now building up in his forehead. On the other hand, Naruto just stood beside him pouting with his eyes closed and just waiting for things to happen in their own accord. His hands crossed in front of him.
"Well?" Tsunade was trying her best to be patient but it can be seen that it was not working. "Care to explain why you two were gone for eleven days? As far as I know, your mission was only limited for four days at most considering your skills."
"Uhhmm, you see, its like this…" Jiraiya started, scratching his head.
"Well, you see Tsunade-obaasan…" Naruto interrupted, earning him a glare from everybody around him, especially Tsunade because of what he just said. Jiraiya tried to cover Naruto's mouth but Naruto bit it.
"Ouch! You stupid kid!" Jiraiya was shaking his hands, his entire attention diverted to his bitten hand giving Naruto a chance to explain.
"For the first week, this Ero-sennin beside me decided not to give me the information about the lost item, only indicating that it was a crystal because he was so busy peeping at the girls in the hot spring! And before that, I thought that we were already in Mt. Maiyon co'z there was a hot spring in there that he specifically told me there was one in there before we left the village. The mountain where I searched turned out to be Mt. Kanlon. He did not even helped me! He just kept on doing his 'REASEARCH'… In the end I had to search all over again two days ago. That's not all! The item was taken by mountain bandits and I had to chase them all by myself." Naruto answered with irritation, glaring at Jiraiya.
"Tseh, its because you were stupid enough not to ask. Don't blame your being stupid on others, gaki." Jiraiya commented returning Naruto's glare.
"Oi…" Tsunade interrupted the two bickering men to no avail. "Oi…"
"What? I'm not stupid! It was your fault in the first place." Naruto fought back.
"OI!…" Now her eyebrows were twitching twice as much.
Both person in question still did not bother listening to the irritated voice as they continued their little brawl. No one noticed the veins popping out of the Hokage's closed fist and the wrinkled forehead. 'Oh great! These two… I'm getting…, keep it down Tsunade… NOW I'm really really…'
On that very moment everything crumbled, that is, literally. The long desk were cut to half, the ground was crushed and the walls of the one-storey building cracked and rumbled. Jiraiya and Naruto turned to stone and their eyes widened at the sight of the crumbling building.
"Runnnn!"
All the shinobis inside the office panicked and ran out of the office building carrying with them the important documents leaving only Tsunade behind. Its not that they wanted to leave her, but rather, they did not want to mess with her at that moment. Outside, a number of spectators watched as the building fell and how something within it was crushed, or so they thought. They were very wrong, it was the roof that was crushed and turned to dust as Tsunade emerged victorious from within. Her eyes were on fire just by looking at the two cause of the disaster. "Jiraiyaaaa, Naruutttooo!"
At the end of thirty minutes and with the help of her apprentice and assistant, Sakura and Shizune, Tsunade was stopped leaving only two casualties, Jiraiya and Naruto, with numbers of lumps all over their body and some bones that are out of place.
Kiba walked along the familiar road leading to the restaurant where their team used to rest. His grin reaching up to his ears and even Akamaru was barking happily. Well, they would be meeting with Hinata and Shino, and that alone was enough to be the cause of their happy moods. It's been a year since they had a mission together as a group with Kurenai-sensei and since then, they make it a point to meet once in a while for old times sake. Kiba and Shino are usually paired up on missions, so he did not mind not seeing him. Hinata, however, was then focused on their clan, and mastering combat jutsus and medical jutsus. He wondered now how much she's improved.
"You're pretty excited eh, Akamaru?" Kiba asked. Akamaru answered him with a bark and wagged his tails excitedly. He now walks beside Kiba, since Akamaru was too big to be carried by now. "Ah, here we are! Are they there already Akamaru?"
The dog barked again indicating that Shino was already there. This signaled Kiba to come in. Upon seeing him, he waved his hand as recognition of his presence.
"Yo Shino! You're still alive, eh? Hinata ain't here yet?" Kiba greeted him before he sat beside him.
"No…" Before Shino could continue, Akamaru barked in recognition of a familiar presence. "I guess that's her."
"Heh, it seems like you can now understand Akamaru quite a bit eh?" Kiba said only to be answered by silence. Kiba sighed, this was the reason he can't stand being alone with Shino at all, it was so boring. At least Hinata talked a little more than him. Shino continued sipping on his tea while Kiba glanced at the door looking out for Hinata.
Hinata peeked inside the restaurant trying to see if her two friends are already there. Seeing them she greeted them with a smile and silently went to the table. Kiba was grinning, slightly blushing at the sight. Hinata's transformation always surprises him even though they usually see each other. Shino nodded in acknowledgement and Akamaru on the other hand barked gleefully as Hinata approached.
"Good noon Kiba-kun, Shino-kun and Akamaru, was I late?" Hinata started as she sat down.
"Nah, you're just in time Hinata! Akamaru here is really very excited to see you." Kiba answered noticing how Akamaru keeps on wagging his tail for Hinata to notice him.
Hinata smiled and faced Akamaru, "I missed you too, Akamaru. It seems you got bigger again." Then continued to rub the dogs fur.
"Hehe, lucky dog ain't he?"
"What do you mean, Kiba-kun?"
"Nah, just that he always get the nice ladies around." Kiba answered absent-mindedly not noticing the gravity of his words until he noticed Hinata blush. He immediately turned away from her blushing and tried to shrug it off by giving a hearty laugh.
Shino was just observing them then after ten seconds he asked, "Well?… Can we eat now?"
After eating their lunch they prepared to leave for the training ground, they decided to train together for a while since its been a long time since they trained and had fun together. Hinata was not looking on their way out of the restaurant, thus she did not notice the big guy coming in. She bumped into the guy and almost fell on her back if not for Kiba and Shino who caught her before the impact.
"Hey, watch it will yah?" Kiba scolded the guy only to notice that it was Chouji. "Oi, Chouji!"
"Ah, So sorry Hinata-chan!" Chouji apologized.
'Chouji?' Hinata thought as she looked at the man. Then she just realized what she was searching for. 'That's it! I'm definitely positive!'
"It's alright Chouji-san! It was me who was not looking." Hinata stopped for a while. She knew it was not right to ask, especially since it concerns other peoples things but she still continued. "By the way Chouji-san, when we met last time at the barbeque restaurant, wasn't Shikamaru holding a necklace of some sort? Was that his?"
"Hmmn…" Chouji tried to remember before answering "I guess… Oh yeah! I remembered him say that he bought it at some stall during the festival."
"Hey Hinata, what is it about?" Kiba asked in curiosity.
"Ah, It's nothing Kiba-kun." Hinata answered then looked at Chouji again. "Uhm, do you know where I can find Shikamaru-san?"
"Hmmn," Looking at the time he answered "He goes back to the strategic division at 1:30 pm. Then for every spare time, he always goes to the Main Tower for cloud gazing."
"Heh, always expect Chouji to know Shikamaru's way of thinking." Kiba commented.
"Ok, Thank you Chouji-san." Hinata bowed to his as respect. Then again, facing her two companions with an apologetic look. "Uhmm, I… I'm really sorry Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, but can you go ahead of me? I'll just catch up with you on the training ground. This is kind of important…. Then, I'll be going."
Hinata dashed off to the direction that Chouji said. The three people she left just stood there wondering. Kiba asked out loud. "What was that about?"
"Who knows. Let's go now Kiba." Shino answered. "We will leave now Chouji."
"Sure, see you around guys."
After some minutes of running, Hinata finally reached her destination. Looking up at the Hokage tower and after some deep breaths. She started walking up the stairs and upon reaching the top, she looked for Shikamaru who was gazing deeply into clouds.
Shikamaru already noticed that someone was there but still continued to gaze at the clouds pretending not to notice the presence. He tried to shift his eyes to peak at the stranger only to be surprised to see Hinata. He looked away immediately and took two deep breaths. He just waited for her to talk. 'What is she doing here? Ah, who cares it has nothing to do with me anyway. Too troublesome.'
Hinata was not sure now, whether she should disturb Shikamaru or wait for him to notice her presence. She knew she does not have the right to disturb him and they're not even close. After a few more second of silence Hinata decided against her thought.
"Uhmm, Shikamaru-san, Good afternoon." Stopping for a while waiting for Shikamaru's acknowledgement.
'Oh great, troublesome' Shikamaru sighed and looked up to Hinata, "Well?"
"Uhm, I just... I know its rude to ask but the last time in the restaurant, you were showing Chouji-san some sort of Necklace… can I see it also?"
"Eh, what's so interesting about it?"
"Its just something important. Uhm, it's alright if you don't want to. I shouldn't have disturbed you anyway."
"Who said you can't?" Shikamaru sat up, grunting and mumbling something about the request being troublesome. He then took out his wallet and pulled together with it the chain that he bought. "It's incomplete. So, I used it as a chain for my wallet instead. By the way, I don't think it's a Necklace, Its some sort of a bracelet or anklet."
He gave her the chain and started observing her. He saw how her reaction changed from anticipation to surprise to delighted.
'Oh great, here I go again…' Shikamaru grunted again covering his face and turned away. "Well, anything else?"
"Yes Shikamaru-san, Where did you buy it? can I borrow this for a while? I know its irrational but its really important."
"Yah yah, go ahead. Its too bothersome to ask anyway. I bought that at a stall last festival, unfortunately, I did not bother to look at the name of the stall."
"It's fine as it is. Thank you very much Shikamaru-san!"
It was already five in the afternoon when Sasuke decided to start walking towards the restaurant where he would meet with Sakura. The Hokage gave Sakura the task to talk with Jiraiya about the training that he will undergo with him. They were planning to look for Naruto since he was the only person in Konohagure that could easily track the particular Legendary Sannin. In addition, Sakura was also going to tell Naruto about his next mission.
Sakura was already there when Sasuke arrived. She saw him enter the restaurant and waved at him. Sasuke raised his hand in acknowledgement while he walked towards them and with that, Sakura grinned.
"Do you want to eat first? Or should we go now and look for them?" Sakura asked.
"I'm not yet hungry, so I guess it would be better if we go look for them first." Sasuke answered.
"Then I guess we'll go to Naruto's apartment first."
"Sure."
They walked to Naruto's apartment quietly, going through the narrow roads of Konoha leading to his apartment. When they reached the place, they walked up the stairs leading to the second floor until they reached Naruto's door. After knocking thrice, Naruto came out yawning and looking dazed from sleep.
"Oi Naruto, it's a surprise to see you sleeping instead of training." Sakura noted. Of course, that tiresome morning with he master in the office was reason enough to drain your energy and she definitely knew that.
"Oh! If it isn't my Sakura-chan…" Naruto blurted out looking lively again. Then, looking at Sasuke, his face turned bland which was returned by Sasuke. "and the Bastard Sasuke."
That was already a natural and common reaction for both parties dating back from years ago. It was more of a customary greeting than a serious brawl in their case. For others, it might look like something serious but in Sakura's point-of-view, it was never like that, she looks at them as quarrelsome buddies than mortal enemies.
"Tseh, thanks for the insult, Stupid Idiot."
"Teme!" Naruto lunged forward intending to strike Sasuke with his fist but before it could even hit the other's face Sakura screened the attack with her pinky finger.
Her eyebrows twitched which gave the signal that she was getting pissed. Naruto sweat dropped, remembering what just happened earlier that day with Tsunade and Jiraiya. He smiled nervously and pulled back his hand very very slowly.
"Na-ru-too… Why, don't you stop this nonsense for a while, Ne?" Irritation can be heard from her voice but she still forced out a smile and her eyebrows continued to twitch.
"Ah… ha ha… ha… I guess you're right, Sakura-chan." Naruto scratched the back of his head. " By the way, what brought you here?"
"Good." Sakura said. "Well, first Sasuke here needs to talk to Jiraiya about some mission. Can you help us find him?"
"That's it? You bothered me just for that?"
"Are you gonna help or not?"
"Erm… If its Jiraiya, you can easily find him at..." Naruto immediately stopped, it was a good thing that he remembered how Sakura reacts to these kinds of things. "ahh…. Uhm, Why don't you stay at Ichiraku's Ramen? I'll just go and get Jiraiya from wherever he is. Knowing him, he'd come running to you in seconds."
"What do you mean by that? And how can I be sure that you won't goof around and forget?" Sakura asked.
"Then, If that's the case, I'll just bring Sasuke along!" Naruto answered grinning as he placed his left arms over Sasuke's shoulders causing the other boy's eyebrows to raise. He pulled Sasuke along with him. "Let's go Sasuke!"
"Oi! Naruto, What are you doing?" Sasuke blurted out.
"Just come!" Naruto formed a seal then he disappeared with Sasuke.
"Ehhh?" That was all Sakura could mutter.
"Oi, Naruto! Why are we going to the women's hot spring?" An alarmed Sasuke asked.
'This guy… Doesn't this guy have even one perverted brain-cell in him? What else do men do in the women's hotspring anyway? What did Orochimaru teach him all this time?' Naruto gave him an odd look. "Don't you read Icha Icha series at all? Jiraiya's the author you know and this is the best place to look for him."
"Oh great, I get to work with a pervert for an entire month!" Sasuke commented. He definitely dislike the idea but he had no choice. Now, he knew why Naruto always gets beaten up every time he train with Jiraiya.
"At least you'd get some of your dormant perverted brain cells some workout. Whatever your mission is, I pity you! Hehe! Be sure not to get caught ok?" Naruto said, then afterwards, added. " You may be a genius in the ninja art, but you are wayyyy below my level in the perverted art."
"And you supposed it is a bad thing for me?"
"Yup! Something like that!" He answered grinning.
They were now very near the women's bath and both culprit are hidden under the bridge close to the windows. They could the women giggling already. Both teenagers are now blushing, the only difference was that Naruto seems to be enjoying while Sasuke kept on scowling more and more due to shame. After a few minutes Naruto heard it. The perverted giggle and the croak that he was waiting for.
He whispered to Sasuke, "Oi virgin-bastard, be prepared to escape anytime ok?"
"What do you mean escape?" Sasuke almost did not notice the name-calling.
"Just do it, then we'll meet somewhere in the forest. Well, here I go…" Naruto said.
"Oi, What are you…" Sasuke could not continue anymore coz Naruto was already gone in the open. "Idiotic Pervert."
Naruto took a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs. Making sure that the women in the hot spring would hear him. "OI! PERVERTED OLD MAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT FROG? TAKING A PEAK AGAIN AT THE WOMEN'S BATH ARE WE?"
"Gyahhh! Hentai!"
Naruto grinned. His mission was successful as he heard the women in the bath shouting and screaming altogether and scampering for their towel and throwing everything that they could find at the window.
"Oh no! My research! My cute and sexy ladies! Its all gone!" Jiraiya panicked, his mouth almost reaching the ground in his face, written disappointment all over it. "Naruto! You stupid brat! Hold him Gama-chan!"
With that Naruto was caught by Jiraiya's frog companion together with the women coming out of the bath carrying stones and other items looking for the culprit.
"Gah! Get off me stupid frog! I'm not included in this!" Naruto looked at the hordes of female going in their direction and panicked more. He immediately devised a plan, "Henge! Gah, perverted-sennin! Why me!…"
Somewhere quite far from them but still perceivable, Sasuke sweat-dropped at the commotion happening. Now, there was nothing more that worries him more than his entire future ahead.
What came into Sakura's view did not just surprised her. She was flabbergasted. Naruto and Jiraiya was again beaten up into a pulp looking very tired and Sasuke, well, he was sweating and blushing for some reason far from her grasp.
"Hey, What happened to the three of you? Naruto! Why are you all beaten up and Sasuke's sweating so much!"
"Ah ha ha, It's nothing Sakura-chan!" Naruto answered nervously knowing that if Sakura finds out why they would all be dead. "Well! Why don't we eat now! Ayame-chan, I want one bowl of miso ramen and pork ramen please!"
"What about you three?" Ayame asked pointing at Sakura, Jiraiya and Sasuke.
"Beef Ramen. Thank you." Sakura answered. This was followed by Jiraiya and Sasuke's order of Seafood Ramen.
"De, Sakura-chan, what was it that you wanted?" Jiraiya asked.
"Well, Tsunade-sama asked me to deliver your new mission. Here…" Immediately giving Jiraiya the mission scroll before the old man could refuse.
After reading the mission, Jiraiya's jaws dropped to the ground. "WHAT? Me and Him? Writing? Are you kidding me? What was Tsunade thinking!"
Sasuke did not bother answering back. His eyebrows just continued to twitch at his answer.
"Ne, Ero-sennin, don't you think that would be quite fun? You could teach him some of the fun stuffs you know!"
After hearing Naruto's suggestion, Jiraiya had a second thought and grinned. "Ohh… Who would have thought you'd have some brain in that head of yours brat."
"You! Pervert!" Naruto shouted. Sasuke's sweat-drops doubled after hearing the conversation of the two but still kept quiet. "And what about me Sakura? What about my mission?"
"Oh, Here's yours Naruto. You just have fun there ok?" Sakura said.
Naruto read his mission silently. After a while he grinned and glanced at Jiraiya. He whispered it to Jiraiya to taunt him more. "I get to accompany Koyuki-hime to Snow country again… Hehe."
"What? Oh my God! Why do you get the sexy lady and I get this brat?"
"Well, that's what you call charm and luck!"
"Here's your order!" Ayame interrupted.
"Tseh, Stupid brat!"
"Oh, Ramen! Itadakimasu!"
The four ate their ramen quarreling from time to time. When Naruto was on his fifth bowl, he noticed Jiraiya who keeps glancing at her Sakura-chan. "Well, what do you want to ask Sakura-chan, Ero-sennin?"
"Ah that." Jiraiya glanced again at Sakura who met his gaze, then blushing, he continued, "Ne Sakura-chan, why don't you try learning from Tsunade her technique?"
"De? What technique?" She inquired.
"You know… that." Pointing at a part of her body. "You'd look really good with big breast!"
Naruto gasped and even Sasuke stopped eating. The two slowly turned their heads in her direction, then to that part of her body, then again to her face. Veins were popping out, her aura changed, and her features darkened. The chopstick she was holding broke into two. Sakura stomped on the floor cracking it in half and making the three fall on the ground. Finally, she ended it with a punch for each of them and not even Sasuke was spared before she left them.
"You perverts!"
Author's Note: I'm really sorry. There was too much goofing around for this chapter. I just can't help it especially when I see Jiraiya and Naruto together. Especially fooling around with Sasuke from time to time. At least he'd look like a person from time to time, he does too in the anime and manga, right? So I think I'll be forgiven. Personally, I find Hinata too introvert and uninteresting but nevertheless I still like her. So in order to make things work in this fic, I tried to add some zest to Hinata.
Hope you like it! This is my 1st installment for my whole week Naruto stories upload special…. Well, honestly, I am hoping that you won't read this so I won't be obliged to upload tomorrow… grins My schedule is pretty tight so it might be troublesome for my part. I'll just try to work things out! I do have to keep my promise! Thank you for Reading!
