Chapter 5

Defiance

A murmur went up from the crowd, as all eyes turned to the heir of the Hyuuga clan. Hinata sunk deeper into her chair trying to turn invisible. She would have too, if only Kurani had taught her the correct hand seals. None of the genin could understand it. Of those who had requested the position of scout, it was thought that Shino with his bugs, or Neji with his Byakagan would be the one chosen, since they both had fared well in the recent chunin exams.

"My team stay, the rest of you may leave." As soon as the last genin walked out the door Techno motioned for the three to come down to the front. The three made there way down until they were all in front of him.

"You guys are going to be gone for a while, so I would recommend packing as soon as you get home."

"How long is 'a while?'" Sakura inquired.

"'A while' is however long it takes us to accomplish our task. Figure a week, plan for a year."

"Huh?" came Naruto's reply.

Techno gave a slight chuckle. "Take what you need to survive for a year, but don't pack more stuff than you would take for a week long mission." He began to head toward the door. "Clothes, food, weapons. Make sure you have enough of everything. We leave at 11am from . . . that bridge you guys meet at."

"Oi, why aren't we leaving earlier?" Naruto shouted at the young man who was almost out the door.

"I don't wake up until around 10." And with that he was out the door.

Naruto looked blankly at the door, as did the other three. Naruto's hand made its way up to the back of his head, as his trademark grin formed across his face. "We have to work for someone that strange?"

"Naruto!" Sakura said sternly, getting ready to pound him.

"He may be a little strange," said Tsunade. "But his advice makes sense."

Naruto wasn't paying attention, but instead turned to his new third teammate. "Don't you think he's strange Hinata?"

The young Hyuuga blushed and began playing with her fingers. "A-ano."

"At least he didn't tell us to be there at 5 like Kakashi-sensei," he said.

"Ano . . ." Hinata looked at the three others there. They were all looking at her. She could feel her cheeks get redder. "G-gomen nasai," she said before quickly running from the room.

!#$&()+

Techno walked out of the academy. He had felt himself being watched since just before he left. He thought he knew who it was, but decided if he wanted to talk he could show himself. Not ten feet from the school he heard it.

"Techno-san."

"Hyuuga-san," Techno replied, turning to the long haired boy just to the right of the door. Neji had his eyes fixed on the young man before him.

"Why did you choose Hinata-sama? Of the two of us I am the stronger."

Techno huffed. "It was my decision. I made a decision on who I thought would work out best in the situation."

"While Hinata-sama is a member of the main house, she is barely half as strong as myself, as are her skills with her Byakagan. I humbly ask you to reconsider."

Techno cocked an eyebrow at the boy. They had not been talking long, but he was already beginning to wear on Techno's nerves. "Humbly? Hyuuga-san you are anything but humble. What right do you have to question my decision?"

"I was thinking only of the mission," Neji replied.

"Bull shit. You were thinking only of yourself and you know it. You want to know why I didn't choose you, plain and simple? You're a dick." Neji flinched. His Byakkagan could give him a lot of insight, but he was not expecting that. "Hinata-san isn't cocky. You may have more skill, but you have become so conceited that you only see improving on one path. I would rather have someone who has the ability to see the many roads ahead even if she is too afraid to chose one. Because you blindly improve on one path with a great deal of success you have become arrogant, and you don't let anyone forget it. She is simply more pleasant to have around, and I would take her over you any day of the week. Are we done?"

To the untrained eye the words seemed to have no effect, as Neji just stared at him, but to those who knew about truly insulting remarks and the reaction that it brings, that look said more than any words could. Both boys stood still for a full minute, just staring at each other. Then silently Neji was jumped away; across the rooftops.

Techno once again began walking. He didn't really know where he was going, and had been walking for ten minutes looking for some kind of hotel, however not being able to read any of the signs made it a little hard. Plus, with all the excitement he had yet to get a room anywhere. Suddenly a thought hit the young man. 'I couldn't get one anyway. Unless Konoha takes American currency.' He chuckled to himself. 'Guess I'll have to talk to Tsunade again and see if there is something she could do. Now where was her office?' He activated his glasses and a map formed on the lenses.

"Ano . . ." He had barely heard the small voice, but shut off his glasses. Behind him stood Hinata, playing with her fingers. He smiled down at her.

"Hello Hyuuga-san."

"Ano . . . T-Techno-sama," the shy girl started. Techno held up a hand stopping her.

"You know what, just use kun. We are all going to be working together and I would rather work with equals than subordinates." Hinata was a little shocked by the statement. It wasn't often that anyone who was so much older than her, so readily jumped from sama to kun.

"T-Techno-k-kun," a light blush formed over Hinata's face. "Ano . . . Why did you pick me?"

A smirk formed on Techno's face as he chuckled. "What, did Neji get to you or something? He came up asking the same thing." Hinata looked confused. "Listen I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I made what I believe is the best choice for this mission. What is the matter, you don't want to go on the mission?"

"That's not it." The young girl was quick to stop him there. A blush crept over her face as she realized her outburst. The blush deepened and she began playing with her fingers, as she thought about why she had done it.

"Ano . . . My father . . ." She was trying to save face so Techno decided to play along. Especially since this was most likely going to be a problem.

"You don't think he would approve of this mission," Techno finished. She nodded. "Let me talk to him. I have been known to get people to move in the direction I want them to. Which way to your house?"

!#$&()+

"Hmm, what I need for one year," Naruto was rooting through his cupboards. "365 packs of ramen. This should be just enough, if I cut back to one per day."

!#$&()+

"It is an honor to have you in our home, Techno-san." Hiashi sat on a slightly raised area in the meeting room. Hinata began to walk towards her father, to take her spot beside him, but Techno put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"We are both here to address your father, Hinata-chan. You belong on this side," he whispered. Both sat down before the man earning an inquiring look from Hiashi. "Hiashi-san, I shall be brief. I am taking a group of three genin on an A rank mission. Hinata-chan," Hiashi raised an eyebrow at the use of "chan" but immediately went back. "Is one of the genin I will be taking." The two men stared at each other, both without expression.

"No, she is not." Hiashi's face was stern.

"Yes, she is," Techno stated nonchalantly. The leader of the Hyuuga was a bit taken back by the simple remark. The young man had extensive experience in childish and illogical arguments, while the head of the Hyuuga had little to no experience even with his own children.

"I will not allow her to accept this mission." Techno looked down at the girl with her head bowed, then back at the Hyuuga head.

"Yes, you will."

"She is not strong enough to undertake an A rank mission." Hiashi was getting angry.

"Yes, she is." The older man was now red in the face, but before he could say anything Techno spoke again. "She has a name."

"What?"

"You keep referring to Hinata-chan as 'her' or 'she.' Whether you acknowledge the fact that she is both an individual and your daughter, or not, she still has a name."

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "She does not deserve one."

This time it was Techno's eyes that narrowed. Saying that one did not deserve their own name was low. He could almost feel the sadness within Hinata. It had not been all that long ago that he had been berated by those older than himself, though never a parent. This was, however, no time for anger. There was still maneuvering to do. "It seems to me that it is you who is the failure."

"How dare you!" the shot came back, but Techno hadn't stopped talking.

"If you believe that Hinata-chan is not strong it is your fault since you didn't teach her. As a father you are supposed to teach your children and make sure they are strong. If she is not strong, than you did not do your job. You are the failure, not her."

The entire room was silent. Nobody moved. For Hiashi, it was out of anger. For Hinata, it was out of fear. For Techno, it was simply waiting to gauge Hiashi's reaction.

"If you think it is so easy to teach this failure of a child, then you teach her."

Techno turned to Hinata. "Hinata-chan, you heard him. As your teacher I think we should continue your training on our journey. Go pack."

"A-ano." Both men turned to look at the young girl. With Hiashi it was more of a glare than a simple look. "A-arigato."

Her father's glare only got colder. "Leave my presence." The young girl hung her head and started to stand.

"I will be back for you tomorrow morning. Be ready at 10 till 11." Hinata nodded and left the room. As soon as she was gone Techno turned back to the head of the Hyuuga. "You have my word that she will return alive, unharmed, and stronger."

Without a word Hiashi stood up. He walked past the young man, still seated on the floor. He was one step from the door, when he finally said something. "You are no longer welcome here. If you value your life you will not show your face around in this house again. Try and fetch her now."

Author's Notes: This was one of my favorite chapters. I liked writing the scene against Hinata's father. Just so that nobody thinks that Techno's behavior is one time thing to fit the situation (like most Mary Sue's do), I would like to say that he has had a long history of speaking his mind and defying authorities right to their faces or by simple manipulation. He is a strategist, but no where near Shikamaru's level (few are). All knowledge, strength, and experience have come from the table top game he was created for, message board battles or the story afterwards.

I am trying to tone down his part now, as he played a rather large part in this last chapter. This shouldn't be too hard after they get to the first dimension, and he explains about where they are and why. The first place they are traveling is Lunar, from the PSX game Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete. All that needs to be will be explained. Until next time.

Please review people, last chapter got no love. Also if anyone is up for a challenge, check out the author's notes of Konoha Legends.

"Humans possess the remarkable ability to rise up in adversity and overcome obstacles to make the future bright for their offspring."

Luna (Lunar EBC)