Ok, the update is done and the story's back on track.
This Chapter is dedicated to ModCow who hates my beta.
Good Enough
1-2-3
Hinata Hyuga awoke slowly. Rising, she moved to the window of her bedroom in the Hyuga mansion. Looking into the still darkness of early morning she waited, as she did whenever she could, for the first rays of dawn. It was a habit she had acquired sometime after becoming a genin. During a training exercise her sensei had taken her cell on in the mountains several miles northeast of Konoha, Hinata had been smitten by the beauty of the sunrise. She smiled as the first rays of dawn peaked above the horizon, as she watched the rising sun her thoughts drifted to her own sun, one that shone so brightly he made even the beauties of the dawn seem drab.
As her thoughts drifted over her sunshine she felt the now familiar tug in the back of her mind drawing her eyes steadily northward until they stopped and she knew that if she were to activate her Byakugan and set her gaze in that direction she would find a sleeping Naruto about a two and a half miles away. Hinata smiled again at this knowledge, the knowledge that wherever he was, Hinata could find him.
It was two weeks since they, along with her cousin Neji, had been released from Konoha hospital. Two weeks since an awkward situation had almost forced Hinata's secret affection for Naruto out into the open, she daily thanked a number of Kami that Kyuubi had come to her aid. Two long weeks of keeping a tight reign on her emotions lest her secret escape before she was ready. Two blissful weeks of spending almost every waking moment with Naruto, a dream come true if ever there was one. Hinata knew in fact that there time together had actually been predominated by training with Kyuubi, but that was a fact the young Hyuga found easy to ignore, since the time had felt much more like time spent with family that time spent with a sensei and teammate. Hinata sighed as she remembered what Kyuubi had told them before training had started.
1-2-3
Two Weeks EarlierIt had been a few short hours since Kyuubi's return and Hinata's near break down. Along with Naruto she was sitting atop the carved face of the Fourth. Hinata was talking easily for the first time in memory, thanks in part to no small amount of coaching by the surprisingly considerate demon. They were talking about this and that, things of no consequence when they had felt the first stirrings of the demon within them. Hinata eeped at the still unfamiliar feeling and Naruto laughed good-naturedly.
Kyuubi awoke from his nap with a deafening yawn that echoed though the young shinobis' heads. Both tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress their laughter as the image of 'the Great Terror of Konoha' yawning sleepily passed though their heads. A moment later they felt the telltale pull of Kyuubi manifesting himself. Seconds later they found them selves facing Kyuubi, mighty and powerful chibi. Kyuubi's chosen form quickly had Naruto on the ground in another fit of laughter; Hinata on the other hand saw fit to tell Kyuubi how cute he was. This, more than Naruto's laughter, annoyed Kyuubi to the point that he muttered some well-chosen curses in his native tongue and shifted to a more mature version of his fox form.
After his laughter subsided Naruto was the first to speak turning to Kyuubi he voiced the same question Hinata was thinking. "So, baka kitsune, where have you been the past few days?"
Despite the insult Kyuubi only smiled at Naruto. "I was checking up on my den. It's been thirteen years since I left and I wanted to check if the wards I had placed were still standing. Also I wanted to see how my clan was faring." He paused a moment before his smile dropped and they could tell he was about to tell them something important. "But now that my clan knows that I'm back, in a sense, there are certain things I feel you should be aware of. There is a long history of which humans are now unaware, by freeing me even as much as you have you may have stepped into the world of Demons at least a little." Kyuubi locked the two humans with a very grave stare. "Kitsune will inevitably come to you seeking to speak with me. For this reason I feel you should know the history of our peoples. It will be important that you aren't ignorant in this matter when you deal with other demons." With this Kyuubi sat down and waited for his charges to settle themselves before beginning.
"Demons have lived in this world for countless thousands of years. For a time the nine great demon clans fought for control, but in the end the elders of each clan realized that the ceaseless war would gain us nothing. And so each clan elected their greatest, wisest member to represent them on a council of demons that would rule over all. I was chosen to represent the Kitsune, and took my place amongst my eight fellows. For centuries untold we ruled with wisdom, then came the first humans. Where they came from I don't remember, but they quickly became a divided topic amongst the members of the council. Four members argued avidly for the destruction of the weak mortals, another four argued that the mortals had a drive not seen amongst the immortal demons and that this drive, this passion, gave them the potential to be great allies." Kyuubi waited here for the inevitable question.
"What side were you on?" Naruto asked a split second ahead of Hinata's question.
"Allies against what?"
Kyuubi flashed them a foxy little grin before answering. "Neither, and that is a story for another time. By the time this matter came to us I had ascended to the head of the council and so I listened as my fellows argued their points for or against the humans. For three years all demons were ordered to keep their presence hidden form the primitive beginnings of human civilization, as the council deliberated. Of course many disregarded this order and saw fit to torment the flowering peoples. Finally I cast my vote for the humans."
Taking a deep breath Kyuubi sighed before continued in a slightly subdued voice. "It was the right decision to make, of that I am still sure, but there is no denying the torment it would cause in the centuries to come. Once I cast my vote the four that had fought against the humans immediately split from the council, taking their clans and many other minor clans with them. The rest of our clans came to the humans and with our guidance they flourished. For a few short decades we taught the humans and found them, as predicted, possessing a drive and determination that made them great students." Again Kyuubi paused and when he began again his voice carried a note of sadness. "It could not last. Fifty years after we first came to the humans, the demons that left the council attacked the five remaining clans and our allies. For more than 500 years we fought, but slowly we were pushed back. As the last hope of victory seemed to fade, a great leader rose up from the humans of a remote village in the Kitsune territory. From the village that would one day be know as Konoha, Nashio Uzumaki came to me with a solution."
Kyuubi watched with a silent amusement as the eyes of the shinobi before him bulged in their sockets, shock painted across the young faces that seemed so familiar. "Y-You mean you knew my ancestor?" Naruto finally stammered, the sheer scope of the implications shocking him to his very core. That his ancestors could have fought beside not just demons, but Kyuubi personally amazed him. That Kyuubi could provide some clue to his family was more than Naruto could possibly hope for.
When Kyuubi spoke again he sounded like he was remembering something far more pleasant than a half a millennia long war. "Yes, I did. He came to me and after much time convinced me that if his people could play a greater role in the war, then we would have a chance. And that was how the first Honou no Kage, Fire's Shadow, was born. Together we developed a style of Ninjutsu that a human could wield with a demon's aid, and no I won't teach you it." Kyuubi finished before Naruto could even open his mouth. "Along with us each of the other four elders chose a human and developed their own style. It took ten long years to develop the styles, ten years during which our forces suffered greatly for the elder's absence. But when they were done and unleashed upon our foes, the five sacred styles, as they would come to be called, made it all worthwhile. With any one of the styles linking them, a single elder and their human companion could decimate an entire army of lesser demons. Over the next five years we routed the rebels and reformed the council of nine, now actually fourteen with the addition of five humans. At last peace was found."
For a moment there was silence before Hinata spoke up. "If you were allies with us then why did you attack Konoha?"
Kyuubi looked surprised by the question, but after a moment he answered with a sad smile on his face. "When we found peace it was almost three thousand years ago. After a few centuries the inevitable began to happen, your expanding civilization began to unknowingly force us out. Demons were declining and humans were on the rise. By the time we realized it there was nothing short of all out war that we could do, so by unanimous decision the council of nine decided that the demons would withdraw. Eventually there would be a place for us again, and being immortal, we had nothing if not time. And so we withdrew from the world, taking the sacred styles with us, and soon we faded from the memories of mortals and became legend, then myth. Two hundred years ago we nine awoke to find a very different world then the one we left. Some of us were outraged that we had been forgotten after all we'd done for you and struck out against the humans, three others and myself stayed hidden. Over the next two centuries the five that struck out and two of those that didn't were captured and sealed, much like I was."
He paused a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing in a somber tone. "Thirteen years ago a young shinobi of the leaf who had discovered the stories of the great demons and the power they kept hidden, it didn't take long for the rumors of demons in other countries to inspire him to seek me out. He found me, and out of respect for the old treaties I granted him an audience. When he came, he tried to first convince me to give him my knowledge, and in the end, demanded that I serve him. Young Orochimaru barely escaped with his life. Orochimaru wasn't one to leave well enough alone though; during his escape from our territory he killed my child and a number of young kitsune. Knowing what I know now I can only assume he either wanted his revenge against me for my refusal, or he'd decided to see if I would accomplish his dirty work for him and destroy Konoha. Faced with the deaths of half a dozen clan members, not to mention my own child, I wanted nothing more than to personally escort Orochimaru into the deepest depths of hell. Lacking him I thought his home village would be the next best thing." As he continued Hinata thought she saw a tear forming in one of Kyuubi's eyes. "The ninja of Konoha fought bravely, the old blood still thick in their veins, but it was futile they lacked the old slaying techniques. It seemed that I would have my bloody vengeance until the Yondaime Hokage came to fight me with a tiny babe in his arms. This is my true history, and the gift I give to you this day." After a tense moment Kyuubi spoke again, his voice far light than at any point during his tale. "But now is no longer the time for stories, now is the time to train."
Kyuubi stood, let his shape fold into that of a human and began to address them once more, bowling over any and all resistance. "You are connected by a thread of my chakra, it connects the two halves of my power contained within the two of you. You have seen that I can manipulate that thread, but I am not the only one, you've already felt rather then seen that your emotions travel along the thread. Now I will teach you how to do more." Both of Kyuubi's 'students' sat rapt, Hinata waiting to learn more about her strange bond with Naruto, and Naruto ever eager to learn new techniques.
1-2-3
Thereafter, for the last two weeks Hinata and Naruto had trained under Kyuubi, learning how to manipulate and exploit the chakra thread that connected them. It had taken some getting used to; learning from the most feared entity in Konoha's history, but Hinata had quickly found that Kyuubi was not at all the cold heartless monster she envisioned. He praised their hard work and success and to their failures gave encouragement and confidence that success would come. In fact, Kyuubi had begun to remind her of her father…before her mother's death had frozen his heart and stolen his smile.
Kyuubi had taught them how to use the thread for many things such as finding each other, or feeling with the other's senses, which Naruto had begun learning only two days earlier. Hinata, on the other hand, had far better skills in the precise chakra control that was required and had moved on to the most advanced ability, sending actual speech, three days prior.
Hinata watched the sun, which was now fully above the horizon, a moment longer before moving to her dresser and pulling on some clothes. Loose navy blue pants and a black T-shirt like always. Over this she pulled on her 'new' coat, it was basically the same as her old one but Kyuubi had insisted that she get one alteration. It was a nine tipped black flame outlined in gold and surrounded by a double ring of gold, between the rings a phrase in a language Hinata didn't recognize. It was placed on her left shoulder opposite her clan symbol, though Kyuubi had withheld the meaning, saying only it was important. He had made Naruto get one on his jacket as well. As she tied her hitai-ate around her neck she felt Kyuubi stir, and moments later annoyance echoed across from Naruto when Kyuubi woke him. Smiling, Hinata reached out with her chakra and with intense care plucked the thread that connected her to Naruto, sending a message.
"Ohayo, Naruto-kun. Ohayo Kyuubi-sensei."
Joy echoed from Naruto and a moment later Kyuubi relayed Naruto's words, along with his own greeting"Ohayo, little one, and Kit says good morning also."
After a minute or two a clear chime sounded from the depths of the Hyuga compound, signaling breakfast would soon begin. Hinata stood and still talking with Naruto and Kyuubi made her way to the dinning hall. Once there she took her place next to her sister at the table. During the meal she had to concentrate very heavily to keep the idle conversation of the table separate from her conversation with Naruto and Kyuubi. Near the end of the meal as Hinata was waiting patiently to be excused to go, so she could meet Naruto and Kyuubi at the Hokage monument, her father, who hadn't seen her over the last two weeks much more than at breakfast and dinner confronted her. "Hinata, how have you been these last two weeks?"
To say that the question startled Hinata was a massive understatement; it took all her control to keep a calm face and answer. "I have been training, father."
"Really?" Hiashi said, suspecting that his daughter might be withholding something. "Well than perhaps we should see if you've improved any. Hinata, Hanabi meet me at the north training grounds in ten minutes."
Both girls answered with a quick "Hai, father" and left the room moments later after their father.
Ten minutes later Hinata and Hanabi stood facing each other on the North training grounds. Their father was seated a short distance away watching. At his signal they bowed to him, then each other, and began. Both girls began with the blood limit of the Hyuga clan, their hands flashing through seals in unison they called upon the Byakugan. Hinata let her vision sweep over the entire courtyard before settling on her sister, falling into the same stance that her sister was taking, she prepared to face her sister for the first time since she had taken the title of heiress from Hinata. Hanabi attacked Hinata with a fury of open palmed blows seeking to cut off Hinata's vital tenketsu. Hinata on the other hand fought defensively, unsure if she could defeat her younger, but more powerful, sibling.
They had been fighting for almost a half an hour when Hinata felt Kyuubi fill her mind and begin to watch the fight through her eyes, moments later she felt the familiar brush of Naruto's mind as he too looked in on the fight. The arrival of their presence caused Hinata to drop her guard for a moment, as she did Hanabi gathered a huge strike in her left hand and surged forward, intent on ending the fight. Hinata saw her incoming opponent and prepared her chakra to defend herself from the blow, but as she did an image of her flashed through her mind. Reacting to the thought that was not her own, Hinata dodged the strike and grabbed Hanabi's wrist and pulled her forward, exposing her back. As Hanabi's momentum carried her forward Hinata struck her on her left shoulder, sending chakra into her opponents system and damaging the path into her arm. Hanabi spun to face her sister with a baleful glare. Flexing her arm she tried to circulate her chakra, but found the chakra in that arm wild and unpredictable. If she used it she could easily hurt herself more than Hinata. Glaring again, she rushed forward, intent on wiping away the shadow of a smile that came to Hinata's face.
Hinata couldn't help but smile a little; Kyuubi was with her in this battle. Meeting her sister's attacks head-on, she fought with a new vigor and confidence. For another five minutes they traded blows, Hinata landing three blows on her sisters injured arm, which she was now using as a shield. Hanabi landed a few minor blows on Hinata's limbs but couldn't land a blow with enough power or precision to deal any real damage. Then Hinata saw an opening, as Hanabi settled from a particularly vicious assault Hinata struck. She dropped to a crouch and swept her foot along the ground forcing chakra into the ground as her foot moved across it. As she finished the sweep the chakra in the ground caused it to explode upward. Although it caused no damage to her opponent, nor did it hamper her Byakugan enhanced sight, it startled Hanabi, and caused her to drop her guard. Stepping close she grabbed Hanabi's right hand and forced chakra into it, severing the flow to her hand. Drawing Hanabi closer Hinata struck a precise blow under her sister's right shoulder severing the flow to the whole arm. Releasing the useless appendage she reached under to strike a heavy blow into Hanabi's midsection. Then she placed her free arm behind Hanabi's neck, pushed her over and drove her to the ground. Landing with one knee atop her sister she placed her chakra charged fingers at the back of Hanabi's head. A killing blow. She held that position until her father clapped once signaling the end of the match. Standing she helped her furious sister to her feet and bowed to her before turning, bowing to their father and waiting for him to speak.
A minute passed before he spoke. Turning to Hanabi, he said in a cold voice, "Your form was sloppy, both of you. You allowed your opponent too many openings. Hanabi, you need to work harder. This is the worst I've ever seen you perform." After that short exchange he rose and dismissed them.
Hinata's shock at the brusque dismissal and lack of recognition was clear to the other two who shared the moment with her, and was mirrored by Naruto's own shock. As she turned stiffly from her father and left the training grounds Kyuubi spoke in a comforting voice. "Well fought Kitten, you did excellently. Kit sends his congratulations as well."
Hinata smiled briefly as she reached the gates of the Hyuga compound. When she responded it was in a stiff voice laden with sadness barely contained. "Thank you both." As soon as she was outside the gates she sprinted off towards the Hokage monument as fast as she could.
1-2-3
For the second time that day Hinata found herself deep in a fierce battle. As soon as she had reached the Hokage monument Kyuubi had led her and Naruto deeper into the forest. A few miles in he had constructed a chakra barrier that masked their chakra and hid them from view. Then he had had Naruto show her how to access the power contained within her. At first she had been frightened by the demons power, but now, almost four hours later, she found that she could revel in this power. She could let it sweep her away and let it bury her in her frightening new senses. When she did, she didn't have to think about the world outside the fight or anyone but her companions, she could lose herself in the moment.
Hinata stood in the middle of the area Kyuubi had set aside and let her kitsune enhanced Byakugan scan the entire dome almost a mile across. Her appearance had taken on the same feral touches that Naruto always obtained when he drew on Kyuubi's power. The one notable difference were her eyes, which, having no pupil, were completely blood red. Her scan fell upon Naruto high in the branches above her she watched as he executed yet another Kage Bushin no Jutsu, and sent two dozen clones after her.
As the clones landed she fell in to a crouch and swept her leg around her in a full circle, charging the ground as she had during her fight with Hanabi. A moment later the ground in a huge circle around Hinata erupted in a shower of dirt and rocks. Her maneuver stalled the clones in their tracks and allowed her time to dispose of them. Moving through the group she tapped each one, destroying them with a small pulse of chakra. As the dust settled and two-dozen puffs of smoke cleared, Naruto jumped down from the branches and smiled at his sparring partner. "Lets call it a day Hinata." He suggested, breathing heavily after the long mach.
Hinata turned to him slowly and met his gaze. She did not want to stop, because as soon as they stopped she had to go back to the cold reality of her life beyond this place, without her precious people. She charged Naruto and threw everything she could at him. Naruto was shocked at Hinata's fury and quickly found himself on the run from her chakra-enhanced blows. She threw everything she could into her blows, causing the chakra to extend far beyond her hands; her blows rent limbs from trees and sent gouts of earth into the air whenever she missed. Naruto continued to dance around her blows until in frustration she turned from him and put all her fury behind one two-handed blow. The attack connected with a tree a few feet from where she stood. The attack passed right though the trees thick trunk exploding out the other side in a shower of splinters and sap. The impact sent cracks spider webbing up the side of the tree and into the ground at its base. Hinata fell to her knees exhausted, her shoulders moved rhythmically up and down.
Naruto stared at her for a moment before the first wave of agony, grief, and misery echoed to him from Hinata. Only then did he realize that silent sobs wracked her body. In an instant he was at her side, he knelt down beside her and held her close as he tried to comfort her. As he held her, he heard her voice speak in the barest whisper. "W-why…Why can I n-never be strong enou-enough for him? No matter how hard I fight will he always see me as a failure, or at best a disappointment? Isn't it enough that I try? I just wish there was a way I can make him smile again…just once I'd like Hanabi to see him smile, just once." Naruto listened as Hinata poured her heart and soul out to him.
For a long moment Naruto didn't know quite what he should do, the situation was a first for him. The only thing that came close was Sakura's plea to bring Sasuke back, and somehow this seemed different. After a little prompting from Kyuubi he sat down beside her and pulled her closer, speaking softly to her. "Don't worry Hinata, we will always be here for you. Kyuubi and I will never leave you, and you know we will always acknowledge your strength. If that old man is too blind to see the truth, than maybe it's not worth showing him. Hinata, let's make a promise, we'll never be alone again…never."
1-2-3
Several hours later when Hinata returned home, she showed no sign of her actions in the forest. She walked tall and held her head proudly. Within her she held her love (for if she had ever been unsure that it was love she would never be again) and her teacher, and no one could ever take them away. When her father spoke, she listened. When he addressed her she answered and called him father, but somewhere deep within Hinata, she knew she would never truly call him father again. In her eyes he was just another obstacle holding her back from what she now knew she could be.
1-2-3
Ok there you go, and I know I've said this before but I really mean it when I say I'll try to have the next one up sooner.
P.S. ModCow she hates you too.
Oh and check out my little sis's profile Mistress of Azure