The Dislaimer: Do. Not. Own. Naruto. The song "Taste of Ink" and its lyrics belong to The Used. Love You.
Enjoy!
Chapter Two: Standing with your spotlight on me
"Hanabi!"
"He's there!"
"Get him!"
A storm of heavy steps could be heard from the hall. Hinata jumped out of bed not fully awake. Taking a deep breath and completely opening her eyes, Hinata dashed for her door. The Hyuuga household was always quiet especially at night. For there to be an uproar like this at this hour only meant one thing, another kidnapping attempt. Hinata threw open her door and charged into the hall. The other Hyuuga clansmen were in the hall aswell all looking for the culprit. Hiashi stood in the middle of the coridor with Hanabi at his side. Her white eyes didn't show fear but rather looked annoyed.
"He's there! In the closet!" Hinata heard one of the Branch house Hyuuga's say. Before anyone could react, the closet door burst open and a masked ninja clad in black broke into a run, aiming right for Hinata.
This was it! Her chance, the whole clan was watching. She would make her father be proud of her by stopping this trespasser. Hinata crouched into her Jyuuken stance, her Byukugan activated. As the foreign nin neared, he reached into his utility pouch and produced three kunai and flung them at Hinata. She was forced to turn her attention to the weapons as she dodged them, shortly forgetting about the incoming ninja.
This was enough time for the nin rush behind Hinata and pinning her arms behind her back and held a sharp kunai to her frail neck. Hinata looked up only to see the other Hyuuga clansmen rushing towards her. Her eyes concentrated on the tall figure that stood still in the center of the hall. Hiashi. He was starring at her, his brow furrowed in what Hinata could only think of as annoyance.
She felt the kunai at her throught tighten. If Hiashi didn't call the clansmen back soon, this black ninja would kill her. She knew it was wrong for her to want her father to call back the Hyuuga ninjas but the least he could do was call them back long enough to think about the situation. He could loose a daughter! A fellow clansman! No. Not a clansman. The Hyuuga clan's leader, her father, had kicked her out the day she became a genin and was assigned to Team 8 under Kurenai-sensei.
Hinata closed her eyes and with all the strength she could muster pulled back her head quickly. She bit her lip as the back of her skull connected with the ninja's forehead. Had he been wearing a forehead protector Hinata would have probably knocked herself unconscious, atleast one thing turned into her favor tonight. The ninja had not been hurt but Hinata's attack had been unexpected. He dropped the Kunai and staggered a few steps back then broke into a run. The sound of a window breaking came to her ears. He had got away; Hinata did not need to turn to know.
"He jumped out the window!"
"Follow him!"
"Kill him!"
Hinata fell to her knees as two Hyuuga men ran past her. Hinata looked at her father, tears welling at her eyes. He merely wrapped a protective arm around Hanabi and led her back to her room.
"Hinata-chan, are you alright?" Neji squatted next to Hinata, his hand immediately going to gently touch the back of her head.
"A-Ai," Hinata forced herself to say. She wasn't all right. Something inside had suddenly come apart. She felt years of training, years of hope, years of dreams suddenly unravel and disapear into a void that had formed itself in chest.
"Here, I'll help you get back to bed," Neji stood up, taking hold of Hinata's elbows. Hinata felt herself lifted onto her own shaky feet. Neji lead her back to her room and closed the door behind them. He sat Hinata carefully onto her bed. He then took a few quick paces to examine the window. He moved the curtain slightly and looked out into the night.
"Gomen, Neji-nii-kun. I-I let h-him get a-away," Hinata said softly, her eyes cast down to hide the tears she so desperately was trying to hold back.
"That's not important," the seventeen-year old jounin said as he returned to Hinata's side.
"Sh-shouldn't you ch-check on Ha-Hanabi-chan?" Hinata could barely hear her own voice. A ghost of a smile appeared at Neji's lips.
"She wasn't his target," Neji said, his eyes wandered over to window again. Hinata looked at him surprise etched on her figures.
"N-nani?"
"He had the chance to take her but when she turned on her light, he panicked and ran. You were his target, Hinata-chan. He must have mistaken the rooms." He pulled the chair at Hinata's desk to the middle of the room and sat in it. Hinata's fingers had found their way to her lips as here eyes starred at her bare feet.
"Sleep now, Hinata-chan. I'm going to stay here until I feel you're safe." Neji offered Hinata a small twitch of his lips. Hinata knew that that gesture was the closest thing to a smile Neji was capable of.
Hinata leaned back into her pillow and slid under her covers. She turned to her side with her back facing Neji.
"N-neji-n-nii-k-kun," her voice called to him.
"Nani?"
"A-Arigato!" Neji looked up slightly surprised by Hinata's burst of gratitude. He noticed that her normally porcelain skin of her ear was glowing red. Neji closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips.
"Rest, Hinata-chan."
A/n: the story should pick up from here. The chapters will get longer as I get further into the story. Kiba and Shino as well as Kurenai-sensei appear in the next one. This story is most likely going to be 28 chapters. It's diveded into two parts. The first part will end with chapter 18. That will be the chapter Hinata leaves Konoha. The second part will pick up three years later in chapter 19 when she returns.