A/N: After much ado, Here's the 12th chapter. I'm aiming to have everthing resolved by the end of the third stage of the exam. If you want a wedding, I can arrange that, but I hate writing them. So...warnings? Not really. No real foul language to speak of, and the Exam thing is okay, but not that exciting. This chapter is set up, and I hate doing it. You do get a lovely bit of fluff, though, which I adore. Love the Naru/Hina!
Legal Stuffiness: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters therein. Kishimoto Masashi, sole proprietor.
Last time...
Hinata smiled slightly. "I don't think that will be necessary. We only need to visit someone. Can you leave your patrol for about an hour or so?" Naruto nodded. If it had to do with this, he was sure he could. He would just have to radio Neji and the others. "Good. Then we'll go and see Ebisu."
Naruto started. "That pervert knows about this stuff?" Hinata bubbled laughter.
"He isn't just a pervert, Naruto-kun. Ebisu knows many things. And not many people know it, but he's an expert on many myths and legends, as well as on the demons, such as the one you have in here." She put her hand on his stomach, and he could feel the warmth of it through his shirt. He smiled at her, and she blushed slightly.
"Thank you, Hinata-chan. I'll just go change, now. Not that many people need to know that I'm an ANBU." It was true. More people than should knew that he was, and normally, he would have to either kill them, or take them to the Hokage. However, it was not necessary to do either with this group of people. They needed to know. So, he allowed Hinata to finish her tea, and he went to another room to radio Neji, then change his clothes into a normal chuunin uniform. Then he and Hinata left the house to go and visit Ebisu. Naruto hoped that the man had information for them. If he didn't, he'd have to put up with the way the older man looked at him for no good reason.
Prodigal Uchiha
Chapter 12: Gathering Shadows
"Ah, Hinata-san!" Ebisu ushered her into his apartment, then looked to see another individual, following her in. Raising an eyebrow, he blocked the door. "Uzumaki." Hinata tapped him on the shoulder, and cleared her throat.
"Ebisu-san, please. That, I will not tolerate. Naruto and I are here because there is something we need to know. Unless you don't want to help us?" At this, the man nearly tripped over his own feet trying to let Naruto in. Hinata had to try very hard not to roll her eyes. Ebisu had knowledge that they needed, but he was one of the more obsequious people she'd ever met. That, and the fact that he'd been trying to get her to go on a date with him for months. Honestly, he was more than ten years older than her! She certainly didn't go for men that old. "Arigato, Ebisu-san." She said as Naruto stepped into the room and stood next to her. Ebisu had them sit, and went into the kitchen to make some tea. After he did, both she and Naruto looked around. For an elite jounin, the man was an abominable mess, and this was reflected in his apartment.
Books and scrolls were absolutely everywhere. In one corner, there was a four-foot-tall stack of books in the shape of a partial pyramid, while there were cases lining the walls to the ceiling, as well as random piles of scrolls lying haphazardly in various areas. Ebisu even had a storage system for his scrolls that went over the tops of the book-cases for the more important information he kept. The overall effect was like being in the lair of a pack-rat. Hinata eyed a stack of papers on the small table. They were all labeled 'SENSITIVE,' and she looked quickly away from them.
After this cursory inspection, she turned to Naruto. "Try to be civil, okay?"
Naruto put on his best innocent expression. "When am I not civil?" His grin betrayed him, and she smiled. He hadn't changed that much, even in all these years. Hinata shook an admonishing finger at him.
"Just try, will you? I know you don't like him…"
"It isn't me that has the problem, Hinata-chan. Ebisu never even tried to get to know me, and he automatically thought that I would act like the thing inside me. He's just like everyone else." Naruto lowered his voice. "There are times when it's difficult to absorb all of it. The stares I get, the hate in their eyes. He looks at me like that, Hinata. I don't like it." Hinata bit her lip. Ebisu came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray with three cups of tea. Giving Naruto an apologetic look, she turned to Ebisu.
Again, clearing her throat, said, "Naruto and Neji found a residue of chakra outside Uchiha Sasuke's home this morning. Naruto says that it is from a being known to some as the Soul Eater. Would you have any information on such a thing?" Ebisu frowned. "There was something else, wasn't there, Naruto?" The blonde man nodded, and scratched his head.
"My…er, source says that there are only two people I know that would be able to see it. I have no idea which two. What the hell does it mean?" He asked this question more to himself than to anyone else. Hinata patted his arm. She knew that it frustrated him when he couldn't figure something out. She looked over at Ebisu, who was adjusting his sunglasses. Doesn't he ever take those things off? The jounin frowned, and stood, walking to the third book case on the north wall of the apartment. He pulled out a book, then put it back, then drew another, and tucked it under his arm. He reached up over the shelf, and pulled one of many scrolls from its holder. His choices seemed to be random as he repeated this process several times. Then, he dropped the books and scrolls onto the table.
"It may take me a few minutes to find the information. If you like, I have things for you to read while you wait." He settled back into his chair, and left his tea to get cold on the table. Hinata stared. Ebisu was on the trail now, and he pored over the scrolls and books with a sudden intensity, like a hunter stalking his prey. That was an apt analogy, because Ebisu did treat this sort of thing as a hunt.
Naruto looked out the window, staring at the street, watching the people walking by. Hinata watched Naruto. There were moments when his grin faltered, revealing the pain underneath. She knew that he tried not to let the attitude of the villagers get to him, but everyone has their breaking point. It was her sincere hope that he hadn't reached that point yet. Just when she was about to speak, Ebisu made a quiet noise of delight. She turned back to the man, and he pointed to a spot on a page.
"The Soul Eater, or Soul Hunter, is a being formerly used for summoning by early ninjas. It is used only by the strongest and most capable, and only in dire need." His eyes settled on Hinata and Naruto. "This creature feeds on the souls of its victims, and has a symbiotic relationship with the summoner. If the summoner is killed in a battle where the Soul Hunter has been summoned, the creature also dies. The same, unfortunately, goes for if the creature is killed. In such a case, the summoner dies as well. There has not been found anyone capable of summoning this creature in over 200 years, and it is believed that none currently exist."
"Well, obviously, at least one does." Naruto folded his arms over his chest, and peered over at Ebisu's book. "Does it say how it's invisible? Or how a person can see it?"
Huffing slightly, Ebisu looked back at the pages. "It is invisible unless to the victim just before the soul is consumed. There is one exception. Individuals with the advanced bloodline of the Sharingan can, at certain levels, see the Soul Hunter." Naruto's eyes widened, and Hinata gasped. "So, if there was one of these things at Sasuke's house, then it would be to his benefit to know about this." He eyed Naruto for a moment, then seemed to nod to himself. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Orochimaru, would it?"
Hinata started to answer, but Naruto put a hand on her arm. He said in a placid tone, "I'm sorry, Ebisu-san. That information I cannot give you. It is privileged." The older man nodded in understanding. Naruto stood, and bowed formally, and Hinata did the same. "Thank you for the information, Ebisu-san. If you ever need a favor, outside of classified information, please do not hesitate to ask." The jounin seemed surprised, but bowed in return, and walked them to the door.
When the door closed behind them, Hinata looked at Naruto. "Are you okay, Naruto-kun?"
"Fine. I just figured that it would be better to deal with him that way. Formal and polite, without being too warm." He stared ahead of them as they walked back up the street. "His eyes changed." Hinata realized that he was right. Ebisu, by the end of their visit, no longer looked at Naruto with hatred. She smiled. It was a talent of his, she knew, to simply be able to change people in a short period of time. Her family was living proof of that. Two of the youngest members of the family had been changed by Naruto, for the better. He seemed to bring out the best in everyone around him, and she found that to be one of his best qualities.
After about twenty minutes, they were back at the Uchiha compound, and were entering the main house. They found Sasuke, Sakura, and Hanabi sitting around the kitchen table, talking.
"So, what do you think they'll make us do in the Forest of Death?" Hanabi seemed excited. Hinata still did not understand her younger sister very well. The girl was far too eager to prove herself. Hanabi was munching on a cookie, and Sakura seemed absorbed in staring at Sasuke. Sasuke gave a small smile and a twitch of his hand in greeting before answering his fellow genin.
"I have no idea. Last time, it was collecting two scrolls and getting to the Tower in less than forty-eight hours. So I have no clue what it could be this time." Sakura looked over at Naruto, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, no. I'm not supposed to talk about that." He raised his hands in front of himself defensively. He was, as an ANBU captain, on the council that decided what the task for the second stage of the exam would be, but they were sworn to secrecy. Sakura looked disappointed, but his warning look forestalled any questions she had. She was now pouting prettily, which Hinata envied. Sakura seemed to be able to do that sort of thing, but if she ever tried, Hinata only looked silly. "Sakura-chan, puppy-dog eyes aren't going to do you any good."
Huffing slightly, Sakura stood and took her glass, and Sasuke's as well, to the sink. Hinata noticed for the first time that Sakura was not wearing her chuunin uniform. She wore a beautiful pale blue kimono with gold lilies over it. Not usually something she pictured Sakura wearing, she assumed that it belonged to one of Sasuke's relatives, maybe his mother. It looked very beautiful on her, and she could see Sasuke watching her. He seemed happy, for which she was glad. Her cousin (distant though he may be) was still her cousin, and he deserved all the happiness possible.
Glancing outside, Hinata noticed the afternoon beginning to wane. "I'm sorry to have to leave, but Hanabi and I must go. We'll be packing our things and going home, now. Hanabi?" Her sister shoved the rest of the cookie she'd been eating into her mouth and mumbled a muffled affirmative reply around that bit of food. After rising from the table, they left to go and pack. Hanabi ran ahead to the room she had shared with Moegi, and Hinata came at a moderate pace to the room she had occupied.
"Hinata-chan," she heard behind her as she sorted through her clothes, and she turned to see Naruto. "Thanks for coming with me. I don't think he would have told me anything if you weren't there." He scratched behind his head, smiling sheepishly.
"It's okay. I was glad to help." After a moment of awkward silence, she moved toward him and gave him a tentative hug. "Take care of yourself, Naruto-kun." She knew she wouldn't be seeing him for a while, since she was going back home, and she would be teaching at the Academy. Naruto chuckled and gave her a quick squeezing hug back.
"I will. Just remember, I'm too stubborn to die, Hinata-chan."
Of course, he had to fight the blush that tried to build on his cheeks when she hugged him. He also had to fight the urge not to let her go. He really liked her, probably more than he should. If Neji found out, that would be very unhealthy for him. Naruto didn't want to have to deal with Hinata's protector any more than he wanted to deal with Orochimaru. Reluctantly, he loosened his hold on her, and then gave her a winning smile to cover for his discomfort. Blushing prettily, Hinata stepped back from him.
"I'll be going back to the patrol, now." He felt awkward, which was odd for him. Naruto turned back to the door, and was in the hall when he felt her hand on his arm. When he faced her again, she seemed nervous. "Hinata-chan?" There was also some kind of discomfort that did not amount to nervousness in her eyes, and he blinked. She looked like she was about to start crying. "What's wrong?" Without a second, or even a first thought, he stepped back into the room, pulled her back to him, and began stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry. It's just, I like being around you. It won't be the same when I go home." She sounded so sad that Naruto almost wanted to check and see if she was crying. "Will you visit me?" He paused in his movement, and bent so that he could see her face. Her eyes latched onto his face, and he could barely breathe. She was crying.
"Hai, I'll visit you, Hinata, but please don't cry." Now, he used his sleeve to wipe away her tears, and smiled at her. "There. You look much prettier when you're happy, Hinata-chan." Naruto's arms loosened around her again, but she put her arms around his waist and held him tightly, resting her chin on his chest and looking up at him. It was such a cute gesture that he smiled broadly and then bent to kiss her forehead. With an expression that resembled a sly smile, Hinata shifted her weight, and Naruto was surprised to find himself kissing her lips. After blinking a couple of times, he smiled slightly. He pulled back from her and said, "That was sneaky, Hinata-chan."
"Gomen, Naruto-kun. I—"
"Yeah, don't do that again. I really hated that." His tone was utterly sarcastic. She smiled hesitantly at him. "Here, let's try that again." Naruto's face lowered toward hers, and he could not keep a small smile from his lips. Oh, this was a bad idea, to be sure, but no one was around, so…
"Uzumaki, get your lips off my sister." Hanabi stood in the door, her pack over her shoulder, a nasty smile on her face. She looked at Hinata. "You know that rules, onee-san. He has to meet with father first." Naruto's eyes widened at the thought of meeting with Hiashi. "And Neji, too." His head swam. Then, he cocked his head to one side and looked at Hanabi. Using the toe of his shoe, he kicked the door closed, and then wedged it shut by jamming a kunai between the door and the jamb on the hinge side.
"Like I was saying…" He took her in his arms again as Hanabi began banging on the door, yelling threats at him if he touched her sister. His mouth touched hers, lips brushing lightly over hers, then his eyes slid shut as the door began to shake with the girl's assault. Hinata's hands found their way into his hair, pulling him closer, and he let out a small sigh. He heard the kunai come out of where he'd put it, and then the door banged open, and Hanabi launched herself at them.
Hinata pulled away from him, and moved forward, blocking the punch that was aimed at his head, then twisting Hanabi's arm behind her back and pinning her to the floor on her stomach, one knee in the middle of her back. "Hanabi-chan, I'll thank you to please mind your own business when it comes to Naruto-kun. Or should I tell father about you and Konohamaru?" Naruto couldn't help it. He let out a loud bray of laughter before he was able to clamp his hand down over his mouth. The girl went limp under Hinata's knee.
"You wouldn't." Hanabi glared up at her.
"Turn about is fair play, little sister. You mind your business, and I'll mind mine. Although, I will say that I think you're a little young for what I saw the two of you doing on the training grounds last month." Hanabi turned ten shades of red, and Hinata let her up. "Are we agreed?" The younger Hyuuga nodded. "I will take him to see father, but not until after all of this business with the Chuunin exams has finished. There's far too much going on, and father's's worried about you. I don't need him yelling at me because of who I decided to kiss." Finally, Hanabi seemed placated. She mumbled something about going on ahead, and that she would see her sister at home. After shooting an icy glare at Naruto, the girl departed.
Hinata's face lit up with a grin that he had never seen before. "I should go, too." He was just starting to wonder why she was grinning when she said, "Give me a goodbye kiss?" He chuckled to himself, then smiled, leaning over and taking her face in his rough, calloused hands. Gently, he kissed her, not really a farewell, but a promise of things to come, if all went as he would like. When he pulled away from her, the expression on her face was enough to make his entire day better, even with the Kyuubi grumbling in the back of his head, and his own thoughts...wondering if Neji would find out that he'd kissed his cousin and start something.
Monday, 08:00 hours
Konoha Ninja Academy, room 201
Chuunin Selection Exam, Stage I
This was like a repeat of the last time Sasuke took the exam. There were many people in the room, and he knew just by looking at them that not half of them would make it through the exam. Nodding to Sonora, who sat across the room with her genin team, he was sure that she would be one of those to pass. If she was anything like Shino, which he knew she was, she would most likely make chuunin on her second try if not this time around. Hanabi sat with two other genin in a corner, whispering. He was pretty sure that the one who wasn't paying attention to her was Ishida. And from the way the short blonde-haired girl next to Hanabi was alternately glancing around the room and at the uncaring young man who lounged in a chair against the wall, Sasuke knew that would be Keiko.
Konohamaru was standing to Sasuke's left, and Moegi to his right. They surveyed the crowd. Fifteen from the Sand, twelve from Grass, six from the Hidden Rock, and Nine from the Cloud. With the nine from the Leaf, there were fifty-one participants. Far too many. The chuunin examiners were going to be very strict in their observations. He watched Moegi shift her feet. "Cool it, will you?" Konohamaru hissed, "I'm nervous enough without you fidgeting!" Sasuke held back a sigh. These two were going to drive him up the wall.
"Now, we discussed this," he said in a low, calm voice. "A united front is the best way to get through this. I told you what happened the last time, but they might change the rules on us." Moegi looked up at him, her eyes full of apprehension. "Just stay calm, Moegi. I know you can do this. Right, Konohamaru?" The boy nodded, and fingered his still-bandaged arm. He would have some scarring, but the pressure-bandages Hinata had used really helped. Since Hanmaru's death and subsequent attack on him, Konohamaru had cut the sleeves off of his shirts. He said that it looked funny to only have one sleeve, and having the cloth against the healing burn made it hurt more. Sasuke couldn't say that he blamed him. Burns were one of the worst kinds of wounds. "Just remember to look at the situation strategically. We need you in the second stage of the exam, Moegi. So just hang in there."
"Ahem." A quiet but penetrating voice said, and all participants turned to see Yuuhi Kurenai, who had suddenly appeared at the head of the room. "Please, form two lines, single file, and come pick numbers from the boxes on the desk." The participants all did as they were asked, and when everyone had their numbers, each was called in turn, assigning each genin to a random seat. Sasuke ended up sitting next to Ishida. That would do him absolutely no good at all. So he looked around for Konohamaru and Moegi.
Konohamaru was sitting between two rather scary-looking girls from the Sand, and trying to put on a brave face. Sasuke wasn't sure how much good it was doing, since one of the girls was looking at him as if he was lunch. She leaned over to the boy and whispered something in his ear, and Sasuke watched his face turn a vaguely dull shade of red. The Sand nin was smirking, and she made a very sultry face at Konohamaru, who's face was now approximately the color of Sasuke's Sharingan. When he looked at Sasuke, the Uchiha mouthed, "Suck it up," and Konohamaru leaned over to the girl, whispered something to her, and she slapped him. After that, the girl ignored Konohamaru's existence. Konohamaru was grinning ear-to-ear, and Sasuke chuckled. Not bad. The girl had been trying to throw his teammate off, and Konohamaru had apparently said something extremely inappropriate, which Sasuke was going to have to ask him about later.
When he looked to the front of the room, he found that Moegi was sitting next to a tall Grass nin, who seemed to be asleep, and a rather fat Cloud nin, who took up more room than anyone should be allowed to and still be a shinobi. She turned back to look at Sasuke. Her lips formed words as she pointed to the fat ninja. "He smells," her nose wrinkled, and Sasuke smiled as she continued, "and I think the other guy's dead." She poked the Grass nin, and he stirred, eyeing her appraisingly.
"You want to start something, little girl?" The lazy-voiced nin drawled threateningly. He began to puff up when Moegi bristled. "Come on. I'll take you right now." Sasuke rolled his eyes and was standing between them in a flash.
"Save it. You'll probably get your chance later, you know." He looked down at the Grass nin, whose eyes were a strange shade of yellow, and red bled into his own eyes, small black markings swirling around his pupils. He did not see any disguise, so it wasn't Orochimaru. He fingered his dart launchers through his sleeves, wondering how much trouble this guy was going to be. Just then, Kurenai interrupted.
"Will you kindly take your seat, Uchiha?" Her red eyes stared at him, and her tone was suddenly very prim.
"Hai, Kurenai-san. I just didn't want a fight breaking out. It's early yet." She smiled at that, and he nodded before returning to his seat. Kurenai explained the usual information about the exam, such as the option to forfeit after hearing the rules.
"And now, the rules. First, there will be no cheating. If you are caught cheating four times by our examination assistants, you and your team will be disqualified. Are there any questions about the first rule?" No one raised their hand or spoke up, so she continued. "You get one point per correct answer, and your team must get a total of no fewer than seven points to move on to the second stage." Sasuke was starting to think that it would be exactly the same as the first time he took the examination. "When you receive your papers, you will notice that there are only nine questions on the page. This is because the final question will be given to you once time is up. Questions?" Again, the room was silent. "Good. Now, assistants, please hand out the papers."
The timer was started five minutes later, and the fun began. Sasuke used his Sharingan to copy the movements of various ninja, hiding his eyes behind his bangs. It was surprising how many of the people in front of him actually seemed to know the answers. Moegi's hand was moving very quickly, showing that she was making a valiant effort, though she was taking the Naruto approach and not even looking around. He had a feeling that Konohamaru was doing something similar behind him, but he couldn't be sure. Hanabi, he knew, was using the Byakagun and Sonoroa was using her insects.
When time was up, Kurenai said, "Pencils down." The genin still seated (five teams had been disqualified and two from the Sand forfeited, much to their shame) all complied, and she said, "Now, here's the catch. If you answer this question, and get it wrong, you fail. You will cause your team to fail as well. If you get this question wrong, you'll never be allowed to take the exam again. If you decide not to answer this question, you can go back to being a genin, and try again next time. Choose wisely. You have three minutes to think about this. If you wish to forfeit, simply raise your hand, and one of the assistants will escort you and your team from the room."
No one raised their hands. Moegi looked extremely nervous. After three minutes' time, they all had remained motionless. Kurenai smiled. "Okay, you all pass." Sasuke was not that surprised. It was precisely like the first time. "However, I must warn you that from here on out, you must be prepared for the unexpected. The next part of the examination begins in two days. Use that time to prepare."
Sasuke looked back at Konohamaru, whose head was lying flat on the desk. Glancing over at Moegi, he saw her staring at their teammate as well. He made his way back to where the boy was sitting, and as he touched him, his hand closed on nothing but smoke. A Bunshin? Up from a shadow on the floor rose Konohamaru, and he immediately collapsed into his chair. "Gods, that was hard."
"What did you do, baka?" Moegi asked, her tone sharp.
"My jutsu. I pretended to drop my pencil, and went under the desk for it. When I was under there, I did another version of my concealment jutsu after making a shadow clone—thanks for teaching me that, by the way, Sasuke—then only moved through shadows to move through the desks. Do you have any idea how strange it feels to be a piece of paper?" The boy chuckled exhaustedly. "I'm starving." Sasuke frowned. They had been given forty-five minutes to do their exam, and then there were approximately five minutes until they were done with the final question. Konohamaru had held his jutsu for nearly an hour. He couldn't pretend that he wasn't impressed by the boy's improvement.
Moegi made an annoyed noise in the back of her throat. She scooped up her teammate, and carried him out of the room, and Sasuke followed. Kurenai stopped him before he could get out of the door. "Sasuke," she asked in the near-empty room, "How are they?"
"They're doing fine, Kurenai-san. Don't worry about them. They've improved greatly. I just hope we'll be alright in the forest." She nodded. Her face seemed drawn, as if she weren't really sure that they would be. That didn't exactly give Sasuke very much confidence. "I'll take care of them." She seemed a little more assured when he said that. As long as Moegi didn't lose her head, and Konohamaru kept his cool, they would be fine.
"Make sure that you do, Sasuke. They're the closest thing I have to family."
A/N: Well, there's the first bit of the Chuunin Exams. Not to mention the fact that we've got some crazy wierd soul-eating ickyness after both Sasuke and Itachi. This could get ugly.