Hearts in love and denial chapter 12: Forced fight, and needed power.
By Gasha Aisu
Disclaimer: I still don't own Naruto.
Hinata was tired and beaten from the training, and still embarrassed from last night. Silently she walked alongside, of the almost as battered as she, Tenten. But Hinata had fought to keep her mind of what happened, so she had trained more furiously and was still breathing heavily. Hinata noticed the brown eyes of Tenten looking at her in concern, but the girl was quiet. She seemed to understand that she didn't want to talk, and for this Hinata was grateful. Hinata guessed that it was that knowledge of people that made Tenten able to befriend her cousin. One didn't get close to a social block of ice without being good at handling people. Both her as Sakura were such great people, why couldn't she be like them? Hinata shook her head and directed her eyes to the ground. No, she would never…
Suddenly, Tenten draped her arm over her shoulder. Surprised Hinata looked up, but Tenten just continued forward, not even glancing at the girl besides her. Hinata relaxed and accepted the silent support. Tenten seemed to understand she had to do this for herself.
And she could. Her saddened eyes turned determent and raised to meet the world. Yes, it would take hard work, lots and lots of work, but she could do it. And she would do it. Flashes of Naruto went through her mind, followed by Sakura surrounded by chakra.
And soon, she would too be strong.
"Arigatou," Hinata said to Tenten, and was surprised at how strong her voice sounded. Tenten gave her a squeeze but said nothing. It was strange how close they all had become. Her seal tingled…
"You think…Sakura's alright?" Tenten suddenly asked, obviously also feeling the same. Hinata nodded and smiled.
"Sakura's strong, she'll be okay,"
Tenten once again nodded, and Hinata found that she didn't mind the silence. The training had worn her out, and she needed to think. Hinata knew she had to work hard, perhaps she should try to continue training besides Tsunade's? But that would be near to impossible… Tsunade's training was harsh and always drained her of energy. But then again, in the beginning she had almost fainted from exhaustion, and look where she was now. Yes, she could and would do that.
0.0.
"Am I to low to be greeted, Hinata-sama?" a taunting voice asked her, from right beside her. Surprised and wide eyed, Hinata turned to look at her cousin. His white eyes stood cold, and she immediately felt a rush of fear, as she always had. Besides her, Tenten frowned, but Hinata didn't want her to interfere. Made up her mind, Hinata softly removed Tenten's arm and faced her cousin like she should. She had proven with Naruto that she could be strong, and she would prove Neji the same.
"Hello Neji-nji-san," Hinata said more calm then she felt and Neji tensed obviously not expecting it, "I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't meant to, I was lost in my thoughts,"
Neji nodded stiffly, but didn't move. Straightening her back, Hinata forced herself to look in his eyes, the same eyes she had been afraid to meet for years.
"You want something, Neji-nji-san?" Hinata asked and was pleased at how controlled her voice sounded. I'm really doing it! I'm really getting stronger!
"What are you doing with Tsunade? Why did Hiashi-sama let you go like that?" Neji demanded, his eyes narrowing. Again the questions, Hinata felt the blood go to her head. It took a lot of will power to keep looking in his eyes. I-I can't d-do this… She couldn't look in his eyes any longer, and she averted them to the ground as she had done many times before.
Behind her, Tenten tensed, willing to save her from her friend.
No, you can. Come on Hinata-chan, you can do this. The same voice from the night before urged her, and Hinata felt her side tingle as she trembled. This was too much, she couldn't do this. Tenten made a move forward, but as if on it's own free will, Hinata's hand stopped her.
I don't want Tenten to have a fight with her friend because of me. I can do this.
Hinata frowned at Neji, who stood impassive at the gesture. Clenching her hands into fist Hinata willed herself look in his eyes once again.
"You have no right to ask me these questions," Hinata said strongly and turned to show him her back, "Now if you would please excuse me Neji-nji-san, I have training to do,"
It was rude, but it was necessary. Hinata raised her head and walked away from the two of them. When she glanced back, she saw Tenten hurrying away, just as unwilling to answer the questions as she. Suddenly she realised that Tenten had been ignored by her cousin. Her cousin…her cousin who had always scared her to death. The one who hated her.
A small smile found it's way to her face. She really did it. She was really getting stronger!
Seems like Tsunade thought you everything she could.
Surprised at the gentle voice, Hinata stopped in her track. She looked around., but no one was around. Feeling rather silly, she shook her head and continued forwards. She was going to train, and no strange voice was going to stop her.
Hey! Don't just ignore me…
Hinata's eyes widened as she again stopped walking. Somehow she had walked into an empty alley without realising it. Again feeling foolish but now for a different reason, Hinata decided to respond.
"G-gomen nasai," Hinata almost whispered, activating her byakugan and looking around.
It's okay, the gentle voice responded, but you passed my test. I guess I'll start teaching you now.
Now finally understanding who it was she was talking to, Hinata fought the urge to cry out in joy. She finally did it, she was finally strong enough! But…
"But I haven't destroyed the log yet…" Hinata responded, feeling the joy pass and be replaced by sadness. She looked around and saw a faint shimmer.
Being strong enough to destroy the wood was never an issue, it was your lack of self-esteem. But since you finally did what you always wanted, makes you stronger then you realise. Come on, let's go smash that log and begin your real training.
Hinata grinned and started running back from where she came. She never felt so light in her life. I finally did it, I can start training just like Sakura-chan!
o.0.
Hinata was highly disappointed. She had been hitting the wood for over two hours now, and it still stood strong. What was wrong? Had she imagined the voice? No, she couldn't have… Was this another test? No…it couldn't be…
Sweat was slowly rolling of her face and her vision was becoming blurry. What was wrong? Why couldn't she? Tears filled her eyes, and she couldn't stop them. She couldn't do this. She was so disappointed in herself, her hope left her. She dropped to the ground and hung her head. So caught up in her own emotions, it took her a few second before she realised she was not alone. Not wanting to alert the enemy, if there were one, she kept her head low.
"Byakugan," she whispered.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Five enemies surrounding her in a circle, hidden among tree's and plants. Her breath caught in her throat. How did they get here? Didn't Tsunade put up some kind of jutsu? But…perhaps it was weakened because of her absent? Maybe she didn't think one of them would come here besides training?
Concentrate. She told herself and focussed. It was faint, but her bloodline limit allowed her to see the jutsu, it was complicated but indeed weakened. She watched as one of the enemies cut the chakra thread with some special kunai which was glowing with chakra. Hinata swallowed.
No way, she was tired and drained from her training, there was no way she could defeat an, let alone five, enemies, she was just too tired!
But that didn't matter. She was the only one here, that meant that she was the only one to stop them. Hinata swallowed and fought back the tears of panic. She needed to be calm now. She was alone, and that was scary, but she was also the only one that could stop them. Her eyes narrowed.
Hinata would not let them in the village.
She had to be strong, and besides she still had her seal right? She only hoped that it would indeed save her…No! she would not be doubtful, she would believe in herself. Hinata knew she had become stronger, she could handle this, she could fight them.
One of the enemies threw a kunai and Hinata had no choice but to fight.
0.o.
Sakura stopped in the middle of her training. She stopped in mid air and silently she let herself fall and gracefully land. She stared in a direction passed the trees that were blocking her view, her green eyes narrowed in thought.
What's wrong, Sakura?
"I don't know, Ksijuharu." She was silent for a moment, "..But something happened to Hinata. Something's wrong…or…I'm not sure if she can handle it…whatever it is…"
Besides her, Ksijuharu shook his head.
Let her do this alone Sakura.
"But-"
No but's, she needs to do this alone, Sakura, you should understand.
"I'm just worried…" Sakura mumbled, and Ksijuharu set his transparent hand on her shoulder.
Believe in her, Sakura. And believe in her power, it will come when she needs it.
All Sakura could do was nod and believe in her friend.
o.o.
Somewhere, in the middle of the street, Tenten stopped in her tracks. With a worried frown she turned back to face the forest, which she could only see in the distance. She wasn't sure but…
She had a feeling Hinata needed her.
Her seal on her back tingled annoyingly, as she stood wondering what she should do. Tenten bit her bottom lip as she stood perfectly still. Why was she so worried? And why was she struggling not to run to her, if she had the urge, why didn't she just follow it? What was stopping her to see if her friend needed help?
Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder, and Tenten looked up to see her childhood idol and now sensei.
"Tsunade-sama?" Tenten questioned, and kept staring at her sensei although Tsunade's eyes weren't directed at her, but at the same point she had been staring earlier. A gently squeeze was the only response, and Tenten turned back to stare again.
Hinata needed to do this alone.
Tenten understood now, and with a accepting nod, she turned to go back to her home and wait for her friend. All Hinata needed of her was faith, and Tenten had faith in Hinata. Tenten turned back to the woods once more.
"You can do this, Hinata-chan," Tenten whispered and turned once again to tend to her sore muscles.
Hinata would be alright, she was sure of it.
0.0.
With a pained cry Hinata flew backwards by the force of the blow. Her enemies snickered as she struggled to get up.
"Just finish her of already, we need to complete our mission," the only female of the group said to the guy she had been fighting, a bored tone in her voice.
No, no she would do this. She would protect Konoha, she was the only thing stopping them right now, and she would. Forget her pain, forget her tired and weakened state.
Panting heavily she wiped blood away from the corner of her mouth, still glaring with her byakugan activated.
"Oh look, the little girl still has something left in her," the female mocked again, "why don't you play with her a little?"
The same guy grinned and ran towards her.
Hinata struggled to get up. I will stop them, I will stop them all!
The guy grabbed a kunai as his eyes narrowed.
Hinata raised her head, and looked straight in his eyes. I'll kill them, I'll kill them because that's the only way I can keep our location hidden. I will kill for Konoha.
The guy jumped over a wooden log, her log which she had destroyed when she had tried to strike him. Yet her powers hadn't come to her.
Hinata spit away some blood and raised her hands. I'm not weak. And even if you fail to reach me, Kiyone, I will defeat them on my own. I have the power to do that.
The guy grabbed another kunai, and almost reached her.
Hinata got in the usual gentle fist style, now slightly changed to fit her. And I will use it.
The guy reached her…
His eyes widened in shock as he spit out blood. Slowly he fell backwards, staring at her narrowed eyes. As he fell backwards, her hand came loose from his chest. His brown eyes dimmed as blood trickled from his mouth.
His heart stopped beating.
"N-no way! Y-your just a genin, no he can't be dead, Akiri!" the woman yelled in shock before she narrowed her hateful eyes at Hinata, "You will die child! Attack!"
The remaining four ninja's came speeding towards her.
I will protect the village!
Hinata's heart felt like it filled with light, as if every shadow was driven away by the light. Hinata never felt so clean, so pure. Pain came from the area of her seal in a sudden burst, it felt as if her flesh was ripped open. Yet the pain was nothing compared to the strange feeling of…of being…
Complete.
Hinata tossed her head back, her milky white eyes almost radiant as her mouth opened in a silent scream.
The light died out, and Hinata moved her head in the usual position. She glared at the shocked enemies with her bright eyes. For a moment her eyes strayed to the side.
There stood the woman who came to her dreams, spoke in gentle tones, and her grandmother.
Kiyone.
Kiyone smiled at her, and moved, her hands melting in Hinata's before the rest of her did.
"Come," Hinata ordered calmly, raising her hands in a smooth gesture once again. Kiyone would lead her, she was stronger then ever.
...o.o0o..o...
Sakura gasped as she dropped from a branch. A hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back on another branch. Sakura didn't even acknowledge Ksijuharu, gasping and placing her hand on were her heart was, the area of her seal.
"Hinata," she whispered shocked at the fact that she could feel her friend so well. Her wide green eyes turned to the….ghost?...the minute she calmed down.
I told you, she's fine. Ksijuharu spoke amused.
"She did it…." Suddenly Sakura grinned, "she did it!"
Ksijuharu snorted and crossed his arms, his amused eyes on his grand-child.
Of course she did. Should I remind you that she is the grand-child of my team mate?
Sakura squealed and jumped around.
"She did it, she did it, she did it!"
Ksijuharu just laughed. But suddenly Sakura turned serious, and almost sad.
"I just wished she hadn't been forced to kill,"
o...oooo...00000...ooooo...
Tenten gasped as she stared at the kunai she had just been sharpening. Why was there blood on it? Why…
Hinata.
Why was Hinata suddenly so clear to her? Tenten blinked and her kunai was the same as before, clean. Hinata…like a light in the darkness. The same way it was when her seal had been….but….it lasted longer now. Suddenly she realised it, it explained the tingling of her seal as well.
She did it.
Happy for her friend, Tenten suddenly felt less tired. But a worried frown marred her features as she continued working, although she never noticed.
000..ooo...000
Hinata turned around, avoiding the kick of one, and hitting another. Another body dropped dead to the ground. It was so strange…all was so clear now. Kiyone whispered to her, Kiyone showed her the openings and directed her hand when she wasn't fast enough. Kiyone told her it was alright when guilt threatened to distract her. Hinata knew she could build on her, but she also knew that, like it had been with Tsunade, some day she had to do this on her own.
Another kick and a enemy was unconscious and bleeding against a tree, and Hinata turned to meet the woman head on. The woman was shaking, and it was obvious that she was both confused as…scared almost.
"H-how, y-you're a genin!" she cried out. Hinata gazed at her, frowning slightly.
Perhaps you can take her prisoner, you've killed enough for today.
Suddenly it dawned on Hinata what exactly she'd done, but she willed herself to bare it. She could freak out later.
"Surrender," Hinata told her and her voice was still the same as before, for some reason, Hinata was glad for that, "Please, I don't want to kill anymore,"
The woman glared and took out her last kunai.
"Go to hell!"
And charged.
Hinata braced herself and waited for the woman to reach her. Yet she didn't need to, for two ANBU suddenly appeared and tied her up.
The last thing Hinata saw was Kiyone smiling sadly at her before darkness consumed her.
0.o.
Sakura sped along. After some whining, she had finally convinced Ksijuharu to continue training the other day. Her pink hair was blown to the side by the wind, showing her frown. She had brushed past Neji who had been training, and she knew she just fuelled his suspicion, but that didn't matter. Not right now…
Hinata's light was less bright then before.
That meant something, but Sakura wasn't sure what. Trees flashed by her, but Sakura hardly noticed her surroundings. But she did notice the sound of leaves crashing, and a pair of footsteps matching her own. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at Tenten.
o.0.
Tenten answered Sakura's smile with one of her own and sped up so that she was alongside of her fellow ninja.
"So you felt it to, huh?" Sakura asked her, and Tenten looked at her from the corner of her eye.
A sad feeling washed over Tenten and she frowned. What was it…disappointment? She shook it of and stared ahead.
"Yes, but later then you did. I…I haven't…found the power yet," Tenten answered, hesitant although she didn't really knew why.
"Don't worry, you will," Sakura encouraged her and smiled. Tenten smiled back.
Sakura was right. She was being silly, besides they had more important matters to attend to.
"You think Hinata's alright?" Tenten asked Sakura.
"I think so…"
o.0.
They found her covered in blood. Their eyes widened in shock as they stood frozen.
Four bodies were lying around. One lying in the sand, his leg had apparently collapsed beneath him. One lied beneath a tree, but they could see the rise and fall of his chest although it was shallow, an ANBU approached him to take him prisoner. One was draped over a tree branch, and one was directly in front of Hinata's feet.
All men had blood trickling from their mouth.
"Seems like Hinata has truly mastered the gentle fist," Tenten stated grimly, and when Sakura looked at her with questioning eyes she directed to the training ground with her arm.
"I've seen Neji kill. They looked the same as they do down there. It's a blow to the heart, it's very difficult to survive" Tenten explained. Sakura nodded in understanding.
Tsunade was healing Hinata, who looked like she had just been through hell. But she was alive, and that was what mattered.
Without another word, the two girls jumped from the high tree branch to go to their friend.
Both moved the her side and each kneeled down. Sakura grabbed Hinata's hand, but Tenten only gazed silently at her. Hinata's eyes slowly moved up till she met Tenten's and then Sakura's, then they lowered to her lap again.
Tsunade stood up, and with a nod to them she moved away to take care of her duties. The three were silent for a while.
"You did it," Sakura finally broke the silent, smiling slightly at Hinata and squeezed Hinata's hand silently. When Hinata looked up to meet their eyes, her own were full of tears.
"I killed them…I killed three of them…and one might not make it," Hinata uttered.
"Hinata.." Sakura whispered.
"The woman went mad. She went mad… and attacked me as well, but an ANBU stopped her. I was prepared to kill her as well," Hinata continued as if she hadn't heard Sakura. Sakura moved over the hug her, but stopped when she turned her head away. Suddenly, Tenten stood up. She gazed at Hinata for a while before finally speaking.
"Yes, yes you did," Tenten simply said, and Sakura looked at her with a frown, wondering what she was up to. Hinata's head snapped up, her wide teary eyes filled in disbelieve.
"You did. You did kill them," Tenten said calmly, looking in her eyes, "And you did it for good reason, don't forget that. You were the only one standing between them and Konoha. Who knows what they might have discovered, what might have happened? The power came to you with good reason. Your emotions told you that it was right, that you should've done what you done. Nothing will change that, Hinata-chan. You're so strong now, don't lose it."
Finally her hardened eyes softened.
"We would hate to loose our friend," Tenten finished softly. Hinata slowly nodded, and Sakura draped her arm over her and squeezed her softly.
"You did the right thing, Hinata. We're proud of you," Sakura added. Finally Hinata nodded.
"Thank you," Hinata finally said, wiping away her tears and smiling once again. Tenten smiled.
"Let's go home," Sakura offered.
To be continued….
Hey people, I've finished a chapter without you asking/threatening me to, aren't you proud?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I, once again, enjoyed writing it. Even though there are no couples in this one.
Just so you know: the enemies in this chapter were send to seek information and create havoc by killing every single child they could find.
Oh, and I do have a question for next chapter.
Would you be really offended if it's going to get bloody? If you are, please tell me. But I'm not sure if I want to change it. I've already started on it, and I like it how it is. Bu if there are a lot of people who will hate me forever, I might consider rewriting.
Next chapter: a lot of angst, and Tenten!
Until next time,
Gasha Aisu.