Chapter 5: I am a part of this World
(I don't own them)
The sun was already high up and still, there was no sign of Hinata. Naruto was getting worried that she might not come and like others before her, her parents must have prevented her from going outside to play with a boy, whom almost everyone looks at coldly.
"...she's awfully late….I wonder…if she really intend to come," Sitting at the swing, Naruto sighed as he started to move in a forward and backward motion. His face was not the happy Naruto, rather it was a serious one.
After making a few swings, he stopped and stood up as if he was about to leave. "…she's just the same as them….why? why does it have to be this way….," He bowed down his head and his hair covered his eyes.
Just as he was ready to give up, two hands covered his eyes from behind. "…guess who?"
Naruto's sadness quickly faded away as he heard those words from behind.
"You're late!" A bright smile welcomed Naruto as released the cover from his eyes and turned around to see Hinata.
"Gomen, I…kinda woke up a little late.. Gomen," The young said while bowing down to her friend. Naruto wasn't a bit angry on the contrary he was very happy. "Don't worry about it it's nothing, the most important thing is you came..," Scratching his head and smiling vibrantly he placed his left hand on Hinata's shoulder. "…thanks…,".
"No Problem so what are we waiting for? Let's go," The Kyuubi child said motioned a signal for Hinata to come. Surprised, Hinata asked where they were going but Naruto just replied with "..You'll see,".
Tracing their path and because they knew almost every part of their beloved hometown Hinata finally knew where they were going. "um...Naruto-kun…we are going to…the see the sacred Hokage carvings right?"
"huh, yeah but not exactly there we are going at the top," Narutp grinned. "..it's forbidden to go at the top except with the permission of Hokage-sama…., we might get caught..,"
"Nah, I've been doing it since I was born, hey don't you worry, if anything happens to you again..I'll be the one to protect you…," Hinata blushed at the words the future Hokage in front of her has just said and gave a short smile.
After a short walk and jumps that even very young shinobi could do perfectly, the two reached the top of the Hokages.
"Wow..," Hinata for a moment threw away her shyness and let out her true feelings for the sight she saw was marvelous.
Even though the heat of the sun was already there, the two didn't feel any because of the unusual wind protecting the top. There, you could see the entire village, the 5th's house, the ramen place, the shinobi academy and houses that were bundled together. The young girl having strong eyesight with the help of her unique ability enjoyed the scenery pretty well. She managed to see no just the physical aspect of the view but as well as the aura that it gave her. An aura that makes her feel happy, secure and peaceful.
"Beautiful isn't it…," Naruto said as he sat on the floor. "…yes….," Hinata replied as she still stood up to see the view much further.
"This is were I stay when I am all alone…when there are nobody left…to comfort…me," Just as Naruto would like to say this, it only stayed in his mind. Instead a different set of words came out from his lips.
"Hinata….will be friends forever right?" Hinata didn't seem to have heard him because he said it softly. "huh?" As soon as Hinata stared at him, his expression quickly changed "Ha? ….err nevermind..look over there!" He pointed out to the flock of birds that just passed through the village.
"…how cute," While the birds caught the attention of the young girl, Naruto glimpsed at her friend and smiled. Hinata knew he was looking and slowly turned to his direction. "Naruto-kun,..um..Aregato,"
"Oh…no problem,"
The two stayed there until afternoon came and they went to the park again just to ride the swings. It was one fine day that was going to end until something broke the peaceful atmosphere of the two little kids. Hinata's cousin Neji arrived to pick her up.
"Brother Neji Stop it!" Hinata shouted as Neji punched Naruto at the face. "I…I went out on my own...I..wanted..to…play..outside," She said as she bowed down. Though Hinata said that she woke up late, Naruto didn't know that she just escaped from her house in order to see him. She deceived everybody including her father that she was still asleep in her room that made it possible for her to escape.
"Hinata you should know your position in the clan, you should not be playing specially with losers like him….," The genius child said as he stared blankly at Naruto. Hinata wanted to defend Naruto but she was just powerless to do anything. Naruto upon hearing the word loser, raged.
"A..loser…don't judge people too easily… Let's see about that!"
Naruto rushed in to punch Neji but the young Hyuga quickly dodged it and punched him in return.
"Argh….." Naruto was thrown far away, he still had the strength but something stopped him from standing again.
"Hmpphh…your destiny is to be a loser….I've known that since the second I saw you…Hinata-sama let's go…," Neji went ahead while Hinata weakly stared at Naruto.
"Gomen…Naruto…Gomen…," She cried before leaving the scene.
"….Naruto, those memories, Naruto was my lost childhood friend…we were happy playing….until Neji came to pick me up….now it is like that day….Naruto will also…," Tear drops fell from Hinata's cheeks as she remembered that she did nothing to help Naruto that day.
The two boys were started to ignite as Neji was prepared to finish the fight while Naruto was releasing charka twice his normal one. Neji was just in a defensive stance while the raging Naruto attacked him.
The male Hyuga was surprised as the nine-tail kid increased his speed tremendously and realized that it was not only speed but power as he couldn't block nor dodge the punch that Naruto gave.
" Where did he get this strength?.. impossible…," Neji received quite a strong blow as if his opponent threw everything he did back at him.
Naruto's eyes were focused on his enemy who was far away from him and was on the ground. "Don't think that you've defeated me once, you'll defeat me the second time around…," He grinned.
"…One I defeated?" Neji thought for a while but slowly remembered who his opponent was. Still arrogant as ever, He washed off the blood on his face and mockingly smiled "Hmmph..so that's why I remember your face, nothing has changed…you are still the loser I left that day…and now you're nothing an old myth, what a joke…I'll end it now..,"
"Bring it on…," Both of the shibobis prepared themselves as each knew that this time around they have to be serious. Neji wanted to finish it this time around and made a stance which Hinata knew very well.
"H-he's going..to use that! I must stop this at once…,"
"He's within the range of my hakke…I'll finish this right now..,"
Naruto on the other side was also scheming something. He opened his right palm and looked at it for a moment. "Hmmm I haven't mastered it yet…," he smiled. "…but it's worth trying it…,"
Naruto was about to release his charka in his palm when he shuddered from Neji's stare. "This ends now….gentle fist style 64 hands of Hakke!"
"…what?" Neji was fast approaching as Naruto couldn't move. Naruto was sure to be hit but something hindered the Byakugan-user from continuing.
"Stop!"
"Stop it now!..." Hinata shouted at Neji then turned her eyes away from him. "There is no reason for this…I-I shall tell my father about it….um….let's go home…,"
Neji didn't show any sign of emotion as he withdrew from the battle and replied. "As you wish…..,"
"Hinata, you didn't have to stop it…," Naruto reacted but Hinata stopped him from going on further.
"…I…apologize….for not having helped you at that time….I'm…sorry," She bowed down to her childhood friend and continued "..Th-theres's no reason to fight..it's all my fault…Naruto-kun…also…," She raised her eyes to meet his. "…please go back to the village…I'll be waiting for you there…,"
"…Hinata….I understand…besides we have a lot to talk about...I'll think about it…," In just a second, Naruto's battle face faded and drifted back to his usual self and smiled. " I don't know…Hinata...my wound seemed to have healed up but today..it somehow opened a little…but…we'll see…,"
