Difficulties in your life don't come to destroy you, but to help you realize your hidden potential.
-Anonymous
Coughing, Hinata staggered up, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. Before she could properly do so, a swift kick to the abdomen sent her flying backwards.
She swallowed a scream of pain as her back hit another tree. She slumped, coughing again as the dust cleared.
As good as she was, Konoha ANBU were still in a different league.
There were about eight of them in total. She had managed to knock out two with her Sixty-Eight Palms, before her exhaustion got in her way.
Currently, she was low on Chakra, barely able to perform even her gentle fist.
Panting, Hinata contemplated her options.
She could use the Fireball Jutsu to create a distraction, and then escape. However, her opponents were too fast, and the risk too great.
There was a higher chance of getting caught.
To make everything so much worse, her whole body ached. Every limb weighed a ton, and she could barely focus on the fight with the pounding in her head.
Attacking was out of the question.
She simply tried to dodge and block their attacks, but many still made contact.
Curiously, Hinata noticed that they only used Taijutsu to fight her.
No Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. Though, the latter made sense since she had the Byakugan.
Her best guess was that they didn't want to draw the attention of any Shinobi or traveller that may be passing by.
Groaning, Hinata stood up again, facing her opponents. She went into her stance, as they all surrounded her.
She had been backed into a corner.
The Captain regarded her silently for a moment.
"Resisting is futile, Miss Hinata." He said in his monotone, "I request you to cooperate-"
However, before he could finish, a fist connected with a face. A crack was heard as he staggered back, hand going to clutch his now-broken jaw.
Hinata still had her trembling hand raised into a fist, and despite it throbbing in pain, her voice did not waver when she spoke.
"I already told you." She growled, "I refuse."
Once again, a foot connected with her side, and she flew back a few feet. A quick jab to her stomach and she was falling.
Her side connected with a stray rock, as another crack echoed in the forest. Pain erupted in Hinata's chest, as this time, she couldn't stop the scream that escaped her.
She gasped and coughed, a hand clutching her side, as she let loose another cry of pain.
When she tried to raise her head, she found out that she couldn't. Her body was trembling, begging for a long, comfortable rest. She couldn't get up, couldn't fight, no matter how much she wanted to.
Is this truly how I die?
She thought of all her friends back home, in an effort to clear up the dots that had erupted in her vision.
Would they miss her? And would the Hokage ever tell them how she died?
Kurenai, She began she train of thoughts, wanting what could be her last moments to be spent thinking of all those she loved.
Shino, Kiba, Neji, Tenten, Sakura, Ino, Lee and-and-
She closed her eyes, her tears falling.
And...Itachi.
She bit back a sob at his image.
Would he be sad ah her death? Would he mourn her? Or forget her as another nameless, faceless person who had died?
It was as another thought hit her, that Hinata realised what a coward she was.
I don't want to die.
An echo of the thought she had had while fighting that blue man, Kisame. Only this time, there was no one who was depending on her to save their lives. This time, she had no reason to try so hard.
She was all on her own.
I don't want to die.
And yet, at the end it did not matter. Not her motivation, not her willpower.
It did not matter. Not when Death itself was knocking at her door.
I can't get up.
She heard footsteps approach her.
I don't want to die.
Closer and closer.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die.
Thump.Thump.Thump.ThumpThumpThumpThump.
Idon'twanttodie!Idon'twanttodie!Idon'twanttodie! Idon'twanttodie-
Then, suddenly, there was silence.
Through the curtain of her hair, Hinata noticed her surroundings disappear. She could no longer hear the footsteps, the scurrying of the animals, the buzzing of the insects.
Everything was dead quiet.
Beneath her hands, the dirt had also disappeared. Instead, she was surrounded by pitch black, as she floated in darkness.
Where am I?
She exhaled softly, eyes drifting shut slightly.
Am I dying? Am already dead?
Then, she felt something cool press against the back of her neck. However, when she tried to turn, to see what it was, she found out she couldn't move.
A strangled gasp echoed her lips, as she tried to, somehow, move.
She heard a voice, cool and calm with authority, yet not warm enough to make her relax a bit. It had a strange affect, as she felt her fight leave her. She felt as if she ought to say something in response, though why, she didn't know.
It all felt familiar, somehow.
"Byakugan Princess."
She tried to part her lips to answer, a thousand questions in her mind. Instead, in the darkness, she heard her own thoughts being echoed in the silence.
Who are you?
As if guessing her thoughts, the voice spoke again.
"Who I am does not matter currently. Who are you?"
Hinata sighed.
I am Hinata.
"Hyuga Hinata?"
She tried to shake her head.
Just Hinata.
She could sense the surprise of the voice.
"Oh? Do you not possess the Byakugan?"
I do.
"Then, you are a Hyuga."
Hinata pursed her lips, slightly irritated.
I am not. Not anymore.
The was silence.
"What game are you playing, girl?"
Hinata noticed a tinge of warning in the question. Hence, she had to think before she replied.
I am playing no game.
"Then, who are you?" The voice demanded again.
I am Hinata. I told you that before.
She heard what sounded like a sigh.
"It was not the answer I was looking for."
Hinata swallowed.
It is the only answer I have.
There was silence again.
"Are you sure, girl?" The voice was quieter now.
"Think again, and tell me. Who are you?"
Hinata furrowed her eyebrows, racking her brain for an answer.
She had been a Hyuga before. What was she after that? Kurenai's daughter? Neji's cousin?
No, she had come to learn not to define herself on her relationship to others. Who was she, as an individual?
Her eyes slowly opened.
Hinata. I am a Kunoichi of Konoha, a Jounin by rank.
The voice didn't seem to hear her because it asked again.
"Who are you?"
I already told you!
"It was not the answer I was looking for." It repeated.
Hinata closed her eyes calmly.
Then, I have no other answer.
"Who are you?"
Hinata thought harder, going through all her memories. Who was she?
She went deeper into her thoughts, until she found that small voice in her head that she had often pushed back. She saw herself, still seven, whispering.
I don't know. I don't know who I am.
There was another silence, this one stretching longer than the others.
"You don't know." The voice repeated.
"Tell me, girl, would you like to remember?
Remember what?
"Your identity, of course. I know who you are."
Now, she was the one asking the question.
Who am I?
"You are Hyuga Hinata." It claimed, matter-of-factly.
Hinata huffed.
I am not!
"And why not?"
Hinata took a moment to answer.
Because...Because it is not what I want to be.
The voice hummed silently.
"Would you like to change?" It asked quietly.
I already have.
"But, it isn't enough, is it? If it were, you wouldn't be here."
This time, she was the one who didn't reply.
"Very well, then. From now on, you are no longer Hinata of the Hyuga, or Hinata of Konoha."
Then, who am I? Hinata asked for the second time.
She could practically feel the happiness of the voice at the question.
"I, then, bestow upon you a new name. You shall now be called Hinata of the Otsusuki."
Otsusuki? Who are you?
"I am Hamura Otsusuki, and I have chosen you as my disciple."
W-What?
"I honour you with a new name, and a gift; the reason you were summoned here to begin with."
What is going on?! What gift?
Her questions were ignored.
"May you use it for the good of this world."
The voice sounded fainter, as of going further away.
Hinata tried to extend a hand toward it, trying to keep it by her side. She had so many questions that needed answering. Answers that the voice would definitely have.
Wait! Where are you?!
There was no reply.
Instead, she felt pain erupt in her stomach. Opening her eyes, she found herself back in the clearing, fighting those ANBU.
Was that a dream? She thought, just as someone slammed their foot into her back again.
She felt the breath being knocked out of her throat, as she coughed, all the previous weightless disappearing.
She looked up slightly, meeting the eyes of the Captain.
For a moment, she stared at his cold, covered eyes, barely registering the foreign, but at the same time, familiar Chakra fill her depleted reserves.
Her breath escaped her, caught off guard by the sudden burst of power that surged through her, as her strength returned.
For a second, she heard a same voice, its commanding tone making her straighten up.
"Go now, Hinata of the Otsusuki. Show the world who you are."
And with a sudden flash of purple and violet, everything exploded.
There is today's update, losers!!!
Not exactly proud of this chapter. It didn't come out how I expected it to, but oh well.
Anyway, how was it? Did you like it? Any idea what that 'gift' was? And, what is going to happen next??
Be sure to tell me what you think!!
Until the next update, ENJOY!!
-Your yawning author.
