Demons Thoughts/Speech

Human thoughts

Dreams

Tei and Hinata spoke long into the afternoon, trying to coming up with battle plans as well as a way to work around their horrible disadvantage to sharing one another's pain. Even as they talked, Hinata could feel her leg beginning to hurt and feel all the cuts where she had injured Tei. This was truly something that couldn't be taken lightly, but how to combat something like this? It was a question the pair could not really answer and eventually, they decided to stop for now. Heaving a large sigh, Tei leaned more heavily against Hinata while looking out into the distance, their situation had no clear answer but if they couldn't solve this riddle, how could they go on being ninja? The thought was crushing the red/brown haired girl and she knew Hinata felt the same.

Eventually they had to meet up with Anko and Naruto and once they got there, they were trying not to grin at Anko telling them that Tazuna sent them away from building duty. Anko simply grumbled before shooing them off to patrol the area and keep a lookout. However as she watched Hinata and Tei walk, she realized they both were limping. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to have them train when their condition made things hard for the both of them. Shaking her head of these thoughts, Anko couldn't even begin to rack her brain on trying to help her students before a bell sounded, signalling the end of the day for everyone. When did the time go so fast? Rolling her eyes, Anko met the others with Tazuna, feeling pride that she didn't have to tell her students to be with him. With the day now over, it would be easy for everyone's guard to drop. But the walk back home was uneventful save for Naruto asking how training went for the girls, though it was clear he was asking more for concern of their shared limp and cuts than anything else really. The girls couldn't really blame him and while they were in pain, having them ease Naruto's worries certainly helped.

Instead of going right to the house, Tazuna made a detour to the market, saying that if they wanted to eat, they had to get food. Yet seeing how desolate and hopeless everyone looked, the younger ninja could look at them for long without having bad for these people. It only got worse when then saw the "market" barely had anything to offer in its wares.

"It's been like this ever since Gato showed up, the people of Wave have lost their spirit, their hope. If the bridge becomes complete than not only will trade come to this land but also hope. It's something that is desperately needed in this town."

"We will help bring your people hope any way we can." Anko spoke for all of them and her students nodded to her words. Tazuna looked from the oldest ninja to her young charges before lowering his head with a smile.

"You lot sure are something. Right, then we all will do our best tomorrow, ain't that right?"

"Yes, sir!"

The next day, Hinata spent some time training by herself in the early morning. However she wasn't able to do much as Tei must have been doing the same and getting clobbered by either Naruto or Anko as cuts and bruises began to form all over her body. Scowling, the ex-Hyuuga realized that even with a good amount of distance between them, the pair could still feel and receive each other's wounds. "There's got to be a way to stop this," Hinata muttered while trying to put less strain on her body during training, not knowing if fatigue would also be transferred to Tei. Eventually, Hinata tired herself out and without really meaning to, fell asleep in the shade of a tree, leaning peacefully against its trunk.

As she slept, a unknown figure came to stand by the girl's side, seeing her wounds while their hand reached the Leaf ninja's neck. But the figure hesitated and eventually moved her hand lower to shake Hinata's shoulder, urging her to wake up and treat her injures.

Hinata slowly woke up and turned her head to the voice, expecting Tei or Anko, instead she was greeted with a unfamiliar face, a woman giving her a small smile. "Who...?"

"I found you passed out here, if you're not careful then you might catch a cold, or worse. You already seem hurt, here I have some bandages." Hinata tilted her head as the woman bandaged all the cuts she could find after putting on a soothing ointment to help Hinata heal. The cream instantly soothed her, causing Hinata to let out a small sigh of relief. She then looked over to her strange helper and opened her mouth to speak but before she could, the other girl spoke first.

"What is it that you were trying to do out here all alone?" she asked softly, while keeping her gaze down, as if she didn't want to see how Hinata would react.

"I was training, to get stronger and to help someone realize their dream." Hinata answered immediately, puffing out her chest slightly as she did feel that despite the her wounds, she did feel like she was making progress.

"And why are you doing that? What does someone else's dream mean to you? Why are you helping them?" the other girl wondered, looking up this time at see Hinata's expression.

"It is my mission to do so, but I have spent time with these people, I can't and won't turn away from this. If there is any way for me to help make their dream a reality them I want to do my part, no matter what. Also, during all of this, there is someone I lost along the way. She was harsh to me but there was something behind it, something she wanted to make me. Greater than myself. I want to honer her memory by becoming strong. She was one of the precious people I hold dear. If I can rise against this challenge then I will be able to protect the others."

"So that's why you gain strength, is that also the reason you became a ninja? One is meant to kill without a second thought, to be a weapon to their master and used however is seen fit?"

Hinata once again tilted her head, thinking. "In a way, yes. It was my decision to become a ninja as a way to get strong. At first I only really did it to appease my father but now, I'm doing it for my own sake. I know that with this strength I will be able to protect the ones I care for and will be able to walk on my own feet. So even if I have to become a weapon, it is worth it to become a ninja."

The pale woman stared at Hinata for a moment before nodding. "I see, then I hope that you will be able to obtain the power you seek to protect your precious people. Maybe ninja aren't that bad after all. Make sure to take care of those cuts, and hold fast to your dreams."

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. The bridge battle will be coming next.