Woot! Another one ^_^ I'd like to thank all of those who reviewed. I had a hoot from reading them, lawlz.

Chapter Thirteen

After pouring over old parchments, books, and scrolls for two hours, Hanabi finally unearthed two ways she could avoid being sealed if she lost the title match. One, she could find some way to stall the match until she turned 18, then run away from the clan and hide behind the laws of the Konoha Statute, which basically states she could do as she damn well pleased seeing as she'd be 18 and therefore, legally, an adult with no mandatory obligations. Or, she could go get engaged and marry herself off. Yep, that'd put a halt to everything.

Hanabi snorted. "Like hell I'd get married. No one good enough for me," She said aloud, speaking to her inner self.

"Or rather, there's no one willing to take you,"

Hanabi whirled around in her chair to meet the steady gaze of her older sister. She scowled. She didn't have time to banter with Hinata right now. However, she'd be lying if she said didn't want to irk her.

"So, done entertaining your guest already?" Hanabi said loudly, hoping that a few servants were being nosy and eavesdropping. "Did I kill the mood? I'm sorry; I was just looking out to protect my sister's honourable virtue." Hanabi's face broke out in a grin

Hinata had the urge to strangle Hanabi, but if she wanted her plan to work, she'd need Hanabi to agree to a truce. She sighed, and with much effort, managed to smile at Hanabi. "I'm going to ignore that. Now, I we haven't been the best of friends—

"You don't say," Hanabi interjected sarcastically. She was a bit wary of her sister. She had to be up to something. Hanabi wasn't one to beat around the bush so she blatantly asked, "What do you want? Bribe my silence? I wasn't planning on telling anybody. Well, not yet,"

Hinata frowned. She knew that Hanabi would be sceptical of any pleasantries presented to her but, she'd had a tiny sliver of hope that she'd play along. Oh well, she thought, might as well get to the point then. "Actually no, however that would be good also. You know that only puts you on even footing with me. I keep your secret, you keep mine. I actually want to propose a truce of sorts."

Hanabi quirked an eyebrow. If Hinata wanted a truce then something was up. However, if she could get Hinata off her back for awhile, that'd be awesome. Then she could concentrate on getting out of her problems with the elders, her father, and the council. Hanabi figured it wise to at least listen to what she had to say.

"Go on," Hanabi said while rolling up the scroll she was reading.

Hinata sat up in her chair and cleared her throat. "Now, because you've been so busy getting in trouble and sneaking in and out the estate, you've hardly had enough time to prepare for our title match, and I wish to fight you at your best. So, I've decided to ask the council to postpone the match on my behalf until I think you are ready."

Hanabi stared at her dumbfounded. "What?!"

"Believe it or not, I didn't stutter Hanabi," Hinata stated firmly.

"Why? What do you stand to gain? What do you want in return?" Hanabi rubbed her temple as the questions fired out of her mouth.

Hinata smirked. This was going to be easier than she'd imagine. There was no way Hanabi would refuse her offer. "I already gave you a probable reason why. And as for what I stand to gain is none of your concern. And in return, all you have to do is to continue doing what you are doing now,"

"Which is…?" Hanabi prompted, gesturing with her hand.

Hinata smirked at her sister. "Keep seeing Naruto against father's wishes, thus keeping the council too busy to cast their eyes on me. What I'm after is actually for the greater good of the clan."

Hanabi eyed her sister suspiciously. "I thought you were into Naruto, well not anymore considering…" She trailed off.

"Naruto was just a mere infatuation at the time," Hinata said smoothly. I don't need him anymore, Hinata thought with a chuckle. After all, he wasn't the only one who can tug on the hokage's heart strings. All she had to do was feed Sakura a heartfelt story and reel the bitch in. Once she could get Sakura under her paws, the rest would be child's play.

"I still won't let my guard down," Hanabi said, still trying to figure what Hinata was playing at.

"I wouldn't expect you to," Hinata replied standing up. "Just think about it for awhile," She then quietly left Hanabi to muse about her offer. She smiled maliciously. Yep, everything was falling in line. Soon she'd control everything. She couldn't wait to rub it in Hiashi's face.

Hanabi told herself she'd think over Hinata's offer more deeply later. She glanced at the clock on the wall, according to it; she still had about two hours to go before Naruto showed up. That's if he showed up. He had better come, she thought. She didn't know what she'd do if he didn't but she'd think of something.

With her contingency plan set and ready if the trial was not in her favour, Hanabi left the library and headed for the kitchen. When she arrived, it was nice and empty. She figured they were probably buying supplies for dinner. So she helped herself to whatever was left over in the fridge.

As she finished her sandwich a servant approached her and informed her that she had a visitor.

Genuinely surprised, Hanabi asked, "Really? Who is it?"

The servant unfolded a small parchment on which they wrote the guests names. After scanning it for a second he stated. "Otura N. She's a rather old lady,"

Otura N., Hanabi thought, she didn't know anybody by that name. She repeated the name a few times in her head than it dawned on her. She had to fight a smile from breaking out on her face. "Escort her to the garden please. Let her know I'll be a minute," Hanabi told the servant with a slight grin on her face.

The servant faltered for a second. Hyuga Hanabi had just politely and nicely asked him to do something. And she'd said please. Oh wow, this was so going to be big news. He couldn't wait till his next five minute break. "Right away ma'am," the servant said before bowing and exiting the room.

She burst out in giggles as the servant left the room. She had to give him credit though. At least he was imaginative. She prepared another sandwich and pot of tea. Putting two cups, the pot, and the sandwich on the tray, she went out into the garden.

"Otura-san, how nice of you to visit," Hanabi said with a bright and cheery smile. She placed the tray on a little stone block that was in front of the bench. The servants, who were taking a shortcut through the garden, balked at the sight of Hanabi serving someone else with a smile. This odd behaviour piqued their interest. Who was this old lady that could make Hanabi serve her?

"Oh, I decided it was a nice day to come out the house. It gets boring sitting around the house all day waiting to kick the bucket. How nice of you to prepare a snack for me on such short notice," Otura-san said, her voice ancient and crackling, like old leather.

"Oh, don't mention it," Hanabi said cheerily, playing along with the charade. "I'd been meaning to visit you, but I've been tied up," After a few minutes of mindless banter, Hanabi said, "It's hot out here isn't it; let's go inside where it's cooler." She figured she gave the servants enough to gossip about.

"Oh very well,"

The two of them made their way back into the kitchen, where they stopped briefly for Otura-san to eat her snack and drink her tea. Once they were finished, Hanabi lead Otura to a hidden room that was located within the library. Hanabi could only begin to imagine what rumours were spreading around the estate. She figured every able bodied Hyuga on the Main Family grounds would have their eyes and ears peeled.

"You can revert to your normal self now." Hanabi told Otura, "We're safe in here. Nobody, probably except the cook, knows this room exist. And its warded too so no curious eyes can see it."

Otura nodded and then exploded in a cloud of smoke. The smoke cleared, revealing a grinning Naruto. "So, how was that?"

Hanabi glided towards him and gave him a peck on the lips. "I'll give you points for creativity." She slipped out of Naruto's way before he could grab a hold of her.

"You are very mean," Naruto said, smiling.

"That's why you like me," Hanabi said in a teasing manner. Wow, who knew she was good a flirting.

Naruto's face turned serious for a moment. "You know, that's one of the reasons why I do." He gave her a gaze that made her heart beat a wee bit faster. She blushed and turned around, walking toward on of the chairs in the room.

Naruto claimed a seat opposite her and studied the room. It was Spartan in nature, only containing a single cot and a few chairs, and a small table.

"So have you figured out a way to get me out of a guilty verdict?" Hanabi asked, trying to get straight to the point. She had an inkling if they didn't get the matter out of the way, they never would. For some reason, the thought that she and Naruto were alone were distracting her.

The two of them were alone. In a room that was impossible to find. Alone. And there was a cot. Alone, with two hours to spare. Maybe they could….

"Hanabi?"

"Huh. What?" Hanabi quickly asked, surfacing from her rather naughty thoughts.

Naruto smirked at her. I wonder what distracted her, he thought. He pondered this for a few seconds. "Hmmm, you do realize that we have a good opportunity here…" He gave her that come-hither look and wiggled his eyebrows at her. He wondered when he'd become so comfortable with her. And he also wondered if she realized she was becoming more open to him. He doubted it though. He wasn't going to point it out in any event.

Hanabi blushed and turned her head. "Pervert, get serious, I need help here. There's no time for such things." Oh, I'm such a hypocrite, she thought.

Naruto merely shrugged. "Eh, it was just a suggestion. But you're a pervert too cause you were thinking it."

Hanabi blushed guiltily. "So, but you said it." She covered her mouth with her hand. She lowered her head in embarrassment. How dare her mouth betray her like that.

Naruto laughed at her. "Oh, wow. You're just as perverted as me." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Hanabi the naughty. Heh, I like that."

Hanabi squirmed in her seat, a tad bit uncomfortable. Having Naruto call her naughty was stirring up a feeling inside her she didn't trust herself to deal with. She took a deep breath and cleared her mind.

"Enough teasing," Hanabi stated, getting down to business. "So, how are you going to help me?"

Naruto shrugged and Hanabi almost gave into the urged to slap him.

"Now, now," Naruto chided. "I can't really help you if I don't know what you're being charged for…"

"Oh." She gave him a slight chuckle. How did I forget that, she asked herself. "They're trying to charge me with murder, or at least manslaughter, along with some other trivial things that I can handle."

Naruto gaped at her. "Murder?! What? An assassin comes to kill you and the charge you with murder?"

Hanabi sighed and let some of her sadness leak through the cracks in her façade. "The branch family doesn't like me at all, and most of the elder council is turning against me because I don't kowtow to their every order, whim and fancy. You could almost say I'm a black sheep; trapped yet free."

Naruto suddenly stood up out of his chair and sat down beside her. Then he hugged her. A simple hug that let her know he was with her. At first she had stiffened up, but then she began to relax. That hug told her and explained to her everything; that for the first time, she found a friend.

End.

Yeah I know, I'ma bitch for ending the chappy there, but I was feeling very lazy. Yeah, I also know I been M.I.A. since like Christmas. It's not my fault though, I blame college. This semester was hell, it was like deep fried puppy shit covered in frosting with sprinkles…..:S I cnt w8 till the semester finishes….which is in 2 more weeks btw. ^_^

Then I have the whole break to finish this story. That's my goal now, to complete this before the new semester starts. ^_^ do you think I could do it? Lawlz, I hope so.

As always, review plzzzzz. And as soon as exams are done, I'ma spit out the next chappy. ;)

Shippu Jinraikayku