Games Of Fate
A brilliant diamond was just a small rock
before it is carved into
a precious jewel that sparkles in light...
A marvelous shinobi that dwells in darkness
thirsting for blood possessing hunger for revenge
Turns out to be a regular man who is in love.
7
Sounds of frogs, crickets and hooting of owls in chorus could be heard along the calm night in a forest that was yet to experience any storm, unlike the other continents of the Fire country. The atmosphere was heavy enveloped with mist floating in the air, chilling temperature freezing any creature down to its spine. Vulture-like creatures were hiding under dried leaves, carefully targeting its preys that were farther away, preys which were blissfully unaware of its delicate position. The predator calmly waits for the right time in order to land a killer attack. Its eyes held hunger that never fades till the last minute that separates it from its prey before the predator could devour its supper for the night.
A cold blooded creature hissed as it slowly glides its way down towards the forest travelling far from the little cottage of an old lady, smoothly avoiding any rock, tree or plant that stands in its way. Its blood red eyes with slit pupils carefully searching through the night, the dangerous summon followed two humans who came out for a walk. It was eyeing them carefully as the male led the female into his favourite spot. Its eyes scanned the body temperature that signs the humans were both indeed troubled, it watched the rise and low of their chest cavity as they ran after one another.
The snake hid itself, behind huge boulders of rock careful so that it's cover would never be blown, watching the two humans as they held hands and played in the waterfalls, located not too far away from the village, deep into the forest. There were large plants and sprouting of little but colorful flowers around the corner of the huge boulders that decorates the ever flowing waterfall giving it a more natural look. The huge water source originated from springs of the high mountains far away from the borders of Oto. The organic water was crystal clear; it was so transparent that even a normal human can spot little aquatic creatures swimming underneath the water surface with their naked eye. The moon was hidden under massive clouds that lingered upon the sky, hindering thousands of stars glinting in its full glory to make an appearance that night.
Her white eyes marvelled the surroundings' overwhelming beauty "it's… really beautiful… d-do you come here often?"
Suigetsu smiled at the white eyed beauty before him, a slight blush tainted his features as she smiled back at him, "yeap, this place calms my mind… I thought I could show you… Its water tastes good by the way"
Hinata clapped her hands together in bewilderment, she was at loss of words to describe the surrounding features of mother earth that warmly welcomed her with its arms wide open.
"wow…" she whispered to herself, Hinata couldn't contain the happiness she felt surging through her at the sight she saw.
The man complimented as he bent down to his knees sipping some water from the pool to wet his dry throat, he eyed the Hyuuga from the corner of his eyes and said, "I hated polluted water the most *whisper: and the ones with poop in it*, I like waterfalls, it's refreshing and has a tendency to calm your mind…"
"I'm th-thankful to you Suigetsu-kun… I was so- restless back then… But now I feel better…" Hinata said with gratitude lacing her tone of voice to which Suigetsu scratched his head nervously.
"ah… it's nothing really…" he mumbled incoherently as he stared around watching the trees, trying desperately to sound as calm as he could.
As he glanced back at her and he was shocked to see the Hyuuga was not beside him, he searched frantically for her whipping his head to his sides till the man smirked to himself when he saw Hinata gliding on top of the water. She resembled a child skipping on the water surface regardless of the freezing cold temperature it held.
"It's really b-beautiful Suigetsu-kun! Thank you!" Hinata squeaked happily as she twirled around on her heels across the chilling cold water.
A chuckle escaped his throat as he sat comfortably on the grassy clearing nearby the waterfall, he watched the Hyuuga as his eyes were entranced by the beauty before him under the charm of the moon light. He whooped in amusement at her startling the Hyuuga heiress, as Hinata was so focused on her little fun sliding with water; she was involuntarily performing her signature technique. Water that flow from the fall sparkled under moon light as it floated around her body, guided by her soft hands choreographing an enchanting but dangerous dance.
'Heh… this is not as beautiful as you are…' The white haired man widened his eyes in surprise as that thought crossed his mind. He watched her woth a stupefied expression that dared him to think otherwise, it was indeed true- her technique was as beautiful as she is.
Hinata somehow noticed the Hozuki was gawking at her, feeling slightly embarrassed by his attention she stopped spinning. Her feet came to a sudden halt splashing some water upon the water user startling him in the process, she giggled at him as he wiped the water off his face, "Woah! It's cold!" he exclaimed.
Hinata laughed softly as she walked towards the Hozuki, mumbling her apology, "s-sorry… Suigetsu-kun, I d-didn't mean to m-make you this wet…"
Intimidated further by her comment, the man childish challenged her, "Oh yeah! Guess what? I hear the water wants to say 'hi' to you Hinata, here…" he hovered towards the breaking water he splashes the water on the Hyuuga with a rough swing of his arm, making her jump at her feet.
"Ah! Su-Suigetsu-kun!" Hinata squeaked in shock once the soaring wave of cold water splashed on top of her upper torso wetting her further to her undergarment.
Suigetsu crouched down to his feet, hiding his face within both of his palms as he stared at Hinata sheepishly. He was guilty due to his clumsiness; he reacted a bit roughly than needed, the man bit his lips nervously as he muttered, "A, shoot…"
Suigetsu jumped to his feet, slowly nearing the Hyuuga who stood to her feet on the water surface, the man couldn't even take a peek at her face since it was completely covered by her bangs, "Hey… I am sorry Hinata, I uhh… kinda got carried away…"
Hinata visibly shivered as she stood frozen to her feet, her head hung low, her dark blue locks swayed under the wind that mercilessly blew her way, unknown to the Hozuki, a soft mischievous smile spread across the Hyuuga's face.
"H…How about I sh-show you w-what a Hyuuga is capable of, S-Suigetsu-kun?" Suigetsu raised his brows in surprise.
Thunderous storm had swept the village with ample of water literally pouring down to earth without any hint of mercy to the small creatures that crawls upon earth. A lone man, stood there on top of a giant toad that rivals the height of a mountain accompanied by two other amphibians of similar size crouching at each of its sides, in the middle of the night. Darkness of night surrounded the village, as its inhabitants were sound asleep nestled in cocoons of warm blanket. A slight feeling of happiness tugged at the man's heart as he gained the sight of his birth land once again, it was totally restored back into a peaceful village hindered by any shred of fear towards war, that it was once. But something bad, even though it was just slightly, he definitely was sure that he felt it in his heart, it was something ominous. His hunch never betrayed him, that was for sure, anyhow whatever it was or whether it was related to him returning to the village, he had already made a mental note to face it.
Somehow he was happy that he finally made it back, just as soon as the delight came of him knowing his homeland was safe and sound it evaporated as if he had never felt it in the first place. Instead the pangs of guilt, fear and anguish torn his heart into two as his blue eyes travelled to land atop of the huge Hokage monument- he remembered his face should be carved there, Naruto knew. He rejected the Godaime's offer to be her apprentice so that he could take over the Hokage title after a year worth of training under her. He refused it, and she knew rather well of the reason why. The man gritted his teeth as his mind recalled back of tragic death of a certain Hyuuga that he witnessed, he was unable to save her at that time, no matter how strong he gets now he was and always will be the loser who could only watch when she threw herself in order to save him and Sakura-chan that day. His eyes held a depth of sorrow, pain that struck him with immeasurable amount. A whimper left his cold lips as Naruto stood rooted to his feet on top of the Toad Boss Gamabunta.
His cerulean eyes stared of at the thundering sky as massive cloud crumpled together upon heaven as if the broad sky above Konoha wasn't enough space to be shared, clouds colliding upon one another with different magnitude of wind and electrodes swirling above, the heaven roared as a streak of light pierced through the air, flashing a blinding bluish light upon the blonde's face. He merely stared at the beam of lightning that simply flashed through sending a light across his face, he stood there at that very moment with only a single thought and a single person occupying both his mind and heart.
'Sasuke…'
Naruto's summons politely took of their leave as they had made sure the current Toad Sage was sent back to his village safe and sound. Naruto walked through the pavement of streets which were abandoned as all of the citizens were now resting for the night. Naruto eyed around the closed shops and stalls, even Ichiraku was off today- he noticed. A small nonchalant smile spread across his face as he remembered his old brash and exuberant self who crazed ramen more than any prized delicacy on earth. His mouth salivated even now when he remembered the large serving of pork ramen that Teuchi used to cook for him.
The man audibly gulped down his saliva before it could pour down his mouth like endless river. However he stopped his urge from lingering around the closed restaurant a little longer under the heavy rain, he made himself remember his task at hand, the reason why he was here? Why Tsunade had called upon him at such an untimely hour? It must be something of utmost importance; of course it was stated as so in the scroll she sent to him as well. He kept himself preoccupied with his thoughts as his pair of legs unconsciously led him to her office.
There he stood practically drenched head to toe from the merciless heavy rain, his blonde unruly hair dangled in front of his face, some latched uncomfortably across his cheeks as well as his overgrown bangs. Naruto looked much mature from how he had kept his hair; anyone could mistake him for the Fourth if there weren't any marks of whiskers that adorned his cheeks. His clothes practically was dripping from excessive water that it has absorbed, making his temperature grow a little low. Despite his current uneasiness Naruto decided to meet Tsunade ahead before going to his apartment wasting time changing into drier clothes. He wanted to finish off whatever the task that Tsunade shoves into him and be done with it before he leaves for his research/ training in Mount Myobuki once again. He lifted his arms where his sleeves hung heavily with trickling rain water already pooling down at his feet; the blonde softly rapped upon the wooden door to the Hokage's room.
'Knock… Knock… Knock…'
He was surprised that she was even sober till this hour since her reply came almost instantly, "come in…"
"W-woah!"
Suigetsu leaped to the air, his feet detached from the water surface as he floated upon the atmosphere, he had no time dodging her spears of water crystal as Hinata shot them at his direction. It took him off guard; he immediately liquefied himself as a bullet of her ice grazed at his abdomen and his left cheek. Hinata widened her eyes in surprise as she couldn't find the Hozuki around her; out of instinct she opted to search him through her doujutsu.
"Bya-"
She lifted her hand forming it into the infamous hand sign before she could even activated her bloodline, the man suddenly emerged from under her feet, rising out of the water he jabbed the Hyuuga to land a hit at her abdomen to which she dodged using her amazing flexibility. A smirk crossed his lips as the woman landed square on her feet, screeching a few feet away from the Hozuki, he stared at the Hyuuga who immediately regained her balance as she faced her soon to be spar-partner.
"That was quick… you Konoha kunoichi sure got some impressive move…" the Hozuki openly voiced his thoughts.
Hinata gave a small smile at his compliment, yet it saddened as she said with a low whisper, "Thank you… b-but I am not… that g-good enough…"
Suigetsu eyed her curiously as she stared at him with sudden defiance in her voice as she spoke, "I… I am not worthy enough to earn your compliment yet Suigetsu-kun… I need to work harder… besides, I know you were holding back against me"
"heh… so you figured. If you want to do this for real how we about we spar a little? I won't hold back even if you are woman, got that?" Suigetsu said.
Hinata froze and suddenly to the man's surprise, Suigetsu was taken back when she sneezed, "H-hai… A… ACHOOO! O-oops, s-sorry…"
Then the Hozuki noticed that she was shivering the whole time, he wasn't aware that the temperature had dropped considerably enough to give him goose bumps, he chuckled softly and said, "a… maybe not now. How about tomorrow?"
Hinata nodded at his offer with a soft smile grazing at her lips, "I'd love that…"
A smirk crossed his features as he eyed the Hyuuga with much amusement in his eyes, "you sure are already so strong Hinata… I've gotta work hard too, you can even slice me up with that technique of yours in no time… haha"
Hinata smiled as she gazed at the Hozuki who stood before her, with a wide smile on his face, her gaze softened and it held a memory she sustained of a certain knuckleheaded ninja that she loves the most, this person before her strangely reminds her of him.
"I've heard someone say that to me before…" she said softly that caught the Hozuki's attention.
Out of curiosity the man eyed the white eyed lady for a while, her face held a strange expression, a mixture of sorrow and affection. She was calm yet he could see through that she was actually smiling at a fond memory.
"Who is it?" Suigetsu questioned.
Hinata smiled and hummed curiously, "hm?"
He repeated his question to her once again, "I mean, who was the person that told you that? Was it a he or she?" he mumbled the last part under his breath that still caught her attention.
Hinata had a 'look' in her eyes as she explained about the person to Suigetsu, from watching her talk about him, the Hozuki came to know something that he never wanted to know.
The Hyuuga chuckled softly before confirming the gender, "the person is a guy, Suigetsu-kun… He is Uzumaki Naruto, someone very strong, he was my inspiration, I admired him very much for a long time that I can't remember when it all started…" Hinata ended her sentence with a sad smile.
The Hozuki frowned at that and he mumbled, "Oh… you mean that blonde haired guy that chases after Sasuke like a mad, obsessed fan-girl? Ah… I think I met him once"
Hinata blushed in embarrassment at Suigetsu's little remark of Naruto, despite that she tried to defend her love, "Na-Naruto-kun is not Uchiha-san's f-fan girl. He is his friend and team mate… Naruto-kun values Uchiha-san the most… like a family, l-like a brother…"
Suigetsu scratched his ears as he nodded, "a… a brother huh? Heh, even I could admire this Naruto guy for remaining faithful to Sasuke, man he's got guts! So, h… how was he like?"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Massive rapping sounds of rain water hitting against the roof echoed through the whole mansion as heavy rain washed the whole village and the Hyuuga compound was not an exception. Shrieks of a man echoed through the walls as he cried and grunted in pain. The ghostly Hyuuga manor seemed even darker than it usually is as his voice travelled through the space. Any inhabitants of the manor remained undisturbed by the piercing sound of his voice as he groaned in pain.
Hiashi sat there on top of his comfy chair hidden behind his desk of his office. His face affirmative of annoyance as he stared with hardening glare at the man before him, the man, his assistant Ko who recently had met with his master in order to hand over the report to his recent mission. Ko was grovelling in pain, Hiashi looked least bit moved by the man's pain or did he heed to Ko's cries to stop.
The Hyuuga head didn't move an inch from his desk, nonetheless he was capable of harming his assistant with a technique that could threaten the man's life at once. Hiashi hardened his glare at Ko as the said man hovered down to his knees, tears of nothing but pure pain flew out of his pale white orbs as he stared at his master's cruelty.
"H… Hiashi-s-sama… pl-please…" the man merely found his strength enough to whisper at his master.
While Hiashi reacted, albeit his scowl was present on his stoic mask, the man's glare softened. He slowly released of the binding of the cursed seal which he had activated upon Ko's forehead.
"Listen Ko…" Hiashi's voice erupted through the thick silence that coated the air as he continued, "you have nothing to do with this, it is a matter which has been decided before the massacre of Uchiha clan… none of this concerns you enough to be agitated by it"
Clutching his temples to ease the pain that was present just milliseconds before the seal was deactivated by Hiashi, Ko stared at his master through his bangs, he was panting heavily for air as he spoke.
"Hi-Hiashi-sama… but Hinata-s-sama is… w-with an international c-criminal…" he managed to choke out.
To which Hiashi stared at Ko, the old man wandered how much had his assistant cared for his daughter to go out of his way to save her, despite defying his own orders and his fate as the Hyuuga branch member, much to his amazement.
'Ko was capable of doing something like that for my daughter?' Hiashi mused, a smirk plastered on his face as he stood up from his chair. Hiashi knew his servant who never failed him was trustworthy enough to be revealed of a clan secret that was now no more of an importance.
Ko eyed his master as Hiashi stepped towards the shelves that bore old and important documents that Hiashi had saved over time. Skipping through the numerous old scrolls he finally found one and eyed it tentatively before idly tossing the old scroll towards Ko without much care to it. Ko stared at the old document incredulously as he wondered why would his master give him this.
"Read it Ko. Now" Ko knew it was an order from his master, and he was undoubtedly right.
"Hinata-sama… sh-she… belongs to the Uchiha clan?" Ko asked unable to digest the fact that is imprinted in words on the document that stated clearly of the answer to his question. He eyed it as if it was something totally out of this world, something foreign.
Hiashi slipped through the work he was now working on, he nodded his head at Ko's direction. He was amused nonetheless, by the reaction Ko gave towards the news.
"Yes. It was a deed agreed upon Hinata's marital status- to the Uchiha clan, it includes in one of Hinata's duties as the heiress of the clan. But as others had thought the deed was now null and void, due to Uchiha clan's massacre. Yet everyone overlooked the fact that that boy Sasuke, and his brother Itachi remained of the Uchiha head family."
Ko widened his eyes to it, how could he forget something this important? He wasn't at service to Hinata by that time but, he knew an agreement was made between Konoha's two greatest rival clans. That they had come to an understanding and at that point an alliance was formed through this single deed. He was about 17 back then when it happened, and Hinata was merely a 3 year old girl.
"I… I see…" Ko muttered quietly.
"I was hesitating to approve of her as the heiress due to her lack of competence as a ninja, I favoured Hanabi for a reason. It could also be of that, Hinata could be saved from her duties as the heiress and she could live freely without having to abide this deed. Yet I knew that boy was aware of this the whole time, and now, after all these years… she had to go on forfeiting her life for her friends only to be lost and get caught in his hands… Hinata is where she really belongs now Ko. Even if I wanted to, I can't interfere with this." Hiashi finished.
Coming to his senses after learning the truth behind Hiashi's actions Ko lowered his head down in a bow, "Forgive my impertinence for uttering those words against you Hiashi-sama… I am ready to face the consequences for behaving in such manner; I shall gladly accept the punishment even if it is a death penalty. So be it…"
It took Hiashi by surprise but he wore an amused expression and said with a slight smirk tugging at his lips, "Lift your head Ko, you are a honourable Shinobi, and have become an admirable young man, I am proud that I had raised you. A man as you is no one any lower than me."
Ko smiled and he was already at his feet, he bowed deeply showing his gratitude to his master, "Thank you for showing me your greatness Hiashi-sama, I am grateful and proud that I was raised by you…"
Hiashi smiled as a sign of acceptance of his servant's apology, Ko was turning to leave the old man's office, but something was tugging at his heart that he couldn't overlook it, the man turned back towards Hiashi.
"Forgive me Hiashi-sama… but shouldn't we at least… let the Hokage know about this?"
After what it seemed like a long silence, Hiashi uttered the words that kept troubling his mind, "Yes, I am thinking whether to notify the Hokage about it, but it is for the best that the news stays between you and me. Ko, you know once she learns of this matter, Tsunade-sama would definitely send a search party tailing them and that will rouse our enemy's attention, there are ninja and countries that still after our power, if this gets out, Hinata and their little group would be in trouble. Besides, the Uchiha is an S ranked Shinobi, his name may have been erased from the Bingo book, but his eyes are the powers ninja still after. Hyuuga council had known this too. Coming directly from the Uchiha Head family, that boy has every right of claiming Hinata as his own. There is nothing we can do unless to think it was all for the best."
"to-kun is kind… Achoo! Oh! S-Sorry again, I m-must've caught a cold…"
"Nah… your just freezing… a maybe we should go back now, it's pretty late, I could hear about your Naruto-guy later on…" Suigetsu said.
Hinata blushed when Suigetsu remarked 'your Naruto' but a pang of hurt surged through her heart when her consciousness reminded her of the truth, Naruto was never hers wasn't he? Despite that the girl simply nodded solemnly but she was reluctant to move away from the waterfall, Suigetsu eyed the Hyuuga and said, "what? Just tell me Hinata"
"U-um… c-could we stay for a bit longer Suigetsu-kun? I… I don't think I want to go anywhere," the Hyuuga paused as a though crossed her mind, 'besides that... I am not prepared to have a rest nor to meet that person, just yet...' she mused.
"Can't we stay just a bit longer?" Hinata asked pouting like a little girl at her mother.
'B-Bump!'
Suigetsu gulped down the hard lump forming at his throat, his cheek flared red as he averted his eyes unable to look at her innocent marble white eyes.
"A… fine, we'll just stay here for a bit, after that we should go, okay?" Hinata smiled brilliantly at the Hozuki once he had agreed to her.
Hinata sneezed as she continued to speak about the person she admired to the Hozuki that made him concerned for her health, since she refused to leave to the cottage; he opted to keep her warmed up. Truth to be told- the man wasn't slightly interested about the Uzumaki or his personality. He immediately knew that Hinata was in fact is in love with that guy, any fool knows that, and Suigetsu was no fool, her feelings were so obvious as if it was written on her forehead and face. Yet there was one fact that he felt relieved knowing about the Hyuuga, that she herself was not aware about.
'Thank god… the guy she's in love with doesn't know that she's still alive and what is more favourable is that she isn't romantically attracted to Sasuke… maybe… I still have a little chance…' the purple eyed man smirked deviously as he thought about it.
Suigetsu scrambled to his feet, he walked toward the woman intending to sit beside the Hyuuga so that he could provide enough warmth for her and even he himself wasn't getting acquainted with the chilling temperature. But suddenly, the man jerked from his seat before he could even land his butt on the grass next to her, a powerful stroke of eye blinding light was shot at his butt from an unknown source, far away from the waterfall front, where they were sitting.
"HOLY ****! WHAT THE HELL!"
Suigetsu yelled in colourful language as he was reduced to his water form. The man was immediately liquefied just by a little graze he received from the powerful technique. Hinata on the other hand, was petrified seeing Suigetsu turning into water right before her eyes. She hurried to the already dissolved man's side.
"Su-Suigetsu-kun! Are you okay?" the woman yelled after the Hozuki unaware of the presence of the attacker.
Hinata who was crouching down to the water in front of the waterfall pool, was worried for the Hozuki as the said man emerged from the water surface, he was only be able to form his head, his body was still dispersed by the lightning chakra, with just a little contact he immediately recognized whose chakra it was. By pure reflex, Hinata dodged the electrified chakra infused blade that was directed towards her, she deflected the blade without her Byakugan with just a Jyuuken strike before it touches the water. She did so because she knew immediately that it would harm Suigetsu. The girl hopped from her spot beside Suigetsu she landed on top of the large boulder beside the fall. Activating her Byakugan, veins popped to the sides of her temple as her eyes widened when her gaze fell on the attacker.
The woman could only whisper his name bitterly, a little stutter escaped her lips as she continued to whisper his name that felt like poison on her tongue. Life-threatening, dangerous, bitter a man who resembles poison in many ways. There he was eyeing straight at her with much malice reeling within his coal black orbs.
.
..
...
"U… Uchiha-san…"
To be continued...
A/N: Hi! How was the chapter? I hope you'd tell me how you think about it! Reviews haha! This chapter is slightly longer than I intended it to be, but i guess I've included everything that i feel is necessary... I hope you liked it, don't mind the length ufufu!
Disclaimer: Naruto is not my property, duh.. if he was mine i wouldn't be here.. haha!
Please refer to my profile for further information of the story. Till then, signing off- APSH :)
