Chapter 16: The crossroad of fear.

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Day 12 of 30 before the third exam.

-Says... Tifa... I've been meant to ask a few time, but it was never a good time for, slowly started the blonde.

Ino was following Tifa and Tenten in the hospital hall. Both girl were going to visit Lee while Syng was with Kiba visiting Hinata.

-Ino? Have you followed us? How do you do? Answered back Tenten.

-What was that you wanted to ask? Said Tifa.

-Well... You know... that silent girl on your team.

-You mean Misty, right? Said Tenten in Tifa's place.

-Yeah... how does her special jutsu work exactly? You know, that genjutsu?

-You mean the crossroad, right? Asked a male voice behind the blonde.

Syng, Kiba and Sakura were there. Sakura glared at Tifa since she had come to see Lee, too.

-Yeah! That thing! How does it work?

Since Sakura and Tifa were fighting by glaring at each other, Syng took on the responsibility to explain everything to everyone...

-Well... It's a genjutsu.

Everyone waited a while...

-Yeah, we know this, said Kiba after a while.

-What do you want to know then?

Everyone fell down of shame. Syng laughed a while, but Tifa spoke the rest.

-She analyse the heart of her opponents to find his four greatest fears (4 is a bad luck number in orient). She then create an illusionary world where the victim is put in the center of a crossroad...

-Why she's sitting on a dead tree, symbol of withered life, and then make her victim chose one of the road, each one leading to a world made from his greatest fears... where the poor person must suffer of his fears as long as Misty want it. Since fears are easily found and expressed in one's mind, she doesn't use a lot of chakra during this jutsu, so she can hold a long time before releasing her victim, finished Syng.

-So we can know what are our greatest fears? Said Tenten, afraid.

-Isn't that cool! Smiled Ino.

-Why do find this "cool"? Ask Kiba.

-By knowing your fears, you can train to be stronger against them, said another voice behind the boys.

Neji was walking to them with his usual serious face.

-Kinda, grinned Syng.

-You've trained against Misty, right? What were your fears? Asked Tenten.

-Its not careful to say such things... Looked away Tifa.

-Bugs!! Shouted Syng. And milk!!

Tifa rushed to the boy to hit him, knocking him to the ground.

-MILK IS EVIL!

Everyone sighed around them.

-I wanna know my fears! Smiled Ino.

The others were quite ok with the idea. They spoke between themselves on how they would react to each of their fears, only Neji was taking this seriously... Tifa helped Syng to get back on his feet, and both looked at the small group.

-They know nothing of the crossroad, right? Said Syng.

-You... she did it only once on you... right?

Syng didn't answer.

-She... couldn't do it anymore for a while after... right?

Syng turned away and start walking in the opposite direction.

-Syng... whispered Tifa.

Ino jumped behind Tifa with a smile.

-Are you coming? We're going to see Lee and we'll go search for Misty! Kiba said she was with Shino, training in the forest!

-Right...

Syng walked in the hospital. He was kinda lost, but soon realised where he was and knock on the same door he had saw a few minutes ago.

-You can come, said a timid voice inside.

He entered the white room where Hinata was lying on a bed. She smiled and blushed when she saw Syng entering, again.

-Hiya...

-S-Syng-kun! She blushed even more.

-Hinata... (he sat on the chair near her bed) what's... your greatest fear?

She was startled by the question and looked at the boy. After a while, she smiled.

-To see someone I love dying, she simply answered back.

-But... you became a ninja... you must be ready to see people dying, no?

-I became a ninja to prevent violence and fighting. I don't want anyone to die...

-You're... more afraid of other dying... rather than dying yourself?

-Without a doubt, she smiled.

She was unusually certain of herself and smiling. It was... comforting...

Somewhere near the hospital, in the forest of Konoha...

A boy was being knocked on the ground by someone. He couldn't even move before she was on him, carefully putting her dagger at the boy's neck.

-Impressive, he said behind his glasses.

-Your bugs can't do all the job. You'll easily put Tifa down with them... but others could easily crush you...

-Don't you believe your friend could win? Asked Shino.

-Fears surpass everything, Shino, she answered.

They both got up when they heard a sound nearby... A pack of genins came out the bushes all smiling or looking at Misty.

-Hope we didn't came at the wrong moment, smiled Ino.

Shino and Misty looked at each other. Well, they WERE on each other a while ago, but that was training!!

-Anyway! Misty, right? (The kunoichi nodded) We'd all like to test your crossroad... on us! Explained Ino.

-...what? She answered, surprised. Why would you want that?

-Like Neji said, if we know our fears, then we'll be stronger!! She explained.

Misty and Shino looked at the pack. Ino, Tenten, Kiba, Neji, Shikamaru, Sakura, Chouji and Tifa...

-Tifa? Asked Misty. Haven't you got enough milk?

-MILK IS EVIL! I'm not here for this... I followed them because I wanted to see theirs fears... I'm not in any way implied in this...

-So you're all serious? Asked Misty one last time. Wasn't Syng with you, Kiba?

-Hun? Wondered the dog boy.

Akamaru barked.

-Oh, that's right... He left after Tifa punched him.

Tifa looked on the ground and Misty soon mimicked her.

-Me first, me first!! Shouted Ino.

Misty still looking at the ground lifted her eyes, glaring at Ino.

-You really want to suffer at your fears!? You must really be idiot... answered back Misty. You won't be any stronger.

-I haven't ask for advice, only for your jutsu! Said Ino full of herself.

-Fine, suffer then! Glared Misty.

-Nani?

She felt nothing for a second... her body was heavy and she had a hard time breathing. Soon, the blonde opened her eyes... A desolated wasteland was around her. No vegetation, only hard and withered soil... she looked at the ground, she WAS standing in the center of a crossroad... and... at one of the corner, in a dead tree, Misty was playing with her daggers.

-You have what you've asked for. Deeply look in each of the road to find your fears... but you'll get what you asked for... Explained Misty, smiling in an evil way.

-Nani?

-You'll have to CHOOSE one of the road... so I'll torture you as much as I want...

For the others, it looked like a second ago that both girls had stopped talking, but then Misty stopped glaring at Ino and crossed her arms with a smile. Everyone looked at Ino who hadn't move.

-Ino? Asked Sakura, shaking the shoulder of the blonde.

Ino suddenly woke up, looking around her. When Sakura came to ask her what happened, the blonde ran in the opposite direction, screaming as hard as she could. Soon, she was gone.

-Misty, you're evil, smiled Tifa.

-You have a bug on you, answered back Misty.

Tifa started crying, cursing Misty while running out of sight like Ino did. After a good laugh, Neji (who hadn't laugh at all) stood in front of Misty in defiance.

-You be ready and serious, Hyuuga boy...

Konoha Hospital.

-Thanks Hinata, said Syng, now his heart at rest.

-My pleasure... for the first time, I feel like I've been useful, she smiled.

-You'll be useful for someone dear to you... just look forward that day, Hinata.