White Dog Night

by Nate Grey

Kiba gives his life to save Hinata, and she and Akamaru must unite to save each other. But with the biggest threat to their lives being her own clan, the only safe place for a shy girl and her little white dog may be outside Konoha's gates...

6. Sink or Swim

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, I'm not getting paid.

Notes: This is the chapter I've been dreading, not only for the surprises, but for the action scenes as well. Here's hoping no one walks away too disappointed.

Sink or Swim

Part 6 of White Dog Night

A Naruto Fanfic by

Nate Grey (XMAN0123-at-aol-dot-com)

"Good boy! Who's my big, fluffy puppy, huh? Ooh, that's a good boy!"

Hinata awoke on the floor of Temari's bedroom to what had quickly become a familiar, admittedly adorable sight.

Temari was giving Akamaru a vigorous belly rub, and from the way the huge dog's tongue was hanging out, he loved every second of it. This no doubt meant that they had just come back from a walk in Gaara's courtyard. Hinata still thought it a little odd that the Sand jounin and Akamaru had bonded so fast. He'd never taken to anyone so quickly, save Hinata herself. That, more than anything else, was what finally convinced Hinata that Temari could be trusted.

These past few months in Suna had passed slowly, but weren't nearly as agonizing as Hinata had feared they might be. It was kind of nice, being around a family that didn't act quite so much like her former one. She actually looked forward to Temari and Kankurou's frequent squabbles. And while Hinata still wasn't comfortable around Gaara, she could at least stand to be in his presence without feeling like he was going to crush her if she moved more than an inch.

"Hey, sleepyhead. You getting up today or what?"

Hinata blinked, realizing Temari was looking at her expectantly. "Oh. I was just thinking."

"Uh huh," Temari remarked, a knowing look in her eyes. "While you're doing that, mind if I ask you something?"

Seeing no reason to disagree, Hinata nodded. "Go ahead."

"I notice you've been hanging onto my little present every morning. Any particular reason for that?"

A blush crept over Hinata's face as she looked down to find Temari's gift clutched tightly in her left hand. "Um... just keeping my options in mind, I guess."

"Well, remember it's a last resort," Temari said at once, her voice sounding much more serious. "Naruto would never forgive me if there was any chance you could go back and didn't take it."

Hinata nodded, giving the Sand headband another long look before tucking it under her blanket. "You really think Naruto-kun would be that angry?"

"I know he would be," Temari replied. "Because he wouldn't be able to do anything about it until he became Hokage, and that's probably going to take a good, long while. I can't imagine waiting ten years to be reunited with someone I cared about, much less more than that." She gave Akamaru a few final pats before standing up and turning back to Hinata. "You already missed breakfast, but I could probably sneak you an early lunch, if you want."

"Thank you," Hinata said, smiling warmly.

Temari nodded before leaving the room, shutting the door behind her with a faint click.

A sigh escaped Hinata's lips as she dug out the Sand headband again, staring at it for a few moments. "What do you think, Akamaru?" she asked. "Could we really make this place our home?"

Unfortunately, her canine companion didn't have an answer to that (but neither did Hinata, so she could hardly blame him), but, loyal to the end, he got up, lumbered over, and laid down beside her, nudging her gently with his head.

"I hope we figure it out soon," she sighed, curling up against his side. "I'm starting to get homesick... but I don't know for where." Hinata closed her eyes and buried her face in his fur. "Tell me what to do, Kiba-kun," she pleaded in a small voice, even though she knew there would be no answer. On this subject, Kiba's spirit had been mysteriously silent, as if he expected Hinata to decide for herself.

Akamaru could only whine sympathetically, as he could feel the confusion of his mistress washing over him yet again. He hadn't liked this place all that much to start with, either. The people smelled different, it was a bit warmer than he would've preferred (though not unbearably so), and the redhead gave him the creeps.

Still, the food was new and interesting, as were many of the smells, and above all, Temari was here. Hinata had taught him not to jump up and lick people's faces, but sometimes the very sight of Temari tempted him to forget that lesson. Akamaru wasn't even sure what he liked about her, he just knew that he liked it a lot. Even better, Temari liked him back. She hadn't even really seemed to mind, the one time he'd forgotten himself and licked her face while she was eating. At least, she hadn't run out of the room spitting like the last time he'd done that to someone.

Preferences aside, Akamaru figured that as long as Temari was here, this place felt relatively safe. And that was enough for now.

0000000

Neji couldn't help but stare somewhat uncomfortably at the sight before him.

Hanabi and Shino were sitting side by side in the sand, talking rather casually about the weather.

Well, that wasn't quite right. Hanabi had asked Shino if wearing his hood in the heat bothered him at all, and from that had sprung an entire conversation that Neji couldn't really follow, as he couldn't understand why or how Hanabi managed to calmly talk to the strangest people.

But then, maybe that was part of why she would be the Hyuuga clan head, instead of him. And Neji didn't resent her at all for this. He had long since accepted that he would never be clan head, and knowing the way most Hyuuga were, he had absolutely no desire to be anymore. That Hanabi had remained so devoted to the idea was admirable in his eyes, but he would never envy her position again. He was content enough with his and Hanabi's individual accomplishments.

He was pulled rather suddenly from his thoughts when he heard Shino say something about blood.

"It's old... but there is a certain power in it. And it's... familiar."

"There is no need for concern," Hanabi said, looking for all the world as if she were talking about something as common as kunai. "That is only an additional line of defense installed in the last few years. It won't be a problem for us."

Neji stared at her in surprise. "You've been to Suna before?"

She shook her head. "I've only seen it from a distance. However, as a show of good faith, the Kazekage submitted a report on what went into the barrier's construction."

"And blood was one of the components?" Neji asked.

Hanabi frowned at the tone in his voice. "It is hardly our place to question how the Kazekage sees fit to defend his home, so long as he still permits Leaf-nin to come and go freely. The number of attacks on Suna have dramatically decreased since the barrier went up."

She seemed so certain that the barrier wouldn't be a problem for them that Neji didn't question her further. Shino said nothing at all, but it was nearly impossible to tell what he was thinking at any time.

When they finally reached the massive sand dune a few minutes later, Hanabi started walking right up it without even pausing. That is, until the sand in front of her began to shift, rising up to form a humanoid shape in mere seconds.

"State your business here," the sand clone of Gaara ordered. His unfeeling gaze shifted briefly to Neji and Shino, then back to Hanabi. "Quickly."

Hanabi bowed politely, something Neji could barely even recall her doing as a much younger girl. "Greetings, Kazekage-sama. We have come seeking an audience with you."

"Concerning what?" Gaara asked bluntly.

"We are aware that Temari-san has made some new friends," Hanabi replied quietly.

For several moments, the sand clone merely stared at her. Finally, it said, "Proceed," and sank back into the sand without another word.

"Perhaps he's become more sociable," Shino suggested.

Neji gave him a long look, but couldn't decide if Shino were making a joke or a simple observation. "It is odd that he gave us permission to go on," he agreed finally.

"He would arouse suspicion if he had not." Hanabi stared cautiously at the sand dune as she took one step forward, and then began walking at a fairly rapid pace.

For a moment, Neji considered peering into the sand dune with the Byakugan. Then he remembered what Gaara was capable of, and decided he probably didn't want to know. It was enough that they had been granted passage into Suna with no trouble, which was more than he'd been expecting.

They hadn't gone far when Neji noticed Shino was gradually falling behind, though this was not due to the heat finally getting the better of him. It seemed more like Shino was purposely taking his time as he walked, but he continued to stare straight ahead. Neji didn't want to lose sight of Hanabi, but her he trusted completely. Shino clearly had his own agenda, and there was a fairly good chance it would clash with their own at some point.

"Something wrong, Shino?" Neji asked warily.

"Just introducing myself to the locals," Shino replied mysteriously, even as something large and black vanished up his sleeve.

0000000

Hinata was in the middle of her lunch when Akamaru began to act strangely. First, he began pacing the room, whining softly and urging Hinata to finish her meal. When she was done, he practically shoved her toward the door, trying to get her out of the room.

"Akamaru, what are you doing?" Hinata asked as he bumped her hard again. "You know we can't just leave the room anytime we want! Temari has to-"

It was then that Akamaru stiffened and raced to the window, whining a bit louder now.

Growing more curious, Hinata approached the window and placed her hand on Akamaru's neck. "Show me where to look, Akamaru. Tell me what you sense." She closed her eyes and lowered her head, trusting Akamaru's nose to guide her.

Instantly, she received an image of the gates of Suna. The view honed in on one person in particular as he passed through the gates. Suddenly, he paused, and his head snapped up, as if sensing he was being watched.

And then Hinata knew for certain that he knew, because he used the Byakugan to look right back at her.

The vision faded at once, and Hinata felt her knees growing weak. She had always thought Akamaru's side of the exchange a blessing, since he was rarely blinded by exceptionally bright colors. This time, however, his black and white vision had made that person's large, pale Hyuuga eyes seem even brighter.

"Neji," Hinata whispered, slowly backing away from the window. "Akamaru, we have to get out of-"

"Not another step, Hinata," said a soft voice in her ear.

Hinata froze as she felt the blade of a kunai pressing into her neck. Her eyes widened as Akamaru bared his fangs and reared up to defend her. But with a mere gesture from her captor, Akamaru toppled over backwards, completely immobilized.

"So long I have waited for this day. You cannot even begin to imagine what I am feeling, now that I finally have you."

The more the voice spoke, the more Hinata was certain she'd heard it before.

"Turn and face me, Hinata. I have more than earned that right."

Only when the kunai was moved a few inches from her throat did Hinata dare to turn around. Her heart skipped a beat as she came face to face with the mask of a Leaf hunter-nin. What frightened her most was the fact that someone had gone to the trouble of carving overly large eyes into the mask. Combined with the pale white color of the mask, the overall effect was that Hinata found herself staring into a pair of lifeless Hyuuga eyes.

She had never been more terrified in her life.

And then, something strange washed over her. A sense of fulfillment, as if she'd just completed a particularly long and grueling mission. Hinata knew there were only two people alive who could possibly make her feel that way after so long, and she'd just seen the other.

"Hanabi-chan?" she breathed softly, slowly reaching up to remove the mask. "Is it really you?"

The hunter-nin made no move to stop her (though the kunai remained fairly close to her neck all the while), and Hinata felt her eyes growing damp as she revealed the impassive face of her younger sister. And despite the fact that Hanabi had come here, from all indications, to take her life, Hinata was truly happy, for the first time in years.

"Hanabi-chan," she whispered again, gently cupping her sister's face. "I... I'm so glad... I got to see you one more time..."

Hanabi did not move in the slightest, and even looked as if she wasn't breathing. The kunai was still poised mere inches from Hinata's throat, but she was hardly aware of it anymore.

They probably would have stayed like that all day, but Hinata felt a certain need to grant her sister further affection, and leaned forward to embrace her. Hanabi gave no indication that this was not allowed, and just as Hinata's arms began to slide around her, the door slammed open.

Hinata looked up to see Temari staring at them in horror, and she knew at once what the Sand jounin was seeing, and more precisely, what she wasn't.

All Temari would see was the kunai at Hinata's throat, the discarded hunter-nin mask, and those would be more than enough to make a rash judgment.

"NO!" Temari yelled as she sprang into the room, swinging her fan like a club and aiming unerringly for Hanabi's head.

All things considered, Hinata wasn't sure if she was relieved or even more frightened when Hanabi blocked the potentially fatal blow simply by raising her forearm at the last possible moment.

"You have interfered more than enough as it is, Temari-san," Hanabi said coolly, sparing the Sand-nin a dark look. "While I thank you for keeping Hinata alive this long, your services are no longer required. Do not force me to dispatch you... permanently."

Temari's reply to this was to open her fan, and Hanabi was forced to leap out of the way to avoid being torn to shreds by the vicious gale that rushed past her.

Hinata nearly cried out for them to stop, but then Temari was between her and Hanabi, ready to unleash another attack.

"I don't care who you think you are, or why you think you're here," Temari snarled. "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is going to touch Hinata!"

Hanabi glared at her. "I have you given you my only warning." She began to reach into her black robes, only to be interrupted again as yet another person entered the room.

"Is there really a need for that, Hanabi-san?"

Hinata's eyes widened in shock as she turned to face the source of that familiar voice. "Shino-kun!"

The Aburame heir turned his head in her direction. "So there you are, Hinata." Displaying a calmness that completely undermined the tension of the situation, he crossed the room, nodding briefly to Temari as he passed her, and stopped beside Hinata. "I've been meaning to give this to you, to replace the last one."

Hinata watched with some amusement as a large, black beetle emerged from Shino's sleeve. It looked almost exactly like the one he'd given her years ago, and as it marched onto her offered arm, she wondered if the two were related. "Thank you, Shino-kun. I've missed you so-"

"What the hell is all this?" Kankurou shouted as he burst into the room. His eyes landed on Temari's open fan, and Hinata began to wonder if the Sand Siblings had always been this quick to judge, although since they were doing it largely to defend her, she couldn't really be upset with them.

But before Kankurou could bring out one of his puppets, they were interrupted yet again, this time by something huge crashing through the ceiling. Hinata ended up pressed against the wall between Temari and Shino. As the dust settled, she could just barely make out something orange and black pulsing slightly, almost as if it were breathing.

"I take it back," coughed yet another familiar voice from Hinata's past. "It's women AND toads that are troublesome."

Temari had an unreadable look on her face as she raised her fan and directed the dust out of the room, by way of the newly-created sunroof.

The first thing Hinata recognized was the pink hair of Haruno Sakura (even while she was busy shaking sand out of it). Then there was the scowling, eternally bored face of Nara Shikamaru. And finally, perched atop the head of a humongous toad, grinning almost maniacally, was Uzumaki Naruto.

"Alright! Anybody who even looks at Hinata wrong has to deal with me, the next Hokage!" Naruto yelled as he leapt to the ground, glaring at everyone in front of him.

"You IDIOT!" Kankurou shouted. "You just nearly crushed her, not to mention the rest of us!"

Naruto smirked at him. "I wasn't worried about that. Since you obviously forgot, there are some people around here that I trust to keep my friends safe no matter what. Right, neechan?"

"You owe me a new ceiling," Temari muttered, though she was smiling, too.

"You could at least clean up after yourself, Naruto," Sakura pointed out firmly, grabbing his ear.

"Aww, Sakura-chan...!" Naruto grumbled, but the toad quickly vanished with a puff of smoke.

"Okay, refresh my memory," Shikamaru sighed. "Exactly who are we fighting here?"

Naruto opened his mouth, but that was when he finally noticed that Kankurou and Hanabi were technically the only ones on the "opposing" side of the room. "Eh, Kankurou, you might want to come over here, so we don't attack you by mistake."

"Oh, again, you mean?" he grunted sarcastically. "I think I might just take my chances with mini-Hinata here."

Hanabi's eyes narrowed, and she had just taken a step towards Kankurou when Neji entered the room (what was left of it, anyway). He stopped, looked around quickly, and sighed.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised at all."

"Yeah, well, you're gonna be if you take one more step, and not in a good way!" Naruto threatened.

Neji frowned. "Uzumaki, we have warned you. This is Hyuuga Clan business."

"Last time I checked, Hinata wasn't part of your stuffy old clan. In fact, I haven't heard anyone call her Hyuuga Hinata since she left. So as far as I'm concerned, she's my business, not yours!"

"Nothing is going to keep us from settling this matter ourselves," Neji stated.

"Just us and all of Suna," Temari added, grinning as Neji bristled and glared at her.

Unfortunately, Hanabi did not look anywhere near as impressed, as she demonstrated by reaching into her robes yet again. This time, she got as far as drawing out what appeared to be the handle of a sword before Shikamaru's shadow shot across the floor, even as Neji rushed him, only to be blocked by Naruto.

In all the commotion, only Hinata noticed Shino moving to the doorway and opening his palm, which was slowly, methodically being covered in tiny bites by one of his insects. It was only when these marks began to well up with blood that Hinata knew what he was doing.

Shino, in return, gave Hinata a rather pointed look before almost casually placing his hand against the doorframe.

And so Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji were the only ones who thought to duck when a gigantic scarab suddenly appeared overhead, effectively pinning everyone else in the room against the walls with its powerful legs.

"I think everyone but Hinata, Temari, and Hanabi should leave the room," Shino suggested calmly. "That way, everyone's interests are represented, and protected."

After a few moments, this idea was unanimously agreed upon (due largely to the fact that no one was released until they had). They had just started to slowly file out of the room when Gaara appeared in the doorway.

No one breathed as Gaara's cold gaze swept across the room, before landing squarely on Naruto. "You," he said simply, "are going to fix Temari's ceiling before you leave."

Naruto laughed nervously and moved a little closer to Temari. "Um, sure thing, Gaara!"

Gaara turned to consider everyone else in the room. "I suggest you all do as Aburame-san suggested. At present, he is the only one here I have no quarrel with. And if any more of my home is destroyed, there will be dire consequences."

The others quickly slipped out of the room, with Gaara closing the door behind him as he followed.

Hinata glanced between Temari and Hanabi nervously, since neither of them looked all that pleased with the arrangement. Finally, she decided to break the ice with what would hopefully be an act of good faith.

"Hanabi-chan," Hinata murmured hesitantly, drawing her sister's attention. "Could you please...? Akamaru was only defending me..."

Hanabi made a slight motion with her hand, and Akamaru instantly rolled to his feet, padding over to Hinata and Temari, and staring warily at the Hyuuga heiress.

"Exactly how do you plan to settle things with Hinata?" Temari asked.

"That is none of your business," Hanabi replied at once.

Temari glared at her. "It is if you intend to kill her!" she shouted.

"Is... that what you want, Hanabi-chan?" Hinata asked softly. "If it is... I won't... I won't try to stop you-"

"WHAT!" Temari cried, whirling on her. "Hinata, what are you saying?"

"It is Hanabi's duty as the Hyuuga heir," Hinata said slowly, "to correct my mistakes as she sees fit. If she requires my life, I cannot oppose her wishes."

Temari grabbed Hinata's shoulders roughly. "How many times do you have to hear it? You're not Hyuuga anymore! You don't have to do anything they say!"

"I know," Hinata answered. "But I must do as Hanabi-chan wishes, because... I still love her, whether she feels the same or not. I have caused her enough anguish."

"How come you don't feel that way about Naruto?" Temari demanded angrily. "He's done more for you than anyone, and he wants you to live, if not for yourself, then at least as a favor to him!"

Hinata closed her eyes. "I am sorry, Temari. But you must understand. You would turn away from Naruto-kun if your brother asked it of you, wouldn't you? It is the same for me. Hanabi-chan is the most important person in my life."

"But-"

"I have heard enough," Hanabi interrupted. "Out of respect for the Kazekage and his home, I will take no action for now. But this matter is far from over." With that, Hanabi turned and walked swiftly out of the room.

"You're wrong, you know," Temari whispered, her voice quivering with anger. "I would do anything for Gaara... but he'd never ask me to throw my life away for nothing. Can you say the same about your sister?"

"It would not be for nothing," Hinata disagreed. "It would be for the greater good of the Hyuuga Clan."

"What about Akamaru? What's he supposed to do if you die?"

"He knows," Hinata said simply, patting the dog's neck.

"I made a promise to myself that I'd keep you safe," Temari muttered, turning her back on Hinata. "So I think you should leave my room before I do something I might regret later."

Hinata lowered her head and quietly led Akamaru into the hallway. She hadn't gotten far when two strong arms locked around her waist.

"That was really mean of you, to send a clone to kiss me and just vanish like that," Naruto murmured into her hair. "Do you know how long I wondered how much more amazing a real kiss from you must be like?"

Her face glowing red, Hinata slowly turned around in his arms. "I-I'm sorry, Naruto-kun," she apologized softly. "But I thought you might try to stop me."

"Well, yeah! Nobody likes to see a good friend go. Especially not one that kisses like that!"

"Naruto-kun, you're embarrassing me!" Hinata gushed, hiding her face against his chest.

Naruto gently lifted her head. "Listen, Hinata. If you need help with anything, you have to tell me. Sakura-chan, Shikamaru, Temari, Shino, even Gaara... we're all willing to help you, okay? Don't feel like you have to run off again... or at least don't feel like you have to do it alone. Promise me you won't forget that."

"I won't," Hinata swore, staring up into his deep blue eyes. In that moment, it was easy to see the boy she'd fallen in love with years ago. Really, he hadn't changed at all, aside from being taller and more solidly built. She half-expected him to say something about finding a ramen stand any minute now.

Before Naruto could say anything, however, Akamaru began to growl, apparently thinking the blonde had been holding onto Hinata for too long.

Almost absently, Naruto reached out and petted Akamaru's head roughly, with enough force to hurt a smaller animal. And, strangely enough, Akamaru instantly fell silent, his tail wagging contentedly.

Naruto clearly didn't think this was so amazing, as he quickly moved on. "C'mon, Hinata. I'll show you where Kankurou stashes the junk food." Without waiting for a reply, he practically dragged her down the hall, followed closely by Akamaru.

0000000

Much to Hinata's surprise, Gaara provided rooms for all of his guests. At someone's insistence, though she wasn't sure whose, Hinata and Sakura were paired off to a room, while Naruto and Shikamaru got one next door. Repairs on Temari's room weren't to begin until the following morning, so she ended up with Kankurou (since their only other options were to share with Hanabi, Neji, or Shino, neither of them complained). Neji and Hanabi took another room, and Shino turned down a room entirely, volunteering to assist the guards with patrol duty instead. Hinata suspected he really wanted to familiarize himself with Suna's insects for future reference.

Sakura turned out to be a lot friendlier than Hinata remembered. The pink-haired kunoichi confirmed all of the things Temari had told her about Konoha, and even more that she hadn't. All Hinata had really wanted to know was how Hanabi and Neji had been getting along without her. She was surprised, and a bit jealous, to learn their relationship had become one she'd always hoped to have with Neji. Still, it was nice to know they'd had each other to rely on.

It was also through Sakura that Hinata learned of Hyuuga Hiashi's death, which had occurred the day before Naruto's team set out for Suna. And while Hinata knew this news should have some profound impact on her, it did not. She had stopped thinking of him as her father (at his own insistence, no less) long ago, and she imagined this was also the case for Hanabi. At least, Hanabi hadn't brought it up, nor had she seemed distraught in the least. But then, Hanabi had never been one to display such things.

Just when they were about to go to bed, Sakura said something that would leave Hinata unable to sleep that night.

"You know, he'd never admit it to you, but Naruto would be really happy if you could come back with us. You could even live with me, if you needed a place to stay."

"You would do that... for me?" Hinata asked quietly.

Sakura sighed. "Well, I'd be doing it for Naruto, because I'd hate to see him lose anyone this important to him. Neither of us wants to go through that again. So I promised him I'd do everything I could to help you come home. If you still consider Konoha your home, anyway."

Hinata bit her lip nervously. "Do you really think I could go back?"

"I think we've got a good shot. Maybe we could get Gaara to threaten to make you a Sand-nin if Konoha won't take you back. It would just be for show, but no one else needs to know that. He'd probably do it, if Naruto and Temari asked him to. But your sister and Neji might be a problem. I don't suppose you could try talking to them?"

Hinata couldn't imagine Neji being talked into anything. Hanabi, on the other hand, hadn't seemed happy about their reunion, just somewhat satisfied to at least be together in one room again. And she hadn't prevented Hinata from touching her, either. Maybe there was some hope, if only a little.

0000000

Hinata's first priority the next morning was to make up with Temari. Unfortunately, Temari could really hold a grudge under the right circumstances, so about the only thing Hinata could do right away was send Akamaru in an attempt to soften up the Sand jounin beforehand. Temari was happy enough to see him, but her face still darkened every time she saw Hinata.

Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Kankurou were all busy helping with the repairs to Temari's room, so Hinata hoped that assisting them might soften Temari's heart a little. Naruto and Sakura were delighted, Kankurou was mostly indifferent, and Shikamaru just said it was good that she wasn't being troublesome (which Naruto assured her was high praise, coming from him). The work went quickly between the five of them, especially when Naruto summoned a black-striped crimson toad he introduced as Gamakougu, which spat a sticky substance that hardened in a matter of seconds.

After they were done, Naruto put Hinata on the spot by asking if she'd tell them about her adventures up until now. Kankurou had heard most of it before, and left to let Gaara know the room was finished. Shikamaru didn't look all that interested, but when Hinata agreed to share her story, he sat down next to Naruto, and looked for all the world to be daydreaming. However, Hinata could sense that he was taking in every word, though she couldn't imagine why her experience would matter to him.

Even though the story took most of the day to tell, not once did Hinata see Hanabi or Neji. Naruto insisted that he'd felt someone watching them at various points, but that could've just as easily been Shino or Gaara. More than once, Hinata considered Sakura's suggestion to try talking to Hanabi. But she also knew her sister well enough to know that if Hanabi didn't emerge on her own, she was in no mood for talking.

The rest of the week passed in much the same way. Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru took turns telling Hinata of their own adventures. Not surprisingly, Naruto seemed to have more stories than the other two combined, although he had to stop and retell the parts that Sakura knew for a fact he'd exaggerated to impress Hinata. Even Shikamaru seemed to have a gift for knowing when Naruto was lying, and would snort loudly whenever a story got too ridiculous for his tastes.

Hinata didn't really care whether Naruto lied a little (or a lot); she actually enjoyed the company more than she did the stories. It was nice to be around old friends again, and even nicer when Naruto would casually slip an arm around her waist and pull her closer to him. Normally, Hinata would consider that moving too fast, but it was Naruto, after all, and with the very real possibility that her life could end any day now, Hinata found she didn't even mind the rush.

0000000

Naruto and Hinata were returning from walking Akamaru in Gaara's courtyard one morning when Kankurou stepped into their path.

"Gaara wants to see both you right away."

Hinata had been around Kankurou long enough to know that he almost never referred to Gaara as the Kazekage, although the sincerity in his tone when he was handling a matter at Gaara's request was unmistakable.

Instead of saying anything, Naruto just nodded, a grim expression on his face. Although there was no trace of it as he turned to Hinata with a smile. "Let's go see what Gaara wants."

It was a little odd, how Naruto could suddenly shift from one mood to another, but Hinata suspected it was only a front for her benefit, and that he was really just as worried as she was. She trusted Gaara to keep his word, but he was also responsible for Suna's stability. If he had to choose between protecting Hinata and protecting his village, she was almost certain he'd be loyal to his home. And despite what her own past might indicate, she didn't blame him for that at all.

No one spoke as the three made their way to Gaara's office. Usually Naruto wouldn't have stopped talking for any reason, and the thought of him being quiet willingly only made Hinata more nervous. But before she could say anything, she felt the familiar, comforting weight of Naruto's arm around her waist. Hinata subtly squeezed his hand, and was rewarded with a quick grin.

The first thing Hinata noticed upon stepping into Gaara's office was that Neji and Temari were standing side by side near the left wall. This struck her as odd, since there was some obvious friction between them whenever they'd come into contact with each other.

Hanabi had her back to the door, and was standing in front of Gaara's desk. And though Hanabi didn't move from that spot, Hinata could feel her sister's eyes tracking her every move.

"As two parties have expressed an interest in having Hinata released into their custody," Gaara said, "I see only one way to decide this matter. Each party will select a representative to battle on their behalf. Whoever wins will be free to decide Hinata's fate."

Hinata had actually been expecting a day like this would come, and while she hadn't looked forward to it, she believed that she was mentally prepared for such a challenge.

"I'll fight for Hinata," Naruto volunteered almost immediately.

"You will not," Gaara disagreed just as quickly. "Hinata must be willing to fight for her own life, or the challenge is pointless."

Naruto opened his mouth to disagree, but Hinata placed a hand on his shoulder. "I will fight," she said simply.

Gaara nodded. "Then tomorrow, your fate is sealed. Go."

Taking a deep breath, Hinata turned to face Neji. "I am not the same person I once was," she murmured.

Neji stared at her blankly. "You are remembering the last time we fought? It will do you no good, Hinata. Had I been trying to hurt you then, the outcome would've been very different."

"Still, I learned from it."

A thin smile appeared on Neji's face. "As I said, it will do you no good. I am not the one you will face tomorrow."

Hanabi moved between them, pausing to glance at Hinata. "I hope you have changed, Hinata. Because if you have not, then your life already belongs to me. And you will find that, unlike Neji, I am not quite so forgiving."

Hinata stared at younger sister, shock and hurt warring for control of her face. "Hanabi-chan," she whispered. "You really expect me to...? I can't hurt-"

"The next time we see each other, you will be my enemy. If you are unable to see me as the same, then you will lose much more than the battle."

Hinata could only look on in disbelief as Hanabi and Neji left the room. She barely even noticed when Naruto squeezed her shoulder.

"Are you sure you're up to this, Hinata?" he asked.

"I don't know anymore," Hinata said softly.

Naruto sighed heavily. "I know she's your baby sister and everything, but... you know you can't go easy on her, right? Whatever she may have been, she's ANBU now. She could kill you without a thought. And I'd be more worried if she actually did put some thought into it."

Hinata stared at him in horror. "But, Naruto-kun, I can't hurt her again!"

"Are you even sure that you can hurt her now?" Naruto asked skeptically. "I haven't seen either of you fight recently, but I know she's tough. I'll tell you the same thing Kakashi-sensei told me when I first had to fight him. Attack as if you intend to kill, or you won't stand a chance."

Hinata slept soundly only out of necessity that night, though she knew it would do her no good. She couldn't possibly raise a hand against Hanabi. She had once hoped that running away would mean that Hanabi would never have to deal with her again. Now that they had been reunited, Hinata wished their conflict would just disappear, so they could be... whatever they had been before. What good had finding her own strength been, if she was now forced to use it against someone she loved?

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Hinata woke up the following morning to find Hanabi staring at her from Sakura's bed. Oddly, Hinata's first thought was that perhaps Hanabi had been there all night, even though she distinctly recalled going to bed just after Sakura had.

"I give you one last chance to surrender, Hinata," Hanabi announced.

"What would happen if I did?" Hinata asked uncertainly.

"The same thing that will happen eventually, either way, I suspect." Hanabi glanced towards the door. "The Kazekage has agreed with my request that this remain a private matter with as few people involved as is necessary. Naruto-san will act as a witness on your behalf."

"And Neji will be yours," Hinata found herself saying without thinking.

"Yes." Hanabi gave her a long, searching look. "Well?"

"You know I don't want to fight you, Hanabi-chan. You know this will be the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

"Life is rarely about obtaining what we desire, Hinata." A thin smile graced her lips for an instant. "I learned that from watching you."

Hinata wasn't sure how to take that. But when she next looked at Hanabi, her younger sister was standing, and had extended her hand.

"Come. We both know you will not surrender now."

It was a very strange thing, to accept Hanabi's offered hand. They had never really been physically affectionate. At least, Hanabi hadn't. Hinata had very vague memories of briefly touching her sister's arm or hand, and once being allowed to hold her when she'd been just an infant. But very few of those hazy images inspired the sort of connection she felt when she grasped Hanabi's hand.

And then, just as soon as Hanabi had pulled her up, the momentary bond was broken, leaving Hinata feeling rejected and confused as she watched Hanabi withdraw her hand. Perhaps she'd just imagined it, and some of those mildly comforting visions as well.

Hinata thought nothing of getting dressed with Hanabi in the room, not even as she carefully selected the gear and weapons she thought she might need. Any item she picked up, Hanabi would only identify with a glance later on, and so there was no real point in trying to hide anything. Aside from that, based on Naruto's warning the day before, Hinata wasn't all that sure that many things in her usual arsenal would be too effective against Hanabi.

And yet she knew she'd feel dishonest and silly asking Hanabi to extend the same courtesy to her. Even if she was now reasonably sure that Hanabi might seriously consider agreeing, it just felt wrong.

Not a word passed between them as they moved out into the hallway, where Neji, Naruto, and Akamaru were waiting. Neji gave Hinata a fleeting glance, perhaps to simply make sure it was truly her, before falling in step with Hanabi.

"You ready?" Naruto asked quietly, leaning closer to Hinata as they followed. "Just say the word, and I'll take them both on myself, no matter what-"

"I can't let you do that, Naruto-kun," Hinata replied softly. "This is my fight. I have been preparing for it since the moment I left. If I lose, I can only blame myself. If I win, I will know my decision was not a mistake."

"I just want you be alive afterwards."

Hinata paused, and she could clearly see the worry in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Hinata. I was planning on telling you that it didn't matter if you won or lost. And maybe it doesn't. But if they... if she takes you away from me again, I-"

"I do not ever recall belonging to you, Naruto-kun." There was pain in those words, but she managed them with a weak smile.

The look he gave her was one of regret. "Well, I wish you'd said something last night, then."

Hinata's entire face glowed red. "This is hardly the time to be thinking about such things..."

"I can't help it. Temari told me what you said to Hanabi the other day. How am I supposed to feel about that?"

"You should trust that I am doing what I must. Life isn't always about what we want."

Naruto stared at her. "Funny. That's all my life's been about. But I don't think I've ever wanted anything as much as I want you to come out of this okay."

She avoided his eyes. "I cannot promise that, Naruto-kun."

"I fought for you, you know. At the chuunin exam. I wore your symbol, and I beat Neji because of it."

"Sakura told me that."

"So it's only fair that you fight for me, right?" Naruto asked. "But not just for me. Fight for the right to go home again, Hinata. Like I said, I don't think you can kill Hanabi, but you'll have to try to in order to last. If you don't, she'll know. It might just make her mad."

Hinata clearly remembered how hurtful Hanabi could be when she was disappointed. She didn't even want to imagine what her sister would do if she were angry.

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Gaara had offered the use of his private courtyard for the battle. There was nothing there that couldn't be replaced: a few small trees, a dried-up fountain (he hadn't seen the point in wasting the water just to show off his status), and plenty of sand.

Hinata had come here many times in the last few months, and the courtyard had looked so very small to her then. Now, though, it seemed nearly as wide as the desert she had crossed to reach Suna. Temari had been with her in both cases, but today, Hinata could depend only on her own strength, and Akamaru's survival instincts.

"Why must it be this way?" Hinata murmured softly, staring across the sand at her sister. "Is this really what you want, Hanabi-chan? For us to hurt each other?"

There was no trace of inner conflict or hesitation in Hanabi's expression as she closed her eyes and tied her Leaf headband around her forehead. Slowly, she lifted her head and opened her eyes.

Hinata could feel the air changing around her. Every motion in the courtyard seemed to slow down to a crawl, and perhaps that, more than anything else, was what made the sight of Hanabi's long hair rising and spreading into something of a large, black halo around her head so startling.

"I want you to forget, Hinata," Hanabi said in a loud, clear voice. "Forget who we are now, and who we once were. For now, your world only consists of the three of us. We are not Hyuuga or Leaf-nin. We are only two women who have come together to fight for what each believes in her heart to be right. As such, you must come at me with all of your power. I will accept nothing less from you."

Though she could hear the words, Hinata could not bring herself to accept them. She could not forget or ignore that Hanabi was her sister, and even now, she desperately hoped that it would be the same for Hanabi. That hope remained as Hanabi drew a sword from her robes, and still Hinata made no move to prepare herself. Hinata couldn't even bring herself to give Akamaru permission to join her. Until she did so, the dog would stay out of the fight, unless he thought that her life was at risk.

Hanabi held her sword in her right hand with obvious reverence. Hinata could see that this was no standard issue ANBU weapon. The blade had a strange blue tint to it, and was a bit shorter than even the average short sword. It would definitely be a mistake to underestimate it simply because of that, though. No Hyuuga would carry a weapon they didn't have an excellent use for. Hinata had been reminded of that fact the moment she first picked up her bone staff so long ago, back when she thought such things still applied to her somewhat.

But while Hanabi exuded confidence and calm as she raised her sword, Hinata's hands felt heavy and clumsy when she gripped her staff. She was very aware of the fact that Temari had been holding back when they fought, and so that hadn't been an accurate gauge of either woman's skill. There was no real reason to believe that Hanabi would hold back now, not since she was the one forcing the fight in the first place.

The first attack was completely unexpected, largely because Hanabi was holding a sword in the first place. Instead of closing the distance between them, as Hinata had been expecting, Hanabi simply slashed downward. There was no other visible sign of attack, and Hinata was in the midst of activating her Byakugan when the world suddenly exploded all around her.

For several moments, Hinata was only aware of the roaring wind and the sharp sting of sand as it struck her skin hard enough to draw blood. She realized with a start that whatever jutsu this was, it was remarkably similar to the summoning she used with Akamaru. The main difference was that while Hinata's version protected her and offered some visibility, Hanabi's was somewhat painful and obscured all vision with a constantly moving wave of sand.

That was when Hinata first noticed that, for the most part, the sand wave parted just before it reached her, although it was clearly striking the surrounding area much harder. Had she taken a single step in any direction, she would've been swept under the sand. Yet the mere fact that she hadn't been seriously hurt pointed to the idea that Hanabi wasn't trying to kill her... yet.

Sending chakra into her staff, Hinata plunged the sharpened tip into the ground. The winds died down at once, dropping sand all around her. She activated the Byakugan immediately afterwards, but peering through the settling sand did not reveal Hanabi's current location.

A bark from Akamaru was the only warning Hinata had as a thick spear of ice shot up from the sand, slicing through the skin along her left arm before she could move away in time. The sight of her own blood slipping down the stalagmite of ice made Hinata freeze for a few seconds, long enough for a second spear to emerge behind her, tearing through her jacket and some of the skin on her back. She fell to her knees as more ice spears appeared around her, though none of these struck her.

"Is this what I have waited all my life for, Hinata?"

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Hinata looked up in time to feel two hands closing around her ankles, and the next thing she knew, she was buried in the sand up to her chin.

"Is this what you ran away to prove?" Hanabi asked as she stepped into view, no longer holding her sword. "Is this pathetic performance the sum of your abilities?" She knelt down, so Hinata could clearly see the disappointment in her eyes. "Is this how you would keep your promise to me? Where is the strength you promised to gain?"

Hinata closed her eyes and looked away. "I never promised that I would use it against you, Hanabi-chan."

"That is true," Hanabi admitted softly. "And while you may just be hiding this power, I am beginning to doubt that you have it at all."

"I kept my promise," Hinata insisted. "I became strong enough to survive on my own. And I never, never stopped loving you, Hanabi-chan."

Hanabi's face softened slightly. "Your love for me is something I have never questioned, Hinata. You were too silly and soft to feel otherwise, and I see that much has not changed. But your love blinds you to certain truths. However noble your reasons for leaving may have been, when you left, you hurt me, more deeply than I have ever been hurt. And if you truly love me... if you would have me forgive what you have done to my heart... then rise up, and attack me with all that you are." She paused and leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Because as of now, you are not even worth the effort it would take to kill you. And if you force me to dispose of you in this shameful state, then I will curse your name until the end of my days."

In that moment, Hinata was not thinking of her sister. She was thinking of all the people that had helped her along the way, and all that they had sacrificed to ensure her success. Kiba had given his own life so that she could live, and Shino had risked his very status as a ninja to cover her escape. And while she expected no less from them, as her teammates, there were so many others who had no real reason to aid her, other than they simply wanted her to survive. Even Hanabi had admitted to being disgusted with the current situation, and Hinata knew that if she had to die, this was not the way she wanted to be remembered by Naruto, Neji, and especially not Hanabi and Akamaru.

She remembered how brave Kiba had been that day in the Forest of Death, and knew that to give any less effort was a stain on his memory.

She had to fight... for herself, for her sister, for her friends, and for her very life.

The thought had barely formed in her mind when Akamaru crashed through the ice spears, snatching up her staff in his mouth and planting it deep in the sand. The firm grip on Hinata's body was gone in an instant, and she quickly grabbed onto the headband around Akamaru's neck so he could drag her free of the sand trap.

"Are you finally prepared to face me in battle, Hinata?" Hanabi asked calmly.

"No," Hinata replied at once. "I won't fight you, Hanabi-chan. Fortunately, in order to show you the sum of my abilities, I don't have to."

Hinata had no way of knowing that Hanabi had a near-perfect memory when it came to recognizing hand seals, or that Hanabi had first seen the same seals during Naruto and Neji's match at the chuunin exams. And yet, she was not at all surprised when Hanabi quickly backed away before she could complete the necessary seals for the Shadow Clone jutsu.

"You were right about one thing, Hanabi-chan," the four newly created Shadow Clones said in perfect unison as they formed a square-shaped perimeter around Hinata. "I am Hyuuga no more, as I will now prove with my ultimate jutsu: Hall of Inuzuka!"

Hinata made a sweeping motion with her arm, and all four Shadow Clones vanished behind thick columns of white smoke. It was difficult to tell whether she was starting another jutsu, or merely canceling the first. But the answer became clear as the smoke blew away to reveal four snarling dogs, each at least as big as Akamaru.

Hanabi had lived in Konoha long enough to recognize the other dogs of the Inuzuka Clan on sight. What stood before her were near-perfect likenesses, if overall size were ignored. Hinata had obviously seen them all at some point, from the grey-furred Haimaru Triplets to the black, scarred form of Kuromaru. And yet, Hanabi made no move to defend herself, as if she were waiting for something more.

Akamaru moved to stand directly behind Hinata, and his body began to glow a brilliant, angry red, until his fur was crimson.

Hinata took a slow step back, grabbed onto Akamaru's headband with one hand, and used the other to make another sweeping motion. The resulting column of smoke that erupted was much larger, and for good reason. A huge, white wolf's head tore from the smoke, followed by four others.

In the end, Hanabi found herself staring up at an enormous, five-headed wolf. Hinata swayed limply within the headband around its topmost neck, either unconscious or so close that it no longer mattered. She had placed all her faith in Akamaru's ability to win.

"If you would entrust the outcome to your companion, then I must do the same," Hanabi murmured. She shrugged off her robes, drew a kunai from them as they fell, and proceeded to slice through the bandages along the left side of her body. "Come forth and end your hunger."

Something neither liquid, nor gas, nor solid spilled from Hanabi's side, a churning, impossibly inky black mass. It flowed up into the air over her head, gradually taking up more and more space, but not assuming any definite shape.

There was no fear in Hanabi as the great wolf surged forward. She had decided years ago that this battle belonged to her, and had never doubted its outcome. Aside from that, her eyes told her all she needed to know. Virtually all of Hinata's chakra had gone into this jutsu, and Akamaru's reserves were on their last legs as well. It was taking all he had just to keep that form together. He would be able to attack once, maybe twice if he were bold and fast enough.

There was not even a need to search for any weak points. His entire body was extremely vulnerable in this state. Of course, his body was also incredibly powerful now, even missing much of its expected strength. A glancing blow would prove fatal to an unprepared opponent. But Hanabi had no intention of ever allowing Akamaru to get that close to her.

There was a sudden tugging sensation near her ribs, and Hanabi knew the time had come. Forcing all other thoughts from her mind, she concentrated on the image she had seen moments before: that of Kuromaru, a rugged, powerful, wolflike canine who had clearly lived through his share of hardships, no doubt paying far greater costs than just his left ear and right eye.

Had he ever been abandoned as she had? Perhaps not, but it didn't really matter. He would do quite nicely as her chosen vessel.

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For several seconds after she woke up, Hinata could only see white. Then she remembered where she was, and what she'd been doing right before she passed out. Instinctively clutching Akamaru's fur tighter, she drew her face back a few inches and began to take stock of their situation. She was running on empty, and Akamaru would be joining her soon enough. Unless the fight ended in the next few seconds, they would lose for sure.

Although, as a huge shadow fell over her, Hinata was suddenly considering the very real possibility that they might lose either way. A black wolf's head, somehow bigger than Akamaru even in his current state, was looming over her. She was only able to see it for a few seconds before the wolf opened its mouth, bared its sharp, dripping fangs, and then snapped them up faster than Hinata's eyes could follow.

The sensation that followed was almost like drowning, in that Hinata could sense that her body sinking lower and lower into dark mass, and yet she could breathe without any difficulty. She could no longer feel the reassuring warmth of Akamaru's fur, nor could she hear anything that might imply he was in trouble. And even when Hinata felt the brief flare of chakra that signaled the fusion had finally broken apart, she wasn't really worried.

But when the visions started to come, Hinata did begin to worry. Strangely, there were no twisting, flashing colors that might indicate she wasn't getting enough oxygen or anything like that. Everything she saw simply emerged from the enveloping darkness, and then sank back into it seconds later. It was almost as if someone were putting on a slideshow just for her.

She could see Shikamaru and a younger, heavily bandaged boy lying down in a grassy field, staring up at the sky as clouds slowly drifted past. Though the scene was tranquil, free of the usual complications that arose in the life of a ninja (and it was so like Shikamaru to find a way to avoid them), Hinata felt what she thought of as a completely unwarranted jealousy arise in her. She couldn't understand what might be causing it.

Then she saw a boy it took her a minute to recognize as Konohamaru, the Sandaime's grandson. He, Naruto, and Yamanaka Ino were standing behind the bookstore, a magazine with scantily clad women spread out on the ground between them. They were heatedly discussing something, and every few seconds, Konohamaru or Naruto would use a henge to transform themselves into similarly clad women. Ino seemed to be giving them pointers, though more often than not, she seemed disgusted, especially when the women kept ending up a great deal more top-heavy than was healthy (and in some cases, humanly possible). Hinata felt jealousy welling up in her again, although it was tinged with an even stranger sense of embarrassed pleasure when Konohamaru transformed into a woman that looked a great deal like Hanabi. That was what finally convinced her that the feelings weren't hers; they were Hanabi's, and these were things she had seen and felt in her life.

Finally, Hinata saw Hanabi lying on her stomach in a hospital bed, her face twisted in discomfort. A gorgeous blond woman was carefully etching some sort of black seal that looked as if it would take up most of Hanabi's back, under the watchful eye of a large, white-haired man. Morino Ibiki was kneeling by Hanabi's head, quietly speaking to her the whole time. Though she was mostly focused on his face, Hanabi's gaze would occasionally shift to an empty chair just behind him, almost as if she expected someone to be sitting there. Each new time she found it unchanged, Hanabi would grip the bed sheets tightly and close her eyes, fighting back a wave of intense loneliness.

Tears slipped down Hinata's face as she realized that this was her fault. Had she been present in each of those scenes, Hanabi never would have felt the way she had then, or the way she did now. "I'm so sorry, Hanabi-chan," she whispered. "I wanted to be there for you... but I thought you would be better off without me. You were always so much stronger than me, and I knew you would survive on your own. If I'd thought for a second that you might need me..."

Hinata didn't have a chance to complete the thought as her body slammed heavily into the sand, though she barely felt it at all. The darkness rolled away a few seconds later, and she could see Akamaru lying nearby, clearly unconscious. She could only imagine what he might have experienced in there.

Then something was gently turning her head, and Hinata looked up to see Hanabi leaning over her.

"Now that you know my pain," Hanabi said softly in her ear, "I forgive you... oneesan."

"I'm sorry," Hinata whispered. "I'm still weak... still causing you shame..."

"No," Hanabi disagreed as Neji and Naruto appeared behind her. "You are strong, Hinata. My will to have you back was simply greater than your will to win."

Hinata blinked uncertainly. "Have me back? What do you mean?"

Hanabi didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned away and said something to Neji. In response, and to Hinata's shock, he quickly removed his Leaf headband and handed it to Hanabi, exposing his Cursed Seal for everyone present to see. Hanabi turned back and began securing the headband around Hinata's neck.

Chakra exhaustion finally caught up to Hinata, and she began to lose consciousness, but not before she caught her sister's last words.

"Your life belongs to me now, Hinata. And I have no intention of ever letting it go again."

End of Part 6.

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Endnotes:

I assume that the Aburame Clan's pact with insects also covers summoning, and since Shino can control more than one type of insect, I imagine that he could summon different varities, the same way Naruto summons different toads (supposedly they're all children of Gamabunta, but I have to wonder since some of Jiraiya's go unnamed).

Hinata's new jutsu:

White Sight: This jutsu allows Hinata to temporarily "trade" some vision capabilities with Akamaru. For example, when Akamaru smells a powerful opponent, Hinata can grant him temporary use of some Byakugan aspects to discern said opponent's exact location, appearance, etc., and pass the knowledge to her. Since dogs are colorblind, these images would largely be in shades of black and white.

Henge (Transformation): Hall of Inuzuka: The jutsu consists of two different henges. First, Hinata creates four Shadow Clones and turns them into the other Inuzuka dogs with a Henge. Meanwhile, Akamaru supercharges his body with chakra (as he would for the Akanata Comet). Finally, Hinata fuses all five dogs with another Henge (Hinata is left out of the fusion), resulting in a gigantic, white, five-headed wolf. This fusion uses nearly all of both Hinata and Akamaru's chakra (Akamaru can only maintain this form for a short time), making it an all or nothing gamble.

Hanabi's new jutsu:

Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) A high-speed movement technique. It is described as 'appearing with the wind and disappearing like the wind.' Using chakra to activate the body, the user is able to move from one point to another with extreme speeds. This super-fast movement is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. To a normal person, it would seem as if the user has teleported.

Kanashibari no Jutsu (Temporary Paralysis Technique) This technique is used to cause one's opponent to lose the advantage of movement. Freezing them in their tracks, this creates an opening for a more dangerous attack. The ANBU are known especially for this Jutsu.

Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough) The user sends out a powerful explosion of wind, which can easily level almost an entire area. Hanabi can only perform this jutsu with her sword, Himei (shriek), which has many tiny holes in the blade that produce a high-pitched whine while in motion. Hanabi uses Himei exclusively for this jutsu, and not for actual sword fighting.

Hyoro no Jutsu (Ice Prison Technique) The user creates a series of ice crystals which home in on the opponent and trap him in ice. Unlike Water Prison Technique, no further action seems to be required to maintain the prison once the victim is caught. This jutsu may also be used defensively, as a wall of ice. Hanabi's variant of this jutsu is more focused on harming the enemy while entrapping them.

Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Release: Inner Decapitation Technique, a.k.a. Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu) The user, emerging from the ground below the target, pulls down (or possibly swaps places with) the target so that only the target's head is above ground. (This is the same jutsu Kakashi uses on Sasuke during the bell test)

Hanabi's final jutsu is really the ultimate form of her talent. Mind you, it only takes the shape of a wolf because it's convenient at the time; Hanabi has no connection to any particular animal. Hinata can see the jutsu without the Byakugan because Hanabi is strengthening the attack with a great deal of chakra.

I've decided to give Hanabi ice and shadow affinities (the latter doesn't exist in the manga or anime, to my knowledge). What that means is that any jutsu she performs using those two elements are naturally stronger, and easier for her than others (for example, Sasuke has fire and lightning, so he commonly uses fire jutsu and various Chidori attacks). Note that some shinobi are so exceptional in their element that they can literally summon it from thin air (most water jutsu would require that water be present first).

Naruto's summons:

Gamaassai - "crushing toad" (I think). Naruto would use this toad for his own version of Jiraiya's Kuchiyose: Yatai Kuzushi no Jutsu (Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique), in which a huge toad crashes into a specified target with great force. This toad is smaller, but still big and strong enough to carry a four-man team for some time (or instantly create sunroofs).

Gamakougu - "tool toad" (I hope). A toad that Naruto would commonly use for fixing the things he would invariably break. Gamakougu can comfortably carry one person on his back for brief periods, and spits various liquids that are similar to glue, quick-drying cement, water, and flammable fuel.

Hinata referring to Hanabi as "-chan" is not meant to be disrespectful, even though this is the first time she's done so to Hanabi's face. Because Hinata is no longer a Hyuuga, she is able to address Hanabi the way she's always wanted to, even though they are technically no longer sisters. This is a way of reinforcing that she still loves Hanabi. It is important to note that Hanabi could demand that Hinata not do this, but doesn't.

Shino, Neji, and Shikamaru are all jounin at this point. Naruto, Sakura, and Hanabi are chuunin. I feel the need to point out that these "official" rankings are not always the best measure of who can defeat who. Naruto has a tendency to brawl with people well above his rank, and Hanabi is chuunin level in name only. These rankings do still matter in terms of deployment (jounin accompanying or leading those of lower rank on missions), so I tend to have at least one jounin on every team that leaves Konoha.

Originally, I planned for Hinata to use all sorts of new attacks against Hanabi. Then I remembered that this was Hinata, and changed my mind. I think it would take a great deal of punishment for Hinata to consider a loved one an enemy. She strikes me as being very longsuffering (some would say naive) when it comes to a relative harming her, physically or otherwise. And even when pushed to the point where she simply has to fight, I can't see her enjoying inflicting pain on someone close to her, so drawing out the fight doesn't fit her, either. Taking into account that: A) Hinata is technically using an Inuzuka clan technique without actually being a member (this is why I never have her original body fuse with Akamaru), B) Hanabi is the second jounin-level opponent Hinata has faced, and C) Hinata doesn't have demonic chakra, so I didn't want her to come off as too powerful. I think using what is practically a Naruto-level jutsu, especially one that should be exclusive to another clan, would more than drain most of, if not all of Hinata's chakra (similar to the way the Sharingan drains Kakashi).

A note on killing intent. Despite the fact that ninja in Naruto have taken it to a whole other level, I've only seen a detailed description in one fanfic (odd, considering how much it gets tossed around). So a big thank you to shadowmaster62, and the story in which this was described, "Never Cut Twice," the best completed epic-length Naruto fanfic I've ever read. Fittingly enough, the person lecturing on killing intent there is Itachi (I love how amazingly, amusingly human Itachi and Kisame are portrayed there). He talks about how there are a vast number of small motions that inspire fear in humans, and how combining many of these motions at once can result in a fear so great, the enemy can't move. (in Chapter 8, but I strongly suggest reading the whole thing). It only makes sense that a Hyuuga's most effective way of using killing intent would be through their eyes, their most defining characteristic. Although just activating the Byakugan would probably be enough to freeze most people in their tracks.

The scenes Hinata saw while trapped in Hanabi's 'talent': Shikamaru and his cousin Kouji cloud-gazing, Konohamaru and Naruto perfecting the Sexy Jutsu by getting tips from an actual girl (and probably the only one that could be convinced to do so, I think), Tsunade and Jiraiya (keep in mind Hinata has yet to meet either of them) overseeing the sealing of Hanabi's talent.