Naruto: A Rift in Time
By: Arthemis N. Remison
- O.0.o.0.O –
CHAPTER 9: AS WATER BREATHESNaruto just turned completely red, and just laughed to make the nervousness go away.
-Hyuuga Compound-
Hinata entered her house and she had a incredibly big smile.
"Hinata… I haven't seen that smile since before…your mother passed away. What happened?" said Hiashi as he saw his daughter.
"Um… nothing Father. I'll tell you some other time. What was it that you needed me for?" she said trying to change the subject.
Hiashi turned stoic and his face turned completely serious. It was as his fatherly figure got shut down by complete focus. "Follow me Hinata."
Hinata noticed his father turn cold in a second, but she did not ask. She just obeyed.
Hiashi went to the west side of the compound, and entered a room on the far side. A room with old furniture, spider webs hanging from the ceiling and a lot of dust was covering the floor. Hinata was a little confused about coming to this place since her father and almost every Hyuuga was very meticulous about cleanness. Hiashi motioned Hinata to stand back as he reached the wall.
Hiashi pressed his palm against the wall and a click was heard in the room. Then the wall sinked to the floor revealing a staircase. Hinata was amazed to say the least, that this place was in her house. Her curiosity made her want to activate her Byakugan but Hiashi intervened. "Please refrain from using your Byakugan, Hinata. This are sacred grounds. Respect our ancestors."
Hinata without question obeyed Hiashi and just followed him down the staircase that was pretty deep. As Hiashi reached the bottom he took a torch from the wall and lit it with some spark rocks. Hinata could barely see where they were going but she followed her father nonetheless.
Hiashi stopped abruptly and in the dim lighted place Hinata almost crashed against his back. Hiashi put the torch on the wall, and sighed. Then took his composure and quickly turned around with a stoic face.
"Hyuuga Hinata, today you stand in a sacred ground of the Hyuuga Family. This place was created by the 1st Head Clan of the Hyuugas, Hyuuga Mizumi, a very powerful kunoichi trained from childhood by the Rikkudo Sennin himself. As the jinchuriki for the Juu-bi he could use every and all types of chakra and combine them as well. But she wasn't envious of her friend. She was happy that she had a friend as special as the sennin. As they grew up the Sennin became famous and she was still the same Mizuki. Rikkudo Sennin saw his friend and he wanted her to share his vision of the world. He wanted her to posses some responsibility. The Sennin told her that he wanted to give her a new vision. A way that the world would know her purity just by looking into her eyes. And he developed the Byakugan."
Hinata was intently looking at her father. He almost never talked that much. But she did not want to interrupt him as he looked like he still had something to say since this did not explain their reason for being there. Hiashi continued.
"Before the Sennin went to travel the world, he made one more gift to his friend. He stood on top of the water, a feat that in that day was deemed as heavenly since most of them did not know of chakra and its uses except some of the Rikkudo's friends, and fused his chakra with the water. The water itself gave something that could only be described….. as a breath. It felt like, the water lived. Hyuuga Mizumi-sama passed this gift to his descendants with the only condition that it had to be a woman, since women were treated as inferior to the men. This gift was only given to a few select women over time fearing the overuse of it. Obviously as a way for the men to control the women in a certain way. A few centuries ago, the spirit grew restless and made itself known again between the Hyuuga's and the council of old had no choice but to appoint a new woman as its holder. The last person to own it… was your mother. And now… I believe its your time. But you cannot just have it. She is a gentle spirit but is very stubborn at the same time. History has told us that it only wants to submit to those of pure heart and pure spirit. This is why I believe, you can master it."
Hiashi stood aside and motioned for Hinata to move forward on her own. The trip was not eerie nor long since at a small turn there was a small pond. The water flowed out from the rocks but the water was not clear, nor blue, but bright. It was as it had its own light in it. The most soft touches of blue were found in it. And as Hinata drew ever so close to the waters… it began taking form. The water rose at the middle of the pond and took the shape of a bird. A bird even bigger than Hinata herself made of water stood with her wings tucked in and looked at Hinata intensely, and then…. it spoke. Its voice was soft, as if her tongue was made of silk and its sounds caressed your ears. A female voice, that could calm the most troubled hearts.
"Welcome Hyuuga Hinata. I am Nightingale, Hogosha no Chie (Guardian of Wisdom) and I have seen into you. In order for me to accept you I need to know you. In all my years, a time traveler has not been one of the ones to posses my gift, but I am pleased to say that I will share it with you. You have a soul that can only compare to 2 women before you. The last one was your mother. The other one, was Hyuuga Mizumi herself. Only their spirits commanded purity of the highest caliber, not to use me as a weapon, but a purity to uphold justice and love above all else. And it seems… that love is even stronger than your justice, my child. This Uzumaki Naruto is indeed a good man."
"That reminds me of what happened with Hyuuga Fumiko, when she fell in love. It was around 600 years back…"
Hinata and Nightingale continued talking for hours until Hiashi grew worried.
"Hinata, are you all right?"
Hinata stood up since her talk with Nightingale was full of incredible tales.
"Yes Father. Everything is all right" answered his loving child.
"Hyuuga Hiashi-san, please join us. I will allow you to see this part, as husband of Hyuuga Hana and father of Hyuuga Hinata." said the guardian "It will be a little difficult for you but its something I have done for ages"
Hiashi lost his composure for a second and then, recalling his wife, he said: "Is this the sealing part?"
"You are correct, Hiashi-san." answered the majestic bird.
"Then I believe I will take my leave. Hinata, you remember the way out, correct?" said Hiashi.
"Yes Father, but what do you mean by "the sealing part"?" asked Hinata.
"I will explain in a minute Hinata. You are excused Hiashi-san."
After Hiashi left, Nightingale continued.
"Now Hinata, take of your jacket and shirt." Said Nightingale with a smile.
Hinata just grabbed her jacket and clenched it tightly. "W-w-what do y-you mean take –m-my sh-shirt off?!"
"Hinata, Im a centuries old guardian spirit whose only companions have been women, so don't be shy. But to ease your heart I'll explain what we are doing. Giving myself to you is not just simply signing a contract or anything like these new things you have. I was one of the first spirits to ever been created so I have no need for a contract. I do this differently. Only women are allowed to have this seal. And our connection is not something simple like signing a piece of parchment with blood. Is more personal, more intimate. My seal must be placed on your left breast, right above your heart from where your purity is concentrated. This will make me attached to you until your heart stops beating. That is why if I ever found an immortal being worthy of me, I would never part."
Hinata took a hold of herself and let the calm take over her body. Then with voice soft as silk she said: "I will gladly accept you, Nightingale."
The water rose slowly until the beak of the spirit reached her chest and with a simple touch, a light-blue bird was forever stained in it.
- O.0.o.0.O –
Hello. I have been so drained as of late, that I cannot find the words or the energy to continue, nonetheless my thirst for a story is bigger than that of a night's rest. I shall keep posting as time allows, and I hope you will keep reading. As of this chapter this will be the last time I address you personally. I have my own reasons and until reviews arise I see no point in adding wasteful irrelevant chatter from my part. And with this, I bid you farewell.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.