Chapter 2: Nata's Jewelry Box
Erhen frowned at Nata, his eyebrow disappearing in his hairline. "Nata…why were you so excited to get away from there when those two came in? And why can't I call you your name?" he asked gently. He could tell. Nata was in one of those moods. The indigo haired girl sighed, her band still covering those eyes of hers. She didn't answer, just walked to sit on a bench outside a dumpling shop. She smiled as she sat in the very center of the bench. Erhen sat near the end, watching his 'blind' friend.
"Nata?"
Nata sighed. "Erhen? Remember when you first found me? You saw my…unmentionables were bruised? I was also bruised yes?" she explained slowly. Erhen nodded, suddenly shy. When he had found Nata, she was soaked to the bone, her shirt sticking to her torso. It was very easy to see her breasts were purple and the blotchy bruises trailed down her stomach into her trousers so he could only guess. "Y-yeah Nata" he stuttered. "I got those bruises from that man who came in. That Hiashi" she growled, staring off into space. Erhen's eyes flared and he stared at Nata darkly. "Explain. From the beginning. Now" he ordered, sounding very big brotherly. Nata sighed and started talking.
Flashback
Hinata ran from Kurenai's home and was almost instantly pushed into a dark alley. Hiashi's white eyes glowed cruelly in the dark as he punched her in the chest. Hinata's eyes bulged and she jerked forward, gasping. "F-father?" she coughed, surprised. Hiashi snarled and smacked her hard in the face. "You could ruin me! You and that Naruto boy could ruin me! The proud leader of the Hyuuga clan! How dare you, you stupid wench?! I'll kill you!" he screamed, pressing a hand to her throat.
"No you will not" Hinata growled.
"What?!" yelled Hiashi.
"You will not harm me!" she roared, her eyes glowing with Byakugan.
Her fist moved too fast for Hiashi to see and he flew backwards, his head smashing into a wall as he fell unconcious to the floor. "Bastard…" Hinata hissed, then checked her bag. Nustled between a few pairs of her clothes and some money, sat a gleaming black jewelry box. Hinata touched it fondly, happy not scratches were on it and kicked her father's hand. "You are so lucky mother's jewely box is not harmed you useless waste of flesh." And then Hinata ran. She giggled to herself. She had called her father a useless bastard. She had always wanted to do that but always feared the consequences. Now…now that she was free, he couldn't control her consequences or gifts anymore. This was her choice and her choice alone.
For the first time in years, Hinata laughed out loud.
Getting out of Konoha was no issue in itself but apparently Hiashi was either found or woke up. But for once…Hinata didn't care. Even if she got caught, these few minutes she was free. No threat of Hiashi harming her, no fear of letting Kurenai down, and, though she loved him to death, no guilt that Naruto would have to take care of her. Right now, the world was an open road and Hinata had enough chakra to run. And that's what she was going to do. Just for the hell of it, Hinata started running, not planning on stopping until her body could take no more.
Hinata dug in her bag as she ran, jumping in trees to move faster. The shrugged and stuffed money into her bra, took out the jewelry box and dumped the bag of her stuff on the floor. She didn't want anything to remind her of her past. Just money to get settled, her mother's jewelry box and herself. Sure her heart would ache for Naruto and her friends but she could get over it. Though she'd been through these forests with her team, this was knew. When she was with them, she was always 100 sure she'd be coming back. Now…she'd never come back. This was her life and she would live it as such. Hinata the rebel. She smiled, liking the sound of that.
She heard people following her and one particular person yelling her name. Kiba… Instinct yelled at Hinata to stop. That her dear friend needed help. But Hinata shook it off and kept running. Kiba wasn't her friend anymore. He was just a stranger from the Konoha. Nothing more. But a thought hit her that hadn't before. She may give up on Kiba but would Kiba give up on her? Probably not. Would Shino or Kurenia or Neji? More than likely not. Would Naruto? No, he would not. So Hinata took off her jacket, headband and took out a kunai. Without missing a step, she cut herself just below the collarbone. She held back a yelp but she knew how fast the blood would flow. She wiped the blood along her jacket until the front was soaked, then, having to pause for a moment, she brought her headband down sharply on her knee. Running again, with the cracked headband, she let blood smear on that as well.
Then Hinata looked at the night sky and whispered "I'm sorry." She dropped all her things, except her weapons, jewelry box and money, to the ground and let out a blood curdling scream. The people behind her grew silent for a moment before picking up more speed. Hinata sighed and also picked up more speed. "Sorry Kiba-kun. Sorry Shino-kun. Sorry Neji-niisan. Sorry Kurenia-sensei and…I am sorry Naruto-kun" she whispered. She ran until she came to a fast moving, black, more than likely cold rivir. Hinata paused, listening and heard people screaming in anger and pain. They had found her clothes. It would take about an hour for them to take them back to Konoha and found the blood was smeared onto the jacket, not having seeped through. Hinata shrugged and opened her jewelry box. Sweet, lullaby music filled the area and Hinata instantly relaxed. Humming along to the song, she dumped her money into it and closed the box, locking it with a soft click. With one arm wrapped tightly around it, she used chakra to walk to the center of the river and stood there for a moment, trying to get the courage to jump in.
"Oh my god, Hinata!!"
Hinata looked up, scared and her eyes widened. Kiba was there with Akamaru at the bank of the river. Kiba was clearly overjoyed. He started making his way over the river whispering to her. "Come here Hinata. We saw the blood. Did someone attack you? Come here, Hinata-chan" he said. Hinata was so stunned she forgot to keep her chakra flowing and yelped, falling beneath the black surface. As soon as she bobbed back up, thanks to the floating jewelry box, Kiba was a while away and terrified. She closed her eyes and dived back under the freezing water. The last thing she remembered in the water was something hard striking her head.
When Hinata woke up, she was unconcious on the beach, pretty much healthy. The power of the box in her arms is probably the only reason she's still alive. The box would take her chakra and form it around her, much like Gaara's sand shield, but once she ran low on it, it would take her to the safest place possible and stop using her chakra. Hinata stood up shakily and kissed the box. She was freezing and a look in the mirror told her she was blue in the face. She used a little bit of Chakra to use Byakugan and look around. There was a cottage about half a mile ahead and Hinata smiled. She started stumbling over towards it. But before she even made it off the beach, lack of chakra made her fall again. She moaned softly and rolled onto her back just as a boy with gorgeous golden eyes came into her mind's sight. Those eyes were so gentle that Hinata fainted on the spot, feeling taken care of.
End of Flashback
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Nata and Erhen, their bags fully packed on their backs, walked to the Konoha forest were they were supposed to meet with the other people on their team. There was a small clearing near the edge of the forest were they agreed to meet. They walked into the clearing just as Sakura finished talking.
"…blind how can she be anything but a burden?"
One of Nata's slim black eyebrows flew up and she cocked her head to the side. "Really now? You think I'd be a burden?" she asked innocently, putting down her bag. Sakura sat near Naruto, who was zoning off in the shade of a tree. Neji was sitting in the middle of the clearing, medatating and Tenten was instantly at Nata's side. Nata aknowledged her with a nod but still gave Sakura that innocent look.
Sakura's mind was clearly ticking as she thought of an excuse but Nata snorted and looked away. "Thought so. Come on everyone. Number one rule, start early, get home early. I want to get out of here" she ordered. Tenten got her bag and kicked Neji into gear. Sakura got up after a glare from Erhen but Naruto still zoned.
"Naruto-kun get up" ordered Nata, not noticing what she was saying.
Naruto's eyes flashed open and started at Nata. "Hinata-chan?" Everyone froze and went silent.
That's chapter two. I'm so horrible with these cliffhangers. I warned you in the first chapter and I'm warning you in this one. This story will not be working very quickly. Thanks for reading
Blackiecatty
