Koishii (Beloved) Part XIV
By: Rylolynn
This is the sequel to Shadow of Hinata continuing after Shino and Hinata's first kiss.
Summary: Hinata and Shino share an empathic bond that is tied to their feelings for each other. (If the premise sounds familiar it is loosely based on Imzadi.)
Team 8 are now all Chuunin ranked ninja. (Timeline wise, Tsunade is Hokage, Naruto is away training, Sauske is a expletive who ran away with Orochimaru—basically a little before the Shipuuden series, pre-time-skip.)
Warning: lovey dovey fluff, WAF (warm and fuzzy) prolly a little angsty too. Takes a different direction then the canon.
A/N: Imzadi belongs to Peter David, Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
This chapter mentions scenes from Kakashi Gaiden
Italics: Thoughts or flashbacks
Koishii (Beloved/yearned for)
Juin (Seal)
Previously
"All is not lost… Naruto and Sasuke will return safe… There is a way." Hinata's voice was a soft whisper to Kakashi's ears and yet it was bold and confident in his mind.
Part 14
Kakashi smiled softly under his mask. His one showing eye did not crinkle with the mirth that his smile reflected. The dark colored eye held the touch of sadness and loss that she knew all too well.
The scarecrow ninja let out a low breath. Hinata noted how different he looked without that orange book in his hand. Whenever he had free time (or when no one was paying attention to him) he had his nose in one of Jiraiya's novels if they could be called novels.
It was as if Kakashi was at a lost. He didn't know what to do with his empty hands. His mouth did not form any words to Hinata's questioning look; as if he didn't have the words.
"Just tell me the truth…I'm stronger then I look." Hinata's voice was strong in his thoughts.
The Blade of Kohona smiled again. A memory of Rin surfaced his thoughts. She was so strong.
Ahhh… my friend…Kakashi's head tilted slightly as he cocked his head to the side as if he was listening to something only he could hear. Uncalled recollections of his old team filled his memories. Orange goggles, dark spiky hair and an attitude that raked his nerves.
Yes my best friend—and rival. He felt as though he could almost laugh. Obito you loved her. And though I didn't ask for it she loved me. How you fought to be out of my shadow, to become a true Uchiha and shinobi… Funny thing is you're the one that taught me what it meant to be a shinobi. What it means to really protect something—someone."
"Rin Obito liked you…loved you…you were important to him…Because of that I'll protect you through life and death." Those were the words he told her because of what Obito had taught him.
"Kakashi..I…" Rin had tried to confess to him then. But he couldn't let her.
"I was once… the kind of trash that would abandon you…" Disgust laced the young Kakashi's voice.
"Kakashi." This time it was Hinata's voice not Rin's that he heard.
The elite jounin brought his hand to the back of his head for a scratch, even through his mask Hinata could see his face change. He cocked his head to the other side dismissing all the painful things he couldn't hide from Hinata.
"Kakashi." Hinata spoke before Kakashi could begin on the details of Neji's "cure."
The young Huuyga leader smiled at him, that same empty smile he flashed her a few moments ago.
"You know it's a lie. Those things they teach you when you become a ninja. They tell you not to feel. That emotions ruin missions."
Kakashi felt the shame he felt all those years ago. The guilt ached through him now as he regarded that shame. He hated his father "The White Fang of Kohona" for letting his emotions get the best of him. He swore he would be the definition of a "true ninja" free of frivolous emotions adhering strictly to rules and protocol. Only later would he learn that his definition had been wrong.
I became the "Legendary Sharingan Kakashi" because of Obito and because of Rin. It was because the feelings they showed me I learned to be better then I was.
I never knew that what I thought of as weakness was your true strength. "I am proud of you Otosan."
"I am sure the 'Legendary White Fang of Kohona' would be proud of you too. And so would Obito-san."
Kakashi didn't flinch at Hinata's words. His posture relaxed a moment before he stiffened.
The pale eyed kunoichi readied herself for what he would say regarding the junin curse.
"There is a way…and there is a price. It will be a delicate and tricky procedure, with a lot of risks."
Hinata nodded in understanding.
"You must understand that even though you wish to remove the cursed seal from all branch members…"
"Kakashi-sensi I will exhaust all resources to succeed in my goal. I will not give up."
"…I understand, but the issue is not about resources. The problem lies in the curse seal itself. When placed on an infant at birth it becomes an integral part of their own chakra circulatory system. In a way it becomes necessary for life…even though its purpose is for death." The last word left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Please continue." Hinata's soft voice encouraged him, she really was strong.
"As the child grows the junin curse becomes intricately woven into the functions of all major organs and becomes necessary for regulating the chakra system. It becomes the basic requirement for the formation of chakra and is essential for all the chakra systems. This in itself is how the junin works. By prerforming the required hand seals …."
Hinata's eyelids closed slowly. She had closed her eyes then too, the day that her father tried to teach her those hand seals. She was unaware if Kakashi had finished his statement or not. She already knew what he would say. The hand seals did not "activate" the junin curse; it removed it. Freedom from the horrible curse of the branch house meant a painful and nefarious death.
Was that why when she accidentally caught a glimpse of her lifeless uncle he almost seemed to be smiling? He was finally at peace…finally free.
"The older one is when the seal is removed the more devastating it is."
Hinata laughed bitterly to herself, at least the main house was not in the practice of murdering children—just their older relatives.
"Safely removing the seal will require large amounts of chakra and pinpoint accuracy. As Tsunade-sama has realized, if we are removing something from the body we will have to put something back."
Piercing eyes regarded Kakashi.
"…and putting something foreign into a person's body could be rejected. In addition disrupting the chakra flow could sever the person's ability to use the donated chakra or the ability to create it."
Hinata's mind silently replaced all of Kakashi's impersonal references of a genderless nameless cursed branch member with a name that meant so much to her. The name of a cousin who had hated her and blamed her. The name of Neji, a young man with the sworn duty to protect her, the shinobi who had almost killed her. Neji-niisama the cousin she loved. She remembered the day he became broken because of their family. Hinata wished more then anything else that she would be able to fix that part of him.
"Neji-niisama.. (if he is able to survive her thoughts betrayed her, her fear wavering her faith) may not be able to continue as a shinobi." The raven haired clan leader concluded and yet she still forced herself to speak.
"You will need chakra similar to Neji's as well as someone with the Byakugan to sever the junin chakra points accurately." Hinata placed her hands together.
"You will need me."
Kakashi's gaze lowered slightly. Rin, Obito, his father… their emotions, their love and sacrifice….
Why does it have to come to this? Kakashi thought of Naruto then. He was alive and he was working to find Sasuke.
"Hinata, it does not have to be your sacrifice. It does not have to be your life for his…" Even in his thoughts his mind trailed off with his last sentence, he knew what she was planning. "There has to be another way…"
Soft jet black hair swayed as Hinata shook her head no.
It was Kakashi's turn to close his eyes then. He sighed heavily. Naruto reminded him so much of Obito, and Sasuke…well Sasuke reminded him of himself.
The him before he learned a great lesson at the price of his best friend. He prayed to the gods that history would not repeat itself. It does not have to be one for another.
"They are like children to me…" His mind voiced what he never said out loud.
"Don't worry Kakashi-sensi… Naruto will find a way, he will bring Sasuke back."
"You will return in two days time with Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama and Neji-niisama we will complete the procedure then at the Kohona hospital at sunrise. Please be prepared." The young woman bowed.
"…because I will be…"
Dun. Dun. DUN!!!! Ok another chappy for you, it's a bit longer (smile) I was going to make it even longer but this is a better transition to the next chapter. And another way to bribe you to give me more reviews (wicked smile)
A/n: the next chapter isn't written yet but it will feature more Kiba and the reactions of the other branch members. (Yes that means OCs but don't worry no "Mary Sues" they will (hopefully crosses fingers--dodges tomatoes) have depth and character.