Hello guys!!
Yeah, i know the chapter is late, i'm sorry about that i got a little case of writer's block...it sucks i know.
Anyway the chapter is here, it's not as long as i'd liked but at least i wanted to give you people something.
Thanks to Dusk Eclipse for proof reading it and to Hikari no Okami for doing the final Beta, editing, grammar checking, and etc. We love you people
Be sure to read the final note too please!
CHARGE!!!
Enter Kohaze!
I was sighing all my way back to the house
"What's the matter Hina-chan?" Habataku asked me.
"It's been a long day, you know?" I said with a kind of sad ring on my voice "I'm tired"
"...Of shopping?" asked Habataku after a long silence.
"I couldn't even buy the makeup or other things I wanted to buy" I replied getting a little depressed. I hadn't bought anything, so I couldn't be tired of shopping...
"...then, tired of singing?"
"I only sang once, even when they all tried to make me do it again, but it's too shameful."
...nor tired of singing
"...then why did you join that talent show thing?"
"I-I...I...I don't know!" I said rising my voice, and then I felt sudden pain as I remembered Azumi walking side by side with Naruto-kun, even holding him. My knees suddenly felt weak.
"...You do know...don't you?..Hina-chan?" she asked motherly.
"...It's the first time" I said acknowledging "it's the first time since...he moved to live with me...that he has ignored me, that I had to spend a day without him..."
"So, it's been a long day..?" started asking me again Habataku
"Without...Naruto-kun?" I replied tentatively.
"Without the man you love!" yelled at me Habataku.
"L-l-l-l-love?!" instantly my face was burning hot "w-w-w-well I-I! Y-yes! I m-mean!"
"Things won't go easy as long as you don't accept it yourself and stand proud of your feelings"
"I know..." I said "but...it's not that easy for me...to admit that I love Naruto-kun. Besides, even then, I am aware that there's little to no chance of him changing his answer, no matter how many times I ask him, or how different I ask each time"
"His answer?" questioned puzzled Habataku
"It's very obvious isn't it?" I said forcing myself to smile "he has rejected me. What other reason would he have to avoid me?"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT AGAIN HYUUGA HINATA!" suddenly her voice rumbled in the whole street, thank god it was nearly deserted!
"Habataku! Lower your voice! They'll discover you!" I begged
"I couldn't care less! Now listen to me young miss!" she said in a very rash tone of voice "Don't you dare give up yet, ok? You deserve him, understood? So hang in there! Until he gives you his final answer the fight is still on, do you understand?"
"H-hai!" I said standing straight...was my mother scolding me?!
"Then let's go to the house and get some rest" her strong tone disappeared completely "we have lots of planning to do for the talent show!" she even seemed kinda happy "We have to be off early tomorrow, we don't want to leave the other girls waiting, do we?"
That was right; Midori-sempai had offered her house to us so we could meet there and prepare everything.
OoOoOoOoO
"So, See ya girls tomorrow" said Tenten-chan
"Wait wait!" stopped her Ino "We have to organize something for tomorrow! We have to plan Hinata's act in the talent show!"
"P-plan?!" I demanded 'God this is going to be troublesome...and awkward!'
"You're right Ino" accepted Sakura "but where?"
"Well..." Midori-sempai called our attention "if it's ok with you we can do it in my house. It's not that big, but I think we can fit in my room just fine"
"OK!" cheered Sakura "so it's settled!"
OoOoOoOoO
And so we had to meet tomorrow at midday in Midori-sempai's house. Yes, it was going to be a long day.
I finally reached the gates of the Hyuuga clan and entered the front yard, which basically only had a large tree between the walls and the house, since all the gardens were in the backyard. I took a step inside the house and before I could even announce my arrival Sora-nee-san ran to me and hugged me.
"Sora...-nee-san?" I asked a little confused; I saw how Naruto-kun came out of the house following her sister.
"Naruto told me all which happened in your mission" her voice...trembled? Suddenly her hug was more of an aggressive grapple, and I started to feel the pressure "You guys were damn thoughtless!"
She suddenly released me and I gasped for air to refill my abused lungs, she then turned around and grabbed Naruto-kun by the wrist, sending him flying and then stomping him on the ground. Could it be that he received both his and my shares of punishment?!
"Not only did you pick a fight that you weren't ready for, but as far as I heard you forgot basic rules!"
Sora-nee-san seemed to be trying to hold her temper, but I thought it wouldn't last, since Naruto-kun had just got that stubborn look of his as he stood up.
"But we won! And we didn't forget anything! We used our training, both yours and Anko-sensei´s!" Sora-nee-san gritted her teeth and now her eyes seemed to blaze... I gulped.
"Of course! You remember a bunch of techniques and you think you have not forgotten a thing! What about rankings? What about knowledge of course of action when going against someone stronger? As far as I'm concerned you tried to get an ANBU! A DAMN ANBU! and without even backup? Come on little bro, I had thought your brain had caught more of the rules. You may be good, but even the best ninja needs teamwork, and backup is a basic rule in any possibly dangerous mission!"
I saw Naruto kun struggling for an answer, and luckily I had one. I didn't like it when she got so angry, even if it was out of worry.
"Sora-nee-san... ano, how were we supposed to have backup? It was supposed to be a C ranked mission" And her gaze changed direction to lock with mine. Suddenly she seemed more perplexed than angry.
She looked up while thinking. "You might be right Hinata-chan" suddenly a smirk had come to her face. It was the kind of smile you were nervous about because you didn't know if it meant something good or something really bad.
"Aaand, that's why I think I'll give you both something" the smirk didn't left her face as she bit her thumb; we were both curious about this new development. She made some clear seals "Kuchiyose no jutsu!"
A poof was heard and behind a cloud of smoke came quite a big bird, it easily could reach my knee, 20 inches tall I'd say. It had fearsome talons and an aggressive peak. I recognized the shape as falcon-like, but still it looked somewhat cute with its feathers all soft looking. Most of it had a deep brown chocolate color, reaching the area around the onix black eyes, but its chest and front area were a light cream tone. It had some spots of the darker color on in its chest and as the smoke cleared I could appreciate something quite intelligent on its gaze as it observed each of us. He was wearing a dark blue sleeveless haori and a wakizashi.
"Let me introduce you to Kohaze" Sora-nee-san said with a smirk.
"Ossu" the bird raised a wing as it… greeted?
"The bird talked!" Naruto-kun was more straightforward.
"Hey! I'm not any bird. In fact I EAT other birds, thank you"
"He's a falcon, kids, and from today on your escort"
"What?" two voices sounded: Naruto-kun's and Kohaze's, the bird got all puffed and suddenly, despite the natural weapons it carried, it looked fluffy, huggable and nice.
"Wait a minute here, even if I were to accept this task you're asking me all of a sudden...You know we, falcons, never do anything for free!" replied Kohaze
"I'm aware, that's why I'm giving you one mouse a day!" offered Sora-nee-san
"5 a day" bargained Kohaze
"3 per day no more"
"3 daily and a rabbit per week"
"A rabbit per month" accepted Sora-nee-san
"And I want all week-ends free" stated the hawk
"One free weekend per month, and I'll pass good word of you to the higher ups"
"I agree" accepted Kohaze.
...Just what had that been?
"Nee, what will a little bird like this do?" asked sceptically Naruto-kun.
"This little bird is a capable ninja" informed Sora-nee-san.
"WHAT?! NO WAY?!" was the surprised answer from the boy "It doesn't look that strong!"
"Neither do you" replied with a teasing smile the older girl.
"Shut up! I'll prove you this bird won't do any good!" Naruto-kun now charged at Kohaze with his palm open, as if trying to slap him. But in a swift movement Kohaze took off and grabbed Naruto-kun by the shoulder, suddenly tossing him into the skies. Poor Naruto-kun landed kind of badly in the front yard, but still stood up completely covered in dust.
"I'd stop now if I were you" warned him the bird.
"Nah, it's good" assured Sora-nee-san "I think it's better to show why I chose you" she flashed a confident smile.
"Roger that!"
"Don't get cocky on me!" yelled Naruto-kun as he made a cross-seal "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" 8 more blonds appeared in the yard "CHARGE!" yelled all of them at unison, soon to be stopped on their tracks. Kohaze in a split second was in front of the real Naruto-kun with the handling of his sword placed on his forehead. And with a push he sent the blond flying towards the tree at was behind him, crashing against it. All the clones suddenly disappeared. It had been so fast I had no idea how I had managed to see it. He had hit each of the clones in the head with the scabbard of his sword as he flew pass them, just to then push the real one into the tree. His speed was above Azumi's, no, maybe even above Sasuke's!
"Even if Kohaze is still learning he's very strong" said Sora-nee-san walking to stand next to the bird "I'd say he's around Chunnin level"
"WHAT?!" Naruto-kun stood up again "This thing is as strong as Iruka-sensei?!"
"I've got a name!" demanded the falcon "And you are very impolite to attack without stating your own!"
"Why! I'm Naruto Uzumaki! Future Hokage!" stated proudly the young blond "and I need no bodyguard to take care of myself" he said with a fist banging his chest "nor to take care of..." as both his hand and face turned to point me I could see how red his face was turning. Apparently he was very angry, he still had problems facing defeat... "...of anybody!" he finally stated, and he turned around fuming. Sora-nee-san sighed.
"That boy...he sure needs to mature some more"
"Is something the matter?" my father came out of the house with his usual serious expression
"Nah, everything is ok" assured Sora-nee-san "By the way, Hiashi-san, this is Kohaze, he'll be watching over the kids from now on"
"You appointed a bodyguard to my daughter without my consent?" He questioned rising and squeezing his eyebrows a little "And you should call me Hyuuga-sama"
"Hyuuga Hiashi-sama" Kohaze quickly made a reverence "It is an honor to take care of your older daughter, I will not fail you, my lord" my father's expression relaxed but remained serious.
"At least he has some manners. Just make sure to stay out of trouble" and without any other comment he returned to the house. I had thought Sore-nee-san was the only person capable of getting her way with father, one way or the other.
"Well then, it's settled and approved, although the last part doesn't really matter to me" she said cleanning her hands "well then Hinata-chan, off you go"
"Come Hinata-hime-sama, I'll see you to your room" said Kohaze standing beside me in a kind of gallant way.
"Uh...sure, thank you" it was strange to be talking to a bird. I turned around, looking in the direction Naruto-kun had left...at least I had been able to see him for a short while.
The next morning I went to our usual morning training session with Sore-nee-san, even if it was Sunday and we had no missions she insisted on keeping up our training on a strict daily basis. Not even Christmas was a free day for her. Kohaze was following me closely, flying besides me in the same way he had since yesterday. He hadn't separated from me except when I took a shower, time when he dandily offered himself to make guard outside, and when I put on my pajamas, when he gently went outside the room waiting for me to be ready. However in a sharp contrast with Kohaze's presence was Naruto-kun's absence. Apparently today he was going to be doing his exercises on his own, close by and under the supervision of my father. It seemed Naruto-kun was even willing to stand my father's and Hanabi's training instead of being with me.
"Cheer up Hinata!" scolded me Sora-nee-san "we have to get started or we'll be here all morning!" she said ratter rashly as she lead me to our usual training ground in the Hyuuga haven "I'm sure he's giving his best for someone special" she said in a softer tone.
'...Yeah, Azumi I'd bet...'
"Smile Hina-chan!" cheered up Habataku "Posstive thinking calls for positive happenings" she was always so confident; I could never be like her...
A couple of hours later I was getting ready to meet up with the other girls at Midori-sempai's, and right there I saw him, he was talking with Lee-san.
"YOSH! LET'S DO IT THEN! NARUTO-KUN!" the black haired boy was as usual full of energy; he was jogging in his place "OH! GOOD MORNING! HINATA-SAN!" he said raising a hand to greet me, before turning again for the blue eyed "I GUESS I'LL GO FIRST THEN" he told him moving his head in my direction "DON'T BE LATE!" With that he left the housing, jumping and running at full speed.
"HEY! MATTE!" demanded Naruto-kun, it was clear that he had noticed me, but he was ready to follow after the older boy
"Chotto! Naruto-kun!" I pleaded for him to stay; he almost tripped as he stopped.
"Yeah?"
"I...W-well" his response was just so...cold? "How did your training go?" I just had to ask the first thing that came to my mind in order to break the uncomfortable silence I was creating.
"HUH? Uh, fine I guess...I gotta catch Fuzzy Brows. We're going to spar a bit" he was once again ready to take off.
"I'M GOING TO...!" I said a little bit too loud, with a trace of desperation in my voice, I wanted be able to be with him even if it was just a bit more "I'm going to Midori-sempai's home with Tenten-chan, Ino, and Sakura" I told him, trying to make him interested in something having to do with me.
"I see, give them my greetings then! I'm off"
"Please...!" but in a flash of orange he was gone "...Wait..." my voice trailed off as I once again ended up talking to the air "he left..." feeling a tiny moisture in my cheek I took my hand to it to clean it up. The sky was almost cloudless but nonetheless I returned to get an umbrella, while my head flew with delusions of walking under it with a certain Uzumaki boy.
Midori-sempai's house was in the civilian district of the city, close by to the thermals. It was a simple but nice two story house, regular for a middle class family. Tenten-chan was already there.
"HINATA-CHAN!" she called me waving his hand, I went to meet her.
"Good morning Tenten-chan, how are you?" I asked her as friendly as I could, trying not to sound too cheeky.
"Good as always!" she said flexing her arms "what's up with that bird? And what's the umbrella for?"
"This? Oh I just felt something on my cheek this morning so I thought maybe I should take it with me" I explained "and this little hawk here is my new bodyguard, Kohaze"
"A pleasure, miss Tenten" said Kohaze landing and bowing deeply, then taking Tenten hand he placed it on his forehead "Kohaze the hawk at your service no matter when no matter where"
"Thank you... I guess. By the way, the weather report didn't mention anything about rain...after all this is fire country, right?"
"Even so I..." before I could explain anything a large noise interrupted me.
"!" in the distance a large cloud of dust was coming towards us.
"What is that?!" asked Tenten-chan as she took a couple of steps forward and used her hand to cover her eyes from the sun, but even without my Byakugan I could see it perfectly: Ino and Sakura were running at top speed toward us, locked in a stare contest.
"Watch out!" I warned and moved myself out of the way. Both girls stopped right in front of us, panting and sweating, holding themselves on their knees
"*gasp*....Who *gasp* got here *gasp* first?" they at asked at the same time
"I don't know" replied Tenten-chan raising an eyebrow.
"Hinata! *gasp* Who won?!"
"Ano!..Etto...it's...a tie?" I proposed
"NEVER!" they both yelled "I'll never accept that I tied with you!" I wondered if they had 'Coordinated Yelling' in the Shinobi Olympics, these two would win no doubt.
"Hey, please try not to bother the neighbors, I still have to live here you know?" Midori-sempai was standing at the door of her house and came to us crossing the tiny front yard of her house, opening the front gate (that was little more than a fence) to us "come in, let's try not to disturb the neighbors anymore" her outfit was gorgeous, she was wearing a white long sleeved blouse with chocolate tones in the chest area and collar, a peach colored pleated mini skirt and tall brown styling boots. Not even Ino who was wearing a cute blue minidress could beat her.
"Oh my god!" screamed the blond girl "is that..! That blouse..!"
"This?" asked Midori-sempai picking up the cloth from her blouse by the shoulder "just something I found flipping over a magazine the other day, as we just recently got paid for a mission I went out yesterday and bought it" she explained with a smile 'so that was the reason of her presence in the commercial district yesterday ' "are you coming in?" she asked us, her white bangs floating with the wind "By the way Hinata, since when do you summon hawks?" despite being flying Kohaze heard that and landed softly next to me.
"Do you mean about him?" I asked pointing Kohaze "he was appointed as my bodyguard yesterday. His name is Kohaze. You know, after the incidents in wave country..."
"I understand. It's a pleasure to meet you" she said to the bird. How had Midori-sempai noticed it was a summoned animal?
"I see, I was wondering about it too" mentioned Sakura.
"My ladies" called the bird "if you need anything, anything at all just say it, and I'll do it for you" he said with a somewhat flirting tone of voice.
"Thanks, at least he's cute" accepted Ino as we walked into the house.
As we came into the house we reached a medium sized room, that served as living room and dining room, and was separated from a small the kitchen by a bar. The floor was made of polished wood and the walls were painted in light colors, allowing the place to be brightly illuminated.
"Oh the girls are here already!" A middle aged woman came to greet us.
"Mom these are Tenten, Ino, Sakura, and my teammate Hinata; girls this is my mother" introduced us the older girl.
I would finally be able to learn a little bit more about Midori-sempai!
And that's it for today! I know it's not as long as the last one, but still its decently long
So! I'm starting a contest! In this chapter half of a scene was written by Okami, if someone finds out which part it is I'll give him or her a fabolous prize: the introduction of a gennin created by said person for the chunnin exam arc!!!
Good luck!! and please Read & Review!!! Tell me what do you think about Kohaze! And i'm sure that Okami'll appreciate if you find anything we missed about spelling and grammar!