Love's Misconstruities
Chapter 13
Hinata, now a sixteen year-old chuunin, proudly walked through Konoha's streets. Although lost in thought, she was still able to dodge the figure that was about to run into her from around the corner. As she expertly spun around the person, she looked to find a startled friend.
"Sakura-chan,"
"Gomen, Hinata, I'm in a hurry!"
"Is something wrong?" Hinata asked, keeping pace with her comrade as she went after her.
"We just got a new mission from Tsunade-shishou. There isn't much time to prepare."
"Wh-What is it?" she prodded, noting the girl's concern.
Though knowing that information like this was confidential, considering who was asking, Sakura figured that Hinata had a right to know. "Suna's Kazekage has just been abducted by a dangerous group. Kakashi, Naruto, and I are going to Suna to offer what help we can."
Hinata felt her heart skip a beat. 'Kazekage… That's Gaara-san! He's been abducted?! But, why? How?! …And…Naruto-kun is going to help? He's back?!' Her mind raced, and she now fought to keep up with the other girl. "I-I'm so sorry... I'm sure that…you will do everything in your power…to rescue Gaara-san. I…I know how much he means to you…" Hinata finally said, her voice quivering. 'I know how you must be feeling. If I were in your shoes, I would do whatever I could to bring Gaara-san back safely.'
Sakura turned to the other girl with a raised eyebrow as they continued on their way. "How much he means to me…? What are you talking about?"
Hinata was stunned. "You…you two are…involved, right?"
"What?! Hinata, what are you implying?"
"You two…are dating…aren't you?" Hinata asked, her eyebrows furrowed as her confusion grew.
"Hell no!" the girl shouted, startled by the very thought. "The only guy I ever plan on dating is Sasuke-kun! …When I bring him back to Konoha," she added with a hint of doubt masking the hope in her voice.
'Uchiha Sasuke! Sakura-chan is in love with Sasuke-san?!' Hinata questioned, though the more and more she thought on it, she realized how very narrow-minded she had been. 'What have I done? All this time… All this time, there was nothing between them?! How could I have been such a fool!'
"Hinata, what is going on? I thought that you two were-"
"Sakura-chan, please do whatever you can for the Kazekage!" she pleaded as she darted in the opposite direction.
"Ah! Hinata! …Of course…" she replied, thoroughly confused.
"Hokage-sama!" the young woman shouted, barging into the large room within the Hokage's tower which was dedicated to assigning missions. The panel had just finished for the day and few of the members were left lingering, but Tsunade was there and that was all that mattered to Hinata. Those that were present stared wide-eyed at the kunoichi, including their Hokage.
"Hyuuga Hinata?! What's gotten into you?"
"Please, you must send me to Sunagakure! Sakura-chan's team may not be enough."
"News travels quickly, I see," the older woman remarked while pondering how the information had been leaked. Since the girl before her had mentioned 'Sakura's team,' she had a pretty good idea but decided to think of a punishment for her young disciple later. Right now she had to deal with the kunoichi in front her. "I can't afford to send you on this mission."
"Please, Hokage-sama-"
"Hinata!" the older woman interrupted, staring her down. "Sending you alone would be out of the question. So is sending your entire team. Kurenai is on a mission, and even if I were considering sending Team 8 knowing that fact, without at least one jounin in your group I would be sending you to an early grave."
Hinata wanted with all of her heart to argue but she knew that the village's leader was probably right. Whoever this enemy was, they had defeated Gaara. Despite how strong Kiba, Shino, and herself had become, they were all still chuunin for a reason. Hinata's lip began to tremble as the helplessness consumed her. 'There's nothing I can do… Nothing at all. Despite how hard I've worked, I am still so weak! Why… Why am I still this weak?!'
"Hinata," Tsunade spoke softly after watching the girl's reaction. "I will consider your request for sending reinforcements. However, if I do feel a need to send a team, it will not be yours. Is that understood?"
Hinata was comforted a bit, but not being able to do anything herself only made her anxious. "Is…is there anything I can do to help with this mission? Anything at all, please…I'll do it," she pleaded.
Tsunade paused a moment and leaned back in her chair. After a moment she looked the girl in the eye and gave a faint smile. "Have faith in Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto. I do."
This brought a small smile to Hinata's lips but it still didn't change her feelings of worthlessness. "Mm," she affirmed with a nod. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I'm…sorry…for barging in so suddenly. Excuse me."
"Make sure not to do it again."
Hinata bowed deeply then left, though she wasn't sure where she was headed. Eventually, she found herself at the training ground where she and Gaara had practiced all those years ago, although the area was not as vacant as the kunoichi had hoped. A girl some distance away in the field caught Hinata's attention, distracting her from the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. Despite the distance between them, Hinata's presence was quickly sensed and the girl turned toward her from across the grassy plane. She then bowed, Hinata reciprocating, as the smaller girl came closer.
"Hinata-nee-san,"
"Hanabi-nee-san, hello. I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. Are you not training with father today?"
The meek girl gave a small shake of her head, looking away.
It was true, Hanabi did have talent…moreso for her age than Hinata had had, but she still did not measure up to Neji. Lately, their father had been giving more attention to his late brother's son than his own two daughters. Neji and Hiashi were equal in power now and Hiashi took much pride in him, while silently cursing the fate of the main house's weakness. While his eldest daughter and heir had become stronger in recent years than he had expected, in his eyes she would never be good enough as long as there was someone in the branch family who surpassed her. He saw the same out of Hanabi now as she aged. While she still made steady progress, his expectations were too high for her to compete with. She had become discouraged and depressed, and Hinata could see in her eyes the same pain that she knew all too well. No matter how hard they tried they would probably never live up to their father's high standards, and even if they did they felt it still wouldn't be good enough for him.
"Hanabi-nee-san, would you mind honoring me with a match?"
This earned her her younger sibling's attention. The only time they had ever practiced together was when they had been much younger and their father had ordered them to fight. Hinata, not knowing the ramifications of the battle, had tried to go easy on her sibling, yet honestly she knew deep in her heart that if she had tried her best, it still may not have been good enough. However, she had lost and it was after that match that their father had begun to exclusively tutor his youngest daughter. Hanabi still felt some guilt over it. She had never meant to humiliate her older sister. Had she known the repercussions of that match beforehand, she would have either refused or thrown it. Ever since that day the two had barely spoken more than the occasional formality. Why her older sister would now ask for such a thing was beyond her, but it brought a smile to her lips nonetheless.
"Hai, onegaishimasu," she acknowledged.
The two bowed then assumed fighting stances. Hinata stared her in the eyes intensely. "Please don't hold back."
"Hai!"
'Just how weak have I become? I need to know… Gomen, Hanabi-nee-san!' Hinata silently said, charging at her sibling with everything that she had.
Translations/Term Definitions...in no particular order:
- Onegaishimasu: "Please" or "if you would be so kind."