I LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!! Cough-hack(Waves duist out of the air) eh? where am I? How long've I been asleep?
(looks in corner, see's a dust covered Kakashi mummy (Wrinkly skin+bones)
Kaka-mummy: (moans throatily)
Kyugan: Ah suck it up, wuss. (pops open a can of cola) Anyway, long story short, never go on hoiday without you laptop, no matter what airport security tells you.
Gai: FIGHT THE POWER!
KYugan: What the hell're you doing here? (sighs) screw it, roll camera.
Byakugan battle; vow for victory!
Hinata winced as her cousin entered the arena ahead of her, trying not to look into his eyes if she could help it. Neji on the other hand, had no such qualms and was glaring at his cousin with mild indifference.
"I never dreamed we be fighting each other…Hinata-sama." The older Hyuuga commented, though he didn't put much emotion into it. Hinata flinched and brought her gaze up to meet her cousin's.
"N-Neji…Niisan…"
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"Damn!" Naruto yelped, his eyes widening as he leaned over the rail in shock, "He's her Aniki?!"
Kakashi shook his head, contradicting the blonde's assumption. "They both are members of Konoha's oldest, most illustrious family," he explained, "through whose veins flows the most elite and accomplished blood, the Hyuuga clan…but they aren't siblings."
Gai nodded, picking up the slack. "You see," he explained, "Hinata is the oldest daughter of the main house of the Hyuuga family, whilst Neji is a member of the branch family that supports them."
"I get it!" Recca nodded, tapping a fist into his palm as he had an epiphany, "Like kagemusha and all that, right?"
Kakashi and the other leaf jounin winced, the genin having inadvertently hit the head closer to home than they cared to admit.
"Either way," Gai continued, "there's a lot of bad blood between the main and branch families…it has to do with rules set up which favored the branch family."
Domon was about to ask the Taijutsu expert to clarify when a loud grinding noise caught his attention.
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Naruto's teeth were bared, his eyes like flints, as he glared down at the arena as Neji continued to belittle Hinata, undermining her fragile self-confidence.
"I've seen through many things with my Byakugan," the older Hyuuga muttered to his stricken cousin, "and so I know this attempt at courage is merely a bluff! You want, more than anything, to flee from here!"
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"Byakugan?" Recca asked, looking up at his sensei in confusion. Kakashi nodded, looking down into the arena again.
"An inherited Kekkei Genkai of the Hyuuga clan," the jounin explained, "they say even Sasuke's sharingan can trace its origins back to the Hyuuga Byakugan…"
Domon groaned, rolling his eyes in exasperation as he raised his hands in the air. "Great!" he muttered, "More copycat vision?"
The jounin sweatdropped at the slur but let it slide. "No, they can't copy jutsu…" Kakashi explained, "but in it's penetrating perceptive ability…the Byakugan actually SURPASSES the Sharingan!"
Recca and the others swallowed, before wincing at the veins around the older Hyuuga's eyes as they bulged.
'Looks like he's really pissed off,' Naruto muttered, feeling the whirling emotions under Neji's impassive face, 'but there's no killing intent or rage emanating from him.'
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"My eyes cannot be deceived." Neji muttered, glaring at his cousin, "Just now, when you averted your eyes to escape my stare, you looked to the upper left, signifying you recalling a painful experience from your past."
He paused for effect as his cousin trembled, "Consequently, when you gazed to your lower right, you were envisioning physical and mental agony, in other words, you recalled your own memories, and from them you imagined the outcome of this match!" He glared at her, veins bulging at the side of his eyes.
"You foresaw your own defeat!"
Naruto's grip on his katana tightened, causing the joints to pop, the sheath trembling, as Neji continued his mental assault.
"Even now, you try to shield yourself with your arms, your body language wanting to place a barrier between us, whilst you implore me to peer no deeper into the recesses of your heart."
Hinata was a trembling wreck now, tears actually falling down her face as she touched her trembling lip with a finger, causing her cousin to smirk.
"Touching your lip, another defensive reflex," he noted, "a pitiful attempt to calm your own anxieties." He pointed at her, a look of confidence on his face. "It's perfectly clear to both of us, whether you admit it or not…that you know you cannot change yourself!"
CRASH!
The Two Hyuuga, and everyone in the stadium, jumped as another massive hole appeared in the wall, nowhere near as colossal as Domon's, but large enough to allow a man to run through.
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Naruto growled as he sheathed his sword, having used it to damage the wall behind him.
"How long are you gonna keep talking with your ass?" he snarled, eyes like slits, "Hinata has as much right to be here as anyone else! If you don't cut the psychological shit right now…"
He scowled at the older Hyuuga, pushing the blade of the katana out slightly with his thumb.
"Your married life is going to be VERY boring."
Neji shivered at the animosity being launched at him from the blonde. 'His eyes' the prodigy muttered, 'I've only seen those eyes on serious men.' He scowled as one face in particular crossed his vision.
'Men like Hiashi-sama.'
Hinata blinked, shocked at the blonde's unexpected, but most appreciated support.
"N-Naruto-kun…"
"Hinata!" the blonde cut in, gazing down at her, "Forget everything this dickless wonder just said to you!" he growled, causing the heiress to squeak in embarrassment and Domon to guffaw loudly, "You're not weak and you don't wanna run!" He smirked down at her, nodding confidently. "If you were, would you have lasted this long?"
Naruto winked at her, doing Lee's nice guy pose as he did so, sending Gai into peels of delight. "Show this guy," he frowned and shook his head, "no, show everyone what you're made off!"
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Hinata blushed at the genin's encouragement before lowering her head.
'…Naruto-kun,' she thought, placing a palm over her heart in joy, 'arigatou…'
When she raised her head, her face was as impassive as her cousin's, and her eyes held new resolve.
Neji frowned, irritated at the effect of the blonde's speech. "You won't withdraw?" he asked, looking calm and reserved as always.
To his shock, Hinata lunged forwards and he was forced to dodge a palm strike to the chest that would no doubt have incapacitated him.
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Gai smiled, watching over the duo proudly. "She is definitely of the main house," he commented, "look how her stance is identical to Neji's."
Mikagami frowned, eyeing the fluid motions appreciatively. "They both use the same school of Taijutsu?" he wondered out loud, "What is it called?"
"Jyuken," Gai replied, "And only the Hyuuga may learn it, it is a style unique to their clan alone."
The two Hyuuga proceed to land strike after strike at each other with their bare palms, though those of jounin rank or higher could sense the air being disturbed by bursts of chakra whenever their palms collided. A particularly hard blow to the chest caused Neji to stumble back slightly, looking annoyed.
"Did she get him?" Domon asked hopefully, whilst Mikagami snorted in dismissal.
"No, just a grazing blow." The swordsman muttered, unimpressed.
Gai smirked, looking down at the heiress with pride. "And yet," he noted, "a grazing blow is all it would take."
Noticing the looks of confusion, Gai elaborated somewhat.
"Unlike the Gouken ryu, which Lee and I excel in," he explained, "which involves breaking bones and surface damage, the Hyuuga clan specialize in Jyuken, to target the Keirakukei, or chakra coils; this eventually leads up to a breakdown of the opponents internal organs, killing the foe from within."
Kakashi nodded, picking up where his 'rival' left off. "And there's no way to strengthen the internal organs," he added, "so an enemy struck with that is sure to succumb."
Recca winced, eyeing the two combatants cautiously. "So basically," he muttered, "they're killing each other by inches?"
The collective jounin blinked, and then suddenly winced, having never thought of it that way before, Kurenai gazing at her charge in concern.
'Hinata…'
Down in the arena, Hinata slammed her palm into Neji's chest, hard, causing him to tremble for a second.
"She got him!" Domon yelled, before noticing the frown on Naruto's face, which abruptly changed to shock as Hinata coughed out blood.
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Neji calmly grabbed the girl's sleeve and pulled it up, revealing several small bruises along the length of the girl's arm.
"N-no…!" Hinata gasped, horrified, "You mean…from the beginning…?"
Neji nodded, his eyes impassive.
"My eyes can detect the tenketsu."
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"What's he saying?" Domon asked, whirling around, to spot the grim expression on Kakashi's face.
"There are 361 nodes along the Keirakukei, no bigger than a pinprick, called the tenketsu," the jounin explained, "which if hit accurately, can either halt or increase your opponents chakra flow." He frowned at his students to get the seriousness of his next point across. "Not even the sharingan can detect them."
Mikagami frowned, eyeing Neji analytically. 'And regardless of his penetrative ability,' the swordsman noted, 'to accurately target them during a fight…that takes skill.'
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Neji sent his cousin flying with a shove to the chest, face neutral yet resolved. "This is the unquestionable difference in our strength, Hinata-sama." He muttered, scowling at her, "Withdraw."
Hinata, coughing up more blood, slowly pulled herself to her knees.
"I…never go back on my word…" She announced weakly, turning and smiling at her cousin, exhausted. "Because…that is also my nindo...!"
Naruto blinked in surprise and gazed down at the heiress in awe, completely caught off guard by the shy girl's statement.
"Hinata…"
Neji scoffed, mocking her to come forward, knowing full well the girl was on her last legs and incapable of using Jyuken. Regardless, he dodged her weakened attempts at landing a blow, before landing a savage blow to he chin, causing her to stumble back.
'This is getting old.' He thought, as she lunged forwards, channeling a burst of chakra into his palm, the older Hyuuga rammed it into her chest, causing the air to ripple behind her.
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"That's Neji's finisher." Gai muttered, "It targets the heart." He sighed, not noticing the looks of horror on team seven's faces. "It's a pity, but the poor girl can't even stand." He noted, knowing he'd have to have a LONG talk with the boy later.
Hayate coughed and was about to call the match when the killing intent leveled at him from the stands caused him to break into a coughing fit that almost caused him to go into a cardiac arrest.
Anko, and every jounin level shinobi in the arena, felt their hackles rise at the feeling, shooting a shocked look at the source of the terrifying killing intent, which was suspiciously like the one that nearly leveled the village thirteen years ago.
"Don't call it." Naruto muttered, earning a look from the assembled jounin.
"What are you saying? The match is obviously over!" Asuma muttered, wincing at the glare leveled at him for his troubles.
"Not yet…" Domon agreed, hands clenched tighter than steel as he glared down at the ring.
"Not while Hinata still has the will to fight." Recca finished.
Everyone stared at the trio in confusion, until movement in the arena caused them to gaze in shock as Hinata pulled herself to her feet, probably through sheer force of will alone.
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"You're not fooling anyone." Neji muttered, the surprise quickly falling from his features, "I can tell it's taking all your strength just to stand."
He walked forwards, arms held out wide.
"You've been burdened with the destiny of the Hyuuga clan on your head," he announced, "hating your nature and weakness, but you need not suffer anymore, be at peace!"
Hinata coughed and stood her ground, looking into her cousin's eyes with determination.
"Y-you're wrong…Neji-Niisan." She coughed, trembling, as she tried to maintain her feeble footing. "The one who is suffering, even more than me…is you; caught between the destinies of the main and branch houses!"
Neji's eyes filled with rage at the girl's words and he lunged forwards, ready to kill, only to be restrained by the collective Konoha jounin, with the exception of Asuma.
Kukai had a hand on one shoulder, Gai had him in a headlock, Kurenai had grabbed one arm and Kakashi the other, whilst Hayate poked a finger at his headband.
"That is quite enough." Kukai muttered, his face unnaturally calm, "The girl is on her last legs, and family should not raise their hands to one another."
"Neji." Gai warned, "You swore to me you wouldn't bring your personal vendetta against the main branch into this!"
Neji scowled and made a comment about the favoritism of the main branch, as Hinata collapsed, coughing up blood.
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"Hinata!" Kurenai yelled, only to blink as Naruto got there first, despite the fact that they were a good thirty feet away from his last position.
"Yanagi-Neechan!" the blonde called out, supporting Hinata in his arms, "Hurry! This doesn't look good!"
"GET THE HELL OUTTA OUR FREAKIN' WAY!" Domon roared, tossing startled onlookers aside like bowling pins, as he leapt to the arena floor with Yanagi in his arms, the poor girl clinging to his shoulder for dear life, Recca and Fuko following not too far behind.
After Domon set her down next to the stricken Hyuuga heiress, Yanagi got to work. Wincing as she undid the Hyuuga's jacket to let her breath, the girl placing a hand to her chest, letting her healing gift handle the damage.
The assemble jounin, minus Kukai, watched in awe as Hinata's trembling stopped, and her face began to look less bruised.
"W-what are you-?" Kurenai asked, before Recca cut in.
"Hime possesses the ability to heal just by touching someone," He muttered, smiling at his beloved princess with pride, "she can't replace blood though."
Everyone stared at the girl as she finished, enawed at the display.
'Such a tremendous power!' Kakashi muttered, 'I never heard of a Kekkei Genkai like that!' He stared at the Hokage and Kukai, the only ones not looking surprised and frowned. 'They knew this whole time…' he realized, 'Though I can see why they kept it a secret, everyone will be wanting to get their hands on this kid!'
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Several miles away, conversing with his spy Kabuto, Orochimaru let out a gargantuan sneeze that covered the disgusted medic with spittle, which he wordlessly wiped away.
'Why do I have the feeling I've missed something important?' the sannin muttered, before dismissing the bespectacled spy with a wave.
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Yanagi lifted her hands up from Hinata's chest, frowning slightly in confusion, before placing two fingers to the Hyuuga's neck, eyes widening as she felt her pulse slowing.
"She's not breathing!" the girl yelped, causing panic to flare in Kurenai's eyes, "I think her heart stopped!"
"Quick! Call the medics!" Hayate yelled, as Naruto shoved past the Hime, earning a shout from Recca.
"No time!" the blonde yelled, "I'm doing CPR!"
Kurenai blinked, having never heard the term before, then felt her eyes bulge as Naruto apparently kissed her stricken student. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" the jounin yelled, mortified at the blonde's actions, and moved to get him away from her charge until Domon laid a hand on her shoulder, restraining her.
"It's just CPR," Fuko explained, "he's breathing into her lungs and pushing over her rib cage, trying to jumpstart her respiratory system." She smirked at the confused jounin, eyes dancing mischievously. "Some people call it the kiss of life."
Kurenai flushed at the girl's leer and watched as Naruto carried out the procedure, looking for the slightest signs of anything OTHER than professional behavior.
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'She's so pale…' Naruto thought as he pushed over her heart, 'she gave it her all and this is the result.' He leaned over her mouth and blew down her windpipe, praying under his breath as he did so.
'C'mon Hinata!' he begged, 'Open your-!'
The girl trembled slightly and Naruto sat back as she burst out coughing, supporting her head with his arm. When the coughs eventually subsided she looked up at him, wonder in her eyes.
"N-Naruto…kun…?"
Naruto smiled down at her reassuringly, nodding his head. "Daijobu…you'll be okay now." He looked up as the medics reached past him to take the girl to the infirmary. "You rest up," he ordered gently, "I'll check on you later."
The shy girl tried to say something, but passed out from exhaustion.
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Kurenai left with the medics, gazing down at her stricken charge, whilst the remaining jounin released Neji, who brushed himself off. "Hmmph," the prodigy muttered, "once a failure, always a failure."
Abruptly, the Hyuuga found it hard to breath, as if an extreme pressure was filling the air, weighing down his body and lungs. Kakashi felt his eye widened in recognition, causing him to whip round in surprise.
'T-this killing intent,' he wondered, 'Masaka! Has the seal come undone?!'
Naruto stood up slowly, not facing the Hyuuga prodigy, as he spoke. "Care to repeat yourself…teme?" he asked, his voice having developed the hint of a growl.
Neji swallowed and shook his head, smirking self confidently. "I said:" he sneered, "Once a failure, always a failure!"
Abruptly, the Hyuuga prodigy blinked in surprise, as Naruto appeared not two feet away from him, eyes blazing and sword half drawn, roaring with rage.
And things would have gone VERY badly for Hinata's cousin, had the assembled jounin sensei not dog piled the blonde, holding him back.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Hayate warned, though he could understand the blonde's sentiment. "if you don't keep the fights within the scheduled matches, you WILL be disqualified."
Naruto's glare drilled holes through the jounin holding him, causing many to question the security of the seal, and the sanity of their standing so close to a potential bloodbath, before the blonde sighed and relaxed, enabling them to release him.
Walking back to a puddle of Hinata's blood and staring at it for a moment, the blonde drew his sword.
"Naruto!" Hayate warned, "I said that-eh?"
Everyone blinked as the blonde slashed his own hand across the blade, drawing a thin line of blood before scooping up a handful of Hinata's and held it up to his face, clenching his fist.
"Three times; says the Buddha." Naruto growled, looking at his fist. "You demeaned Hinata's confidence, beat her within an inch of her life…and then insulted her for fighting as hard as she could."
Neji shivered as the blonde glared at him, holding out the bloody fist.
"That's three times you'll pay for this…" Naruto snarled, adding a burst of killing intent with the threat, "Hyuuga Neji!"
The Prodigy shivered internally, but outwardly scoffed at the blonde. "Whatever, loser." He muttered, turning on his heel and walking back to the stands.
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Up in the stands, Gaara shivered as he watched the drama act itself out below.
"Baki," he questioned, "did you sense that?" The sand jounin looked at the redhead in confusion, prompting him to elaborate. "The blonde's bloodlust…" Gaara muttered, "made Shukaku nervous."
Baki felt his eyes widen in shocked horror at the statement, as he eyed the blonde genin standing in the arena.
'What could possibly cause such a reaction in that monster?'
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The final fight between Dosu and Chouji ended with Shikamaru's friend being carted off on a stretcher, mumbling about meat. As a result, Recca was seeded without seeing any action, much to his disappointment.
Ibiki smirked at the assembled competitors, passing a long look at the three from the classroom, feeling his head twinge slightly.
'Kakashi's brats are as interesting as he was…as a kid.' He snorted, amused despite himself. 'They're tough nuts I'll give 'em that much.'
The ANBU commander then proceeded to chuckle as they eyed the box Anko was holding with suspicion.
'Guess they got off to a decent start with her too.'
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"There better not be any snakes in there." Domon muttered, reaching into the box, wincing at the woman's sadistic grin. His teammates shared a similar look, and made their selections quickly. They then called out their respective numbers when called for.
Ibiki coughed to gain their attention, holding up a sheet of paper.
"Alright take a good look at this kids."
Chunin Exams: Third round finals
Hanabishi Naruto versus Hyuuga Neji.
Temari versus Kirisawa Fuko.
Ishijima Domon versus Kinuta Dosu.
Kankurou versus Aburame Shino.
Mikagami Tokiya versus Nara Shikamaru.
Sabaku no Gaara versus Uchiha Sasuke.
Hanabishi Recca versus winner of round six.
"This is the line up for the finals, be sure to memorize them carefully" Ibiki called out, as the Hokage finished explaining the directive of the tournament, "Remember what Hokage-sama has said and be prepared!"
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Team Seven marched out of the arena and began looking for their punctuality deficient sensei, having decided to seek his advice concerning the finals.
"Gejimayu-sensei said he was headed for the hospital…I think." Naruto muttered uncertainly, not being fluent in 'freaky spandex guy' and having wanted little to do with the elotard wearing Jounin.
Domon grunted, nodding enthusiastically. "This next ones gonna be rough, he's gotta have SOMETHING for us to learn within a month." The giant reasoned.
Recca snickered, nudging his Outoto snidely. "If not, we can always pay a visit to your girlfriend!" he teased, holding up his pinky finger.
Naruto went red and started sputtering. "ANIKI!" he yelled, whirling around to counter the teen's accusation, arms waving comically, "What the hell are you implying?!"
"Oi, oi…keep the noise down." Kakashi muttered, coming round the corridor with his usual lack of interest, despite the scuffle with Kabuto, "This IS a hospital you know."
Naruto grumbled as Domon snickered at him, whilst Recca chuckled. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei!" the enjutsu-shi chirped, "We got a request to ask you-!"
Kakashi held up a hand, stalling the teen in mid-sentence. "I can tell what you're about to say," he muttered, "I've already looked into finding someone to monitor your training."
Recca blinked, completely caught off guard. "Uh… actually, we wanted YOU to do it." He stated, scratching his head. "We figured you had to know some stuff to help us in the finals at least."
Kakashi winced as they looked at him expectantly. 'They aren't going to like this…' he predicted, before putting on his best negotiation face.
"I'm really sorry guys," the jounin muttered, scratching his head awkwardly, "I've got some business to take care of, so I don't have the time to look after you guys."
The trio stared at him in shock as he finished, and for a moment Kakashi thought he'd pulled it off, before their faces set into identical scowls.
"I get it." Naruto spat, scowling at him in disgust, "You're training Sasuke, aren't you?!"
"Now, now; don't say that!" Kakashi said, inwardly wincing, at being caught out so quickly, "I've looked into finding someone whose lots better than-"
"Yeah whatever." Naruto spat, turning on his heel and stomping off without bothering to hear the man out. "Be sure to spit the bastard's dick out when you're done." He snarled over his shoulder, before stomping down the corridor amidst looks of shock from the hospital staff.
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Kakashi blinked at the venom in the teen's voice as he walked off, Domon and Recca glaring at him in disgust didn't make things any easier for him.
"We've lost all respect for you, Hatake." Recca growled, turning to follow his Outoto, spitting on the man's last name like it was poisonous.
Domon didn't deign to say anything, he didn't even take a swipe at the jounin like Kakashi thought he would've; he just turned on his heel and marched off after his teammates, silent as a mountain.
The jounin honestly would have preferred to be decked by the giant; it wouldn't have hurt as much as watching the looks of betrayal on their faces as they turned their backs on him.
Kakashi moaned and covered his eyes, shaking his head at how badly he had screwed things up.
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Naruto was stomping down the corridor, scaring the nurses with the rage in his eyes, as they wondered if the seal had finally snapped and made for the hills.
'God damn, two faced, copycat bastard!' he swore mentally, teeth gnashing together in his ire, 'So much for that damn teamwork motto! He's been focusing on Sasuke from the damn start!'
"You're a failure Hinata." A cultured voice muttered, causing the blonde's ears to twitch, "for a member of the main house to fall to the branch family…disgraceful."
Naruto paused in mid-rant and glared at the door at the end of the hall, where the voice came from. Looking through the crack revealed a distraught Hinata being yelled at by an older looking version of Neji, presumably her father.
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Hyuuga Hiashi was about to open his mouth to say something else when the door to the room was kicked open, catching him quite painfully in the side.
"Watch where your standing, you coulda hurt somebody." Naruto muttered, looking at the Hyuuga head as he leaned against the wall, holding his back and twitching.
Hinata blinked at sight of the blonde and flushed. "N-Naruto-kun…" she stammered, surprised at the unexpected visit.
The blonde snorted and thumbed over his shoulder at the girl's father. "Heard the windbag down the hallway," he muttered, earning a squeak and a glare respectively from the Hyuugas, "think most of the hospital did too."
"Boy…" Hiashi warned, standing at his full height and gazing down at the blonde, "Do you know to whom you are speaking?"
"An asshole?" The blonde replied, smirking at the look of shock that adorned the man's face, "From the shit you were spouting at Hinata a while ago, you sure as hell must be."
The Hyuuga head glared at the boy, a vein pounding on his forehead as he activated his Byakugan, irked at the little affect it apparently had on him.
"You trespass in matters that don't concern you." Hiashi muttered, his tone final, "Leave now."
Many a man had seen that look in Hyuuga Hiashi's eyes and knew that any further arguments would result in a quick death via Jyuken, something that Hiashi was EXTREMLY eager to provide when angered. Wise men knew better than to tempt Hiashi's hair trigger.
Hanabishi Naruto was not such a man.
"Fuck off." The blonde remarked, causing Hinata to let out a startled squeak and Hiashi to swell with rage.
"How dare you!" the man roared, clearly at the very limits of his extremely short patience, "I am the head of the Hyuuga clan, and will not be spoken to like that!"
Naruto snorted derisively, not impressed in the slightest. "Right-right, PLEASE fuck off then, that any better?" he asked, smirking at the man.
Hiashi was about to attack the blonde when Kurenai entered, looking for all the world like she HADN'T been eavesdropping the whole time.
"Hiashi-sama?" she greeted respectfully, "Hinata needs her rest, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
The Hyuuga head glared at the leering blonde, before turning on his heel and storming out of the room, head held high. 'You have won for now brat,' he muttered, 'but I shall not forget this indignity…you can be certain of that.'
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"What a dickhead." Naruto snorted, allowing his sword to slide back into the sheath, having pushed it out slightly with his thumb, "I can see where Neji gets his 'charming' personality."
Hinata flushed, having not seen ANYONE stand up to her father like that, let alone for HER sake. "Ano…Naruto-kun…" she began, then froze as he placed a hand on her head, flushing a familiar scarlet hue.
"You better rest up, Hinata." Naruto ordered, smirking at her kindly, "You gotta come see me kick your asshole cousin's ass in the finals…" He ruffled her hair affectionately before turning on his heel. "I'll beat him for you." He promised, smiling over his shoulder.
The poor girl watched as he turned and left, nodding to Kurenai as he did so, before touching her lips. 'Just now…I wanted to ask him…' she sighed and shook her head, 'No…Naruto would never do that…it was only a dream…'
Hinata blinked as Kurenai sighed, interrupting her train of thought for the moment.
"I'm glad you're okay," the jounin said warmly, checking her charge's forehead and sighing in relief, "I guess Naruto's 'Kiss of life' thing really works."
Hinata turned beet red, before fainting away, steam rising off her forehead as a shocked Kurenai stared at her in shock.
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Hyuuga Hiashi stormed into the Hyuuga complex and barricaded himself in his study, forbidding anyone else from entering under penalty of death via Jyuken or the caged bird seal respectively.
The man had never been this riled up in his life, he felt like he actually wanted to PUNCH something! He, Hyuuga Hiashi, had been treated like some commoner, had been insulted, in front of his own daughter no less, by the lowest rung on the Konoha societal ladder!
Hyuuga's were world renowned for never showing emotion in public; their faces naturally exhibited a type of superior calm that bordered on emotionless. In fact the angrier a skilled Hyuuga became, the more haunting that same emotionless expression became, as if you were staring at a Noh mask.
A chip had formed in Hiashi's mask, and it was threatening to widen to a crack as a result of the demon brat.
'I will not stand for this!' he growled, marching out of his study and slamming the door shut, startling the branch family servants that were tidying the hallway as he stomped towards the training yard.
"What do you think happened?" one asked, nodding towards the Hyuuga head's retreating back, the other merely shrugged and went back to sweeping the hallway.
"Do I care?" he muttered sarcastically, "You wanna risk the seal by asking him?"
The first flinched and went back to work, sweeping away at the hall with increased gusto.
Hiding behind a corner, Hyuuga Suzuka stared at the receding form of her brother-in-law and sighed. 'Hizashi…see how things have degraded since your passing?' she looked up at the roof, 'Hiashi is no longer the man he once was, and our children are being alienated by this insufferable family feud.'
She sighed again and retreated to her chambers, shaking her head all the way. 'But I will be patient.' She vowed, 'I will await the light that will sever these ties of hatred.'
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Naruto sneezed, sending his noodles soaring across the table to drape over a mortified Tokiya. "NARUTO!" the swordsman roared, jabbing his chopsticks into the blonde's skull, "COVER YOUR DAMN MOUTH!"
Naruto winced and scratched his head in embarrassment, as the others broke into laughter at the sight of the usually reserved Mikagami freaking out.
'Coulda sworn I felt someone talking about me.' The blonde muttered, before shrugging and accepting a fresh bowl from a smiling Kagero, 'Ah well, I'm sure it wasn't anything important.'
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What ominous signs are these? Who is Hyuuga Shizuka? What could she possibly mean by 'a light to sever ties of hatred'? And just how will the rest of team 7 prepare for the exams, with Kakashi and Sasuke training in solitude?
Kaka-mummy: Muuurrgggghhh! (lurches forwards, arms outstretched)
Kyugan: Goukayuu no jutsu!
Kaka-mummy: (burnt to ashes)...
Kyugan: Yo, Josuke, do your stuff.
Josuke: CRAZY DIAMOND!
CD: ORA! (punches the ashes, the reform into Kakashi, completely healed)
Kakashi: buh? wha-happened? Last thing I remember is burning in a lake of fire with these little bastards with pitchforks dancing about.
Kyugan: Satan owes Hiruma a few favours, which means you owe him big for getting you back.
Kakashi: What's he want me to do, (catches a bundle and looks at it,) oh god no...
(Several minutes later)
Kakashi (dressed up as a T-bine steak and covered in Gravy) YAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
Cerberos: GRAAAAAOOOOOWWWWR!
Kyugan (looks to Hiruma): We cool?
Hiruma: YA-HA!
Kyugan: I'll take that as a yes.
Kakashi: I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS! (CHOMP) (Girlish scream) MY CLAVIN!