I do not own Naruto as a game, Manga, Anime series or a character. All original characters are mine though :P
Hi no Ishi (The will of Fire) - Five Ninja Academy Students
It's been a week since the Ninja-tag games. Class is back in full swing. However, it seems that certain students are holding back some painful secrets. What are they hiding? And why?
All underlined terms are explained at the end of the chapter.
~Hinata's POV~
It's been a year since our senior class started. A full twelve months of starting every morning together in the same six by five metre classroom. Fifty-two weeks of Monday to Friday classes together. Roughly three-hundred school days spent together… and I have yet to make a single friend.
'Maybe my expectations of a friend are too high?' No, that couldn't be further from the truth. I am just too shy to open my mouth to say 'hi'. 'I can't even say two words without stuttering.' Even then, the first word is always 'ano', so I have plenty of practice saying THAT word.
"… so you could say that Konoha is really just…" Iruka-sensei's droning was soothing most days, but today he picked the founding clans as subject matter. As fascinating as it was, it was something I had been taught long ago.
"… Senju Touka married into the Hyuuga clan as a token of…" I never did ask about that, perhaps Kou-san would know more? He's the closest thing I have to a friend…
"Iruka-sensei, if that's true then that would make Tatsuko-chan and Hinata-chan cousins, right?" Kiba-kun asked.
"Well, I'm not really sure about that. Perhaps the girls can answer that one?" Sensei looked at me expectantly, but he wasn't too surprised when I looked away – I think. "Tatsuko-chan?"
I think she shrugged, or something – seeing that sensei simply continued after that as if nothing had happened. "... which brings us to the Uzumaki clan, which Naruto is the last known member of." Na-Na-Naruto-kun...? Suddenly Iruka-sensei had my undivided attention. "Distant relatives to the Senju Clan, the Uzumaki were renowned for their Fuuinjutsu – which became so feared that Iwa and Kumo teamed up to conquer them in the last phases of the Second Great Shinobi War. The surviving members of that clan fled to – among other places – Konoha, though it is believed that some of the younger ones got lost along the way."
"So the dobe is actually someone important?" Sasuke asked. Well, I would sooner say he brooded with an open mouth – that boy is so...mean-spirited.
'How could he say that about Naruto-kun! He's been doing his best and really catching up! He always does his best!'
"They are greater than the Uchiwa clan, Sasume. So watch your tongue." Hikaru-kun always had a strange way of talking, especially to Sasuke. He would use harsh words, mispronounce every name he could, but he never spoke angrily. In fact it was as if, in his opinion, Sasuke wasn't worth getting emotional about – or anyone really. His attitude towards everyone is just so... cold...
"What was that?"
"You heard me. In Konoha, there are FOUR great clans – also known as the Founding Clans. That is what this whole lecture is about. You should pay better attention."
"Common knowledge, Yukikami. What's your point?"
"You are one of four, dipshit. One of Four. Senju, Uzumaki, Hyuuga and Uchiwa. One of four. You are no more special that the other three."
"The strongest clan in the Elemental Nations is now and always has been the Uchiha Clan!"
I think that was where Tatsuko drew the line. Just the mention of Sasuke's Clan's name seemed to set off some chain reaction in her. She stood up and said something I don't think I could ever forget: "Iruka-sensei, I will make this perfectly clear, either the Sasuke leaves, or I leave. I have no desire to sit here and listen to him brag over the pride of a clan long dead."
Why won't I forget her words? The complete change in her demeanor. She seemed to sit up a little straighter, she gripped her pen a little tighter, her legs, shoulders and biceps tensed. And when she spoke, it was in a manner that simply demanded utter respect, while showcasing her self confidence... How I envy her for that.
"Tatsuko-chan, I'm sorry, but I cannot allow either case. My lec-"
"Sensei, perhaps I was unclear. If that waste of sperm wishes to be the most important person in this room, I will leave and grant his wishes. This is non negotiable, even if you demand we report to the Hokage, there is no way in HELL I will stay here." With that she simply started walking. She didn't wait, she no longer asked... she didn't care. A sign of either arrogance... or confidence.
Seeing that Hikaru, Kiba, Yuuna and Naruto got up to leave with her, I would assume it was the latter.
"Don't you dare walk away!" Sasuke responded, just as they were reaching the door. From the corner of my eye, I noticed his hand reaching into his pocket as if to throw something. What was worse, I could see Tatsuko and group already tensing and waiting to react.
"ENOUGH!" Iruka-sensei's genjutsu demon-head shouted. Sensei is many things, but he is no fool. He could tell that blood would be shed if he did nothing.
If only he had acted sooner...
Just as a kunai was leaving his hand, just as the die was cast and a war was about to break out between two ancient clans once again...
Two loud cracks resounded through the room, followed by a very crisp voice ringing out over everyone's shock. "Arrogant fuck." All I can honestly say that I saw was two blurs.
Hikaru-kun – the one who spoke – and Naruto-kun must have shunshinned over to Sasuke, which was amazing in and of itself... but what really took my breath away was the look in Naruto-kun's eyes. The steely resolve I found there, the desire to stop Sasuke at all costs... the absolute refusal to let anyone get hurt... "Naruto-kun..."
"I think they killed 'im." I heard Kiba-kun say, though it sounded like he was smiling from ear to ear.
"A shame they didn't. Sensei, I would advise a medic. Hikaru, Naruto, we're leaving." As they – once again – turned to leave, I looked at Sasuke. There was sizable crack in the concrete, and a blood smear leading to the side of his head. Then... just as Naruto was passing in front of me – luckily I was sitting in the front row – I realized that my head was just about at his waist... my eyes – tilted slightly downwards, as always - were gazing at the slight bulge in his pants...
There was a brief moment where I realized that that the bulge was getting bigger all the time... 'I don't think that it's hard... it's just big!'
I passed out after that... I think...
'Another day comes to a close - another opportunity, cast to the wind.' I think that everyday, just as I pass through the final door to exit the school. Today is no different. 'I suppose Otou-sama is right, no good will come of me.'
'I wonder why I didn't see Naruto-kun after he left with the others. Did he get in trouble? And what about Kiba-kun? Surely they wouldn't get in trouble for defending their own against an uncalled for attack. But was it really an attack? The kunai barely even left his ha-'
"Senju Touka."
"Ah!" I honestly thought my heart was going to stop. I was so preoccupied with my own thoughts that I didn't notice anyone waiting for me just outside the door. "ano… h-he-hello… tatsuko-chan… wh-wh-wha-"
"Sensei asked earlier about Senju Touka, the Genjutsu mistress of the Senju clan." Her voice was calm, even… unafraid. She didn't stutter, fidget or use any slang. Even her diction was perfect. If only I could be like that…
"h-hai…"
"Kou-san mentioned 'the mingled history of the clans' before, do you remember?" I could only nod this time. "Do you want to hear about it?"
"ano… i mean… that is to say… i…" Why am I so flustered? She's just trying to be friendly!
Tatsuko-chan held out her hand, with her palm facing me. 'Stop.' She then took a deep breath, with both hands – palms facing down, level with the ground slowly wafting higher… She seemed to lead with the heel of her palm, her fingers swimming along with the motions – almost resembling silk scarf while it's dancing around her. When her hands reached about shoulder height she stopped for a moment. Gently – almost gracefully – her hands wafted back down as she breathed out.
She then looked at me expectantly. 'Breathe?' She nodded. 'Can you read my mind?' Her hands wafted higher again. I'm not sure why, but I breathed with the slow and steady rhythm she set for me. In… Out... In… Out… In… Out…
'I feel so calm – so at ease.' It wasn't until the warmth of her hand on my shoulder caught me off guard, that I even realised that I had shut my eyes – which became somewhat obvious when they snapped open.
'Senju Tatsuko… really… who are you?'
Kou-san decided to take Tatsuko-chan and I to a... biitsu... biituro... bii-su-tu-ro to have lunch – he said something about owing her as much…? Well, she seemed to know what he was talking about. With every passing moment, the list of oddities about her got longer. Not oddities – that's not quite right… um… mysteries? Yes, that'll do. The list of mysteries surrounding her is quite long. 'Who are you?'
"Hinata-sama, is the food to your liking?" Kou-san tugged me back from my 'own little world', as he liked to call it.
"nn." I affirmed, carefully taking a few nibbles of food – some weird mix of ramen noodles, with a much thicker sauce, and a combination of ground chicken and beef rolled into balls about an inch and a half thick, then sprinkled with a powdery cheese – to satisfy his concern. I had always been taught to eat only little bits – as to not make any mess – but this food was making it difficult. The weird utensils weren't helping very much either, though they were slightly more useful than chopsticks would have been.
Tatsuko, on the other hand, seemed to fare fairly well with the – what were they called again... - 'foruku' and 'spuunu'? She had abandoned the knife quickly and was rolling the noodles into a swirl by rotating the fork along its vertical axis at a ninety degree angle into the dip in the head of the spoon. The noodles seemed to bunch up into well behaved clumps, which is when she would slurp it up... Ungraceful, messy and highly inappropriate, but the effectiveness of her technique made up for it.
All the while, though we were quiet, I could feel a warmth about her. I'm not sure what it was exactly – something... something comfortable. It was an incredible feeling.
It was like she didn't mind the quirks that were glaringly obvious in my behaviour, though it was obvious that she noticed. She knew, but clearly didn't care.
Even when I was staring at the sauce that had stuck on her face, she just smiled at me, then she tugged her eyebrows together and frowned slightly. It was an action that was undone as quickly as it was done, clearly a private message. 'I think that's her way of asking what's wrong.' I took my napkin and rubbed at the spot on my face, trying to hint at the location on her face.
She dabbed her finger gently on the exact spot – though I am glad she did so on her face and not mine – and noticed the sauce smear. She licked the sauce away, dabbed at the spot again, and repeated the action until she noticed no more redness on her digit. She then looked at me a little funny, like she was puzzling something together.
I looked at her napkin, trying not to smile at her actions, but I'm sure she noticed anyway.
"You remind me of Yuuna." Tatsuko announced, after giggling in spite of herself. I assume that's a good thing, because she and Yuuna-chan were always together and got along well enough – as far as I can tell. "Always willing to bend over backwards to make people happy, and never thinking of yourself."
"gomen." I lowered my head, to the right… like I always do. 'I can't seem to do anything right, can I…?'
"If you are sorry about being similar to some I love dearly, or reminding me about the most cherished characteristic of that same someone… then perhaps we need to work on more than just our homework for Anko-sensei's medical class tomorrow. Ne?" I nodded, but felt too embarrassed to look her in the eyes. She was right, of course.
I watched Tatsuko-chan all afternoon – while we were chatting on the way to the Hyuuga compound, while we were practicing the newest techniques from the medical elective (a simple detoxify jutsu we were to practice on small vials of a weak snake venom), even during dinner with Otou-sama and Hanabi-chan. She was wearing a mask. No… she only wore one mask at a time, but he had dozens of masks to choose from.
The fervent student, the counselor, the big sister, the yojinbo, the ballerina, the heiress, the artist… all masks – and those were just the ones I could identify.
'What lies beneath those masks? Who is in there? Do I even have the right to wonder?'
"… Touka of the Second House of the Senju Clan is the younger sister of Tobirama, the Nidaime Hokage. She married Hyuuga Shumei who was nearly a decade her senior-" Great-grandmother Touka was born a Senju? "which would technically make us sixth cousins."
"Furthermore, Tobirama's only son, Nobuyoki married Hyuuga Ikumi of the Cadet branch. They had three children, Arashi, who became an ANBU captain by the age of fourteen, and the twins Nanami – the elder of the two – who later became your mother..." … I'm pretty sure all brain functions stopped for a moment... "… and Senju Emi... my mother."
'Her eyes…' As shocked as I was, I almost missed a gap in her mask. For a fraction of a second her mask fell… I think. There was an emotion that her eyes refused to show through all her other masks, so this had to be real… 'She looks so sad…' No, sad isn't right… empty, hollow… defeated.
"ano… w-what h-h-happened to her…?" There it is again. That look.
"… she died…" Was all she would commit to, but this time the look wouldn't go away. Suddenly I felt horrible for bringing it up.
"gomen… it must be p-painf-ful to t-talk about…" I tried to wrap an arm around her, to try to comfort her in some way… anything to make that look go away. 'It's my fault for bringing it up, I have to do something!'
"Well, I think that's enough for one afternoon." She got up, with her happy-go-lucky Ino-mask already firmly in place, bowed respectfully and left. I don't think I'd ever seen someone leave so fast in my life.
"gomen… gomen… gomen…" I repeated over and over again, trying to will away the tears that were marring what little make-up I usually wore.
'No good will come of me, ne Otou-sama.'
"Focus." I honestly don't know why I bother sometimes. "Focus." No matter how many times I say it, it will never get better. "FOCUS!" Not so loud! Otou-sama and the others will get mad if my training disturbs them.
"How can I ever expect to get better, if I cannot focus?" How long have I been trying to make that stupid little light shine? Hours? Days? ...weeks? I don't know.
My muscles are heavy with fatigue. My fingers and palms are decorated with chakra burns. 'I'll need to make another salve soon...'
Slowly I took in the scene around me. The dojo, reserved only for the main family to practice, was a mess. The practice dummy I've been hitting for hours is starting to splinter – luckily I've been aiming away from those spots, or it would've been more work to clean the blood off it.
'That look.' Naruto-kun had that look that day too. That look. It was completely different from the look Otou-sama reserved for a failure like me. Completely different from the look the other Hyuugas had for the disgrace I am, in stead of the heiress I should be.
But through all of that... there was that warmth. 'Our mother's were sisters. Twins even!' I didn't question it, I didn't doubt it... I simply didn't want to. I wanted it to be real, to be true.
It was a bit weird that a female was... exchanged... 'Kami-sama, that sounds so cold... but I can't think of any other way to explain it.' It is almost as if there is an agreement to mix the Hyuuga and Senju bloodlines... Is that where Tatsuko got her Doujutsu from? 'I still haven't even asked about that...'
Over and over, I sensed a pattern... a clue, a... I don't know... something.
The queasy feeling in my gut didn't comfort me in the least though...
The moment I set foot in Iruka-sensei's classroom, Tatsuko energetically greeted me and waved me over. She was all smiles – not even a hint of the look that haunted me all night.
I glanced around the room, trying to see who was already here and how everyone's day was shaping up. Closet to the door were Sakura and Ino – as always. They seemed to be arguing about something again – probably Sasuke. There was an undercurrent of something in the way they spoke to each other – like they were expecting more than they were getting, but both refusing to admit what they wanted. The resulting frustration of not getting... whatever they were looking for... is them always fighting – about everything. They were clearly having an argument – apparently about who had the nicer hair? And the shinier hair... and the longer... and the...
'It's no wonder why guys don't understand girls, I can't make heads or tails with those two.'
Behind them sat the ever stoic Shino – much to their often spoken of annoyance – and behind him sat Shikamaru – 'Taking a nap as usual, that boy is the exact opposite of Naruto-kun.' – and Chouji, who seemed to be following his friend's lead...
I had the weirdest thought of Sakura and Ino hooking up with Shikamaru and Chouji... I looked away quickly and stiffled a giggle as I thought about a seventy year old Shikamaru grumbling 'mendokusei' while Sakura was shouting at the top of her lungs.
The to the front of the class, nearest the window, sat Yuuna. She too was difficult to figure out - at first glance at least. Sometimes she spoke fluent 'ditzy', sometimes she spoke fluent 'geek-speak', but mostly she was just quiet. 'She seems to be working on yet another drawing, this one was six stick figures - about 7 heads high - fighting... I guess that's kinda cute.'
Behind her was Hikaru, ever her shadow. He was simply bored - nothing more. He had his arms folded on his desk, with his chin resting on the soft side of his elbow. His eyes seemed to dance along with Yuuna's pencil as she drew though - and if you looked closely enough, you could almost see his admiration of her... technique. 'I guess I'll sneak a peak when she's done with her work then. If Hikaru-kun is this entranced, then something has to be good about it.'
To Hikaru's right sat Kiba-kun. He was laying back in his chair taking a nap, with a clearly snoring Akamaru stuffed in his shirt. 'Kawaii!'
Tatsuko sat in front of him, smiling at me, waving with the same friendly smile she wore two seconds ago when I walked in. I waved back - shyly I guess, but she didn't seem to mind. She was wearing the shade she seemed to have a thing for. It's like they never left her face much any more. ' I guess I've gotten so used to it that I didn't even notice it at all yesterday... weird.' She was clearly in a calm and happy place, unlike...
'Na-Na... Naruto-kun...' I instinctively took in a sharp breath, which seemed to grab his attention. At first he had a bored look on his face - somewhere between taking a nap and wanting to shout alloud about his becomming Hokage. Then, as his eyes landed on me... Something changed... something... 'That warmth... it's like the coldness in his eyes is melting... Is it getting hot in here?'
I quickly sat down next to Tatsuko-chan, right in front of... him. I could feel his eyes lingering on me.
"Mornin'..." His voice seemed to make me tingle. I knew for a fact that my whole face was a red as a tomato, so I mumbled a good morning back to him, while hiding my face from everyone.
"She's not much of a morning person either, Otouto-kun." Tatsuko whispered to set him at ease. But somehow I think her plan backfired in my face.
I heard the fabric of his clothes ruffling a bit, and his chair creeked to show his weight was shifting in some fashion. Then I felt it... There was a warmth on my neck and the right side of my face as he whispered something to me... With each passing second I could feel the room's temperatue skyrocket higher than the second that proceeded it... I could hear every nuance of his private message, but somehow my mind couldn't capture it. I was far too engrossed in... everything else.
Something about mornings and bad ramen?
I didn't notice Sasuke was brooding in the corner behind Hikaru until a half hour later.
Time came for P.E. One of my favorite classes, mostly because of the possibilities presented - it was one of the few times that we were allowed to have fun during school hours. It was also one of the few times I was allowed to be just another student.
Usually in class, I was expected to be the perfect student - worthy of the Hyuuga name. During gym though, rank and heritage meant nothing. No, less than nothing. Everyone had to do as they were told, everyone had to do the same stretches, laps, acrobatics and learn the same taijutsu stances and moves.
I loved every minute of it.
"All right everyone, time for some stretches." Iruka-sensei announced. We were in the indoor gymnasium, mostly to keep the younger students from trying the things we were supposed to be learning. Sensei let his legs spread wide into a sideways-split, which earned him some weird, almost pain filled, noises from the boys.
"The point of these stretches are to loosen up the muscles in the inner and outer thighs, which makes the kicks we are going to be practicing a little later much easier. Now for those of you who cannot immediately do this first stretch, there is an easier way which I will explain shortly." He smiled at all of us. "But first I would like you to try with my help."
Gym used to be given through the combined efforts of Iruka-sensei, Tsubaki-sensei and Mizuki-sensei. Then, about six months ago, Mizuki-sensei disappeared. I noticed about the same time that the Bakemono-juusou had taken Naruto-kun under its wing.
Ever since Naruto has been inseparable from them.
I even remember a few times that I was... training... my stealth and tracking skills...
/ "All right, who took my ninjato?" Hikaru seemed a little upset, which probably meant someone was going to get hurt.
"Relax otouto-kun, I had Yuuna bring it for you to practice. I figured you wouldn't have the time to get it yourself, since you were keeping watch." Tatsuko placated.
"...fine." He groused – obviously still not happy, but not in a position to argue.
"So anyway, what are we supposed to be doing here?" Naruto-kun asked, though I can't be sure if it was to change the subject entirely or if he was just bored of standing around.
"Training, of course." Hikaru answered, allowing himself a little smile.
"Ossu! Let's get to it then!"
"Of course! Once Hinata makes up her mind if she's joining us or stalking us..." /
I remember panicking after that, though for some reason I can't remember how I reacted exactly. Eventually I always ran, never able to really face anything.
But then, there was the times when I caught them mid practice, or more recently when I would stay in my room keeping an eye on Na-Na-Na... him.
There is something infectious about him – a willingness to succeed regardless of the odds stacked against him. Complete confidence in himself. I craved that.
/ "Stop fighting it, you arrogant bitch!" One of the bullies shouted as I tried to break away once again. I had accidentally run right into one of them in the middle of town as I was dashing through the streets – too upset with Otou-sama's harsh words after having lost to Hanabi-imouto-chan.
'If they want to beat me up, fine. But why are they taking me so far away from town?'
Farther and farther we walked, and eventually I stopped fighting – they were at least twelve, four years older than me, and there were three of them! What else could I do?
Eventually they got to a spot they liked, and the one that was dragging me raised his free hand – it looked like he preferred a backhand slap just like Otou-sama after his first bottle of sake.
I braced myself, scrunching my eyes shut as tightly as I could.
When I heard a loud thud, I expected a familiar explosion of pain, but it never came. I slowly opened one eye to spy what was going on – briefly wondering why there was a cry of pain that was not coming from me
The first thing I noticed was a good sized rock being pelted at the boys, and there was already signs of a broken nose on one of them. "I'm going kill that worthless..." /
"Hinata-chan, you're up next." Iruka-sensei announced, gently tugging me back to the real world. I performed the split without much trouble, most of the girls did. Sakura-chan being the only exception, much to her frustration.
Obviously I was the last to perform the stretch, seeing that we were divided into two groups after that. That's when the world came crashing down on me... Naruto was being placed in my group...
We were supposed to go over to one side and stretch, while Iruka-sensei helped the others. It was much harder on him now that he had to give this class by himself, but that meant that I was left with no defenses...
I couldn't try to ignore him like I was paying attention in class – seeing that were weren't there. I couldn't run away, because school was far from over. I couldn't hide behind anyone or anything – the gym was basically one big, obstacle-free jungle that was threatening to swallow me whole.
'Calm down... Breathe...' Suddenly I remembered what Tatsuko-chan had taught me the other day to help calm down. I took in a deep breath, and let it out before my chest exploded. I tried to remember the rhythm she set, but all I could remember was those eyes.
Those eyes.
Those... beautiful... eyes...
I could get lost in those eyes, and I tend to do just that when our eyes meet. I can feel my heart beating faster... I think I'm breathing faster too... There's just something about the way he looks at me. Some power just swoops in a steals the air out of my lungs... I think...
The world is fading away – like he is the only thing that matters. No, he is the only thing that matters. His lips are swimming through the air – hopefully whispering something to me, but I can't hear anything. Had I been paying attention, I might have noticed that the clamor of ninjas training in the background had fallen away too.
It was eerily similar to a fairy tale I used to read when I was a little girl... all the clutter fell away as Princess Mito's eyes fell upon the dashing foreign shinobi that had come to whisk her away... the only things that were left, was all that mattered in the world: him.
'I just wish I had the words to tell you...'
Just then, a brilliant thought hit me: 'Maybe Tatsuko-chan can help me...'
A warmth filled my insides at the very thought of making Naruto-kun like me. 'If there is a way to capture his heart... Tatsuko-chan would be able to help me find it... I hope...'
A/N: OMG, I'm not dead? Seriously? COOL!
For real though, my appologies that this is taking forever. I even released this chapter before combing and preening it to perfection (as close as my work ever gets). Has anyone noticed that Kiravu posts like 6 times faster than me?
Anyways, this chapter says all I want it to (or hint at all I want it to), which is good. There was supposed to be one more chapter for Hinata's flashback, but I think I'll leave it at this for this Arc. Now, I will leave it up to my reviewer(s) to decide if the next Arc will be posted within this same story, or posted as a separate story.
The blame for all tardiness, and spelling and grammar slaughter is all on me - there is only so much Kiravu can chew me out over :P
Bakemono juusou - Deamon Trio.