Hinata took a swig of water as she watched Naruto.
Apparently his horrible Taijutsu back in the day was caused because of a lack of a good teacher, because Naruto was quick to learn. In less than six hours he had the basics down, and after another three he was performing the harder and finer points of the Taijutsu with ease.
Just as she thought it, Naruto quickly threw a powerful palm thrust towards the training dummy, and then used his arm to pivot his whole body so that his legs came into contact with the dummy's head. After three quick, blur-like kicks to the head, Naruto jumped off the dummy and landed back in the Jyuuken stance.
The dummy's head fell off.
Naruto smiled, "Boo-ya."
"Alright Naruto," Hinata asked, "What was that?"
"Just trying something out." Naruto replied.
"Well I'd wish you'd stop, were running out of training dummies."
Naruto took a quick look at the pile of wood and straw that held all of the used dummies. The pile was a little taller than Naruto.
"Well, maybe." He said.
Hinata shook her head. "Alright, time for a spar." She said, before slipping in the Jyuuken stance. "No chakra attacks and no weapons, solely physical hits."
"Bring it." Naruto said, a smile on his face. The two glared at each other with mock stares before charging. Hinata threw a palm thrust at Naruto's chin, which he expertly dodged and counter-attacked with a mean right hook.
Hinata leaned back at an impossible angle to remain standing up to dodge the strike, and then launched three strikes in quick succession.
Naruto used his forearm to push the strikes away before going for a strike to Hinata's stomach, which was expertly dodged with a quick back-step.
Naruto attacked with three more quick strikes to Hinata's arms, legs and head.
Hinata moved around the strikes with ease before hitting Naruto's shoulder.
The moment she did though, Naruto's own attack got her in the stomach.
They both retreated for a moment, gathering together their strength. Naruto charged first, followed by Hinata. They met in the center of the field, throwing ruthless strikes.
The match kept up like this, with each round ending in simultaneous strikes.
They were about to begin the sixth round when Niligol showed up. "Outcast-san!" He cried.
"Hang on, Hinata, this is important." Naruto said, relaxing.
Hinata nodded and slipped out of her stance.
"Shoot, Niligol." Naruto said.
"We have word of three teams of Kumo nins encroaching on the Haven."
Hinata, in that moment saw Naruto change. All of the good in him was suddenly replaced with anger. The Outcast grabbed Niligol by the collar. "Where?"
"Three miles east. They got past the Genjutsu marker."
Naruto dropped the scarred man. "They'll wish they hadn't." He said before disappearing in a yellow flash.
Niligol came over to Hinata. "Come on miss, let's get you home."
The Kumo nins jumped through the forest, bent on finding and taking out the Outcast. They were home sick, and battle weary, so these three teams came up with a plan, they were going to find the Outcast and kill him, then go back to the village to be excepted as Heroes and let all of the other losers fight for them.
All in all, it was a good plan, except for the figure who sat in the trees, unseen by their own eyes.
As the three teams made camp that night, the figure watched them with cold, read, angry eyes.
After the camp had been set up, three of the ninjas, one from each team set up watch. The figure watched them for an hour, before making his move.
When it was time for the watch to change, three more ninjas woke up and went outside, only to find no one was there.
Unless you count the three decapitated bodies hanging from vines.
The three ninjas backed up and woke the other three.
The six ninjas were now carefully patrolling the area, using whatever weapon they had to try and scare the enemy away.
One of them sighed and sat down. "Alright guys, I think he's gone, we haven't heard anything for a while." Suddenly, a rope tightened around the ninjas legs, and before he could scream, he was dragged into the forest.
The remaining five ninjas huddled together, their weapons out, carefully treading to make sure they didn't step in another trap.
Suddenly, a voice echoed around the clearing. "You think that you can just walk up to my home?" The voice asked, killing intent lacing the words. "You have the gall to threaten both Konoha and me?"
The five remaining ninjas began to cower.
"Well this is what happens to those who think they can get away with that." As soon as he said the words, a figure dropped from the trees, but was stopped short by two ropes wrapped around his arms. It was the ninja that had just disappeared into the forest, and he was headless.
The body swung for a second before the other ninjas began to silently panic.
The sound of a deep inhale was heard. "Fear. I love the smell of fear." The voice began to sound demonic, as if Lucifer himself had said the words.
The ninja were shaking like Genin facing a Jounin's killing intent.
Suddenly a figure appeared before them. He wore a black mask and hood, with a headband of a dead village around his head. A white coat with red flames licking at the hem covered green armor. In his hand was a sword that gave a soft, white glow. His red eyes seemed to hold them in a demonic stare. "It's too late to run. It's too late to apologize. And now, your lives are forfeit."
One of the ninjas, gather what strength and wit he had, charged the Outcast, kunai in hand.
The man was four feet away before an arch of light appeared and spilt the kunai he was holding in half.
The Kumo nin's eye widened before the shimmering blade went through his stomach. The man fell to the ground without a sound, dead. The Outcast reached down and pulled the headband off the man, before making three quick slashes in the forehead, the 'N' of death had struck.
The other nins cowered.
As they should.
Another one, figuring he was going to die anyway, charged the Outcast, but not before the Outcast had finished performing a series of handsigns. "Chaos Spear jutsu!" The Outcast cried, as his arm was suddenly covered in a powerful, blue-white-grey energy. Just as the Kumo nin was within range, the energy released itself, blowing a foot-diameter hole in the ninjas stomach.
"Next." The Outcast said, as the ninja who charged him fell to the ground.
The ninjas didn't move.
"If you won't come to me, then I'll come to you." The Outcast said, taking a step forward that shook the earth beneath them.
That morning, The Outcast's warning now had nine more heads to add to the collection.
Naruto was walking back to the Haven. He chose to take the scenic route that day for whatever reason that was obscure to him.
Some would call it fate, other destiny, others still would call it blind luck, but that day was the beginning of a change in the world.
A kunai landed in front of the Namikaze, who, on instinct, drew Hoshiken from its sheath.
A voice that seemed eerily familiar to Naruto echoed through the forest. "Hm, let me see. Yondaime coat, doubled edged blade, giant N on breastplate. You have to be him."
Naruto kept his voice as calm as possible, "Who and where are you?"
"I honestly thought that the mighty and indomitable Outcast would know where his enemy is." The voice taunted.
Naruto's grip on Hoshiken tightened, as a feeling of familiarity snuck on him.
It hit him like a punch from Lee.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Uchiha." He said, his voice giving away nothing.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a young man with raven black hair, and onyx eyes dropped from the branches above. He wore a black coat with red clouds decorating its front and sides, and a long sword hung from the small of his back. He wore no headband.
"So, the traitor returns." The Outcast said, "Or at least, you better hope he does." He said, raising Hoshiken to the Uchiha's throat.
Sasuke's hand was already on his own hilt. "Now, now, I'm not here for a fight. I only want to talk."
The Outcast's eyes narrowed, before lowering the thin, white blade. "What do you want, traitor?"
"I'm here to ask if you have seen my brother, Uchiha Itachi."
Naruto looked at him for a second before replying, "The only traitor I have seen in this forest and let live is you." Naruto said, "And Itachi is still alive."
Sasuke looked at him for a moment. He could tell that both statements were perfectly true, but they seemed a little off. Or maybe it was only this guy's mask. "Why do you wear a mask?" He asked, mostly to himself.
The Outcast smiled behind the black cloth. "You are Uchiha Sasuke, age: eighteen, rank: missing nin, date of birth: July 23, blood type: AB, registration number: 012606, you have completed seven D-ranks, one C-rank, two B-ranks, and six A-rank missions. You graduated the academy at age twelve, you achieved the full Sharingan at thirteen, and you have yet to pass the Chuunin exams. Your teammates were Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and your sensei was Hatake Kakashi. You have one older brother, Uchiha Itachi, who killed your entire clan, except you. You were the number one rookie of your graduating academy class, you find Sakura's constant affection annoying, and you are considered very handsome by every girl near your age." The Outcast smiled bigger, "The fact of the matter is, Sasuke, that I can tell you more about your life than most, and you don't even know my real name."
Sasuke looked at him. "So you know some facts, but you still don't know who I am."
"On the contrary." The Outcast said. "You and your teammate, Uzumaki Naruto, quickly began a rivalry that slowly turned into a full-blown friendship, even though neither of you would admit it. You finally beginning to enjoy life when the Sound Four, Orochimaru's personal bodyguards, showed up and offered you power. You and your stuck up ego accepted and you left the village. Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji, Hyuuga Neji, and Inuzuka Kiba were all sent after you. All of them were held back by the Sound except Uzumaki, who fought you at the Valley of the End. You two had a fight, one of the greatest fights of all Ninjadom, he using Kyuubi's power, and you that of the cursed seal. The fight lasted for hours, sometimes you were winning the fight, other times Uzumaki was. Then it came down to one final attack, a Chidori versus a Rasengan. Both of you jumped at each other, and both attacks collided and you miraculously remained conscious afterwards. You escaped, and Naruto-san was brought back to Konoha only to be exiled as a traitor."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, "Naruto was exiled?"
"Yes, and it's all because you decided to leave the village and become something worse than Itachi."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Itachi killed and left for power, but he still spared you and his teammates. You wouldn't let anyone stand in your way, to you if they died it meant nothing."
"I had a reason to leave." Sasuke said, anger rising.
"Maybe Itachi had a reason too." Naruto said.
"He had no other reason than power!" Sasuke yelled.
"Neither did you!" The Outcast yelled back, "You were so desperate for power that you would grovel before a snake and his boy toys. You were so desperate for power that you would look anywhere and everywhere for power. You were so desperate that if all of Konoha died to give you power, you would think it no great loss." Naruto looked into the black eyes of his once friend, "I'm sure if your family was still alive, and they stood in your way, you would have killed them all in their sleep, down to the last child. There is nothing special about you. You are just a less skilled Itachi."
Sasuke grabbed his sword, ready to skewer this man who knew nothing about his life. He wanted to fry this man with every lightning jutsu he had. He wanted to kill the man who had just insulted him to no end. He wanted to call his team to surprise the man and hang his head from his own post.
The Outcast sheathed his own blade. "Now leave this forest before I decide that your life isn't worth sparing. And take your friends with you."
So much for a surprise attack. Sasuke growled, "Juugo, Karin, Suigetsu, were leaving." Sasuke turned back to watch the Outcast go, only to see air. The Outcast was gone, he left without a word, and without a sound.
As Sasuke headed back to the Akatsuki hideout, the Outcast's words reverberated in his head, "It's all because you decided to leave the village and become something worse than Itachi, you were so desperate for power that you would look anywhere and everywhere for power, Itachi killed and left for power, but he still spared you and his teammates. You wouldn't let anyone stand in your way, to you if they died it meant nothing, you were so desperate for power that you would grovel before a snake and his boy toys, I'm sure if your family was still alive, and they stood in your way, you would have killed them all in their sleep, down to the last child, you were so desperate that if all of Konoha died to give you power, you would think it no great loss, there is nothing special about you. You are just a less skilled Itachi."
The last one rung like a bell in his head.
"There is nothing special about you. You are just a less skilled Itachi."
Naruto walked back into the Haven, slightly sullen.
No one asked why.
They knew that many times, their Outcast became inexplicably sullen and no one could cheer him up.
Naruto wandered the streets, his eyes glazed over and his mouth in a frown. Anyone who smiled his way was met by a undefeatable frown, which quickly conquered the face of the one who smiled at him.
His very being seemed to scream that he was sullen, gloomy, and alone.
Then, as if his mood controlled the weather, it began to rain.
People scrambled to their houses, trying to avoid the small droplets of water. When the streets were clear, the rain began to fall harder, leaving only Naruto in the streets that were slowly turning to mud. The whole sky turned a bleak grey, and the rain just kept falling. He was almost thankful for the rain; it hid his tears from the world.
He stood there as the sky watered the world beneath, letting the rain hit him as he stood resolute.
He many times felt like this; it was him against the world. He had to stand unbreakable as the world pelted him with thousands of poison arrows. His stand was slowly killing him inside, but he had stand or no else would. He had to stand so everyone could look to him for strength. He had to stand so that the people around could pick up the pieces of their lives and put it back together, when he hadn't even picked up his own life.
But that was what being a leader was about.
He had to find the strength even though he didn't have it. He had to hold everything together, even though his own world was falling apart. He had to make sure everyone was safe, even though his own life was constantly in danger. He had to be resolute, even though he felt a soft as mud. He had to constantly get back up, even though he flet like just lying down and dying.
He had to be everything for these people, because without him, he wasn't sure if they would last. He had to be their protector, or they would succumb to fear and doubt. He had to be the unstoppable Outcast, when he was nothing more than a young man, just eighteen. He had to live up to expectations that were almost unreachable.
He just couldn't do it all.
He looked up at the grey sky, blinking away tears and raindrops alike, asking whatever god was out there why he had been exiled.
But God always has a plan, with your best interests in mind.
Naruto heard a splash behind him. He slowly turned to see Hinata running at him, her eyes held a joyful light in them, as her smile struck at something in his heart. She ran up to him and embraced him in a tight hug. "Oh Naruto-kun, you're back!" She said, burying her head into his chest. "I was worried about you." She said.
He looked down at her in surprise and acute shock as she held him tighter to her.
She had been worried?
"I'm so glad you're back." She said to him, glad for the rain, its cold drops kept her blush from showing.
She was glad?
Did that mean she cared?
Naruto looked down at her, before wrapping his arms around her. "Thank you." He whispered.
Hinata began pulling back slightly, "Let's get you inside, we don't need the Outcast catching a cold."
Naruto smiled at her, "Sure."
Hinata brought him to her tree house, and prepared two warm cups of tea. As the kettle sat on the stove that was hooked up to a hidden generator that she had yet to find, Hinata and Naruto sat together on a large couch.
"Thank you for inviting me, Hinata." Naruto said.
"It's the least I can do." She said.
They sat in silence for a while. Naruto began to feel more and more relaxed as he sat next to Hinata. Hinata was getting redder and redder as she sat next to Naruto. A lightning bolt struck outside.
"Do you think it's safe for the Exiles to live in tree houses with storms like this?" Hinata asked.
"Oh, don't worry about." Naruto said, "I have a lightning rod attached to the most of the trees with a ground wire going around the house, everyone's perfectly safe."
"You must be an excellent architect to think about that." Hinata said.
"Well…actually I learned from experience." Naruto admitted.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"My first tree house kinda burned to the ground." Naruto said, scratching the back of his head.
Hinata blinked "Was everyone ok?"
"Oh, sure, no one was in the house at the time, and there was only one lightning strike."
"That's good." Hinata said.
"Yeah it was." Naruto said, trying to find something to keep the awkward silence away.
He couldn't find anything.
So that sat in an awkward silence, Naruto scrambling to find something to say, and Hinata trying to gather the courage to say what she wanted to say.
"N-Naruto-kun." She said.
"Yeah, Hinata-chan?"
"I-I have something to tell you."
"What?"
"I-I want to say," She looked up at him, her courage starting to falter, "that I-I-I-."
The teapot whistled.
"Never mind." Hinata said, dropping her head and standing up to get the tea.
End of Chapter. Poor Hinata.