In The Name of Life

Chapter XXI

"Relax. You're home now." ~Anonymous

"So how old are you? Is your eyesight really bad? Did you cut your own hair? Aren't you cold in those clothes?"

The questions kept firing out of Naruto's mouth. He was sitting in the Raikage's office with someone. A girl, Hinata concluded.

And she felt like all those years of building up enough confidence to speak to –more importantly, fight for—Naruto were gone. As she stood on the other side of the barely open door, Hinata could hear Naruto's questions, filled with curiosity and interest. Her heart felt heavier. Just moments ago, she had seen him when she came to fetch Kakashi-sensei on his wheelchair. Hinata felt the intensity of Naruto's eyes on her frame, blood rushing to her cheeks. She thought that finally, after all those years of training, of bettering herself, he would have noticed her.

But all those overwhelming feelings crashed on the ground when she decided to return to the Raikage's office without her father's permission. Hiashi was still in the Medical Division, healing after fighting with his twin brother. Neji was with him, accompanying him. She was glad that the two of them were safe and sound, knowing how shocking the experience of fighting Hizashi was. She had helped seal her uncle away with Neji. It somehow made her feel closer to her family, to her roots. Neji was still a little shaken up by the encounter, and the medics in the Medical Division tried calming him down. Nonetheless, it was Hiashi the one who'd gotten through her cousin. They sat down and talked while Hinata took this time to return to the Raikage's office and catch another glimpse of Naruto.

Hinata's eyes saddened when she thought about all the pain that her father and Neji went through while fighting against Hizashi. Her uncle was sealed in a glass box that was especially made for the resurrected bodies. They could still talk to the bodies with protection, and her gut feeling told her that Neji may venture out and speak with his father. She would not interrupt the reunion, since Hizashi's death was her fault after all.

Which made her feel ten times worse... If she had been strong from the very beginning, Hyuuga Hizashi would still be alive. Neji would have a happy life. She would speak out her mind.

Naruto's signature laugh brought her back to reality. He continued asking random questions, highly interested at the person who was answering them. Hinata recognized a female voice, but one she had never heard before. Her stomach felt heavier, as every bit of confidence left her body.

"I'm not cold, but these chains are bothering me," the girl replied.

Maybe he found someone stronger, more confident. Maybe, even after all they've been through together, she was not enough to make him happy. It saddened her. To think that no matter how far she stretched Naruto would always need someone better.

Hinata leaned her forehead on the wall beside the entrance, and let all her insecurities reign over her emotions. This wasn't meant to happen, she thought. She was supposed to enter the Raikage's office and speak with Naruto, just so that she wouldn't miss him so much. Nonetheless, the presence of another person in the room hadn't crossed her mind. She thought that after the Hokage and Kakashi-sensei had left the office, Naruto would've been alone.

"Oh, yeah, they don't look that comfortable," she heard Naruto say.

Hinata went back into her thoughts, deafening her ears because hearing him talk to another girl so openly was too much for her. She wasn't jealous. That feeling didn't run with her true self. Sakura would have been jealous, Ino would have been jealous. But Hinata was insecure and disappointed in herself. She had so many chances of telling Naruto how she felt, just to remind him that he wasn't lonely, that if he needed someone she would be by his side no matter what happened.

She was about to take steps away from the entrance of the office, but a voice suddenly caught her attention.

"Hinata? Come in!"

Naruto was standing at the other side of the door. He was looking at her, wondering why she hadn't moved from her position. His face was really close to hers. She could make out the small lines that gave him whiskers in his cheeks. Even though he was inside the room, they'd come really close in proximity. Her cheeks were about to redden, but Naruto –oblivious, of course—moved a little away from the door and invited her in. Silently, Hinata entered the Raikage's office and confirmed her beliefs.

There was a red-haired girl sitting on one of the guest chairs. She was wrapped in chains, and sported a curious expression. She had red eyes and glasses, and her vivid red hair was cut in layers. Hinata had never seen her before, but somehow, she was aware that there was more behind the girl's sudden appearance in Naruto's life. Although Naruto was usually really friendly to the whole world, Hinata sensed that this girl held a special meaning to him.

"C'mon, sit down."

She felt her cheeks redden when Naruto touched her shoulder and gestured her to take another seat. It was an odd situation, indeed. She felt so small beside Naruto, as he confidently sat down beside the red-haired girl. Hinata followed his actions and took the third chair, sitting with her spine stiffened. Her whole body felt rigid, like she was caught frozen in the moment. She was being shy again. Shy and insecure.

Even after all that she and Naruto had been through together, she was still shy around him. It was never going to change.

Naruto continued his conversation with the red-haired girl, and he seemed more relaxed than Hinata had seen him in a while. Ever since the war started, when he first entered the battlefield and found out about Sakura's disappearance, he hadn't been himself. However, right now, in front of this new girl, he was almost back to his old self.

Almost.

"I wanna introduce you to one of my precious people," he said, taking Hinata away from her thoughts.

And, out of nowhere, Hinata felt the warmth of his hand over hers. Her cheeks began to boil again as Naruto squeezed her fingers completely unaware of her reaction.

"You already know Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei. This is Hyuuga Hinata," Naruto introduced her, with a bright grin, "She's pretty cool."

Hinata felt like smiling at that point. Naruto had just called her cool! Although it wasn't a compliment that many girls would feel flattered about, she was feeling immensely glad at Naruto's words. Any compliment from him was enough for her heart to beat faster. Naruto knew how to make her feel better without realizing. That was what she loved about him.

"And Hinata, this is Karin. She's kinda-like-my-cousin-but-not-really and..." Naruto had to chuckle at his choice of words, "Well, she's from my clan. Can you believe it? Another Uzumaki in the room!"

He wasn't really making any sense at introducing his long lost relative, but it was about time that he got used to introducing Karin to his close friends.

"Nice meeting you, Karin-san."

Despite her initial cautiousness, Karin seemed to grow warmer at Hinata's polite response. The red haired girl's initial skeptical expression had changed into a look of serenity.

"It's nice to meet you too, Hyuuga Hinata."

By the way that Karin said her family name, Hinata knew that she was familiar with her clan. Her family name was famous across the Five Great Nations, after all. The two girls remained silent while Naruto blabbered about anything. Hinata took notice at how he hadn't let go of her hand, but didn't move her own. It was nice to feel his touch, even if it was for a short while and rather forbidden.

"So is your last name Uzumaki? Did you know that your hair is like my mom's? She was reaaaaally pretty, like Hinata! But her temper was like a hot-blooded habanero, can you believe it?"

Karin shook her head at the overwhelming amount of questions that Naruto was asking her. She readjusted her glasses, and Hinata imagined how heavy her head felt with all the requests for more information. She gently tugged Naruto's hand in order to catch his attention. The Uzumaki boy stopped his blabbering and looked at Hinata with curiosity.

"Naruto-kun, I think she has a headache," she said with a gentle tone, "Perhaps she should rest for a bit."

The boy chuckled again and scratched the back of his head with his free hand, "Hah, you're probably right. Sorry, Karin-neechan! It's just that I've never met someone like you before. I'm just really curious."

If it wasn't because it was Naruto the one who was asking Karin all those questions, Hinata would have thought that the poor girl was trapped in a questioning session while chained up to a chair.

Which led her mind to wonder, why was Karin chained up?

"But what I wanna say is that... I wanna apologize on behalf of Sasuke," Karin's shoulders immediately tensed up at the sound of the Uchiha's name. Naruto took notice of this, and so did Hinata. She wasn't familiar with what had happened in the Land of Iron before the war had started, but Karin's reaction was evidence that she had been present.

"I know he's an asshole, but he's a confused asshole," Naruto continued, "He will come back to the light. It was a promise I made to Sakura-chan a long time ago, and when I fought with him I noticed that there's still a chance for him to come back to being a normal asshole. He's my first friend, so I'm not gonna give up until he's back with us and until he's here to apologize for almost killing you! I promise, Karin-neechan!"

Once again, Naruto had unconsciously changed someone with mere words. Hinata saw the positive reaction that beamed out of the chained up girl. There was a ghost of a smile in her expressions, and she felt proud at how the Uzumaki boy could make everyone's day so much better with his presence. However, Naruto's openness could be used to the enemy's disadvantage. Hinata's own experience had taught her to be more cautious of her surroundings. She loved Naruto dearly and would give her life for him without a doubt, but her father would not be happy with that choice.

BAM!

"Naruto, what did I tell you about revealing secrets!?"

The Hokage burst into the office by kicking the door open. It was now lying on the floor with a deep crack running down the middle. Her expression was irritated, and Hinata quickly understood that whatever Naruto was trying to do in the Raikage's office was –once again—breaking the rules. There was a vein popping out of Tsunade-sama's temple as she approached the three sitting teenagers.

"Ne, but baachan! It's Hinata, she won't tell a soul!"

Tsunade sighed and placed her hands on her hips. She glanced at the three youth who sat together, with the ghost of nostalgia on her expression. She paid greater attention to the link between Naruto and Hinata. They were holding hands. Oh, to be young... She had recently told Naruto that it was dangerous for him to show affection towards Hinata –even though he probably didn't know what he was actually feeling—, but denying them to display just a little wasn't harmful. After all, they needed something to smile about these days. The war was prolonging and taking more lives than the Alliance could afford.

And well, since Naruto was the symbol of the Shinobi Alliance, it was essential to display him in an optimistic manner. Even if it was to cover all the pain he had suffered for the last while. Allowing him to act so openly around Hinata was the only thing Tsunade could do. She would have wished the same.

Her mind averted to Dan, who was sealed and under the supervision of Akimichi Chouza. She wondered how he was faring, if he was thinking about her at all. It was painful to wonder what the dead may be thinking about. Painful and dangerous. She had wanted to close that chapter of her life long ago, but it seemed to haunt her wherever she went.

"Of course she will not," she said, "Isn't that right, Hinata?"

"Y-yes, Hokage-sama!"

The alluded girl finally took noticed of Naruto's hand over hers and she retrieved it back immediately. She nodded her head with an innocent look of following orders.

Tsunade could not help but smile at her and Naruto. Those two had a long way to go before they could be together, but it was clear that the feelings were there. The two kids deserved to be with one another, she thought. Tsunade had always thought that Naruto would never stop his crush on Sakura, but now that she saw him interact with the Hyuuga girl, she knew that they were perfect for one another. Now, if Hyuuga Hiashi agreed with that, there would be no stop for these two.

"Naruto, Hinata, I must speak with Karin in private. Now get out of this office before I make you scrub the headquarters' entrance. Go!"

At least she could give them some time together before the war got any worse than what it was at the moment. Sakura was still missing. Uchiha Sasuke was out in the loose and she didn't even want to think about that brat. Kabuto was releasing his master weapon. And Uchiha Madara? They needed to get a hold of his situation immediately.

She looked back as the young couple exited the Raikage's office. She wished she could indulge in another bottle of sake. But Tsunade knew what she was getting into when they appointed her as Hokage, and she was going to protect her village like Dan and Jiraiya would have. She turned back at Karin, who was still chained up to her chair.

"Well, it's time to begin the official interrogation. Naruto must have asked you enough things to make your mind explode, so please bear with me if some questions are repeated."

I thought I'd give the SasuSaku stuff a break with this filler chapter. Don't worry, their part will be coming back in less than a week :)

This whole story needs to be rewritten, but I feel bad doing that without uploading what I've had sitting for the past year. Any readers left out there?

Also, check out my new story! It's called Kurayami and it's an AU. Something COMPLETELY different from this (or anything I've ever written before). I have written up until the tenth chapter in that story, and I'd really appreciate it if you went and reviewed it as well n.n *shameless self-advertising*

Tell me what you guys would like to see happen in this story! Maybe it'll help me with the declining interest I have in continuing it u.u That sounds sad.

Sincerely,

MSM