a/n: I've had lots of questions as to what happened with SasuSaku. This chapter reveals some insight into what happened, but more will be explored. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed or Favorited last chapter.
Chiaroscuro
The Uchiha languidly made his way through the market. Having left Naruto back at the training ground, he hoped to at least get some necessary groceries on his way back to the compound. (He was carefully scrutinizing the assortment of gorgeous, shiny tomatoes in Toriyama-san's produce stands.) The jostling by the regular Saturday crowd raised his ire. But Sasuke was a patient man, and he would weather the nudges and bumps to find the perfect produce. After all, there was a very important distinction between cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes, despite the similarities in size. Besides the weather was nice, and the people in the crowd were mostly over the age of thirty, thereby keeping him safe from unwanted fangirl advances.
He rolled up his dark sleeves and picked up a green basket, carefully handling and examining each specimen of fruit. (He hated it when people called tomatoes a vegetable.) To be sure, it was strange to see the stoic Uchiha doing something so mundane, but it was not uncommon. He settled into a calm rhythm, maintaining an impassive gaze, hoping to intimidate anyone who wished to approach him. It was not until he caught sight of a shock of cotton candy pink hair (such an oddly bright color), that he stopped. He had been in the process of purchasing his goods, when she turned and waved, a small smile gracing her pale face, emerald eyes guarded.
Inwardly, he winced. Things had never been the same between them. The casual camaraderie of their genin days had all but disappeared; lost in the turmoil of painful maturation. He noted that she held one particular bag gingerly, the aroma of the miso ramen overpowering the fruity scents of the market. She was going to visit Naruto.
And seeing the stiff movements of her walk, the way she seemed to put up invisible walls around herself, he felt guilt. He let out a quiet breath, his equivalent of a sigh. He made his way over to her, and she looked down at the bag in her hand almost apologetically, which was very off. Sakura never apologized. She might make tender gestures and soften her remarks to show if she was sorry. But the one thing she could never do was apologize. Before he could grunt out his customary greeting, she asked.
"Does he love her?"
Sasuke was not surprised. Sakura had always been extraordinarily perceptive, even more so when it came to emotions. He ran a hand through his thick, raven hair, frustrated.
"I don't know yet."
She clutched the bag tighter to her, almost as if it was a shield against the emotional onslaught that always accompanied her interactions with Sasuke.
"Is he happy?"
Sasuke tilted his head at the unexpected question.
"They've hurt each other too much right now to be happy."
For a heart breaking second, her walls broke and she could not tell if he was still talking about Naruto and Hinata. Then she nodded in understanding, biting her lip. "I'm going to have to let him go, huh?"
Before he could respond, she was gone in a whirl of cherry blossoms. The light blush of the petals standing out against the dark of his hair. He briefly grasped a fragile petal, then let it go to the slight breeze. He did not even look back at it as he continued to make his way through the vivid market.
Sasuke stared impassively at the plastic bags, watching as the condensed steam rolled down in droplets off the wrinkled surfaces. He cringed slightly as he saw the rumpled Ichiraku Ramen logo emblazoned in orange, of all colors. (It seemed they had wanted to honor their most famous and favorite customer.)
He nodded towards the pink haired girl, noting the strained smile trembling on her pale face, her green eyes dull. She quietly set down the bags on the raised wooden hallway of the Uchiha courtyard. The eerie silence of the compound clutched and grasped at her normally bright spirits, the darkness suffocating. She shivered slightly. (Rumors said this place was haunted.) And she could wholeheartedly believe that was true, especially with the sharp, bare branches of the trees enfolding the training posts.
But most fitting of all was the gaunt youth standing bare-chested in the center, despite the chilly winter air. His hands were blistered pink and red, the colors bleeding through the bandages wrapped haphazardly around his palms. The same color was smeared on the battered wooden posts.
'Red like the Sharingan,' she thought absently.
And somewhere, at the back of her mind was the medic-nin persona, clinically examining the extent of his injuries and wanting to reach for his bloodied hands; to heal. But the larger part of her, the part that loved and hated him in equal measure, wanted to run away.
An annoyingly loud and rough voice prattled in her head. (which may or may not have been her old inner Sakura) This part wanted to punch the beautiful smirk right off his gorgeous face while also declaring her desire to love him unendingly.
Not for the first time this year did Sakura wish for the brightening, clarifying presence of their blonde, boisterous, charmingly dense teammate. (He was the last remaining common denominator that these two had…their mutual best friend.)
Sasuke wound and rewound the stained bandages, stretching them in his agitation. He did not look at the bright cheerful cherry blossom; a beauty so out of place in this haunted, dark place. He refused to look, because he knew that if he did, his entire being would revolt at the presence of this lonely flower in this place. He could not allow her to be tainted by the bloodied ghosts residing here with him. He could not give her what she wanted.
Sakura fidgeted with a strand of her hair, twirling and untwirling. The atmosphere was heavy and both of them could feel the tension, stretching to its max. Then…
The bandages ripped.
And Sakura reached tentatively for the man, hoping that somewhere underneath the cold, broken façade would be the same boy she had fallen in love with. The same cold, honest, secretly-caring boy that had thanked her, once upon a time.
Sasuke stopped her with a pity-filled stare, the feelings clear and the pain all the worse than a punch from Tsunade-sensei. His emotionless reply was all it took for her to understand that they could never be.
"You deserve better."
He returned back to his stained training posts, rewinding the bloody bandages and resuming his kata. Sakura was left to stare at the ripped red-stained bandages lying on the frost bitten grass. And she turned to leave, crying brokenly as their broken string of fate lay discarded between them.
Shino cringed under cover of his dark glasses and the little downturn of his mouth went unnoticed. There was far too much blond in the Hokage's office…far too much. And the insect user felt all the more out of place, a spot of dark in the midst of sunlight. Between Ino, Naruto, and Tsunade-sama, their loud and inordinately boisterous personalities made the room feel unusually small, despite the wide open windows.
"Baa-chan! Why can't we go today?!" Naruto waved his hands, exaggerating his urgency.
"Naruto, just pipe down and let her talk." Ino growled out. She was still kind of wary of the guy, considering that he had been involved with two of her close friends, and they both had ended up somewhat worse from the ordeal. But still…Hinata had made it abundantly clear that she blamed Naruto for nothing…and Sakura had known what she was signing up for. She slouched, resigning herself to giving the clueless guy a chance, if only for the sake of Hina-chan and the mission.
"Because, your fourth teammate is dealing with some other business for today. And the mission is not urgent." Tsunade bit out, her patience wearing thin, already worried by Hinata's unexpected return to the Hyuuga compound. She placed her palms flat on the desk to calm herself, then quickly shuffled out the manila folder containing the mission information. Shino's glasses glinted as he readied himself to absorb all necessary information.
"Alright, you three. This is a contingent B-rank mission requested by the Head Ninja of Kusagakure."
Naruto shifted, blue eyes sharpening. "Why contingent?"
It was Shino that answered, in a less know-it-all tone than usual. (Hinata had spoken with them the other day, and had made it perfectly clear that Naruto had no blame.) "Why you ask? Because there is an unknown variable in the situation."
Naruto glanced at the Aburame, surprised by the more cordial tone. After Hinata's departure, the remaining members of Team 8 had not been as…welcoming as they once were. (He could still feel Kiba's punch to the gut and the itchy heebie jeebies from Shino's attack.) The unfairness of it still rankled, but he was deeply glad to have the camaraderie return.
"Correct, Shino. It will depend on how certain affairs turn out or become settled. The request is for a security detail for the builders of a bridge." Tsunade smiled knowingly at her successor.
Naruto for his part was filled with a nostalgia, the situation oddly reminiscent of his first ever "C-rank" to the Land of Waves. He gathered that the importance of this new bridge would be similar in the play of economics for Kusagakure, and wondered why a security detail would be needed. Was there another Fat Cat like Gato? Another missing nin like Zabuza and Haku? Maybe they could change the name of this one to something like the Uzumaki Naruto bridge…or something…just a thought. He tensed in excitement, ready to leave the village for the first time in months.
Tsunade gazed balefully at Naruto. He cringed. It was almost as if she could read his mind.
She laced her fingers together, continuing the briefing, "There are factions that do not want the bridge to be rebuilt. They practice isolationist politics and believe that the best policy for their village is to minimize interactions with outsiders."
Ino frowned, flicking her ponytail over her shoulder. "Rebuild?"
"Ah yes. Kannabi Bridge was destroyed by us during the Third Shinobi Word War. Iwa had invaded Kusagakure and it was an essential path for their trade route. We took it down to defeat them."
"So why take all this time to rebuild it?" Naruto asked, intrigued. The isolationist policy was something he had come across in his studies, and he wondered if that was why Kusagakure was so mysterious and secretive.
Tsunade smiled in approval. He was shaping up nicely. "After the war, Kusagakure decided to focus on diplomacy and secrecy to keep themselves safe. They would not meddle in outside affairs and no one would bother them in turn. At least, that's what they hoped for, until they made the mistake of forming an alliance with Otogakure and that bastard Orochimaru…"
She threw the file to the unpredictable ninja, glancing at his astonishingly demure attire of a dark long sleeve and flak jacket. He quickly caught the file, thumbing through it while Ino tried to see past his broad shoulder. Shino simply waited.
"Who was the ambassador that did the initial negotiations with Kusa?" Naruto asked, perusing the details of previous dealings with the village. It looked like they had some dicey situations; anything had been possible during the initial talks; from complete isolation of the village to a civil war. It seemed this member of the Diplomacy Corps had exceptional skills; enough that an accord was reached within three days. Naruto read the details out loud, pointing out the intricacies of the matter and how they had been magnificently dealt with.
Shino saw Tsunade's furrowed brow and looked from her to Naruto. He caught on before his two teammates did. "Hinata."
Naruto flinched slightly at the mention of her name, still unused to it. Ino's eyes widened in surprise, and a slight look of pride crossed her face, the same as Shino's.
"I knew Hina-chan was an awesome ambassador!" She said excitedly, clapping her hands. "She's the fourth member, right Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade nodded the affirmative, hoping to kami that this would not affect Naruto's performance on the mission. "Even though she did a great job in securing the initial talks, she left some information out. Unfortunately, Hinata does not excel in intel gathering, and so the second purpose of her mission was not fulfilled as we would have liked."
"So…the purpose of this mission is to gather intel on Kusa?" Ino cleared up.
"It would seem in part. However, why send Naruto on this mission if that is the case?" Shino stated.
Tsunade sighed. This was where things became a bit hairy. Naruto looked curious. "Number one, it's a great on the job experience for the future Hokage. To personally foster relationships with potential allies is something he'll have to do anyway, might as well get started."
They all nodded in understanding.
"Also, he's our trump card of sorts. Regardless of what they may think of us in general, they hold great respect for the hero of the world, and know that having him as an ally is a huge-ass perk. And third, he's a good luck charm."
Ino rolled her eyes and Shino smiled slightly as the Uzumaki grinned, giving a good Guy pose.
"Don't let it get to your head, gaki." Tsunade admonished affectionately. "However, there may be some who do not receive us well in light of our past history. The Yellow Flash and Team Kakashi were instrumental in the destruction of that bridge."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean Dad did that?"
The Hokage's eyes softened. "It was necessary, Naruto. Not every mission is clear cut good or bad, you know that."
"Y-yeah, I get that. It's just…"He trailed off, frozen.
Ino leaned forward; slightly worried that he had gone so quiet. "Naruto?"
He began laughing, loud and unceasing. He pumped a fist in the air, leaping. "This is awesome! I get to work in the same place that my Dad did!"
His grin was infectious, and despite Ino's still present wariness and Shino's worry for Hinata, the two could not help but smile along with him. Ino quickly hid her mirth, slapping the excited youth on his arm lightly.
"Calm down, idiot."
Shino then surprisingly vouched for Naruto by recommending that he lead them this time. The Hokage-to-be glanced at his two comrades, touched by the statement and relishing in the long absent warmth of their friendship. He wondered if Hinata had anything to do with it.
Tsunade finalized the briefing. "Ino, you'll be using your skills to gather intel, as well as providing medical care for this mission. Shino, you're to help Ino due to your insects being a very discrete way of finding things out. Keep an eye open for anything odd. "
Here she gave a stern look towards the youth. "And Naruto, you...tone things down a bit and follow Hinata's lead in the diplomacy stuff. She's good at what she does. Do not let personal affairs get in the way of that, understood."
Naruto nodded, wondering if he would be able to handle three days of travel time in close quarters with a girl he held very confusing feelings for. And not to mention that the two other teammates had strong protective instincts for the girl. He was going to be treading a very fine line these next couple of days.
"Your contact will rendezvous with you at the site of Kannabi Bridge construction, on Konoha's side of the border. You leave tomorrow at 7 am."
"Tsunade-sama, I thought the talks were over. So why is Hina-chan coming too?" Ino chimed in a final question.
Tsunade indicated with a lazy gesture towards the original request filled out by Kusa. And there at the bottom written in a hurried scrawl was…
"Special request for Ambassador Hinata Hyuuga to report as well. And Sasuke Uchiha, if possible."
"Reason for addendum: She's the only one we really trust and he's hot."
Naruto and Ino gawped at such blatant honesty written on the page. Was this even professional? Especially dubious was the statement about Sasuke. And what exactly had Hinata done to merit such a high recommendation? Shino merely smiled knowingly, and though he may have been a dark spot in the midst of sunshine, he had the most clarity.
"You know, I have a funny feeling it was our contact that wrote this request." Naruto deadpanned. They all silently agreed.
Hisao Hyuuga was a gambling man. It was his secret pleasure and it would have been highly improper for a Hyuuga to be found guilty of such a vice. He rubbed hisweathered hands in ill-disguised glee, white eyes bright in anticipation. His long, silvery hair cascaded gently, deceptively over his hard gaze and the white of it all almost made up for the shadows of the cherry lacquered room.
He was a gambling man, but he wasn't stupidly reckless.
So that was why, when the pathetic discarded former heiress had arrived at his office, the dark shadows of the room nearly engulfing her ridiculously tiny form, he was intrigued. (She had not inherited the Hyuuga stature…nor the Hyuuga anything really.) Ridiculous really, with the tufts of dried grass clinging to her oversized, gray robes. (Submission, Utility)
He could see the trembling proposition balancing precariously on the tip of her tongue, the hidden mischief sputtering to death in the depths of her erratic gaze. Hinata Hyuuga was playing a dangerous game and before, she would never have even ventured to do so. Before becoming close to the Uzumaki brat, before she had developed a backbone, she would have run. And it was the gambling man inside of him that made Hisao want to place all his bets against this little player; the girl with no poker face.
"So, let me understand, Hinata Hyuuga. You want me to prevent the branding of your sister, should you of course reclaim your title." He said smoothly, his creaky voice rolling over like a slick oil, suffocating her and choking her.
She nodded demurely, hoping and praying that her stakes were good enough for the gamble.
"And if you don't win?"
"I'll do anything you ask. Brand me, cast me from the clan, marry me off. It doesn't matter." She said, eyes dull and not stuttering in the least. She accepted the consequences wholeheartedly, if only because if she won, it could save everyone.
Hisao rolled around her terms in his head, the sweet taste of her imminent defeat lingering on his silvered tongue. "And what do I have to gain from this little bet? What makes you think I would freely break our sacred traditions to favor you?"
Hinata's eyes widened in understanding. "You fear change."
Hisao lost composure, the lopsided sneer marring the beauty of his white Hyuuga eyes. "It is a tradition that protects our Byakugan, the precious thing that makes even you special."
Hinata's entire frame trembled, fisting her hands in her gray robes.
Hisao stalled, surprised at the near dead state of the once stuttering heiress. From the looks of it, she was close to being permanently broken. He inwardly grinned. Without her Jinchuriki, she was weak. He repeated his question. "What do I stand to gain from this little bet?"
"I w-will participate in our clan's outside affairs." She finally stuttered out, the thought of undermining her beloved Konoha disgusting her.
"How do you propose to do that Hinata Hyuuga?" Hisao said, enticed. Regardless, if she won or lost, he would benefit. She reeked of desperation and defeat already.
She gazed at him with her non-Hyuuga eyes, lavender tinged and utterly open to the world. She was an unseemly blotch on the Hyuuga's dark and white beauty, with her blue hair and purple eyes.
"I will join Konoha's Diplomacy Corps, elder." She swiftly contorted herself into a low bow, hoping that for Hanabi and maybe (hopefully) Naruto's sake, this old codger would accept the deal. And for once, she was glad that she was shy and stuttered, because then this opponent would underestimate her.
Hisao smiled at the prone form of the girl, this would turn out nicely. He patted himself on the back, a safe bet. Even if she won, he would have a new set of eyes in the outside political affairs and a puppet heiress, too weak to stand for her own ideas. If she lost, Hanabi had already been raised in the proper mindset, and imagine the alliance that could be made with marriage to the clan head's eldest. Even if Uzumaki became Hokage, so long as he had no inside connections to the clan, he could not hope to change anything.
"Very well then Hinata Hyuuga." Hinata looked up at the sneering elder and shuddered at his expression. The white of the Byakugan shining like death in his wizened and contorted face. "I accept."
And though she felt part of her burden leave her, she stepped out of his office, the shadows still clinging to her once bright form. The blue of her hair buried in the blacks of the hallway. Hisao was left with his fingers steepled in anticipation.
"Game, set, match."
Hinata was merely a derivative of the famous Hyuuga beauty. Where their hair was a rich, black or brown, hers was an improbable shade of indigo. Where their eyes were silver or white like a full moon, hers were lilac. Her face was heart shaped instead of a perfect oval. She was petite, not tall like the rest. It had been pointed out again and again while she was growing up.
She looked just like her mother, an outsider.
But to be honest, she was glad. She had always thought her mother to be a very beautiful woman, and her family on Crescent Island agreed. She had not visited them in a long while; not since Naruto's training with Jiraiya-san. Hanabi had taken a trip somewhere else with their father and Hinata had gone, escorted by Neji to the island. It had been one of her fondest memories to say the least. The warmth of family, the love, was something that had been lacking within the Hyuuga compound. Despite the warm acceptance of the Branch, they were still somewhat distant and afraid, because they feared that at any second Hinata or Hanabi could form a single seal and end their lives.
Her fists clenched, hidden in the delicate folds of her cream colored robes. Hanabi and Natsuki had insisted that she wear them prior to attending the hastily assembled council meeting. (The news of her return had spread quickly to the main house.) She had yet to see her father or any of her fellow clansmen from the Main. Hanabi had retrieved the robes from her long empty room and she had changed in Natsuki's quarters.
When all was said and done, Hinata looked like the heiress she was; the faint scar on her right temple hidden behind her pinned up hair. And it was this upright standing, regal woman that came in through the sliding doors, a nod towards all assembled. She caught sight of her father's astonished gaze, feelings of affection, pride, and regret warring within. But as much as Hinata would like to have had a normal, warm welcome (an embrace, a hair ruffling, a welcome home, anything…), she knew it was not the Hyuuga way. The Hyuuga way was subtle and cold. It was impassive glances and veiled messages under unfailingly polite words. She had never particularly excelled at hiding her emotions, and she had never had the confidence to wear the infamous Hyuuga glare, but today…today was different.
The first night Hinata Hyuuga had worn the cream robes of the heir; they had engulfed her, almost drowning her bowed frame. But today was different, and all the council saw that the robes were no longer too big. She had not visibly grown in stature, but her presence filled the robes like never before, and it was this girl, this heiress, that made them mutter in confusion.
Hinata kneeled and bowed low, deferring to her clan leader and the council, begging their indulgence. She neatly folded her slim hands onto her lap, taking her dutiful place to the right of her father. (She sadly noted only the presence of two gray robed figures, how unjust.) Her tiny mouth settled into a firm line, determined. And only one thought crossed her mind as she surveyed the lightly robed council.
'Let the games begin.'
"Five years absent. What have you to say for yourself, heiress." Spat out an incensed and slightly envious Nori Hyuuga. (Why was such a weak girl the heir?) He gestured widely with a flat palm, as if itching to slap the politely distant expression from her face.
Hinata absently remembered that he was Hisao's favorite. He was the youngest member of the council at age twenty-five. She answered formally and simply. "I was on a mission for Konoha, as is my duty."
A buzzing rang through the council. This was not the shy, timid little thing from five years prior. This was not the girl who had won back her birthright by the skin of her teeth. A small number of members gaze at the girl in grudging admiration. The rest were either too confused or angry at her calm response.
Hiashi looked at his daughter, a sense of pride washing through.
"What was this mission of yours? Was it so important that you abandoned your clan for five years?"
"I was recruited to the Diplomacy Corps."Hinata replied calmly. Hiashi was surprised by her careful word choice. By using the passive tense of the statement, she put responsibility of her absence on someone else, partly. And the vagueness of who recruited her incriminated no one. She was truly skilled.
Nori, for all his Hyuuga pride was a spitfire, and continued the attack. "Who gave you permission?"
"I was not aware that Hyuuga were prohibited from taking up positions outside of the clan. Is there a clan law that says so?" She inclined her head, knowing for sure that there was no such thing.
Nori sputtered, losing the fight. He gave in one last parting shot. "You love your precious Konoha so much. You are a disgrace to this clan."
The gasps continued and many members were affronted. Such blatant disrespect for an heir was dangerous and unseemly. Regardless of her long absence, there was nothing she had done that was explicitly against clan rules. She could not be punished.
"Yes, I do. Please let us move on to the next order of business." Hinata gazed at her father, asking permission to continue. He nodded, hiding a grin at her handling of the situation. Hisao saw the exchange and grew worried; maybe his bet would backfire after all. If all reports indicated correctly, Hinata had not fulfilled her duty in the Hyuuga affairs. Rather, it seemed they had been stalled in the past few years. Now was not the time however to make her pay, rather he would wait.
But for now, he would hit her where it hurt the most. He grinned and stated silkily, "Let us discuss your previous petition to…end the branding practice."
Hinata inhaled sharply. Now they had reached the crux of things; she had to be strong. For her family, for Hanabi , for Natsuki's child, and for Neji. She imagined the silvery ribbon tightening further around her spine. This was where it mattered.
"Then let us begin the vote." She replied, challenging his smugness. The council stirred uncomfortably. Many had been present for Neji's fight against the Uzumaki. They had been present when there dirty secret had been revealed and when their reputation had received the largest smear in history. Still, they were torn. Was it honestly the best path to completely eradicate centuries of history? To undo something that had been with them even before Konoha had been dreamt of?
"You and I both know that is not how this works."Hisao sneered. "Only the official clan heir may dare to even suggest a thing."
A surprised hum rang through the crowd of thirty or so. Some members dissented at the statement. They had all seen Hinata fight fair and square for the title. What was Hisao talking about?
"Until Hanabi Hyuuga is sealed once and for all, you are not yet fully the heiress." The elder smiled, deceptively sweet and saccharine. He saw Hinata 's calm façade falter slightly. She would not dare to reveal their little bet. 'Thought you wouldn't keep your bargain, I won't keep mine, little Hinata.'
"Besides, you simply do not have the support accrued within the council for the initial vote." Hummed the female elder with the tight bun. Her white eyes burned into Hinata's own, relishing in the now apparent hesitation of the girl's movements. And despite the abundance of silver and cream, Hinata felt the room grow dark. She grew desperate.
"I will go public." She threatened breathlessly. And whether she meant with the turmoil within the clan or with their other more shady affairs, they did not know. All they knew was that if their reputation was further sullied, they could lose a lot. Too much.
"You would involve outsiders?" growled another Hyuuga, silver eyes glinting and brown hair streaked with gray.
"Hinata-san please reconsider."Cried a kinder member.
"How dare you! Sully our name by tying us with commoners!?" shouted Nori Hyuuga.
"They have a right to know. Like I stated earlier, our duty is first and foremost to our village. We all answer to our Hokage. And if I cannot help this clan from within, then I will do it from without."Hinata replied firmly, regaining her gravitas.
"The Hokage has no power in clan business, Hinata-chan." Spat out Nori, his poisonous tone emphasizing the honorific. He had in essence, termed her a child.
The members were torn, fearing for the radical change the heiress sought and astonished at the heated debate. Nori added insult to injury with his last statement.
"Look what happened to our most talented prodigy. His life wasted serving your precious Konoha."
...
The slap had wrung through the room. The assailant had moved so fast, no one noticed until it was too late. For there, hand outstretched in front of a stunned Nori stood an angry Hiashi. Hinata was halfway up from her cushion, fighting the activation of her Byakugan. She was astonished, her mouth gaping open, just as the other council members. For Hiashi, her father, calm cool-as-a-cucumber Hiashi to lose his composure was truly something. She was slightly annoyed. He had beaten her to the punch.
Hiashi glared at the impertinent youth and resumed his seat regally, nodding towards the assembly. "Proceed."
Hinata calmed, the insult to Neji-nii-san's sacrifice still rankled. But if she were to make any progress, she could not afford to lose her head. "How disgraceful. You demean Neji's sacrifice in such a manner and hope to retain any ounce of respect."
And despite her gentle voice, the steel undercurrent of her tone had Nori bowing his head. The combination of being chided by a little chit of a girl three years his junior and having been so blatantly slapped by the clan head taking their toll. And the assembly murmured, for the first time feeling as if the loss of Hinata Hyuuga's esteem was truly something grave.
Hisao was at an impasse. Should he continue to blatantly continue to attack the heiress, he would lose supporters in the council. However, to let her continue was dangerous and Hisao was not a reckless man. He decided to again attack where she was weakest. "So, in summary, your petition cannot be considered until Hanabi Hyuuga has been branded. We will continue this conversation until after her wedding."
The dastardly old fool. Had Hinata been Naruto, Sakura, hell, or even Ino, she would have punched the man into oblivion by now. But she was none of them, and she had always dealt with challenges quietly. No one could help her at this point, not even her father. She had one last ace up her sleeve. "
"Ah yes. If I am correct, you were to marry her off to the Daimyo's youngest son."
The council buzzed. How had she found out so soon? Hinata smiled demurely, silently thanking her father for removing the privacy jutsu so Hanabi could hear.
Another neutral elder chimed in. "It would be a great alliance for the clan."
"Yes. But I believe Hanabi is on active duty, and as such whatever happens to her is also under the Hokage's jurisdiction."
Hisao tensed. This was why arranged marriages were typically done with the non-active Branch members. He had miscalculated. No matter, there were larger fish to fry. He waved his hand, brushing away the subject. "Very well then, Hinata-san. Hanabi's marriage talks will be postponed."
Hinata stilled, suspicious. "And the petition?"
He grinned. Something was wrong, very wrong.
"We will consider it, in the near future. However, I do have one question. What do you plan to do with those already sealed? There is no counterseal after all. It is permanent."
"W-what?"Hinata whispered. Joined by the uproar of the council. Despite their status as main branch, many had always believed in the existence of the counter seal. There was simply never a need to utilize it.
"You're lying!"Cried one of the two Branch members, distraught. He clenched his fists, silver eyes flashing.
Hisao turned, hiding his glee. "I am not. The scrolls showing how to remove the seal have been lost for decades now, burned at some point during the first Shinobi war."
Hinata turned towards Hiashi, hoping he could refute this fact. "F-father?"
And though the plea was not in the voice of a child, nor was his daughter still a little girl, something in the tone resonated in him. It brought back memories of a tiny hand tugging at his sleeve, silently asking for support and assurance. Something he had not given then and something he could not give now, no matter how much he wished. His heart broke at the hopeful expression on her face, and unable to look at it, he turned his head, signaling to all the horrible truth.
There was no escape from the bird cage but in death.
Hinata looked down, her small mouth open in an almost comical oh. And once again, the robes looked a little too big for this petite woman. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly and her eyes lost the impassive gaze. Yet she maintained all the regalness with which she had entered the room.
Seeing Hinata unwilling to continue, Satoshi Hyuuga, the kind Branch member called for an end to the assembly. Many of the council were just as shocked at the revelation and agreed that it was for the best. But even as the shadows of the room lengthened and loomed, Hinata Hyuuga stayed where she was, the dark never extinguishing the brightness of who she was.
Naruto padded quietly through the vacant hallways of the Hyuuga main compound. The brightness of his hair and eyes clashing with the standard jounin outfit he wore. When Tsunade-baa-chan had asked for someone to inform Hinata about the mission and the departure time for tomorrow, he had jumped at the chance. Not because he wanted to see her again, he told himself over and over. Rather, he thought it would be a great chance to interrogate Hanabi about what was going on. The brat may not have been heir, but she had some information and that was how he had been keeping some sort of track on the Hyuuga clan. Though admittedly, with Hokage-to-be duties, his little espionage had suffered in the past two years.
So, yeah, he had not come here to see Hinata. It was just to conduct research. (He cringed when he realized that was what Pervy Sage used to say for his more dubious activities.)
Admittedly, he was lost and was now rounding random corners, hoping to run into someone who could guide him. He was therefore surprised when a sharp right turn lead him straight into the heart of a vibrant garden, a variety of flowers blooming probably because of the recent rain. What caught his attention were the Hibiscus blooms in all shades, ringing a very large pond with a red half-moon bridge. The sun was bright, like it should have been and the koi were play- OHMYGODTHEREWAS A DEAD BODY IN THE WATER!
He lifted his hand, clutching his chest in shock. He barely managed to stifle his scream, and even then, a muffled and undignified squeak escaped. The Hyuuga were scary enough without having to resort to leaving corpses in their ponds.
When Naruto regained some calm, he saw that the person was lightly breathing. The slim shoulders moved up and down, rippling the still waters and the koi swam in and around the small form, unafraid. For a moment, he only thought of the unsanitary conditions the water must be in, then he remembered this was the Hyuuga clan, and nothing here was ever unsanitary.
In fact, the water was crystal clear and he could see straight to the bottom of the pond, jade green plants lying under, and dappled by the streaming sunshine. What stood out the most was the white of the person's robes flowing and mingling with the dark, indigo tendrils. "Wait, indigo?"
He knew only one person with that hair color, and she was indeed sleeping in pond water at this very moment. He whispered hesitantly.
"H-Hinata?"
No response. Naruto admired her ability to sleep in such a very, very, very odd place, once again wondering who exactly this girl was. He stepped forward, mesmerized by the play of the sun on her pale face, and stepped on a twig. He cringed. She would wake up now for sure.
And sure enough, Hinata's lavender eyes snapped open, blearily gazing at her intruder. She sat up, still using her chakra to maintain her floatation. "Naruto-san?"
His followed the water droplets down her smooth cheeks, past her long neck, and down…down…
He absently noted that white was very see-through when wet. Hinata noticed his gaze, and instantly reddened, squeaking and crossing her arms to hide her immodesty. She had not expected to be found here. Most everyone left this place alone, knowing it was her mother's old haunt.
Naruto sputtered an apology, glancing to his left to give the girl some privacy. Yet a warm feeling curled in his chest. Her reaction had been just the same as it used to be, if less over the top. But she was still herself in some way.
"How may I help you, Naruto-san?"
And then she smiled, brightly. Even if her hair was the color of midnight and her eyes were closed in bliss, she was luminescent. The shadows of the trees and shrubs disappeared, the sun illuminating and warming a sunny place.
Naruto blanked out, even when she reiterated her offer to help. What had he come for again?
He could not say.
A/n: Running theme for this chapter, contrast of light and dark. Chiaroscuro is a reference to an art style that takes advantage of contrast to create deeper, more vivid images. I thought it fit.
I really want to take the time to recommend some of my favorite Naruhina authors at the moment. It's absolutely amazing the amount of talent and dedication there is on the site and I am super excited to recommend them. I will continue to recommend fics in following chapters, hopefully to expose all my wonderful readers to other great pieces. (I'm partly jumping on the bandwagon here, seeing as two of the mentioned authors below also do the same. I find it wonderful.)
First up is Serious Sam's amazing "My Precious People." The amount of detail and plot are astounding and it is quite a page turner. NaruHina is the main pairing. I will warn you though, there are some darker aspects to the story, but it makes the story very interesting. It's touching and action packed, so check it out. (in progress)
Second, but not at all least, is thepoint, author of Hinata pairings galore, their oneshot Heart Shaped Sticky Notes is incredibly touching, heartfelt and just all around awesome. If you're also interested in a role reversal of the standard harem fic, I highly recommend The Hand of Lady Hyuga, wherein the characters are placed in a world where women dominate and men must wait to be courted. The way thepoint describes Hinata in the most awesomesauce of ways! If you're a Hinata fan, then you'll definitely like her portrayal in these fanfics.
Third, is Ayrmed's fanfic, Love's Never Easy. It explores a developing relationship between Naruto and Hinata and is still in progress. The plot is solid and there are cliff hangers, but it's also sweet and the characters are very in character. Ayrmed also recieves a big thank you because she has been reviewing from the beginning of Reluctant Return.
Next up: Mission to Kusagakure; points if you can guess who the contact is.
