D1: Wow. I don't believe it's been over year since I started this story, time flies. Anyway I re-did the end of chapter eight slightly to try and do Kimimaro justice. It's only a minor change but I wanted to do it. Still looking for a beta reader by the way.
D1: 4…3…2…1…
Chapter 10 – Guardian angel
An eerie quiet had descended across the remains of Konoha. The battle with the fourth had left a greater psychological wound than a physical one. The sight of the fourth Hokage fighting under Orochimaru's control had pushed morale through the floor. The only upside to the appearance of the fourth was Tsunade's decision to start planning aggressive counterattacks. But of all the Konoha and Suna forces, Naruto seemed to have been the worst affected by the battle. Hinata had eventually managed to coax Naruto into letting Tsunade look him over. The Konoha twelve were scattered around the medical tent as Tsunade examined Naruto, none of them found Naruto's dejected state comfortable. Eventually the fifth emerged from the tent and immediately was surrounded.
"Physically he's fine," Tsunade reported to the worried crowd, "but fighting his father has left him mixed up emotionally. Keep an eye on him."
Tsunade was dragged off by Shizune at the insistence of the council for planning the counterattacks and the ninja disbanded, except for Sasuke. The Uchiha pushed the canvas flap out of the way and entered, he spotted Naruto sitting next to Hinata on one of the makeshift beds, apart from the other patients. He crossed to the pair and sat opposite them on an empty cot.
"How you doing?" he asked, voice unusually soft.
"OK," Naruto shrugged.
"Liar," Sasuke countered, "you feel like they're being pulled in every direction at once. You don't know what to do, be angry, sad or happy."
Naruto dipped is gaze, Hinata tried to stop Sasuke's lecture but he didn't let her.
"When you're emotions stabilize, you will most likely end up hating Orochimaru. Trust me, I've been trough this after Itachi…" Sasuke broke off, the memories still painful.
"Hate is a dangerous feeling; it blinds you to those around you and when finally look around you'll find yourself alone."
Naruto looked up, seeing sincerity in his eyes.
"Besides," Sasuke's voice became lighter, "I can't let you take down Orochimaru all by yourself. I want a crack at him too."
Sasuke stood up to leave.
"Just think about that," he said as he left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tsunade studied the Konoha map laid out on the table in front of her. There were various coloured markers scattered over the map, each marking an enemy or allied position. The tent was filled with a cloud cigarette smoke that wouldn't have looked out of place hovering over a poker game. Shikamaru flicked the stub of a cigarette to the floor and ground it out with his foot.
"That's a filthy habit," Tsunade said unconsciously.
"Something I picked up from Asuma-sensei," Shikamaru replied as he lit another.
Tsunade moved three blue markers on the left side and two on the right then shook her head.
"Whatever we try leaves us open on at least two fronts," Tsunade muttered as the returned the pieces to their original positions.
Shikamaru leaned over the map, going over every position for what seemed like the hundredth time. Regardless of how he looked at the situation there were just too few Shinobi left. Tsunade finally lost her temper and kicked the table causing the markers to jump and shift. She flopped into her chair as Shikamaru took a long draw from his cigarette. Shikamaru leaned against one of the tent supports trying to find a strategy he and Tsunade hadn't already gone over and rejected. He glanced at the map and positions again, without paying much attention. Then something clicked. He levered himself off the post and crossed to the table and started moving markers all over the map. Tsunade stood and watched his feverish movements and the wrapped expression on his face. Shikamaru was so absorbed in his actions that he didn't notice his cigarette going out as it ran out of tobacco.
Finally he stood back and wiped his forehead, a triumphant smirk on his face.
"You know Shikamaru," Tsunade smiled "I think that's the most effort I've ever seen you put into anything."
Shikamaru also smiled, dropping his cigarette but to the ground and grinding it out with a sense of finality.
Shizune peeped around the tent flap and was taken aback by the cloud of smoke.
"Do we have a plan?" She asked nervously and choked on the fumes.
"We have a plan," Tsunade confined.
Outside the Tent, most of the Konoha twelve were clustered around a struggling fire near the entrance, hiding from the rain and awaiting instructions.
"They've been in there for almost three hours," Ino noted as she tried to keep the fire going.
"If anyone can get us out of this mess its Shikamaru," Choji said as the fire hissed and shrank.
"Naruto's meeting with the Hyuuga council," Kiba muttered, trying to keep the conversation going.
"I wonder how the council is going to react to the battle with the fourth," Shino said as the fire gave up the ghost and died, leaving a pathetic whip of smoke.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rain continued its steady downpour until it seemed to run out of steam and died away, but the grey clouds still hovered overhead, threatening more rain. Naruto stood in front of the Hyuuga council and Hiashi in the courtyard of the Hyuuga mansion. Hinata was to his left and Sakura to his right.
"Uzumaki, are you ready to prove yourself?" Hiashi demanded as Neji moved into the centre of the courtyard.
Naruto didn't speak.
"Answer me Uzumaki," Hiashi scowled.
"Naruto is in no condition to fight," Sakura objected, "and the fight with the Fourth should have settled this."
"You have no reason to be present at this proof of blood," a council member told her, "be silent or be gone."
Sakura fumed debating weather to retort but thought better of it. Neji assumed the gentle fist stance while Naruto remained motionless.
"You are trying my Patience; your non-compliance will result in…"
"Silence!" an elderly but stern voice echoed around the courtyard.
All the eyes in the courtyard were instantly turned towards the source of the voice. An elderly woman leaning on a cane slowly emerged into the courtyard. Her long grey hair was tied back so it flowed down her back in a similar way to Hinata's. She was wearing a lilac kimono with a flower pattern along the hem. Her Byakugan eyes were almost all white but Naruto still felt like she could see through him. The members of the council bowed as she stepped into the courtyard and shuffled towards them.
"Who is she?" Naruto asked Hinata out of the side of his mouth as the old woman continued towards the crowd.
"Grandma Himeka," Hinata whispered, "she's the head of the main branch. But she leaves most of the Hyuuga affairs to the council and my father."
Naruto saw the similarities between Hinata and her grandmother as he looked at the old woman. He wondered if she would look much like Hinata if she were younger. Himeka walked past the council and stopped in front of Naruto, leaning on her stick. She was a head shorter than Naruto but her stern gaze made him nervous.
"Young man, am I to believe that you are Naruto Uzumaki?"
Naruto nodded.
"Son of the Yondaime? And the one who saved my granddaughter from an enemy ninja in the forest."
Naruto nodded again.
"Show me the document," Himeka ordered firmly.
Naruto pulled the scroll containing his birth certificate from his pocket and handed it to the old woman. Himeka studied the scroll and certificate briefly then handed it back to Naruto. She looked Naruto up and down twice then walked around him, studying him from every angle.
"I can see why Hinata has fallen for you, a handsome young man like yourself…"
"But mother…!" Hiashi tried to protest.
"Don't interrupt Hiashi. You're not too old to be told to stand in the corner and think about what you've done. We of the Hyuuga clan are gifted with the ability to see that which is hidden to others but you still choose to judge others on face value."
Himeka glared over her shoulder at her son.
"You and the council are all too proud," she declared, "you all judge this boy as if he were the fox and not a person. I was part of the Konoha council before any of you were born and I witnessed the battle with the kyuubi. This boy is nothing like the demon that attacked our village. I served under the Yondaime and I can see him now in this boy before me."
Naruto faltered as Himeka spoke. Did he really look like his father?
A council member muttered something about 'the old bat being senile'. Himeka whipped around, glaring at the council crowd that shrank away.
"Just because I'm twice the age of any of you don't think I can't take you," Himeka growled.
"But…" a council member tried to argue.
"I have spoken," Himeka's voice made even Naruto cower, "as the head of the Hyuuga family, I declare the matter resolved and closed to further discussion."
Himeka turned to Hinata and her face softened, "Hinata I approve of you're relationship with this man and Naruto I give you permission to court my granddaughter."
Naruto felt like hugging the old woman before him but Hinata got there first. She hugged her grandmother so tight she was in danger of passing out. Hinata eventually released her and Himeka smoothed her kimono.
"Now Naruto," Himeka said as she took Naruto's arm, "Come with me and Hinata, we'll have tea in the veranda and you can tell me about yourself."
Himeka looked over her shoulder to Hiashi again.
"Hiashi, be a good son and bring some of my favourite herbal tea to the veranda."
"Yes mother," Hiashi sighed, realising he wasn't about to win against his mother.
Himeka guided Naruto and Hinata though the mansion to a little garden with a low porch overlooking it. There was a table in the middle of the veranda and a scattering of cushions across around it. Himeka lowered herself onto a large cushion slowly as Naruto and Hinata sat opposite her. Naruto was careful to remember his manners as Himeka started getting to know her granddaughter's boyfriend.
"Naruto, though my eyes may not be as sharp as they once were I witnessed the fight with your father. Do you know what he said to you?"
Naruto shook his head sadly, "I couldn't hear," he mumbled, staring out into the garden.
"Well I do," Himeka said, Naruto's head whipped up.
"How?" Naruto choked.
"Using my Byakugan I read his lips," Himeka smiled warmly, "he said 'I'm proud of you son'."
The conversation stopped as Hiashi appeared carrying a tray with the tea. He looked like he wanted to give Naruto a dirty look but thought better of it as Himeka gave him a warning look. Naruto didn't notice as he was trying to compose himself. The conversation started again after the tea was served.
"Just so you know Naruto," Himeka said as she sipped her tea, "I expect a lot of great-grandchildren from you and Hinata."
Naruto choked on his tea and spluttered as Hinata went crimson.
"Grandma," Hinata squeaked.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaara finished helping the patch up of the village wall. He turned as something in the forest caught his attention. Sand swirled as Gaara readied himself. A low hiss floated from the leaves causing Gaara to tense. The redhead leaped out of the way as a massive snake burst out of the trees. The snake slammed into the wall and hiss angrily at missing its target. Gaara grabbed the snake's head with his sand and threw it away from the wall. The monster recoiled and lunged at Gaara again, fangs bared. Gaara's sand caught both the open jaws of the giant reptile, halting its strike but its tail whipped out and struck the wall, knocking Gaara off balance. The snake shook off the sand and hissed, tongue flickering. A sand scatter announced Naruto's appearance, followed by Sasuke. The Uchiha glanced at the snake and recognised it.
"Naruto, Gaara, this Snake belongs to Orochimaru," Sasuke said, "not the most powerful snake of his but it is the most poisonous."
The snake spat at Sasuke, who sidestepped, the jet of liquid hitting the wall and starting to burn a hole in the stone. Naruto's chakra blades materialised and Sasuke's eyes went red as the snake opened its hood and reared up as high as it could. They all dodged the second stream of venom and Gaara hurled a volley of sand shuriken at the snake. Sasuke added Gaara's attack by firing several fireballs. The reptile shrugged off the attacks as Naruto appeared on its head. She snake felt Naruto appear and tried to throw him off. Even with chakra anchoring him to the snake's head, Naruto lost his footing and was thrown off but he managed to slash through its right eye as he was tossed. The reptile it howled and hissed in pain, spitting poison in every direction. Gaara ducked behind the wall as Naruto and Sasuke dived into the trees. Naruto looked at Sasuke and he nodded. They both dashed out from the trees, Sasuke spitting fire and Naruto throwing kunai. Sasuke's darted right and kicked off the nearest tree as Naruto slashed at the snake with his chakra blades. Sasuke emerged from the trees again, kicked off the village wall and landed on the tail of the snake. Lightning sparked in Sasuke's hand before he rushed along the reptile, Chidori cutting a deep gash through the snake's scales and flesh. He launched himself clear of the snake as it thrashed in agony. The snake's tongue flickered as it found Sasuke's sent and charged him. The snake seemed intent on revenge as it thundered after Sasuke bashing trees out of its path. Naruto flickered into the path of the snake, chakra blades ready. The snake didn't slow down as it launched its attack on Naruto. The blonde focused his wind chakra into his blades and stretched them as far as he could before unleashing a massive shockwave. The air blade hit the snake and tore through it as if it wasn't there, cutting it clean in two. The snake's momentum kept it going and the two half landed on either side of Naruto with an earthshaking crash. Naruto sank to his knees as Gaara and Sasuke joined him. Gaara glanced at the snake's already disintegrating body.
"Must be its own poison," he noted.
"Too much chakra?" Sasuke asked Naruto, who nodded.
The Uchiha shook his head, "you have really got to stop doing that," he muttered.
"Frantic attack with little plan," Gaara muttered as helped Naruto to stand, "signs of desperation."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The clouds held good on their threat and eventually opened again, dousing the village with water. The rain pattered down across the broken buildings and scattered tents of Konoha. Naruto was perched on the remains of a building, looking up at the face of his father carved into the mountain. The water running down the stone faces of the Hokage's had gathered into streams that looked like tears.
"The pain of the village is their pain," a voice said as an umbrella approached Naruto's perch and also looked up at the stone faces. Naruto looked down and recognised the voice and kimono as Himeka's. Hinata's sandals were just visible under the umbrella.
"Whenever the village is hurting, the rain shows their feelings," the elderly Hyuuga continued.
Silence fell, except for the rain, as the pair looked up at the Hokages.
"Himeka, what was my father like?" Naruto asked suddenly.
Himeka looked up at the soaked blonde then back to Minato's stone portrait.
"Minato was a strong man," she said after a long pause, "wise beyond his years but kind and cheerful. Very little seemed to faze him and he was seldom angry. I remember he would often join me in my veranda when he sought my advice. I was very taken with him for a time but he was younger than me and he only had eyes for one woman."
"What did he need advice about?"
"Your mother," Himeka smiled, "the legendary fourth Hokage had no idea how to deal with your mother."
"What was…?"
"Your mother like?" Himeka finished, "she was best described as a tomboy but she would always remember her manners. She wouldn't take no for an answer," Himeka paused, "actually, she was very like you, except for the manners."
Hinata quashed a giggle as Naruto looked indignant.
"My manners aren't that bad," Naruto said as hopped off his seat and landed next to Himeka and Hinata.
"You'll catch a death of cold sitting there in the rain," Himeka semi-scolded.
Naruto took Hinata's hand and the trio headed back towards the Hyuuga mansion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D1: Important message to all my readers: I've hit an idea black hole. I'll welcome suggestions of scenes for the next few chapters with open arms and don't worry i will finish this story eventualy. As always, please R&R. see ya next time.
