INTRODUCTION
Welcome back to the end of Innocence. As always I begin by stating that I do not own Naruto.
THANK YOU
A special thanks to those who reviewed my previous chapter: xDARKNESS; The Flying Lion; dragonshaun9; ZeroTail29; DestroyerDRT; theshrewedshrew; Mudcake; FoxSage19; Night Shadow Strike; Kushina's Truth of Hell; Diamond Man; MyHikari; Sikai; charles cdv; hothead11; Monota Anthropina and Corruptchaos.
RESPONCES
xDARKNESS - Glad you enjoyed it. i really wanted a chance to focus a bit and expand on Sai's character.
The Flying Lion - Thanx. And yes, if done right Sai can be very epic. Lol!
dragonshaun9 - Gald you're enjoying the story. I'm trying my best to keep the drama and intensity high in this fight. It has proved quite challenging.
ZeroTail29 - Thanx.
DestroyerDRT - Is she really? Wow.
theshrewedshrew - Hmmm...o well. I hope in time you'll come to see and appreciate the differences i've placed in my story though. Hope you keep reading.
Mudcake - Thanx.
Foxsage19 - I'm glad you liked the prelude. i was really proud of that when I wrote it. it was like a last minute addition I thought of that would explain what i think childhood was like for Sai.
Night Shadow Strike - Short? that was was a long chapter in comparison to the usual length of my chapters. :(
Kushina's - I've grown to like the Character myself. I've been waiting to write about him for quite some time. Glad you liked the chapter.
Diamond Man - Yes, in war there are many hardships and tribulations one must face. I think that is an aspect that is lacking from Kishi's "war" right now that I wanted highlighted. Glad you appriciated what I was going for there.
MyHikari - Awww, don't cry. All things happen for a reason. Even death. And yeah i got the HP reference. I just wanted to give you a little HP poke. Lol! I love telling HP fans that I hate HP for some reason. Lol!
Sikai - Thanx. And the death ain't stopping any time soon.
charles cdv - Thanx.
hothead11 - Honestly, having to create and describe so many fighting scenes has been really tough. I've literally had to go back and re-watch different anime for inspiration and then I go to Naruwiki to review all the techniques that the characters use so i can figure out how to expand on the fights. A lot of research goes into it TBH. I'm honored that you think so highly of them. Let's just hope I can keep this up. Lol!
Monota A. - Hi! i always love new readers/reviewers! Longer? Hmm, I terms of word count this is a long chapter in comparison to my others. Oh well. I'm glad the emotion of the childs' death came across well as was Sai's fight and the emotion of Hana and Kiba losing thier mom. AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR REVIEW THE 400th! Lol!
Corruptchaos - Thanx.
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
Ok, so here is chapter twenty six. Please enjoy and remember to post a review once your done. Thanx!
Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh
Book III: End of Innocence
Chapter: XVI: Destiny of the Hyuga
Karin gasped as she stared out at the blue sky. Sasuke looked back and asked, "Well?"
"Jugo's chakra signal has faded," Karin said as she fought to hold back her tears. "He's…he's dead."
Sasuke faced forward, crossed his arms and closed his eyes as though he was in deep thought. "Hmm," was the only thing he said.
"Is that all you can say," Karin asked angrily. "I just told you they're dead and that's all you can say!"
"Enough Karin," Sasuke yelled angrily as he remained in his pose. Madara stared at Sasuke in silence for a moment before looking ahead.
Karin gritted her teeth as she stared and Sasuke before forcing herself to look away. Damn it Sasuke, she thought. I know how you are. I know you better than anyone. I can't believe you didn't care for either of them. Not after all these years we've all spent together to further your cause. Could it be that you saw them as expendable? Is that how you see me? Even after all that's happened between us?
Madara stared at Sasuke in silence for a moment then said, "Well, at the very least they were able to pull off the plan before they died. So their lives weren't for nothing. You should be proud Sasuke. You chose you're subordinates well. It appears they weren't as useless as I had assumed."
"Enough Madara," Sasuke said curtly. "Let us just focus on the task at hand. Kisame is marching the main force towards Konoha as we speak."
"Yes," Madara said smugly. "And with Konoha's forces in disarray this should prove the finishing stroke."
******Meanwhile - Elsewhere******
Two ninja closed in on Hinata. Both were armed with swords and swung simultaneously at her. Using a kunai in each hand she quickly blocked them both. She then began to spin at great speed and knocked both swords out of her attackers' hands.
Before they could react she struck them both with gentle fist in the chest causing both men to collapse. Two more moved in behind her when she heard a familiar voice. "Hinata-sama," the man yelled as he landed behind her and struck both Akatsuki ninja, knocking them both away.
"Ko-san," Hinata said. "Thank you for your help."
"Nonsense Hinata-sama," Ko responded. "I'd be forever shamed if something were to happen to you."
Eight more ninja converged on them, forcing Hinata and Ko to block their attacks and punch them. Hinata and Ko put their backs together and thrust out their arms to make a cross. A massive wall of chakra flowed from their palms and knocked away all of the Akatsuki ninja.
Hinata then looked across the valley and saw Hanabi who had been separated from the rest of the division and was holding off six Akatsuki alone. "Hanabi," Hinata yelled as she and Ko ran to help her sister.
Before she could get to Hanabi, dozens more Akatsuki ninja flooded out of the wooded area into the clearing and forced them back. "Hinata," Hanabi yelled as she struck down another assailant. "Go back! I'll meet up with you!"
"Come Hinata-sama," Ko yelled as he pulled Hinata by her arm. 'Your sister is right. We can't get to her now. We need to fall back and regroup with the others." Just then everyone was startled to see an object fall from the sky, landing in the center of the enemy force. The resulting explosion from the impact launched everyone nearby back slamming into each other and crashing to the ground. As the smoke cleared Hinata saw that it was the Naruto clone.
"Wind Release: Divine Wind," Naruto yelled as he created two gusts of wind that formed into two miniature tornadoes that blasted everyone away.
Hinata, Ko and Hanabi stared at Naruto in astonishment as Naruto glared at the female ninja, Ayuki who continued to summon more and more Akatsuki ninja. "Retreat isn't an option Ko," Naruto said. "That woman is using some type of summon to bring in more Akatsuki ninja. If we don't stop her this entire area will be over-run and we'll be facing Akatsuki on both sides. We need to take her out now. Are you with me?"
"Of course Naruto-kun," Hinata said as she ran up next to him.
"I'll help too," Hanabi said.
"Fine," Ko said as he readied himself.
"Alright then," Naruto said. "I'll take the lead with the three of you spread out behind me. Don't get caught up fighting the other lesser Akatsuki ninja, just keep running and use your Empty Wall Palm technique to clear away anyone ahead. Most of all, we don't stop until we get to her. Remember, she's the target."
"Right," said Hinata, Hanabi and Ko in unison as the followed Naruto as he sprinted across the field.
Ayuki looked up to see the four ninja sprinting towards her. Again she summoned more Akatsuki ninja who all ran to intercept Naruto and his group. All the ninja were armed with swords and kunai and screamed as they met in heated battle.
Naruto began using his wind style to release a vortex of wind from his open palms that blasted back everyone ahead. Meanwhile Hinata, Hanabi and Ko were combining their Empty Palm techniques to create massive surges of chakra that would knock any Akatsuki aside.
Ayuki was surprised to see the group knocking everyone away as they continued their way towards her. As she summoned another group of ninja she swiftly stuck a small summon tag on one of the ninja's back before he ran off to join the fight.
Naruto and the others continued to plow through their opposition until finally they were close to the female ninja. Ayuki stopped her summoning and drew two kitana swords from her back and stood ready to face her foes.
As the last of the Akatsuki ninja fell Naruto and Hanabi were the first to engage Ayuki. Ayuki swung her swords at Naruto, forcing him to stop and block her attacks. Hanabi made her way behind the ninja hoping to strike her in the back with a kunai. Ayuki seemed to move by instinct alone, turning and blocking Hanabi's kunai with one sword and using the other intent on stabbing her in the head.
The sword came an inch from Hanabi's eye when it suddenly stopped. Naruto had grabbed the woman's arm. "No you don't," Naruto said. "You've caused enough death today."
The woman moved with incredible speed, kicking Naruto in the stomach and forcing him to let go as his body flew back. Damn, Naruto thought as he instinctively grabbed his stomach. She's as strong as she is fast. It was like I got hit by solid rock.
The woman quickly turned her attention back to Hanabi and tried to stab her again. Hanabi was able to dodge the strike and just then Hinata leapt in with two kunai. She began striking the weapons at Ayuki who began to dodge and block each attack.
Hanabi also entered the fray, forcing the woman to begin blocking and dodging the attacks of both sisters as she was continuously forced back. Realizing her disadvantage the woman stuck her foot out, catching Hanabi's feet and causing her to lose balance momentarily. That moment was all she needed as the woman quickly blocked Hinata's next strike and punched her in the face. And then knocked one of the kunai out of Hanabi's hand and sliced her in the stomach.
"Hanabi-chan," Hinata yelled as she ran to her sister as Hanabi fell to one knee. The woman raised her hand intent on finishing Hanabi off when she sensed someone above her. Ayuki looked up to see Naruto above her, his fist clenched intent on punching her with all his might. Ayuki leapt back and out of range as Naruto crashed down with a punch that cracked the ground under his feet. He immediately engaged Ayuki throwing punches and kicks that forced her back.
Meanwhile Hinata reached Hanabi who had her hand placed over the wound. "Are you ok sister?" Hanabi grimaced as she looked at the bit of blood trickling out. "Yes," Hanabi said. "I was able to turn enough to reduce the amount of damage. Plus the flak jacket helped as well." Hanabi got to her feet and took a deep breath. The pain was becoming tolerable as more time passed. "Come on sister," she said. "We need to help Naruto-kun."
Naruto meanwhile found himself in heated combat with this mysterious masked woman who seemed able to block or dodge every attack no matter how fast he moved. Naruto threw two punches, one to her head the next to her chest. The woman ducked under the first and sidestepped the next before swinging both of her blades straight across hoping to slice Naruto in half.
Naruto leapt back, allowing both swords to miss by only a few inches. He then threw another punch but the woman quickly recovered from her attack and placed both swords in front of her face like an "x" and blocked Naruto's attack.
Naruto countered by kicking out in an effort to sweep her legs out from under her but the woman leapt up in the air. It was then Ko appeared and yelled, "Got you!" Ko thrust his arm towards her and a blast of chakra shot from his open palm striking the woman squarely and launching her body into the air and back. But much to their surprise the woman recovered while in the air before back flipping and landing on her feet gracefully. She then stood straight up, both swords at her side and waited for them to attack.
"Impossible," Ko said. "I hit her with everything I had. And she's standing there like it didn't even faze her!"
"Calm down Ko," Naruto said. "We need to combine our efforts to take her down." Just then Hinata and Hanabi got there and they all looked at each other in silence before sprinting towards the woman.
Ayuki crouched into a ready stance and prepared herself for the assault. Ko and Hanabi removed small shuriken and threw them at her in advance of their arrival. Ayuki began to dodge the shuriken and knocked several of them away with her swords just as they closed in on her.
Naruto threw a punch at her head which she easily side stepped. She then kicked him in the ribs, knocking him away. Hanabi came from behind, while Hinata attacked from the front. Both of them were armed with a kunai but Ayuki quickly turned and blocked Hanabi's attack with one sword and Hinata's with another.
Using the opening both sisters provided Ko leapt in and struck Ayuki several times in the chest and arms with his Gentle Fist attack. We may not be able to see her chakra pathway but I've studied the pathway so closely that I don't have to, Ko thought.
Ayuki stumbled back and stood still with her head bowed as Hinata, Hanabi and Ko looked on. Did Ko get her, Hinata thought. Did we shut down her chakra?
Suddenly Ayuki raised her head and sprinted towards them again forcing them to defend themselves. Ayuki began swinging her swords with blinding speed and accuracy as she began to simultaneously fight all three of them together.
Hanabi, Hinata and Ko found themselves suddenly on the defensive, forced to block and dodge Ayuki's attacks as she moved with blinding speed. Ko tried punching her in the face but she instinctively ducked and sliced him across the chest and then the back.
Before she could follow up with a finishing move, Naruto arrived and tried to kick her in the face. The woman stepped back as the kick flew passed her face and then she stabbed Naruto in the leg, burying the sword to the hilt before pulling it free and kicking him away.
Hinata glared at the woman and then began to focus her chakra and said, "Chakra Needle Technique!" She then began to fire dozens upon dozens of needle shaped chakra blasts at the assassin forcing her on the defensive.
As she was pushed back Ayuki saw Ko run towards her and then use his Empty Palm technique and blast her back towards a waiting Hanabi who began to spin at an incredible speed while releasing a steady stream of chakra. Realizing the situation Ayuki quickly stabbed one of her swords into the ground and used it to slow herself and then once she was able to get her feet on the ground she back flipped up and over Hanabi, landing behind her.
Much to her surprise Ko and Hinata were waiting for her and tried to stab her. Ayuki buried one of her swords into the ground and quickly leapt up and landed on the hilt of the sword, perfectly balanced.
Hinata and Ko immediately began to fight her with their kunai as she used her sword to block and parry every attack while remaining balanced on the hilt of a sword. Just then she saw Naruto leaping towards her with a ball of glowing energy. "Rasengan," he yelled as he attacked but much to his surprise the woman disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Everyone looked around to see where she was. "There she is," Hanabi yelled as she pointed to the woman who was kneeling next to one of the fallen Akatsuki ninja several yards away. The woman looked down at the summoning scroll she had attached to the man's back prior to the fight. She had done so just in case she found herself overwhelmed.
"Ok, what do we do now" Ko asked as the all stared at the woman. Naruto looked to Ko and was about to speak when he heard a slight sizzling sound. When he looked around he noticed the sound was coming from a burning slip of paper wrapped around the hilt of the woman's' sword that was still buried in the ground.
"Everyone get down," Naruto yelled as the explosive tag went off knocking everyone away and causing his clone to disperse.
As the remnants of the explosion faded away the woman got to her feet and slowly walked towards her fallen enemies. She walked through the smoke like a lioness stalking her weakened prey. Hinata's head was wringing and there was a slight buzzing in her ears. There was a dull pain coming from her head and when she placed her hand there and removed it there was blood.
Hinata could hear the steady sound of the woman's foot steps as she walked up to her and as she looked up she could see her shadow and the light reflecting off her sword. Hinata tried to get up, every nerve in her body was screaming for her to move. But her muscles were like jelly, unable to follow the command. All she could manage was to push herself into a seated position as the assassin aimed her sword at her.
Just as the sword was thrust at her Hinata saw a shadow and then a body come in between her and certain death. Hinata sat in shock as she saw a bloody blade protruding from the chest of the person in front of her and as she looked up she saw hat it was Ko, smiling at her with blood trickling from the side of his mouth.
"Ko-san," she yelled.
"Lady Hinata...you…..must…..run," he said. Ayuki withdrew the sword from Ko's back and he fell limply into Hinata's lap. Again the assassin raised her sword to kill Hinata only for someone to pause at the sound of someone yelling.
Hinata looked past Ayuki and saw her father running towards them. "Hinata, Hanabi, are you ok," he asked as he ran.
Ayuki stepped out into an open space as she prepared for the fight. Hiashi attacked the woman with a ferocity that took her off balance. He began to strike her all over her body with his gentle fist while expertly dodging every swing of her sword. "I don't know why I can't see your chakra network," Hiashi yelled. "But I bet if I hit you everywhere you'll eventually shut down!"
Unable to withstand the onslaught of Hiashi's attacks, Ayumi suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke only to re-appear near the fallen Akatsuki ninja. "What," Hiashi asked as he looked around.
"Father," Hinata said. "She uses scrolls to perform reverse summonings. Be careful."
Hiashi then turned and looked at the woman. "Right," Hiashi said as he sprinted towards her again. This time he removed several smoke bombs and threw them at her feet obscuring her vision. Once he was close enough he used his Empty Palm technique that violently pushed her airborne and crashing to the ground.
The assassin slowly got to her feet and this time, instead of waiting sprinted at Hiashi who waited until the last minute and then spun quickly and used the Heavenly Spin technique to knock her back down.
Ayumi's vision was blurry as she saw Hiashi standing over her. "How dare you bring harm to my children," Hiashi said angrily. He then used the Empty Palm technique again, slamming the woman into the ground. Then he did it again and again. Each time she was struck her body was crushed into the ground until a small crater was created under her.
Hiashi finally stopped and glared down at the woman who seemed to be barely breathing before she suddenly grasped her sword and swung it at Hiashi forcing him back. She quickly flipped forward and onto her feet, but fell to one knee and clutched her chest. She was clearly hurting. Hiashi moved in to finish her when she quickly threw down a smoke bomb and leapt back.
Hiashi quickly used Heavenly Spin to clear away the smoke and when he stopped he saw the woman waiting. Hiashi was a bit surprised that she didn't take that moment to run but instead sprinted right at him.
Finally the affects of being too close to the explosion was fading for Hinata. She looked down at Ko's closed eyes and stroked his cheek. He had been her guardian for as long as she could remember and she could remember all the times he had stated that it was his duty to protect her. That he would give his life to save hers. Never had she truly considered that a possibility. Yet here he was. His life sacrificed for hers. She gently placed his him down on the ground and got up.
Hinata then looked to Hanabi who was also getting to her feet. Both girls looked on as the woman sprinted at their father who waited until the last minute and then used Heavenly Spin, intent on knocking her away. But to their surprise the woman, inches from coming into contact with Hiashi's technique, disappeared. And then a bright light appeared from within Hiashi's technique and much to their horror, Hiashi's technique suddenly stopped and the woman had her sword buried hilt deep into him.
"Father," Hinata and Hanabi yelled as they ran towards them.
Hiashi could feel the cold steel as it pieced all the way through his body. He could feel an instant wave of cold wash over his body and a numbness. How did she get through my technique, he wondered to himself as he felt all vitality begin to drain from his body. It was as though he was aging instantaneously and he would soon become dust.
Through blurry vision Hiashi looked down and it was then he received an answer to his question which made him gasp in astonishment. He saw one of the woman's small summon tags stuck to the ground next to his foot. The smoke bomb, Hiashi realized. She didn't just use it to escape. She must have placed it there knowing I'd use that technique. Then she just summoned herself inside the shield.
Hiashi groaned and summoned all the strength he had in his rapidly weakening body and pushed the woman back, forcing her to pull the sword out. Hiashi stumbled back, almost losing his footing, but much to the assassins' surprise, he remained on his feet and though he was gasping for air and coughing up blood he still glared defiantly at the woman.
Just then both his daughters reached him and Hinata instantly stood between the woman and her father with a kunai at the ready. Hanabi grabbed her father to help him to the ground. "No," he yelled. "I can still beat her! I can't give up now! You two girls run! Leave us and find help!"
"Father you can't fight anymore," Hanabi said. "We should run and find assistance!"
Hinata stared at the woman who, despite her own visible injuries, appeared still willing to fight. Staring at this woman, who had no indiscernible features, no personality. She didn't appear to enjoy or hate what she was doing. Her eyes were dead, soulless with neither light nor darkness. At that time Hinata felt a chill travel down her spine as she looked into this new face of evil where within there was only….indifference.
No longer able to stand under his own power Hiashi was helped down by Hanabi. "Hinata," he said. "You….can't defeat her….you're not strong enough. Take your sister…..run…."
"You've always looked down on me father," Hinata replied without ever taking her eyes off of the woman. "You wrote me off as too weak long ago. But I don't blame you for that father. You're life must have been hard having to be responsible for an entire clan. And I know you were hard on me because you wanted me to be strong enough to lead like you. And I disappointed you, because I wasn't like you father. And I now come to accept that I never will be. I have to walk my own path. And right now my path leads here. Let me show you father…..my strength."
Hiashi and Hanabi looked on as both Hinata's hands became covered in a shroud of chakra that took the shape of large lion heads. The power emanating from them began to flare wildly. Hinata, Hanabi thought. I've never seen so much chakra coming from your Twin Lions Technique. You must be giving it your all.
Hinata spinted at the woman who crouched and raised her sword in preparation for the attack. Hinata engaged the woman, throwing a punch which she sidestepped. The woman swung the sword down and Hinata ducked and countered with another punch that was sidestepped.
Hanabi and Hiashi watched the two women continue their fight that looked more like a graceful dance instead of the fight to the death that it was. Hiashi marveled at his daughter as she expertly danced about, dodging, countering and blocking every move. He could see that both fighters were working furiously to fight through the defenses of the other, knowing that whoever landed the first hit would likely win.
As the fight continued Hinata realized she wasn't getting anywhere this way. No matter what I do she keeps dodging, she thought. I've never seen anyone who can react as fast as she does. It was then she made a decision. The woman dodged another of Hinata's punches and then thrust her sword forward and this time her attack landed, piercing into Hinata's left shoulder. "Hinata," Hanabi yelled as she started to get to her feet.
Ayumi began to push the sword further in hoping to sever the muscles and tendons in Hinata's arm. It was then, to her surprise she saw Hinata smile. Hinata then punched the side of the sword with her Twin Lions punch and shattered the blade and before even Ayumi could react Hinata punched her three times in the ribs and stomach and Ayumi was thrown back by the force of the blows. Her body crashed to the floor and tumbled back violently like a discarded rag doll before skidding to a stop.
"Hinata," Hanabi said as she started to move to her only for Hinata to raise her left arm and signal her to stop. Hinata then grasped the piece of the blade that was still embedded in her shoulder and slowly pulled it free. Once out she began to gasp and fought to manage the pain.
It's finished, Hinata thought. But unfortunately she was wrong as she heard movement ahead and was the woman slowly getting to her feet. She was clutching her chest with her right arm while her left fell limply at her side. He was breathing hard and seemed barely able to stand. But instead of running, she instead began limping towards Hinata.
It was then Hinata saw the women flick her left hand and a small knife popped out of her wrist guard. "Hinata," Hanabi yelled as she got to her feet. But again Hinata waved her off.
Hinata took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Neji-kun, she thought. I know you only taught me this technique after I begged and pleaded. And you made me swear never to use it. But…..I have no choice.
As Aymui limped ever closer, Hinata made several hand signs and suddenly opened her eyes which were now completely black as coal. She then said, "Byakugan Secret Technique: Ame-no-Uzume!"
Aymui found herself unable to move and the entire landscape seemed to fade away. She couldn't see Hinata or her other targets. There were no longer any trees, land or sky. Everything was white, pure and serene. Everything was so perfect, that it began to overwhelm her. And then the pain began. A pain so excruciating it seemed to last an eternity.
Hiashi stared, dumbfounded through his ever darkening vision. "T-that's Ame-no-Uzume," he stuttered. "Where did she learn that?"
"Neji taught her," Hanabi answered. "This is the fruit of their resolve. To break free of the bonds that oppresses our clan."
Ayumi felt like her entire body was on fire. Her vision and hearing had improved to the point where all light and sound hurt painfully. She knew she was done. There was only one thing left to do. She must do what she had been taught since an early age. Summoning all her strength she willed her left arm to move and stabbed herself in the heart with her knife.
Hinata saw this and stopped her technique as the woman's corpse crumpled to the ground. Hinata immediately clasped her hand over her eyes. There was a small bit of blood leaking from both her eyes. But though her vision was blurry she hadn't kept the technique going long enough for her vision to go completely.
Hinata slowly got to her feet and stumbled over to her sister who was leaning over Hiashi. Hinata dropped to her knees and said, "Come on. We need to get father to a medic." Hanabi looked up at Hinata and she could see that Hanabi was crying. Hinata then looked down at her father, his eyes were closed and it seemed as if he were merely resting. "Hanabi," she said nervously.
"I…I'm sorry Hinata," Hanabi said as she fought back tears.
"No….father," Hinata yelled. "Father! Father!" Hinata grabbed her fathers' shoulders and shook him as she yelled and cried. She tried to activate her Byakugan to see if he had even the slightest bit of chakra left but when she tried she felt a spasm of pain in her eyes. Her Byakugan would not activate.
"He…was stabbed cleanly in the lung," Hanabi said. "The entire time he was watching you….he was drowning in his own blood. But he refused to let me take him away. He…..he said he wanted to see you."
******A few minutes earlier******
"Father, please let me take you to the medical unit," Hanabi said as she attempted to lift Hiashi up. "You need medical attention immediately!"
Hiashi remained silent as he tugged away from Hanabi and remained seated on the ground. The medical unit was a half mile away and he already knew he wouldn't make the journey. And if these were going to be his last moments he would rather spend them watching something he thought he may never get to see.
From the time Hinata was a small child he had always been hard on her. After all she, by succession of birth, was to one day lead the Hyuga Clan. So she had to be taught and prepared for that responsibility.
But Hinata, even at an early age seemed to lack something that all natural born leaders have. That never became more evident than after her little sister Hanabi was born. Despite being nearly nine years younger Hanabi was more skilled than her older sister.
But that wasn't the reason Hiashi chose to strip Hinata of her right of succession. It wasn't the reason he was always harder on her than Hanabi. The real reason was because Hinata…..was so much like him.
When he was young, he lacked the same quality that a clan leader must have. Hizashi was the outgoing one. He was the gifted brother. He was the one better suited for leadership. And they both knew it. Their father was harder on Hiashi than Hizashi and it wasn't until they were much older when he was told why. It was on the day when he made leader that his father told him, "To lead a clan is much like a shepherd leading a flock of sheep. A good shepherd must be gentle and kind as you are naturally. But he must also have the resolve to be heartless when the wolves come."
And so that is what Hiashi set out to do with Hinata. Yet every way he tried failed. Even sending her away, as hard as that was, to live and train under Kurenai didn't work. In the end he began to believe she truly would never gain what she lacked. Until her first attempt at the Chunin exams that is.
Hiashi never knew what truly happened during the competition outside the fact that she had lost to Neji. But something had changed within his daughter. She had grown stronger in spirit if not in ability. She had not yet gained what she lacked but at least now she was on the path to it. And so he welcomed her back and though he was still as hard on her as ever at least now he could see his labor bearing fruit.
And now, watching her single handedly take on this assassin, he could see that he was right about her, and wrong. Hinata was strong, just not in the way he would have wanted. And watching her now he knew that she indeed had achieved what she lacked. Her skill and technique had grown by leaps and bounds. And she fought her enemy not with hate, anger or savagery, but with resolve.
She now had the resolve to do what was necessary. To make the tough decisions. The wolves had come and she was truly now acting as the shepherd.
Just then he saw the woman stab Hinata in her shoulder and Hanabi was preparing to go to her when he pulled her back. "Father," Hanabi yelled. "She needs help! I have to…."
"No," Hiashi said. "There is no need. Hinata will win. She is strong. I can see that now. I was wrong about her Hanabi. You need to let her know that I realized it at the end. And tell her that I have faith that she has the strength to lead."
Hanabi looked at her father with a bit of shock and said, "Does that mean you have chosen her?"
Hiashi nodded and said, "Yes. She's ready. And you….you must support her. Be by her side. I know she will have the strength to change the Hyuga for the better. To make the changes I was too weak to make myself. I…have faith in you both."
******Now******
"Those were his words," Hanabi said as she stroked her fathers' hair and looked at her older sister.
Hinata stared at her father solemnly for a while and said, "But….I don't know…what should I do?"
It was then they heard someone else say, "That decision is up to you Hinata-sama." The girls looked up to see themselves surrounded by dozens of Hyuga. Apparently they were able to defeat all the men the female assassin had summoned. One Hyuga stepped forward and said, "You must now decide your path, as well as the path of this clan."
Ao walked through the group and up to the two girls. Seeing Hiashi dead Ao took a moment before speaking up. "We just received communication from Hokage Danzo," he said. "Akatsuki has launched their main offensive and we've been ordered to fall back to the main defensive walls."
"Right," Hinata said blankly. "We….we should fall back then. Let's gather all of the bodies and…."
"We don't have time for that," Ao replied. "We have many injured as it is. Carrying the bodies would slow us down too much. We could end up being over-run by the enemy."
"Those bodies consist mostly of the Hyuga clan," one Hyuga member said defiantly. "You may have been placed in charge of this division but Hinata-sama is in charge of our clan."
"Hinata-sama, what are your orders," another Hyuga member asked.
Hinata was in deep thought as she stared at her fathers' face. What would you do father, she thought. It was then she realized she couldn't be her father. She had to do what she thought was best.
Hinata struggled to stand. The wounds she had sustained where hurting now more than ever. One member of the clan quickly moved to help her to her feet. Her eye sight was fading in and out and the she was weakening from the blood loss from the wound in her shoulder. "I will not leave the bodies of my clan here like discarded garbage," she said. "We will take them back with us. As many of them as we can."
"Yes," several ninja said as they saluted and they immediately got to work.
Ao nodded in agreement and said, "Alright. I'll help get everyone moving as fast as possible. But you and your sister should go now and get your wounds tended to." Ao then turned and left leaving the girls behind.
As Hinata was led away she looked to her sister who smiled at her. Hinata then looked to her fathers' body which was being carried beside her. Father, she thought. I will make sure the destiny of the Hyuga is a bright one. This I swear.
******Meanwhile – Konoha- Rooftop of the Office of the Hokage******
Naruto's eyes slowly opened and he took a long, almost mournful, breath. "So much death," he whispered. "This just isn't right." He then looked up at the sky and shaded his eyes from the sun. He could start to see the outline of the moon which was now moving towards the sun. Only a few hours left before the eclipse began.
Naruto then looked down as if in deep thought before getting to his feet. Behind him stood Ino who appeared to be on edge. "Well," she asked.
"Hinata and her sister are alive," Naruto said. "It seems they were able to defeat that assassin on their own." Ino sighed in relief of the good news. "But their father," Naruto continued. "I can't sense his chakra."
"Oh no," Ino responded sadly.
"The last of my clones was destroyed," Naruto said as he walked passed her and the three ANBU guards tasked to watch over him.
"So what will you do now," Ino asked. "Are you going out there yourself?"
"Naruto-kun has been expressly forbidden to leave the village by order of the Hokage," one of the ANBU ninja said.
"No," Naruto answered. "Not yet anyway. I need to stay here until it happens. But right now I need to speak to Danzo."
"Until it happens," Ino asked. "Until what happens?"
"Until it gets worse Ino," he said. "Until things gets much worse."
As Naruto pulled on the door that would take him downstairs Ino said, "So many of us have died already Naruto. How much worse can it get?"
Naruto paused and looked sadly at Ino in silence. He looked up at the moon which was slowly making its way to its position in front of the sun. It was like a timer, ticking down to the end of the world. Without saying a word Naruto went through the door and down the stairway with his guards in tow.
He wanted to answer Ino but he knew there was no point in telling her something that would only make her more scared than she already was. He needed Ino to remain calm enough to do what he'll need her to do soon. But he knew, despite all that had happened that this was only the beginning. Akatsuki's true might, has yet to be shown.
End of Chapter Twenty Six
Next Time: On the Head of a Pin