Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto or any of its respective characters. This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only. (Mostly my amusement.) However, if I DID own Naruto, it would be called "Neji and Hinata: Byakugan Babies Galore!" That has a nice ring to it...
Author's Note:Okay, people! Here is what you've all been waiting for! I hope it lives up to your expectations. I worked so hard on this chapter. And a warning: Everything herein is the result of my imagination. Whether or not such jutsu could truly occur in the Naruto world, is entirely irrelevant. This is my story, and I'll write what I want, how I want. Now that that's out of the way! Thank you everyone who has review Possession or any of my other stories! You are all awesome! And special thanks to all the fabulous people who have this story on Alert! I hope you all like it! PS: Neji will be in the next chapter. Sorry for his absence. :(
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Possession - Chapter Nine
The wind howled through the trees, stripping the ageless watchers of men's lives of their foliage, leaving them naked, bending to the will of the storm. The wayward leaves spun in the maelstrom, razor sharp projectiles cutting through the icy drops, as they pounded mercilessly into the ground. But, heady as the static air and painful haze of water was, the storm raging between the two young Hyuuga kunoichi, was deadlier still.
The Leader's arm was raised, high in the air, in salute to the moon which could not be seen. Then, it fell, whipping through the air like the stroke of a sword.
The gong sounded. The battle had begun.
xxx
Hyuuga Hinata and Hyuuga Hanabi stood motionless, on opposite ends of the training field. The signal had been given, yet neither moved. Instead, they waged their war with shining silver eyes, clashing in the thunderous night.
Finally, Hinata bowed to her sister.
Hanabi was taken aback. Such formality was not required, nor was it customary. However, being the younger sister, she was compelled to return the courtesy.
That was her first mistake.
The kunai sailed through the air as Hanabi's head lowered. She did not detect them until she heard them zip past her head, narrowly missing her. Shocked, she turned to watch the weapons embed themselves into the trunk of a distant tree. Hanabi scowled at herself for falling for such a ploy, but it changed into a smirk, with the realization that her sister had missed.
That was her second mistake.
She turned back around, and Hinata was gone.
Hanabi searched the rain-drenched haze for any sign of her sister. All she could see was darkness, water and more water. She took a tentative step forward, then another. Hinata was nowhere to be found. The rain dulled her senses, especially her auditory sense, and she was completely unaware when one of those kunai exploded in a puff of smoke, revealing a blurry shape, creeping into the branches of the tree.
Hanabi whirled around in frustration. "Where are you, Hinata?" No answer. "Coward!" She yelled. Then, a kunai flew from the treetops, landing at her feet. She jumped back and another kunai sailed toward her from a different direction. She hopped around, dodging the projectiles, expertly. Finally, the weapons stopped raining down on her. But only for a moment, before she was inundated with shuriken.
Hanabi blocked them with her Juuken style, sending them scattering off in the distance. "You will never win like this!" She whipped her soaked hair from her eyes. "Just come out and fight me like you're supposed to!" She saw a rustling in the tree ahead of her. Hanabi smirked, before running at full speed. She passed by the kunai embedded in the ground, paying them no heed.
Her third mistake.
The previously unseen wire connected to each kunai, pulled taut, tearing the weapons from the ground. They criss-crossed in front of Hanabi as she ran, whirling around and wrapping her up tightly. She fell the ground in a soggy thud, constricted and unable to move. She writhed and wiggled, to no avail. However, she was able to grasp the shuriken hidden in her sleeve, and she sawed at the wire from the moment she hit the ground.
Hinata leapt from the tree, walking toward her sister. She brandished a kunai in one hand, tugging a handful of wire in the other. Hanabi was pulled upward, by her feet, to dangle above the ground as Hinata yanked the wire. They stared each other in the eye, Hanabi scowling upside-down, and Hinata, the picture of serenity.
The younger Hyuuga broke one arm free from her restraints, lodging the shuriken into her sister's unprotected forehead. The weapon sank in, but there was no blood– and Hinata smiled.
The clone disintegrated into a puff of smoke, leaving a heavy log in its place. The wire was tied to one end, keeping Hanabi above the ground. Both she and the log swung wildly. When the momentum was spent, she squinted, just in time to see the paper bomb before it exploded in her face.
Hanabi was sent soaring through the air, skidding across the ground in a flimsy heap. Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet, tearing the remaining wire from her body and taking up her Juuken stance. She blinked several times, trying to focus. At last, she activated her Byakugan.
For the first time in long time, Hyuuga Hanabi began to re-evaluate her elder sister's strength.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tomomori sat beside his twin, both of them wide-eyed and grimacing, as they bore witness to the battle unfolding before them. This battle had been decided from the moment Hinata walked out of the dojo. No one had realized it then, but the Heiress that walked past them was merely a clone, a ploy to gain the upper hand. And she did gain it, having disguised herself as one of the kunai the clone had thrown right as Hanabi fell into her trap. And trapped she was, for Hinata was at least five steps ahead of her in strategy.
The elder was wearing the younger down, forcing her to spend her chakra defensively, rather than on her superior Gentle Fist. Hinata understood her own weaknesses, transforming them into strengths.
Hanabi had yet to land a single blow.
They watched as Hanabi finally registered her predicament, activating the Byakugan; something she should have done from the start. Tomomori frowned. Something Hinata had done immediately, no doubt. They'd underestimated her.
"This is not going well," Tomoyuki whispered. "When did she learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
"I do not know," Tomomori answered. This was problematic. When Hiashi sent her off to be trained by Yuuhi Kurenai, no one thought she would excel. Yet, it seemed her repertoire had grown considerably. He scowled. If she had stayed under the tutelage of the Clan, her attacks would be limited to basic ninjutsu and the Gentle Fist. She was not supposed to learn techniques like the Shadow Clone, or Substitution Jutsu. And, from watching her, it seemed she had somehow learned to combine the two into a formidable deception.
"What do we do if she wins this fight?" Tomoyuki asked, discretely.
"Stick to the plan. That is all we can do," his brother answered.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yuuhi Kurenai ran through the park where Kakashi had said the genin teams were gathered. Tsunade had given her express orders to direct the young shinobi to Fire's border, where they were to aid in dealing with the Cloud shinobi. All of them, and not a one was to know of Hinata's assault. 'Too many complications', the Hokage had said.
She saw them gathered around two picnic tables in the soaking rain, discussing something that had both Kiba and Naruto riled up. She hoped they had not been fighting. It would only make matters worse.
When she reached earshot, she yelled for their attention. "Shino! Kiba!" The two boys immediately stood, focused on her alone. She smiled. She'd trained them well.
"Hai, Kurenai-sensei!" They responded, in unison. She jogged up to them, nodding at the others present. They also stood in response to her authoritative voice. Despite their antics, all of them were well trained shinobi.
"You have a mission," she spoke, "straight from the Hokage herself." They all waited for her to elaborate. They looked so serious. Even Shikamaru and Ino were not engaged in their usual battle of flirtation. "In fact," she said, "all of you have been assigned the same mission." She shifted her intense gaze to meet the eyes of each genin, and single chuunin standing before her. She stopped when she met Shikamaru's stare. "You are the platoon leader," she acknowledged what the Nara had no doubt already suspected.
He stepped forward. "What kind of mission?" She saw the change come over him. He was all business.
Kurenai's features grew stern when she spoke again. "Konoha is under attack."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hinata scanned the training ground, keeping a sharp eye on her opponent, while also keeping part of her focus on the council, while they watched from the sidelines. Her Byakugan was well developed. She had honed it to such a degree, that she was able to read the lips of the twin Branch council members, whispering ever so discretely in the shadows.
Hyuuga Tomomori, and Hyuuga Tomoyuki. Hokage-sama had not been mistaken, after all. The Hyuuga were plotting against Konoha. Her Byakugan eyes narrowed. But how many? Her father was a target of their plot, so he could be stricken from the list. But... She eyed her opponent, as she picked herself up from the mud. What of Hanabi? The traitorous twins supported her in her bid to usurp the title of Heiress. Could she also be in league with the enemy? Hinata frowned. If she was, there could be no other end than her death.
She tossed a few more distractions, before creating another shadow clone; complete with the Byakugan, and its hitai-ate tied around its throat. Hanabi still had not caught on. Hinata wore her hitai-ate in its proper place now; no longer tied around her neck like some rank amateur. She smiled. Hanabi was not so bright as she let on.
She sent the clone out, and it ran at Hanabi, finally giving her what she wanted– a Juuken battle.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Their palms flew through the air, cutting the tension, and sending winds of destruction in all directions. The battle was like a dance, as they spun and twirled, like two flowering vines snaking up the tallest tree, vying for what little light was left under the canopy. That was exactly how it was for them. Only one could succeed. Only one could continue on in the Main House. And, just as Hanabi had imagined, Hinata was no match for her.
Hanabi dodged one of her sister's clumsy strikes, ducking under her arm and landing two fingertips against a chakra point located there. The elder Hyuuga stepped back, grasping the younger's arm and pulling her forward. Hanabi went to strike a palm in the center of Hinata's chest, when she felt a surge of chakra invading her body.
She looked at her arm as Hinata's hands exploded in twinkling blue light.
Power that was not her own shot through her, stifling her chakra flow. Her Byakugan wavered, becoming fuzzy and distorted. She grasped her head in confusion, as the rain beat down on her.
Another clone! How was this happening? How was Hinata so strong?
She shook her head, clearing out the cobwebs. "Okay... relax, Hanabi," she hissed at herself, putting her energy into fighting the foreign chakra, while using what was left of her Byakugan to scan for the next attack. She was badly handicapped, but she was not giving up. She had not spent her days and nights training, just to have her hopes dashed like this.
Hanabi grimaced. Was this how Hinata felt? Was this why she had changed? Never once had she wondered how her sister would react to the change of succession. If it were not happening at this very moment, she would never have guessed that her shy neechan would fight for a title that had no use for her– or so she thought. This battle was proving Hinata's strength in ways she never imagined.
She breathed deeply. She might not win this fight, after all. And if she didn't? Would she able to submit herself to her sister? She swallowed hard. To the weak Hinata? No. But to this Hinata; the Hinata who took control of the match from the very start, before she herself had even realized it had begun? Her eyes narrowed. Yes. However, their match wasn't over yet.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hinata smirked at her sister's tenacity. She couldn't have expected anything less. Hanabi had been training continuously with their father since she was very young, and Hinata knew first-hand, just how much tenacity it took to please Hyuuga Hiashi. It was something she'd never been able to accomplish before today. But, looking at the reactions of his face, she knew he was pleased beyond belief.
Had she finally proven her worth? Her eyes fell back to her opponent, struggling to stay on her feet as the chakra did its work. Hinata wiped her face clean of all emotion. Now, it was time to finish this.
Her hands fell into the succession of seals that she had learned so long ago. It was cruel, yes, but Hinata couldn't afford not to be. She had to know where Hanabi's loyalties were. With the council, or with the Clan– and Konoha.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hanabi blinked the water away from her white eyes. It came down in waves, obscuring everything. She held out her arm, feeling it slide over and around her. She blinked again, and the air surrounding her became less like air, and more like water. She felt like she was standing in it, then swimming, then rushing down a swift current. She gurgled and gasped when she felt her mouth filling with water.
Water... So much water...
She fought against the current, swirling in the maelstrom. Her eyes were wide as she struggled for the surface. Long beams of sunlight taunted her from above. She couldn't reach! Her lungs burned! Oh, Gods! It was just like that day...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Is it Orochimaru?" Sakura demanded, stepping in front of Sasuke. "Is that snake attacking the village again?" All of the genin visibly stiffened.
"No. The enemy are shinobi from Kumogakure," Kurenai answered.
"The Land of Lightning," Shino stated.
As if in acknowledgment, the sky split open in a blaze of ethereal blue, just before the crack of thunder sounded, vibrating the earth beneath them. The rain continued to pour, drowning out all other sensation.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Isn't that the hidden village that caused all those problems in the Hyuuga Clan?"
Kurenai shifted her stark, red stare toward the Kyuubi vessel. Her mouth parted slightly, as she thought of an answer that would satisfy him, without giving away too much information.
Kurenai knew Kakashi well, and she could see his stamp all over the Uzumaki. Hatake Kakashi was a master of observation, and Naruto had inherited his sensei's most valuable asset. While most everyone, including his genin team, believed him to be a hopeless idiot, she knew better. Just as Kakashi's bored nature was a ninja deception, so too was Uzumaki Naruto's dimwittedness.
"Yes," she began. "However– "
"Did they come back here for the Byakugan?" He demanded. "And what about Hinata-chan?"
Kurenai inhaled sharply. How much did he already know?
"Is she done with the Hokage, yet?" He continued his interrogation. "Was she there when you spoke to Tsunade-baachan about our mission?"
This was definitely a problem. Kurenai slid her gaze toward Kiba and Shino. They must have overheard Hinata at the training ground. She frowned, stifling a sigh. Then, they came here to inform the rest of the rookie nine. In fact, they'd probably detected her injuries long before Hinata had revealed them to the Hokage. And, if that were true– they probably already had a suspect in mind.
Kurenai-sensei," Naruto said. "I need to know." His face was strained, twinged with the slightest hint of rage. "Where is Hyuuga Neji?" He growled.
Yes. Of course they did. These shinobi were Konoha's brightest bunch of Academy graduates in years; the future of the Leaf Village.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, before speaking. "Hinata-chan is going to be fine." This is exactly what Tsunade was trying to avoid. She looked at her own students. "She has gone back to the Hyuuga compound."
"Why?" Kiba snarled. "So she can go back to Neji?"
They cared for her, the same as she; but nothing good would come of this conversation. "Hyuuga Hinata has been assigned her own mission." Kurenai's eyes narrowed. "An important mission."
"In the Hyuuga compound?" Shino adjusted his shades. "This attack has something to do with the Hyuuga's history with the Cloud, right Kurenai-sensei?"
Sometimes Aburame Shino was a bit too bright for his own good.
"Yes, Shino."
"Then, why is she going in alone?" Naruto demanded. "And where the hell is Hyuuga Neji?"
Kurenai turned back to the enraged boy. "Do not let emotion cloud your judgement." She stepped toward him. "If I think for one second that you would disobey Hokage-sama's direct orders," she loomed over the boy, scowling, "I'll drag you through the dirt, before I drop you off in her office." Naruto stiffened. "She's not in a very good mood."
He scratched the back of his neck, nervously. "Ah, I wouldn't do anything like that!"
Kurenai smiled. "Then, keep your mind focused on the task at hand," she hissed. "And stop worrying about Hinata. She's in good hands."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The shinobi slipped onto another rooftop, crouching low in the darkness. Along with all the Hyuuga present, he watched the battle draw toward its end. He'd read the hand seals. He knew the genjutsu.
Hyuuga Hanabi fell to her knees, clutching her head. It would be impossible to know what phantasms were plaguing her, but whatever it was...
Hanabi screamed, shaking her head. "No! Please, no! Okaasan!" She whimpered. "Okaasan..."
...It wasn't kind...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hanabi!" Her mother's beautiful voice rose as a shrill beacon. Lady Hyuuga dove into the rushing water, heedless of the heavy layers of her kimono. She struggled against the current, reaching, reaching for her daughter. "Hanabi!" She shrieked again. She searched frantically, bobbing up and down as the river coursed over her. Her head was covered over, and she struggled to pull herself back above the surface.
"Okaa– " The child's cry was smothered by the water rushing into her mouth. She flailed her little arms as the river carried her further down stream.
Lady Hyuuga caught a glimpse of her daughter, before she disappeared again, beneath the water. She gasped a deep– and final breath, then dove under as adrenaline surged through her aching muscles.
Water... Water... So much water...
Hanabi reached toward the phantoms, reliving the terror of the river. The slickness of the rain pelting her already soaked body forced her senses back to that moment; when her mother had drowned to save her. She slumped over, forehead pressed into the ruddy earth, sobbing like the child who'd clutched her mother's dead hand, while the Branch servants tugged them out the water.
"You killed me," Lady Hyuuga's voice held no malice. It was a simple statement of fact. "Your carelessness, and selfishness are the reasons for my death."
"Okaasan..." She wrenched. "I didn't mean to... Please, okaasan..."
"Poor Hanabi," her mother said. "Always so selfish. Never thinking of others."
Hanabi could feel the water, pulling her down.
"Never listening. Always so bitter, so arrogant. Even then"
"No..." Hanabi whimpered.
"But, you did not listen. I called for you, Hanabi-chan. I told you not to play near the riverbank."
"I'm sorry, okaasan!"
"You wanted that flower. You had to have it, even though there were many others in the garden."
"I only wanted it for you, okaasan," she sobbed.
"And it only cost my life," her mother said. "What other thing do you want, Hanabi-chan? What do you want more than anything, now?"
Hanabi wrapped her arms around herself, desperately trying to shield herself from her mother's words.
"You want to be the Heiress. You want to be the Leader."
"N-No! That is not true!"
"Then, why are you here, Hanabi-chan? Why are you fighting your sister?"
"I never wanted it! I never wanted to hurt her!"
"Lies." Still, her mother's voice was passive, soft as it had been while she was alive– like Hinata's. "You take what you want. You always have, poor selfish Hanabi."
"No! I am not selfish! I am a Hyuuga!" She collapsed onto the ground. "I do what I am told..."
"Who told you?" Her mother's voice was the faintest whisper. Hanabi gasped, as she lay on her back, staring into the sky, as it reemerged from the water of her nightmares. The rain washed away her tears before they even touched her reddened cheeks.
"The council," she said, before her eyes closed– and she slept.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hyuuga Hinata leapt silently from the trees, slowly walking toward her opponent's unconscious body. The kunai in her hand glimmered in the faint moonlight peeking from behind the breaking storm. This was it. This was the end.
When she reached the sleeping girl, her other hand moved to lightly trace the Leaf symbol carved into the hitai-ate upon her brow. She would do this for the Leaf. She would do anything for the Leaf.
Her arm raised high, and several moments passed as she stared down at the helpless child.
Her white eyes moved to survey the spectator of this event. All of them silent, too shocked to move. She met the surprised look of her father, as his eyes darted toward her, then to the other, and back again. She slid her gaze over the Branch servants, and they lowered their heads. Finally, she bore into each and every member of the council of elders, careful to linger just enough on the twin traitors of Konoha.
Looking down upon her rival again, Hinata's arm descended, plunging the kunai into the earth beside Hanabi's peaceful face.
Hinata spared her sister's life– for the Leaf.
Tonight, the Hyuuga had seen only cruelty and deception. Now, she would show them compassion, because all were necessary qualities to have in a proper Leader. And Leader she would be, for the gong sounded, and the announcement was made.
Hyuuga Hiashi's arm shot out toward his eldest daughter. "Decisive victory!" He paused, staring into the pearly eyes of his successor. "Hyuuga Hinata!"
End Chapter Nine