+]+UTHOR SAYS: I HAD TO UPDATE! SO I'M SQUEEZING CHAPTERS IN WHILE I WORK. I WANT *TO FINISH THIS BEFORE XMAS :) WELL TRY AT LEAST. THANKS GUYS FOR THE REVIEWS, HONESTLY IT'S COOL THAT YOU GUYS KEEP UP WITH MY STORY.
ALSO: GOT AN EARLY XMAS PRESENT, THIS BAD ASS LAPTOP :)
R&R PLEASE - REALLY
Legend:
'Thoughts'
"Talking"
"Jutsu"
Previously...
Shikamaru took it from her then ever so gently removed Asuma from his crib and into his arms. Shikamaru settled himself on a rocking chair. "Eat up little man." He said, urging the teet into the infant's mouth. Asuma took the bottle happily with his eyes closed. Seeing his eyes like that compelled Shikamaru to do the same.
'It's awfully quiet in there.' Kurenai noticed almost half an hr had passed since she left the shadow nin with her son, so she went to investigate.
"Shikamaru..-" Kurenai paused, smiled, then grabbed a spare blanket.
Both were fast asleep.
Chapter Twenty Three
Don't Give
0700hrs - Jounin Exam Brief
Hinata stood nervously amongst the other people standing in the large hall. They were all standing neatly in a line she noticed. Naruto finally showed.
"Goodmorning everyone." Naruto greeted. They respectively bowed their heads. "As you know, lastnight I sent out a few ANBU members to tell you all about our briefing this morning. And also that today we will be conducting the Jounin exams."
"Alright." A few voices whispered amongst them.
Hinata bit her lip. 'I'm so nervous.' She told herself as she fidgeted alittle.
"Now, can all the Jounin that have been selected please come forward." Naruto ordered gently. The Jounin came up from behind him wearing numbers on their sleeves. Naruto glanced quickly at Hinata before turning his head forward. "Shikamaru." He said.
Shikamaru came forward with a bowl carrying balls with numbers on them. "Ok, let's make this as easy as possible." Shikamaru said, "From the right, call out your number."
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15."
Hinata gulped. 'Number 10.' She chanted over and over inside her head.
"Now." Shikamaru started, "From number one, come forward and grab a ball."
Hinata tensed, they were going up so quickly to grab a number. By the time it was her turn, she had already zoned out and envisioned what her battle would look like if she had to face someone like Kakashi-sensei or Neji-nii.
"Earth to Hinata." Shikamaru said, "Come up and get a ball." He urged kindly.
Hinata eeped and ran to him. She placed her hand inside the bowl and pulled out number 2. Dread began to fill her stomach as her eyes scanned the Jounin she would face. Her stomach suddenly sunk, her heart started racing and her eyes couldn't help but widen when the Jounin looked at her.
"Well I'll be damned." Temari said, coming face to face with her, "I honestly hoped I wouldn't have to fight you."
Hinata blushed and looked at her face, "Gomen, I didn't think I would be up against you also."
Temari stared at Hinata thoughtfully. Her mind drifted back to the conversation her and Shikamaru had.
"Remember how I forfeit our match?."
"Yeah, how could I forget?."
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat, if it were me facing Hinata tomorrow."
"Temari-san, are you ok?." Hinata asked, unknowingly snapping the Sand Jounin from her thoughts.
Temari shook her head and nodded, "Yeah." 'Damn that Shikamaru.' She bitterly thought.
"Ano, Temari-san?." Hinata said.
"Hmm?."
"Please, don't go easy on me." She asked with a blush.
Temari smirked, "Same for you. Don't you go easy on me."
"Now, If you all could please prepare yourselves." Naruto said, "We will commence in the next hour, so take your time until your told by one of my ANBU members to move to a number ground."
Hinata left Temari to stretch against a wall. She was so nervous, she thought her heart would explode at any moment. 'I wish Sasuke-kun were here.' She thought.
Meanwhile...
"They will be starting shortly." Naruto said quietly.
Sasuke kicked off from the wall he was leaning against, "We're friends, right?." He said.
Naruto nodded suspiciously, "You could say that."
"Then let me off today." He tried to sound begging, but the thought of acting it out disgusted him. It came out uncaring as usual.
"In your dreams teme. That's going against all the laws laid down by the previous Hokage's. Besides, If I gave you special treatment then I'd have to give others the same." He explained with a frown.
Sasuke chuckled darkly, "I could leave, If I wanted." He said.
"Not with me here." Naruto retorted.
"Your just a clone."
Silence.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
"Your so boring." Naruto complained, "Say something." He whined.
Sasuke jumped onto the roof followed by Naruto. "I'll watch from here."
Naruto raised a brow, "You can't see anything from here when there all the way over there."
Sasuke sat cross legged and closed his eyes, "Just shut up."
Naruto followed suit.
Silence.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
"Oi, teme." Naruto whispered.
"Hn."
"Are your..." He paused and decided to close his eyes as well, "...Are your feelings for Hinata real?."
"Hn."
"I just want to say, I won't get in your way or try anything with her." Naruto confessed, "If anything, you've found your light. I was being selfish and..-"
Sasuke chuckled. It wasn't friendly but it wasn't an unfriendly one either.
"What the..." Naruto was taken back, "WHAT THE FUCK IS SO FUNNY?."
"What have you done to Naruto?." Sasuke asked, "It almost seems like you've grown up."
Naruto calmed and smiled, "I'm the Hokage, it's my duty to play the part."
"Still a dobe."
"Tousan?." Hanabi said, watching as her father placed his sandals on.
"Hanabi, you may do as you wish." He said, heading for the door, "I'm going to watch your sister."
'You mean observe.' Hanabi smiled, "Can I join you?."
Hiashi nodded, "Come."
"Yo!."
Neji opened an eye from meditating and nodded, "Kakashi-sensei." He greeted.
"It should be starting soon."
"Ah." He replied, closing his eye, "I'll be there."
Kakashi smiled, "Ja ne." He saluted Neji before disppearing.
"Kiba, it's almost time." Shino murmured, he and his insects were anxious to go already.
Kiba stood from the tree he was resting on and whistled, "AKAMARU!." He called.
The large canine launched himself from the tree and landed beside his friend, "Woof."
"Let's go cheer Hinata on, eh." Kiba said.
Akamaru barked in reply.
"LEE! TENTEN!." Ino called.
TenTen broke her weapons jutsu and turned. Rock Lee also paused mid kick and looked at the blonde.
"Oh, Ino-san?." Lee greeted, lowering his leg, "You seem excited! Please, tell us what has gotten you so pumped this hour of the morning."
Ino sweat-dropped, "Ano, are you guys coming to watch Hinata today."
"Hinata? What's happening today?." TenTen wondered.
"Neji didn't tell you? The Jounin exams were pushed ahead of schedule, it should be starting any minute now." Ino explained.
"EH!." Lee cried out, "How could Neji have kept such a thing secret. TenTen, let's go."
TenTen sighed, "Oh Lee."
Ino just smiled, she waved at them to follow, "Comeon, we're gonna be late."
"Hinata Hyuuga! Come forward!." Shikamaru said.
Hinata did. Temari stared her down. "This is it." Temari said. "Are you ready?." Temari settled her fan next to her.
Hinata bowed, "Hai, I'm ready."
Shikamaru smiled at both girls before he turned serious, "Let the first round, begin." He jumped to the top of the stands.
(Wind - SFX)
Temari opened her fan, allowing everyone to see one star. Hinata slid into her fighting stance and was suddenly taken back when Temari swung her fan. The pressure of the wind forced Hinata to take a step back. She squinted her eyes and was suddenly thrown onto her back, getting winded in the process.
"BRUSH IT OFF, HINATA!." Kiba yelled.
Hinata jumped up and landed on her feet again. She looked up at the stands and was happy to see her friends. They were their to support her. Hinata smiled and fell into a fighting stance again. It was her turn. She had to show everyone what she'd learn't while training under Sasuke. Hinata started running towards her.
"Big mistake." Temari snarled, opening her fan again to reveal a second star.
She thrust her fan forward with a cocky grin plastered on her face. Hinata ceased her opportunity and jumped into the air, "Hakkeshou Kaiten." She said, chakra exploded all around her then shaped into a spinning like top. Temari's powerful winds helped ignite her chakra more, which seemed to make Hinata's tornado like shape grow in size.
"What?." Temari said, shocked.
Inside the vortex, Hinata centred her hand between her chest. She thrusted her palm forward as she spun. In slow motion, she spotted Temari still standing their flabbergasted, she aimed, "Hakke Kushou."
On the stands, Hiashi's eyes widened momentarily. 'She used two attacks at once? How? When?.'
'Go oneesan.' Hanabi thought, eyes filled with amazement and new admiration for her older sister.
Temari was forced back roughly. She stopped herself from colliding with the wall and used her fan to steady her. She looked up astonished. Hinata stopped spinning. Temari used this time to straighten herself out and stare at Hinata. Shikamaru was right. Hinata was not that fragile girl she'd remembered watching at the Chunin Exams. No, this was a completely different person. A Kunoichi ready to take the step further in her ninja career.
Temari wiped the side of her mouth, "Not bad." She complimented.
"Not bad?." Lee said, "THAT WAS BRILLIANT!."
"Lee." TenTen said, clapping a hand over his mouth. She knew firsthand the wrath of going up against Temari was like.
"Gomen, Hinata." Temari whispered, her fan now showing all three stars, "You did your best. But as a Jounin myself I must use everything to my ability to test any qualifier. Your skills have vastly improved since the last time I saw you fight. But this unfortunately is the end. Come back next year."
'Geez Temari.' Kankuro thought, annoyed, 'Ease up will yah.'
"DON'T LISTEN TO HER HINATA! Ino shouted with her fist pumped in the air.
"DON'T GIVE UP!." Kiba shouted.
Hinata was breathless, fatigued, bloodied and quickly losing hope. She wanted to cry but she held her tears back as best as she could. 'I've done everything I could, Sasuke-kun.' She thought. Hinata looked down at her swollen hands. From everything that has transpired today, It was only now, that she finally saw the animalistic markings on her hands made by Sasuke.
"Kamatachi no Jutsu." Temari growled out, slicing her fan forward with a powerful thrust.
"HINATA-SAMA! USE YOUR KAITEN!." Neji shouted angrilly. It was the first time he'd ever cheered for someone outloud. Let alone for Hinata. That Sand Jounin had pissed him greatly so much more now then the beginning of the match.
Hinata fell to her knees, 'They will hurt you.' Sasuke's voice murmured.
Hinata let her body fall forward but managed to use her right hand to hold her up. 'They will lower you.'
"HINATA! Ino shouted, panicked.
Though they were screaming, her hearing made them their voice seem like miles away.
"YOU HAVE TO DODGE!." Kiba ordered, he was seconds away from the breaking the railing.
Hinata's Byakugan receeded. 'They will taunt you.'
All of Sasuke's words rang true inside her head. He was right about everything, it was true, the Sand Jounin did everything in her power to make Hinata feel weak, useless, unwanted. Hinata closed her eyes and waited to feel the pain from Temari's attack, which was seconds from connecting with her. She couldn't hold herself up anymore, she collapsed face first.
'I have to do something.' She thought.
"HINATA!." Naruto cried.
'Shit.' Shikamaru thought.
Everyone suddenly tensed.
"I recognise this chakra.' Naruto thought dazed.
The ground beneath Hinata exploded. Everyone struggled to maintain their balance, all except Gaara who's eyes had widened. Hinata didn't open her eyes just yet. Even now all she could think about was the pain coming her way. But nothing came. She opened a blurry eye and was stunned to see the beautiful blue sky instead of Temari. Hinata felt herself being lifted. Was she in heaven? Was this god protecting her? The wounds that were inflicted on Hinata were fading. Healing.
"What's going on?." She whispered outloud to no one in general.
"It amazes me..." A voice hissed, "...That you could summon me in that condition."
She knew that voice.
She relaxed.
AUTHOR SAYS: PRETTY SHORT EH? SORRY. BUT UMM, HOPE IT'S WELL RECEIVED AND TO THAT GUY/GAL WHO SENT ME A REVIEW SAYING NOT TO GO OC AND STUFF, MEH!