TimeShifter: Even trained, shinobi still have a minimum reaction time. I meant to describe, and apparently didn't do so well, that the enemy ninja only appeared long enough for everybody to take notice, see, and process what was going on. Basically, he was there and out in less than three seconds. As for explaining what technique(s) the ninja used, all good things come to those who wait. As for Gayt, I was actually a little surprised that hermit training involved learning how to properly utilize mana in combination with chakra. The battle between Jiraiya and Pein gave me a little foresight, but I was slapping my head and laughing when I saw that, particular release of Naruto because of my inclusion of Gayt at a most opportune time.
Chapter 4:
Father of a Princess
Konoha was finally visible as they rushed through the tree branches. They were making good time despite the growing headache Tsume had. Mori and Hishu were, of course, worried for their teammate. They didn't know what to do. She was clumsy, not one of her traits. Temari caught her more times than they cared to count, and the young kunoichi actually looked frightened. Though her eyes like melted chocolate did little to betray her emotional state, she was shaken.
Temari and Kankuro halted the genin when they felt something up ahead. They were barely within range to see several silhouettes standing just within the main gate. The jonin were looking around for the unfamiliar chakra, too far from Konoha for the leaf nin to sense. After a moment of searching, their attention fell on something. They could only watch as a purple-green, long bolt of electricity arched from far to the west of Konoha.
Temari and Kankuro tried to steal themselves to rush ahead and help their Konoha allies, but another bolt of electricity quickly arched from where the first landed to travel far to the east and out of visual range. They stood wide-eyed as the genin began tugging at them, begging what was going on. The unfamiliar chakra signature was also gone, and even they could hear the anguished cry from Naruto mixed with the thunderous roar of hot, displaced air.
To say Hiashi and Neji were mad would be the understatement of any millennium. They were fuming, and killing intent radiated off them like rays of light from a star. Hiashi immediately turned to Tsunade, outrage obvious on his face even to a non-Hyuuga. As he was about to say something, she interrupted him. "I know what you're about to say, and I refuse." She stood rigid; though, her entire body trembled. She was barely contained rage.
His face actually turned red with his boiling emotions. "My choujo was just kidnapped by a cloud nin, and you're just going to stand there and do nothing?!" In the next instant, his back slammed against the guard stand which was very recently vacated. The stunned guards looked on not entirely sure what to do or say.
She still had her open palm where it landed on his chest. The dust was just settling around her. "Don't you dare say another word, Hiashi." She dropped social niceties for the moment. "Hinata is one of my shinobi." She watched as and allowed him to stand.
He brushed himself off and straightened his robes. As much as he hated to admit it, her rights to his daughter superseded his own in any instance involving hostile ninja. After regaining his composure, he politely bowed and decided to act more formally than normal. "I apologize for my words and actions, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade nodded, accepting his apology. She turned her attention to Naruto. He was practically leaking red chakra. The killing intent Neji and Hiashi were giving off could be handled. She was tempted to just order Naruto to go ahead with his training and promise to return Hinata safely to the village. "Like that'll ever happen…" She sighed knowing her thoughts betrayed her. "Naruto, tell me who you think would be best for the mission?"
His fists were shaking by his side as he answered. "Shikamaru, Neji, Shino, and Kiba are the best trackers and analysts I know…" He turned a defiant expression to her. "…and I'm not about to be left out of this mission!" His whisker-like marks were already deepening and his blue eyes were rimmed red. His grating teeth betrayed elongated canines.
She sighed. "That sounds like a good five-man cell to send after her, but Shikamaru is already on a mission. As such I'll assign Neji to lead Shino and Kiba." It was common logistics; a four-man cell was only effective with a jonin sensei and three genin. She watched as Naruto was obviously ready to protest.
Kanaeru placated him with a gentle hand to his shoulder. She looked to the Hokage with her own ideas. "If it's a five-man cell you want, I can go with them. I'm an excellent tracker. As a master of seals, I have some idea how that enemy ninja was able to pull off that little stunt." Naruto sent her a weak smile in thanks.
Tsunade sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She turned to the sagely toad, pleading for aid. She received none. He nodded his head, a serious look looming over his face. "If the tadpole didn't wish to protect his nakama, I'd be disappointed and never take him on as an apprentice to hermit training." He reached a webbed front foot around and poked his back a little. "Besides, these old bones need a little time out and about. I might just observe things for a while."
She was about to speak up again when five presences made themselves known. Kankuro and Temari bowed before the Hokage while Tsume, Hishu, and Mori waited just beyond the gates of Konoha. Temari looked up. "Hokage-sama, is there anything wrong? We saw something…" She was interrupted by screaming.
All eyes fell on Tsume as she continued to scream and grasped her head. She bent forward and violently shook herself. Her eyes were tightly shut, and she murmured incoherently between loud screams. Hishu and Mori were at a loss. They tried to approach her, but she squirmed out of their grip and away from the gate.
Temari and Kankuro appeared behind her and firmly took hold of her. They had some idea what was causing her reaction, but they wanted confirmation. Temari grappled with the young kunoichi to force her into Konoha and, specifically, closer to Naruto. Tsume grew more violent trying to get away, her kekkei genkai telling her to run away as fast as her legs could carry her.
Kankuro approached Naruto rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn't exactly sure how to approach this. "Listen, Naruto…could I borrow a drop of your blood?" The reaction was pretty much what he was expecting. Everybody took a step back in surprise, and he had the two guards surrounding him ready to apprehend him.
Naruto shook his head. "What are you talking about?! I've gotta hurry and get after Hinata! The enemy's going to get away, and I won't have time to get everyone!" He only noticed Kanaeru still had a grip on his shoulder after she tightened it. He looked up to her.
She nodded to Kankuro. "He probably has his reasons, and Shikamaru and Neji are already looking for Shino and Kiba. It won't take them long to find them, and I'm sure they…" She indicated Kankuro and his allies. "…won't take long to explain what's going on." She looked to Tsume, half-sure she knew what was happening.
Naruto grumbled but acquiesced with a nod. Kankuro quickly explained. "Tsume can sense chakra, and really strong chakra can sometimes…get to her. Her clan has a way to overcome this, but it requires a drop of blood from whoever shot her nerves." He leaned in close, so only Naruto heard the next part. "It's the only way she's able to meet Gaara to get missions without this happening to her."
Naruto looked to the poor girl. Temari was holding her down and had a piece of wood in her mouth to prevent her from accidently clamping down on her own tongue. He pulled out a kunai. If a drop of his blood could stop her suffering, he could at least do that while he waited for Shikamaru and Neji to retrieve Kiba and Shino.
He sliced open his finger and let a little blood trickle onto the metallic weapon. He handed it to Kankuro who quickly went to Tsume's side. He rubbed the blood on the tip of his forefinger and streaked it over her forehead and upper lip. Her back arched violently and she struggled for several seconds as the thin layer of blood boiled and dissipated.
Her eyes like melted chocolate opened wide, and she looked around frantically. She thought living in Suna with the once bloodthirsty Gaara would prevent her from having to go through the Tomoyuki blood ritual. She felt pressure relax on her shoulders and legs which allowed her to sit up. After removing the wood from her mouth, Tsume saw Naruto for the first time. "Na-Naruto-sama?"
He wasn't sure about the honorific, but he felt certain warmth from hearing it. He opened his mouth to say something when the collar of his battle dress was grabbed, and he was dragged through the gate. When he regained his bearings and was allowed to move for himself, he saw a frantic looking Kiba making sure he kept up. He looked around and counted seven.
Neji was in command. Kiba and Shino, obviously, were found and joined them. Akamaru, as always, joined his life-long best friend. He knew Kiba was the one who grabbed him by the collar. That made five leaf nin. The last two members were Kanaeru and Gayt. He probably should have expected the latter, but Tsunade only acknowledge permission for the former.
Naruto found himself not caring, however. Whoever kidnapped Hinata was going to pay. He was so anxious to accomplish that single task he neglected to even listen to Tsunade for any mission orders. They didn't need any, though. The mission was simple, and rank was the last thing on anybody's mind.
They were going to rescue Hinata and kill whoever threatened her.
Tsunade turned to the remaining shinobi. The entourage from Suna had business with Shikamaru, so she reined in her rage just enough to talk to him. Her flat tone betrayed her ragged emotions. "Shikamaru, Temari, get to work on that information and process it with everything else we have on that organization." She didn't need to say Akatsuki for them to know what she was talking about.
Shikamaru looked to Temari. "Come on, you troublesome woman, let's go." He slouched as he put his hands in his pockets and started walking to their destination. The blond kunoichi rolled her eyes and followed behind, quickening her pace only to fall into step with him.
When they were sufficiently down the street, Tsunade turned to Kankuro and his genin squad. "I'm sure Kazekage-sama sent you here for a reason. Temari can handle the trip through Wind, River, and Fire by herself, and she's more than welcome in Konoha." Kankuro groaned when he realized her emphasis meant Shikamaru.
Tsume was looking towards the distance. "Was that really Naruto?" Hishu and Mori moaned in frustration, but she paid them no mind. "Why did he feel like Gaara-sama?" She felt the unnerving silence. Her melted chocolate eyes fell on Tsunade, and she tried to make her sightless organs glower. However, her face contorted into surprise when her sensei stepped in front of her.
Kankuro wore an icy glare he knew she couldn't see, but he made sure to make his chakra radiate with his anger. She cowered at the near rage. He didn't enjoy making her feel, as she described it, twisted up inside, but he needed to get his point across as her jonin sensei. "You know better than to be this rude! Just as I won't reveal the secrets of my puppetry to them, Hokage-sama has no desire to share the secrets of her shinobi!"
His genin quickly backed down not wishing to incite his ire. He sighed and turned to Tsunade. He bowed politely. "I apologize on behalf of my genin's words and actions. As such, I wish to offer up a small token of our appreciation and friendship." He was pretty sure he didn't need to do anything, but better safe than sorry.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. She didn't want to reveal Naruto's secret to fresh genin from Suna. She was sure it wouldn't go over well with what they were used to from Gaara, but Kankuro's offer intrigued her. "There's no need to apologize, but I am interest to know what, exactly, you're offering."
He eyed Sakura. "I'm sure you want to prepare a team of medic nin to send after that other team, just in case." He barely emphasized the last part, but the meaning was obvious. Tsunade crossed her arms as if to tell him to continue. He did. "Tsume is a member of the Tomoyuki clan, and the blood ritual does more than soothe her primal fears of very powerful chakra…"
He let his implication hang. Tsunade had heard of the Tomoyuki. They were a prominent clan in Suna with a closely guarded kekkei genkai. First suspicions based on their eyes often lead to the belief it was a doujutsu. However, it was a jirijutsu which was almost as rare. He caught her interest. "What, exactly, are you proposing?"
Tsume's eyes went wide, and Kankuro was about to speak up when Hishu decided to voice his concerns. Mori, not wanting any part in the argument, embarrassedly covered his face with his palm. "Kankuro-sensei, didn't you just say we shouldn't reveal our village's secrets just like she shouldn't?!" He indicated Tsunade with the pronoun.
Kankuro sighed, ignored him, and turned to Tsume. He knelt down to eye level and gently held her shoulders. "I'll leave it up to you, but don't just blurt out your answer." He paused, and she nodded in agreement. "We can be of help to Naruto, but I need to borrow your strength."
Hishu was about to argue, but Tsume beat him to it with a warm smile and gentle nod. Instead, he crossed his arms and sulked. Mori didn't cross his arms like his male teammate, but he was sulking in his own way. Their female teammate was too wrapped up in her idle worship to notice them.
Kankuro turned to Tsunade once again. "After the blood ritual, a Tomoyuki can sense that person's chakra from anywhere." He added silently to himself. "Well, at least we haven't found a limit to their range." Before the pause was noticeable, he turned slightly to indicate the young kunoichi. "If she concentrates, she can even sense within a half-kilometer radius of her target."
Tsunade knew exactly how to use the information she was just given and turned to Sakura. A knowing smirk was plastered on the Fifth's face. "Sakura, find Shizune and prepare a medical team to go on a moment's notice." The jonin, Shizune, was the implied leader, and Sakura was quickly on her way.
Hiashi coughed gently to get Tsunade's attention. "If you don't mind, Tsunade-hime, I should take my leave. This has been a trying day, and I need to check up on some items." She nodded, and politely bowed. "I'll send a branch member with my part of the reward for my choujo's safe return." He began his trek back to the Hyuuga residence in one of the worst moods his recent memory could recall.
Tsunade sat in her office awaiting a very special appointment. Her barely contained and controlled rage transformed into a calculated rage. There was no way cloud nin slipped deep into Fire territory without somebody taking notice. As her fingers rapped on her hardwood desk, she thought about the preparations already in order.
Neji was in charge of arguably the best team for the job. Kanaeru reminded her too much of both Kushina and Naruto for her not to trust her. Kiba and Shino were sure to kill whoever kidnapped Hinata if Naruto didn't first. Naruto was Naruto. He never failed to protect his personally dubbed precious people…unless they violently opposed him. "Sasuke…"
She was mad at the ungrateful brat, but he shared such a strong bond with the knucklehead. She sighed as she forced her mind back on track. Shizune and Sakura prepared a fine medical team. If something happened, they were well prepared. She still wanted some confirmation before blindly sending such a valuable team into the field.
She looked up when she heard knocking at her door. She took a calming breath before she answered. "Enter." She watched as one of her youngest, brightest spies entered her office. She didn't' carry herself high due to a lack of self-confidence, and she still wore bandages over part of her body because, she said, the scales were unsightly. Tsunade felt she had to talk Isaribi out of that self-doubt some day.
For her part, Isaribi was glad she ran across Naruto, Shino, and Ino. She was glad they turned her world upside down and rescued her from her self-destructive path. She was only sad Tsunade had yet to find a cure for her genetic manipulations, but she wasn't upset or mad. She politely bowed to the woman who kindly took her in and even gave her work, well-paying work. "Reporting as ordered, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade smirked. Naruto had a lot of excellent and respectful friends. Why couldn't he be like that? She steeled herself to berate the spy most likely to inherit Jiraiya's wide network. "Why didn't I get any reports that shinobi from Lightning illegally crossed the border with Fire?" Her face twitched with renewed ire.
Isaribi was mildly confused. She understood the reason for such anger, but she was dumbfounded as to the accusation. She cupped her chin in a bandaged hand and thought for several, long moments. When she finally spoke, she shook her head. "That's impossible Hokage-sama. Jiraiya-sama's border contacts report only Suna's contingent and a failed attempt by an Iwa attack squad to cross the border. Kumo and Kiri have been quiet."
Tsunade was both relieved and disturbed hearing Kumo and Kiri have been silent. She was relieved because that meant they could only be behind any incidents in Fire if they snuck agents in long before Jiraiya returned to Konoha with Naruto. She was disturbed because 'quiet' often meant they were planning something. Pushing her thoughts aside, she looked to her dark-haired spy. "Do you have any suspicions, then?"
Isaribi was anything if not thorough. She easily connected miscellaneous pieces of information and formed them together in her head. It was a latent talent Orochimaru and his goons, her tormentors, carefully prevented her from developing. She frowned at the conclusion. "They captured Hinata; didn't they?" She was answered with a nod, and she sighed. "If this is a ruse, don't you think it one to incite war?"
Tsunade made her decision on the crack medical team. They were to remain on standby in Konoha until it became necessary for them to move out.
When Shikamaru and Temari arrived at the building housing Konoha's finest code breakers, Shiho was waiting excitedly. She was waving and fighting a light tinge of pink from creeping up on her face. When she saw Temari, she scowled. She was too close to Shikamaru for a friendly walk.
They came to a stop in front of her, and he raised his hand in greeting. "This troublesome woman is Temari of Suna." He indicated the blond kunoichi beside him. "She's got some information on a mutual enemy, a lot of which has to be decoded." He ignored the tension forming between the women, and he had very concise thoughts on it. "Troublesome…"
Hiashi wondered sardonically if he was really that predictable. Upon seeing the gates of the Hyuuga estates, a very distinctive figure was waiting for him. She wore maternity versions of her shinobi battle dress. He wryly wondered if she chose to wear that to conduct a 'battle of wits' with the person she openly hated most in Konoha.
He stopped at the gates and gazed into her eyes of double red-rimmed irises. He could always tell her emotions plain as day, so she never bothered hiding them around him…especially as of late. He chalked most of it to the raging hormones of pregnancy. She crossed her arms over her chest and sent him an icy glower. He motioned for her to follow, and they made short order of the walk to his private study.
Kurenai silently watched as Hiashi sorted through bookshelves and files. He carefully laid seemingly random objects on the table before her as he found them. She noted what they might be. They appeared to be photo albums, files, and…childish, handmade crafts. She stared at a few obviously with Hinata's flair. "This isn't like Hiashi…"
Three photo albums, dozens of files, and two trinkets later, Hiashi sat across the table from Kurenai. He picked up a blue, silk-bound album and opened it to near the end. She openly gaped at a picture of a woman with an amazing resemblance to Hinata. Obviously, the woman was not Hinata because she was very much pregnant. She glared at Hiashi. "What's this?"
She couldn't help it. Her face softened when she saw that serene smile gently cracking his lips. He lovingly caressed the outline of the woman's cheek in the picture. "This is a picture of my lovely wife…" He paused to point at her belly through the protective film covering his memories. "…and my choujo, Hinata."
Though she still wasn't sure of the Hyuuga clan head, she wasn't about to stomp on his memories and treat them harshly. She gingerly took the photo album in her hands and turned to the first page. The very first image surprised her. It was a six by eight image taking up the entire space and cropped in a way to show especial importance.
Namikaze Minato had his arms draped over Hiashi and his wife, and he was smiling like only he could. The biggest, brightest smile she had ever seen on a Hyuuga was beaming off Hiashi, and his wife shared a similar expression. Across the table, the Hiashi of now smiled sadly. "That was our wedding day."
Kurenai gave him a skeptical look before turning the page, and her eyes widened as she, once again, found herself surprised. She read the words centered between the two pages and read them silently to herself. "Tsuchiko and Kushina: Friends for Life!" She felt a tear well in her eye before quickly sending an angry glare to Hiashi.
He leaned back, the sad smile still on his face. "While Minato was courting Kushina, he set me up with Tsuchiko. As irony would have it, he got to marry me to her first." He chuckled slightly at his memories. "Tsuchiko and Kushina…those two really were inseparable. They often joked about arranging the marriage of our children." He wasn't surprised by her response.
She stood with all the fury she felt and barely restrained from stomping her foot. "You really expect any sympathy from me after the way you treated your own daughter and best friend's son?!" She was furious, and she didn't bother hiding her killing intent. Her hand instinctively twitched where she would be hiding a well-placed kunai if she were on active duty.
He looked at her carefully as his normal, stoic expression returned. He was calm, and his expressionless mask was something she always loathed. He sighed as he spoke up. "Do you remember the chat we just a few weeks ago?" Oh, he knew she remembered, and her face darkened to prove it.
He casually walked around the corner and received the icy glare he was expecting. He smiled at the feminine figure hiding in the shadows. He took a deep breath. An explanation was long overdue. "Are you surprised I was concerned for my choujo?" He felt the killer intent coming off the woman. He sighed. "Please reign in your emotions. You could stress your unborn."
To this, Kurenai stepped out with a dangerous look in her eyes. Hiashi watched her posture. She was not the cool, collected kunoichi she usually was. She seethed with indignant fury. He knew this face was shown to few. In fact, he was sure he was the only one she showed this face to. Her lips parted to speak.
He held up his hand to stop her. After a moment, he bowed slightly. She was wide-eyed as he spoke. "I am sorry, Kurenai-san." He straightened and looked her in the eye. "There are things you do not know about, and you were the only one I could trust with my choujo's safety."
Kurenai lurched forward and grabbed Hiashi by the collar of his robes. With a strength few believed she had, he was forced to bend his head down to keep eye contact. "You threw her off on me, disowned her!" She closed her eyes to fight off the murder in her voice. She looked away from the man in her hands. "You expect a single apology would undo all that?"
He didn't move to get away. He could have easily disabled her and kept her at bay. However, he did nothing. "Please, Kurenai-san, listen to my experience. Calm yourself for your sake and, more importantly, your child's." It was no threat, and the jonin knew it.
Kurenai released Hiashi, but her anger did not abate. "Do not pretend to show concern." Ever since she met Hinata, she felt an unfamiliar sensation, maternal instincts. Her comment was incited by what she saw as fake concern for both Hinata and her unborn child.
Hiashi crossed his arms and stood composed. "I do not pretend to do anything. I am either concerned or uninterested, and I do not change." He held up his hand to stop Kurenai before she spoke. "As I stated, there are things I have hidden from you." He knew he never said it directly, but he did imply it.
Kurenai looked at him annoyed. "What's so clandestine about shoving off responsibility for your own daughter, the supposed heir to the Hyuuga clan, onto some outsider? I was just a chunin at the time!" She was also sure he choose her completely at random, too.
"…a very well guarded chunin." Hiashi corrected her; though, she had no idea why. He paused for a moment at her startled appearance. For once, his expressionless mask broke, and he looked completely worn. "After my wife died, I was a completely broken man. My relationship with my daughters and brother deteriorated. What's worse, Hinata reminded me of her every day…"
Kurenai broke in with his pause. "You were a monster to her." She was taken aback when he winced. It was as if she threw a kunai through his chest. She steeled her resolve. He deserved no less than that. After a long silence, she started to fidget. It was unnerving, a silent Hyuuga. Their eyes made it worse. She paused as she eyed him. "No, this is more like Hinata. He exudes loneliness and…shame."
Hiashi's eyes fell to the ground. "I…almost hit her." Her expression was enough to know the question on her mind. "She made one, tiny mistake, and I snapped. It was the first time I yelled at her, and Hizashi stopped me from…" He looked up at her. She wavered in her control, and she was ready to pulverize him for even thinking about doing what he was talking about.
Hiashi turned his expression serious. He immediately quashed any insecurities. "I didn't choose you at random, Kurenai-san." He knew her icy glare too well. Kurenai hid it well, but he felt it the first time she arrived at his manor. "You were the only one capable of, at once, protecting Hinata-chan and Hanabi-chan."
She froze at that. For the first time, he heard him refer to his daughters with adoration. The honorific was enough to calm her to listen to him. She still held her suspicious gaze, but she had a feeling the years might have softened him. She took a deep breath to relax her tense muscles. "All right, I'm listening."
He knew exactly where to begin. "I heard about your skills, and I had branch loyal to me keep an eye on you for months before I called you before me. You were on the fast track for success, and you were popular among your peers. You were also the worst candidate I could choose for watching my choujo in the eyes of the elders."
He watched Kurenai's expression darken, but he continued without hesitation. "I was running out of time. The elders were pushing for me to officially name Hinata my successor and brand Hanabi branch. Sadly, they also had suggested naming Hanabi successor and disowning Hinata."
She wondered at his choice of words, but he didn't let her interrupt. "I can't explain everything out in the open, but you can seek my out at the Hyuuga manor to hear everything. However, you and my choujo were always watched by branch loyal to me. They couldn't follow you on missions, but it was sufficient that I knew you were safe."
He turned to walk away, but she stopped him when she called out. "That's not much of an explanation!" He didn't respond, but he didn't continue walking away either. He hung his head, and she pushed the issue. "If you're really concerned, why not take me to your private study now to discuss what can't be said in the open?!"
His gaze turned gently to the blue sky and the puffy, white clouds floating by. "It's too dangerous right now. I can promise you this; I will tell you everything, and I won't hold back." He continued his original walk home.
She gruffly acknowledged his promise, but she decided to rub a certain point in. "You had better keep your promise. Hinata says her nindo is to never go back on her word, and she got that from a certain 'loud mouthed' ninja we all know." He was soon out of sight, and she slumped against the nearest tree surprisingly exhausted. She would be making time to see Hiashi.
Kurenai was tapping her foot anxiously as she watched Hiashi flip to the next page of the same, blue-silk bound album. She was already growing less surprised. The new page was filled with Minato trying to embarrass the Hyuuga head in a variety of ways. Ironically, it was the last picture which seemed to embarrass both males. Kushina pulled a prank on the both of them and was busting a gut in the background.
Kurenai leveled her eyes with Hiashi. He was too calm. His expressionless mask was broken, and his smile was sad. "What is he getting at?" She watched as he turned to the next page. It looked like a series of photographs from a double date, Minato with Kushina and Hiashi with Tsuchiko. They looked like they were having fun at some festival.
She almost lost her temper when he flipped to the next page, but she barely stifled a giggle when she saw the images. Kakashi, Rin, and Obito were at the same festival. Rin was constantly vying for Kakashi's attention, and Obito was sulking behind them. It didn't help that the prankster known as Kushina worked her magic making several of the images quite memorable.
Kurenai held out her hand and prevented Hiashi from turning to the next page. She was careful to not damage the delicate film protecting his memories, but she was harsh enough to remind him why he asked her here. Her tone was brusque. "As I told you before, Hinata adopted Naruto's nindo, and I fully expect you to keep your promise."
He gently smiled at her before persuading her hand away. She mostly moved her hand to prevent the pictures from being bent. The next page was amusing. She got the feeling Kushina and Tsuchiko may have built the album together. Hizashi looked slightly annoyed being around his slightly older brother, but he was also placated by Tsuchiko's very calming presence.
She was about to speak up again when he quietly spoke and turned to the next page. "My relationship with oto-chan was always strained. Tsuchiko was our voice of reason. Because of her, he was able to talk to me and explain possible solutions to the growing rift between the main and branch houses." He looked at the next page he flipped to and the next with the same gentle smile.
Whenever Hiashi and Hizashi were in the same image by themselves, they looked annoyed. If Tsuchiko joined them, they looked less annoyed and almost smiled. If Minato and Kushina joined them though, the party atmosphere almost felt alive even through the still shot.
As he continued flipping through pages, she started noticing a trend. Kushina was glowing, even through the still life shots, and her belly slowly bulged more and more. Tsuchiko soon joined her in the trend. It was that year. There was no mistaking where the memories were leading. She shot him a harsh look.
He accepted it for what it was worth and spoke up again; though, his voice was strained as he fought back a lump in his throat. "Tsuchiko had a very rare genetic trait, a prized trait not to be allowed into the branch. My marriage to her was arranged, but Minato didn't know that." He paused. "No, maybe he did and set us up like that to make sure we had a happy life."
He flipped the pages again, and she was looking at an image maybe a week from the Kyuubi attack. It was the grand opening of the shortest lived restaurant in Konoha history. "Hizashi told me the best way to keep my children safe if they were also born with this rare trait was to never tell the elders, but, if I did that, any child born after my choujo would be branded branch."
She slammed her hands on the floor to avoid damaging the albums or child-made trinkets. "How was it safer to dump Hinata on some newly-minted chunin's lap than to tell the prejudiced elders about her genetic trait?!" She was fuming but didn't stand in her annoyance.
He gently smiled. "Though Tsuchiko ended up happy with me, do you honestly think Hinata deserved to have her life decided for her? Though Tsuchiko was happy with me, she agreed when Hizashi proposed that none of our children should have their lives arranged for them. We wanted them free to at least choose their life partners."
She suddenly wore a smug look. "You're saying you care for your two shoujo?" He nodded in reply. She carefully controlled her temper as to leak as little killer intent as possible. "Then what are you doing here doing nothing about Hinata's kidnapping?!" She didn't care how hurt he looked.
He lowered his head as he barely kept his rage at what happened from boiling to the surface. He had not quarrel with the woman sitting across from him, and he had no business leaking his own killer intent. After a few moments to calm himself, he leveled his eyes to hers. "Tsunade-hime has sent a very capable team to deal with the situation and forbade me from taking part."
She nodded. She was quite satisfied with his answer and, most importantly, reaction. She signaled him to go on, so he did. "I made a promise with Tsuchiko and Hizashi, and Minato and Kushina were present to witness. I would keep my children as safe as I could from being sealed while keeping secrets of any genetic traits which may make them vulnerable."
He turned to the next page in the album. It was a week after the horrible incident, and Minato and Kushina were nowhere to be found. The people in the images were sad, and an irreparable rift was already forming between the twins which even Tsuchiko was hard pressed to prevent from spreading. Were the Fourth and his wife also an integral part of their relationship? After a moment to her thoughts, she locked her eyes with his and asked the question which had plagued her. "Why, then, dump Hinata on me?"
He smiled sadly and closed the first album. He picked up the second one, with green binding, and flipped through a few pages. He stopped where the centerfold divided two pictures of Neji. In the first, he had a clean forehead. In the second, bandages covered his forehead. In both, he was smiling. "You have heard of the seals all branch members have etched upon their foreheads?"
It was a rhetorical question, and she knew it. She rolled her eyes, nodded, and was about to answer when his phraseology struck her. She looked at him curiously. "I'm sorry; did you misspeak? Don't you mean 'seal' not 'seals'?"
He shook his head. "At some point, the Hyuuga forgot how to do them individually. A blood type seal destroys information on the Byakugan after death, and a death type seal allows for bodily harm or death." He saw her about to interrupt but held up a hand to stall her and continued. "If it helps, the reason Hinata was 'dumped' in your lap was because she was already too old for the seal to work on her, and Hanabi was coming of age."
She openly gawked at him. She honestly didn't think his explanation could make any less sense. She knew it was impossible for a blood and death seal to be placed on a single person, and they both required a sacrifice. Of course, 'freedom' could be that sacrifice. "You can't honestly expect me to believe that?"
Once again, he shook his head. "Of course not. It sounds far too contrived which, as we all know, is a personality trait of the Uchiha." He forced himself not to laugh. "Nevertheless, it is the truth. We found, through trial and error, the original seals could be combined into one and etched onto somebody only between the ages of three and seven."
She opened her mouth to protest again at the impossible situation he seemed to be describing when his words dawn realization upon her. She blinked a few times as he sat in patient silence, observing her open emotions. Shuffling into a more comfortable position, she regained her composure. "Was that part of Hizashi's plan? You deceived your elders, so they wouldn't put the seal on Hanabi until it was too late."
Hiashi warmly smiled when the insight struck Kurenai. "I wasn't the best father, but I did what I could under the circumstances." He also could only pray his daughters could find it in their hearts to forgive him for all those years.
She huffed and folded her arms over her chest. "I hope you don't expect me to think any better of you." She looked to the remaining albums, files, and trinkets. Curiosity got the better of her. "All right, now I'm interested in all this stuff you pulled out for my visit." She spent the better part of an hour learning how much he was actually keeping up with Hinata through the years.
Hinata felt her world was spinning. Her eyes opened, but her vision was blurred. She barely made out the image of her captor removing his hand from hers. She barely recognized the position their hands were in as a hand sign of some sort. She guessed he somehow used her chakra to power his technique because she felt completely drained.
She tried to resist, to fight back, or just to anything. She was too weak to even fight to remain conscious. As her vision darkened, she saw her captor remove something from around his forehead and throw it to the ground. Just before her vision was made of blacks, she saw his head jerk violently. Did it signify anything?
She fell unconscious.
Neji was growing increasingly frustrated. The remaining threads signifying the chakra trail grew dimmer the further along they traveled. His Byakugan was strained to its limits just to see the faintest signs. They were still traveling east. He didn't know why nor really cared, but the enemy ninja weren't trying to double back towards Lightning…which was to the north west of Konoha.
He was also disturbed that neither Kiba nor Shino were picking up any additional traces of the enemy's trail. He called a halt for the second time. They had already traveled for a little over an hour. He felt exhausted, and he saw how tired Shino was. Kanaeru and Gayt were a mystery still, difficult for him to read. Kiba was winded but antsy.
Naruto wasn't standing still. He was pacing as if he had plenty of energy left. Sure, Neji knew his secret, but his raw stamina was still unnerving. The blond genin was also looking off in one direction. Being curious, he approached his blond teammate about it. "Naruto, I realize you're worried about Hinata. For that, I thank you, but what are you doing?"
Naruto practically exploded as he pointed to the east with a slight northern angle. "We have to find Hinata-chan fast, and I keep getting the feeling she's off in that direction!" He saw the disbelieving look on the team leader's face. "I know what you're thinking, and I don't know! It's a gut feeling, and I feel like following my gut!"
He was about to question saw something for his enthusiasm when Kanaeru interjected. "I hate to burst your bubble, pup…" She smiled widely at Neji's reaction to her nickname for him. "…but it's really the only lead we've got. I don't have Hinata-chan's chakra burned into my memory, so I can't track her." She leaned down, so only he could hear. "You know two secrets about Naruto, so just trust me here."
Neji nodded. She was right. It was his only lead. He turned to his team. "Once we're done resting up, we're heading out. Hopefully, we catch Hinata or our target's scent soon."
Temari leaned over Shikamaru's shoulder to see what he was up to. He was scribbling notes and comparing documents. She didn't know if he was seriously working or not, and something was bugging her. "Hey Shikamaru, aren't you worried." She smirked when she noticed the glare Shiho was giving her.
He didn't even look up when he sighed. With his usual, lazy drawl, he pretended not to know what she was talking about. "What are you talking about, you troublesome woman?"
She raised a brow wondering if he enjoyed playing the sexist. Although, he hadn't once called Shiho troublesome…though he treated her as such. She rolled her eyes and decided to play nice. Well, her tone was teasing and borderline condescending. "Oh, you know. Aren't you worried about that poor, little princess?"
He turned his eyes to look into hers. He felt a small rush, but it didn't show. He had a very concise answer ready. "No." He turned his attention back to his notes and the documents. He felt a sharp pain on the back of his skull thus turned his attention back to her. "Ow… What was that for?"
She put her hands on her hips and leaned over him menacingly. "What do you mean, 'No.'? Aren't worried at all about that Hyuuga heiress? I thought all you little leaf nin were friends." She honestly liked them, but he just seemed to bring out the…worst in her. She did wonder a tiny bit why she liked it so much.
He raised a brow and gave her an incredulous look. He wondered why she even had to ask that. "Listen, who did Hokage-sama send after Hinata?"
Standing up straight, she easily answered him. "Well, she sent the princess' teammates, cousin, Naruto, and two I've never seen before. I'm sure her teammates and cousin are excellent trackers considering their clans, but Naruto's just a brute fighter. I don't know anything about the other two."
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Take a seat, troublesome woman." She eyed him but obeyed. "Naruto has never failed to protect somebody important to him. The only exception being Sasuke, and that was only because the jerk fought back. Gaara doesn't count because Naruto wasn't there until it was too late."
She quickly protested. "What does that have to do with you being worried or not?" She hated what happened to her brother, but it also turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
To his credit, he didn't roll his eyes or look at her like she was stupid. He just wore that blank expression his lazy demeanor long ago made famous. "Who am I supposed to be worried about? It certainly can't be Hinata. Are you asking me to be worried about those troublesome kidnappers? 'cause what Naruto's going to do to them won't be pretty."
Shiho decided to interrupt them by clearing her throat. "Excuse me; don't we need to get to work here? These Akatsuki correspondences won't decode themselves!" She barely fought her blush. The sand nin seemed a little close to the Nara genius.
He looked at the coder and sighed. "Troublesome." Despite appearances, he never stopped his work. He was great at multitasking.
They had to jump out of the way of an exploding tag trap. It was an intricately laid array, and only Neji's advanced Byakugan warning saved them. They were hiding in whatever cover they could find as they spied the surrounding areas. Neji and Shino found traps all over the place.
The fact that there were traps didn't surprise the ninja. They were near a very important village to the Daimyo. He had skilled trappers and samurai capable of waylaying the most skilled bandits. No, they were surprised at the skill with which the traps were laid. No less than a master of weapons could have laid the traps.
He felt a migraine and blurred his vision when green whizzed through the area. He recognized the fighting stance and bowl cut anywhere. He stepped into the clearing only to be accosted by a kunoichi with a kunai to his throat. She hid her presence well, but he knew she was there. He was used to her chakra signature.
When a pair of pale, blue eyes and gaping mouth fell on him, he knew something was amiss. His own team was already emerging with equally confused expressions, and the kunoichi holding him leaned against him to get a better look at his face. He felt her body pressing against his and turned his face. He confirmed both their suspicions.
A tall woman with dark hair stared at the scene. Her face was hidden in the shadows, but the man standing over Hinata felt the piercing gaze. "Isn't she pretty, okaa-sama?" He longingly gazed at the sleeping form of Hinata.
The woman, apparently the tall, dark-haired man's mother, snapped. "Saiga, I told you to keep your hands off her."
He turned to her. His large irises were ashen green with the barest outline of pupils. He wore a shocked expression. "Of course okaa-sama, I haven't done anything to her!" He paused for a moment to consider the situation. "May I have her, okaa-sama?"
She glared at him, but her attention was drawn to the stirring princess. The slightest of smirks spread across her lips. "My Saiga-kun, you should consider Hinata-hime your dearest imouto-chan." If humanly possible, his jaw fell to the floor. He opened his mouth to protest, but she held her hand up. He immediately obeyed, so she continued. "You will not disobey your okaa-sama. Understood?"
His face fell into an openly upset but non-defiant expression. "Yes okaa-sama, I will obey." He turned to Hinata. What she heard of the conversation frightened her, and her eyes displayed her fright. When he shuddered, she wanted to back away from him. "Now what I was just thinking disgusts me, imouto-chan. Please forgive your onii-sama who's supposed to protect you."
Hinata was officially freaked out. She let out a small, indistinguishable noise before passing out. Saiga turned to his mother with worry written on his face. "Okaa-sama, I think I broke my imouto-chan!"
The hidden woman held her face in her palm and sighed. "Where did I go wrong raising you my Saiga-kun? Surely your father isn't that bad of an influence." He shrugged dumbly.
Oh my goodness...that was one of the best openings I've written in a while! That is...in my humble opinion.
I was originally unsure how the meeting between Kankuro's genin and Naruto would go. I'm rather pleased with the outcome, though short. I had a different meeting in mind, but this one just came out of nowhere and latched on.
Yes, I cheated with the scene between Hiashi and Kurenai, and I make no promises that I won't again. The incident from School Daze needs closure, and my readers need a breather from all the fighting. I also wanted to try my hand at a little bit of humor thrown into a serious situation. Hiashi is under enough stress that his emotionless mask is broken, and Kurenai really is satisfied that he has a real reason not to be chasing her down. Besides, who wouldn't be curious to look at those picture albums...? Now I have the sinking suspicion I may have reader outcry... Why?
As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.
Story Word Count: 8,002
Story Page Count: 16.5
Terms and Jutsu:
jirijutsu - Autonomic Nerve Technique: Short for jiritsushinkei no jutsu, a jirijutsu is a kekkei genkai often creating an extra nerve bundle for some autonomic, extrasensory purpose.
Joushinko - True Sight: Though not mentioned, Joushinko is the name of the Tomoyuki clan kekkei genkai. It is a jirijutsu which causes an extra nerve bundle to grow along the optical nerve. What the Tomoyuki are capable of is a closely guarded Suna secret, but it's safe to assume the nerve bundle causes both the melted chocolate eye coloration and subsequent blindness.
otouto - younger brother: The many forms of otouto include oto and each can be followed by an honorific.
imouto - younger sister: Yeah...
shoujo - daughter: Yeah...