Copyright notice: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Chapter 3: The Hospital Visit
Hinata wiped the sweat off her brow, squatting as she looked up at her father. Today's training session had been rather brutal. Father looked rather severe so she knew he was in a foul mood. They had been trying to use Father and Neji's Eight Trigrams Empty Palm, a technique that required great constant flow of chakra, speed and precision on the opponent's vital points. She had been surprised he would teach her this but he had decided it was important in her training to be a successful main branch member and kunoichi.
She had used great speed and her use of the Byakugan had definitely been better that she had seen all her father's tenketsu points. The only problem was he was too quick and he could use his chakra to create a more powerful hit than her. She felt embarrassed and ashamed that her hits had not even hit him hard enough like she wanted to.
I-I need to get stronger. I have to n-not disappoint…a-anyone, Hinata thought.
"Hinata, your hits are still sloppy and lacking in power yet I sense that your speed has increased and that your Byakugan has become more improved," Hiashi stated in a matter of fact manner.
She looked up at him and stood, her lavender eyes meeting his white ones. Her fingers almost began to tap but she instead quickly put them by her sides to grasp her pant legs. Father had complimented her? This was a little…strange.
"Father, I-I have been training h-hard to-"
"Do not stutter in my presence Hinata. It shows weakness and lack of confidence in your self. The Hyuga are a renowned and powerful clan. We do not show either of these qualities," Hiashi quickly cut her off and then nodded to signal their training was over.
Ÿ-yes Father."Hinata's voice was quiet but firm.
She began to nod when her father stopped in his tracks, his broad back to her.
"Hinata, you are improving. I see your determination. Do not let that fade."
Hinata's eyes widened, her mouth opening before she closed it and nodded. Her fingers began to tap and she could feel her eyes become blurry.
"Yes, Father."
The shadow of her father faded, his footsteps echoing and leaving her in silence. The silence did not last long. Ko's lanky form approached, a small smile appearing on his thin lips and one hand holding one of the Hyuga ointments.
Hinata felt her face light up and her hands clasp on her chest, barely wincing from the bruises on her chest. Ko, her bodyguard that followed her when needed and also when Neji was on missions, was a dear friend and one of the few Hyuga who treated her kindly without that look of disappointment. He was a branch member that bore the curse mark, but he would sometimes take off his bandages when it was the two of them together. He was a good friend and ally in the compound, someone she cared for deeply and trusted with her safety. Sometimes though, she wished deep down that her family believed she could protect herself enough not to have a bodyguard or a guardian. One day she would show them, somehow…
"Ko-kun!"
"Hinata-sama, I have brought ointment for you. I also have brought you news that you have guests waiting for you,"Ko spoke in his calm baritone.
"Thank y-you, Ko-kun. G-guests? Who-"
Hinata was cut off by the barking of a dog followed by a small crashing noise, a sharp command, and loud footsteps in the compound. She knew exactly whom her guests were, her cheeks heating up and her eyes lighting up. She needed to quickly use the ointment, wash her face then change her clothes. She looked pretty bad, sweat and few scratches and tears everywhere.
She ran up to Ko and gently took the ointment from him, smiled gently in thanks and briskly walked to her room. The smell of lavender hit her nose and instantly made her feel revived. She took off her black training clothes, mesh and linen falling to the wooden floor. With little thought to anything particularly fancy, she washed her face and gently brushed her hair to fall straight to her shoulders. She picked up her usual kunoichi clothing, the jacket her Ino teased her about, and strapped on her sandals. With a brief look in her mirror, she applied the ointment and used healing chakra to a small cut on her cheek. With a small smile in the mirror, she sighed and nodded to herself then quickly made a trek to the foyer before anything got out of hand.
Hinata had barely opened the large sliding door to the compound before she was overwhelmed by her teammates. It seemed the Hyugas did not appreciate the energy' of her team members disturbing the peace of their home and had them wait outside for her. She was not really surprised. She had been overwhelmed and a little afraid at first too when she first met her teammates.
"Hinata-chan! Hey!"Kiba loudly shouted with Akamaru barking in greeting.
"Hinata."Shino responded, the dark glasses hiding any expression.
Hinata shyly smiled and walked slowly to meet them by the entrance to the compound. Akamaru quickly pounced on her and began to lick, with a Kiba ordering him to get down and sit. Hinata smiled and gently set him down, getting down on her knees and rubbing behind his ears while talking kindly to him.
Kiba crossed his arms and smirked, his tattoos standing out. "He always did have a thing for you, Hinata-chan."
"O-oh, um, w-well…"Hinata stuttered before blushing brightly.
"Lee is in the hospital, Hinata."Shino spoke. He was always one to get straight to the point per usual.
"Dammit Shino! I wanted to tell her."Kiba angrily yelled before huffing and looking at Hinata. "Anyway, Rock Lee is in the hospital and Sakura is treating him. Oh and that creepy Gaara guy is there too. Lee said before he passed out that Gaara saved him but I doubt it. That dude freaks me out."
"Kiba-kun, i-if Naruto s-says he h-has changed w-well maybe h-he has."
Kiba gave Hinata a funny look before giving her a lopsided smile. "Hinata-chan, you are so weird."
"We should visit Lee, it is the proper thing to do as fellow shinobi. I know you would want to do that, Hinata."Shino said calmly before starting to make his way to the hospital.
"Shino, wait! Grrrr! C'mon Hinata before it gets too late!"Kiba spoke over his shoulder while running to follow Shino.
Hinata's mouth fell open a little, her teeth chewing her lip a little and one finger brushing his eyes. She couldn't begin to imagine how Lee must be. This was terrible and she knew Guy must not be handling it too well despite the silly grin and all that talk about 'youth'.
Lee, sometimes you remind me of myself. You work so hard to be the best, to be so strong. You wanted to best Nejii-nii-sanso bad you almost sacrificed yourself during the Chunin Exams to prove yourself, to win, to show how well you have done. I understand that so much. I hope you are okay, Hinata finished her thought and took a deep breath to follow after her teammates and to the hospital.
The hospital was a bit quiet, even after the failure to retrieve Sasuke. Medics walked about holding ointments or paperwork. Their faces looked stern and serious as they moved about going room to room. Hinata hadn't seen it seem so stale. Silence always made her nervous. She brought her hands to her chest and moved slower, listening faintly to Kiba ask for the number of Lee's room. Shino, sensing Hinata's anxiety, slowed to fall in step with her while they walked along the hall to where Kiba stood at the station where he argued about Akamaru being allowed in the hospital.
Hinata calmly placed her small hand on Kiba's shoulder and looked at the medic on duty at the station. Self-confidence, self-confidence, she whispered in her mind before she let a small smile out at the medic who had an exasperated expression on her face.
" Please, let us have the room number of Rock Lee. We are fellow teammates of his and we would like to see him. I understand the rule for animals in the hospital but Akamaru is a close friend of Kiba and a part of our team. Kiba-kun can't be without him. It is part of his clan to have a dog with him as companion."
The medic paused in thought and pressed her fingers to her temple. She let out a defeated sigh and opened her eyes to look at Kiba then Hinata.
"I understand the Inuzuka clan's special conditions so I will let this one slide but only this once because Rock Lee is a dear teammate of Hyuga Neji-san, Lady Hinata-sama. The room adjoins another. The number is 515."
"Will Sakura-san be there?"Hinata asked with another smile.
"Yes, Lady Hinata-sama."
"T-thank you."
The team then turned from the station to head for the stairs. Kiba slid his eyes at Hinata and let a smile turn up on side of his mouth before shaking his head. Hinata looked at him and raised her brows in question. He chuckled to himself before motioning to Akamaru to go up the stairs.
"You know Hinata-chan, that's one of the few times I have heard you not stutter. The fight with Neji being a good example. You can really be…what's the word, Shino?"
"Confident."
"Yep, that one."
"O-oh. R-really?"Hinata blushed and tapped her fingers.
"You could be a decent diplomat, Hinata."Shino quietly thought out loud.
"C'mon Hinata-chan. "
Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru moved up the stairs to leave a very surprised Hinata at the first step. Her hand moved up to feel her cheeks. They had heated up. She was shocked at Kiba's words, especially Shino's. Ididn'tstutter,was her last thought before running up to follow her teammates to Lee's room.
XXXXXX
"Honestly, why are they keeping Gaara here so long? He is obviously better. Having Shukaku is a perk sometimes,"Kankuro whined.
Temari glared at him before narrowing his eyes. "Kankuro, he almost died from that bastard. He and Lee almost did. They wanted to monitor him. The Hokage and that pink haired Sakura were insistent on being positive he was totally healed. Use your head, for once. Maybe your puppet is smarter sometimes."
"I am right here."
Both siblings looked at Gaara as he stood next to the window looking out casually. He slid his eyes over at them and uncrossed his arms to step next to them. Temari noticed his eyes, though still dark rimmed from lack of sleep, looked slightly different but his demeanor looked unchanged. His color did look better and his strength had returned completely.
Damn that Kimimaro. Its good he is gone, even if the mission was a failure. That Uchiha traitor is gone, off to join Orochimaru.
Just thinking about Orochimaru and his rumored group of Sound shinobi made her hands clench and grind her teeth. She wondered what they had planned before looking back at Gaara. Her face calmed and her brows drew together in worry.
Gaara, we could have lost you. You almost sacrificed yourself little brother. You almost gave your life to save that bushy browed Rock Lee, who you almost killed at the Chunin Exams. Just when we get you back as really part of the family…we almost lose you.
Temari glanced over at Kankuro, who echoed the same thoughts in his own expression. Before any more words could be exchanged, the loudest voice ever heard aside from Naruto and Lee's boomed in the room. Kiba Inuzuka. How lovely. He was probably visiting Lee, which meant his dog and his weird teammates were with him. That quiet weird bug guy and that shy weak Hyuga girl, Temari remembered then tapped her forehead and let out a breath. They were probably seeing Lee who occupied the adjoining bed.
Gaara and Lee were sharing the same double room, separated only by a thin curtain that would show silhouettes only and let out some sound occasionally. After the fight, both the boys had been put in the same room to recover and were checked on repeatedly with Tsunade and Sakura moving to and fro. It made easier for the medical nins but more annoying for the Sand Siblings. Hearing Guy talk all that 'youth' junk got old quick but this was going to be more unbearable. Kankuro and Temari both sighed at once and touched their temples.
"Hey, there he is!"
"Kiba-kun, d-don't be so loud p-please. H-he is r-resting."
"Ah, right. Okay. Akamaru, try not to bark loud either."
"Silence isn't a problem for me."
"Of course, that's your specialty."
The three teammates came upon Lee's bed where he rested quietly. Sakura had been there recently it looked like. A chart and some ointments were on the table by his bed and a vase of beautiful flowers. Hinata smiled at the touch. She should have brought a small flower for him as well, but she hadn't. Her face grew a little sad at the thought as she moved closer to Lee's bed. She took a small seat by his bed and looked at his pale face. The flesh under his eyes was bruised and he still looked so weak from his previous fight with Sabaku no Gaara.
Lee, you are so brave .Neji admires your determination in his own way now, she thought as she brushed a hair off his forehead.
"Ah, Hinata-chan. Don't be sad. He will be all right. Promise."
Hinata turned to Kiba and let out a sad smile. "But Kiba-kun, d-don't you see? He was so brave to help Sabaku no Gaara. He is a fine ninja." She turned to look at Lee then and let one tear slip out of right eye. "Lee, y-you have Neji-nii-san's respect now. You are b-brave for your c-choice."
" Hinata-chan, you are so sensitive. I really worry about you sometimes."
Hinata heard Shino's jacket rustle. "Hinata is compassionate. That is not a weakness, but you must be careful. That could be exploited against you."
"Hinata-chan?"
Hinata turned sharply to Lee and smiled softly. "Hello, Lee. I-I wanted to s-see you and h-hope you recover. Neji-nii-san and I-I both do."
Lee smiled softly, his eyes still closed. "Thanks Hinata, that's so kind of you and sweet. The innocence of you as Master Guy would say."
" Y-yes he w-would. P-please Lee, rest now."Hinata paused and leaned down to whisper for his ears only. "P-please know t-this. We b-both think you are a fine ninja and Neji-nii-san w-wants to see your d-determination stay strong please."
Lee gave a deep smile and squeezed Hinata's hand.
"Sakura was here?"
"Yes."
"Your teammates?"
"Yes, Lee."
Lee closed his eyes and faintly smiled. "They might think I am foolish for what I did but I had to help my friends, those precious to me."
Hinata held back a tear. "I know, Lee. I would do the same. I-It's not foolish."
Lee gave a deep smile and squeezed her hand before letting the drugs kick in again.
An awkward silence filled the room before Kiba coughed.
" Anyway, Hinata-chan. He is looking to be getting better."Kiba's face suddenly grew dark and drawn. "He still shouldn't have gone out there. That scary sand kid really messed him up in the Exams. Sometimes I think he is still a monster. How could Naruto-"
Akamaru barked in fear suddenly and cowered by Kiba's legs.
"What is it boy? What's wrong?"
"Who's scary? You must mean ALL of us?"
Temari smirked at the look of shock on the team's faces. Okay, maybe not all of them. The bug guy always wore sunglasses and that high collared jacket so who knew what expression he had. He was almost as blank as Gaara. The dog kid's face went from shock to a look of ferocity, his hands clenched and feet spread apart. The dog's lips were even curled back and he stood protectively by his master. Temari noticed with a disgusted look how terrified the Hyuga girl looked. Her lavender eyes were so wide they were saucers and she trembled as bad as a leaf. Pathetic and she is the heiress to their clan. I almost feel bad fort hem.
"So who is scary? Do you mean myself and my brothers or all Sand nin?"
"What are you doing here?" The dog kid growled in anger.
"Oh, I thought the medic at the desk told you. Gaara is in the next bed right by Lee. I am surprised you weren't told or maybe you didn't listen. Sad considering your sensitive hearing, Inuzuka,"Kankuro sarcastically pitched in and leaned against the wall to dust off his clothes.
The Hyuga girl somehow found some backbone to stand up and edge over to the Inuzuka boy to grab his arm. Her eyes had returned to normal size, her chest not heaving as bad, and her lips no longer trembling. She took a breath and whispered something softly to Inuzuka. He turned the side of his head to her and snorted then.
"Are you freaking serious, Hinata-chan?"
The Hyuga let go of the Inuzuka but didn't move forward. She held her hands together and moved her downcast eyes to the two Sand Siblings.
"W-we do n-not w-w-wish any p-problems p-please," she spoke quietly in a sound barely above a whisper.
"What was that, Hyuga? I can barely hear you?"Kankuro prodded at her.
How annoying. I hate stuttering. Temari slammed her fan on the ground and glared at them intensely. "You will not call Gaara a-"
"Do not play with them. I can defend myself."
Hinata watched silently, her eyes tracking a silhouette emerging from behind the curtain. Sharp turquoise eyes, the most intense she had ever seen, were the first sight that met her. She could feel herself and the rest of her team held in place by those eyes. Though it wasn't any form of jutsu he was using, those eyes could pierce a soul and freeze your body in place. Hinata felt dark inside just looking into them. Sabaku no Gaara stood with his arms crossed, the gourd strapped on his back like a second appendage. His shocking red hair nearly fell into his eyes, parting still to show off the fierce tattoo of the word love on his forehead. Hinata couldn't think, couldn't move. Fear held her in its grip. She could only hope she wouldn't faint as she had been known to do occasionally in the past.
Even if she wanted to faint, those eyes probably wouldn't let her. She felt blood pound in her ears and her lips dry up. The Forest of Death…the raining of blood…his cold voice…all that screaming. Those thoughts ran through her head quickly. Naruto had said he had changed but those thoughts, those memories, were still in her head and in her teammates' heads as well by the look of Kiba and Shino. Akamaru's whine snapped her out of her head enough for her to take a deep breath and slow down her breathing. She couldn't hyperventilate and pass out!
Self-confidence, Hinata!
"U-um, w-w-we wanted to s-see Lee and how he w-was doing,"Hinata stuttered out to her own dismay. She felt her cheeks heat up and her teeth nibble her lip.
Gaara's eyes narrowed at her action but his face remained blank. He turned to glance over at Temari and Kankuro. He blinked slowly and shared a silent conversation with them that seemed to last hours. Hinata and her teammates stood in complete tension and puzzlement. Soon the silence ended when Gaara's gravelly monotone spoke through, cutting the air like a knife.
"Do not let my siblings deter you from leaving. They will not keep you from going on your way, Inuzuka-san and Hyuga-sama."
Temari huffed to herself and Kankuro shrugged. "Sure, Gaara. Whatever."
The teammates quickly made to move out of the room. Kiba grabbed onto Hinata's hand to pull her as she gave one last look to Lee before shifting her eyes to look over at Gaara's still profile. His head was dipped down, arms crossed and eyes closed except when her eyes met his face. His black lids opened before the green eyes slid over to hers briefly before shutting again. Is he meditating? His lips look thin and his nose slightly crinkled. Those were her last thoughts before being tugged out of the room. She had to have been imagining things. He looked just as stoic as ever like a stone statue.
Temari tapped her fingernails on her fan and moved a stray bang. "That dog Inuzuka is a bother."
Kankuro leered at her. "Picking up that Nara guy's words now are we?"
Temari reddened before crossing her arms and looking away. "No!"
"Uh huh. Sure. Whatever you say."
Temari looked back over at her siblings then snorted. "What bothers me more is that incredibly annoying stuttering of that weak Hyuga girl. Isn't she an heiress to that clan or something? That's a pity for them. What a nuisance showing such weakness stuttering like that and always showing such fear. It pisses me off."
Kankuro let out a lopsided grin. "I don't know, Temari. I think she is kind of cute now that her hair is growing out. Eh, Gaara?"Kankuro nudged Temari on the arm before she growled and slapped at him.
Silence only followed before both siblings looked over at him. The siblings usually weren't surprised by Gaara's normal short answers. The siblings weren't even surprised when he didn't respond at all but what they saw and heard next did actually ring out some shock from them. Gaara's eyes had been staring out at the hallway the Konoha team had quickly run through. He slowly closed them, rubbed his temple with a grunt then blinked at Kankuro and Temari. Gaara clutched at his hair, nearly ripping it out before limping to the windowsill.
Temari and Kankuro shifted a little bit, uncomfortable by this reaction from Gaara by the Konoha team. He only acted that way if Shukaku tried to take over. Something was going on. Kankuro looked at Temari who dug her nails into her fan and bit her lip hard. Kankuro looked over at Gaara and felt sweat bead on his forehead.
Damn, was Shukaku after one of the team members? We don't need this now, especially with the council's distrust of Gaara. This is bad. Who the hell made him like that? It couldn't be. It is not who I fucking think it is….no way, Kankuro thought in an anxious rush.
After the sight of Gaara's eyes lingering on the hallway, the next words echoed by their brother only confirmed Kankuro's theory.
"The Hyuga…her name is Hinata?"
Temari looked over at Kankuro a little uneasily before looking at Gaara. "Yes, Gaara. Do you remember her from the Chunin Exams? She is Neji Hyuga's cousin."
"Yes…briefly."
"Um…"
He moved his head to look over at them. The window had been opened, letting a small beam of light enter and light up Gaara's bright eyes. The brief gleam in his eyes unnerved his siblings that they imagined it like Hinata had. He narrowed his hairless brows before relaxing his face and unclutching his hair. His hand dropped and a his face became a blank palette once more.
"Her eyes are eyes of loneliness and deep sadness. Leave her alone from now on or I will react…unfavorably."
With that short sentence being said, Gaara turned back to the window and scrunched his nose up enough that it was only noticeable by his perceptive older sister. She studied him intently.
Gaara, what are you thinking? You only scrunch your nose when you are thinking deeply or when something has affected you. What is it?
XXXXXX
Monster…is that still a thought on all their minds? Naruto, you have shown me I can change and not just exist for myself and love only myself. You have shown me I am not the only one who has experienced loneliness and sadness…but this…
Gaara reflected on the Konoha team's words before feeling anger bubble up from his gut and spread through his body. His knuckles became white as he clenched his hands. He folded his arms and felt a muscle tick in his jaw. Then the headache came followed by a voice he knew well.
They fear you still…I want blood…
No, you will not have it. I will not appease you.
I want her…her blood. Give it to me.
No, never. Never will I satisfy you once more.
You want her too. You watch her. I can give her to you…
I do not…know what it means to desire such a thing. I want NOTHING you can give me. Not anymore. I will no longer be a monster.
Ha! You will always be a weapon, a monster.
I am no longer a monster, THEIR weapon. I wish to carve a new path.
Gaara paused hesitantly.
Why do you want her? Why speak now? I have controlled you.
Does not matter. Give her to me! Free me! NOW!
NO!
Gaara thought to himself before feeling a weird pain in his chest. He looked at it strangely, touched his chest then looked back out the window. He did not understand the odd feeling so he brushed it aside before opening his eyes and closed them once more. The headache left and he felt Shukaku settle back into a space he had created inside himself. The next image in his mind was that of pale pearly eyes with that tint of lavender he only recently noticed.
White-eyes of loneliness and sadness…
This was Gaara's last thought before he moved his mind on to other matters at hand, such as the Hokage's latest request…
A/N: This was a LONG, LONG chapter but I didn't want to break it up so I expect some grumbling. I am still trying to get the spaces part better for the chapters so I'm sorry! Review!