Copyright notice: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
The Wind Daimyo: Our Darkest Hour
You only know my heart when it's cold,
But it burns when I hear my affection in your voice,
Don't you see all my soul that is yours?
When you stand in the truth,
All for you,
-Heavy Prey by Flyleaf
In your deepest pain
In your weakest hour
In your darkest night
You are lovely
- The Grey by Icon For Hire
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Hinata felt her eyes rip away from Gaara's own intense stare, his vulnerability reflecting deeply in the ocean of greens. Her head turned to look upon Temari's serious look of determination and nodded curtly. Tremors wrecked her body as she somehow found the will power to tear herself away from Gaara's close warm body. Her hand felt for Ko's firm arm, her eyes lowered and avoiding his burning gaze. She couldn't look at him, knowing he was burning with disappointment and concern.
"Ready, Hinata-chan?"Kankuro whispered firmly, following behind the two Hyugas as they slowly made their way to the daimyo's stage.
The plan was now in effect. It was simple: Hinata would use her pedigree and simple manners to distract the daimyo as the groups split to silently take out most of the daimyo's guards to prevent any mass retaliation once they made their move to relieve the daimyo. Gaara had argued with his siblings but quietly shut down after Hinata agreed to the plan.
Hinata felt lighter; trying to grow confidence and a mask of congeniality the closer she came to the stage. The daimyo soon took notice of her approach and smiled widely, stroking his goatee and raising from his seat in acknowledgment. She simply bowed before following his hand to a pillow that was quickly brought for her by a servant. She sat, spreading her dress and placing her hands in her lap.
"Ah, my lady Hyuga. I hope you are enjoying the festivities. I had wanted to make them similar to Konoha's dances. Suna does not have such regard for light enjoyments…to their own loss."
Hinata nodded quietly, letting a soft smile linger on her lips.
"Yes, this is true."
The daimyo motioned for a cup of sake to be brought to her and another for her quiet bodyguard who stood not far away.
Hinata took the sake and raised it to her lips.
"Enjoy the sake. It's old and quite rich. It came to my attention that Sabaku no Gaara danced with you and spent much time in your presence. Poor lady."
Hinata held back a lump before locking eyes with the daimyo, noticing he was looking for any reaction from her.
She placed the sake cup down, trying to keep calm.
"Do not trouble yourself, lord Daimyo. He is of no concern to the Hyuga or myself at all. Your words are true. He is not fit to be Kage. I am glad I was enlightened by your words and his actions as of late."
The daimyo paused then smirked, leaning forward.
"I am more than pleased to hear that. He is an unstable man, not worthy of trust or any affectations from anyone."
Hinata felt the servant, Ayumi, brush by the daimyo and her eyes burning into her. Hinata knew this game well enough, having lived in the Hyuga compound all her life. Ayumi's eyes were not as penetrating as a Hyuga's.
"So it seems. I am glad to enjoy this. The trip is not such a loss."
The daimyo stroked his goatee, his heavy lidded eyes surveying her body. He brought the sake to his mouth, taking a deep gulp before setting the cup to the side.
"And I, Lady Hyuga, am most delighted it is not a loss either."
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Gaara's eyes followed closely each movement made by the daimyo and Hinata, like a predator following his prey. He slinked around the outskirts of the atrium, letting grains of sand fall to the ground as he moved towards the stage slowly. When he noticed a particular smile or gaze by the daimyo towards Hinata, he would feel his nose crinkle and jaw clench.
He would feel Shukaku burn inside him, clawing at his head to come out. The only relief was in finding a drunken guard and doing something he never did before. He approached stealthily, letting his conjured eye follow along after the guard, before knowing it was safe and swiftly letting sand drift from his gourd to reach around the neck of the guard. The sand formed around the guard's neck like a noose followed by a sick snap and the sickening sound of bones cracking.
He would nod at the members of the coup, who dragged the body away. This is how it followed throughout the time Hinata played coquette with the daimyo. Each Sand Sibling and coup member either paralyzed or killed (in his case) the daimyo's guards until only the drunken court remained.
Gaara crinkled his nose even more, the smell of blood filling his nostrils and dragging up the old sensation of bloodlust. His senses were almost overtaken by the desire, feeling Shukaku chuckle. His eyes would flash occasionally into the demon's and fangs would threaten to elongate but he would shake it off.
He turned his head towards where Temari and the leader were, their bodies in the shadows. They had recovered their weapons from secret areas in the hallways or from servants in on the coup. He only hoped for their sakes they were loyal to the coup members. He would really dislike letting his sand taste their blood or so he told himself.
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Temari gripped her fan along her back, following Gaara's movements and the other coup members. The floor guards were taken care of so that removed the biggest obstacle. She doubted the guards were ninjas and if they were, not very skilled ones. Sweat beaded her temples and along the bridge of her nose. Hinata was in her line of sight, smiling gently and drinking sake with the enchanted daimyo. Her part was over and Temari was damn glad of it.
Time to make our move, Temari thought to herself.
She nodded to the coup members on both sides and stepped out of the dark shadows.
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The daimyo laughed gaily with the lovely Hyuga, feeling even more loose tongued and buzzing with liquor in his veins. She was so graceful and sweet with her teasing smiles. It wasn't until her face froze towards the oncoming crowd of stern faces that he dropped his sake cup and stood. The dancers and musicians dropped their instruments and ran in every direction with fear in their dark eyes.
Lady Hinata stood shakily as well, eyeing the crowd warily. The poor girl must be out of her wits. How dare these peasants disturb his lush festivities!
"What is the meaning of this? I throw a party for you and you show such ungrateful behavior?"
The coup leader stepped forward, the ambassador and her brother behind him. The leader's face was stern and his body planted firmly not far from the stage.
"We, the Loyal Council of The Land of Wind, have declared you unfit as daimyo of our land. You will, as of this moment, be stripped of your title and sent for trials of treason against the welfare of this land."
The daimyo growled. "You? You dare? I am the daimyo!"
The ambassador stepped forward.
"You deprive Sunagakure of financial needs and outsource work to other lands. The village suffers from proper irrigation, lack of healthcare needs, and many crimes against the Hidden Village whose purpose is to defend this land. You are a tyrant, not a leader."
The daimyo shook with rage. "How dare you, you little bitch! Guards! Guards! Arrest them!"
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Temari crossed her arms followed by her dark haired brother. Her smirk spread on her face, followed by the picking of her nails and foot tapping.
"Where are my guards?"
Temari tapped her small fan, before she sighed.
"They are not able to be here at present. So much for loyalty. If you were a proper daimyo, you might have had skilled Suna ninja here to protect you."
The daimyo did not move but sneered. He looked around flustered before swiftly doing something Temari did not count on. He grabbed at Hinata and drew a jeweled dagger from his sleeve, pressing the tip to her throat.
"I-I will kill this Hyuga."
Temari looked into Hinata's wide eyes and narrowed her own. Before she could make a move of any kind, her fan at the ready to throw, she saw the flash of movement from the left of her. Hot grains of sand cut at her face.
Gaara.
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The daimyo screamed in pain, the hot sand cutting at his fragile skin like a dagger. He dropped his blade immediately, shuffling backward but not before the petite Hyuga held his arm gently.
He looked at her through watering eyes, his dark irises meeting her pale ones. Her face was gentle, but a flash of near anger crossed her brow. The breeze of sand that had dared to cut him drifted by her jaw and circled around her. His eyes fell upon the dark figure behind her, the man's devilish emerald eyes focused on him like a wolf looks at its dinner.
The daimyo felt it all connect now. The Hyuga in her pale gown standing before him, the murderous Sabaku no Gaara not a few feet to the side of her and only a few steps behind her, both wearing faces of determination. The emotion swirling in the demon's eyes when he looked to gauge Hinata's injury then returning to glare at the daimyo with a fire he felt burn his own skin. The daimyo felt his death reflected in those dead eyes.
The council was right. That ambitious, little schemer was right. There is something between the two.
It was then he felt two thin finger press into his arm, the pain shooting up to his head before numbness settle in. The Hyuga had pressed into his chakra points.
"You are a terrible man to deprive your land and Hidden Village. You will never hurt this land again or your people."
Her soft voice whispered for his ears only. He growled at her and screamed in deep rage.
"You think you have won this coup! Idiots! I am not such a fool."
He raised his good arm in the air and threw a ball from his sleeve, hitting a small gong. He then fell to the ground, consciousness leaving him. His last comfort was the sound of rushing footsteps, the yelling from the traitors and the soft squeal of pain from the Hyuga.
I win. I always win.
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Hinata barely dodged the swift aim of the senbon thrown at her arm with such speed that had she not been a Hyuga she might not have noticed it. Her Byakugan was activated and her body settled into a ready defensive position. Gaara was not near her, his chakra not far but not close. She grunted, feeling the sting of the senbon that passed across her hand. She ripped the sleeves off and wrapped her robe into a messy bundle.
There.
Hinata threw the robe at her attacker, dodging once more her attacker in the process. It was a woman and she was angry. The woman ripped the robe off, revealing her face to be that of the servant Ayumi. Ayumi smirked before sprinting at her, small senbons sparkling with chakra flipping along her bronzed fingers. Hinata dodged the fierce attacks, blocking with her hands before grabbing Ayumi's right arm and flipping her onto her back. One foot held down Ayumi's chest.
Ayumi kicked out quickly, one foot connecting with Hinata's jaw before twirling her legs in a spin on the ground and landing in a crouch. She pushed her braid from her shoulder, ready for another brutal attack.
"I don't know what he sees in you, what anyone does, but I will end you. Pretty little Hyuga…send my regards to the afterlife."
Hinata posed, ready for another attack. This time she had read the pattern of Ayumi's attacks. They were full of rage, irrational and wielded by a lowly skilled ninja. Hinata readied her body, calming herself and breathing deeply.
Ayumi ran hard and slid on her back, slamming her senbon into where Hinata was. Ayumi watched with surprise as Hinata flipped her body in a butterfly twist over Ayumi's own. Both women met each other's eyes: one full of rage, the other calm but concerned.
Hinata landed softly, but she did not count on one thing. Hinata was an innocent, unused to rage and deep jealousy. She looked at life with compassion and optimism. She did not understand the darkness in hearts of those that were corrupted by rage, jealousy, envy and cold regard for life. She understood pain, loneliness, heartbreak but not the deep anger that can run into one's heart. It was this naïve understanding that led to her underestimation of Ayumi.
Ayumi took advantage of Hinata's landing and the rumor she heard of the Hyuga's weakness in their Byakugan. She slipped behind Hinata, planting the senbon into Hinata's side and twisted it.
Hinata felt pain ripple into her side, her hands rushing up to grab the strong arm around her neck. Her eyes watered and stung. Ayumi's eyes burned through her gentle sight, a sneer along her red lips before she twisted the senbon once more then kicked Hinata away.
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Temari kicked another guard in the face before using a kunai to push into his neck. She drew her fan back but froze mid swing. Her eyes caught the sight of Hinata, her body trembling and her pallor in her face growing lighter. Her eyelids drifted low, until she placed her small hands along the spreading dark red along the beautiful fabric of dress. She then raised them again, tears flowing down her face. A figure moved from behind her, grabbing her throat and ready to stick her weapon into Hinata's small column of a neck.
Temari wanted to call out but she choked, feeling the room chill and hum with energy.
Gaara.
Her brother had thrown a guard aside, wiping blood from his face. The sand had picked up, creating a tornado around his body. A deep sneer formed on his mouth, after an emotion she had not seen in awhile.
Fear.
It was all over for this Ayumi, the bitch.
The sand rushed from his gourd and circled around her body. It constricted her writhing figure, her screams short lived and her movements slowing. Gaara moved closer, his hand in the air and controlling the rise of Ayumi's sand enclosed body.
"You dared. Too bad I don't. Sand Coffin!"
The screams, the blood, the sand…
Temari ran quick, followed by the coup and Kankuro. They were not nearly as quick as Gaara and a wounded Ko.
Huh, wondered where the bodyguard went. Hmmm…senbon and a head wound. Looks like Ayumi was one cunning bitch.
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Hinata's vision was fuzzy. The blood was leaving her body quickly. It was then she felt warmth encircle her from behind her neck and along her waist. She tried to focus her eyes, but the effort was too much. She thought she saw green but she felt she was drowning in a cold sea. Her mouth felt wet, a rather coppery taste in her mouth.
Soon, warm air brushed alongside her cheek and onto her lips. Something, something familiar, brushed alongside her jawline then left. She felt the warm air then heard soft words spoken. The only piece of anything around her she could decipher.
"Do not let my humanity fade with you…"
Hinata felt darkness consume her and then nothing.
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Note: Thanks so much for following, favoriting, and reviewing. I wanted to try and get this out as soon as I could to get to the very important chapters I've been dying to write. I hope this came out fine. I think we are all catching on to this mysterious council member. Hinata didn't get as much action but we got a taste of a dark Gaara. Someone is possessive and protective, right? I know you guys wanted to see Hinata kick more ass but fighting in a dress is hard and Ayumi was definitely a force of darkness. Ko was knocked out by Ayumi so I hope that clears anything up. Stealthy woman huh? I wrote this pretty late for me so I hope you like it.