Hi all! Thank you for waiting so patiently for the next chapter. I'm actually posting another one tomorrow or Thursday so keep an eye out! This chapter really delves into Yuka's thoughts, her plans, her emotions, and it also reveals a little bit more about Hinata and Jiraiya. They will be playing a somewhat important role later on. it isn't action packed or anything but this chapter definitely helps you understand the way in which Yuka sees things and makes decisions. So, enjoy!
Yuka sat on the edge of her bed, her mind lost within itself. She had stayed out late that night, so late that by the time she got back to the hospital it was almost two in the morning. She had spent the whole day in the training grounds with Shino. It was troublesome enough to deal with these leaf ninja but Shino had been different. All day he didn't question, he didn't even protest when she hit him directly with her jutsu. Of course afterward she lightened up, deciding that they were probably better off resting for a while before continuing. The day had not gone at all like she had planned. Her test with Kakashi Hatake was a complete failure.
She couldn't contain her anger over the test, failing to recognize the basics of the leaf shinobi squad. Teamwork was a foreign concept to her and the more she mulled over the concept and the way in which Kakashi chose to test her, the angrier she got. Unfortunately, by his insistence, Shino bore the brunt of it. He took hit after angry hit, giving her the outlet she needed to release her frustrations. She didn't hold back at all. She went full force against Shino, toe to toe with his own jutsu. She didn't have the luxury or the drive to go easy on him. On the contrary, it seemed that during the fight all her pent up frustrations, fears, doubts, and hatred culminated into Shino himself. She didn't see him as a comrade as she had intended from the beginning; no he was the physical embodiment of all she hated, all that went against her true self.
This didn't bode well for Shino. Though he had kept pace with her, dodging, counter attacking, and defending, he still got banged up. Her forceful taijutsu that released her concentrated chakra started eating at him fiercely, so much so that he had to sacrifice several of his beloved insects. Also, the seals that she used to spring traps such as her chakra rain technique were quick, sometimes too quick for Shino to ward off. When they had finally took a break, after more than three hours of battle, Shino had a cracked clavicle, a bruised rib, two dislocated fingers, and some bruising and surface wounds.
Yuka felt bad about it and of course helped heal him, using her own techniques to do her best. Her jutsu was still a mystery to Konoha, especially how she pinpointed things at the cellular level. This was her biggest advantage but soon the Hokage would need some answers and she'd be handed over to the intel division. Ino had promised her that Inoichi would not touch her, that he would let Ino do things her way and this brought some sort of calm to Yuka. Ever since she arrived she'd been afraid of being trapped in a cage while people crashed through her thousands of seals set by Orochimaru and herself. Though Orochimaru had dabbled within her mind, playing on her weaknesses and building her up to be his ace in the hole, he didn't see everything within her. Before she had even met Orochimaru she had placed her own powerful seals within her mind, barriers that even she didn't know how to bring down. She made sure they could never be brought down by anyone; her past was something she didn't want to relive or remember. It was tragic and even now, as she recalled the idea of her own parents, a tear was forming in her eye.
The hospital was quiet at night, almost too quiet. The nurses on duty roamed up the halls only a couple times a night which left Yuka to the quiet darkness of her own room. She had been here, in Konoha, a total of six days and so far she wanted more than anything to just turn around and walk away. Of course she knew this was impossible. It was either stay in Konoha under the protection of the Hokage and his ninja, or face the assassins, mercenaries, and wrath of the rogue ninja world. Though she believed whole-heartedly in her own abilities, she knew that she couldn't win every battle, couldn't escape capture or death forever. Not to mention it was Orochimaru's strict order to go with Konoha when they came for her. She was still fascinated by the fact that Orochimaru had seen it coming and couldn't help but feel ignorant when she realized that all those years ago she had never asked any questions, never once questioned her master why she must comply with Konoha.
She didn't bother to bring it up at the time, confident that Orochimaru knew best. Now, however, abandoned in her orders and in a foreign place, she depended only on her own abilities and instincts. Though she had infiltrated without suspicion she still felt like there was something wrong, almost too convenient for her. She had mulled it over, several times in the past few days, as to why she would be so easily welcomed to Konoha. She knew that the Hokage, an eccentric peacemaker and powerful nin had something to do with it, but his motivation irritated her. The fact was there could be several reasons why they allowed her to just come in without the proper checks and tests. It was customary to lock down new comers in any ninja village, whether they are friend or foe.
It was also customary to submit oneself to the intel division so that they could prod your mind, especially if you were a potential leaf nin. However, steps were skipped when it came to her and this sat uneasy within her stomach. She had decided, after observing the reactions of the nin present at her first fight, that they saw much of their former beloved leader Naruto in her. However, she knew how to play this well, so well in fact that she made sure to learn as much as she could from Orochimaru as to who this Naruto really was. With memories extracted from Sasuke and Kabuto she had found Orochimaru's vast knowledge to be all that she needed to put up a believable mask.
However, their blind acceptance seemed too easy and the comment from Kakashi earlier that day still rang in her mind. It was too easy, it was too obvious that they were all so accepting of her; what was the trap? This had bothered her to the point of irritation and her mind couldn't help but delve deeper into the possibility that they really did trust and accept her. It was not typical of a ninja to believe what they saw but this village was so different that she didn't know what was normal. It also bothered her that if it were a ploy, all the people who considered her a friend and treated her like a trusted comrade perpetuated it and lied directly to her face. This sent her temper flaring. That meant that Ino's friendship, Hinata's eagerness to introduce Jiraiya to her, TenTen's advice, Shino, Shikamaru, and Kiba's attention… all of it was a lie.
Though a remote possibility lingered in her mind that this was the truth, she pushed it aside in favor of some simple logic. Her doubts had been plaguing her all day but the longer she thought on it, the more paranoid she became. This clouded her mind and judgment and though she had worried for her safety at one time, now she was sure that it would be a huge disadvantage for Konoha to let her go, especially since she was one of the few Uzumaki left in the world. She relied heavily on the fact that her family was so ancient and powerful, that her family had close ties in the roots of this village. This, she assumed, was one of the few things keeping her alive.
If Konoha wanted to eliminate her they wouldn't bring her into their midst, they wouldn't make sure she was integrated with others, and they definitely wouldn't allow her to keep her secrets about her jutsu. However, there was something at work under the mask of friendship and for now she'd be weary of it.
As she lay there in the hospital bed she called home, a familiar uneasy feeling crept up her skin. She wouldn't be able to go on the mission to The Hidden Sound, nor would she be able to look for her master or gather any more intel from Shikamaru or his team. They would be leaving for their mission in a few hours and Yuka had no way to oppose it. It was beyond frustrating. It was the only way she could become closer to her illusive master, to receive his next orders. She knew what he intended to do when the time came. He would take over her body and any trace of her former self would be gone forever; this fact she had realized when he first spoke of Sasuke Uchiha. Orochimaru explained everything about his jutsu to her; how it worked, what was needed, and more importantly, who she would be to him. He craved the Uchiha eyes but in his wisdom he had anticipated Sasuke's betrayal and decided that an Uzumaki with great wells of chakra and distinctive sealing abilities was a very alluring backup.
Yuka was beyond the call of her former self. When her former master Konan had taken her in, she thought she had found a place to belong. She worked tirelessly next to her master to become a strong Kunoichi, helping her in any way she could. However, she was never exposed to the Akatsuki, never brought to light for any curious eyes. Konan made sure that she kept Yuka well hidden. In fact, it was customary for Konan to never use her name. The fact that she had never revealed her name to Konan lead her to call Yuka "dobe" or "baka" a lot; this she didn't mind. She'd take that name over the forgotten name her mother gave her years ago. Her new name suited her and she enjoyed the fact that Orochimaru had given it to her.
The extreme pain of trying to remember the past misted her eyes again and she wiped them away quickly, rolling over so that she was looking out the window instead of at the ceiling. It was a clear, starry night in Konoha. The faint moonlight that spread over the village highlighted its spectacular beauty. Yuka held an extreme dislike for Konoha, its policies, its leaders, and more importantly, its role in the assassination of her family. It was a close kept secret between Danzo and Hanzo but the murder of her family was a priority for ANBU and its ally Hanzo of the Hidden Rain. She never understood why, in fact she still didn't know why but she knew that her revenge would be swift, almost savory; she could practically taste it.
Orochimaru, her master and the one person in the world that always kept faith in her and her ability, would take his revenge on the village himself, she knew this. In fact, she hoped that some of her own will would mingle with Orochimaru's so that in the smallest way she could gain the peace she sought. The murder and widespread assassination of her remaining family in the Hidden Rain was carried out in one night. This she knew from Orochimaru. He, who claimed to know little about the purge, explained to her that if she sought revenge, if she wanted to avenge her entire family, than he would help her in doing so. This was all she needed to hear at such a young age. She didn't need complicated explanations, deep rooted plans, or any sort of hidden meanings. She needed a goal and a way of achieving it; Orochimaru gave that to her.
Lost in her thoughts of the past and of the possibilities awaiting her she drifted off to sleep. She hadn't even realized she had fallen asleep until she opened her eyes again and saw Shizune standing over her in the midmorning sun.
"Good morning Yuka-chan!" she greeted, a pleasant smile on her face. "I've been told to inform you that this will be the last day you are confined to sleep in the hospital. Hokage-sama has instructed me to tell you that he has found an apartment for your lodging. Also, Hinata-chan and Jiraiya-kun dropped this off this morning." Shizune pulled out a letter from her long white coat, handing it to her.
"T-thank you Shizune-sama," Yuka stuttered, sitting up in her bed. She glanced at the clock to see it was a quarter till eleven. She sighed, standing up and stretching before opening the letter. Inside was a hand written note and key from Hinata. She was offering to help get Yuka settled in her new apartment and told her to meet her and Jiraiya at her new apartment at one. Yuka was somewhat thankful for this but then she looked at the bottom of the paper to see an address written next to her signature.
She didn't know where it was; she'd never even been down the street her apartment was on. This would be interesting indeed. Shizune did her last physical exam, checking her chakra and arm before releasing her with a clean bill of health. Yuka was more than ecstatic. She could finally get out of the hospital and have her own private home to do her research and wait for Orochimaru's return. This was her major concern. Even if Orochimaru did find her, he would have a time just appearing in a public place like a hospital.
She thanked Shizune before grabbing up her bag from the closet and strapping it to her back. She made her way from the hospital to the visitor center, intent on getting a map to her new apartment. She wouldn't give some random person the satisfaction of instructing a shinobi to something as simple as an apartment on an unknown street. She was definitely more resourceful than that. When she finally got a hold of a map she took a look at it to see that her apartment wasn't far from the Hyuuga compound. In fact, it was one street over and she found this to be extremely ironic. The famed byakugan users probably wanted to keep a close eye on her; what better way than to give her an apartment close by?
She made her way up the road now, turning down random side streets and alleys until she finally reached the long, expansive road that her new apartment was on. She was beyond surprised. The road was framed with neat sidewalks and tall cherry blossom trees, waving suggestively in the summer breeze. The fencing along the side of the road encased large townhouses, their rich landscaping and high walls fascinating Yuka. As she made her way up the winding road, toward the top of the hill where the road split, she could see the high walls and grand size of the Hyuuga household. It was amazing that modest, timid, and kind Hinata grew up in such a lavish place.
As she came to the fork in the road she walked toward the complexes of townhouses, her eyes nearly tripling in size when she spotted the number she was looking for. The paper said it was building number 44, but she wasn't expecting a whole townhouse. The gate outside was made of brick and black iron rods, the walkway leading up to the large front door framed with beautiful green grass and flowers. It was a small front yard, barely big enough to set up a picnic table, but the large stoop that lead up to the door was made of granite, the high windows framing the large wooden door.
Yuka didn't even know where to begin. She was flattered that it was such a large and expansive home for just one person, but at the same time she couldn't help but feel extremely uncomfortable with it. It was way too big, way too extravagant for her too afford, even on shinobi pay. She pulled the key out of her pocket, biting her lip as it turned in the lock and clicked, the door swinging open slowly. It was a site to behold. The high foyer of her home was made of tile, small wooden steps leading up into the house in true Japanese fashion. There were, along-side the wall just within the door, cubbies to keep shoes and slippers. As she stepped up over the stairs and onto the hard wooden floor she was struck in awe again. The hall in front of her was expansive, stretching back to what looked like a large set of double sliding doors that lead into a room not yet explored. She was somewhat excited as she walked past a set of wooden stairs stretching up to the second floor. The doors separating the hall from the rooms were typical panels, the sliding doors giving way and sliding into one another to create open spaces between rooms.
To her right was an elaborate living space, a large couch taking up most of one wall. There was a coffee table, a few plush chairs, and a television was poised on top of her mantle piece. The room was richly decorated with a few scrolls adorning the wall and a large painting hanging behind the couch. It was a landscape of a tall, singular, mountain; the snow capped top surrounded by beautiful pink cherry blossoms. She couldn't help but picture herself entertaining Ino, Hinata, and TenTen in such a place. That thought quickly faded from her mind when she realized that the room on the left was a dining room, with a long table with western style chairs and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was made of iron, the color contrasting fashionably with the wood of the table which was darker, a deep reddish tint to it.
The view from the dining room was amazing. It overlooked a small garden just outside the sliding doors that lead out onto a wooden veranda. The garden wasn't big, in fact the wall that separated this garden from the neighbors own yard was only ten feet from the veranda. But the intertwining colors of green, purple, white, pink, red, and violet caught her attention; it was littered with orchids, carnations, irises, and peonies. The few rocks that framed the garden were covered by moss and the small tree that covered most of back wall was a small willow, its silvery green wisps slightly swaying in the small breeze.
Yuka stood there for a moment, just taking in the subtle beauty of the small garden, her eyes roaming the many colored flowers and plants. This kind of home, this kind of garden and life was not what she had in mind when she found out Konoha would be coming for her. She expected a cage and constant surveillance by Jonin shinobi. The hospitality the Hokage and the council had given her was most surprising and the way in which they chose to house her was more extravagant than she ever hoped. She sighed loudly, shaking her head and moving from the dining room to the adjoining room that was separated by another sliding door. It went further up the hall and connected to those large set of double doors she spotted when she first noticed the hall.
It was the largest kitchen she'd ever seen. It took up almost the entire back part of the house, twisting around to a large closet and back door. The back door led out onto the wrap around veranda and revealed the willow that took up the back wall where the door peaked out into the garden. The kitchen itself was amazingly upscale. It had granite counter tops, several cupboards, a large double basin stone sink, and smooth electric range that blended with the countertop. The oven, however, was next to the range, hovering above a set of drawers that revealed a broiler. The refrigerator was also skillfully hidden in the wooden cupboards; it was all too extravagant for Yuka's taste. She didn't even bother looking into the elaborate first floor bathroom that separated the kitchen and the living room.
She had to go see the Hokage right away. This place was a two story penthouse that she just couldn't afford to keep. It was too nice, too elaborate for her to be comfortable. She didn't even want to know how much a place like this cost. As she closed all the doors up and made for the front door she heard a knock. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she realized that Hinata was there already. She could hear little Jiraiya's voice from the other side of the door.
"Yu-Yu-chan!" he said, knocking on the door loudly. Yuka sighed, setting down her bag that was still strapped to her back, and went to the door. She opened it quickly, a fake smile plastered on her face.
"Hello Hinata-chan, Jiraiya-bo!" She said, looking from Hinata's pleasant eyes to Jiraiya's big blue ones. He was grinning largely, his eyes roaming the scenery behind Yuka. "Come in," she said, moving out of the way so they could step into the house. Jiraiya quickly let go of his mother's hand and pushed pass Yuka into the house.
"Jiraiya!" Hinata said, shaking her head. "Don't be rude." Hinata then walked passed Yuka into the foyer, eyeing it happily. "My, Hokage-sama has spared no expense to make sure you're comfortable, Yuka-chan."
"Don't I know it… that's why I'm going to him this afternoon and requesting he give me a smaller, less elaborate home," Yuka said, crossing her arms over her stomach. "He really shouldn't have to baby me like this. I'd be much more comfortable in something smaller, more like my old home."
"He didn't baby you, Yuka-chan," Hinata said, motioning for Jiraiya to slip off his shoes before exploring the house. He quickly kicked them off and ran down the hall, his excited screams fading as he discovered the back door to the veranda and garden. Hinata grinned after him and then looked back over at Yuka. "In fact, it was my idea to move you into this home. Do you really not like it?"
Yuka shook her head, waving her arms. Hinata was playing a funny game and Yuka knew it. She wanted Yuka to feel guilty about not liking the house so she would stay. What choice Yuka had, she wasn't sure.
"No, it's not that Hinata-chan. I like it, the garden is beautiful and the living room would be perfect for girl's nights but," Yuka paused, biting her lip. "I just feel uncomfortable accepting a home like this, especially since I won't be able to make the monthly payments until I can prove myself to be a jonin level ninja."
"There are no payments, Yuka-chan. This home is rightfully yours," Hinata explained, slipping off her own shoes and stepping up onto the clean wooden floor. "I'll explain it to you but first let's go make some tea, okay? You should have all the groceries you need…"
At this Yuka's eyes went wide. "Hinata-chan," she said, following her toward the large doors at the end of the hall. When they entered the kitchen they say Jiraiya standing on the counter, looking out the window above the sink. He then noticed his mother standing behind him with a stern look and crossed arms and jumped down, a cheeky grin his face.
"Sorry ma, Yuka-chan," he said, looking down at his feet. "I just wanted to see what the view looked like from the window. The garden is really pretty."
"That's alright," Yuka said, shaking her hands at him. "You can go outside and play in it, I don't mind."
Jiraiya nodded, glancing up at his mother who nodded in approval before he took off out the back door. Hinata quickly opened the cupboards, looking for the tea kettle and tea. When she finally found it she started making it, the stove heating up almost instantly. As Hinata busied herself with the tea, Yuka watched out the window as Jiraiya played in the garden. He was happily smiling, chasing the butterflies he had stirred up and stopping occasionally to look at the flowers and plants. Yuka couldn't help but feel jealous of him. She never had that kind of childhood; she couldn't recall feeling so carefree and happy. It was alluring, watching his subtle facial changes when he saw something interesting or when he felt happy. Yuka watched with keen interest, as if he was performing in a play and Hinata couldn't help but notice.
When she finally poured the tea she nudged Yuka slightly, breaking her from her thoughts and handing her a steaming cup. She smiled back at Hinata, allowing her to lead the way into the dining room and then out onto the veranda. They sat there for a second, Hinata watching Jiraiya with a loving gaze. Then she turned to Yuka, her eyes kind and curious.
"So, like I said, Yuka-chan, this house is rightfully yours," Hinata explained, sipping her tea and then setting it down next to her. "The first Hokage, Hashirama Senju, took as a bride one of the Uzumaki from the Land of Whirlpools. She, as you may know, was the first host of the tailed beast Kurama. Her name was Mito Uzumaki and she is a relative of yours. As we have come to research she is probably closer to your great-great aunt than anything."
"You didn't tell me that part before, Hinata-chan," Yuka said, looking over at her. "I didn't know that the first Hokage's wife was an Uzumaki," Yuka lied.
"Yes, she was. Like Naruto's mother, she was an Uzumaki brought to Konoha to ensure peace," Hinata said, watching Jiraiya run up the stone path after the large butterflies. "But when she first moved here, and waited for her marriage to take place, the Hokage had given her this home as her own until they were married. She stayed here almost a year before they were married. Therefore, since you and Jiraiya are the only one's left of the Uzumaki, it's rightfully yours."
"Ah," Yuka said, taking a drink of her tea. "So, it's already paid off?" She looked over at Hinata with a sad look on her face, her bottom lip tucked under her teeth uncomfortably.
"Yuka, just relax. It isn't a problem at all. This home is rightfully yours. Granted, after the pre-stocked food runs out you'll have to buy some more…"Hinata said, opening her arms as Jiraiya ran up to her, his face red from his exertions. He hugged his face to her chest before grinning over at Yuka. Yuka just smiled back, finishing her cup of tea and setting it aside. She then noticed Hinata looking at her and she quickly turned away when Yuka went to look back at her. Her cheeks were red. It was funny how embarrassed Hinata got even with her friends.
"What's wrong Hinata-chan?" Yuka asked, her eyes roaming first over Hinata's face then Jiraiya's. Hinata sighed, looking down at Jiraiya before looking at Yuka.
"I haven't told Jiraiya," she said, running her hand through his messy blonde hair.
"Haven't told me what?" Jiraiya asked, his eyes going wide. "Did you get me a present?"
"Sort of," Hinata replied, a grin on her face. "I guess it would be unwise to keep it from you, considering you'll find out soon enough." She pulled Jiraiya up to sit between her and Yuka, his eyes roaming his mothers troubled face before looking at Yuka's stern one. "You see, Jiraiya, your father wasn't the last of the Uzumaki. In fact, there is one more Uzumaki left that you may need to be aware of."
"But how ma? Do I have a little brother or sister?" He asked, his eyes lighting up quickly. Hinata just shook her head, her eyes misting up slightly. Yuka could see the tortured look in her eyes. Hinata wanted more than anything to give little Jiraiya a sibling but knew she could never bring herself to do it. She was still madly in love with Naruto. Her eyes were troubled, her mouth opening and closing to find the right words.
"Hinata-chan," Yuka finally said, shaking her head and placing a hand on her arm. Jiraiya looked up at Yuka curiously then back at his clearly troubled mother. At this Yuka stood up and picked Jiraiya up with her, setting him on his feet on the veranda. She stood before him in the garden, the boy almost standing eye level with her on the elevated veranda. "Jiraiya," she began, looking into his big blue eyes. He just stared back at her curiously, his arms crossing over his chest. "Before I tell you, you have to promise not to be mad at your mom. She only wants what is best for you." At this Jiraiya's eyes went wider and he looked down at his mom to see she was nodding slowly, her eyes downcast. He nodded, looking back at Yuka with annoyed intensity. "Now, what your mother is trying to tell you is that my name is Yuka Uzumaki," Yuka said, the words flowing off her tongue easier than she had intended. "And this means that you and I are blood relatives."
Jiraiya just stood there now, his eyes wide and his lip trembling. Yuka wasn't sure if the kid was going to burst into tears or burst into hysteric anger. However, she grabbed his now trembling hands in hers, making him look her in the eyes. "I didn't know the story of your father, the history of my family, or about your existence until recently, Jiraiya. To be honest, I'm still battling with it myself; I'd understand if you wanted nothing to do with me."
"Do you want me to stay away from you?" Jiraiya asked suddenly, his eyes searching her own. At this Yuka was truly shocked. It was a simple question but one she had not been expecting from him. Unfortunately, she didn't have an acceptable answer. She didn't want to tell him no because then he'd be around all the time and if she told him yes it'd be too coldhearted and suspicious. Hinata would be both angry and suspicious of her in an instant.
"I want you to do what you want," she said, a slight grin forming on her face. "You said that day on top of Hokage Mountain that Uncle Neji and Grandpa Hiashi were mean because they wanted to control you. I'm not like that, Jiraiya-kun. I won't tell you what to do. It's part of life to learn from mistakes and experiences. Therefore, I'll leave it up to you to decide what you want to do about this information."
Hinata couldn't help but chuckle at the mention of her cousin and father, her eyes lighting up when Yuka told Jiraiya to do what he wanted. Yuka wasn't going to be like every other adult that he associated with; she was going to treat him like the shinobi he wanted to be. Jiraiya just watched her closely, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yuka-chan," he said, his eyes closing slightly. "There is a lot you need to learn about the Uzumaki."
Yuka's eyes widened slightly, her natural reaction to scold him for treating her like an idiot suppressed by a fake smile. "What do you mean, Jiraiya?" she asked, Hinata moving to turn toward her now sallow faced son.
"I mean, the Uzumaki have very special abilities. They can live for long years, use special chakra to create amazingly strong seals, and they have an intense life force," Jiraiya said, his head hung low. "And my dad and grandma could sense negative emotion with the nine tails sealed within them; like I can now."
At this Yuka's eyes went wide and Hinata just nodded, watching Yuka's reaction. Jiraiya then looked up at Yuka, a sad dullness overtaking his eyes. "Yuka-chan has been through a lot," Jiraiya said, shaking his head slowly. "But there is something else gripping onto you, some sort of hatred that never sleeps. It's dark and it clouds my ability to see your heart."
"Jiraiya, we're going to be leaving soon to go and get some ramen and dango," Hinata said, motioning for her son to go back into the house and put on his shoes. "I'll be in in a minute. Stay by the front door."
Jiraiya just nodded, turning from Yuka and walking back into the house. Yuka just stood there, her eyes narrowing as Hinata stood up. "What did that mean, Hinata-chan?" Yuka asked, stepping back up onto the veranda and looking at Hinata. "What did Jiraiya mean?"
"Well," Hinata said, sighing softly. "Since he was consummated while the tailed beast was a part of Naruto, some of his chakra was transferred to Jiraiya. This is why his byakugan has not activated. The tailed beast chakra is suppressing it until he can learn to control it."
"But what did he mean about emotions?" Yuka asked, following Hinata toward the dining room doors.
"Kurama, the nine tails, can sense negative emotion and danger," Hinata said, making her way into the dining room. "Mito, Kushina, and Naruto Uzumaki could all do it. Since the beasts were destroyed during the previous war, Jiraiya has some limited powers associated with the beast. This leads him to be able to pick up on people's emotions and see what their heart truly desires. He tried using that power on you, just now…"
"He doesn't trust me," Yuka said, stopping in her tracks. She was stunned for several reasons. This five year old kid could see right through her disguise, could sense all her intended revenge, and even knew about the "darkness within her", as he put. Hinata turned back to her now, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Listen, Yuka-chan… everyone has a past. Sometimes it is sad, harsh, unbearable, and completely unchangeable. However," she said, turning from Yuka again. "Jiraiya knows something that none of us do. He knows the value of truly setting that sadness and bitterness aside and living your life as it is now and not as the past has shaped it. He is a living example of this."
She then started walking back into the hall and toward the front door. Jiraiya was standing by it, his eyes watching Yuka closely. Yuka just stared at him, her own eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. She didn't know what the young boy truly saw about her but she didn't like it. She didn't like the fact that he saw something dark within her; this could trigger suspicion and a major problem in her plans. However, this all elated when Jiraiya spoke, Hinata slipping on her shoes as he did so.
"Yuka," he said, walking up to her so that he was right in front of her. "You are an Uzumaki; the only one left besides me. I know you are strong and I know you aren't at all what you seem. However, everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves so I've decided that from today on, we are going to be best friends and rivals."
Next chapter will be strictly Kiba's POV since he is on a mission with Ino-Shika-Cho. We won't be hearing from Yuka for probably 2 chapters. So be ready for some awesome stuff in these next couple chapters. Lots of action and some rivalry between (that's right! You guessed it) Shikamaru and Kiba. :D Review if you'd like. I'd appreciate some critique of my writing style, the plot, the characters, and all the fun things that go with writing!