We were about to leave when Naruto finally noticed. "Hey Hinata…"
"Yes, Naruto?"
"Did you do something with your hair?"
"...Yes. I cut it the other day."
"Why'd ya do that? It looked just fine!"
"I was trying something to throw off the watched feeling I told you about."
"It can see you?" Naruto asks, eyebrows drawn together. I nod, and Naruto gives an "hmph!" before crossing his arms. "...I'll be back in just a second." Naruto leaps away, out of sight in an instant. I run my hands through my hair and sigh, wondering if there's anything else I can do. It worked just fine initially but since then the watched feeling has come back almost as strong. I rub my finger over where Obito cut me on my neck- the scab is gone, and probably faded enough to cover with makeup. Maybe when I get back to Konoha I'll try another haircut… I remember Ibiki in my dream yesterday, and start to think of things I might do in that area, when Naruto comes back. "You ready to go now?" He asks, standing close.
"Yes…" He smiles, and we go down through the deck door and away. He stays with me, looking ahead determinedly. "Naruto, aren't you going to train with Gamakichi?"
"Nope, not today! I'll be sticking by you, Hinata."
"Thank you, Naruto." I give him my best smile, and he grins back. Just a moment later we get to the waterfall, and Fukasaku is waiting there for us. He takes in Naruto's presence, but doesn't say anything to him right away.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Make an effort to find your center today." I nod; I think I'll be able to with my center watching from a few feet away. I work up my chakra and start the jutsu, cycling the waterfall back in on itself, and Fukasaku blowing it back at me as soon as I get it going. I get balanced on top of the water, drawing strength from Naruto's being next to me, and closing my eyes. Most every time I've done the waterfall exercise I got caught up in the struggle to hold up the water, and I do today as well, but to a lesser degree. My strength becomes my stillness, and for the first time I can feel the natural energy around me while I'm doing the exercise. The currents of air from Fukasaku's jutsu swirled around, and I was able to direct some of the water away as I cycled it. It reminded me a little of my "breathing" practice, how the wind currents would shift and I adjusted the jutsu around them. Though it was a magical moment, it was still monstrously difficult, and before too long the strain gets to be too much, and I have to let the water drop.
When I open my eyes, Fukasaku is clapping. "Did…?"
"No need to worry about your effort, Hinata. Come, let us go to the oil-fall early today."
"Yes, sir." Naruto smiles and takes my hand, and leads me off to the fall.
"That was pretty cool back there, Hinata."
"Really? It wasn't so different from all the other times I've done it."
"Huh, well, I thought it was neat. I looked like a giant Rasengan for a minute towards the end."
"A Rasengan?"
"Yeah, with all the water moving in different directions, ya know? It was like seeing a Rasengan in slow motion." Hmm. If that's actually what it's like, I very well might be able to learn it. I don't know if Naruto or I have the time for that here, though, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless. And how would a water natured Rasengan work? Oh well, I'll think of that later; for now if I need blunt force in close range I have my Twin Lion Fists technique...