Housekeeping notes: This story was originally NaruHina, and it followed canon up to The Last. Kakashi was Hokage and his relationship with Hinata was platonic. Sorry for the NaruHina undertones, but this is ItaHina. I imagine this also follows canon (just with more Uchiha and the lack of Sasuke defecting) but the Big Bad was Madara. No Kaguya. That is important for later.
Also my next update probably won't be until August 7th. Sorry. Thank you for understanding.
Chapter title from the song Crystalized by the XX.
Many thanks to these people for reviewing: I-Love-Trunks1, littlenewgardner, Yuzuki476, Kiats10, km987001, and fanofthisfiction.
Thanks for reading.
oOo
Chapter Eight: To Keep You Satisfied
Auntie Yoko hunched over and shuffled down the white hospital hallway, holding tightly onto Hinata's elbow. The porter ushered them into a room before closing the door behind them.
Yoko let go of Hinata's elbow and stood straight. She easily hoisted herself onto the examination bed. Hinata sat on the chair across from it.
They waited for a second while waiting for complete silence. Assured of their privacy, the two women started hissing whispers at each other.
"Hanabi needs to go back to the Capitol." Yoko argued. "We have no space in the plan for her."
Hinata pressed her lips together. "I can't make her go. What kind of sister would I be if I make her spend time with the person who is breaking her heart?"
Yoko leaned forward and slashed her hand in the air. "Her heart would always be broken. You're delaying the inevitable. Hiashi will have space for her in his plan and we need to protect her at all costs."
"This is not protection!" Hinata argued.
Yoko raised her voice with the first word, then caught herself. "You were able to get over Naruto. She can get over someone she'll never have a chance with."
Tears pricked at Hinata's eyes. "I didn't get over him. He rejected me. I've let him go, that's it."
Yoko took in a breath, but the two women paused. Yoko hunched over. A few seconds later the door open and Tsunade swept in.
"How's that new medicine treating you?" She asked loudly in place of a greeting.
"Tsunade-sama." Yoko responded in a shaky voice. "I have some concerns."
Shizune shut the door behind her. She pressed a button on the wall and signaled all-clear. No one could eavesdrop now.
Tsunade stopped faking small talk. She snapped her fingers at Hinata and pointed at the bed. Yoko switched places with Hinata.
"She took on a new seal." Yoko tattled.
Tsunade clicked her tongue as she slipped on disposable gloves.
Shizune handed Tsunade the examination light hooked into the wall. Hinata opened her mouth obediently.
"Well…" Tsunade murmured thoughtfully after a pause, "it looks like it's healing okay. How are you feeling?"
"Tired," Hinata admitted.
"Your body is fighting the foreign chakra. The second either of these get infected, I need to know." Tsunade gently pulled down on Hinata's bottom lip until the delicate skin on the underside was exposed. "This one looks healed. Are you feeling any feedback?"
Once free, Hinata nodded. "I can feel the chakra exchange."
"You need to increase your dose of the chakra blockers."
Yoko spoke up. "How are we going to hide this from the Hokage? He'll be able to sense a difference."
Shizune dug in the small pack she wore, coming up with a small pill bottle. Hinata accepted it gratefully.
"It's in her medical files, Yoko-san." Tsunade explained patiently. "Her official diagnosis is that she'll need to take chakra blockers until her eyes adjust to the seal."
Hinata studied the bottle carefully. "I won't be able to use any jutsu, will I?"
Yoko's eyebrows drew together. "Why?"
Tsunade sighed. Shizune took up the explanation. "If Hinata uses her chakra, she could possibly sever or activate the connection. The amount she was taking did not stop her from using it, just from using all of it. Now, the blocker keeps her from having any accidents. It doesn't let her access her own chakra as easily. It would be too painful, but she can still channel chakra in emergencies. "
Hinata grimaced, imagining the sting of trying to force her chakra.
"Then how do Neji-kun and our other members do their job?" Yoko asked.
Hinata answered softly. "They just have to power through it. That's why only so few of us have two."
The elder woman nodded. "Thank you for explaining. Also, we have a problem."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Hinata resisted the urge to scowl.
"Hanabi doesn't want to return to the Capitol." Yoko said.
Tsunade sighed and addressed Hinata. "You need to get rid of her. Get her out of here and out of your father's reach."
Hinata bit back her protest. "Yes, Tsunade-sama."
oOo
Thankfully, Naruto did not come back for a while, giving Hinata a few days of peace. When he returned, it was in a swirl of leaves, wearing a grim look on his face. He held something black and brown clutched in his hand. His knuckles were white. The sound of wood splintering cracked through the room like thunder. Red hot chakra flared from his body.
Hinata gasped. Even the ANBU flickered into view momentarily as they assessed the danger.
Itachi stood, coming around his desk to stand in front of Naruto. He rested a hand on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto's chakra flared once again, then died down to a less oppressive simmer. Hinata sucked in a breath.
From the rafters, a glint of light catching a shiny piece of armor caught her eye. She glanced up.
The ANBU held out his middle and ring finger out in an upside-down V. You okay?
Hinata rested her hand on her desk, palm down, and splayed out her fingers. I'm okay.
The ANBU cloaked himself, becoming invisible once again.
"Naruto-kun," Itachi whispered. "Talk to me."
Naruto did not look up. He kept his head down and his teeth gritted.
"I found them. They're all dead." he hissed, trembling with emotion.
Itachi's eyes softened.
"I-We… we found their bodies. And…" He held up the item in his hand.
Itachi accepted the rumpled mess. He unraveled it to show a flag attached to a wooden pole. The flag itself was white, and the rusty red symbol stood out starkly against the fabric. Blood, Hinata realized. The symbol had been painted in blood.
"Bandits." Itachi announced. He looked to Naruto for confirmation. "The bandits killed them and sabotaged the dam."
Naruto nodded once.
Bile traveled up Hinata's throat. A headache bloomed from her teeth where she set her jaw. She very intentionally did not look up at the ANBU in the rafters, lest she signal something to him.
It was finally happening. She knew it would be soon, but knowing and seeing were two entirely different experiences. This felt too fast. She did not feel ready.
Hinata stared at the red slashes that made up the symbol. She needed to get Hanabi out of here.
The bandits were making their move, which meant Hiashi would not be far behind.
oOo
Hanabi poked around Hinata's vanity, frowning. "I still don't see why you couldn't bring your old furniture."
"It belongs to the wife of the Clan Head." Hinata pointed out.
"It belonged to mom. It should be yours."
Hinata did not respond.
Hanabi picked up the hairbrush and walked it over to Hinata. She held it out with a smile. "Please."
Hinata laced her fingers together and rested her hands on her thighs. She sat on her futon in the seiza position.
"Hanabi, I need to talk to you."
Hanabi lowered the brush. "I know. Why so formal, though?"
"I need you to go back to the Capitol."
Hanabi reeled back. "What?"
Hinata continued, staring her younger sister down. "I need you to relinquish your leave and return to your position with the daimyo as soon as possible."
Hanabi looked like Hinata just slapped her. "But… you know why I don't want to go back. Right?"
"And then?" Hinata asked quietly, her voice slicing through the room like a blade. "You have six months, you'll go back and then what? The baby will be born, and you'll be reminded all over again what you can't have. You need to do what's best for your future, instead of being blinded by your… love."
Hanabi blinked rapidly and took a step back. Her eyes began to swell with tears. "Who are you? Why would you say this to me? You'd never say this to me before."
"I am your older sister. And I won't let you sabotage your career for a man."
"I-I'm not! I just needed space! I thought out of everyone, you'd understand."
Hinata shook her head once. "You need to get over it."
Hanabi dropped the brush. "What? I… No one ever told you to get over it! We supported you!"
Hinata tilted her head back and her bangs slipped away from her face, fully exposing the seal. Hanabi's eyes caught on the slickly green ink. She stared at it with wide eyes. Hinata wondered if Hanabi ever properly looked at it before.
"If someone had told me to get over it, things might have been different. Make yourself useful to the clan. Don't risk becoming weak… like me."
"Hinata," Hanabi whispered in horror.
"If you love me you'll leave."
Hanabi's mouth moved but no sound came out. She swallowed and her voice cracked as she asked again: "Who are you?"
Hinata set her jaw, gritted her teeth, and did not respond. Hanabi left, sliding the door shut behind her with such force that the wood splintered.
It reminded her of Naruto in the office earlier that day. For a moment, guilt plagued her. She did not want to blame Naruto for anything. If anything, Naruto made her strong. But kunoichi knew how to lie. And Hinata was a good kunoichi.
She stared down at her hands in the dim light of the lantern. Still, she did not cry.
Letting out a deep, shuddering breath, she stood and collected her hairbrush.
oOo
oOo
Coming up: Itachi and Hinata bond over being the older sibling. (Itachi's POV is next.)