Chapter Twelve
Lightning
Hanabi – 21
Konohamaru – 22
Despite reaching adulthood, 20 was an uneventful year for Hanabi once the drama around her birthday had subsided. Jun recovered, though with poor vision in one eye and a replaced knee. He was taken off of missions for a few months before being allowed to return, and Hanabi found herself being on her own more often in the field. Eiji had taken herself off the roster during that time to care for Jun, and even if they tried to deny it, Hanabi knew she was officially the third wheel in their blooming relationship. Or maybe the fourth wheel if one would count Yorimaru, who she ended up spending a lot of time with.
At the same time, Moegi and Udon began jōnin-sensei training and were getting ready to take on their first genin teams soon as graduation at the Academy approached, so she didn't see them much either. And of course, Konohamaru had essentially disappeared from the village. She knew he was around, she could occasionally feel his chakra around town, but she never saw him. After he completed his training, he stopped in to say hello to Naruto, and conversely Hanabi as she had been around at the time, but that was the extent of it.
She chose to believe they were still friendly, just distant. It made it easier.
After the news of enemies seeking out Hanabi made its way to Hiashi, she was swiftly taken off of all upcoming missions, diplomatic or shinobi based. It almost felt like the 'moon incident' all over again, but at least she wasn't being kept locked down in the compound, perhaps because they knew that would be impossible now. Unfortunately, the intimate details of how and why were being kept from Hanabi, and she found herself in the familiar position of frustration and helplessness. It was her own well-being they were talking about, and she wasn't even allowed to know what was going on.
She knew what it was. It was her eyes. As an unsealed Hyūga that missioned regularly, she was probably an appealing target. It was foolish, she thought, for anyone to think they could take her so easily. Not only was she the heiress and thus an incredibly difficult target in the first place, but she was also capable of defending herself. Perhaps those who were after her underestimated her, thought she was a weak little princess like so many others had mistakenly believed.
It was the only comfort she had, now, to make fun of them in her head, knowing she could keep herself safe.
But it dawned on Hanabi just how lonely she really was, how much she depended on just a few people for company and support. With everyone wrapped up in their own business, she had to come to terms with the fact she really didn't have much of a purpose.
She thought her purpose was to train, train, train. To become strong, to become clan head, to become a shinobi. There was always something in sight to keep her going. But now, she felt listless.
Hinata noted as much as she sat at their dining room table, staring aimlessly out the window.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hanabi asked with a frown, dropping her eyes back to her sisters.
Boruto and Himawari were busy wrestling with Naruto in the living room while the sisters sat in silence up until that point. Hinata offered a sad smile. "I just mean that you're here all time, Hanabi. Don't you want to see your friends?"
Hanabi grimaced. "I can't visit my sister, nephew, and niece?"
"Of course, you know I love having you around." Hinata nodded. "You just seem bored."
"Maybe because I am?" Hanabi perked an eyebrow, resting her chin on her palm. "I'm not like you, elder sister. I'm not content with home life, but I'm stuck."
"Not entirely," Hinata offered, gesturing outside. "You could volunteer around the village? Take some D-rank missions perhaps?"
"Oh, come on," Hanabi sighed, rolling her eyes.
"I know Ino always welcomes help in the floral shop or Kiba with the pups? Tenten might like assistance with setting up her new weapons shop?"
Hanabi paused at the last one. Working with flowers sounded boring and she had some scarring from countless months bathing dozens of pups, but working with weapons could be interesting. "You think she'd let me?"
"I do." Hinata nodded. "In the meantime, when was the last time you visited elder brother?"
To this, Hanabi gritted her teeth.
Her sister often prodded her to visit the Fourth War memorial site, but it was something she loathed doing. Every time she went there, people were mourning, talking to headstones, just being miserable. And of course, they would be, it's a graveyard after all. But the entire ordeal always sucked the life out of her. As much as she wanted to be the type of person that could feel a connection with those gone by visiting their grave, to offer some sort of closure, it just didn't work for her. She always felt silly and it never brought her any comfort.
"Why don't you join me tomorrow?" Hinata pressed and Hanabi shuddered slightly. Going with her sister was the last thing she wanted to do. She always had a way with words that Hanabi never had. Gentle and kind, reminiscing on only the good without looking in the past at the bad. Anytime they visited Neji's grave together, Hanabi always sat awkwardly to the side while Hinata seemingly had a full-blown conversation with a ghost of the past. It was unsettling for Hanabi. And sad.
"No, but if it'll get you off my back, I'll go now, alright?" Hanabi conceded, raising her eyebrows at her sister expectantly. She knew she couldn't argue this with her when she brought it up. Bringing it up was only a warning that she had better go before she dragged her.
Hinata smiled kindly as she nodded. "I think that sounds like a good idea."
Hanabi scratched at her cheek as she approached the large memorial, the giant Leaf symbol hanging overhead. Tension began weighing her down as she got closer, eyes following a teary older woman as she exited, offering a watery smile her way. She struggled to upturn her lips into a sympathetic smile but feared it looked something like a grimace instead as the woman quickly looked away. With a sigh, she forced her feet forward.
Four different memorial sites seemed a bit gruesome for a village as small as theirs. But she supposed it wasn't quite as small as she liked to think.
She let her feet carry her to where she knew Neji's memorial site was but froze when she saw the unmistakably auburn head of hair in the distance as well as a blue scarf. Konohamaru sat on his knees in front of a headstone, his back to her, dressed in civilian attire—a simple long-sleeve and black pants.
Neji did always talk about destiny, didn't he?
Quietly, she took a few careful steps backward as she observed him. A man nearby shot her a look, obviously disapproving of her spying, and she couldn't help but give him the stink eye back before fixing her gaze back on Konohamaru. She struggled to read the tombstone but didn't really need to. It was where the Hokage's and their families were buried, so it had to be a family member. As her vision focused, she made out the name 'Hitoshi'. She recognized that name from her conversations with Moriko. Konohamaru's father.
Suddenly, she felt deeply uncomfortable. The stranger giving her the side eye was right, she was being completely inappropriate.
"Young lady—"
"Shh!"
Too late. Konohamaru looked over his shoulder to catch the disturbance, eyes falling on her, and once again, she froze in place like shadow paralysis jutsu had taken hold.
"Hanabi?"
Way to go.
"Yeah," she forced out, holding up a hand in a wave. Slowly, she began walking forward, despite her better instincts telling her to turn around and leave now.
"Spying on me?" he asked, and despite the somber environment, still had that good humor in his voice. She shook her head.
"No, sorry," she replied as she neared him, "just going to visit…"
"Your brother?" he questioned, and it threw her off guard. He shook his head as she tilted hers at him, clarifying, "sorry, your sister talks about him sometimes. Didn't mean to pry."
"Oh." She nodded. It made sense. "It's alright. Yes, you're correct."
It felt wrong how forced this interaction seemed. He pulled himself up to his feet before brushing off his knees. "Want company?"
"Uhm…" She paused, eyes drifting over his shoulder to where the Fourth War's headstones lay.
He held up his hands before placating, "no worries. I don't want to intrude."
She glanced back down at the headstone he had been kneeling in front of and dared to question, "is this your father's?"
A little smile finally graced his lips and he nodded, looking down as well, "yup, my old man. Had some downtime, so I try to come visit. Along with my grandpa, grandma, uncle Asuma."
She flinched at the list of people. She had to remind herself sometimes that he had lost a lot, too, and was still always smiling. She wondered how he did it.
"Tell 'em about what's going on in the village. A lot of people come to talk to my grandpa and uncle Asuma, but I'm pretty sure mom and I are the only ones who visit dad." She raised her eyebrows at the way he spoke so candidly. It somewhat reminded her of Hinata, but not as depressing.
"Why's that?" she decided to question since he seemed so open about it. He looked down at her curiously.
"You're interested?" he asked, earnestly. She bit her lower lip as she nodded and watched as he got back down on his knees, patting at the ground next to him. Without missing a beat, she kneeled next to him and joined his eyes to look at the tombstone. "Well, as Hokage, grandpa has lots of people who come to pay respects and talk to him sometimes. Uncle Asuma had a lot of students and fellow senseis who cared about him, plus Aunt Kurenai and now Mirai, they all visit pretty regularly. But my dad's not a Sarutobi." She tilted her head in interest as he spoke. She wondered why she never asked him about this before. "He didn't come from any known clan, and he didn't really like to be in the limelight, mom did that. He kind of stuck behind her, like a right-hand man, I guess," he chuckled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "He admired grandpa a lot. Always said it was his responsibility to support the village, not be the face of it. A lot of people don't even know who he is."
"Really?" she asked, a little shocked, though why would she be? She didn't know who he was, either. But she figured those who were old enough to remember the third's reign would at least be familiar.
"Yeah, but he liked it that way. Quiet man, stoic. Kind of like your dad in the stoic regard, I guess."
"What? And you're the product of that?" she asked in disbelief, eliciting another chuckle from him.
"Yeah, go figure, right?" He glanced at her, still smiling. "I figure grandpa and Uncle Asuma have plenty of people visiting them. So I try to spend most of my time with dad."
With that, they sat in silence as Hanabi thought over his words. It was the most she had heard about the man through Konohamaru's perspective. Of course, she had heard all about how heroic and strong and brave he was from Moriko, but hardly heard about him from Konohamaru, except when Moriko would confirm something with him in passing. Still, she wasn't given the details of how he met his end, and the thought passing through her mind seemed to make its way to Konohamaru, as he asked, "you're probably wondering how he died, right?"
"That's not my business," she replied, quickly and apologetically.
Another chuckle. "It's not as exciting as you're probably imagining. An old wound got infected, and it spread before anyone realized it. He died in his sleep when I was 6."
"I'm so sorry…" she whispered, not expecting that. Truly, what a strange thing to stumble on. He waved her away.
"No use feeling sorry," he said, nonchalantly. She raised her eyebrows at his cool attitude towards it. "How do you feel when people say sorry for your mom?"
She paused before answering, honestly, "irritated."
"Well, I'm not irritated." He laughed. "Anyway. I'll let you go." He got back to his feet before holding a hand out for her to take, and this time, she did, and when she got to her feet, she didn't let go. He looked at her with expectant eyebrows.
"I—" She paused, darting her eyes from side to side before looking up at him. "I do want company."
"Oh," he replied, surprised, "yeah, I'd be happy to." He dipped his head down to look at her when she looked over his shoulder, seemingly unwilling to move. He tugged at her hand and then frowned in realization. "You don't want to go?"
She shook her head. "I don't like to…I don't know how to…do what you do."
"Maybe I can help?" he offered, squeezing her hand gently. Without meeting his eyes, she squeezed back and he seemed to take that as her hint to go forward. Wordlessly, he pulled on her hand to follow behind him and she let him lead her.
At this point, she shouldn't be shocked at how comfortable she could be with him, despite it all.
When they stopped in front of Neji's grave, she was a little surprised that he had found it so effortlessly but decided not to question it. Still holding her hand, he guided her to kneel in front of the headstone next to him, and dread crept over her. There was a sunflower sitting in front of the stone, undoubtedly left by Hinata sometime earlier in the week. He seemed to notice her refusal to look at the headstone and, unlike Hinata, didn't press her to say anything. Instead, they sat in silence for a number of minutes, hand in hand.
How do people just talk to thin air as if it was a person?
She blinked at the grass when she heard him clear his throat, then release his hand from hers. "Uh, hey Neji."
What is he doing?
"I dunno if you remember me, but me, Moegi, and Udon interviewed you one time about Naruto…you told us what I thought was a random story about Hinata being kidnapped and you and Kiba rescuing her. You got mad when I asked what that had to do with Naruto." Hanabi's eyes widened as she listened to him. "But I understand, now."
He knew older brother?
"Anyway…I'm sure Hinata's already told you all about Naruto and everything that's happened, so I won't bore you." Finally, Hanabi raised her head, still avoiding the headstone, to look at Konohamaru. He was so at ease with this type of thing. "But your other little sister's doing great, too."
"Konohamaru…" Hanabi whispered before biting her lips together.
"Yeah, you are, aren't you?" He glanced at her before looking back at the headstone with a grin. "She's a jōnin, just like you." Finally, she inched her eyes towards the headstone, sucking in a long breath. "Protecting the village, being the best aunt ever, showing off that Hyūga prowess."
She stared at the headstone.
Neji Hyūga.
"Konohamaru," she said a little louder now, gritting her teeth. "I'm just…I'm not sure…this doesn't feel right."
"No?" he asked honestly, tilting his head at her. She shook her head without tearing her eyes from the headstone. He pondered for a minute before continuing, "if he were here right now, what would you say to him?"
"I'd ask him why he would try to kill my sister."
Why did you just say that?
At this, Konohamaru seemingly froze now, and she regretted the words spilling out. "Sorry. I didn't mean—"
"No," he interrupted before she could backtrack, "don't apologize. That's…well, that's kind of part of it."
"Part of what?" she questioned, eyebrows furrowing as she looked at him.
"The grieving processes."
"I'm not grieving," she retorted, "it's been almost ten years. I mourned his death long ago."
"Clearly not, if you're holding onto that."
"This was a mistake."
Before she could get up, Konohamaru grabbed her wrist, forcing her attention on him. "I don't claim to know anything about the Hyūga outside of you and your sister, Hanabi, but I do know something about loss." She pursed her lips, unable to respond. "It's okay to be mad, even if he's dead."
"That's pretty blunt," she muttered, squinting at him. "And how can it be okay? Elder sister isn't mad at him."
"Because she's made peace with it," he reasoned, his stern look softening. "It's not an overnight process and it's different for everyone."
"When did you become a therapist?" she asked coldly, pulling her wrist from his. He smiled faintly as he shrugged.
"I just have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, I guess."
Damn him.
"You're not your sister," he continued, gesturing at the headstone. Those words made her eyes widen a bit. It was a sentiment she had heard often enough, but it was always in reference to their differing skill level. His sentiment seemed to be more on their personality, and she couldn't argue with it. "Just…try talking. Whatever comes to mind, say it out loud." He glanced around behind him before looking back at her. "There's no one else here."
She watched him slowly scoot away from her as if making space between her and the headstone. Hesitantly, she returned her eyes to the headstone and straightened out her spine, clutching the fabric of her robes on her knees. She racked her brain. She knew what she wanted to say. And Konohamaru insisted. So she just let it out.
"Elder sister may have forgiven you…but I never did…because you never apologized to me." She paused to take a deep inhale, no longer feeling Konohamaru's eyes on her. He respectfully turned them to the headstone. "I know that seems selfish, to expect an apology. But I had to watch my sister get beaten nearly to death. The only reason you stopped…" She sucked in a shuddered breath, willing her heart rate to slow. "I know everything. I know I said I wanted to ask why, but I know why. I just wish I knew why you had to take it out on her."
Her knuckles turned white as she nearly tore the fabric. "But you sacrificed yourself for her…so for that, I will thank you. And she loves you, despite it all. So…I'll try to forgive you. For her."
Again, silence fell. The only sound was her slightly shuddered breathing and little wisps of wind against the leaves of the great tree that stood in the center of the memorial. She stared long and hard at the headstone, wishing it would talk back. Wishing she could feel at peace with just this, this little interaction.
Suddenly, she felt a chill go up her spine and a little gasp left her at it. She shook her head, feeling the color leave her face as her skin tingled at the sensation. She snapped her eyes towards Konohamaru who was now looking at her curiously but still didn't say anything. With a sigh, she climbed to her feet and turned away. She heard him get up as well. She tensed when she felt him behind her, his arms slowly enveloping her shoulders and his chin resting on her right shoulder.
"Is that why you felt so guilty?" he asked quietly. A vague question, but she knew exactly what he meant.
She closed her eyes, wordlessly dipping her head a bit as she wrapped her arms around her middle.
She wasn't quite sure how long they stood like that, but it was long enough for her to relax against him and let herself be held, let herself take comfort in the embrace. It wasn't like the other times. They weren't dancing, they weren't kissing, and there was nothing inherently romantic about it. It wasn't him holding her while she broke down in sobs, it wasn't him carrying her while she was injured. It was silent comfort in its purest form, and it was something she didn't know she needed.
She knew he would be gone again soon; she knew she couldn't depend on him for moments like these.
But she chose to indulge, for now.
A few weeks later, Hanabi was carefully arranging a small set of swords for display against the glass window in Tenten's new shop before it opened for the day.
"Oh, I like how you set these up!" Tenten praised from behind, gesturing at a set of three swords, crossed against each other. Hanabi looked over her shoulder and smiled down at her.
"I thought they complimented each other," she responded, slightly adjusting one to sit a little more stable. Tenten patted her shoulder.
"Thanks for all your help, Hanabi." The older woman beamed up at her as Hanabi turned to face her. "Even though I can't afford to pay you."
"I never expected payment," Hanabi offered with a shrug, "getting to see all these cool weapons you've collected is payment enough."
"Glad someone else appreciates the beauty!" Tenten laughed, strolling to the backroom with Hanabi on her heel. "How about this, though? Hinata said you collect kunai."
Hanabi glanced over to see Tenten fish out a cardboard box filled with smaller, long boxes. Tenten set it on the front counter and pulled the lids completely open to let her have a look. Hanabi shook her head. "That's very kind of you, but I couldn't. I'd be happy to purchase, though."
Tenten snickered, "well, I wouldn't say no to that! How about you get first dibs on what's in here, then?"
Hanabi bit her lips together as she nodded, working her way through the boxes. She thought of Konohamaru as she examined each one. "Do you have any pairs?"
"A few." Tenten nodded, pushing some of the boxes aside to reveal some at the bottom that were double the size. "There's these."
Hanabi gingerly pulled out a few, opening the lids to look them over. Finally, a pair stood out to her. They looked different from the kunai she had seen in the past, looking slender without the usual hilt at the end. One was a deep hue of red, and the other a navy blue. They were lined with a silver edge on each, and their circular hooks at the end were quite small.
"Oh, those are from a little village just south of the land of Iron," Tenten explained, carefully pulling one from the box. "Lee stumbled on this little old man who had the tiniest stand you've ever seen, displaying maybe ten weapons? He bought them for me, but I'm not a huge fan of the design for combat. They're great looking! Just not my style."
Hanabi tilted her head as she explained. "Is there anything significant about them?"
"Let's see…" Tenten pondered, looking up in thought. "If I remember correctly, and that's a little hard with the spiels Lee can go on, the old man had been crafting his entire life, and dealt primarily in 'fated pair' sets as Lee put it, but who knows if that's what he actually told him. He has a knack for theatrics." She jittered with laughter as she set it back down. "Maybe if you see him around you could ask."
"I'll take them," Hanabi concluded, pulling out her coin purse. Tenten grinned as she packed up the kunai, wrapping it in parchment.
If she ran into Lee, she would see if he could elaborate. But for now, the description Tenten offered was enough to convince her.
Just as she waved goodbye to Tenten, she turned to find Tadashi approaching. Despite their closer relationship as she grew older, she always felt childish when she saw him coming toward her. It usually meant he was going to escort her back home for one reason or another. With a sigh, she waved to him. "What's up? Am I late for dinner or something?"
"Your father is requesting you."
"Oh?" Hanabi inquired, raising her eyebrows. It had been a while since her father had business with her. With a nod, she dutifully followed next to him.
Upon entering her father's study, she was surprised to see him not at the low table he usually occupied, but at the little nook near a window with tea in hand. He gestured for her to sit across from him and she slowly took a seat. "You seem relaxed."
"Not quite," he replied a lightness in his voice despite it. She had said it before and she'd said it again: becoming a grandfather was likely the best thing to happen to him. It became easier and easier to interact with him. "I'm sending you to the land of Lightning."
If she had tea in her mouth, she might've spit it out. Her eyes went wide. "What?"
"With an entire escort, naturally," he continued, ignoring her shocked demeanor. "Some of our own, of course, as well as Anbu, for added security."
"Alright," she said, slowly processing, "but for what? Isn't that one of the last places I should be right now?"
He leaned back and finally met her eyes, looking a little surprised himself. The fact she was actually considering her own safety for once was indeed out of character for her, at one point in time. But the years matured her, and she knew better. He tilted his head. "The feudal lord there has invited several clans for his inauguration. I am sending you as the face of the clan. The Leaf-Hyūga treaty with the Cloud has been tightened."
Hanabi remained silent as she considered this. It has been nearly a year since she had gone on a long-term mission, and for this to be the first seemed strange. But she had to admit, it had been quite a long time since the Cloud had made any suspicious moves, especially since they inaugurated a new Raikage. She nodded. "So I'm assuming the threat against me has decreased?"
"There has been no news for several months now," he responded before lifting his tea to his lips. He set it back down with a small 'aah' sound before continuing, "Lord Hokage and I agree that it is relatively safe, for now. The road you'll travel is well-populated and guarded. The risk is low, especially considering your skill level."
She was blown away. Her father was complimenting her, even if it was in a roundabout way. Still, she didn't falter. "When do I leave?"
"One week. The inauguration is in four weeks. Three weeks will be plenty, even at a strolling pace." She nodded. "You may have someone accompany you if you choose."
Hanabi frowned at this. Finally, her father was letting her bring a friend along at the age of 21, but she had no one she could bring. She couldn't ask Eiji or Jun. Jun still wasn't in the best shape for a long journey, and Eiji had a hard time being away, especially with her duties as an officer. Moegi and Udon couldn't leave the village for that amount of time in anticipation of their genin teams. And Konohamaru…
She sighed before shaking her head. "That's alright. I'll make do with our clansmen."
"If you wish." He nodded as well, getting up from his seat. She followed suit, following behind him as he exited his study. "It's been a while since we've had dinner together, hasn't it?"
"What?" A dumb question, she quickly corrected herself, "I mean yes."
"Shall we sit?" he offered as they entered the dining area, and she felt something strange towards her father, something like affection she hadn't felt in a long time. With a smile, she nodded.
Hanabi boredly twirled a kunai around her finger as she walked alongside her clansmen, the first day of their journey coming to a close as they neared a village about halfway between the Leaf and the land of Hot Water. Casually, she activated her byakugan and glanced around, picking out each of the chakra networks that leaped through the trees around her, the Anbu that were escorting them.
She didn't really feel like they needed Anbu for something like this but had grown to accept the security. Better safe than sorry, she supposed. She had outgrown the need to constantly prove herself capable of being alone, choosing instead to just go with the flow for many things. Getting out of the village was excitement enough for her, these days.
Then she stopped when a blindingly bright chakra network came into view. Konohamaru's.
Konohamaru was escorting them? Who decided that?
Before the others could question her, she quickly began walking again, still eyeing his chakra network.
She wondered if perhaps Naruto had requested it, his dear student he trusted so much to protect her. She almost had to laugh at the idea. There were plenty of times he had protected her, sure, but there were plenty of times she had protected him, too.
Still, she felt a little irritated. There she had been, wishing she could take someone with her on her travels like her father had offered, only for the one person she really wanted to come already here. But not really. Anbu stuck to the shadows; they weren't supposed to interact with those they escorted. They should essentially be invisible to the party they protected, but not to a Hyūga. She wondered if Konohamaru would figure out that she knew he was there.
So that was how she busied herself during her travel, watching him. Every day, she'd sparingly use her byakugan to pick him out and follow his movements. Her clansmen looked at her wearily, but she ignored it. Did it seem inappropriate? Maybe. She could justify that she was just another pair of eyes to look out for danger. But she was just watching him.
Sometimes she'd see him next to another chakra network, probably chatting with another Anbu operative. When they stopped at hotels for the night, she'd find him dutifully outside, guarding. In the middle of the night, if she woke up, she'd scan for him again, finding that someone would take his place and he'd be laying down somewhere outside of the village in a tent. Guess Anbu didn't get sleeping arrangements. She found comfort in seeking out his chakra network every night.
About a week into travel, she couldn't find his chakra network. Worry panged at her, but she knew she couldn't act on it. She was just relieved when it reappeared safe and sound the next day.
"You look joyful today, Lady Hanabi," one of her clansmen commented as she stared distantly while walking.
She glanced up, deactivating her byakugan before shrugging. "Happy we're getting close, right?"
"Indeed." They nodded, and that was the end of that conversation.
She quietly reactivated her byakugan and smiled up towards the trees above when she noticed he was directly above her, though hidden by the cover of the leaves. But she could see him, and she wondered if he knew. She lifted her hand up in a tiny wave before making a peace sign.
Konohamaru smirked to himself at her gesture and returned with a far too-exaggerated salute down at her, knowing she'd be able to see it with her byakugan.
He knew she knew. Of course, she knew.
When Kakashi informed him he would be escorting Hyūga to the land of Lightning, his first question was about Hanabi. Upon learning she would be there, a silly sense of excitement filled him. Despite that fact he knew he couldn't interact with her, not in his Anbu attire. No, he knew what his job was. Stick to the shadows, protect. But still, he got to be around her, and that wasn't something he got to do often.
He'd take it.
He caught her looking at him often enough, making it quite clear she was watching him. He was careful to ensure they could never specifically pick him out without the byakugan, but of course, these were Hyūga. They'd see them no matter what. And Hanabi knew him, and he felt a trivial sense of happiness that she knew his chakra network. Others might find it strange, but it made him feel at least a little special.
He did wish he could hop down once in a while and talk to her, keep her company. She looked so incredibly bored the entire trip. At least he had his comrades to chat with during their downtime. The Hyūga she was with weren't very chatty, except about the travel and the events to take place. He noticed she didn't really engage in conversation with them much, if at all.
Once they were securely in the land of Lightning, his job was to ensure no one in the Cloud would target them. He had to admit, when he was briefed on the mission, he was surprised, much like Hanabi was. He had heard about the reason for Jun's attack, and whenever he had downtime in the village, his first thought was to check on her and make sure nothing had happened while he was gone. He knew Hinata was on to him after the fourth time he questioned her whereabouts, giving him a light tease that he seemed especially interested in her lately, but still guaranteed him she was perfectly capable of keeping herself safe.
Still, travel to the Cloud seemed risky, but both Kakashi and Hiashi seemed confident in it, so he had to trust their judgment. He was just relieved he could be on the mission this time, to ensure her safety. He didn't think she was weak. Far from it, in fact. But it brought him comfort to know he could help keep her safe, know she was safe and sound.
He stood with his back up against the wall of a nearby building, keeping a careful eye on her as the inaugural event proceeded. He trained his eye on the aquamarine pendant around her neck and allowed himself to smile. She did wear it. He ran his fingertips over his breast pocket, wiggling his finger into the side to feel the smooth surface of the ribbon she'd given him. He clasped his hands behind his back again.
It wasn't often he got to witness things like this and found himself grateful to not be in her position. It was, indeed, dull. But he found joy in watching her, so at least there was that. The way she discretely rolled her eyes when someone up front said something she deemed cringey. The way she fiddled with the satchel on her hip mindlessly. The way she curled a piece of hair around her finger and tightened it to the point that when it came loose, it retained some of the curls.
Then, once the speech was over and it was time to intermingle, he continued to watch her so flawlessly socialize. He wondered what insults she was coming up with in her head as that fake smile spread across her lips. To him, it was so obviously an act that it was hard to believe any of these people were actually buying it. Then he realized that they were all also probably playing their own roles, and suddenly, the event seemed so much more cold and lifeless.
The day at the cemetery had him thinking far more than he'd like. Hanabi had never been the warmest person so it shouldn't surprise him that she was so deeply uncomfortable with the idea of visiting loved ones' graves. He found himself at times in the past wondering if he was wasting his time, visiting his father as often as he did but eventually came to the conclusion that it felt good for him, so it wasn't a waste of time. He wished he could offer that same comfort to Hanabi.
Her resentment of her cousin also shouldn't have surprised him. While he wasn't present for the chūnin exams Naruto and Hinata participated in, he had heard plenty about it. The details weren't a total mystery to him, but it was the first he had heard that Hanabi resented him. It would be foolish to think that Hanabi felt the same way about Neji as Hinata did. Hinata was the kind of person who could never hold grudges, no matter the wrongs she endured.
Hanabi could certainly hold a grudge, as evidenced by her refusal to interact with people from the Academy she deemed unworthy of her time (in other words: kids who picked on her). Naruto recalled with fondness of a time when a child at the park pushed Himawari down, and Hanabi essentially put the fear of the gods in them. Konohamaru could visualize it perfectly despite not being there.
Hanabi resenting Neji made perfect sense, and now it made sense why she had avoided him after the chūnin exams. She felt she had done exactly what Neji had done. Konohamaru didn't see it as the same, but there was little point in reminding her of that. The fact was that she felt like a monster, and had for quite some time. Defeating him in the chūnin exams to such a degree only confirmed that for her, and now he was feeling guilty about brushing it off like it was nothing.
It was everything to her, and he wished he could shake her out of it.
He caught her eye when she looked up at him despite the jutsu he had active making him physically invisible. Her gaze lingered until she poked her tongue out and he smirked, that warmth in his chest blooming once more. He wondered if she could pick out individual physical features with the byakugan, like his lips. Maybe he'd ask later when they could interact normally, instead of these cute little secret gestures back and forth.
Hanabi mindlessly tossed one end of her obi back and forth over her stomach as she stared up at the ceiling of her hotel room. It was early in the night, but her clansmen insisted on stopping off to get some rest on one of their last days of travel. She didn't argue but did wish they could get back to the Leaf sooner rather than later. It had been over a month since she'd seen her nephew and niece, one of the longest stretches of time she'd gone without seeing them. She activated her byakugan to see if she could pick out Konohamaru and let a smile slip when she found him leaning against a wall on top of the roof above her. He wouldn't be able to see her, but he was probably there because he knew she was in the room below.
In a split decision, she threw her legs over the side of her bed and went to the window to inspect it. She carefully pulled the glass up, pleased to find it opened far enough for her to wiggle through and had no screen. Silently, she ducked under it, seating herself with her back to the outside, then focused chakra in her extremities to attach to the wall. Byakugan still active, she held back a snicker at the fact he didn't seem to know she was escaping her room. She knew her clansmen would periodically check on her with the byakugan, but figured she had a few minutes to spare.
When she peaked over the edge of the roof, she deactivated her byakugan for just a moment to confirm he was in fact concealing himself. When she reactivated her byakugan, she let a giggle slip at his changed stance, now standing upright as if ready for her.
As she climbed to her feet and stood to her full height, she crossed her arms behind her back and slowly began walking towards him. Still, he didn't speak, but he had to know she was there for him. Once she was close enough to hear him fidget, she deactivated the byakugan, and he similarly dropped his concealing jutsu, and she finally got to see him in his Anbu uniform.
She almost faltered at the lack of scarf but knew she shouldn't. It was basically a trademark style for him, so for him to wear it while attempting to remain faceless just wouldn't make sense. Still, it seemed wrong. Shamelessly, she raked her eyes over him to get a good look until her eyes fell on the Anbu tattoo on his upper left arm. Cautiously, she reached out to graze her fingers against it and nearly let a laugh escape when he shivered, retracting her hand.
It wasn't often she got to see his arms, but she unashamedly soaked it in when she could. She turned her eyes up to his Anbu mask, painted with whiskers and apostrophe-like eyebrows, an oval at the top, still concealing his face. With feigned confidence, she reached to pull it up and to the side to rest on the right side of his face and had to smile at the dumb look on his face, seemingly frozen.
"There you are," she said, quietly, pulling her hand back to join her other hand behind her back. Her eyes dipped to his Adam's apple as it bounced when he seemingly swallowed a lump and without realizing it, she had withdrawn her lower lip between her teeth at the action. Ridiculously, she found herself wanting to tiptoe up and leave a kiss on it.
Gods, she resented that she really was a fool in love, even after all this time.
Instead, she stepped close enough that their toes were nearly touching before leaning up to press her lips against his. This time, there was no pushing, no gasping, no rough grasps of each other's wrists or shirts or waists. Besides their lips connecting, just their chests made contact, and she wondered if he could feel her heart thumping against his. When he barely returned the kiss, she pressed a little more assertively and tilted her head, hoping he'd take the hint. Feeling his lips part slightly to deepen the kiss, she held back a sigh of contentment.
Knowing her clansmen would be searching for her soon, she begrudgingly pulled away, savoring the way his face always seemed to freeze in that puckered position. As if he didn't want it to end, like her. When his eyes finally did pop open, he found her with that coy smile she only offered to him, and she resisted the urge to point out that he was staring at her lips. Before he could breathe a word, she tip-toed up once more to place a tiny kiss on the point of his nose, then backed away.
"Thanks for protecting me, Hawthorne."
She saw the laugh he held back as she brought her index and middle fingers to her forehead in a salute before she disappeared, and she hoped she could hold onto that memory for at least a little while.
For the rest of the trip, she ignored the curious glances her clansmen threw her at the little skip in her step. Thankfully, she successfully got back into bed before anyone could notice she had slipped out, and she took pride in her sneakiness. She continued to steal glances with her byakugan at Konohamaru until they were about a day away from the Leaf when he definitively disappeared from their entourage. She figured he must've been called off to a different mission, satisfied with their proximity to home.
She was wrong, however, she discovered upon finding him in the dining room of Hinata and Naruto's home, the first place she visited after reporting to her father.
"What a coincidence that you're both here, today," Hinata commented as she ushered her into a seat next to Konohamaru, and Hanabi had to wonder if she knew, too.
"Hey, Hanabi." He offered her a grin, and she couldn't help but return it, finding her ability to control a blush improving.
"Hello, Konohamaru," she returned, and before she could continue, she had a tiny bundle of excitement land in her lap.
"Big sister!" Himawari's tiny voice squeaked as she threw her arms around Hanabi's neck, and she giggled, pulling the girl into her chest.
"I missed you, Hima," Hanabi chirped as the girl pulled back to beam at her. She reached a hand up to poke at her nose, causing her to scrunch up the tip and shake her head.
"You were gone a long time!" She pouted with a tiny glare that reminded Hanabi of her own. "You promise to show me how to throw a kunai!"
"I thought Konohamaru might teach you that?" Hanabi asked, glancing over the girl's head towards him.
He shrugged. "She doesn't want me to."
"I want you to!" Himawari huffed, pulling her arms back to cross them. How sweet it was of her little niece to entrust her with the task, thinking back to her own mother and that tiny thread of connection she still held with her through kunai. It would be nice to pass it down this way.
Hanabi poked her tongue out towards Konohamaru once more in mock victory. "At least someone likes me better, huh?"
"Pfft!" Konohamaru waved his hand, turning his head away. "Mirai likes you better now, too! She's always asking about you."
"She is?" Hanabi couldn't contain her smile as she thought back to that drooling little girl who couldn't pronounce 'Hokage'.
"Hey! Look at me!" Himawari attempted to snap her fingers in Hanabi's face, though it was clumsy and made no noise.
"Sorry!" Hanabi conceded, returning to the girl. "How about tomorrow? Come see grandpa and your cousins?"
"Right now?" she responded, hopefully, but fell into a frown when Hanabi shook her head. Directly after, she was whisked up by the bandaged arm of Naruto, throwing her over his shoulder. "Daddy!"
"Give 'em some space, Hima! They just got here." He chuckled, winking toward Hanabi before carrying the girl away.
"You promise tomorrow!" Himawari called over her father's shoulder, to which Hanabi held up two thumbs up in confirmation before her eyes fell back on Konohamaru. The way he looked at her sometimes made her feel flustered, like right now. That toothy grin was gone, just a little close-lipped smile, features soft, eyes warm on hers. It almost made her want to tell him to stop, even though she never wanted him to stop.
"Father is letting Hanabi mission again." Hinata tore their eyes from one another from behind the counter, a dangerously close to mischievous smile on her mouth.
Konohamaru chuckled quietly, tilting his head. "That right?"
Hanabi returned the smirk. "Yep, just got back from a long trip to the Cloud." She didn't miss the playful look on his features, so she leaned into their little secret. "It was nice staying in hotels again—the beds always seem softer in them." He squinted at her and she bit her lip to suppress a laugh. "Anbu don't get to sleep in hotels, do they? Must be tough on the hard ground every night…"
"Hmm…" he hummed at her as if discontent and she ran her tongue over her teeth, fully enjoying his skeptical look.
Hinata moved the subject forward. "How was the Cloud?"
"Boring." Hanabi shrugged, turning in her seat to face her sister, but not without stealing a knowing glance towards Konohamaru. "But the new feudal lord was pretty young, so that was interesting."
"Oh, I heard about that," Hinata responded with a head tilt. "He's Konohamaru's age, isn't he?"
"A few years older, I think." Hanabi gave Konohamaru a skewed smile. "He was kind of cute."
"Don't let father hear you say that." She giggled, shaking her head.
The amount of joy she was getting from the shocked look on his face probably indicated she was being cruel, so she reeled it in. "Not really my type, anyway."
"And what is your type?" Konohamaru leaned his elbows on the table as he fixed his eyes on her.
Hinata hummed. "If I remember correctly, there was always a certain boy she liked to watch when she was younger."
Hanabi threw her gaze at her sister, lowering her eyes as she felt Konohamaru's burn into her cheek. "Elder sister."
"You remember?" Hinata asked innocently without looking up. "He was very loud, a bit of a troublemaker."
"Troublemaker, huh?" Konohamaru added, and she finally turned to him to find that he was now giving her a cocky smirk.
He wasn't going to let her win this one.
"He reminded me a bit of Naruto." Hinata's dreamy sigh was unwelcome.
"Anyway," Hanabi cut in before getting to her feet. She tightened the obi around her waist while glaring at her sister. "I better get going."
"Me too." He joined her in the stand, evidently dropping it. "I told my mom I'd pick up dinner." His eyes flitted over Hanabi. "You…wanna join me?"
"I can't." Her voice almost sounded regretful, though she didn't mean for it to come out that way. "I told Eiji I'd bring dinner to her and Jun."
"Why don't you two walk together?" Hinata asked, bouncing her eyes between the two.
"Why don't you mind your own business?" Hanabi asked back, flatly, drawing a giggle from the older sister.
"So snarky." Konohamaru gave her a playful shove and she rolled her eyes. "Come on, come with me! Jun likes ramen, right?"
"Not really." Hanabi rubbed her shoulder where he shoved, perking an eyebrow. "But if you feel you need an escort, I'll walk you."
"Please do." He winked down at her and she had to turn her head to conceal the blush she thought she could control.
As she made for the front door, she grumbled, "I'll be by tomorrow to pick up Hima…"
"Thank you, my sweet sister," Hinata sang across the way before Hanabi definitively disappeared behind the door.
"I wonder who that little troublemaker you had a crush on is," he mused as he jogged to catch up with her healthy pace. She shot him a look that he ignored. "Maybe it was Notan? He was always pretty loud."
"Just shut up, alright?" she snapped, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm Hanabi Hyūga. I don't have crushes."
"Oh, right, the heiress," he teased as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "You just take what you want, don't you?"
"And the Honorable Grandson doesn't?" She raised an eyebrow as he turned his attention to her while they walked.
"Not always." He shrugged, a playful smile still present. "Only sometimes. Like…" he continued as his eyes trailed off towards the sky, "like maybe when I'm playing a certain game."
Her cheeks instantly reddened at the comment.
Tag.
"Think you're so clever." She shook her head as they neared Ichiraku's. "Well, there's your ramen." She gestured towards the growing restaurant as she stopped. "Better get it home to mama, right, Kono?"
"You're feisty today." She couldn't help but notice the way he bit his own lip now. She swallowed at the taunt, willing her eyes not to go wide. He leaned in towards her with a somewhat serious expression. "Hopefully you stay that way next week."
"Next week?" she questioned, but he had already straightened up and turned. "Hey!"
"Can't stay." He waved his hand behind him without looking back. "Gotta get home to my mama."
"Oh please!" she snapped, causing a few glances her way, which instantly quieted her. With an eye-roll, she turned on her heel and took off.
Next week?
"Another mission?" Hanabi asked curiously when she was resummoned to her father's study the next day, Himawari rocking on her heels next to her.
"You could call it that." Hiashi stood to approach the little purple-haired girl, swiftly plucking her up to rest on his hip as she squealed. "Hima! You haven't visited me in ages!"
"Big sis is gonna help me threw kunai!" the girl responded brightly with incorrect syntax, pointing at Hanabi.
"No better person to teach you," he told her, fondly, and Hanabi had to stop herself from shrinking in. Praise from her father had been so rare in the past, it was tough getting used to it in her adult years. "Why don't you go with Kō outside while you wait for her?"
"Kō!" Himawari squealed with delight as she was deposited back on the ground, sprinting towards the waiting Hyūga in the doorway with his hand outstretched. "I want to use real kunai!"
"We'll see about that, little one," Kō chided gently as he directed her out of the study, closing the door behind him. Hanabi turned back to her father, eyebrow piqued. Hiashi sighed with a smile at the door before facing her.
"We will be attending an event in the Hokage tower next week," he started, gesturing for her to join her at the table in the corner of the room. Seemed he was becoming accustomed to it in his older years. Hanabi tilted her head curiously. "In celebration of Sarutobi Moriko's 55th birthday."
"Oh?" Hanabi asked, trying to push down the surprise in her voice.
Next week, huh?
"Problem?" he asked, tired eyes scanning her face. She shook her head.
"Of course not." She waved her hands before placing them on her lap. She attempted a joke, "one of the easier missions I've had."
"You believe so?" The older Hyūga raised his eyebrows now, crossing his legs as he leaned over the table. "That it will be easy for you to resist the Honorable Grandson?"
"F-Father?!" She leaned back as if blown away, eyes growing wide at his forwardness. The smile on his lips didn't seem like it suited him. Was this elder sisters doing? Damn her!
"Pardon me," he continued, relaxing his posture, "to engage appropriately with the Honorable Grandson."
"Of course, I can! What is that even supposed to mean?" She immediately launched into defensive mode and felt herself becoming flustered by his mocking smile. That definitely did not suit him.
With a shrug, he picked up his pen and looked down at the paperwork. "You would do well to remember your clansmen can see…everything, dear daughter. You're excused."
Evidently, she wasn't as sneaky as she had initially thought.
Without responding, she got up to leave, but not before he recalled her briefly, "next Saturday, at 6 p.m. We will attend together."
"Okay," was all she could muster before shutting the door behind her, her face feeling like the color had been drained of it.
Because of her father's words the previous week, Hanabi was determined not to interact with Konohamaru whatsoever at this thing.
Was it too hard of a turn in the opposite direction? Probably.
But she couldn't keep herself from stealing glances. That couldn't hurt, could it?
"See something interesting, little sister?"
It could.
"Lay off," Hanabi muttered under her breath, turning from her sister and choosing to busy herself with the kids. "What do you have there, Boruto?"
The little blond boy looked up with excitement in his eyes as he thrust his fist out. "Burger!"
Hanabi wrinkled her nose at the sight. "Where did you get that?"
"Big bro Konomaru gave it to me!" He beamed up at her before lifting it higher. "Wanna try?"
"Konohamaru," Hinata corrected gently.
Hanabi sighed. Seemed she couldn't escape him even if she tried. "No, thanks. How did he even get that? There are no burgers here…"
"He snuck it!" Himawari tattled, looking pouty. Hanabi couldn't keep back an amused smirk. "Where's my burger?!"
Hanabi clenched her fists when she realized he must be right behind her as Himawari's eyes traveled over her shoulder.
"Maybe big sis and I can take you for one later?" he offered lightheartedly behind her, but she refused to look back.
"No, I can't," she responded instinctively. She heard him shift behind her and she resisted the urge to silently use her byakugan to see what he was up to.
"Too busy for us, huh?" he whispered behind her roguishly and she shoved down the impulse to shiver. Now she wished she could simply walk away from this interaction.
To her relief, he was called away by someone she didn't recognize, and he excused himself, but not without an outwardly innocent pat on her back as he brushed passed her, using it as an excuse to let his hand linger a hair longer than normal. Hinata raised her eyebrows as she folded her arms, eyeing Hanabi. "You seem tense."
"Tense? Me? Tense?" Hanabi questioned with feigned ignorance. "Never."
"Oh, Kono! Stop!"
They turned their attention to the front of the hall they were located in, finding Konohamaru lifting his mother into what looked like a throne as she doubled over in laughter. Everyone stopped to look.
"Now everyone's looking!" She gasped, trying to wave him away.
"That's how it should be!" He returned to the crowd. "To Moriko! First-class kunoichi, former Anbu captain, and incredible mother, wife, and daughter!" A few cheers rang through the hall, including Naruto. "She looks too young to be turning thirty, doesn't she?"
"Far too young!" someone added deviously, causing little snickers of laughter from most.
"Oh my goodness!" Moriko covered her face, though it was plastered with a bubbly smile and chitters of laughter escaping.
"To Moriko!" Naruto raised his glass and Hanabi glanced around quickly, trying to find something to lift as well. Hinata held out her glass and Hanabi clutched it as they both raised their hands with the lone drink as the crowd repeated the phrase.
"Oh my, thank you." She giggled as the crowd died down to resume regular interactions, a few congregating around her to engage. Hanabi smirked as Konohamaru stepped away from his mother after handing her another drink, allowing what seemed to be some old friends to capture her attention, including Hiashi himself.
"He has a way with words, doesn't he?" Hinata asked next to her.
Instinctively, Hanabi nodded. "Yes, he does."
She ignored the knowing smile her sister offered.
Despite her intent on avoiding Konohamaru, she couldn't keep down a little sense of disappointment when he didn't return. Instead, she found him settling in with Moegi and Udon, and had to shake off that feeling.
In the back of her mind, she knew this would be the most she'd see of him in the foreseeable future. He'd be back to Anbu duties soon enough and disappear. Her heart told her to go to them, but her mind told her to stay put. So she did.
