I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, I'm just a fan I enjoyed the anime but I love the fanfics even more, they made me fall for the whole franchise.
Chapter 44
My name is Hinata Hyūga before I didn't see that name mean anything to me and the world at large. I shook my head looking up at my cousin I couldn't see his form I hadn't activated my eyes and I planned on keeping it that way. I would beat him using everything I've learned alongside my best friend.
'Naruto-Kun.' I love him, I've loved him since the first day I saw him do something I found impossible before, to Ask for help. It was his character that drove me to him, I had never seen anyone do what he did before and shamefully I was part of that group.
"You have grown brave Hinata-Sama, but that is just a mouse's last-ditch effort to get out of the corner it's found itself in." I listened to my cousin as he mocked me, his anger for me was real I felt it inside him brewing and expanding every day, he hated us all.
I didn't reply I wasn't hurt by his words not even a little because it was not important enough in my life to be something that can challenge Naruto's faith in me, his praises to me, and better yet his love for me. Although I didn't hate my cousin what he said to Naruto earlier made me angry.
I took a deep breath to calm my heart and when I released it my blade flew upwards so fast Neji could only block it by placing his open palm in the way. I felt his smugness make its appearance since his greater strength stopped the weapon an inch from his chin where I was aiming.
"How can you talk about serious yet you use the back of your blade to strike me?" Neji mocked me again but his words did not even wash over me they were all gone with the wind they came with and I twisted my katana switching my grip and placing its sharp edge against Neji's palm.
His eyes widened when I swiped right, and he was quick to raise his hand, so instead of a deep gash, he only got a shallow cut. I flicked my right hand down my blade gifted to me by my precious person dropping the first drawn blood of the match on the ground.
"Niisan, I will not hold back." I told my cousin who before used to behave a little like Naruto when we were younger, he was so nice to me, so sweet, and if I'm not mistaken a little shy. Now I stared in darkness at his position, I don't know how I do it, but I have a way of just knowing when someone will strike at me and how, so I was dodging to the left when Neji's Palm strike came at my face.
I ducked when another came at my chest and I rolled away when a knee was aimed at my forehead protector. Neji was angry but I didn't care for his emotions I looked to Naruto's and all I felt there was patience for me to win, he was already sure of it, so how could I in all my heart disappoint such conviction?
Neji's next low kick aimed at my kneeling form was the last I planned on dodging. I raised my blade flipping it with my wrist and caught it quickly now holding it in a reverse grip. I used the guard to knock Neji's blow to the side then I rose my katana still in a reverse grip up at Neji.
I felt his panic and his conviction he was about to use it, instead of jumping back I moved in pushing myself to move faster just before he started his spin. My blade was quick to disappear from my hand before I grabbed Neji by the hem of his shirt and threw him over my shoulders sending him up.
Sasuke copied this move after he received something similar.
"Eight Trigram: Vacuum Palm." My Palm flew forward aimed at Neji's airborne form sending out an invisible ball of Chakra, I felt his chakra surge within him before I felt a strong gust of wind blow my hair back. He must have canceled my technique with his own vacuum Palm.
"Why are you smirking Uzumaki?" Neji grounded out at Naruto, If Naruto-Kun was smirking then I knew why he did it. I grinned at the feeling that washed over me, he was happy with himself for what I just did like it was his win, Naruto-Kun was proud of me and I felt it all hug me from behind.
He didn't reply and only paid attention to me, 'how could I not love this man?' I wondered with my heart singing in my chest. The way he feels about me is so real I feel like crying in happiness when that love smacks me across the face. Everything I am today is thanks to him, my Naruto-Kun.
I thought having him as a friend made me happiest, I always assumed I would never find anything that would make me happier but I did, the fact he reciprocates my love for him makes me so happy I don't think I can ever be sad again in my life. The promise to return my vision was second place in my mind compared to the gift to follow.
'Hinata Uzumaki, Naruto-Kun's princess.' I had to fight back a giggle of the happiness that threatened to escape my lips at that thought. It is always in the back of my mind ready to take up first place whenever I'm free.
Neji attacked me again trying to strike me anywhere but I glided through his attacks like a ballet all the while lost in thought. Naruto-Kun is the best thing to happen to me and it's in him I find everything I need to triumph, want, need, acceptance, belief, faith, trust, happiness, and now love. I jumped up suddenly and brought my right leg up with my left leg bent at a 45-degree angle kicking Neji but he placed his arms in front of the blow tanking the attack to grab my leg.
My right arm swung around and my blade came out of the seal finding itself in my hand dropping down to strike Neji. He twisted a little to the side letting go of my leg and attacked my side with a two-finger Juuken strike. I gritted my teeth and Spun, my blade once more going into the seal.
"Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!" I exclaimed
The moment before Neji's attack struck, I emitted chakra from all of my body's tenketsu to block the strike in mid-air. I spun rapidly, creating a protective shield around myself, and for as long as I continue to spin the longer it will stay active. The greater the force of an attack, the greater the force with which it's repelled.
I felt Neji's chakra spike so much like mine did before I felt another force, grind against my Chakra dome moving in the opposite direction. I continued pinning, our two techniques fighting for dominance. My cousin truly was a genius, he learned the palm rotation on his own and all by observation but thanks to Naruto I did too.
Spying on my father's training like Neji once did his father, we took notes, made concepts, and spent many hours practicing with Naruto right there with me spinning along just to poke fun at the technique by doing silly jumps and twists.
I stopped my spin at the same time Neji did his, and both our palms flew forward meeting in the middle, Neji was frustrated and I could feel it, but I was calm and collected all because the man of my life was standing there expecting me to come back to him smiling and proclaiming I won.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!" I called out with my right palm against Neji's left palm building up chakra to blast the offending hand away, but my eyes widened when Neji's smug climbed and became conceit.
"Eight Trigrams: Mountain Crusher!" Neji performed a more powerful variation of the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm. A powerful wave of chakra emitted from his palm, which broke through my attack and sent me flying back. I felt Naruto's panic at the blow but I also felt his faith assure him I would be okay. I knocked into a tree hard and slide down wincing in pain.
"I'm okay." I said softly it might have sounded like I was talking to myself but I was assuring Naruto I could still fight while I stood back up.
"Just give up Hinata-Sama I will admit you have improved but fate has already made your bed it is time you laid on it." Neji dashed at me his chakra building in his body ready to perform another technique I was ready for him. Unlike my people, I was not stuck to traditions, and spending time with someone like Naruto who was always looking for new ways to do things rubbed off on a person sooner or later.
"Eight Trigrams: thirty-two palms." Neji declared his emotions telling me he felt his win assured, I was gonna break that mentality of fate from his mindset. My blade came out of my seal and I ran chakra into the weapon just as Neji's first chakra needle flew at me ready to block a tenkentsu.
I twisted my wrist and my katana spun upwards coming up to block the strike, I felt Neji's awe when my blade cut not just the chakra needle he made but his fingernails as well. He continued with his other hand and the same result occurred.
"2 palms!" Neji performed his First, two consecutive strikes to make two. "4 palms!" He performed another two consecutive strikes to make four. "8 palms!" four consecutive strikes to make eight. And I blocked them all by cutting the chakra needles he kept remaking to strike again. His fingers gained speed as they flew at me at blinding speeds I couldn't see, but I didn't need to.
"16 palms!" eight consecutive strikes to make sixteen. I felt his frustration when my katana swung so fast in such close range due to my wrist movements his blows never landed. "32 palms!" Neji proclaimed his attacks coming even faster and yet none entered my guard. sixteen consecutive strikes in succession to make a total of thirty-two blows and none landed.
"Why can't he just give up and see his losing." I felt Sasuke's assurance of my abilities soar, at first First he had his doubts and when Neji sent me flying his emotions told me he had tried to jump in to fight him but was stopped, that was Naruto-Kuns doing. Neji at the words that came out of Sasuke's mouth got even angrier.
"Shut up! What do you know about suffering uhh Uchiha?" Neji lost his cool and glared at someone I didn't know who. I felt his anger wasn't pointed at me anymore but at one of my teammates.
"You have it better than all of us here. A loving family, a brother, a mother, and a father. Even your stupid clan is not as disgusting as these main Hyūga members of my clan." Neji growled and I felt his pain begin to surface, he was always hurting but his anger was the emotion he chose to accept and the rest was thrown to the back of his mind.
"How would you like it if your father was sent out to die for some useless man, his own blood brother let him go to his death to clean up his mistakes." Neji's anger towards me soared and I finally realized that he blamed me for what happened to his father. Sadness overtook me when I felt guilt blossom in my heart.
Hizachi Hyūga my father's twin brother and Neji Hyūga's father. Born a few seconds after Hiashi Hyūga who was being raised to become clan heir and on his third birthday, it was time to brand every unbranded Hyuga, Neji's father was branded on the third birthday that he shared with the clan heir his twin brother.
Members of the branch house are branded with the cursed seal on the third birthday of the clan's next heir or heiress, regardless of their age at the time: Neji received his when he was only four years old when I turned three. Cursed seals are placed on the recipient's forehead, for which reason they tend to keep it covered, such as with their forehead protector like Neji was now showing us removing his in anger, I felt Naruto's curiosity at the seal in display.
"Do you see this?! This is my fate, just as it was my father's to get sent away to die for his brother while they brand his son with a curse seal to make him the next sacrifice!" Neji screamed in anger, I felt his teammate's sorrow and love for him try to comfort him but Neji did not have my talent with emotions so he never noticed them.
"That does not give you a reason to mistreat others." Sasuke replied wisely having spent more time with Itachi during their 2 week holiday just talking and spending relaxing time together. Sasuke picked up on a little of Itachi's views.
I smiled at his words and I felt Naruto's emotions backing them up. Naruto wasn't saying a word, the moment he gave me that kiss on the cheek he left everything in my hands and I felt it was time to end the fight and bring my best friend the good news.
"Your battle is with me, cousin." I proclaimed regaining Neji's attention who registered anger towards me but also some fear, he feared losing because that would break his belief in fate. I was born weak, and Neji believed that to be my fate but now I stood his equal giving him more than he thought plausible from me.
"Don't act big! You are nothing more than a loser just like the rest of your team.!" Neji grinned dangerously killing intent coming out to show us all where he stood on how the fight should end, and I resolved to give our duel a different ending.
"Ahhhh!" I dashed at Neji, my sword to my side held in both hands, I reached him in record time and swiped at his abdomen with the sharp edge of my katana, he parried it upwards by tapping it to the side using the back of his hand and I let it go the blade twisting and turning as it flew upwards.
I brought my left palm to strike his shoulders and he moved left dodging the blow while bringing his left palm up to strike my right shoulder, I brought my right forearm to knock away his hand by hitting his forearm making sure his palm doesn't make contact.
I brought my left arm up to strike again this time heading for his left shoulder, he dodged that blow as well and I had to lean my head to the left and then right before bending over backward to dodge three consecutive palm strikes. I came up and my blade fell in my right hand which I brought down at Neji immediately, I felt it stop mid-swing and I heard Naruto whistle impressed by what Neji did to stop the blade.
I felt it stuck between two things I would guess it was Neji's Palm. I applied chakra to my seal and my blade disappeared shocking Neji who didn't expect the strategy. My free hand came forward and struck true hitting Neji in the center of his chest.
"Palm bottom." I said and heard Neji take three steps back, I didn't apply chakra to the blow because I didn't want to kill my cousin. I wanted to change him like Naruto once changed me.
"Are you mocking me by not taking this fight seriously?" Neji growled out at me in anger which was making way for the defeat. He could tell he was being outlasted and outdone at every turn, so I used that opportunity to dash at him ready to finish the duel.
"Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!" Neji proclaimed and I dashed towards him even faster feeling his chakra surge and surround him. I brought my sword up right arm outstretched, horizontal to my body and I threw my momentum to the left spinning in my axis as I moved towards Neji's spinning dome.
"Attacking Eight Trigrams: three stream triangle formation!" As I moved towards Neji I released a stream of thin, sharp blades at him the first was accomplished by throwing my hands diagonally upwards, and the second came after another spin before I jumped parallel to the ground and swiped my blade diagonally down still spinning, I landed in a crouch and I spun around sending the final chakra stream Low, then I placed chakra to the soles of my feet and dashed at Neji.
I felt all his emotions at that moment when he felt defeat, it was not sweet it was the most bitter thing to wash over my being. It crushed Neji but in that crushing defeat, I felt unbridled anger. I jumped through the triangular opening in Neji's technique and stopped my blade against his neck and looked at Tenten.
"Remove the Scroll from his person and throw it to my team." I instructed Neji's teammate who looked at me in shock I would presume from the awe I felt come out of her. I pressed my blade against Neji when I felt his emotions become decisive like he was gonna try something.
"Please don't make me." I looked into Neji's eyes and tried to convey the seriousness in my words through eye contact and after a second I felt his anger simmer down before defeat surfaced. Tenten moved over to Neji and after some rustling sounds, I heard her throw something past my head that got caught behind me.
"We got it!" Naruto exclaimed and I was blasted by his positive emotions and his pride in me. I smiled and I felt Neji's anger soar, I jumped back and away from him landing next to Naruto who I felt approaching me. He again stood in my personal space looking me in the eyes I could guess before he kissed me between my eyebrows his happiness and love hugging my heart.
"I did it Naruto-Kun." I told him with a smile and his emotions told me he was happy to hear those words come out of my mouth.
"I'm proud of you." He said giving me another kiss this time on my nose making me wrinkle mine on reflex and giggle like a school girl with a crush.
"Thank you." I said happily making an effort to not read anybody else's emotions, and pay attention to the only person who mattered. I liked what I felt so I moved closer to his face our foreheads touching, our noses barely touching and I could tell this by the hot breaths that touched my lips.
I blinked and I felt our noses touch making me smile when I saw his innocent and curious soul bring light into my eyes for a second before darkness took over once more. I brought my hands up and pinched Naruto's cheeks giving him a lovely smile as he complained.
"Ouch ouch ouch, Hime what was that one for?" He asked in protest but I knew his emotions found the act endearing and he loved it.
"Because I love you." I whispered very close to his face and his emotions hugged me like a warm blanket making my smile double in size before I let go of his cheeks and looked back towards Neji who felt lost and confused.
"Naruto-Kun can you make a clone and have it deliver Lee about 49 meters away?" I asked and not a second later I felt Naruto's chakra split in two before one dashed with Lee's chakra away from us.
"What are you doing we had a deal?" Tenten demanded with growing anger and disappointment at us thinking we would back out of the deal.
"Don't worry Tenten-San, Lee will still be in Neji's range so you can go collect him once we have left." I explained to the weapon specialist and she sighed in understanding.
"Is it the right scroll?" I asked Naruto whose happiness told me it was, and his verbal answer confirmed it.
"Let's move to the tower then." Sasuke said in a tone that hid many emotions that seemed to brew in his heart. I knew why this seemed to be the case so I decided to talk to Sasuke once we reached the tower.
Sasuke's presence jumped up and stayed up waiting for us, I activated my dojutsu and scanned the forest pointing in a direction and Naruto grabbed onto me placing me on his back.
"Same strategy." He instructed and I nodded in acceptance feeling the turbulence as we traveled towards the tower I snuggled closer to him my nose touching his neck.
Authors Note
Phew that was hectic any who tell me what yallthink of the fight and be nice about it...
In the wave arc Hinata didn't really get to show her skills but we have that here now with her perspective of the events we learn pushes her forward or who and has just become woke... Next chapter...
Next chapter trouble...????
