Grey Label

by Charlywood

A favorite son of Konoha before a fall from grace found Kori Genya on the outside looking in. Squandering prodigous medical talent. A chance at redemption arrives. Enter Hinata Hyuga, badly injured during the Chunin Exams. Hinata has issues, but Kori sees light at the end of the tunnel. Man plans and God laughs. Patient!Plot, Grey!OC, Grey!Hinata. KonohaGirlsxOC

6. Label 6: The Win and The Ideal

Grey/Label

Chapter 6: The Win and The Ideal

•

"Kori Genya and Hinata…-"

"They've been expecting you, you're late." One of the guards addressed them behind blank eyes. White eyes looked at both of them as if they were 'less than', as the branch member addressed them with a dry, irritated tone.

Kori raised a single eyebrow in question at Hinata, finding the experience a novel one. 'What an asshole,' his facial expression seemed to say.

Hinata, who was used to the treatment and steadily coming to terms with that and getting over it sighed, closed her eyes, and shook her head. As if to say, 'Don't. Let's just get this over with.'

Kori chuckled at Hinata's response as he let the girl follow after the guard, with him following close behind her.

Kori was keen to take note of the layout of the large compound. The entire place was decorated in an ornately traditional fashion made from some of the oldest, finest chakra bearing wood from Konoha's forestry. Accentuated by tastefully designed stone and marble koi ponds and flower garden pathways of several variations paired with stylistic combinations of flower types.

'A truly idyllic piece of land. Gorgeous really. If only the attitudes of the residents more matched the serene imagery, Kori considered -keeping in mind that not all Hyuga were cold, rude, etcetera-. He acknowledged the clan held honor. Were respectful and respected.

He'd long thought the antiquated servitude system of the Hyuga kept them from breaking through that invisible glass ceiling called potential that all warriors sought out to raise the bar of ninja progression. That was almost half his reason for taking on the challenge of helping the wilted flower he called 'his'. Placing almost all of his eggs in that one basket.

Those thoughts cycling his mind, his pale hued eyes looking at Hinata's back.

Hinata's evolution so far was prevalent. She now walked with a straight back, budding confidence, head held up, eyes peering straight ahead, and a regal gait that was a mix of her proper and traditional training combined with that of a young, evolving kunoichi. She was practically floating.

A few yards out from entering the main house, Kori's thoughts were interrupted by something of an annoying, but also pleasant buzz.

Surprised to confused…and even belated to pleased muttering…

Both Hinata and Kori could hear the words of several Hyuga. They mingled around the gardens, ponds, and pathway. All eyes lingering on both the infamous medic and the not-so-wilted patient.

Hinata held an aloof expression, only after Kori, and later Haze got her hands onto her, finessing a large deck of kunoichi etiquette cards into the existing deck of her traditional heiress cards, did she become able to give off the aloof, serene and confidence she now pulled off effortlessly.

She no longer tried to keep the kindness from her eyes.

Hinata allowed herself a small self-satisfied smile as the outside voices washed over her and down her back. Not one single thought or opinion came to her mind. She refused to be bothered for any reason.

Kori forged ahead keeping his steps purposeful. Never having been one for the talking gallery, at least not since his personal change.

His facial expression held little emotion after taking in the surroundings of the Hyuga complex, impressed by the layout, design, and the beauty it exuded.

On the inside, he was laughing and patting himself on the back.

'Nothing left but to shoot for the stars!' He thought to himself, prideful over the display. He mentally celebrated the unexpected sounds of surprised gossip as the mutters of deep interest streamed out the mouths of the Hyuga mingling around.

'Music to my hardened ears. Yes, she's beautiful, she's confident, and self-assured. You'll soon take to knee before her instinctually. And she'll be your torch bearer, leading the way.' Kori mentally gloated.

But not yet! No. Not just yet, Hyuga clan. They wouldn't have her back until the medic said they could. Kori's scheming was only entering, what the iryo-nin had labeled in his secretive files as: "Stage 2".

Kori turned a smug, knowing gaze over to a gaggle of Hyuga whose reactions were hopeful and positive about Hinata's 180.

He gave the older bunch a pleasant nod plus a charismatic wink. Their eyes blinked back at him in response, obviously taken by surprise. But looking closer Kori could tell they were hiding their smiles so they wouldn't be called out for it later. And that much, he understood. It wasn't a secret the Hyuga practiced in corporal punishment.

"She's getting there." Three words were quietly said as he passed them by, acting as if he'd said nothing following Hinata and their guide inside the main house.

"Wait here, touch nothing. Do not bother anyone." Said the guide, words short and clipped as the Hyuga clansman stopped at the end of the hall where he silently slid open the deeply polished wood and wax paper door that revealed a very sparse sitting room.

Each wall on opposite ends from the entrance were decorated with old, prominently obviously worn out weapons of the past. A square table sat at the room's center with a pair of sitting pillows on each end of the table and nothing more.

Hinata entered without hesitating, or speaking a word already keen to this routine.

As Kori followed inside behind Hinata, about to be cut off from sight, sound, or interaction with the rest of the first floor he caught their Hyuga escort scoffing and muttering under his breath.

Kori didn't care about this Hyuga showing a dislike of him, but catching the secondary branch Hyuga cutting his eyes on Hinata's back; he knew that it wasn't going to be so simple.

Hinata told him to ignore her family, but Kori, being Kori, that just wasn't his style. That's not how he'd been raised, or trained.

He was short and to the point as he made sure the Hyuga could see the darkness beginning to fill his dull hued eyes. "Next time you got something to say, say it. Be a man, not a fucking coward."

He narrowed his eyes and stared the Hyuga down just as intensely as that same Hyuga.

Hinata could only shake her head, frowning before she admonished her wayward teacher.

"Sensei! I said, no!" Hinata said, disapproval think in her tone.

Kori immediately shifted his attention to her, more than a little taken back here commanding tone. It seemed the Hyuga was just as surprised as well, having momentarily dropped his show off disdain before realizing, scoffing under his breath again, and sliding the door closed right behind Kori's back and nearly catching his arm in the door.

It was Hinata's turn to be surprised as Kori didn't say anything. He balked, wordlessly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Pl-please sit, we may be waiting awhile. Hinata mumbled as she sat at one end of the table shifting uncomfortably.

Kori did just that and silently sat beside her.

"My, um… S-sorry, sensei. It was just… you- you'll embarrass me acting like that and besides…it isn't worth it. I'm…used to their petty insults." Hinata explained, lowering her head feeling ashamed.

Kori grumbled in response, but otherwise said nothing. He shifted in his position a bit, not all that used to sitting straight and proper as it were on floor pillows.

"While we're waiting and your mood is good I have to admit that I only told you half the truth on the way over." Kori smiled guiltily at Hinata.

Hinata felt a brief pit feel her stomach. Her immediate thoughts were nothing good, but she calmed her initial feeling.

"I knew that already. And what's the other half of this truth?" She asked, her thoughts much less likely to run away on her these days compared to before.

"That while we're here to candidly discuss and update your father about your health and progress. This is also a test of that progress. You'll match against your little sister. Nothing new there, yeah?" Kori laughed lightly.

"Hm," Hinata sighed softly, thoughtfully. "And you did not tell me, why?" She shook her head, eyes half closing in irritation. Her relaxed and serene disposition now holding an edge. "You've constantly told me how much I've changed, yes?" The heiress asked rhetorically, meeting Kori's gaze. "If you don't mind, what is it that you're up to, Sensei?"

"Wow, that tone again." Kori whistled. That sharp mind and blessed eyes of yours. With that tone, huh?"

He shook his head. "What a way to speak to your doctor and teacher." He continued as Hinata simply frowned at his faux display of betrayal.

"My apologies, mistress." Kori started, earning another glare from Hinata. "Heh-eh. This meeting, for us anyway, is merely a formality. Nothing more." Quietly whispering he leaned down to say more.

Hinata caught on, tucking neck length dark hair behind her ear. She turned her head as he whispered further.

"I want you to show your ass today, as much as you can. But I still want you to lose to your sister, understand?" Kori whispered quietly before sitting up again.

"Hmm." Hinata hummed quietly to herself in understanding and said nothing for a moment as she thought about Kori's words.

'He wants me to show off, purposely expose my increased skillset, but to lose.' Hinata thought silently. She glanced at Kori, who remained silent with his eyes closed in meditation.

'I'd be showing progress without truly showing progress. Knowing father he'll nitpick my fighting ability, ignore my new skills and still say that improvement is minimal none at all. From there, the outcome is quite predictable. Something akin to hiding in plain sight.'

Hinata concluded the reasoning Kori had in mind and agreed it was best. Although, if she disagreed she still would've went along.

She closed her eyes and decided to do some shadow fighting meditation to help her visualize her best approach for what was to come.

⟩Labels⟩

"So you say, Genya-san. While that all sounds very promising and the paperwork you've shown to back up your claims would be convincing to most…" Hiashi Hyuga said slowly. "Not to doubt your expertise, which I do not. I, myself am simply a more practical man." Said Hiashi, gearing up for a rebuttal that Kori already anticipated.

"Of course not, Hyuga-sama." Kori bowed his head in a show of not taking anything personally. Which was just another way of 'giving face' to Hiashi. "And I'm not trying to suggest that numbers alone can paint a complete picture of Hinata's improvement, or anyone else's for that matter. Numbers alone can only improve real, actionable life experiences. What I like to call the 'eye-test'. Consider the numbers a guide that shows us the things that our eyes can't see and to help point to specific areas of improvement, potential and other similar suggestions that can't be perceived traditionally."

Kori wanted to choke on his words as while his statement was true enough. Conceding the point to Hiashi so simply, who was skeptical at best and arrogant at worse -at least where Hinata was concerned- was admittedly off-putting for the medical prodigy.

Hinata was unable to fully stifle her giggle at Kori's exasperation -welcome to her world-. While Kori was great at hiding his true feelings, he'd been more honest around her recently. And besides herself, Hinata thought Hanabi probably noticed as well after giving Kori an odd look. But Hiashi and Neji either hadn't or just didn't care. Either way Hinata now knew Kori well enough now to pick up on his tells.

Kori shot her an irritated side eye but Hinata was sitting straighter than usual. The image of prim and proper. A dignified aloofness about her, giggles gone. Making Kori think he was hearing things.

Kori was unable to confirm the girl's antics as Hiashi spoke again.

Hiashi nodded subtly to Kori's previous explanation, adding his piece. "Then you'll understand when I say I wouldn't be convinced until I saw a live demonstration to back up your… statistics and testimony." The Hyuga clan head finished.

'Got him,' Hinata and Kori thought in sync.

•

For Hinata and Kori this was less a meeting and more a means to an end. They knew Hiashi would push for a spar no matter what they did. As such, Kori only talked for little more than a half hour while steering the conversation to this point.

They didn't have all day. There was a more important matter to see to after this.

Who would be proven wrong and who would be proven right didn't matter here, this was just an opening salvo in their grand scheme. To that end, Hiashi's want of proof was a foreseen matter.

Proof of work was a sure bet in the eyes of the man who saw nothing redeemable about his eldest daughter.

Getting to that point was simple matter as Kori did most of the talking and explaining. Reliant only on Hiashi being himself. Kori's word and a few sheets of paper wasn't going to alter the head of the Hyuga's mind.

Hiashi only asked a few questions to make sure he was understanding Kori correctly when he used technical or medical jargon.

Hinata's was effective here by simply maintaining the image of patient, dutiful, obedient, and most of all, silent student. Only speaking when addressed. Because her father acted as if she weren't there at all anyway, her silence would say much more than words could.

She'd met Kori's silent gaze a throughout the discussion, speaking without speaking. A few times when her father made damaging remarks about her ability, personality, or work ethic to see that she was handling it well. And again to let Kori know she were fine with the scrutiny.

She really didn't sweat it. It bothered her, of course. Her father publicly thinking so little of her. But not to the point she allowed previously.

She now possessed a new train of thought and a purpose to realize. Considering her father winding willfully blind and ignorant to her awakening. Thanks to her recent events, she knew she had to make him see, make them all see with actions.

So she remained silent, unruffled, and aloof. Pleasantly so. Furthermore for Hinata, her father was presently the least of her concerns. And was becoming less and less by the day.

Let it not be said that Hinata didn't love her father, because she did. She was likely the most familial daughter in Konoha. But knowing that he willingly abused her kindness, sensitivity, and love in a misguided Hyuga standard to harden her, bend her into an unfeeling Hyuga drone would no longer be tolerated. That wasn't her, she was the exception, not the standard.

She had her own way, a way that worked better for her, fit her, and didn't have her sacrificing her wants, needs, or morals for…what?

Acceptance? Status quo? Opportunity? Tradition? And a morsel of love that her father was against as well as incapable of?

She'd decided. She wouldn't be bullied anymore. She wouldn't be weak anymore. She never was, she was simply misunderstood.

One of the first things Kori and Haze impressed upon her was that the weak and the kind were taken advantage of by the strong, because one lacked strength or they lacked purpose. Living without may well be better off dead.

And Hazel simply summed it up like this. 'Being that weak, even kind, in the eyes of the strong, they were practically begging to be bullied, humiliated, taken advantage of, and worse.'

Hazel, Hinata had wished at the time, hadn't mentioned rape. Kori had already driven the point home that it didn't get much worse than that. And his opinion was based on how people felt about murder.

Kori's voice filled her mind…

'Rape, so much the last thing I'd wish on my worse enemy. And I'd rather be murdered and tortured than that. Murder has an end, rape does not. Murder, death barely registers in the mind of ninja. Never mind the world. Notice that we honor the dead, we don't honor the raped.'

And that lecture came at the start of one of Hinata's most trying healing and training day's, not the end. He'd been so detailed about it that it took a week before she was able to mentally navigate the truth and come to terms with it.

Of course, she'd been taught what to do in that worse case, but for discussion of the topic itself. It barely skimmed the surface, but Kori and Hazel both went deep into the repercussions. Making her really aware. She appreciated their having done so.

Again, Hinata wasn't concerned with her father, but for Hanabi…

'I know I'll laugh about this later,' she presently thought, briefly remembering feeling worried about Hanabi and Neji sitting in on this meeting.

Well, Hanabi wasn't a concern, it was Neji that she almost let to get to her as he entered from the entrance on the opposite side from where she'd arrived with Kori.

That side was connected to Hiashi's office and the Hyuga clan forum by hidden passages. And Neji had to be the only secondary branch Hyuga that knew about it.

As she and Kori bowed to greet everyone as they did the same, Hinata was surprised to see Neji, smug smirk and all. And she'd almost peeled into a stuttering fit, but Kori discreetly pinched her thigh. She nearly cried out in surprise, but immediately found herself grounded again.

Kori had been prepared for it to happen and ended the problem before it began. Hinata was able to reset and greet everyone in a demurely pleasant manner. Surprising and confounding their three 'hosts'.

Until the end of the meeting, Hanabi appeared slightly curious; meanwhile Neji's self-satisfied smirk slowly disappeared over the course of the meeting until he was left hiding his displeasure due to Hinata's calm poised aura.

By the end Neji was barely concealing the contempt he felt while staring at Kori. It was simple to deduce that the young medic was responsible for this turn of events. Due to a lack of imagination, he was also stumped as to how a medic could do anything meaningful besides medical work.

Neji's view was skewed so he didn't understand how a profession or even a skill-set could compliment a separate range of other studies, techniques, and jutsu. Mostly because the Hyuga clan believed Gentle Fist was the best and only jutsu, and a Hyuga even considering other styles or techniques would be alienated within the clan. If any Hyuga struggled to understand the full capabilities and potential of the Gentle Fist then it was their own fault for being weak or having a bad.

This clan belief didn't consider that because all Hyuga were born with Byakugan capable eyes, that didn't mean all eyes were created equal. But that fact of genetics went against everything the Hyuga believed about themselves.

As a medical scientist, Kori knew that, but also acknowledged that it was a fact worth keeping hidden because if revealed it could possibly shatter the foundation of the clan. Which could also threaten the foundation and lives of Konoha as well.

Neji's natural talent as a member of the Hyuga servant line was a possible threat to the main line Hyuga for reasons that didn't need explaining. But it was accepted, treated as a pleasant surprise. Partly because of the situation with Hinata. And Hiashi taking preemptive measures to keep Neji close to him.

This was partly done out of love and sincerity for his deceased brother, but also because the opportunity presented Hiashi the advantage to influence, indoctrinate, and control Neji.

The fix was in and that had nothing to do with his seal. If Neji ever tried to stand against the clan…well, there were many experiences worse than death. And another born everyday.

Hinata pointed out her father's tactical advantage of Neji to Kori. It was a clan secret, openly known but never spoken of. Hiashi also took advantage of aiming Neji at Hinata. A misguided attempt to drive Hinata to do better, become better, and beat the kindness out of her. And when instead Hinata wilted and didn't respond likely to that. Well… all roads led to now.

The Hyuga knew only one way. The Hyuga Way.

Kori was well aware of Neji's disposition and his relentless glaring, but this time the Genin was punching above his weight class.

Kori was someone that advanced through academy with the Itachi Uchiha in their single number years. He could still remember Itachi telling him, truthfully, that Kori wasn't as special as he thought during their first meeting and discussion. Itachi included himself as well for some deep philosophical reasoning most adults wouldn't comprehend.

Little did Kori know at the time that Itachi's ability and world insight would always be ahead of his time, ahead of the game. Proven by the Uchiha leading ANBU as a child and for many years afterwards.

But enough digressing…

Kori had a fond memory while ignoring Neji completely. One way to defeat an over fed ego was to not bother acknowledging it. Make them feel inconsequential and treat them as such. A zero, incapable of effecting his world. His beliefs on fate or anything wouldn't matter if his existence went ignored.

Hinata struggled to hold in her giggles as she realized Kori was purposely ticking Neji off by doing nothing. Simply by ignoring him. Kori's refusal to engage the genin was a indirect blow.

"Well, this has been nice, sitting and having this discussion." Kori smirked knowingly, "how about we get down to business and bring this thing to a close?" He tilted his head coolly.

Hanabi observed Kori with some thought, features blank. "He's serious! It's gonna take more than a personality adjustment to get around me." She thought, unsure if she should feel insulted or not.

Hanabi was finding herself in an odd position between being glad father preferred her over her elder sister and familial love for her sister.

She now felt guilty for always belittling Hinata and rubbing it in her face that their father not only preferred her, but that she'd always won their matchups. Especially for fearing she might end up with that accursed servants seal.

But as she realized that Hiashi's threats of disowning and placing the caged bird seal on Hinata were real and not simply harsh forms of motivation. Well, she didn't just feel bad, she was mortified.

During times of reflection, she blamed herself for this outcome because always defeating Hinata and trying to make her look bad was partly what led to this situation. At least in that's what she thought and how she felt.

For now, Hanabi was forced to put her clan's domestic issues aside as Hiashi responded.

"Certainly, let's do that." Hiashi agreed expressionless. A mild pressure filled the room that everyone could feel as a predatory gleam filled his eyes. "Hanabi, you'll face Hinata once again."

Hanabi nodded with a soft sigh, "yes, father." As she answered dutifully, she wondered if things would ever change.

Neji looked ready to speak up, but as he did, the boy caught Kori giving him a threatening stare while slowly shaking his head.

The message was clear. "Stay in your lane, this doesn't concern you!"

Neji swallowed and closed his mouth to see the darkness filling the medic's eyes, instead muttering incoherently under his breath as Kori smirked.

"Let's go, Hinata." Kori demanded gruffly as the two rose to their feet, having Hinata lead him out to the sparring circle outside.

"Hanabi, no restrictions. Crush your sister if you must. Remember not to show her mercy, it'll only make her think she has a chance." Hiashi told his youngest daughter once their guests left ahead of them.

"Yes father," Hanabi quietly agreed.

Meanwhile, Neji followed after them, a violent smirk twisting his features. "Well, today will be the end of that then." He thought, almost giddily.

•

"I feel bad asking you to take a fall, but it's the only way this works and we can avoid problematic questions. It won't always be like this, I promise." Kori softly placed his hands to Hinata's shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes.

"It's quite alright. Stop worrying." Hinata smiled gently at his worry and fussing over her. "Like you said, first we plant the seeds of thought. Then let our work bring them to the conclusions we want them to have." Hinata nodded.

Kori released a soft but pleased sigh. "Exactly right," He grinned patting her shoulders with some strength. "Happy you understand. Now, do yourself proud."

"Yes, sensei." Hinata smiled brightly and by the time she turned to face her sister, Hinata's expression was aloof once more.

The other three present watched the moment in silence, wondering if they had been strategizing. If so, they would be able to tell because it wouldn't work out well.

While everyone had focused on Hinata's seeming personality change, her change of attire went mostly unnoticed.

It was nothing spectacular except it's significance to Hinata in this moment. One of her ideas for this moment, a show of symbolism. The idea sparked to life during a conversation about theatre, and no, not 'that' kind of theatre.

Hinata learned a lot and from the moment she arrived at the shinobi clinic Kori was able to speak into existence, via a lot of help from his sensei and mentor, Nohara Rin. And Hinata learned nothing if that everyone who worked at the clinic were cerebral people.

Everything from staff hours to clinic operations, from maintenance to medical studies and procedures were done with a analytical mentality. Results weren't simply seemed success or failure, but delved into deeper. The how's, why's, who's, when's, what's, and even time were all considered. A tweak here or there and completed tasks were performed again under different settings.

Hinata was given privilege of shadowing Hazel as she monitored a few different rehabilitation and test procedures. During these down times Hinata got to witness village ninja who volunteered and others who were required to perform certain tasks. Considering the size of the building, one wouldn't think it capable of seemingly endless activity, but that's what it was like until end of day for patients and staff alike.

Asked her opinion after this experience, Hinata could only reply, "overwhelmed". Even as Hazel assured her, a lot of the machines within handled most the heavy lifting. As for the people. "Everyone has their motivations, their reasons."

Hinata was able to see that her routine was no different. Medics didn't just work on the body at the humble institute, the mental and the spiritual was given just as much importance. It was why Hinata's change was happening so quickly, it agreed with her.

As for theatre, Kori used the metaphor of war operations in the field for going to the Hyuga estate for their meeting.

Hyuga clan grounds? Foreign occupied territory. He didn't say enemy, the Hyuga were not to be seen as enemies. Hinata's motivation was to prove them wrong about her, that was the point focused on.

Hinata and Kori? Welcomed representatives from, perhaps, a neutral territory. Any bias and truth wasn't important to this lesson, except they didn't see eye to eye on an important matter.

The meeting? An free and open exchange and perhaps, debate, of ideas.

The spar? Representing potential disagreements, a tool to come to terms while both sides agreed neither had the correct answer and admitted more time would be needed to find that answer.

Such things and others were usually secondary to the action that took place in a warzone, a field of operations, or a theatre.

And in any winning effort, the big picture was most important. Mental games, bluffs, information leaks, spy games, traps, switching sides, misdirection, symbolism etc. were all used to paint a picture for success.

Getting into the mind of the enemy before a confrontation could bring significant and decisive victory to either side.

Using symbolism, Hinata chose to dress and attend this meeting, to have her spar with her younger sister while dawning a replica white robe with the Hyuga clan insignia boldly stitched at the left breast.

A symbol translating to 'princess' was center stitched at the back of the robe, tastefully made. Large enough to be seen, small enough that it didn't look tacky. With the exception of the back symbol, it was made to specification.

At a certain age Hinata was given the responsibility of seeing the clan's seamstresses for her clan robes and easily remembered the details.

The stitch count mattered most, then the fit, then the way it draped over her body. The only alteration was in sizing due to Hinata's age. Beside that, the pearl white robe was made to exacting specifications.

Hinata hadn't worn the white robe that signified her as heiress of the Hyuga clan versus Hanabi's dark colored robe that held more than one meaning.

Hanabi's dark hued attire could be place her from second in line to lead the clan…to a replacement heir (behind either Hiashi or Hinata via clan vote in case of sudden tragedy)…

To servant lead in the secondary branch (the representative of the secondary branch could wear dark or grey colours)…Or

In training (to be married off)…

Not knowing what her future could be at any moment loomed over young Hanabi for years. And was motivation for her to appeal to her father and diminish Hinata every chance she got…

As the outside environment fell silent and Hinata shifted into her base stance, that unruffled aloofness still set on her face. Hanabi suddenly felt as if she were seeing her older sister for the first time.

From the start she'd been focused on Hinata's change of mannerisms, facial expressions, and lack of a stutter. Her mind busied itself to find an explanation. She knew the who, but not the how. Why did she change now? And when she thought about that Hanabi remembered that evening in the hospital.

That was the night Hiashi had finally had enough and washed his hands. Hinata would be demoted to the secondary branch of the Hyuga and Hanabi would officially be announced as heiress, following a large coming out party in her name. But then…a wild card curbed those plans.

Before that evening Kori would've been someone Hanabi easily looked passed had she seen him in the village. Another person seeking favor from her father. Ugh…but that wasn't his approach, perhaps his aim, but definitely not how he'd approached her father.

And from the way her father addressed him, there was some interest. Not the usual.

Every time Hanabi unconsciously looked at Kori, reflecting during the meeting. He would already be looking at her, irritating know it all smirk on his lips. Then he would wink. She blushed feeling embarrassed, thinking she was caught staring. But that wasn't why.

Hanabi was overcome by an odd feeling as she tentatively looked over and away from her elder sister. Again…

Again, she spotted Kori. Smirk and all. His arms folded casually across his chest. 'No way!' Hanabi thought with surprise and a bit of anger.

Kori winked, but this time he mouthed something at her.

"Got you, little sister." His smirk turned into a full blown grin as Hanabi turned her attention back to Hinata. Having to quickly shift her weight and spin away.

She just barely avoided being blinded by a Chakra Needle, courtesy of her big sister.

Hiashi and Neji both expressed a miniscule show of surprise at Hinata. 'Targeting Hanabi's eyes in a spar? That's not like Hinata.' Hiashi thought turning a blank gaze to Kori.

Kori chuckled and shrugged his shoulders with his arms out, shaking his head. But he said nothing.

Hiashi wanted to be angry, but he quelled the notion. That was exactly the type of effort he fought with Hinata about. What he didn't quite understand was what changed to get her to do that now.

Hanabi was shocked by Hinata's attempt to black out her eye sight, but didn't show it and got over it quickly. "I am not going to let that stand!" Hanabi huffed, tuning out Kori's laughter just behind her.

Hinata smiled softly as she began striding calmly toward her younger sister. "I wouldn't expect you to, dear sister." She spoke as softly as she ever did, only now her words carried a weight that previously hadn't existed.

Hanabi nearly sneered. 'I-is she making fun of me?' Hanabi wondered, wanting to feel insulted. It was enough to force Hanabi to move, engaging Hinata midway.

Hanabi activated her Byakugan without verbal command or hand sign. She stepped into Hinata, using a foot technique that positioned her perfectly to strike the tenketsu of the body. Being shorter than Hinata she aimed at the left hip to effect movement, the touch light and near imperceptible to a person's body until it was too late to do anything about it.

She heard a soft gasp from Hinata and Hanabi went ahead with a short volley of attacks. A near instant stance switch followed, performed perfectly, and without effort to align herself with Hinata's right hip. Another light touch powered by an exact amount of chakra to close off the tenketsu there. She was so close now, she was able to strike upwards to Hinata's right elbow and shoulder.

Hanabi knew Hinata would finally respond, being slower than her and prepared to counter and follow up.

Before she could, Hanabi felt something hard force her back strong enough to send her skidding ten yards back on weakened legs. Hanabi was able to remain standing, but was shocked as she coughed up saliva in the aftermath of the strike. As she took a deep breath and gazed up. Hinata was positioned in a counter stance, knees bent slightly and her left arm extended outward. Her hand aimed at Hanabi and turned aside like a blade. Hinata's right arm was bent and tucked against her side.

Hanabi was shocked to feel the after effect of the strike, feeling like she'd taken a punch to the chest, but that was Gentle Fist technique. One used to knife their hand into another's body, not as a blunt force.

'How did she, when?!' Hiashi asked, pleasantly surprised but outwardly he was as stiff as usual. 'She could've pierced Hanabi's chest.' He thought. 'Hinata's control has to be at least five times better to have widened the chakra around the finger tips to apply a blunt force. Never mind reinforcing the arm with the right amount of chakra as well.' Things that made Hiashi 'hm' in further thought.

"Hanabi never touched her." Neji thought agitatedly, frowning as he watched with his Byakugan activated. "Hanabi will probably realize it later, but Hinata let her within range then moved exactly when needed and Hanabi only grazed her robe. "Hinata's speed is…actually, why is she wearing that thing?" Having noticed but not considered it before now.

Credit to Neji, but Hanabi was actually realizing his thoughts right then. Hinata turned to show Hanabi the small, black-brown dots left on the robe. "You were a little overboard with the chakra -pause- little sister." Hinata's smile tweaked just enough to affect disappointment.

Hanabi immediately felt a spark of anger. Then frowning at Hinata, she asked, "why isn't your Byakugan activated?" Her tone demanding.

Hiashi and Neji had seen, but Kori answered.

"She has been activating it." He answered. "On and off again, you just hadn't noticed. Once during her first attempt, and again just now."

Hanabi was…astonished. She never saw a version of Hinata that would be capable of activating her dojutsu without a hand sign. And even then, never without verbal command, but repeatedly?

Kori smiled wide, looking at Hiashi and feeding him the line. "I wonder if a Hyuga has ever done something like that before. Hinata calls it-."

"Subconscious Activation." Hiashi finished. "Only myself, my brother, and my wife was ever capable in recent times. Beyond that, only a few others from the times of war ever did it." Hiashi explained, not quite believing it, but he'd seen it. The first time he thought he'd been mistaken, but he clearly caught it the second time.

"I didn't see anything." Neji mumbled low to himself. Feeling aggrieved by today's events he made a mental note to look into it later. "How could someone with no talent at all, do something I cannot?!" He raged at himself.

The finals were near and he taught himself a few things of his own, but why did he feel like Hinata might catch up to him? He was stumped.

"Eats a lot of chakra and causes mental stress though." Kori added, having found the most immediate effects from Hinata and later using equipment to find further pros and cons of the technique.

"Hinata, you're still not quite one-hundred percent." Kori purposely announced to for all to hear.

"I understand," Hinata nodded. She gazed affectionately at Hanabi and bowed her head. "Let us finish this spar, dear sister."

'She's still weakened.' Hanabi thought, forgetting what happened before. "Yes, sister." She agreed. 'But I'm finished going easy on you,' Hanabi smirked.

Hiashi nodded silently in approval. 'Kori was truthful. Hinata's improved. I don't think him a liar, but a few techniques can only mask one's weaknesses for so long.' He thought, giving Hanabi a look of approval when his youngest daughter glanced to him.

Soon, both sisters were back at it with Hinata attacking first. She feinted an attempt to close off the chakra point in Hanabi's shoulder. When the younger girl reacted, Hinata moved in low sliding her right leg out to sweep Hanabi's feet from under her. Hanabi leapt only high enough to avoid falling and attacked from midair. Fighting against the momentum of gravity pulling her down she was able to hang in the air long enough to swiftly reach out, aiming directly at Hinata's arm.

Hinata stopped her, catching Hanabi's wrist in a firm locking hold. As Hanabi's feet met earth again, she reached across her body at Hinata's hand. Hinata immediately realized Hanabi had baited her.

Releasing her little sister, Hinata activated her Byakugan again and went into a quick but steady pace of Gentle Fist techniques, now focused on hindering Hanabi's arms or legs.

Hanabi slapped away Hinata's fingers and responded in kind with a similarly blinding exchange of Gentle Fist. Attempts from both were well timed and executed but neither sister could hit the other.

Hinata moved into a spin aimed at misleading, if not making Hanabi hesitate. She didn't and Hinata raised her right leg up to kick back her sister. Not a part of the Gentle Fist style. Hanabi dodged low and as Hinata saw herself miss, still on one leg, she cocked her right leg back and struck downward at Hanabi's head.

Hanabi leapt back, then rose to stand looking oddly at Hinata for trying to kick her. The younger girl silently grit her teeth and tried again to shut down Hinata's shoulder and elbow. Hinata performed a spin to counter her sister and she weaved by Hanabi's intensified attack attempts with a show of natural ease.

Kori watched, completely absorbed in the spar. Eyes wide and focused intently on both. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. 'I fucked up…' He gave a mental sigh.

'Don't know how, but I underestimated Hanabi. That little firecracker may ruin my play,' he thought critically before noting something more interesting.

'…Wonder if Hinata knows that she influences Hanabi's style. When Hinata uses a unorthodox Hebi style movement she learned off me that she incorporated into her Gentle Fist, Hanabi gleans the move and later returns it. Only in reverse.' Just as he thought it, Hanabi used some reversed snake style footwork, breaking through Hinata's guard.

'But it's more than just a backwards copy. A purpose for her doing that. She performs it once and never again, hit or miss. Mostly miss, but there's something else. Love/hate driven maybe.' His analytical mind picking up on social cues hidden in their martial exchange.

"Beginning to fall into a rhythm now." Kori unconsciously spoke. Loud enough for Hiashi and Neji to hear.

"?..." Both glanced at Kori to see his intense focus on the spar and looked back to the field. They picked up on similar signs as well, but their bias led them in a different direction than Kori.

Meanwhile, Hinata again caught her sister's wrist, bending her hand back painfully, weakening the knees temporarily. She followed up with a chakra enhanced palm strike to Hanabi's abdomen that nearly folded the girl.

Hanabi felt air forced from her body as Hinata shifted into her, getting low under her, and hip tossing Hanabi.

There was no time to respond. As Hanabi felt herself lifted from the ground she twisted herself horizontally into a spin, breaking Hinata's hold, and allowing her to land back on her feet still within range. Despite the weakness in her legs and having a bit of oxygen forced out of her, she didn't pause.

Hanabi would admonish herself later for going easy on Hinata, having felt sorry for her. Hanabi found herself still within reach, with the advantage. Hinata was slow to gather herself from the sudden recoil of the counter, nearly losing her balance.

It was the opportunity the younger girl needed and Hanabi was able to take advantage, move in, and touch Hinata's left shoulder. Swiftly still, Hanabi next tagged her elbow with a pinpoint precision Jyuken strike.

As both attacks landed, Hanabi moved to finish the spar decisively, but Hinata reacted even as she pulled her arm out of reach. Moving herself awkwardly to make Hanabi miss. Hinata shifted, bringing her momentum rushing forward while rising. In an agile but forceful sliding side step, Hinata delivered a powerful, simultaneous reverse palm strike and shoulder block technique as she collided backwards with Hanabi.

Hanabi felt the pain of the attack, not expecting Hinata to respond so immediately. The strike attack took the younger girl from her feet, spiraling a good five yards away on her back.

"Oh!" Hinata came out of the moment, sighing with disappointment. Hinata looked at her arm, barely able to move it. Another few seconds and it would be fully numb and unmovable.

She turned to Kori and bowed. "I'm sorry, sensei. It was not my time after all."

Kori just waved her off, sweeping his hand back and forth while saying nothing and softly shaking his head.

"Match!" Hiashi called. "Hanabi." The clan head didn't even try to hide the pleased tone in his voice.

Neji was blank faced, but inwardly pleased to see that ultimately nothing had changed. 'Still a loser.'

Everyone watched as Hinata calmly approached her younger sister and helped the girl up as she tried to get her breathing under control.

"You did so well, dear sister. I feel proud to be the older sister of such a talented future kunoichi." Hinata smiled, lavishing heartfelt compliments upon Hanabi as she helped her younger sister to her feet. The moment was a change to be certain, Hanabi had never been out of breath from a spar with Hinata. It had always been Hinata who was the worse for wear.

Hanabi didn't respond at first. First time Hinata hadn't overexerted herself and it showed. Her older sister looked…pretty for all that transpired, actually.

The regal yet bright smile, and the grace she entered clan grounds with remained. Hinata's silken blueish-black hair, now passed ear length didn't have a hair out of place. She stood confidently, exuding an air of self-assurance that had never existed before.

Yet still, Hanabi saw but couldn't identify the show of affection and care Hinata showed to her, filling her eyes.

"Thank you, nee-chan." Hanabi said softly.

"Will you be alright? I hope I didn't hit you too hard." Hinata worried, quickly brushing Hanabi's clothes off and running her functioning hand through her hair.

Hanabi turned red. "Sister, no more!" Hanabi moved away, hiding her face until her fierce blush faded. Memories filled her mind as a long time ago, Hinata did this to her after every spar.

It was only after the family situation became troubled that Hinata had stopped because their father made her stop. Over time, she pulled further away as Hanabi antagonized her when she became favored in their father's eyes.

"She's fine, leave her be." Hiashi said with Kori standing nearby, who had a look in his eyes that worried Hinata.

'Oh my god, finally!' Kori thought, his smooth grin turning sinister. 'Blackmail material!'

Hinata swallowed uncomfortably until Hiashi continued.

"I believe you have misled Kori-san to overestimate you somehow. I'll give you that I was impressed by the significant approval you displayed, but I believe you'll do well to remember that you are not so mighty as to abandon using the Gentle Fist. You hardly utilized it. As well as your Byakugan." Hiashi sighed, sounding pained. "I can only wish you'd have applied yourself earlier and hope you meaningfully improve and not further waste Kori's time…"

"Hiashi-sama, go easy. She isn't-." Kori moved to support Hinata.

"Respectfully, I'll ask you not to speak concerning this. Hinata is hardheaded and willful, much like her mother, so I must." Hiashi eyed Kori until he took a step back, looking away. 'Now ain't the time.' He reminded himself. Hinata was tough enough, she could now handle Hiashi speaking down to her.

"Kori-san has put a lot of hope and faith on this…project of his, your recovery and improvement is tied to. I'm not convinced, my daughter. Which makes me worry, not for you, but that my decision on your place within the Hyuga has already been proven the correct choice. Kori-san is the only reason I've stayed my hand, but failing this. It won't only be you who feels the consequences." Hiashi glanced at Kori as he finished. He took Hanabi and began guiding her inside.

"Before you go, have yourself cleaned up and looked at." Hiashi added as he departed.

Hinata sighed. "The blow was expected, but it doesn't hurt any less." She looked down at her feet.

Kori looked desperate for a moment as he saw Hinata shatter like so much glass before his eyes. He bit down on his tongue and banished the feeling from himself, smiling easily again. "Girl, you are a problem." Kori gave his old self's version of a compliment. "You're no one's wilted flower, not any longer."

By the time he did that Hinata looked up at him, smiling sadly. "Trust the process, right?"

"I feel your disappointment, Hinata, but you surprised me with your performance. Be happy for it. It'll always hurt, we can only evolve and get better at dealing with it. Use these powerful feelings as motivation to push ever forward. This was our plan and at every moment they followed our lead. This is a win even if it don't feel like it. You've been letting Hanabi win for years and that's evidence of your generous heart and a great capacity to love. You don't want recognition at your sister's expense." Kori said, trying to sooth Hinata's pain and worry while gently squeezing her shoulder.

He hesitated for a moment before passing his hand over her head and through her hair a few times until she held her head up again.

"Hm," Hinata quietly hummed attempting to lean into that touch, but Kori suddenly withdrew his hand. Hinata gently shook her head and looked up with a smile. "No, no I do not. Besides, it would be a shallow victory."

Kori nodded in agreement. He didn't focus on it, but Hinata's watery eyes told him she might feel differently.

…At least for right now.

"Well, let's do as your father suggested. And after, I'll treat you to a good lunch. No diet restriction."

"Then I can have a cinnamon bun?" Hinata inquired eagerly, sounding very hopeful.

"Sure, whatever you want. You earned it." Kori agreed.

Hinata fell into happy giggling and clutched Kori's arm, leaning against his shoulder. "The sooner, the better!"

"Alright, alright." Kori grumbled when she leaned against him. The two disappeared inside, Hinata taking the lead.

Meanwhile, Anko and Kurenai watched the end of the moment from a vantage point that even a Hyuga could miss if not looking.

"Wow, the man's become so soft and tender, almost makes me jealous for some affection" Anko whistled, sarcasm obvious in her voice, though watching Kori's disposition with Hinata, her statement rung true.

"I almost can't believe it, she's improved this much, already?" Kurenai could scarcely believe it, no matter how much she hoped to see a breakthrough from Hinata.

Anko shook her head at Kurenai. "Well, it makes sense." She said, dropping down to the ground leaving her friend blinking questioningly before following after more gracefully.

"Anko-chan, wait up. How do you mean?" Kurenai queried her friend, not quite understanding her meaning.

Anko looked at her friend, tilting her head and side eyeing her. "You really wanna go down this road, Nai-chan?" Anko looked away again, a stick from some dango eaten earlier shifting between her teeth.

Kurenai frowned, misunderstanding. "Are you trying to imply something here? If so, you're doing a terrible job…as usual." She muttered at the end.

"Okay then, here we go!" Anko clapped causing some of the people they passed in the Konoha streets to turn their attention onto both women questioningly.

"It's not your fault, but you did the exact opposite of what Hiashi has been doing to her. Which is essentially the same thing." Anko explained, shaking her head that Kurenai couldn't see how obvious the flawed her approach was.

"Get to your damn point, Anko. You're starting to piss me off." Kurenai said, already taking some offense to her friend's words despite not knowing her meaning.

Anko sighed again. "When I say you treated her the same but opposite, it's like this. While Hiashi was "mean" and "cold" about Hinata's shortcomings, you were "kind", "caring", and "understanding". Hinata didn't need or want her shortcomings treated kindly. And she certainly didn't want or need care or kindness when her weaknesses were still made obvious. Having her team acting the same way is only worse. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Kurenai did understand. It didn't matter that the approach was positive versus negative. It was opposite sides the same coin in that Hinata was recognized for having deficiencies and having it pointed out. The only difference was that they weren't "mean" about it.

"Also," Anko continued. "You were handicapped from the beginning. Like I told you before, your familiarity with one another keeps you from being able to use a different approach. I know you well, Nai-chan and you wouldn't have wanted to risk that great, family like relationship you have with her by stressing her, pushing her, demanding her. Hinata would most likely be confused by any sudden switch, she might even think you've given up on her."

Kurenai wanted to grind her teeth in frustration, knowing that was likely true. She understood, but she certainly didn't like hearing it. And that fact began to eat at her. "As opposed to Kori? Because, what, he has something I don't?" Kurenai bit out, starting to feel insulted despite herself.

Anko laughed at her friend. "Aw, it ain't like that, don't misunderstand. But, he does having something you don't. He didn't have any prior relationship with Hinata. I can't speak for his approach, but because he met Hinata for the first time that night he was working with a blank slate while having knowledge about her from village records. No personal feelings or experiences with Hinata, but all the knowledge of her troubles, experiences, and more. And from there…" Anko trailed off and shrugged, leaving her words hanging, but the point had been made.

"Damn, he's opportunistic if nothing." Kurenai tried to calm herself, but didn't at all like the fact that Anko was right…Again. Sighing, she inquired. "How do you think he's been getting through to her?" Kurenai ventured to ask.

"Hmm," Anko hummed thoughtfully. "By not commenting on or allowing Hinata to withdraw into herself, and showing her there's light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone needs a purpose, a ninja is useless without one. He probably found what it is and taught her how to use it to drive herself forward…most likely." Anko guessed.

Kurenai considered Anko's words with an open mind and put her personal feelings aside. "I mean…What would that even look like?"

This time Anko took longer to respond, not having an immediate explanation. She considered the possibilities together with what she knew about Kori.

"Probably a mix of Kurenai-lite and Hiashi-lite, with a scientific approach."

Kurenai blinked. "What and what?"

Anko laughed again, turning the dango stick between her teeth. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her trench coat. "I'm saying he probably used a bit of kindness with the Hyuga's stone like approach to push her, to force her hand when she wanted to withdraw. Except he presented it all with scientific approach. You know what Kori does. Don't you even know your own student?" Anko inquired sarcastically as she ignored the open stares of some, and from others, glares. Young and old alike, their eyes fixated on her chest or shunned her for her previous relations. The glares of women followed, cursing them silently as if they were to blame for wondering eyes of others.

Kurenai reddened in embarrassment at Anko's insinuation, despite knowing the younger woman was teasing her. "Of course I do!" She exclaimed, frowning at the unwanted attention.

Looks of appreciative appraisal, as if she were some rare trophy or trinket to be put on display. Only there to sate the needs of others. Kurenai almost wished for the more honest and open stares Anko received.

It was worse when they were together as Kurenai's dark, mature beauty made Anko's unabashed sex appeal present an image of opposite and ideal extremes of objectification. Bothersome situations followed at the best of times. At the worst of times they'd have to put emboldened perverts down hard. The sort whose mothers didn't teach them better.

Just another day in Konoha.

Kurenai rolled her eyes as she looked away. Else misunderstanding women would accuse them of singing siren songs to sway their significant others.

"Kori is…" Kurenai's brows knitted together as she sought the right words for his motivation in the context of this situation that had been bothering her.

"Kori is just Kori." Anko chirped with a wide smile, not elaborating. "Give him a break already. The man suffered an identity crisis after that monster tried creating a duplicate. I'm amazed Kori turned out more rational than most people we know. But that's Rin-chan for you, girl is a walking miracle in her own right."

Kurenai just raised an eyebrow. "Not that we should be talking about it, but I'm not unsympathetic, Anko. But you're getting off topic."

"I'm not! You ain't listening. You hear, but you ain't listening." Anko stopped as the two turned a corner onto a road that was sparsely populated. She sighed.

"Let's try this. What's best for that fragile little princess? That she stick with her original teacher who was honestly stumped on how to help her, while also recovering from a injury that threatened her life? A teacher who would likely continue to treat her like so much fragile glass."

Anko paused as she saw Kurenai's expression tighten. Not wanting to admit it.

"Or a neutral person, with similar if not worse baggage, who didn't ask for it but possesses an intuitive, albeit chaotic, world-view that was forced on him due to an unfeeling bastard's ideals and machinations. A neutral person that may or may not have been disloyal by disobeying orders a time or two, breaking rank repeatedly, and undermining his mission leaders. But arguably someone capable of fixing and understanding people, sometimes better than they know themselves. Whether he cares about them or not doesn't matter. Now, remember you were once close friends with this person and shunned him. Perhaps even hated him. Then remember he took his hits on the chin, without complaint because he knew he deserved it. And when given a redeemable opportunity, he did what anyone else would and didn't question it." Anko finished with a breathless huff, having said her whole spiel in a single breath.

As her breathing evened out again, Anko looked to Kurenai to see the older woman looking at her with glassy red eyes.

Kurenai grabbed Anko by her shoulders and wailed. "You're right, he wants his revenge. Anko, I think I've lost my student, ohh!" Kurenai exclaimed mournfully.

"The fuck, Kurenai?" Anko frowned as if her friend were crazy. "I keep telling Kori I'm awful at this sort of thing." Anko muttered as she forced the other woman's hands from her.

"No, that's not…" Anko sighed, starting to get annoyed with this shit between two friends whose names both started with the same letter. Anko huffed, this time grabbing Kurenai by her arms and shaking her. "Damnit, it's been nearly a month. Didn't you say something about her possibly returning after a month?"

Kurenai's eyes filled with recognition and surprise. "Id honestly forgotten." She whispered.

Anko released her friend and stepped back with a sigh, glad to finally be getting somewhere. "Well, I didn't forget that you burned him with the Hokage. This is the last thing I'm going to say about this because it's damn frustrating. You dimed him out, but I bet he's gotten over it by now. Just go talk to him, I miss having my friends get along. You don't have to beg, plead, or forgive him, but before this month is over it's in your best interest to, as Kori would say, 'break bread'.

"Huh? Why would he want bread…oh, you mean a truce!" Kurenai realized after thinking about it, blushing lightly at her words.

"Exactly! Now that's solved…what are we doing?" Anko inquired, a mischievous glint to her eye.

Kurenai narrowed her eyes. "I'm not getting day drunk with you," she sighed. "Besides, Asuma…"

Anko groaned immediately forgetting about alcohol. "More talking. He makes people with legit trauma look like whiney bitches. All because his daddy didn't have time to give him all the hugs he wanted. Damnit Kurenai, either you do or you don't! You're more off and on than a fucking light switch."

"You're exaggerating. He's just sensitive…and I'm still undecided." Kurenai tried to explain.

"Please, he's not sensitive. He's insecure. About your love for Hinata, wanting to adopt her should the worse happen, and the fact that because of her you worry. Not about him, but Kori. So in some weird way, he's jealous you're thinking about Kori despite knowing it's because of Hinata. If he were sensitive he'd at least listen. Instead you're stuck seeking advice from someone who shouldn't be giving it."

"Well damn, Anko-chan. That's only my man you're bad mouthing." Kurenai said, disapproval filling her eyes as she folded her arms looking defensive.

"No one considers you that except you two. Y'all are so on and off again that everyone's just waiting for the final fallout." Anko said, unbothered by her friend's defensiveness.

"You know what? You're right, you shouldn't be giving advice and I shouldn't be listening to you…" Kurenai was about to go into a tiff at Anko. "Except, you're right." She sighed, already regretting her words.

"I am?" Anko questioned, her head tilting and looking at the woman as if she were crazy.

"Not about my relationship." Kurenai reminded her, eyes narrowing playfully. "But, Kori. And you just gave me a good idea I can use to get him to listen to me."

Anko looked suspiciously at her bestie. Her eyes looking the woman's body up and down before settling on her smiling face. She could see Kurenai was calm again. "Well then," Anko suddenly grinned wide. "Glad I could help! Catch up later?"

"Of course."

The two ladies bid each other a 'see you later' and 'take care!' and went their ways. Their friendship none the worse for wear.

⟩Labels⟩

"Alright, everything looks good on paper, Lee-san. Just wait for my colleague to finish and we'll wrap this up." Rin said as she closed the genin's chart. As she did, she gazed at Hazel who ran her white chakra covered hands over Lee's body, her eyes closed as she intuited the condition of Lee's body and chakra through her technique.

"Is your body stiff at all?" Rin inquired of Lee.

"All over, Rin-sensei! Is that normal?" Lee asked, slightly nervous to have a girl so close, examining him even closer. His gaze altered between Rin and Haze.

"Quite normal as you've had to keep in bed more than you're accustomed to. Between now and the next few days the stiffness and soreness you feel will begin to ebb away." Rin explained calmly, smiling.

Lee visibly relaxed as Rin's voice and smile calmed and reassured the nervous energy he felt. He remained still as the exam continued.

Hazel found a few inflamed areas where she would lightly touch, sending some of that white chakra inwardly to numb and shrink the inflammation.

Most ninja didn't like it, preferring to feel any pain wear away on its own as they healed and recovered. It was a dedicated if not misunderstood motivation to heal. Inflammations could effect surrounding areas negatively in a variety of ways. And ice did little to help, unable to effect deep tissue directly.

Haze concentrated on the boy's bones, joints, tendons, muscles, and organs. There was no medical diagnosis for the level of extensive trauma his body suffered. Haze thought "total annihilation" sounded like a good place to start. She breathed out softly and knelt as she examined Lee's legs. From his thighs, very slowly down to his feet, even his toes. She was slightly surprised to find the area and those between healing particularly well. The lower extremities were usually slower to heal than the upper and mid body as blood circulation and oxygen content was much less.

Meanwhile, Gai was relegated to watching the kunoichi work anxiously, beads of sweat dotting his forehead as the longer she took, the more he felt bad news might follow. The man smiled outwardly, silently hoping for a positive outcome.

Rin, noticing this, decided to speak up. "Please, relax Gai-kun. Everything's fine, she's simply checking to see how is healing as expected." Rin smiled brightly. "How about it, Haze?" She asked as she placed a comforting hand to Gai's shoulder. Standing a bit above him, especially as her shinobi sandals had a few inches of a platform at the bottoms.

As an adult Rin grew to become a tall, willowy framed woman. The soft cheeked features of her youth remained into adulthood only providing mature appeal. Rin became the type of woman that could wear anything and be attractive without much more than light touches of makeup added.

Presently the simple black, sharp cut business style dress fit and matched her perfectly. The skirt wasn't so short as to be distasteful in a professional setting, but ended well above her knees. The attire accentuated her soft curves and highlighted her long legs, even beneath the clinical, long white medical coat.

Haze smiled to herself, finding that Lee's pathways, as she planned, had widened out a little. That would continue bit by bit over time until necessary. "He's healing exceptionally well. His body isn't fighting the procedure and is about two percent faster than we estimated." Haze finally opened her eyes and stood up as she finished. "Congrats, Lee-san. A few months from now and you should be start feeling brand new."

"YES!!" Both Gai and Lee exclaimed at the same time with Lee jumping up and hugging his sensei.

Haze's eyes widened knowing what was about to happen. 'Oh no…no no no."

"Men, please!" Rin said loudly, using chakra to project her voice over the two. Before certain key words could be said. By then it'd have been too late.

And for their part, both Gai and Lee hugged each other tighter after receiving a scare from Rin who was smiling a little unusually as her cheek stripes were outlined in a faint glow of chakra.

"We're not quite finished yet. There will be a few procedures following, so please listen closely as Haze-chan explains. Especially you, Lee-san" Rin's threatening smile remained, even as she spoke with the tenor of an angel.

"Oh, there is a god and her name is, Rin-chan." Hazel clapped her hands together in prayer, muttering thanks before opening her eyes to realize the attention of the room was on her. "Ah, right!" She pounded her hand into her fist.

'But isn't she dramatic.' Rin thought and fought off the urge of a sweatdrop and just continued smiling. Everything went fine when she smiled.

"Rin-sensei will follow up with a discharge date in the next couple of days. But to that end he will not be going home. He'll be transitioned for special recovery and rehabilitation procedures at the shinobi institute behind the hospital. It will be of particular importance that he follows the regimen I have outlined for him starting today."

Lee sighed, barely able to stand the methodical pacing of his situation. But he was nothing if not positive.

"I'll be able to train again!" Lee exclaimed, misunderstanding.

Hazel nodded. "That's true, but temper expectations. It won't involve any strong man, iron body workouts I've heard tales of. We won't be tolerating any of that.-"

"But, how else does one train?" Lee asked, looking lost.

"Uh," Haze looked at Rin looking lost herself. "Your exam," Rin reminded the younger kunoichi who was experiencing her first time as a patients primary, rather than the assisting. Assisting, she was given the directives from the primary to be carried out. Likewise, if a patient had medical requests that weren't already approved, it had to go through the primary for approval. It was a helpful, but also helpless position to be in.

At least it have her ample opportunity to work on communication skills. Haze turned back to Lee and smiled. "Yoga!" She said brightly.

"Lee knows Yoga." Gai interjected grinning.

"He does?" Haze asked, eyebrow raising questioningly. Gai's statement ran contrary to everything she'd heard about these two.

"Is that the one where we hold boulders with outstretched arms?" Lee asked.

"Uh…no, that sounds more like isometrics," Haze stared at Gai and Lee blankly. "You know what, don't worry about it. We'll go over it in advance."

Lee nodded and have her a thumbs up. "I look forward to it!"

Haze released a sigh. This was just the start and she was starting to miss working with Hinata already. These two were strange as hell, if Rin…and everyone else hadn't convinced her they were harmless; she'd be getting a lot of wrong ideas.

"Anyway, my focus is on helping you recover, to that end the training will mostly compliment that. So, no boulders…" Hazel trailed off and motioned to a black container that held the special elixir Kori helped her with. She just remembered it bothering him that they struggled getting it down to twelve ounces with the needed effectiveness. She asked, but didn't learn why. One more thing to put into the dossier.

"You will drink one of these everyday." At that, Haze picked up the container and removed its top. "Now is a good time, it has no smell, and should taste like oranges, sort of."

"What's it for?" Lee inquired as he took the container, looking at her before deciding to drink it.

"Nutrients, not the common sort. Basically it will help to strengthen and reinforce bones, muscles, tendons, and more. Your body will be healing, this will help strengthen areas that might be weaker or didn't heal as well as others. There's some proteins, then folic acids as well to assist your immune system to prevent any setbacks." Haze explained, although Lee began drinking the stuff down when he heard the words "strengthen" and "reinforce".

"More rest. Neither of us will hear about you trying to workout without permission again, will we?" Rin asked sweetly as she opened the door to leave.

Lee almost choked on the drink as he heard the underlying threat and Gai spoke for him.

"No ma'am, if you do, I'll…"

Rin and Hazel were already gone, the door automatically clicking closed behind them.

"UGH!" Haze exclaimed when they entered the hallways. "I almost didn't believe it, but they're just like y'all said! Fifteen minutes with them is fifteen minutes too much. With you keeping them in check! And if I may, looking great doing it." Hazel's gaze looked Rin up and down appreciatively. "Really great…"

"Ah, now you're trying to mess with my head. I've had this for years." Rin's purple marked cheeks turned a soft pink as Haze's eyes roamed her body. She felt slightly embarrassed by the younger woman's open honesty and flattery.

Hazel looked again. "That's saying something." Rin's thoughts distracted her from Haze's retort, as well as the little glint she got in her eye. A plan forming.

"Anyway, that's two of the most energetic ninja in this village for you. They don't or just refuse to do calm." Rin laughed, softly swatting Hazel's arm playfully when she rolled her eyes.

Rin carried on, her laughter dying down. "Well, I thought you did fine, especially with Lee. He's overeager and you may have to put your foot down a time or two, but he'll listen."

"Good to know, but I'm not worried." Haze responded. "I'm well trained in angst busting."

"That'll come in useful." Rin joked as the two trekked the hallway at ease. "I admit to some reservations but from the start, Kori always thought your techniques were especially suited to medical practice rather than being wasted in cryptology." Rin jumped and covered her mouth, not having meant to repeat her protégé's words verbatim. "That sounded bad-…" she went to apologize but was stopped.

"Hm," Haze frowned thoughtfully. "I wonder." She trailed off without finishing her thought.

Ever considerate, Rin kept her mouth covered with her hands. "That was too rude of me. Of course I have a bias, my apologies."

"No, you're fine. It wasn't you, I was just thinking about something. Out in the open." Haze explained, waving away Rin's worry.

"Anything I can help with?" Inquired Rin politely, wanting to makeup for misspeaking just now. But out of curiosity as well.

"Hm?" Haze responded, beginning to get distracted. "Oh! Well maybe, let me get back to you on that." Haze said, winking playfully. "I want to see how it plays out first." Haze laughed to herself being obviously suspicious. "Right, anything else that needs to be seen to?" Haze finally realized she lost focus again as she asked the obvious.

"Well now…For myself, yes. I have follow-ups to conduct and I'm already behind in that, so. But you? You're all finished here for now, just remember to get Lee's transfer to me for the hospital's records. Outside of that enjoy the rest of your day." Rin chimed pleasantly.

"No need to tell me twice! I'm off then." Haze waved herself off as she started back in the opposite direction. "See you in a few days. Until then."

"Be seeing you." The stripe cheeked Rin responded easily as she headed for the stairs up to a different hospital floor.

⟩Labels⟩

"Sensei…"

To research: Hyuga with naturally strong eyes outside of their dojutsu, will possess even stronger eyes when the Byakugan is activated. With or without the dojutsu activated the Hyuga range from very difficult to impossible to ensnare in genjutsu…Hinata has very strong eyes and genjutsu doesn't seem to work on her.

"Sensei?" A quiet voice spoke.

The Hyuga and Uchiha have a distant relation to one another. The same goes for the special heredity of their eyes. Researching deeper, find if Hinata could get more benefits than just the Byakugan and seeing through genjutsu. End note.

"Muu, sensei. You're ignoring me." Hinata said cutely, a sense of pouting in her tone.

Kori blinked as he looked up at Hinata with an apologetic smile to the cute girl. Now that a lot of her trauma and worries had been resolved, she was not only getting stronger by the day, but maturing quickly before his eyes. This was definitely a new Hinata that was sitting across from him and teasing him.

Hinata smiled back and then pointed to his side of the table. "I was saying, are you going to eat the rest of your cinnamon bun?" She asked for a third time since Kori had been jotting something down in a pocket size notebook.

Kori looked. After having a small meal, he ordered 3 cinnamon buns for them. They both ate one of their own and split the third one, but Kori had left his to sit as he has to write down a thought he didn't want to forget.

"Hmm, well you better be planning to work all these sweets off. Unless it's going directly to your-…."

"Sensei, don't. Saying such things!" Hinata folded her arms around herself with a huff. "Lewdness will not be tolerated." She added with mock stuffiness.

Hinata chose this place to eat at. It was a full service restaurant, but everyone came for their special pastries, breads, and sweets. Like the oversized cinnamon buns that no place else served. And they were addicting.

Kori laughed. "Yes. Of course, my lady. How rude of me. Here, it's yours." He pushed the small plate with his half of the cinnamon bun towards Hinata. "All yours."

"Mm," Hinata nodded appreciatively. "Well, that's very kind of you." The young miss bantered back, smiling and partaking of the remaining frosted bun.

"Anything for you." Kori winked making Hinata blush, to which she focused more on the sweet bread while trying not to turn completely red.

"Be sure to chew and digest that well. There's a few friends of mine I want you to meet. And we're doing some work with them today." Kori reminded her.

Hinata silently nodded as she chewed then swallowed. "I haven't forgotten. I'll be ready in 30 minutes."

"Very good." Kori snapped his fingers to get the attention of a server. "Two more glasses of water, please. And bring the bill." He told the waitress that came over. "Everything we ordered was great." He took out a few bills and handed to the dark haired girl.

"Thank you, I'll bring the bill and your water quickly." The waitress bowed and headed off, her work skirt swaying from her quick pace.

Hinata didn't realize it, but she was frowning slightly with disapproving eyes. Watching her sensei stare at the woman whose miniskirt was just barely work appropriate.

When Kori looked back, Hinata returned to eating; breaking the cinnamon bun into small pieces and eating bit by bit so she didn't stuff herself.

•

"At the end of our evening sessions you mentioned something about your former teammates." Hinata prompted. She noticed that since they left the restaurant they had passed through busy village streets and now the street they were trekking had grown more sparse. It was much less busy, enough so that the traffic of people were able to keep to one side. Coming and going separated to the left and right respectively. Hinata couldn't be sure, but it seemed like they were heading towards the so-called red light district. She wasn't sure because Konoha streets could usually be taken a few different ways to different parts of Konoha.

"Yes." Kori responded before correcting himself. "Well, we're meeting with one of them. The others will be out working. And while you'll likely meet the others later, this guy can help you the most. And I know what you're thinking and yes, we're going into the red light district.

Hinata blinked. "O-oh, I see." Safe said quietly. That was where…

"Its where my place is, but also Naruto." Kori said knowingly. "Is it that you still have a crush on that boy?" He asked innocently.

Hinata didn't immediately respond, she actually had to think about it. He was definitely attractive, but Hinata also realized that her heart wasn't pounding by the mention of the blonde. And previously, simply hearing his name would make her heart flip and start pounding within her chest. She wasn't sure, she realized.

"I'm…not certain. But perhaps not?" Hinata said slowly, questioning the lack of feelings she felt at Naruto's mention. Perhaps, now that she was maturing, she was also growing out of her previous mindset.

"As long as you're honest. Sounds like you won't be stalking after him anymore at least." Kori grinned, giving the small girl a teasing nudge.

Hinata's head whipped around to look up at Kori. "But sensei, h-how did you know about that?" She asked, red faced and feeling mortified that he knew about that.

Kori laughed and waved away her concern with a hand gesture. "How do you think, girl? Your personnel record, of course. There isn't much the village misses and you followed him all the time."

Hinata definitely felt mortified now. All those times and it never once occurred to her that she could be watched while watching!

"How embarrassing," Hinata squeaked, for the first time in awhile. She muttered something about ANBU as she his her face in her hands, turning a deeper shade of red.

Kori laughed at her plight. "Yup, ANBU was watching you. Don't feel too ashamed about it though, happens to everyone. And besides, it was just a brief notation in your file. Whoever put it there was aware it was because of a crush and not because you were crazy or trying to hurt someone. They didn't watch every single time, of course. No one could do that unless there was good reason for it." He said, trying to be reassuring with a little white lie mixed in with some truth.

"That's relieving to know, but still. How careless and thoughtless." Hinata groaned.

"Well, bright side is you're passed that now. You've really changed. And now you're maturing into a fine kunoichi. Who and what you become now is up to you. I can only guide you and show you the way."

"Yes, sensei. I am thankful to you and Haze for your help." Hinata smiled up at Kori.

"No problem. Just don't forget about us little people when you become a great woman." Kori said, half joking.

"I won't." Hinata giggled softly

"Great." Kori smirked. "For now, I hope you're ready, we're almost there." As Kori said that, Hinata realized that they were already in what was referred to as the red light district part of town.

"Always ready, sensei." Hinata bowed her head politely, determination showing through in her eyes.

"Good girl." Kori said approvingly, missing Hinata's cheeks dusting with a soft pink.

"It's a bit of a walk from the hospital and recovery center. And I'm usually not around here unless I'm staying at my apartment, but I promised the guys I'd try coming around more often." Kori explained.

Hinata was mildly curious about what she would be put to work on. Especially since Kori said it involved something that he couldn't teach her.

"I see," Hinata said before asking, "And what is it I'm learning?" She said softly, looking up at Kori as they moved in lockstep with each other.

The medic and seal expert only laughed shortly. "Just be patient. It's a grand present you'll get bestowed with." Kori reassured her with a smile and a wink causing the Hyuga heiress to shake her head, lightly blushing at Kori's antics.

"Say, have you heard of a ninja that goes by the moniker 'Songbird?" Kori quizzed.

Hinata raised an eyebrow in thought. "Once, briefly. Outside of that, no." The girl shook her head. "I overheard my cousin's teammate, Tenten saying something about how strong she was and that inducing genjutsu and real-time illusions with just words sounded like a strong ability.

Kori waved his hand. "It's a common misconception. Songbird is a guy, not a kunoichi. Since our team was disband he keeps to himself and because the rumors of his abilities paired with the feminine nickname, those that don't know him tend to assume it's a young woman."

Hinata looked surprised until she remembered some of her academy lesson topics about dangerous and influential ninja who just so happened to have feminine nicknames.

"This is us." Kori said waving Hinata along as he opened the wooden, unpainted hand gate into the property's pathway.

Hinata immediately froze.

Kori turned back when he noticed that Hinata had stopped following. He could guess what the problem was. "Hinata?"

"Is, Isn't this the Half-life House?" She asked, sounding meek. This was one of few places, despite it's green manicured grass, wooden fence, and uniquely painted light blue and maroon three story property, that Hinata had been warned about and forbidden from entering.

Kori just looked at her, feeling anger but not her. At the sheer, pervading influence of people's ignorance. "Yes, this is Half-Life. I don't what lies you've been told, but this place helps take care and look after this entire part of the village and it's residents. Sometimes even those that don't live in the area." Kori sighed.

"Not thugs and drugs? Not a brothel and hideaway for law breakers?" Hinata asked.

"People that call the owners thugs lack prospective. My former teammates started and run this place. Do some of their volunteers and staff have dubious backgrounds? Sure. Do they help folks down on their luck recover from drink and addictions? They do. If you're asking me if there are bad people and influences here? You'll have to decide for yourself." Kori explained.

"However, if you can go no further. I can help you no further. You've matured, but it seems you still have wool pulled over your eyes." After that, Kori turned and proceeded to walk up to the house.

Hinata hesitated as old warnings from Ko and her father whispered to her. She pushed them away as Kori got to the steps. "I, I'm coming!" Hinata squeaked in panic and ran to catch up.

Kori's expression was blank as he looked at Hinata briefly, then turned and pressed the buzzer next to the door.

Hinata looked every which way as she could hear sounds coming from the house, muffled by the walls.

"Ah, yes?" A young girl around Hinata's age, maybe older answered the door shortly after. With brunette hair and honey eyes, she wore a pink with black designs, a black skirt with belts angles around her waist, and black sandals with pin stripe pink and black leggings. Her nails were also painted black.

"Oh! Uncle Kori. It's been awhile." The girl exclaimed and pulled him into the house, leaving Hinata to follow after with a sigh.

"Mina, you look well. Growing up on me." Kori laughed as he pat her on the head making the girl turn red.

As her blush faded, the girl clicked her tongue. "Not grown up enough." She huffed, crossing her arms under her chest.

Kori was about to respond when a noise of several kids ran through the hall, laughing and screaming as they headed outside.

"Alright, I'm coming." Hinata looked to see a woman about her mother's age when she died being pulled along by another kid of about 8. She was wearing a blue dress with an apron over it. She had dark features, black hair and dark brown eyes set on a youthful and vibrant face.

Just as they came near the woman noticed Kori. "Well now, look what stray has made his way back." She said pausing and without effort, lifted up the child that had been pulling her into her arms. "The prodigal child returns." She smiled as the two hugged each other.

"Ah, I don't know about all that now, miss Jamie." Kori waved her off as Mina hugged one his arms possessively.

"Well, you'd better figure it out. I don't want to go this long without seeing you around here again. I can tell you're busy, so I'll give you a pass but I better see you again within the next two weeks." Jamie warned. "There's somethings we need to discuss. And I know the guys won't being it up. So…"

"I got it, I got it," Kori chuckled. "Promise, I'll be back soon and we can talk like we used to."

"Mhm," The dark haired woman sounded skeptical as she looked him up and down. "And who is this with you? I hope you aren't taking advantage of this sweet girl, you devil."

"What, who?" Mina asked immediately, not having noticed Hinata.

Hinata bowed deeply, smiling gracefully. "I'm Hinata, Hinata Hyuga. Its nice to meet you." She said kindly, giving off an air of high esteem. To the two women she seemed to glow.

Kori nodded silently to himself. He didn't think he could get tired of watching Hinata come into her own.

"Oh my goodness, she's the heiress of the Hyuga clan?" Jamie questioned, surprise. "Are you corrupting this dear sweet child!" Jamie exclaimed.

Kori laughed. "I love what looking after the kids off this place has done to you, Jamie. No, she's my patient…and student."

Meanwhile, Mina seemed to have taken offense to noticing Hinata with Kori, folding her arms even tighter and staring at Hinata with dislike. It was entirely in her expression.

'What's so great about her. Hmph, what does she have that I don't?'. The girl was just a bit jealous Hinata had the time and attention of Kori.

Miss Jamie seemed to let out a big breath of release at hearing that. "Ah, you're helping her recovery. Right, of course." She chuckled.

"But I can't lie. I'm most certainly corrupting her. She's in training, if you get my meaning." Kori burst into laughter and didn't notice Jamie taking offence to his smart mouth.

"Damn, Miss Jamie. I said I was sorry." Kori rubbed his sore ear after the woman had pulled on it something furious while giving him a long lesson about the proper respect of a maiden and jokes.

"Got my eye on you…" She warned, leaving outside to watch the kids play. The 8 year old was still laughing at him on the way out. "Be quick about it, Mina. Kori is busy with his student!" She called behind herself.

"Aww," Mina pouted and quickly hugged Kori. "Please, come back soon. I have something I want you to see." Mina whispered in his ear and squeezed his ass. Before Kori could say anything she kissed his cheek and ran off. "Later uncle!"

Hinata and Kori blinked as the girl disappeared around a corner. Hinata's face turned red. "Sensei, did she just…"

"Yes, Hinata. She did. See all the black and pink, she's always been a mischievous girl. Anyway, come on. What we're looking for is in the backyard." Kori explained as they started through the hallway.

"Mm, I don't think that's mischievousness, sensei. Unlike boys, girls know what they want when it comes to someone they like." Hinata said as she noticed all the pictures of various people and kids, there was even a large gold plague at the center but she missed what was on it as they passed through a relatively large kitchen.

"Not to misjudge your expertise on a maiden's heart, but did you not hear her call me, uncle?" Kori inquired.

"Mhm, I certainly did hear that." Hinata began as she noticed the kitchen was fairly sizeable. Not as big as the Hyuga staff kitchen, but big for any domestic house. She could tell several people worked in the kitchen to feed the entire house. There was no telling how many as they went no further than the ground floor.

"That just means she has a complex. Uncle could just be code…a complex that she's using to express her special brand off love for you." Hinata explained, quite soundly at that.

Kori stopped just as they reached the wooden screen door that led out back as he turned to his advising patient and student. "Oh? You sure sound as like you have experience in that area. So, what was your complex toward Naruto before now?"

Hinata turned as red as a ripe tomato almost immediately. "Hero complex." She said simply, but just as Kori was surprised she answered instead of ducking the question, Hinata continued. "Besides, I learned all that from y-y-you, sensei. Remember?"

He didn't, but he nodded his head anyway to distract while he asked himself a more important question. Why did she speak straight before, but then stutter mentioning him? By his logic that seemed backward, even if she were over her crush on the jinchuriki.

"Right. Anyway, he'll be out here. Let's go." Kori said simply, wanting to avoid thinking on it any further.

Hinata tilted her head slightly at Kori's lack of response as she followed him outside through the door.

The grass was just as green and lush in the backyard as it was the front. A single large, well manicured tree with a tree house sat high at it's top. A few targets were lined against one of high fence sides and at the center of it all was one man.

"Kori, my ninja, my brother is finally here!" The man exclaimed, grinning brightly. The man had deep red hair, long and parted to either side of his head perfectly at shoulder length. A scratched up hitai-ite wrapped around his forehead so his hair fell over it. His eyes were solid purple with star shaped pupils. He wore a long sleeved, black, swallow tail sweatshirt that was long like a trench coat with a large good. Beneath it was a white fishnet shirt for added protection. A pair of grey jogger style ninja pants with pockets on the legs and black shinobi sandals.

"Never change, Bird. Never change!" Kori and Songbird laughed good naturedly as they pounded their fists together and embraced in a brotherly hug.

"How's the others, what they up to? Kori asked smiling more than Hinata had seen so far.

"Ah, you know. No rest for the wicked, man. They're, you know, holding down the neighborhood."

"Right, right." Kori nodded then turned to Hinata. "So here's the hopeful songstress. Hinata meet Bird, Bird this is, Hinata."

"Nice to meet you," Hinata bowed deeply. She noticed the man had something of an exotic accent, a tone of voice far different than any she'd met before. Almost like two voices were speaking at once at the same time, perfectly in sync. "I like your voice," she added innocently as Songbird bowed in return.

"And you have the sweetest voice I've ever heard! Yes, Kori was right. You'll be perfect."

Hinata didn't understand and it showed. She looked at Kori, but he wasn't there and she only find him after turning around to find that he was leaving. "Sensei?" She tried to go to him, but Bird stopped her. "No, no honey. Kori has to go now."

Hinata's heart thundered in her chest. Kori wasn't stopping. He was still leaving her!

"Don't worry, Hinata. Just do what Bird says. I'll see you tomorrow. Bird, she looks like a fragile little doll, but don't let her fool you!" He said waving behind him without looking back and disappearing inside the house.

Songbird turned a stunned and teary eyed Hinata around to face him. "Why cry? Today is a great day for you." Bird said as he tenderly brushed his fingers through her hair. Hinata pulled away.

"Wha-what's happening. What are you going to do to me? I…I won't stand for this!" Hinata yelled, going into a stance.

However, she soon found herself forced into a chair and instantly bound to it with ninja wire. She looked at Songbird with eyes of betrayal, but not at him.

"You misunderstand, young lady. I'm to repay a favor and really we all win." Bird whispered to her as he crouched down.

Hinata's fearful eyes filled with questioning.

Songbird explained. "Kori, the guys, myself. We've had a great run. I've messed around plenty, but have no kids, and I wish to retire. To dedicate myself fully to this endeavor here, this house is a symbol of hope after all. Understand?"

Hinata swallowed hard but didn't say anything. She just shook her head for fear of stuttering and showing her weakness.

"A student that I can pass my Rhythm Release technique to. I've no heirs. Kori has given me reason to believe Konoha will suffer a great shock soon, but not just anyone can inherit my jutsu. It's not a bloodline but a secret technique passed down through the ages. By who? You'll find out later. But it has the ability to rebirth someone new and to take them to great heights. I'm to perform my jutsu before the guests the evening prior to the Chunin Exam finals. And then once more before the dignitaries at the event itself. It will be my last time. It's not just anyone who can inherit my secret jutsu and I'd given up. But then Kori got his life back and with it, he told me one month ago he had the perfect young beauty that could be student. And here you are, so what do you say…Will you take my rhythm and take it to greater heights? Your words, your very whisper could conquer lands, but you must be diligent. The technique is a simple one to learn, but the start of a full day of training starting now."

Hinata's pure white lavender eyes stared widely at Songbird. As he spoke and she looked into his eyes she could see herself toppling mountains, defeating army's, making ground and person alike fear her sound.

Hinata nodded stiffly. "Please, teach me master. So that my voice can be heard loud and clear. I accept."

"Great! Yes, you'll be great. I can see it in you. Unfortunately, I have to apologize." Songbird said, suddenly appearing apologetic.

"Because, to learn, you must be exposed. I wished Kori had brought you sooner, we could have stayed already. But he must have his reasons for pushing you. To wield the illusion of sound, you must live many hours exposed to the illusion of sound. I do not know what you will experience, but whatever it is, fight only when you need to fight. Run when you need to run."

Hinata looked confused as Songbird stood back and took a few deep breaths. "But I don't understand…"

"My word is my bond, my song is my oath. Where illusive sound lives, the truth sounds clear." After his words, followed by an obscure set of hand seals that Hinata was able to instantly commit to memory, she screamed. She screamed so loud the sound caused the sound barrier bound around the backyard to vibrate visibly.

Hinata screamed because Songbird screamed, or rather, he released a pitch of sound that only Hinata could exclusively hear.

Hinata's head tilted back and a streak of blood escaped her ears. She wanted to stop screaming as her lungs burned and the heat, such heat assaulted her vocal cords feeling as if they were splitting, sheering itself apart muscle by muscle.

Hinata didn't know when, but she was no longer aware. The heat on her throat was still there, but she was no longer in the backyard of the Half-Life house. She was surrounded by, she recognized this area. The waterfall she liked to train at near home, but there was already someone there. Humming and singing to themselves peacefully.

Small, glowing musical notes floated around in place of lightning bugs as she approached. She was shocked by what she saw.

"I know, right?" Hinata said as she stopped singing and looked at…Hinata.

Hinata stared. It was most certainly her, but this one looked…

"Different?" The Hinata giggled a delightful sound. She sounded so sure and free.

"You're right. I'm your subconscious self. The one you buried so deep beneath trauma, but the Hinata you always felt you could be."

"Ah, sensei?" Hinata squeaked, feeling small in the presence of her ideal self.

"Oh, yes. We like him, very much. Don't we? And that's despite knowing his motivations and care for us isn't entirely innocent. And I don't mean sexually. Sensei is indeed up to something. But that's for later. He was on his way to getting you to me, but it would've taken much longer. I think he realized this and so…"

"Songbird…" Hinata whispered.

"Yes, but not even I, the best version of you, believes Kori knew this would truly be the outcome. It just so happens learning this technique requires you to pass a test. So, I'm pleased to finally meet you again for the first time since we were three! I'm you're sub-conscious and I'm here to be your guide."

Hinata accepted that easily enough. "But why…"

"Why here? You thought I was your mother when you saw me. We very much look like her, don't we?" Guide Hinata sighed lovingly. "She would be here, but coming to terms with her passing is actually the one good thing you did well. You accepted she was gone and not coming back. Accepted that where ever she may be she's smiling down upon you and that she would be proud for the woman you're becoming. That was always the way I would've handled it. And I'm your best you, I would know. That said, there are so many things you need to admit to before you become me and you can properly wield the rhythm release."

"Like what, isn't it just a technique?"

"It is, but not just any. This isn't the Sharingan. This is a technique capable of influencing and delaminating the minds of others. You saw the possibilities earlier, that's just skimming the surface. And to wield such a jutsu requires a strong mind. You aren't there yet so the initiation to learning it is for the intended bearer to meet a certain threshold."

"And I'm not even at that threshold, so the technique is doing what it needs to in order to make sure I do." Hinata said with realization.

"Right! And what's a better, kinder way to do that than by resolving some unresolved mental baggage. So, as the mind is vast and you've never explored your own mindscape before. Here I am as motivation, the ideal all knowing you too show you the way. But don't get confused, I will only show you the way. What happens behind each door is up to you and only you. Now, you'll need to accept or you can…"

"I'm ready. I accept" Hinata nodded, expression hardened. She feared what she would be led to. So many possibilities. But she was determined.

"Then here we go." The inner Hinata snapped and the scenery around then disappeared leaving them in white. Suddenly hundreds, if not thousands of images of moments in Hinata's life passed by until doors appeared. The doors spun around the two as the images disappeared into the various doorways, then closed tight.

When Hinata looked, they were surrounded by doorways, unmarked and not numbered. The ideal Hinata whistled.

"Looks like you've got your work ahead of you. There's about 40 doors here. Well, you can enter anyone at anytime. When you're ready." Ideal Hinata bowed regally before stepping back and disappearing in a charge of light leaving Hinata on her own.

Hinata coughed as her throat burned. She reached for the door closest to her and found it pitch black. She was suddenly sucked inside and the door slam closed behind her.