Chapter 11: The Photographs
"A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you."
― Brigitte Bardot
Naruto & Jiraiya-Konoha Market District
'Why the hell is he still following me around?!'
Cerulean eyes peer over his shoulder, Jiraiya not bothering to hide himself walking a few steps behind him, matches his pace as he goes about the village's streets.
Obsidian catches his staring, grin lighting his face while throwing up a wave before Naruto quickly turns around.
'What does this pervert want with me?'
What happened to him being a bother? There's no reason for him to be trailing behind him just to be purposely annoying.
He grits his teeth, stopping in place. Anger pulses back up in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Jiraiya stops as well, casually folds his hands behind his head.
"What's up Kid? Why are we stopping?!"
"Leave. Me. Alone." Naruto growls out.
His voice cracks at nearby glass, jagged lines spreading out across the windowpane.
The shop owner jolts at the damage, steps out with broom at ready to push him away.
"Hey! You can't just-"
The words die on his lips, scowl fading taking in as blue eyes melt into red.
Naruto glances to him, dares him silently to finish his statement or try and stop him.
"Ah, never mind I'll just deal with this later!" He scrambles out, shuffling away quickly.
"Sorry about that! I promise I'll cover any damages!" Jiraiya calls out to the man's retreating back, sighing, unsure he hears him over the whistle of wind.
'I underestimated this Kid.' Jiraiya realizes, straightens his posture to be serious. Sure, all of Hiruzen and Ibiki's reports said Naruto is dangerous, but he assumed in the sense of a prankster who craved attention. The boy before him now is volatile, will kill if angered enough.
Wind picks up blowing up dirt and dust, Jiraiya folding his hands across his mouth and nose to not breathe in the growing haze.
Other merchants quickly shutter their doors, Jiraiya making no move to leave.
"Nope! Not going to leave when you're the one who ruined my research time! Where are you going anyways? You don't live on this side of the village?" Jiraiya casually answers after a moment's pause.
Naruto scowl deepens, turns to face him fully.
He never should've have let his curiosity get the better of him, now Jiraiya has made it his mission to follow him. He bristles at his curiosity, he isn't afraid of him like so many of the civilians are, unfazed by his rising ire.
"It's none of your business what I'm doing."
Jiraiya casually blows away the tornado of wind he directs at him, looks him up and down.
"You didn't honestly think I would just let you leave when it's clear you came to me for a reason, right?"
'Yes, for answers that you aren't going to give me!' Naruto spits in face, substitutes himself into a puff of smoke to rooftop hop away.
'Shadow clones. He won't be able to track the real me that way!' Naruto decides, unleashing hundreds of clones loose to scatter in every direction. He may need to just grab the cinnamon rolls Hinata loves without talking to Ikamoto the Head Baker, leave the ryo on the counter with how fast Jiraiya may be.
'I don't sense him behind me, hopefully that was a good enough distraction.'
He makes a sharp left into an alleyway, twists himself low into the shadows to think quickly.
The bakery is at least 3 buildings down on his right. Maybe a shadow clone closest could get the sweets, pass it back to him to take back home...
A hand pats at his shoulder before he can even get out of his crouching position, freezing up, spiky white hair blocking his vision when he half-turns.
"Who are we hiding from?!" Jiraiya smiles.
Naruto jumps from his grip, clones instantly turning to head back his way.
'I should put an end to this.' Jiraiya realizes at noting the property damage scattered about. Cracked glass shines in midday sun as various Narutos' jump down next to him from all sides, splinters of wood and toppled brick left in their wake.
"What?! How?" He snaps.
Jiraiya simply laughs as he straightens to a standing position, the original Naruto glaring at him akin to a feral beast. His clones match his rage, vermilion piercing, tracking him for his next move.
They each flick out their nails and Jiraiya holds up a hand in mock surrender.
"Whoa now, haven't you caused enough mayhem for one afternoon? Take a look at all the damage you've caused in less than an hour Kid. Besides, you're a bit too young to think you can properly take me on in a real fight. You said you know who I am, but do you really?"
Naruto snorts, sanguine still regarding him, melts a shade darker at his bragging tone. "A sad old pervert who won't go away when asked?"
"...Not quite. I'm not only known as the Toad Sannin Jiraiya, but I'm a world-renown spy, traveler, and best-selling author of the Make-Out Paradise series!" Jiraiya boasts, nodding to himself at all his major accomplishments over the years.
When he glances to Naruto again, he's taken back to the rooftops, clones dispersed.
He scoots as far away as possible from his hold when he easily gives follow, Jiraiya snickering at his flat look and grunts for him to let go when he pulls him into a head lock.
"I said all that to say that I have some of idea of how you're feeling being cramped up in this village. How old are you now? 10? 11?"
"13." Naruto supplies coldly while breaking out of his grip.
Jiraiya nods, takes his frostiness in stride.
"Ah, 13! I remember being that age!" He beams, points in the direction of the hot spring district until Naruto reluctantly follows his gaze.
Like he expected, the hot springs have been completely vacated, crystal blue waters reflecting the clear day overhead.
"Now, 13 can be quite the tumultuous time. I assume especially more so for you as Konoha's jinchuriki. You and I, think we have more in common than you realize, which is why I forgive your earlier actions."
"I don't care about your forgiveness." Naruto snorts, fury rising up again, studies him like he's a mosquito he can't seem to kill.
Jiraiya's grin simply widens. "I'm serious! Come on, 13 is the age of when people start having their first crushes and whatnot! Surely there's a girl you wanted to take a peek at once or twice at those very springs, right?"
And inevitably, Naruto thinks of violet hair and pearl eyes.
Hinata.
He can admit to himself at least his curiosity to see more of her cream skin, her body beyond the jackets and long sleeves she favors even on warmer days.
However, even as his sacrifice, he hasn't tried to look at her whenever she's bathing. In the earliest months when she was still adjusting to her new life, she always went to the bathhouses before finally feeling comfortable enough to use his bathroom.
"A-And it won't be a bother to you?" Hinata asks again to be clear.
She shuffles at her toes at Naruto's clear roll of his eyes, shaking his head.
"I'm not forcing you y'know. I just figured you wanna save ryo and are getting tired of people gossiping about how your life apparently sucks now. So, just use my shower or bath when you feel dirty. I cleaned it all up since last time you said it was too gross to use."
Hinata reddens, gaze falling to the ground while Naruto crosses his arms, patience wearing thin. "I-I didn't say it was gross! I just said it was a b-bit disorderly."
"Whatever, that's basically saying the same thing." He huffs.
He watches as she slowly pokes her head in to look around before turning away when their eyes meet.
"Another day." Hinata murmurs, walking back to the living room.
He assumes 'another day' is her polite way of saying 'never' until he comes home 4 days later, sweaty and littered with stains of mud from training in the deep woods alone only to find his bathroom door shut.
'Huh.' Naruto pauses, it isn't locked...
A soft voice hums out from behind the closed door as he plops down on his bed to wait.
'Hinata actually came in, she's here in my room, she forgot to lock the door.' His mind runs through too many scenarios, wondering what she thought of his space when he wasn't here.
10 minutes later he's greeted with the scent of jasmine and lily, lifting his head up just as Hinata's face snaps to him.
"Y-You're back early?!" She breathes out, pink warming her cheeks, pressing her towel closer.
Water drips down into a puddle between them, both going silent.
Fading sunlight from outside catches along her hair and shoulder, lights indigo with gold as she brushes wet locks from her flushed cheeks.
"Ahh yeah, sun was setting so I wanted to get home before it went completely dark." Naruto mutters at eventually finding his voice, scratching at his cheek. His stomach is tight with sudden nerves, studying his wood floor instead.
Hinata's never made him nervous, she's the one who skitters from his touch or stare after all, lives here knowing her family has benefitted from her being sacrificed.
Naruto blinks as she shifts, azure truly skirting her figure. Maybe it's better Hinata keeps hiding her body, her curves and bust would draw too much male attention.
Attention only he should have.
"I-I see! Well, I'm going back to the living room to change!"
He shakes away the possessive thought as Hinata scurries off, left with only her sweet scent lingering about the room that reminds him that exchange was real.
"No, that wouldn't work; she has the byakugan. She'd notice me looking." Naruto murmurs, considering the idea.
Jiraiya grins wildly and to his horror he realizes he muttered that part aloud, face warming at his snickering.
"Byakugan, huh? Like from the Hyūga clan? You wouldn't happen to be referring to that same girl sacrificed to you?"
Hinata-Naruto's Apartment
"You can't keep coming here without permission Hanabi."
She'd hate for an ANBU member or one of Lord Third's advisors to see her here in broad daylight, the Hyūga already under intense suspicion and rumors from Naruto's harsh attack on Neji.
That her being sacrificed wasn't enough, that deals have been sabotaged somehow.
"Nobody knows though, right?!" Hanabi chirps in return.
Hinata sighs, doubting that but still pouring her out a cup of oolong tea. She smiles taking in the curve of her lips, cheeks flushed pink with excitement at being able to see her again. Hanabi takes her in, swings her legs up and down trying to find something to say with all the latest updates in and outside the clan.
Hanabi huffs, gathers her thoughts. 'There's so much to talk about with only a short amount of time. Big Sis is looking well though despite how her match went.'
She peers up at Hinata before glancing back to her tea to take a long sip. Absently, her eyes drift to Lady Natsu waiting outside, shoulders stiff in alert worried over one of the neighbors or a passerby down below seeing them.
"Anyways, I'm not alone! Lady Natsu and I went out for a grocery run and this apartment just happened to be on the route we take home!" Hanabi declares.
'Lady Natsu refuses to come in though.' Hinata notes to herself.
"You look well Lady or err Hinata. Sorry for this sudden drop in; I can assure you we'll be gone before the jinchuriki returns back."
She'd pushed down the sting of her rather curt greeting, white eyes focused on Hanabi alone.
"10 minutes Lady Hanabi. We can't dawdle here long."
Hanabi had muffled back an okay, marveling since stepping in at all the changes to Naruto's apartment since last being here.
Mahogany wood flooring has been freshly polished, no visible balls of dust or silver webs dotting the furniture or walls like before.
Her gaze lands to her futon, eagerly jumps from the sofa to plop down beside her.
"It's soft! Much better than the sofa! He bought you this?" Hanabi questions, skepticism lacing each word.
Hinata shrugs, nodding. "It's...not so bad after a while. Naruto isn't like all the stories about him."
Hanabi wrinkles her nose, presses a hand to her forehead.
"Do you have a fever? Or does he have you under some type of genjutsu?" She questions, Hinata shaking her head with a light laugh.
"No and no. I'm not suffering...you can tell Father that if he's even curious."
Her stomach churns just mentioning him, hates the chill that rushes down her at this affect he still has on her.
Hanabi leans against her shoulder, lilac eyes sparkling about to spill secrets she shouldn't know.
"That's the thing Big Sis, he has been wondering, even if he would never say so aloud. Nobody thought you end up in a tie against Neji! I know Father's not allowed to make any changes since he signed all those official documents giving you away, but he hasn't sparred with Neji at all since the Exams ended; always looks deep in thought."
"He doesn't regret giving me away." Hinata sharpens her tone to burn and strike down any ideas Hanabi might try to put in his mind or any other clan member.
Hanabi pouts, lips flattening before pressing on.
"No, though he thinks about you I'm sure Big Sis."
'That changes nothing.' But this she keeps to herself, Hanabi perking back up just slightly at Hinata's gentle pat to her hands.
A series of taps at the window jolts the pair, Natsu's eyes wide with growing fear.
"He's coming back. Lady Hanabi, we must go. Now."
Her tone leaves no room for argument at Hanabi's low whine, Hinata squeezing her close for one final hug.
"Don't worry, I still haven't forgotten about breaking you out of here!" Hanabi assures her.
Hinata ruffles her hair. "I don't need breaking out; I like it here."
She can tell Hanabi doesn't believe her, brows furrowing assuming she's putting on a brave face. A low sigh escapes her lips as Natsu gently, but firmly tugs on her arm for them to go.
Today, there's no time for Hanabi to press her on why she's so keen to follow sacrificial rules, to stay with the very boy who put Neji in the hospital for nearly a week now, pair leaving as fast as they arrived.
'At some point, I'll need to be fully honest with her.' Hinata bites her lip.
The last thing she wants is Hanabi to learn through the grapevine how comfortable she's gotten here, the skips her heart does when she catches Naruto looking at her when he thinks she isn't paying attention...
All things that could make their way to Dr. Hashijimi to advise Lord Third's team that she needs a mental health 'check in' or for Father to punish Hanabi for visiting once again.
She moves to open the garden window, breathes in humid air, leftover remnants of the morning fog that rolled in from the greenery of the mountains.
Lightning storms brew in the distance, bundles of ink black clouds swallowing up blue skies still too far from Konoha, will probably arrive by nightfall telling by the crackle of the wind.
Her gazes tracks downward to see what Natsu saw first.
Naruto...and Jiraiya?
Naruto's hands are wound to a bruising red at his sides, deep frown marring his face as he scatters up gales of wind with each stomp of his foot.
A tornado on the move.
Jiraiya's cheshire grin widens, peers up to her briefly to wave, pays his foul mood no attention.
Hinata slides back inside, goosebumps prickling her skin at Naruto's expression.
'This was the man Naruto wanted so badly to meet, so why does he look so...unhappy?'
Sakura- Konoha Hospital
"He's in room 206-A, on your left when you get off the elevators." Kanako, one of the receptionists directs her.
Sakura nods, sends her a thankful smile before carrying on.
'Why am I here? I've hardly spoken more than a word or two to him.' Her thoughts question, feet propelling her forward anyways.
The morning hours are gone, spending a whole day training alone again isn't going to further her development as a kunoichi.
'It's fine, it's only temporary knowing that Naruto and Sasuke need extra attention to prepare for the Finals.' She reminds herself. Kakashi-sensei needs to be sure Sasuke can deal with Gaara and Naruto from what she's heard around the markets has a Sannin training him of all people.
Lady Azeki's words follow her like a shadow though, the true reasons behind why she's here today.
If Lee heard any mutterings from his fight with Gaara, any sense danger is coming for the village.
She doubts Lee has had any visitors besides Gai-sensei and Tenten, the only members of his team not currently hospitalized. Gaara, despite being the victor of their match in the preliminaries wasn't ready for the round to end. He may even still be out for his blood after Lee actually managed to land a hit on him, thought stopping her in place.
'Just like Naruto was with Neji?'
Bile swims at the back of her throat, jinchurikis are dangerous enemies to make.
And she shouldn't be placing herself in the potential line of fire.
Still, better this than target practice with herself in the grounds. Maybe after this she can search for a potential sensei of her own, a sparring partner to hold her over until the Chunin exams are over.
"99...100...101...102." Sakura hears a muttering from outside his door.
"Weird." She softly utters to herself.
Maybe Lee's boredom being cooped up in a hospital room is getting to him just as much as some of her own at having no formal team to go out on missions with beyond the lowest solo D-rank assignments.
She knocks and calls out her name, finds Lee midway between another push-up, verdant to onyx studying each other. The flower in her hands nearly wilts from her tight pressure, looks the area up and down if she's gone to the right room number.
'What on Earth is he doing?!'
Her gaze wanders to the nurse call light, Lee following her gaze and stiffening.
"Wait! Please, please don't call Nurse Yukemi; I don't need another pain shot that's just going to put me to sleep for hours! I've...I've only been out of bed 5 minutes; I swear on my youth!" Lee declares frantically while getting to a standing position.
Sakura studies him flatly, takes in beads of sweat dotting his forehead and arms, the clear dampness to his hospital gown that shows just how long he's truly been at this apparent workout.
"Get back in bed and I'll pretend I saw nothing. If she happens to walk in while making her rounds, I'll say you got overheated from all these blankets."
Lee sends her a grateful look, Sakura pushing on a small grin at his multiple bows of thanks.
"I owe you all your favorite snacks or sweets for this; it's not every day I get the lovely presence of Konoha's prettiest kunoichi! Your heart is just as fiery and youthful as I told Gai-sensei when he gave us a short spiel on all the other teams!"
'Okay? Whatever that means.' Sakura takes the nearest seat beside him.
"How do you feel?" She asks straight to the point as she helps him get settled back into bed. She takes in the wounds he's nearly re-opened in his haste to get back in shape, crimson spilling in a slow leak against white, his cracked smile hiding the true pain he's in.
Both physically and mentally.
Lee shrugs, grin fading. "Tired. Afraid. Gai-sensei said Gaara could return to finish the job, but it's not like I can be up 24 hours to watch for him, I'm burned out as is. Jealous some that this could be the end of my ninja career, before it even started. Gai-sensei must be exhausted too, he's been trying to keep an eye on my room and Neji's for Naruto. Luckily, it seems Neji will get discharged either tonight or tomorrow."
Sakura balls her fists in her lap, squirms at her next question.
"Gaara...Gaara is Suna's jinchuriki. I know it's a stretch to ask you this, but did you happen to hear anything weird he said during your match?"
Lee cocks his head, puzzled. "Weird like...?"
Sakura hums, waves her hand absently in the air unsure how to describe this. "I don't know, like any potential destruction he or one of his siblings could be plotting against Konoha? Mutterings of a planned attack?"
Her thoughts sound crazy spoken aloud, going off a fortune teller's words rather than any substantial facts.
'Be wary of a downward slope coming filled with darkness and heartache...'
She's gone through dozens of scenarios in her mind on what this could mean if it's to happen soon, the only situation that could spell such a thing happening is an event as big as the Finals, the time where shinobi from each nation will be at the stadium to plan a possible surprise attack.
Lee laughs hollowly. "Ah, you worry for the two jinchurikis fighting each other in the Finals? Or Sasuke? I've seen the way you look at him, how all the girls have looked at him. No, all I heard Gaara mutter was his rage at seeing his own blood from an attack that actually landed on him for the first time in perhaps years."
Sakura's cheeks burn at how easily he sees through her, voice going dry.
He leans his head back against his pillows. "Neji told me once before in the early stages of the Exams that the way Suna treats sacrifices is via experiments to test Gaara's power, feed his jinchuriki with the throws of blood and death."
Sakura hears what he doesn't say. That he is now in the path of Gaara's desires to kill.
Yukemi walks in before Lee can say any more, eyes squeezing shut at another pulse of pain.
Hazel eyes instantly track to his injuries, the rise in his blood pressure and heart rate.
"A new visitor! Seems she's got your heart fluttering with how fast it's going right now." She chimes out, but Sakura sees the way her gaze turns to her suspiciously, a clear wondering why Lee's injuries are opening back up, why he's in such distress.
Lee opens his eyes just slightly as Sakura shuffles out the way, in awe at the way Yukemi easily replaces his bag IV antibiotics, pops open the drawer beside the bed to pull out his wound care supplies.
'Wow, I need to get fast with my hands that way too.' She admires.
"Thanks for visiting me Sakura." Lee manages a light grin, whatever Yukemi just pushed in through his line makes him slide deeper in the bed.
Sakura nods faintly, Yukemi sending her another long look and forced grin amid opening up packages.
'You're not going to get anymore answers.'
It's her cue to leave.
Naruto, Hinata, & Jiraiya- Naruto's Apartment
"If...If you're just going to give him false hope, you should leave."
Naruto shifts beside her as if he's heard her. A sheen of drool slides across his cheek, turning over still in a deep slumber.
The effect of Jiraiya lacing his tea.
Hinata clamps her hands together, sweat beading her palms while her nails dig and form half-moons. It was one thing to talk back to Neji during the Exams, but it's a whole other ballgame to be so openly rude to a Sannin, an elite shinobi far beyond her skill.
Jiraiya blinks, coal black eyes switch from teasing and jovial to analyzing, dark in a flash at Hinata's tone.
"I see you haven't lost all of that Hyūga frostiness...or maybe you picked up a thing or two from Naruto." He muses.
He waves a hand around the apartment at her silence. "You saw how Naruto was acting before he came in; I had to calm him down somehow. I'm sure you two don't want to deal with further complaints from your neighbors of Naruto inadvertently damaging windows and devices in his rage. Just because he's nice to you doesn't mean he can let his temper spill out across the village."
Hinata purses her lips, draws in a deep breath to stay calm herself at Jiraiya's flat look. She's suspects like Naruto, that this man has a closer connection to him that he refuses to explain beyond ambiguous responses. "I...I never said I agreed with what Naruto was doing; I just don't like the method you went about it to control him. You made him mad in the first place when all Naruto wanted was to learn from you. If you're not interested, just tell him that so he can find another mentor before the Finals."
Jiraiya swirls at his cup. "Who said I wasn't interested?"
Hinata doesn't bother hiding her frown at his sudden declaration. "You did when you only referred to him as Konoha's jinchuriki."
Jiraiya hums, settles back against the sofa.
"Well, that's his title; isn't it? And compared to my past mentees, Naruto would be a much more difficult case. Is he truly up for the challenge?"
"You know he is."
Jiraiya chuckles, stare switching to Naruto.
"So Kid, guess your sacrificial gift-no, Hinata believes in you. She seems really on the defensive here for you despite being just friends as you say. I suppose I should have some faith you can win all your matches in the Finals; huh?"
Hinata jolts as Naruto moves to a sitting position, blinks away the haze of sleep.
"You've been awake?! F-For how long?" She sputters in shock. Her face warms recalling all she just said so openly, anything that could be embarrassingly used against her at a future point.
Azure trails to her, slow grin rising up.
"Long enough!" Naruto chuckles.
'That didn't answer my question!' Hinata huffs, considers that Jiraiya had noticed from the beginning Naruto has been feigning sleep for a while.
Cerulean twists to him next, smile vanishing.
"Did you mean that Old Perv? You'll actually train me? And answer at least one of my questions regarding that photo?"
'That photo again; an exact match to the one I have. Why would Minato have stored it in that scroll of all places?' Or maybe Kushina placed it there?' Jiraiya wonders.
Either way, Naruto doesn't need to know about them right now.
Jiraiya shrugs. "If you can survive my training, then sure."
Naruto and Hinata share a look.
'He's being vague again.'
Jiraiya claps his hands regaining both of their attention.
"Alright, I've decided you're an interesting enough case Kid! Meet me by the Naka River at 0800 tomorrow!"
He poofs away before they can say anything else, Hinata studying his discarded teacup, crumbs from the rice crackers he happily munched away on.
"Think he's being serious?" Hinata can't help but ask aloud.
Naruto studies the photo again, a blond stranger with a younger Jiraiya both beaming for the camera before looking to the space he just vacated.
"I don't know, I can't read him like I can other adults y'know. He has answers though and I'm going to find a way to dig them out of him one way or another."
Neji-Hyūga Manor
"You heard about his draw to Hinata of all the qualified genin, right?" Hizako mutters.
"You mean his loss? That's what Master Hiashi probably considers it as despite visiting him in the hospital. I thought he was a prodigy; he hails from the branch clan after all and learned all of the main family's techniques from simply observing." Hinoka scoffs.
Hizako laughs coldly. "This is what happens when a branch member tries to step out of position or line. Master Hiashi never should've gotten his hopes up even with his initial signs of skill."
They don't bother with lowering their voices as he moves to pass them, snickers only growing louder on his back.
Casted back into the shadows since his defeat.
Late evening sun trails along his arms, amber glow providing some warmth with all he's learned since losing in the preliminaries.
'I've requested Hiashi give you this letter after my death. To begin, I want to wholeheartedly apologize for all the anger, all the frustration I showed you in life towards the main family, towards my own brother...'
Hinata all this time truly isn't the first person made a sacrifice in this clan; Father willingly gave up his life.
His last words put to pen have been circling his mind for days, his feelings at the time and Uncle's.
'At first, Hiashi was insistent he be the one to go to prevent Kumo from starting a war, he had been the one who killed Hinata's potential kidnapper after all. Granted, it obvious to anyone in and outside the clan that Kumo just wanted the byakugan, to study and learn its secrets.'
That explains why even the mention of anything Kumo related makes any older Hyūga wince, lips prickling as if having tasted something sour.
'Lord Third would come by the manor practically every afternoon asking to speak with Hiashi on what his final decision was when I made up my mind and interrupted them two days before action needed to be done. Hiashi was...distressed, I don't think I've seen him so sad since we were kids, but I could finally make a decision for myself not ruled by clan politics; be free.'
He's read that final line multiple times, considers if Hinata too feels free from the clan despite the ways of her being sacrificed far different from Hizashi's.
His stomach lightly growls, reminds him he's barely eaten anything but a small bit of porridge in the early hours of the day. There is still the pressure of eyes and snickering on him from both main and branch members each time he's gone to sit down for a meal this week, coming up with excuses on his own to not linger in the dining hall.
'It still hurts to chew really.' Neji sighs, twists to head for the kitchen.
Father forged his own path in life, and he can too, no matter if he's a branch member.
The dinner rush has hopefully passed by now, it had been hard enough to ignore during the breakfast hours lingering stares on bruises that have only just started to lose their violet hue, stitches and bandages that he must change at least 3 times a day to prevent infection.
Hanabi peers up from a bowl of rice as he enters, freezes mid-bite.
"Ah, I thought everyone was done eating! I can go, if you want-" She starts, already moving back from the table.
Neji shakes his head, holds up a hand for her not to retreat.
"It's fine, I just need a light meal to hold me over into tomorrow."
Hanabi hums suspiciously and Neji partially can't blame her, he's never wanted her company before this.
"Did Naruto scramble your brain too?" She asks daringly.
Neither did she speak this way to him either.
Neji half-shrugs, sucks in a breath at a ripple of pain from doing said action.
"Yes, I suppose. Hinata scrambled my lungs and stomach while Naruto took out my head."
Hanabi half-smiles at his joke. "Good. The old Neji was a jerk!"
Neji moves to warm up a plate of rice with curry, feels Hanabi's gaze on his back.
"Hinata. You went to visit her again; didn't you? How is she?" He asks aloud.
At her silence he fully looks her way, Hanabi's expression completely guarded, ice in her voice.
"Don't act like you suddenly really care about how Big Sis is doing. No way will I risk you spreading any updates on her back to Hirika or Father."
Neji opens his mouth to argue against her sudden hostility before shutting it.
Neither sister will trust him so easily, if ever knowing his previous actions.
'I've burned bridges.' He acknowledges to himself alone at Hanabi's glare.
Bridges he isn't sure can ever be fully restored.
Naruto & Jiraiya-Naka River
"Summons are contracts you can form with certain animals you're most naturally associated with. They can aid you in battle or on assignment one said animal gives their signature in agreement." Jiraiya lectures.
He stops himself at the myriad of tadpoles surrounding Naruto, sighs. He'd been sure once he took that dark seal off of him that'd been affecting his chakra, this would all come naturally to him. He'd even left him alone for an hour to catch a quick peek at some other woman who'd wanted to cool off in the river.
Apparently, he needs more lessons.
"Come on Kid, are you even taking this seriously? Bring out your all your strength and power as if you're about to die!" Jiraiya declares.
Naruto doesn't answer him, picks up a nearby stone he barely dodges in time when he shoots it at him. The stone cracks through the bark of a nearby tree, hole left in its revealing wreaked wood and ripped leaves.
'Shit, wrong choice of words.' Jiraiya swallows.
When he peers back to Naruto his eyes are scarlet, watching him, but at least making no move to further attack him or anyone else close by.
"What makes you think I'm not trying? Is there something that's changed in my demeanor or actions?" He snaps.
Jiraiya holds up his hands defensively, blows out a breath. "No, alright, but I do got a question for Kid. Do...Do you talk to Nine Tails often?"
Naruto pauses, clicks his tongue at clearly not expecting this question. "...Sometimes."
But he hasn't spoken to him since shortly after Hinata was sacrificed to him.
"I've given you blood, destruction and death plenty of times before now. What more do you want?" Naruto scowls.
The fox sneers in return. "Yearly offerings as we both know will never be enough to fully appease me or you. I want more blood spilled, to watch the deaths of everyone who has tried to use my power as their own. Though there is something new I see you've finally gotten for once besides old junk and food."
Naruto says nothing, squirms realizing where he's going. "No. Hinata isn't getting involved in this."
Crimson narrows. "What makes her different from any other gift you've gotten? You can just-"
"I said no." Naruto cuts him off.
He avoids Jiraiya's stare as he gets up to walk further down the river, towards the cliffside.
'Only one way to prove I'm serious. That I'm worthy to become chunin and beyond.' Naruto blows out a breath. He blocks out the roar of the waterfalls and river, the swirl of wind that goes all the way down into the dark.
The abyss.
Jiraiya gives follow after him, eyes meeting one last time.
"You said I would need to feel the rush of death to summon, this is the closest area to try it." Naruto announces.
He ignores the pounding of his heart in his ears, the tremble in his hands he forces to be still.
And then he jumps.
Jiraiya blinks back his shock, leans over to watch as Naruto maneuvers his body center away from slicked, spiked rocks, eyes shut drawing in air controlling his speed. Cerulean bores down into the pitch black when he's calmed himself enough, lifts his thumb to his lips.
"Summoning jutsu!"
The toad that comes engulfs the chasm grunts in annoyance, huffs making him gag on scent of tobacco.
"Of all the damn times for Jiraiya to summon me-" Gamabunta mutters, looking around for the spiky haired man.
And where the hell is he? There's no fight going on as far as he can see.
Naruto pats his head, gaining his attention.
"Not Jiraiya this time. Just me Naruto." He clarifies.
His tongue wraps around him before he can say more, looks him up and down, dryly laughs.
"You're just some runt. I don't got time to play with you. Where's Jiraiya?" Gamabunta asserts once more.
Wind rattles at the trees even further as Gamabunta leaps them out of crevasse. Enough to blow him back some and consider if they're truly in battle.
'Drive a tree into his eye. Remind him who is master and who is summon.' His thoughts darken.
Naruto lays back, swallows back the urge to argue with a toad that can squash him in his exhausted state.
'Remember Hinata. Remember I said I would try to not start arguments with Pervy-Sage if I could help it.'
He bites hard on his tongue until the metallic tinge of blood singes his nostrils, further distracts him from his rage.
"Fine. Just check the scrolls then; I formed a contract. Even Toads can't be polite to me when being introduced y'know." He grumbles.
Gamabunta sets him down beside the river when he hears nothing more from the boy, gold eyes moving from Naruto to the scroll.
"Huh. Well, I'll be. Guess you really did summon me." Gamabunta remarks.
"Told...ya." Naruto huffs, startling the toad even more that he hasn't passed out.
Cobalt stares up at him dryly before looking towards approach footsteps.
'Huh, he's really the spitting image of his old man.' Gamabunta considers, following his gaze.
Jiraiya saunters up just as he provides his footprint signature confirming the contract, nods knowing that he'll handle the rest.
Jiraiya settles beside him, helps him back up into a sitting position.
"You said you would answer one of my questions regarding that photograph. So, tell me this? Who is that blond kid? What happened to him?"
Jiraiya laughs dryly. "That's two questions Naruto, but guess I'll indulge you."
His expression turns nostalgic towards the setting sun, memories Naruto can't see passing through his mind. He shakes away sweat from his eyes, fights not fidget in the midst of his soreness.
He chose questions where he couldn't be so vague or give him some type of non-answer like before.
"To put it simply, the blond kid was the previous sacrifice to the jinchuriki. As for what happened to him? He died years ago during an attack on the village."
A silence falls between them, Jiraiya clapping his while moving to stand.
"Alright, well that's all in the past now! Some of those scratches and bruises you got will need medical attention. I'm gonna fetch you some water and then we'll head back!"
Naruto watches him go, fights with sleep trying to pull him under.
'Dead.'
He lets the finality of it sink in, that this boy died before he could even ask him questions on what Pervy-Sage truly does outside the village, his connection to the Uzumaki.
All of it he took the grave.
He burns holes on Jiraiya's back watching as he detours to check the springs if any women are having a late evening soak, shrieks and slaps filling the air a moment later.
'Idiot.'
Naruto looks away from him back to an amber sky, lets his drowsiness wrap around him this time.
His thoughts refuse to rest as easily, one last question slipping through.
'What else is he keeping from me?
-x-
I finished this chapter earlier than I thought I would!
I know a lot of people are wondering if Hinata will travel with Naruto during his iconic training trip with Jiraiya that will lead into Part II. This chapter marks the beginning of me dropping hints on what will happen. Look for tiny clues!
Technically, I have two drafted ideas. Though I know which one I'm leaning more towards and will blend the ideas of the one not chosen into the final product!
As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters along with other NaruHina goodies/NSFW, bonus content, MHA stuff, and my original works! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there! Check out my Insta by the same name for my book reviews, anime drawings, and travel blog!
Otherwise, appreciate any thoughts!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!