hi! English isn't my first language. thought in italic , dialogue in " ", POV alterning and Naruto's still not mine.
Chapter 20
Neji Hyuuga was in a foul mood.
And yes, it had something to do with this newly minted Anbu who was still failing at these relatively easy drills.
It also had something to do with the fact that he hardly got any sleep last night, what with the sudden change of guard duty schedules. Add to it that the Commander had smirked at him unapologetically when he did inform him of the change.
Bastard.
And the fact that he missed Hinata this morning, so he didn't get to talk to (lecture) her.
But mostly because it was confirmed to him at breakfast with the rest of his clan, that his cousin was officially linked to the Uchiha as his apprentice.
There were various reactions of course. Some of the Main members thought it a great honor to get such an apprenticeship, after all the Uchiha was a name steeped in history and almost as prestigious as theirs. It will only add glory.
Others thought it not worthy of their Heiress after all the Uchiha history was steeped in blood and betrayal and isn't what it used to be. There was no glory in that.
The Branch members were even more conflicted. Some feared for their heiress, and thought it probably a nefarious plot, for the last Uchiha was in one word: terrifying.
Others trusted in their Heiress's decision.
And the rest were (mostly women) giddy stating that this was indeed a plot. A plot to win their heiress's heart.
Neji had rolled his eyes so hard he could see the back of his skull without activating his Byakugan.
Either way, the general census especially from the Branch side of the family was that the clan might be losing their most sparkling gem to the Uchiha. Especially with the way the elders have been treating Hinata lately and their current reaction of indignation. Or as Hanabi called it angry case of constipation.
And although he was glad that Hinata has basically found an out-of-the-jail-free-card when it comes to future nefarious Hyuuga elders plots, he was ticked off she didn't tell him about any of it; Not her participating in the Tournament, nor the apprenticeship, not even her training with the red eyed bastard.
Hanabi of course had snorted and said that of course she wouldn't tell him as he had a tendency to and he quotes 'lose his absolute shit' when it came to Hinata and anyone with the XY chromosome. And you really need to untwist your panties Nii-san, not all men are out to deflower Hinata!
Neji scoffed, as far as he was concerned anyone with a functioning member was a threat.
But especially the smug Uchiha bastard whose dark gaze used to linger on his cousin even before they started interacting and now, he down right ogles her.
A bit like this new recruit, who was stupidly gaping at something behind him. Neji was about to reprimand him when two more additional Anbus stopped training too.
"Hey Ichigo. Isn't that the cute medic you tried to ask out?" Asked a brown-haired shinobi. He was one of the new recruits.
"Yeah and I got cockblocked by the Commander." Ichigo huffed remembering the incident not that long ago. He'd never feared for his life more than in that day.
"Who is that?"
"That" Genma who just joined them, interrupted "Is Commander Uchiha's apprentice."
Neji's head snapped behind him. He was met with the sight of his cousin trailing after the Uchiha tugging at her sleeveless shirt self-consciously as they made their way towards the middle of the training pit.
The Hyuuga frowned. What is Hinata-sama doing down here in standard Anbu training attire?
"She's hot." Someone whistled and immediately froze as he felt the full glare of Neji's Byakugan.
"And…Captain Hyuuga's little sister." Genma grinned.
Once he felt the other man was sufficiently cowed, he glanced back at the two dark-haired individuals who were standing too close for his liking.
"Are you sure it's ok for me to be here?" Hinata said looking at the ground as she felt all the eyes on her. "What if you get in trouble?"
"What are they going to do?" Sasuke snorted "Report me to my supervisor?"
"They can report you to Naruto." The blue haired kunoichi stifled a giggle at his nonchalant attitude.
"I'm terrified." The Uchiha kept a deadpan expression as she lost her battle against her giggle. It was weird to hear such a sound in the training pit of the Anbu facility. But not unwelcome.
The pit was a big open-air clearing that allowed the sun to beat on their backs when they trained, surrounded by a circular wall. There were training post and racks with different type of weapons displayed on them. The whole place was under the strongest camouflage seals, even ones that impaired the Byakugan.
"Is it ok for me to train here?" She fidgeted "I mean what about keeping most of my skills hidden."
"Everything that happen here is considered an S-class secret" The Uchiha turned to face his companion "No one will say anything and if they do, they'll have me to answer to."
"Such a fearsome Commander." She smiled. He could see her shoulders relaxing. But she was still too wounded up.
"I am." he smirked before raising the volume of his voice "What are you all looking at?! Get back to training!"
There was a flurry of movement around them as his barked order registered in the surrounding shinobi's minds.
"See. Terrifying." He raised an eyebrow. "Come Hyuuga. These new recruits need a demonstration in real training."
She followed him as he made his way towards the weapon picking up four kunais.
"What are we doing?" She tilted her head adorably as he handed her two.
"We're playing slash the shinobi." The Uchiha's smirk made a few of the others nervous. (Particularly Neji)
"The easy version or the advanced." Hinata asked. She was glad Sasuke was offering an exercise other than a Taijutsu spar. Given the fact that she was still quite angry, she didn't want to lose it in front of all these people.
The last time she was this upset, she ended up crying on his chest. That was not happening in front of the Shinobi elites of the village.
At least with this kunai exercise, she'd have to stay focused.
"It's a demonstration for Anbu." He snorted "The advanced."
"But no one is paying attention" She frowned as he handed her the blindfold next.
"They will be." The Uchiha said taking off his shirt prompting the female Anbus and few male's jaws to drop.
"S-sasuke!" Hinata's face reddened "W-what are you doing?"
"Evening out the playing field." He smirked as she tied the Dojutsu-nullifying blindfold around her head quickly to hide his half naked form. "More surface for you to slash."
"How many until we call it?" He could still see the pink blush from under the blindfold.
"Ten." The Uchiha took her hand and dragged her to the middle of the pit were other were pretending not to pay attention.
He walked a few paces away from her and tied his own blindfold around his eyes.
"Rules?" Hinata said concentrating on her surroundings. She could hear the murmurs and the hushed conversation but she tuned it all out. Until she felt Sasuke's electric chakra like a spark in the air waiting to ignite.
"No chakra. No jutsu. No Dojutsu." He answered, he didn't need to strain his ears too much to concentrate on the sound of her breathing. Almost all the noise disappeared once he spoke. "The first to lend ten slashes on his opponent wins."
"Ready?" She tightened her grip on each kunai.
"Go." And they both leaped.
Neji had initially been glaring at the smirking Uchiha and his cousin who seemed to be enjoying his attention.
However that glare had turned into slight apprehension once he saw him hand her a kunai.
The murmurs around him only increased.
"The commander is going to spar?" Whispered one Anbu.
"With medic Hyuuga?! She's tiny!" That Anbu named Ichigo exclaimed disturbed by the concept of his delicate looking cousin was going to fight the Sasuke Uchiha.
"Don't let her small stature fool you" Genma answered hand in his pocket. "she's tougher than she looks."
Neji internally agreed with him, after all he spent years training her and she's been training with the Uchiha too. She's bound to have improved.
Most people tend to forget that Hinata-sama is one of Konoha's 11. One of the most promising batches of shinobi ever produced in recent years.
Neji had faith in her abilities to manage a friendly spar.
"Isn't the Byakugan necessary for fighting?" asked someone.
Concern swept over the Hyuuga Captain when she was handed a blindfold. A blindfold he knew had the ability to cancel their Dojutsu. It was second nature for a Hyuuga to rely on their eyes. Neji himself never experimented with fighting blindly. Mostly because his clan has installed in him a sense of pride in their visual prowess.
But it seems the Uchiha had implemented this unorthodox method.
Most of the hushed conversations came to a stop as soon as the Uchiha tied his own blindfold and stated the rules.
The Hyuuga male relaxed. It seemed simple enough, just an exercise in spatial awareness.
He hadn't been prepared to see how they both launched themselves at each other with such speed. No one was.
And when the sound of metal-on-metal clanged, murmurs rose again. They all expected the spar to end in the span of five second with Hinata bleeding.
Yet his cousin could keep up. Of course, the Uchiha wasn't using his full speed or strength, after all he wasn't aiming to kill.
But he was keeping his speed at a level higher than Hinata, however she was able to dodge and didn't falter when she was cut twice.
"Incredible!" Someone exclaimed "For someone who relies on their eyes, to fight off the Commander's attacks blindly like that."
Neji's eyes widened slightly when a red line appeared on the Uchiha's arm.
She got him!
"Well, I don't think the Commander would let just anyone represent the Uchiha clan." Genma said gaping slightly when a second cut landed on his leg as she hit the ground to avoid a slash.
Just what type of training was his cousin doing?!
All the Anbu stopped training as they watched the Uchiha increase his speed every time she landed a hit. But she did not falter but kept on fighting tooth and nails.
Neji was struck with deep pride, Hinata had indeed improved tremendously. He was sure he hadn't seen the half of it, he remembers the Uchiha's smugness when she was fighting in the preliminaries and he noticed she was holding back.
Watching them now, that's when it hit him. She was fighting like him. The way she moved still had that unique Hyuuga fluidity but there was a new sense of fierceness that disturbingly reminded him of the last Uchiha.
She wasn't hesitating. She was fighting to win.
When both cousins spared, once she landed a hit she always pulled back a little. As if she was afraid to hurt her opponent. She aimed to disarm.
Now watching her violently slash her kunai near the Uchiha's throat. Neji could see she was aiming to kill. It may have something to do with the fact that she couldn't realistically do it. But she still had no qualm about hurting him. And neither did he apparently what with the way he brutally kicked her.
The Hyuuga came to the conclusion that the Uchiha had succeeded where his clan had failed. Training her mercilessly without crushing her spirit.
Everyone held their breath as both stopped moving.
The raven-haired shinobi had one of her arms pinned behind her back and the kunai on her throat. And although he spoke quietly, he could hear him.
"Last cut. Do you surrender?"
"Do you?" She answered.
A slow smirk graced the Uchiha's lips. Neji's eyebrows rose high when he spotted her kunai positioned on his inner thigh, close to a place no man wants a sharp object to be.
"Are we getting bold now princess?" Eyes narrowed as he saw the Uchiha's smirk widen before he pressed his lips to her ear and whispered something he couldn't hear.
The Hyuuga scowled when Hinata jump out of his hold, her face a shade of red he never saw before.
"N-not f-funny." She stuttered.
"Not a joke." The Uchiha took off the blindfold, he could see a gleam of amusement in his eyes as he regarded the kunoichi who somehow reddened even more and sputtered.
The brown-haired man grinded his teeth.
Does he have to always invade her personal space?
As if he could hear his thoughts, onyx eyes glanced in his direction smirked, then turned back to his cousin getting even closer and flustering her further with his half nakedness.
"Feel better?" The Uchiha asked "if not we can go somewhere more private and you know"
He smirked and Neji felt his face redden "It'll help you unwind."
"But we said we should stop, so we wouldn't get caught" Hinata bit her lips looking down.
"But it'll makes you feel so good" The Uchiha practically purred lifting her chin slightly with his finger "One more round. No one will know"
The Hyuuga of course had no idea they were talking about launching fire balls at each other, and the muttered "Damn. Commander's putting the moves on." near him did nothing to help the situation. So, he found himself standing between them, glaring at the Uchiha "Enough!"
When he saw the mocking glint in the other's man eyes, he knew he had been played. The ex-avenger obviously knew he had been listening and decided to use some type of double intender to rile him up. That didn't stop him from being pissed off.
"You. We're having lunch, we need to talk." Neji said to his cousin "You! Put a damn shirt on and keep your paws to yourself!"
"Neji-Nii-san!" Hinata scolded "It was just a friendly spar. I'm fine."
His sweet cousin was so innocent. This is why he had to protect her.
"It'll be hard to." The bastard had the audacity to smirk at him again.
The Hyuuga dragged his cousin away before she could utter a single word.
"I really hate this place." Sasuke said as he looked around training ground 44 also known as The Forest of Death.
The main event for the Tournament was to be held here. All the participants that made it past the preliminaries were to be venturing in the forest to engage in what amounted to be a dangerous game of hide and seek.
It was a free for all battle, each one will be entering a different gate and would have to hunt down the other participants to battle it out. The last man or woman standing will be declared the winner.
It was preferable to incapacitate their opponent so they'd be picked up by the surrounding Anbu ops who wouldn't interfere. However, like the Chunin exams there will be no penalty for those who killed their opponents. They were after all Ninjas, no strangers to life-or-death situations.
"It's not that bad. Plus, Konoha's shinobi will have the advantage having already ventured there." Naruto said with a grin that faded at his friend's flat look.
"Do you not remember our first Chunin exam?" Sasuke crossed his arms. He doubted he was the only one to undergo a traumatizing experience in there. Although it was nothing compared to the massacre or the horrors he saw in Otto later on. He had been but a twelve-year old Genin when he first faced Orochimaru and it had been horrifying at the time.
"Are you worried for your girlfriend Teme?" Naruto wiggled his eyebrows teasingly.
"Dobe. Shut up." The Uchiha glared at the Hokage.
"If it makes you feel better" The blond was not cowed "Hinata-chan's team was the second to make it to the tower in the Chunin exams. So, she'll be fine."
The ex-avenger knew that both the Hyuugas participating had the most advantage out of everyone. They had the Byakugan to help guide them. And Hinata was even more qualified being a tracking-nin.
"Plus, I doubt there'll be any Dojutsu obsessed Nins lurking in there." Naruto grinned again. "What's the worst that could happen?"
The Sharingan user glared at him again, it felt like he just jinxed it for some reason.
Sasuke turned his eyes to where Hinata was standing a bit far off, saying good bye to her teammates that came to wish her good luck. She was garbed once again in the ninja attire he gifted her, her hair in another complicated braid, the tip resting on her shoulder making it possible to spot the Uchiha fan on her back.
He was really liking the visual.
"Uh-oh this won't end well." Naruto exclaimed.
That's when he saw Hiashi Hyuga and two Hyuuga elders making their way to her. He already felt his anger mounting at the way those elders were looking at her. Like she was beneath them. The Uchiha took only one step before he felt a hand gripping his arm.
"Don't." Naruto had a serious look on his face "It's her fight."
He regarded him carefully. It seemed that Naruto wasn't unaware of the tension between the Hyuuga clan council and their Heiress. It shouldn't have surprised him. He was the Hokage and a friend of Neji's and Hinata's before he even accepted her feelings.
"Fine." The raven-haired said. He will leave it alone but it didn't mean he wasn't going to be listening carefully.
" I am so going to be rich by the end of this Hinata, but don't tell" Kiba had a wolfish grin. "If mom finds out I bet you'll score higher than our clan's representative she'll have my head."
"I'll do my best Kiba-kun." Hinata giggled at her friend's antics.
"You do realize, you're betting for the Uchiha clan being better than yours, right?" Shino said with his usual deadpan expression.
Kiba's grin faltered.
"I am betting on Hinata not the Uchiha clan!" The Inuzuka barked.
"Hinata is the Uchiha clan." The Aburame answered.
"She is not!"
"The emblem on her back says otherwise." Kiba sputtered in indignation.
"Shino-kun. Please stop riling him up." Hinata couldn't see the gleam of amusement hidden behind her friend's sunglasses but she knew it was there. "I am the representing the Uchiha for today. So yes Kiba-kun in a way you did bet in Sasuke-san's favor."
"Hinata! Not you too" Kiba whined "I still don't get how he can be your mentor. Aren't mentor supposed to be old and ugly?"
Hinata cringed. If Tsunade who was Sakura's and Shizune's mentor heard that, she'll have his head.
"Kiba. Are you admitting you find Uchiha-san attractive?" Shino asked enjoying himself at his expense "Does that mean you're going to start staring at his ass the way Hinata does?"
"I DO NOT THINK HE'S ATTRACTIVE!" Kiba bawled turning a few heads.
"I d-do n-not stare at his a-ass?!" Hinata's cheeks reddened.
The Aburame gave them a look that meant 'I don't believe either of you.'
"That's good to know Kiba. You didn't stand a chance anyway." Shino pushed his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose "Considering he's been staring at Hinata's ass for the past five minutes."
"H-he is n-not!" The Hyuuga's face turned even more red after she glanced behind her and found that Sasuke was indeed looking in their direction.
"Shino!" The Inuzuka growled.
"Good luck Hinata" The Aburame started walking away "Let's go Kiba. We can discuss your latent homosexual feelings later."
"I will bite you!" Kiba growled.
"You're really just proving my point."
Hinata giggled at their retreating backs. Shino's dry humor was always entertaining, when it wasn't aimed at her anyway. She wouldn't trade her teammates for the world.
Her laughter faded as she turned around and was faced with her father and two of the sternest elders.
"Hinata." Her father greeted.
"Hello father."
"You're still insisting on participating I see." His expression was flat.
Hinata steeled herself. It was obvious this was a last-minute confrontation to shake her resolve and make her doubt herself.
"Yes father" Her smile didn't reach her eyes "As I said I'm the official Uchiha apprentice, so it is within my rights to represent the clan."
"Ah yes." One of the elder's voice rang "You are representing another clan"
"It is also within the Hyuuga's right to demand you completely disregard any of the clan's techniques since you're not competing under our name." The other finished with a sense of vindictiveness in his cold eyes.
"That means no gentle fist. No Rotation. No Eight Trigrams Sixty-four palms. Not even your Gentle Steps Twin Lion fists." Finished the other.
Hinata's eyes widened slightly. That would be cutting her arsenal of attacks by half. She did fight exclusively in the new style she developed with Sasuke in the preliminaries, to send a message that she was embracing her new apprentice status.
She never would've thought they'd use it against her.
"If you're going to fight for the Uchiha then you're not going to fight like a Hyuuga." Her father regarded her with the same expressionless face.
They were trying to force her to withdraw. She had signed the liability waiver, the one that released all villages involved and their representing parties from responsibility for any injuries or deaths.
To hinder her like that was to increase her chances of being injured or even killed. That was what they must've thought since they did not know the extent of her abilities.
How petty.
She was not surprised. The elders never liked defiance and neither did her father.
"I will be using the Byakugan" Hinata answered "Since the Kengai Genkai is a part of my body and not a technique that can be learned."
"Very well." Her father cut off the elder that was probably about to protest "That is acceptable."
"I guess it is a good thing we already started grooming the real heir for the position of clan head" The other said snidely "Just in case something were to happen to the spare."
"I wish you good fortune daughter." Her father glared at him. He didn't seem to like the remarque.
"You're going to need it fighting with standard ninja weapons and an unimpressive lightning jutsu." The second elder said before the three of them left her.
"Pricks." A voice said behind her.
"Sasuke. You heard?" Hinata looked at him, he looked annoyed glaring at the Hyuugas walking away.
"Do you wish to continue?" He asked observing her "It's your decision."
"Yes." Her response was immediate. They do not get to take this away from her.
"Good." He smirked "You're done holding back."
The Heiress smiled at him, that newfound sense of confidence and determination filling her.
"I would say good luck. But you don't really need it." Sasuke gave her on of his small rare smile as his hand reached to hold the tip of her braid. That made her heart skip a beat "Break a few legs Hyuuga."
"I think the expression is; Break a leg." The kunoichi giggled.
"I stand by what I said." He smirked again and kept rolling the strands of hair in his hand carefully. He stared at her silently and Hinata felt her cheeks warming under his gaze.
She could almost read the unsaid 'You look beautiful' in his dark eyes.
Just as she was about to break the silence, the sound of the siren announcing for the participant to ready themselves interrupted her.
"Have fun." He said before turning around with his hands in his pockets.
He only walked a few paces before turning his head.
"Oh and Hinata" His smirk was down right wicked "Light it up."
Sasuke found himself once again in the same formation. Standing behind Naruto next to Neji Hyuuga who was on Hokage guard duty along with Kakashi and Genma this time. The Kazekage was again near them with his own entourage and sister. Shikamaru was in between the two.
The clan nobles were a few steps down. Konoha's being directly under them. He could see Hinata's sister trying and failing not to glare at her father. She must've heard of the restriction imposed on her older sibling. There was a bigger turn up of Hyuuga members, sitting under what he assumed was the main branch. He had an inkling that a few of them came to secretly support their Heiress.
The wooden stands that have been build recently on the outskirt of The Forest of Death were divided by section. This time, every section had its own village's representative and supporters.
The Uchiha wondered what they'll do with these stands once the Tournament was over.
Probably make the second part of the Chunin exam open for the public.
Although no one could see inside the forest there were giant screens divided into small rectangles showing each participant.
From what Shikamaru Nara explained earlier, it was thanks to bird ninja summons that have been equipped with cameras and ordered to follow each participant. Allowing them to broadcast the fights live on the screens.
Quite Ingenious really.
"So, any last-minute bets?" Naruto's voice interrupted his musings. "You know once the event starts the betting pool closes."
"Did you bet on someone?" Asked Temari who wasn't so far that she couldn't hear. Not that she needed to be near, what with Naruto's tendency to shout in everyone's ears.
"It was pointed out to me that it would have been unethical for the Hokage to place bets." The blond pouted "Plus I couldn't just choose."
"You mean you weren't going to root for Hinata-chan?" Kakashi asked almost incredulously "I remember you shouting encouragement at the top of your lungs for her to beat Neji in the Chunin exam. No offence Neji."
"Non taken."
"Hey! I said I couldn't choose who to bet on because I support all Konoha's participants." Naruto said "Not that I'm not rooting for Hinata-chan!"
"And you Neji-san are you betting on Hiroji Hyuuga or your cousin?" Kakashi asked the stoic Hyuuga.
"I don't gamble." He answered with a stick in the mud expression.
"Did you place any bets Teme?"
"Yes." Sasuke's eyes found the small screen where Hinata was facing her designated gate.
"I guess your money's on your apprentice scoring high. Right Uchiha-san?" Genma asked. He himself had placed a small bet on the little Hyuuga. Especially after seeing what she can do in the Anbu training pit.
"No." The Uchiha smirked gaining a few surprised look "My money's on her winning the whole damn thing."
Hinata faced the looming forest. She wasn't really a fan.
Last time she was here, she was subjected to a mentally instable Gaara making it rain blood with his sand burial. A brutal thing to witness for a twelve-year-old girl.
Gaara had changed of course and she's seen much worse after that, especially in the Forth Shinobi War. Thankfully she hadn't lost any loved ones. So, she was relatively well adjusted compared to others.
All her thoughts immediately disappeared once the siren rang announcing the beginning of the competition.
She didn't waste time leaping to the nearest tree.
First things first.
She released chakra from all her body's Tenketsu, effectively killing any Kikaichu that might've been planted by the Aburame participant to track down her location. She was one hundred percent sure all competitors had one or two.
Sorry Shino-kun.
The Hyuuga activated her Byakugan and started moving silently as to not be detected by sound. Someone was bound to have sensed that chakra discharge. But it was worth the risk.
Next, she suppressed her chakra as best as she could to avoid detection by sensory type ninjas.
Once she felt she was far enough from her original location, she started looking for a water source.
There. A small river.
She dived immediately in the water; thankful it was summer so she wouldn't get cold.
"That's a peculiar thing to do." Temari's blonde eyebrows raised as they observed a dripping wet Hinata rub herself against the bark of a tree and using leaves on her skin.
"Smart girl." Kakashi spoke.
"What do you mean Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked confused.
"There's an Inuzuka with his Ninken in there, and maybe other Shinobi who can summon ninja dogs or realy on their sense of smell" Kakashi explained being a Ninken Summoner himself. "By swimming she partially got rid of her scent, and by using the tree and leaves she became one with her environment."
"So Hinata-chan basically became scentless" The blond Hokage said.
"Yes. She'll be the one doing the hunting now." Sasuke smirked. "and knowing her she must've already neutralized the other senses."
"Smell. Sound. Chakra sensing." Neji adorned a smirk of his own "All she has to do is stay out of Hiroji-san's Byakugan range. And having the farthest range in all the clan she can easily do that."
"I'd expect nothing less from a member of the best tracking team in Konoha." The silver-haired jonin said.
"Not bad for a pampered heiress." One of Gaara's guard exclaimed earning him a cool look from both the Dojutsu users "She'll have to do better than that to beat Suna-nins."
"I think she'll surprise you." Naruto grinned as he watched Hinata track down her first opponent who happens to be a Suna shinobi.
"Three minutes." Sasuke said earning him confused looks.
Hinata observed her first adversary.
A puppet user.
She'd already sparred against Kankuro when she went to Suna on a mission. So, she was well acquainting with the style.
The Hyuuga didn't waste anytime on chit- chat, throwing small shurikens cutting the chakra strings she could clearly see with her Byakugan. One powerful jump and she was within range to send the puppeteer flying with a lightening infused kick.
Next, she followed the falling wooden doll, dismantling it with a few well-placed lightning bolts making sure not to get cut by the poison laced weapons that she immediately sent toward the nin as a distraction while she reappeared near him to take away the two scrolls she new held more puppets.
Using his own chakra infused strings, she strapped the Shinobi to the thick branch of the tree they were standing on.
"Sorry about destroying your puppet." Hinata said to the gaping man. She walked toward him as he started to struggle when she took away his weapon pouch.
"ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ROBBING ME?!" He shouted.
"You won't be needing them" Ah more strings and shuriken "I'm just borrowing a few weapons to replace the ones I used. I promise to pay you back after."
"WHY YOU.." Whatever he was going to say was cut off as the Heiress pressed a nerve on his neck rendering him unconscious.
Was it wrong to take his weapons? Maybe. But as Sasuke taught her; there was no fairness in the shinobi world.
"You were saying." Genma grinned at the Suna guard.
"Huh. I was wrong, she finished under two minutes." Sasuke said.
"You were timing her?" Kakashi silver-eyebrows rose as his student shrugged.
"I'm sorry Gaara." Naruto snickered "but that was just embarrassing."
"Tch. we'll see how Konaha's Shinobi do once they face Matsuri-chan" Temari scoffed "She's Gaara's student after all."
That was news to almost all present.
"You didn't really think you were the only one with an apprentice Uchiha, did you?" The Kazekage addressed the raven-haired man.
"How good can she be?" Sasuke's gaze was on the screen again "If you're so interested in mine."
There was a moment of prolonged silence.
"I'm sorry. What?!" Neji started glaring at the redhead.
Hinata kept a watch on the participants in her vicinity. Most of Konoha's Nins seemed to have the same idea as her of battling the ones from other villages, before looking at their own.
That was not the strategy used by the Mist nins. They started by fighting amongst themselves, until one victor remained. He took out the Inuzuka participant soon after.
That is one to watch.
Some had a three-way battle or even four. Like the Akimichi who was defeated by an Iwa kunoichi , who was then taken out by the Yamanaka who then was defeated by the second Iwa shinobi, who was immediately engaged in a battle against two Suna nins but still won.
The exhausted Iwa nin was not prepared for Hinata to swoop in and nock him out soon after.
That consisted Hinata's main plan. Choosing her battles carefully and going after the exhausted victor of each battle she witnessed. Weeding out the competition with the least amount of chakra loss.
She knew that things would only get harder further on.
She kept away from Hiroji Hyuuga's range as he was on the other side of the forest. He didn't seem in a hurry to face her either. She at least knew he'll battle her seriously when the time comes, probably under the elders' orders.
She was also slightly perplexed by the absence of any Cloud shinobis, she remembers catching sight of two of them venturing far away from her range.
Hinata shook her head from any thoughts, as she had bigger fish to fry with the old acquaintance she'll be facing soon and the shadow that was trailing her. Whomever it was that was following her was careful to remain in her blind spot.
They either discovered it or had prior knowledge of the Byakugan's weakness, which made them someone to be warry of.
However thanks to training with Sasuke she sensed their presence from a mile away.
The Hyuuga finally arrived to the clearing where she initially spotted the kunoichi who just finished disposing of the last Iwa shinobi in this section.
"Matsuri-san." The Hyuuga was glad her shadow decided to stay away at the moment.
"Hinata-san! Hi!" The brown-haired girl exclaimed smiling "I haven't had the chance to see you at the preliminaries."
She had met the younger kunoichi at Suna, and liked her. She reminded her a bit of Hanabi at the time.
"Yes" The Konoha kunoichi smiled "I've been busy."
"I'd be busy too with a mentor like that." She got a dreamy look in her eyes and a blush on her cheeks "Well done by the way. He's such a hottie."
Right. I totally forget she was still young and boy crazy.
"Ah…Thank you?" The Hyuuga was really at a loss as how to answer that.
"Of course, Gaara-Sama is waaaaay more handsome!" the dark eyed kunoichi gushed.
Somewhere in the stand the Kazekage was holding the bridge of his nose.
Naruto had convinced (ordered) Neji (the constant victim of power abuse ) to read lips on the screen that had no sound out loud. So that they could know what the two kunoichi were talking about. Another useful Dojutsu skill.
Sasuke just snorted at Hinata being subjected to a fangirl.
"hmm...If you say so?" Hinata thought she should really introduce her to Ino.
They'd either become good friends or worst enemies.
"I do say so." The Suna kunoichi said "Which is why I challenge you to a fight to prove to Gaara-Sama I am the superior kunoichi."
That sounded like something Rock lee would say.
Maybe she should also introduce these two too.
"I…Ok?" It seemed all her responses would be posed as questions.
"And once I win his heart from you" (Again Sasuke snorted in the stand as he saw Hinata mouth 'wait? What?') "He'll be watching me more closely"
"I…you…want us to fight..over a…boy?" Hinata's eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
Gaara's eye twitched.
Sasuke grinned. Way to shatter a man's ego princess.
Hanabi Hyuuga sighed in her section of the stands.
"If kunoichis are going to take over we need to lock up all the fangirls or get rid of all the hot boys"
"What?" Hiashi asked.
"What?"
"Let the better woman win!" and with that the Kazekage's apprentice launched her johyo at the unsuspecting Hyuuga who still dodged it anyway.
The metal dart swiped under Hinata's feet as she jumped. Launching her own kunais, she was surprised to see them batted away by the other kunoichi's weapon.
Deciding on a close-range attack, the Konoha kunoichi darted toward her opponent as she watched Mitsuri spin the rope to keep her at bay.
They all watched the screen, as Hinata gets pushed again. It was obvious she couldn't get close enough to land a hit.
"That is Matsuri's specialty." Gaara said observing his student "To use her weapon as a defense against those who fight at close range."
"Her defense is flawless." Temari smirked.
"Hyuuga-san's fast." Genma answered "all she needs is an opening."
"Besides wasn't your sand armor supposed to be flawless" Sasuke glanced to the Kazekage "And yet I broke through it."
"It'll be hard to do while also fending off attacks." The redhead watched as his student executed a series of hand signs. They watched as she inhaled before she started launching bullets made of air
"Wind Release: Vaccum bullets." Kakashi answered the unasked question.
The Uchiha knew this attack, he faced it before. The condensed wind acted like bullets capable of piercing skin and muscles. And if it pierced the heart or brain, it could be fatal.
It should have been easy for the Hyuuga to protect herself. But she was at a disadvantage today.
"Damn it." Neji cursed as he watched his cousin stand on her toes as if to start rotating then stopping at the last minute. "She can't use Rotation."
Hinata twisted as fast as she could so the bullet grazed her shoulder and didn't pierce her lung. She darted fast behind a tree to avoid the next attacks as she caught her breath.
Think Hinata. What would Sasuke do?
The answer was simple he'd use a long-range attack, probably a fire release jutsu. But she didn't want to resort to that yet. Her shadow has been studying her for a while, so the more skills she kept hidden the best when they faced off.
Time for a new strategy.
Accessing her surroundings with her Byakugan before standing up, she gathered chakra to the sole of her feet and left her cover.
Bullets followed her as she jumped in a seemingly random pattern. From one tree to the ground, then to another tree, up again.
Down. To the left. Up. Ground. Right tree. Behind. Ground.
She kept it up a while longer. The bullets grazed her, spilling her blood but didn't hit anything major. For Hinata was using her chakra to add speed to her feet. She could see that the Suna kunoichi was getting frustrated but didn't let up.
Impressive. But I need my chakra for the upcoming fight.
"I'm sorry Matsuri-san." Hinata said jumping high before pulling.
That's when the sand kunoichi noticed the almost invisible wed of metal strings closing in on her. She was a fly caught in a carefully weaved trap. The Hyuuga hadn't been jumping around randomly, she's been laying a well-crafted snare.
Lightning crackled as it traveled from Hinata's hand through the string and reached the immobile kunoichi who screamed and promptly fainted.
Silence descended on their section of the stand before the Nara broke it.
"She's smarter than she lets on." Shikamaru said observing the thinning of the Kazekage's lips
"She's starting to let on." Sasuke smirked. Smugness oozing out of him.
She was simply devastating.
AN: The Hyuuga are being dicks. No surprises there.
Shino and Kiba are being a comic duo.
Hinata is kicking ass.
Sasuke is proud and being a menace; flustering Hinata, roasting Gaara and trying to give Neji grey hair early on.
And Hanabi seeks world domination.
Loved the positive reviews btw. Can not wait for what you think of this one. Stay tunned for the second part of the tournament. Shit is about to go down!
PS: When I said 'dramatic kiss' I meant dramatic circumstances, private kiss. Ofc our main paring isn't the type for PDA. A little shameless flirting maybe but not PDA.
Also He bet on her winning! I'm dying.
Anyway. REVIEWS! PLEASE!
-Your menace of a writer
Lady Thunder Storm.