Woohoo! I'm back. The writers block was there, but I think it'll go away when I write the Chunin Exams. Hopefully.
Disclaimer: Same old, same old. I think if I wrote Naruto you'd now my real name. ;)
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Hinata opened her eyes blearily. Everything hurt. It felt as if she'd been stabbed a hundred times. Actually, thinking back on events that happened beforehand, she probably was stabbed a hundred times. She painfully sat up, only to be greeted with the sight of Sasuke pummeling Haku into the ground, and Naruto…
Naruto's chakra.
She activated her Byakugan and fought the urge to scream.
His chakra was vile. So unlike the one she was used to, the one that was bright and sunny and warm. This chakra was evil, it was hate. She searched deeper into the chakra, trying to find the source. She saw a cage, water on the ground, and then she saw a red eye glare straight at her. She immediately deactivated her Byakugan. Naruto…
"Naruto, Sasuke?" She croaked out timidly. "Guys?"
The two boys immediately rushed to her side after hearing her voice.
"Hinata!" Naruto hugged her. "You're okay."
"We thought you died." Sasuke dropped down next to her. "I-I'm so sorry."
"I-It's okay." Hinata began pulling the needles out of her body, healing the puncture wounds while she did. "What of Haku?"
They three glanced at the fallen boy. Naruto's face darkened.
"So Zabuza was the precious person to him." His face contorted. "I didn't know he'd deceive us."
"The mist!" Hinata realized. "It's clearing up."
They saw Zabuza tackled down by dogs, probably Kakashi's summonings. Kakashi was preparing for a jutsu, his hand encased with flashing lightning. Hinata's eyes widened from the massive amount of power it held.
"Chidori!" Kakashi charged forwards.
"No!"
They all watched in horror and amazement as Haku found his feet just in time to step in front of Kakashi, pierce the sealing scroll, and block Zabuza from the Chidori.
He stared straight at Kakashi who stared back. And then he coughed out blood and fell. Kakashi scooped him up gently and put him on the ground.
"Using children as tools, Zabuza," Kakashi turned to the man. "That's even lower than working for Gato."
Zabuza sneered. "He was a useful tool, that's for sure."
Kakashi swiftly charged at him, disabling his arms. "Your arms are useless. This fight is over."
Zabuza snarled at him.
Naruto was furious. "Haku risked his life for you, and you just think he's a tool?"
Zabuza was silent.
"Come on!" Naruto yelled. "Don't tell me you didn't feel anything? He practically worshiped the ground you stepped on!" He remembered Haku's words. "You don't feel any connection at all? How heartless are you?!"
Hinata stopped Naruto and pointed at Zabuza who was…crying.
"You talk too much boy." Zabuza ripped off his mask. He grinned at Naruto's dumbstruck face. "What, you didn't think I was human as well?"
"Well done, the ninja canceling each other out."
They all turned around to see a short man wearing sunglasses. Behind him were a bunch of thugs.
"Gato, Tazuna spat out.
"At least I won't have to pay anymore for those guys." Gato wrinkled his nose at Haku's body and nudged him away.
Zabuza's eyes darkened. "Boy, give me a kunai."
Naruto tossed one to Zabuza, who caught it with his mouth. He charged forwards, and it was a straight out massacre. He sliced through all of Gato's henchmen, ignoring the multiple swords that were stabbed into him. When he got to Gato, he sliced upwards, attacking him on all sides. Gato's glasses fell off, and Zabuza crushed them with his foot. Zabuza made one final attack, and the look on his face fit the name "the Demon of the Mist". Gato fell off the bridge after that last attack. Gato's thugs approached them, menacingly swinging their weapons.
"Hah, a small bunch of ninja can't defeat us," One of them boasted, heaving their oversized club.
Kakashi braced himself. The Sharingan takes more out of me than I'd like to admit. He realized reluctantly.
"Heroes always come late, right?"
Naruto, in shock, turned to see Inari with a crossbow…and a lot of the villagers, all carrying their own version of a weapon.
Kakashi shrugged. Well, it wouldn't hurt to bluff a bit, he thought, forming dozens of clones of himself.
The thugs backed off, eyes now wary.
Suddenly, they all heard uneven footsteps, and turned to see Zabuza, still with that crazed look in his eyes, make his way to Haku's body.
A…ninja doesn't need feelings. He staggered over, body swaying. All the other gangsters that were in league with Gato stepped out of the demon's way. But it seems…I couldn't live up to that ideal. Haku…
He grunted and almost collapsed, but Kakashi caught him.
"I'll take you to him," Kakashi supported his shoulder. "Just hang in there."
Zabuza nodded. "Kakashi…"
The three watched Kakashi help Zabuza over to Haku and lay him next to the fallen boy.
"Thank you, Kakashi," Zabuza whispered.
Naruto noticed something cold touch his nose. Snow?
Haku, Zabuza painfully turned his head to look at his loyal companion. Are you weeping? For so long…you were always by my side. I could at least be beside you at the end.
Kakashi stepped back to give them both space.
Zabuza reached up to touch Haku's face. "I know it cannot be…but I wish I could go where you have gone…" A bright beam of sunlight illuminated the two.
Naruto let out soft sobs. Hinata felt tears stream down her face. Sasuke was silent, looking at them both solemnly.
"You can go with him, Zabuza." Kakashi's voice was quiet. "Go with him, together."
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They buried both Haku and Zabuza on a hill, side by side. The two crosses that marked their graves were adorned with flowers.
Team 7 quietly paid their respects, and then left for Tazuna's house to say their farewells.
Inari was sniffling. Tazuna had announced that the new bridge would be named the "Great Naruto Bridge." Naruto had puffed his chest up proudly at this.
When they were about to leave, however, Inari stepped up and asked quietly, as if embarrassed. "It's okay to cry when you're happy, right, Naruto?"
Naruto nodded, suppressing his own tears. "Mhm."
The two boys began bawling, crying rivers.
Hinata smiled awkwardly at this scene.
Sasuke sighed. "Loser, let's go." He dragged Naruto by the collar. "Enough crying and wasting water."
Naruto pouted but let himself be dragged off. "Bye, everybody!"
"Bye!" They all waved as Team 7 made their way back to the Leaf.
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On the way back, it began to rain. Kakashi had hastily set up two tents that could hold three people. The genin in one tent, and he in the other.
Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke quickly went to huddle inside a tent, dripping wet and freezing cold.
After a while, while still shivering, Naruto spoke.
"I don't think I can sleep like this."
"Yeah, obviously," Sasuke snapped. "Genius."
"Hey, hey!" Naruto began waving his hands in protest. "Gosh. Calm down, bastard."
"Why don't we tell each other about ourselves?" Hinata suggested softly.
Naruto nodded his head. "Okay!" He looked around "So…how are we going to do this?"
"We ask questions, duh." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Alright, I'll go first…Naruto. What was that red chakra that came out when we were fighting Haku?"
Naruto was silent. "I…" He looked at Hinata and Sasuke's curious faces. He took a deep breath. They were on his team, he could trust them. Besides, sooner or later he'd have to tell them. "I was born on October 10th," He began shakily.
Sasuke, being a natural genius, and Hinata, being one of the most intelligent kunoichi of her age, only second to Sakura, understood immediately.
"Nine-tails," Hinata whispered.
Naruto nodded. "It's sealed inside of me." He bowed his head and waited for them to leave, for them to leave him.
"I'm so sorry, Naruto!" Hinata went over and hugged him. "I-If I knew…"
Naruto was shocked. He stared at Hinata. No one had ever…
He felt a pat on his back. Sasuke turned his head away, refusing to meet his eyes, but sat down next to him.
"You guys…" Naruto had never felt this before. If he had to describe it, though, he'd say that he found his family.
Hinata broke away, sniffing a little bit. To think that Naruto went through all of that…
"I guess it's my turn, then," She turned to Sasuke. "W-What person do you want to kill?"
Sasuke froze. This subject was…touchy. Oh well. Naruto already spilled his secret, and Hinata had some time before when Kakashi met with Hiashi. "The Uchiha Massacre," He started, speaking choppily. "My brother caused it." His Sharingan activated without him thinking. "He needs to go down, for my clan's sake."
Naruto and Hinata silently looked at him, gazes full of sorrow. But they were trying to understand him, and that was all he needed.
"B-Both of you have terrible pasts." Hinata fiddled with her shuriken pouch. Her face lightened up. "Oh, I still have these!" She produced the two bells from the "survival training" they had with Kakashi.
Giggling, she tied them back into her hair. "I took them off for our missions. I forgot about them."
When she turned back, the bells made a soft chiming sound.
"Okay, now I'm tired." Naruto yawned and flopped onto the ground, knocking Sasuke down with him.
"Idiot!" Sasuke hissed. He was currently squashed underneath the blond jinchuriki. "Get off!"
"Eh?" Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Too lazy."
Hinata giggled at the boys' antics. "You guys."
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Kakashi went over to check on his students, when he was greeted with the most funniest scene he had ever seen.
Hinata was sleeping sitting up, as if she had dozed off trying to calm the boys. Sasuke was asleep, back facing down, hands behind his head. And Naruto…well, he was sprawled sideways, so he had his legs over Sasuke. Sasuke somehow was looking disgruntled even in his sleep. Hinata had both hands on the boys' shoulders, as if consoling them.
It was hilarious and kind of cute at the same time. Kakashi sighed, and moved the blanket over the three.
"Good night," He said to no one in particular. He then left, quietly closed the tent flap behind him.
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As soon as he stumbled past the big gates, Naruto collapsed.
"Need ramen," He groaned. "Now."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Fine." He dragged Naruto up by his collar and turned to Hinata. "Coming?"
Hinata nodded hastily and stumbled after the two.
Kakashi watched his team run off. "I'll go report the mission, you guys have fun!"
"We weren't planning to do anything else!" Naruto yelled back, being dragged awkwardly by Sasuke.
When they reached Ichiraku, Sasuke promptly dropped Naruto on a seat.
"Well, well!" Teuchi appeared. "Long time no see, Naruto!"
"Old man!" Naruto cheered. "One miso ramen with extra pork!"
Teuchi raised his eyebrow. "Ordering so quickly, already? We barely said hi!"
Naruto's head banged onto the counter. "Miso ramen…extra pork…"
"Nevermind!" Teuchi awkwardly looked at Hinata and Sasuke. "And you two?"
"Just the same as Naruto please," Hinata gave a shy smile at Ayame, who was watching her, and she squealed at her cuteness.
"Same for me," Sasuke agreed tonelessly.
"Okay, then, coming right up!" Tazuna went away into the kitchen.
"Loser!" Sasuke hissed at the now asleep blond. "Wake up!"
Naruto groaned. "Ramen…"
Sasuke, exasperated, conjured a small spark on his finger and zapped Naruto.
"AHH!" Naruto yelped and immediately sat up. "What was that for?" He glared accusingly at Sasuke.
Sasuke shrugged. "You sleep like the dead, and that is how the dead are brought back to life." He casually dusted off his hands.
Naruto's right eye twitched. "I WILL KILL YOU!"
At the end, it was Hinata who saved them all, when she swooped in and blocked their pressure points just as the ramen came in.
"Your food is here–oh."
Teuchi stared at the scene. Both boys were standing, their arms useless. Hinata was scolding both of them with her eyes. Teuchi placed the bowls on the table, and shook his head, looking sympathetically towards Hinata.
"Have a nice meal, and try not to scare away my customers, you two." He left with a small chuckle.
Hinata sighed.
Naruto, however, paid no attention, and instead ate the ramen like his life depended on it. Hinata and Sasuke openly stared. By the time they had eaten two bites of theirs, Naruto had finished his and was asking for a second bowl. Hinata thought that if her jaw dropped any further, it'd land on the ground.
"Is it humanly possible to eat ramen so quickly?" Sasuke whispered to Hinata.
Hinata numbly shook her head. "Well, th-this is Naruto…"
When Sasuke and Hinata had gotten through a single bowl, Naruto was asking for fourths.
"Okay, Naruto!" Hinata smiled rather nervously. "Let's go now!" She led him out of the ramen shop hastily. She glanced at Teuchi worriedly, she didn't have nearly enough money on her to compensate Naruto's large helpings. At the end, it was Ayame who saved her.
"Nuh uh, dad, no way are we pressing the bill on that little cutie." Ayame turned pleading eyes to her dad. "Please?"
Teuchi laughed. "Okay then, I guess it's on the house… But only for you three!" He shook a finger at them.
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At the end of the day, Hinata nervously prepared herself to head back to the Hyuga compound. Naruto and Sasuke had both promised that if they laid another finger on her, they would personally go over and beat the living hell out of them. While that was what they might've deserved, Hinata couldn't bear the thought about hurting her own family, so she'd just have to go through with whatever they had in stock for her.
When she entered the complex, a brown blur immediately flew at her.
"Oomph–Hanabi?" She looked at her younger sister who had wrapped her little arms around Hinata's waist.
"Big sister!" Hanabi cheered. She turned wide eyes onto Hinata. "How was your mission?"
Hinata smiled. "It was nice, Hanabi." She gently pried the girl from her waist. "But now I have to report to Father, okay?"
"Lady Hinata."
Hinata internally sighed at the cold voice. She knew who it belonged to.
"Yes, brother Neji?" She addressed him as if he was her equal. Such behavior would've brought disgrace onto her main branch name, but she was already the black sheep of the Hyuga, so it didn't really matter anymore.
"Lord Hiashi requests your attention." Neji swiftly left, as if not wanting to spend more time than necessary with the disgrace of the clan.
Hinata internally braced herself and slowly forced her feet towards her father's study. When she entered, she quietly closed the screen door behind her and bowed lower than she needed to.
"Father?" She inquired softly.
"Your mission?" Hiashi Hyuga didn't bother looking up, instead flipping through files that were more important than hearing about his daughter's well-being.
"A s-success," Hinata assured him.
"Did you play a big role?" Hiashi continued flipping files.
"I played a r-role, but Naruto and S-Sasuke were key components," Hinata, like usual, shined the spotlight on someone else.
"So I assume you were a burden," Hiashi concluded. "That will be all. Dismissed."
Hinata had opened her mouth to defend herself, when she decided that it was for the better that she didn't. Maybe Hiashi's words even had some truth in them, after all, she didn't really do anything that important. And she almost got killed. Maybe she just was a burden. When she got back into her room, however, she heard something ching in her hair.
The bells.
Her team didn't think she was a burden. They thought that she was strong and capable and powerful.
And maybe that was enough.
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Well, here it is. Chappie six. Well? Well? What do you think? I took soooooooo long to write this compared to the other chapters, and for the Chunin Exams and beyond, updates might not come so frequent. Like I said before, I'll do my best to keep it within a two week time frame. I decided we needed a bit of fluff before the Chunin Exams, and after the Wave arc. So here we are. This tooth rotting fluff. And here are my RRs (Reasons to Review). 1. Updates will be more frequent. 2. I'll give you cookies. 3. 1 and 2 are lies. 4. Review anyways?