Chapter 4: Desperate Times
Hinata tasted the soup with a soft moan. The recipe koharu had given her was amazing and helped combat her nausea.
A sigh escaped her as she laid a hand on her abdomen. She then activated her byakugan and another wave of tears hit her.
She could it.
Her baby, the little cluster of cells that was forming her child. Her son or daughter.
" oni chan? What are you doing?"
Hinata disengaged her byakugan and turned to her little sister. The latter standing in the doorway looking at her in confusion.
" just cooking Nabi chan."
" but why? Dinner was thirty minutes ago. You can't possibly still be hungry."
"This is for the week, Nabi Chan. I haven't been feeling the best with all the training I've been doing. This soup is full of the things I'll need."
" hmm. Interesting sooo, father mentioned something about you becoming a medical-nin.. for the war?
" hmm. Interesting sooo, father mentioned something about you becoming a medical-nin…for the war?"
" ah.. yes, Lady Koharu has taken me on as her apprentice she taught Lady Tsunade years ago."
" But ... why?"
" Why what?" hinata questioned
" why give up your position to be a stupid medical ninja? You may not have been chosen to lead us in war but you and brother Neji could work together! Don't you know what the clan is saying about you? They're saying you're weak and useless! Do you know what this will make them think? You can't just-"
"Enough Hanabi!" Hinata snapped, the soup spoon in her hand breaking from the pressure she was applying to it.
Her sister gasped and stepped back. Hinata had never yelled at her before or anyone for that matter.
" I love our family Hanabi but I have to do what's best for me. Being selected as a medical ninja is a great honor. I'm going to use it while I can."
" But-"
"That's enough Hanabi. Don't you have some studies to attend to?"
Hanabi turned around to see their aunt Miho glaring down at her sternly.
" yes, mam."
" Very well. Get going.."
Once Hanabi left their presence her aunt walked to her, taking Hinata's chin in her hand and lifting her head.
Hinata becoming defensive pulled from her grip and unconsciously placed her hands in front of her belly.
" I knew it." Her aunt said in a bored yet malicious tone.
" look at that… the Hyuga princess knocked up and out of wedlock too. Whatever shall we do?"
" what do you want Aunt Miho?" Hinata gives her aunt a malicious tone. Her aunt's eyebrows shot up in Surprise.
" hmm seems like our pretty princess has grown a spine. Very well get rid of it or I tell Hiashi."
Before Hinata could come up with a rebuttal Itachi appeared in front of her, his back facing her.
" you will forget this entire conversation. And repeat it to no one." He told her aunt. The latter stared at him with wide eyes.
He then turned to her a small smile on his face.
" so…. Is it true?" He asked
Hinata blushed.
" it is…"
A deep sigh escaped him, as Itachi covered his eyes.
"Itachi?"
When he uncovered them, she was surprised to find tears in his eyes.
" Come on tachi. Let's get some dinner and then we can get out of here."
…
Hinata leaned against the wall with Itachi's head in her lap. It was an intimate move for two people who barely knew each other but time was of the essence.
" Will my aunt have any memory of what was said?" Hinata asked.
" The genjutsu will break when I die. But you won't have to worry about anything then. Everything will be in place."
Hinata flinched at the thought of his death. To be a husband and father so quickly, yet he will never get to see his children grow.
"do not worry for me young flower. All will be well." He told her calmly.
"I have a request," Hinata stated.
"yes?"
"When you die. I want your body. I want to give you a proper burial."
Itachi chuckled humorlessly.
"you keep trying to treat me right when I don't deserve it."
"and you keep trying to worsen your circumstances." She challenged
"Fine. I can arrange for my body to be given back to you. Mrs. Uchiha. Now I also have a request."
Hinata nodded to let him know she was listening.
" I think it is best if you lived with Lady Koharu temporarily. At least during the day, you can be seen going to her place. Under the pretense of being her protégé. And then at night, you stay here. "
"This has something to do with my pregnancy doesn't it?"
"yes. Your family will be able to notice you are pregnant if they use your byakugan on you. we can't risk any other problems. By the time the genjutsu breaks off your aunt, you will be established as a matriarch and they won't be able to touch you."
Hinata sighed tiredly.
"yes, I see your point. But my family will not let me go without a fight."
Itachi smiled.
"lady Koharu never backs down. Now let's do a little training."
…
Hinata stared at her tea in silence. It was a ritual she and Lady Koharu did every day after training.
Training today had been very hard. To her surprise, Lady Koharu wanted Hinata to shadow Lady Tsunade.
Despite being Hokage, Lady Tsunade still made rounds at the hospital that were too much for others to handle.
It was then Hinata got her first-hand experience in healing.
"you're a fast learner Hinata. Being a medic suits you and you already have good bedside manners. Maybe after the war, you could have a position at the hospital. " Lady Tsunade had complimented her.
Hinata couldn't help but blush over the praise.
"Hinata?" lady Koharu called.
She snapped out of her reverie looking over her tea cup at lady Koharu.
"yes, my lady?"
"what's on your mind?" lady Koharu asked.
Hinata bit her lip and then spoke.
"well… I've been thinking about Itachi. He's dying. His lungs are infected. I want to know if I can heal him, at least give him a little more time… will you help me?"