Most Beautiful Sight

“Wait.” Hinata’s tongue moved faster than her brain. She was still hiding and yet her voice called out to them. Immediately the two fell into stances of defense. Taking a deep breath, Hinata jumped from the bushes, her face crimson; her stance completely defenseless. There she was, Hyuuga Hinata, facing her first love and his first love.
“Hi-Hinata.” Naruto looked at her. “This feels so strange.” He stared at her and she stared back.
“Who are you?” Her lip trembled as she looked on. “Why are you in our village boundaries?” She rose her hands glaring at them. Make it look good at least, right?
“We weren’t aware that there was a village around here.” Sakura smiled
“Liar!” Hinata stepped forward. “I heard you talking about war and that one-” She looked at Naruto. “Called me by name.” Sakura blew out.
“We’re not looking for trouble, really.” Sakura rubbed her head. Hinata looked back at Naruto and her gaze flicked to the upper right of her eyes then back at him. The blonde young man frowned looking at her, then smirked.
“Then explain.” Hinata glared as hard as she could muster.
“We live not to far from here, Konohag-” Sakura started and stopped when she noticed Naruto had taken a step forward in Hinata’s direction.
“You really don’t remember us? Remember me?” Naruto fixed his blue eyes on Hinata’s face. “I know we didn’t used to be close.” He stepped forward again and Hinata backed up.
“Stay back!” She backed away.
“Naruto, wait.”
“I am Uzumaki Naruto.” He stepped forward again. “And you… are Hyuuga Hinata.”
“Stay back I said!”
“We came to find you Hyuuga Hinata.” He watched her gaze drop to the left then smirked. “You can’t hide from my eyes.” She looked back up at him, blue met lavender. His were smiling at her, hers were wide. “I heard about your bad habit from a friend. Even now its still your best tell.” Confident, she wouldn't strike, he took a few more strides in her direction.
“I said stay back!” Every nerve in her body was trembling. She started to feel like a cornered animal, and as all cornered animals do... “Jyuken!”
Naruto caught her intent at the last minute, the smile in his eyes vanished as he looked on. But she charged at him and attacked again.
“Naruto!” Sakura tightened her gloves on her small hands and made a move to back him, but Naruto yelled at her to stay back just as a slap connected with his left cheek and he fell to the side a bit. Hinata gasped softly and looked at him wide eyed. Her fingers were tempted to trail up to her lips but she jumped back and fell into stance.
“That...” Naruto stood up straight and looked at her. “... hurt.” His cheek was red from here her open palm struck. “Nothing in you remembers us at all?” Hinata narrowed her eyes trying to fight her inner turmoil as she looked at him. Her lip trembled as she glared. Lavender meeting blue.
“Why are you here… Na…ru…to-kun?” She pursed her lips tasting his name on her tongue. It was an old familiar flavor. He smirked. “Well?” She turned her gaze to Sakura.
“We don’t know too much.” His volume dropped considerably as if the two were in an intimate bubble for them alone. It was intensely awkward and somehow still pleasant. Sakura who was only a few feet away blushed looking at them. Her presence felt like an intruder turned voyeur. Hinata snapped her attention away.
“Hide.”
“What?”
“Go!” She retreated to the bushed from whence she had come.
“Hinata.”
“Grandfather.” Hinata looked at the old man.
“Did you accept anything from Nanasa?” He touched her shoulder, his amber eyes bulging in a way similar to the way the Byakugan is known to. He was searching for any impurities in her person.
“Nothing, Grandfather. Ayumi-Neesan told me not to. She feared since she was leaving, Auntie would take her angers out on me. I told her I can handle myself.”
“Say no more child.” The old man smiled touching her face. “I know my Granddaughter very well. She loves you dearly as her sister and still feels the need to protect you despite your own strengths.” He touched her hair and made a face. “Your hair is wet.”
“I’ve been making a new attack!” She looked at him willing a calm and confidence to her features. Reveal nothing. “Next time I wish to join the Chuunin exams. I want to be by Ayumi-Neechan’s side, even when she becomes Kikankage. I cannot be so weak in that kind of position.”
“Very well.” He nodded. “Don’t exert yourself too much. And worry not about Nanasa. She won’t bother you anymore.” He smiled again. “Be good, child.” And he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
“Shadow clone…” She observed.
“We also have to go.” Sakura said. “We need to relay this message to Hokage-Sama.”
“Message?”
“That you are alive.” Naruto smiled. “And Neji will be needing to know this also.”
“Neji-Niisan? Why?”
“Naruto…” Sakura said sternly.
“He was most worried, back then, I mean.”
“I see…”
“We’re gonna come back for you, Dattebayo.”
“Naruto! Come on.”
“Bye Bye.” He muttered softly and the two vanished.
“He saw right through me.” Hinata collapsed to the ground.
*~*~
Several day passes and Hinata still heard nothing from Her sister or the others who had traveled to Konoha with her. The final of the Chuunin exams has never taken this long before. Maybe they’ve died and her hopes of making it out of here cleanly without trouble has died with them. Maybe they’ve succeeded and are now proud Chuunin. The only thing she could do to pass the time was work on her Shuugohake Rokujyuuyonshuu. Become reacquainted with the move that was all hers, made for her by her.
Or rather she attempted to, but he kept reappearing in her mind. Uzumaki Naruto. He had seen through her.
“Hinata-Sama.” A young maid greeted then opened the door to Hinata's room. “You must come quickly.” The girl was a strange mixture of excitement and calm. “Kikankage-Sama has returned.”
“Coming.” Hinata rose and followed the girl to the entrance of the large house. Hinata bowed when the door opened and Grandfather entered. He looked worn, perhaps from the excitement of the days past, but worn all the same.
“Okaeri Nesai, Kikankage-Sama!” The staff bowed. “Okaeri Nesai, Grandfather.” Hinata bowed.
“Tadaima.” He mumbled and retired to his quarters immediately after.
“Tadaima!” Ayame called walking in her face donning scrapes and her wrist bound, perhaps it was broken, but most notable of all... was the Chuunin jacket on her back. Hinata looked at her and a slow smile crept on her face.
“Don't I look cool?” Ayame smiled.
“Yeah.” Hinata smiled. “Very cool.”
“Come on. I have to hurry. Liz will be mad if we keep her waiting too long.” Ayame rushed to her room to drop off her excess baggage. Hinata followed trying to keep her nerves under control with some success. She'd have to remember one day thank the people of this village for the training to keep herself under control, with Naruto being her only kryptonite.
“Ayame-Chan...” Hinata looked at her.
“Konohagakure was beautiful Hinata-Chan.” Ayame smiled. “I saw some really cool Shinobi.”
“Ayame-Chan...”
“And Liz might have found the man of her dreams now.” Ayame got up and stretched. “Oh, Lan and Liz managed to get promoted too.”
“That's good.” Hinata smiled.
“So, come on. Liz is probably bursting to tell you about her newest crush. Now I can get a break on it.”
“Only Liz could find a chance to fall in love when things are to be so serious.
*~*~*~
“Wh-what?” Naruto stared at the woman behind the desk wide eyed. “We're leaving Hinata there?”
“Naruto.” Tsunade rubbed her head. “We know she is alive. For what is intended she needs to remain there.”
“You can't trust anything they say!”
“Naruto.”
“They have Hinata and they said they're just going to give her back with nothing in return?!? No one doe-”
“Naruto!” Tsunade pounded her desk, that was now splintering under her monstrous strength.
“Its not that they don't want anything in return.” Neji spoke up. He had been standing quietly off to the side with Lee and TenTen.
“What?” All eyes on the Hyuuga male, who looked at ease as he stood there but he had his tells; The wrinkle in his forehead and the tenseness in his shoulders, although these were pretty lame tells if one knew him as well as the ninja in the room.
“That person and I have already spoken.” Neji sighed
“Neji-Kun.” Lee furrowed his thick eyebrows. Normally Neji didn't allow others when he was discussing matters of the Hyuuga family, but these days he seemed to rely on his two friends.
“Neji...” TenTen watched him, anyone could see that she harbored romantic feeling for the stern young man. Even as they stood there in Hokage-Sama's office her posture betrayed her feelings.
“So I have heard.” Tsunade looked at him.
“I am still unsure about trusting her. But... she has offered enough information of herself. Assuming it was all true.” He opened his eyes and looked at Tsunade in the eye. The two of them stared at one another.
“You didn't.”
“I did.” His shoulders relaxed with his resolve. “I made a deal with that person.” He could feel a rise of shock from his colleagues.
“What kind of deal?” Naruto was trembling ever-so slightly staring at his friend.
“That was reckless.” Tsunade growled between clenched teeth, as she gripped the desk.
“I'm aware.”
“You acted and made a treaty with a village we know nothing about.” The wood splintered more under her grip. “You didn't even consult-”
“With all due respect, Hokage-Sama, But I acted in the best interest of the Hyuuga family.”
“Best interest of- Who do you think you are?” She rose and shoved the huge desk to the side.
“As a member of the branch family I must take all precautions necessary to protect the Heiress of the main family-” He had flown through the door his the wall outside of the office. He slid to the floor silently and rubbed the aching cheekbone that was potentially broken from the way it throbbed.
“Neji.” A unanimous gasp from his friends as Neji rose to his feet, his eyes still hard.
“It always has and will be my duty. It is why I carefully fended for Hanabi the assumed heiress, but it seems we were preemptive in that assumption.” He continued to meet Tsunade's eye and she finally looked away with a soft 'tch.' “That fire dealt a large blow to the Hyuuga name. I had always intended to rebuild it when Hanabi finally...” He shifted and ever-so slightly pinkened then cleared his throat. “...Is capable of producing heirs.”
“You are dismissed.” She growled angrily Lifting the desk and putting it back in place.
“Tsunade-Hime.” Shizune murmured softly.
“Call someone to fix the door!” She barked. “And where is my Sake?!?”
*_* >_< ^_^
“What the hell was that?!?” Naruto chased after Neji who was walking away from Hokage tower.
“Naruto-Kun.” Lee took a step toward the blonde who was blocking Neji's path.
“No. What the hell was that?!” Naruto grabbed Neji's shirt. “You made a deal wi-with the enemy!”
“Naruto-kun.” Lee stepped forward.
“I made a deal that would be advantageous to the Hyuuga.” Neji looked at Naruto unmoved. “I once told you everyone has their destiny they have to adhere.”
“What the hell are you aiming at?!?”
“Naruto.” TenTen tried to come between the two friends.
“My original thoughts were too rigid. Far to rigid and that is what was incorrect.” He pushed Naruto off of him. “But it was my destiny to be part of the branch house. To be branded. Because destiny know what it was doing.” And with that Neji vanished from his position and was rushing back to the house he shared with Hanabi.
“That bastard!” Naruto growled.
“Naruto.” TenTen looked at the blonde young man. “Did Neji ever tell you about the fire?”
“What?” Naruto looked at the double-bunned girl.
“The fire. The one that brought down the Hyuuga domain.”
“A couple of kids started it, right?” Naruto poked out his bottom lip as he tried to recall.
“Part of the Branch House duties is to ensure security of the Main House. Everything was about the Main House.” Lee chimed in walking with them.
“Yeah, I think I remember something about not wanting part of that when we first fought.”
“Neji was just placed in charge of the security sector of the branch. He did all he could with angry spiteful guards who didn't really want to do the midnight patrol. They did their job though, especially when Neji was around. Probably only when Neji was around.” TenTen murmured. “That night of the fire, Neji was called away for some reason.”
“I didn't know that.” Lee looked at her. She nodded and sat under a tree.
“He saw the smoke before he saw the fire. Fearing something happened he returned to chaos. Many maid and servants were all over the place in Chaos. Some of the more dutiful ones stayed to try and fight the quickly growing flames, others fled for their lives. Neji and a couple of others rushed in to save those trapped. Which included Hinata and Hanabi. Their father died aiding in the rescue.”
“Hmm...”
“And when he found Hinata-Chan...” TenTen looked Naruto in the eye. “She was still damaged from their fight.” The wind blew by and Naruto snapped his gaze to her. “She was still verily bruised and parts of her chakra points were still very much closed up.”
“What?!?” Naruto screeched.
“He'd never forgiven himself for that blow...”
*_*
“So you're really going to go through with it?” Liz looked at Ayame who was unbraiding her lengthy hair as she readied for bed.
“I have to.” She looked at sleeping Hinata. “Going by the old rules of my grandfather and those elders, this village can't survive very long. If I do what he wants..,I'll be a good Ninja but if we dont have enough resources and only a handful of good ninja it will take a lot longer.”
“So we tie ourselves to Konohagakure?”
“Yes.” Ayame knelt over Hinata and smoother her hair. “But first. I really do have to take care of Hinata-Chan. She knows too much to remain.”
“He will be unhappy.” “Lan?” She chuckled. “I'll kill him if I have to.”