A Bare Anomaly

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. [Insert non-witty comment here about wishing I did.]

The forced counting couldn’t really be heard. But she knew it was there. It’s always there. The timid one would count by ‘hyah’ every hit. I suppose it had been ingrained in her. The teacher landed softly, almost blinking into existence. Hinata felt the disturbance in the chakra levels, though. You know, since her eyes were ‘on’ and everything. She whipped her hand around, ready to strike her assailant. Despite the quivering fear in her gut. That damnable fears. She wasn’t a coward. But fighting, killing, maiming. These never came easily to her. Mostly they barely came at all. But the air was different today. Like the will of the universe was exerting itself. Kurenai chuckled and ducked. Shino wasn’t so lucky.
After apologies and tea were served, the teacher got down to business. “Kiba and Neji were involved in a mission. To retrieve the attempted desertion of Uchiha Sasuke. Both were gravely injured. I figured you would want to join us in visiting them.” Hinata nodded, getting up from her server’s position and left to change. In a lightening quick minute she returned. Medicines and such were with her. Apologizing to Shino once more, they left. Having just returned with his father, Shino heard of the mission. He rushed to leave, only to find they had also just returned. At least Kiba could tell him what happened. Hinata, however, was worried. If Neji was seriously injured, then whoever was helping Sasuke must have been incredibly strong. Kiba-kun, I hope you aren’t . . . Shivering, she sped forward.
The slate gray building wasn’t making much of an impression on anyone today. Its contents were on everyone’s lips though. Hinata scanned the registry quickly. Inuzuka Kiba Floor 2 Patient Room 212. Hyuuga Neji Floor 3 Surgery Room 309. Uzumaki Naruto . . . Her eyes widened . . . Floor 5 Surgery Room 500. Floors’ three and five were critical surgery areas. Only the most serious cases were on floor five. Hinata’s heart dropped. A voice, laced snidely, broke her from her little world. “Hokage-sama is too worried about the demon. I mean, really, all of floor five. It’s not like . . . ” Quickly silenced, the nurse went back to attending her matters. Hinata was confused. Demon? Floor five? Naruto’s in . . . Kurenai reminded Hinata why they were there. “He’s still in surgery, Hokage-sama is his doctor, he’s in good hands. Let’s go see Kiba-kun, shall we?” Hinata nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Akamaru was resting, Kiba’s family (canines included) was crowding the area. The only two things that had Kiba concerned was Akamaru and how the mission went. Assured it was successful, but perhaps at the cost of Naruto’s life, he withdrew (albeit angrily) and fitfully slept. Shino went home, his comrade safe and recovering, needing to file his mission report. Upon arrival to floor three Hinata was greeted by the ‘do not enter’ sign and an exiting doctor. ‘Shizune-shishou was finishing up, Neji-san was stable, everything was looking up and up’, she was being told. That settled, she was off to the fifth floor. So preoccupied with Naruto she didn’t notice the other person walking beside her.
Sakura had exited Sasuke’s surgery room. His stomach was healing, and he was sleeping. So off to visit her new immediate concern, provided Tsunade was done, of course. She saw Hinata exit Neji’s room. “Hinata-san!” She’d be visiting Naruto next, Sakura was sure of it. She’d have someone to talk to. She needed someone. Hinata was ignoring her. She probably heard about Naruto. Sakura darkened, Hinata might . . . This time it was Sakura who didn’t notice. “Sakura-san?” Hinata noticed Sakura look at her, weakly smiling. “You might hate me, but I want to say I’m sorry.” Hinata was now confused. Why would she- “He’s up there because of me.” Sakura put Naruto in- “I couldn’t stop Sasuke last night, I asked Naruto to get him back for me. He called it a promise of a lifetime. I caught the end of the fight. They . . . ” Tears swelled, spilling over the dam. Hinata understood somewhat. “Sakura-san, did you ever think Naruto-kun also wanted to get Sasuke-san back?” Sakura started, then smiled. “Do you Hyuuga’s always know what everyone else is thinking?” Taken aback “N-No, I mean, I understand that Naruto-kun wanted to make you happy, he always has. But-” Hinata stopped, realizing what she said. “I think, though, he wanted Sasuke here as much as you do.” Sakura hadn’t thought of that. She then realized what Hinata said. “Hinata-san . . . ” Hinata, in a fit of boldness, grabbed her hand. “L-Let’s go wait together.” Sakura understood she wanted to drop it. So they walked. Talking of nothing, words still weighing them down.
They sat down, intent on waiting for the clearing sign. What they got was something entirely different. Tsunade and Kakashi were completely unaware of anybody entering the area. They both thought the Area Closed sign would suffice. So, since the surgery was successful, she grabbed him closer to the door. The three with them would be able to handle the rest. She needed answers. Hinata and Sakura seated themselves closest to the door, but not so close as to disturb their Hokage. “Mind telling me why there’s a chidori-shaped hole in Naruto, Hatake?” He knew where she was going, he knew what was happening. And he couldn’t help but fall into it. “I taught it to Sasuke, in preparation for the Chunin exams. His opponent-” “I know damn well who he was facing, I do read my reports.” Everyone cringed at that. They heard a strained mutter and Tsunade react. “Alright, Mimoto, one more word about demons and I will show you one!” Apologies were heard and Kakashi sighed. “It wasn’t the smartest thing, but honestly, I didn’t know Itachi was going to show back up.” Sakura cringed. “Hinata-san, why is everyone calling Naruto a demon today?” “You heard it too? I don’t know. Unless he’s not alone in there.” Sakura shook her head no, remembering that Tsunade had said that Naruto was the only person there. Then Kakashi spoke. The air silenced their thoughts. It was like they couldn’t help but listen. “That still doesn’t explain why his tenant isn’t healing him. He always has before.” Tenant? Healing? “I knew he didn’t have a bloodline.” Sakura said. Hinata looked at her. “He was never really hurt on missions, no matter what we did. Kakashi called it an emerging bloodline. But it wasn’t.” They hushed again, Tsunade’s voice coming into their ears. “Well, Kakashi it’s apparent.” They swallowed, nervous. Like two little children doing something they knew would get them into trouble. “Kyuubi had to go into overdrive. Sasuke hit him twice with it. There’s a limit to how much even the great demon can do.” Suddenly everything clicked. Cliche like. The reason for Konoha’s contempt. The reason for the name calling. The pranks, the need for recognition. Everything came to them. All at once.
“Kyuubi . . . Naruto . . . Kyuubi . . . Destroyed . . . Everything . . . Naruto . . . Kyuubi . . . ” Sakura spoke softly, rapidly. Muttering this mantra over and over she came to one thought: RUN! Sakura, heeding her thoughts, turned to do just that. Hinata, having processed the revelation, caught the pink blur from the corner of her eye. Where is she . . . she isn’t . . . The thought never finished, apparently her body was going to do something about this. Catching her shoulder, Hinata spun Sakura around. The fear, almost hatred, glared back at her. Her hand did the one thing Hinata could never do. The sound of flesh stinging flesh reverberated through the hall. Sakura, dumbfounded, sniffled at Hinata. The Hyuuga’s eyes were not matching hers. Instead the ground seemed to be more important in that instant. Then, Sakura heard it clear as day. “He is Naruto!” Hinata said almost softly, but forcefully. One says almost, because Hinata can never really be loud, but this one time. This one instance. This one, of all, is most important. The realization of this whole thing suddenly hit both of them. Hinata looked up at the object of her . . . outburst. By the gods, she would understand, even if I have to make her understand! “He promised you!” Her eyes shone fire. “He’s the Kyuubi?” This wasn’t a question, but a statement. Hinata was on a roll. She would understand. Her furor rising, in finality, venomously, “He almost died for you! And he’s the Kyuubi!?!?!?” Neither were prepared for the final one, really. The words just came. Crashing down upon them, the severity of what happened awoke them both. Sakura collapsed into Hinata, sobbing, whispering for her forgiveness, to apologize. They cried their acceptance together.
Ninjas are paid to be such. So it’s no wonder that once Tsunade and Kakashi heard the gasp and shuffling feet, they both tensed and reappeared on the other side of the door. Just in time to see Sakura’s reaction, figure out what happened, then realize Hinata was doing their job for them. Once the girls collapsed onto themselves, they picked them up and carried them in. This was going to be a delicate situation. One that required grace, finesse, aplomb. “I suppose the Area Closed sign wasn’t enough, eh girls?” Tsunade’s ire was drawn. They both just sat there. “I suppose you heard, but my question is how are you going to handle this?” Steeled resolve answered back. “It’s a law you are now part of. No one is to know. If he told you himself, that’s fine, but usually the law for mentioning it is death.” She glared at Kakashi, and he gulped. “But eavesdropping wasn’t covered.” She glared at the girls next. They tried to gulp. Sakura spoke first. “It’s kinda my fault he’s like this. I want to make an amends to him. To protect him. Make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Hinata nodded. “I’ve heard from your teacher that you have excellent chakra control, Haruno.” Sakura managed to swallow this time, Hinata just hung her head. “I have some scrolls you can read. Master them, and I’ll teach you.” Sakura nodded, again. “Mimoto, take Miss Haruno to the tower, show her the scrolls in the cabinet.”
Suddenly Hinata was alone. “And Hyuuga Hinata, you?” It was Hinata’s turn to swallow. In the course of five seconds she had made her mind. Now she couldn’t voice it. Again. Sometimes she wondered why it was so difficult to do anything in relation to Naruto. She had made her choice, now she just needed to relay that to her Hokage. “Speak up girl. We don’t have all day.” Sometimes Tsunade was scary. “I-I want to protect him too. But-” “Then you are his watcher. I can’t trust my staff fully, I need Kakashi on high level missions, and you’re here.” Hinata’s mind and heart swelled. She could change once more for the person she admires, if only in a small capacity. “It’s your mission, I suggest you be fully prepared for it. Of course, I’ll have two guards outside. But you’ll be the last line if someone gets bold. You’ll receive the official papers tomorrow.” Hinata, grinning, nodded and began her preparation.


Authors’ Notes:
This came out too cliche for my taste. Rushed too. YET! I couldn’t logically work it any other way, given my milieu. I still like it, kinda.

A reader pointed out that some walls of text seemed dense. I agree that some walls of text are dense, but I can’t break the paragraphs down and transition them to my taste any better than that. It feels like I lose something if I break some of them down any more. Sorry. Also, not that I’m slamming you (or any body else that reviews with comments and concerns {though it may seem so}), I am writing this piece as I’d like to read it. I am grateful that you found it interesting or wonderful or [insert adjective here]. It certainly does encourage me to write, and try to improve. At the same time, it is what it is. I do hope in the future you will point out that worked and didn’t work, syntax, structure, or otherwise. I shall consider them, and possibly incorporate them as best I can. But I make no promises.


Finally, rant:
I want to spend this time talking about Arashi ‘Whatever his last name is’ a.k.a. Yondaime Hokage. I wonder how many people are gonna be pissed if he’s revealed to be Naruto’s father? Folks, it’s simple. I have to believe he is. The Hokage isn’t going to ask some random villager (and for all intents and purposes it would have been) ‘Hey, I need your kid to be a sacrifice for the better of Konoha.’ The Hokage has a duty to protect and serve the entire village. One author put it best, even if his writing is choppy and uneven, ‘Hokage first, father second.’ Yondaime had a duty, and a burden. The only logical choice is his own son. It’s possible he choose some random orphan, it’s not possible (as freaking awesome as Nes Mikel made it) that Naruto’s an advanced Kage Bunshin. Well it is, but he’s gonna have one hell of an explanation for that one. If Kishimoto happens to make Naruto not his son, then kudos to him. But I certainly don’t want to hear any bitching about fan service if he is.