Changed Fates
By Jennifer Darknight
Chapter Seven:
Preparation isn't always a bad thing
He couldn't have been any older than fifty-five to sixty. Even with his height (he was pretty tall—not as tall as Kakashi-sensei, but he was up there) and obviously bulging muscles (he had to have worked in some kind of manual labor job), the way his face was set in that slight-scowl, and the way his shaggy white beard hung down from his chin (unkempt and ragged), it was obvious that he wasn't a young man. It didn't help that his face had wrinkles all around it, also showing signs of age. He wore a straw hat over his head, but Hinata was certain that he was bald, or at least balding. At least he looked healthy though, and not like he was about to keel over and have a heart attack any minute—unlike the elders of the Hyuga Clan (in all honesty, she was surprised they weren't dead already. Of course that was a very rude and unseemly thing for her to even think, but when you thought about how shriveled they were, as well as their age, it was a wonder they were still able to summon chakra).
He stood in front of the Genin, looking at the three rookie shinobi one-by-one.
And he sighed. Hinata didn't want to know what he meant by that—staring and then giving out that disappointed sigh was never a good sign.
But then again, he spoke in any case, and that just made the knot in her stomach turn and churn even worse. Her first C-Class mission was bad enough—but now she had to go through the awkward experience of meeting the man that she would have to help protect from God-Knows-What. Her father had probably been through a lot of missions such as these in his lifetime, but he also had an iron gut, and she didn't exactly inherit that from him.
You're just worrying…he probably doesn't ha—
"These are the ones who you hired? They don't look like anything 'cept a group of wet-nosed brats."
Maybe not…I can understand why he's distrustful, as we are just genin, but…
The Hokage coughed, then Hinata's attention was drawn to him (same with Sasuke-san, and Naruto-kun was a little irked at the old man's first comment, but he looked anyway). He was still behind his desk, but a new set of papers were sitting in front of him.
"This is Tazuna-san," The Hokage said, looking at the three without changing his expression. "You'll be guiding him home to Nami no Kuni, while protecting him from brigands and street thugs that might be lurking along the way."
"P-protect…?" Hinata asked softly, although not loud enough for any of those around her to really hear.
"Daijoubu dattebayo!" Naruto-kun puffed out his chest, grinning with this sort of glow of confidence radiating off his form. "Everything will be all right, since I, Uzumaki Naruto, am here!"
The old man that they were hired to protect sighed, and shook his head at the three of them. The knot that formed in the pit of Hinata's stomach squeezed even tighter.
"The one in the orange is the worst." He then turned towards the Hokage, who stole a glance at him. "Are you sure these guys are really shinobi?"
"O-of course we are…" Hinata said softly, poking her fingers together to hide her own embarrassment at opening her mouth at all. Tazuna-san didn't seem to hear her, though. He was busy looking at Naruto-kun, who was now about to rip his head off. Kakashi-sensei was holding him back, saying something along the lines of "You can't kill your clients". Hinata's face reddened even more, and then she looked back over at the Hokage, then at Tazuna-san, then at Sasuke-san.
None of them really had any expression.
Hinata looked down, and twiddled her thumbs again.
Would they be able to take this man back without Naruto-kun fighting with him the entire way there…?
Maybe that was going to be harder than the mission itself.
Kunai, check. Bandages, check. Salve, check.
Everything seemed to be in order. Her bag was nice and plumply packed, and her things weren't too full or too lean. It was nice and perfect, Hinata decided, as she looked everything over one last time, rummaging through her things to keep them in a neat and stable order.
"So you're going?"
Hinata's heart jumped, and she looked up, only to become face-to-face with the graceful features of Aunt Hanako, as she stood right behind the Hyuga heir. She was still dressed in the usual fancy kimono set that married Hyuga women wore around the house (even though sometimes she herself had stated discomfort with wearing it. When Hinata's father was out, she caught Aunt Hanako in a sweatsuit once, training Neji-niisan), and her long hair was tied in the male style half-ponytail, much like Neji-niisan's hair was (again, it was more and more apparent that the Hyuga boy took more after his mother than his father). She gave Hinata a smile and a bow of her head, letting her long hair that fell out of her ponytail frame her face. It was a respectful gesture, but Hinata knew deep inside that Aunt Hanako was much higher than her in rank, even if her Aunt didn't think so. Hinata just couldn't help but smile back—her Aunt's emotions were contagious sometimes.
"I'm still getting ready." Hinata said, bowing her own head in response. "Kakashi-sensei told us to m-meet him by the gate… in a few hours, to give us time to get ready… and eat… beforehand."
"It is your first higher-rank mission…"
Hinata was taken aback a moment. "You know a-about it…?"
"Of course I do." Hanako said softly. "I was notified the moment that the Hokage gave you the orders. Iruka came by and let me know."
"Oh…I see."
She looked thoughtful for a moment, but then Aunt Hanako regained her usual serene smile. Hinata blinked once, but then didn't pursue the idea further. It wasn't her place to ask questions anyway. She had to prepare for that mission.
"Where are your teammates?" Aunt Hanako asked as Hinata grabbed a medicine jar and put it in the smaller pouch of the backpack. Her tone was wistful, almost teasing.
Hinata knelt down and arranged some of the extra kunai in her side-pouch, and added a medicine jar in the pocket of her hoody for good measure, just in case she needed a jar on the fly, instead of having to dig through her bag for it in the heat of battle and causing herself to become a liability. She was going to be useful this time…no matter what.
"Well…Na-Naruto-kun's…setting up in his apartment…" Hinata blushed, images of the blond-haired boy flooding her mind. "And Sa…Sasuke-san's at his place…"
And Hinata was here. But that was obvious wasn't it?
Hanako nodded, stepping towards her niece once but still staying at Hinata's base height (meaning…she was still standing), staring into the Hyuga heir's silver eyes with her own. Hinata's stomach flopped inside her abdomen, but she tried to keep the expression out of her face. She didn't want Aunt Hanako to notice her anxiety. When she stared at her like that…True, she was a straight-forward person, but…
"Just be careful."
Hinata blinked, then her eyes drifted a bit, and she looked down slightly. "Of course…I'll be fine. Naruto-kun and Sasuke-san will be with me…"
Hanako smiled a bit and sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "You sound just like me at your age."
"I do…?"
Hanako shook her head, but still kept the same expression on her face. "Nevermind." Patting the Hyuga heir on the head, she nodded to her. "I'll tell you the story someday, when you're older."
"Oh…all right…"
Aunt Hanako coughed once, and although Hinata didn't know why she did that, she wasn't about to ask any more questions than she needed to.
Another cough. The older woman ran her fingers through her hair a moment, and then shuffled where she was, although not quite moving, per se. It was the technique of Hyuga women that Hinata had not quite grasped yet, and therefore looked like she was fidgeting all the time instead of merely shuffling.
"Well," Hanako nodded to the younger Hyuga, smiling slightly. "Be back soon."
Hinata nodded a bit, although it was jerky and uncertain, but she didn't have time to do that now. Acting strong wasn't Hinata's strong suit, she supposed. "Y-yes…I will…D-don't worry a-about me…please t-tell Father…that I'll be fine…"
Not that he will notice that I'm gone in any case…
"I will." Aunt Hanako said, tucking some hair behind her ear. "And no matter what he tells you about you not being good enough…just remember that your father didn't do his first C-Class mission until three years after he turned Genin, when he became Chuunin. Although don't tell him that I told you that."
"He did?" Hinata's eyes widened slightly, staring at her much taller Aunt. "I thought he became…Chuunin…a year after he be-became Genin…"
Hanako shook her head. "As much as he would have liked to believe that, it was Neji's father who achieved Chuunin first. At that time he was truly the more skilled of the two brothers."
So Uncle Hizashi was a genius…like Neji-niisan is. I wonder what he was like? I never got to know him too well…I never got to see him very much, either…I just remember that his eyes were always really sad…
And a light laugh came from the other Hyuga's lips. "And I'm not just saying that because he was my husband, either."
Hinata nodded, her eyes returning to their normal size. "I…I kn-know you're not…You're not that…kind of…person, Aunt Hanako…"
"I'm glad to know that you think of me that way, Hinata-chan."
Hinata put another medicine jar in her bag, slung said bag over her shoulders, and then turned again towards her Aunt. "Um…Aunt Hanako…"
The tilt of a head, and the smile was still there.
Hinata clasped her hands together, and the splash of a blush came upon her face. She stepped forward once, and slung the bag around her shoulders, looking slightly downward, unable to meet her Aunt's eyes. The older Hyuga looked at her quizzically, and her eyes shined with a bit of endearment, or something along those lines. Hinata wasn't quite sure what it was…but there certainly was something gentle about it—unlike her father's eyes, and Neji-niisan's eyes…
"Mmm?"
"Uncle Hi…Hizashi…wh-what was he…like?"
Hinata gained the courage to look up, and meet Hanako's eyes, which still had that bit of gentleness to them that they had before, but they didn't look misty or sad or anything like that…it was like they were neutral—not feeling one way or the other…just with that look of kindness and remembering. She was certain that if she had her Byakugan turned on, her aura would have been a very soft, very calming blue.
"He was…" A pause. It wasn't a contemplating pause, but not one of reminiscing, either. "He was a very calm…very kind man. He always cared for me and for Neji, and was as strong as any Hyuga man could be. Always kept to his duties and to his family."
Maybe it was just her…but whenever Ino-san talked about Sasuke-san, or whenever Momoko-sempai talked about Neji-niisan, they were always so happy, gentle, yet energetic and just…ecstatic to talk about them. Perhaps it was just her…but her Aunt didn't really seem too…well…excited about it, or dreamy. Or even truly happy…it was just…She couldn't really put her finger on it quite well.
"Did you love him?" Hinata asked, but suddenly regretted it and put her head down, blushing, and not sure why she even threw and outburst like that. Why she would ask a personal question like that…It certainly wasn't her business whether or not she knew if Aunt Hanako loved her husband or not. It would have only made sense, as they did marry—but it was still strange that a pair of relatives could fall in love with each other in the way that husbands and wives did.
Of course, Hinata's mother was the same—she was a Hyuga just like her father was.
But…
"Perhaps." Aunt Hanako said in a wistful tone. Her eyes were…they were tinged with something resembling sadness…something resembling regret, but Hinata couldn't really tell which. "I can't remember whether I did or not... Just whenever he died, I moved on, and focused all my love that might have been for him to raising Neji."
Hinata couldn't really say anything, as even if she would have tried to, Aunt Hanako threw a soft, covering look in her direction, laughing in a light, bell-like tone.
"Well…I think it's about time that you run out and meet your teammates before you meet your sensei. You have a tough job ahead of you."
A pause came. Then Aunt Hanako spoke again:
"And do your best."
Hinata nodded, though not with as much vigor as she would have hoped to have, or as much as Naruto-kun would have had in her situation.
"I…I'll try."
"No." Hanako wagged a finger in front of the younger girl. "You will. And remember—run away if things get too tough. Even if the enemy isn't defeated, ensuring the safety of your charge and yourselves is the heart of your mission. Hyuga Pride doesn't mean a thing if you're dead."
"Y…yes…All right…"
With a satisfied nod, the older Hyuga began to shoo Hinata out the door. "Now hurry along, in case everyone's already there. Time limits or no, it's always best to be early."
As the door closed, and Hinata began to hurry down the halls towards the exit of the Hyuga estate, she remembered Aunt Hanako's face.
"Why…did she look…so…sad?"
Konoha was bustling, like usual. People walking along the streets, going about their daily business, their eyes wandering away from the young Hyuga Genin who was hurrying along, her knapsack nearly clinging to her back. Indigo strands clung to sweaty pale skin, white eyes staying forward, her legs moving as fast as she could carry them. She spent enough time at the Hyuga Estate, getting ready—Kakashi-sensei and Naruto-kun were probably already there by now, and here she was, wasting time like a basket-case. She didn't have time for this—she needed to be more efficient…the heir of the Hyuga clan must not spend her time wasting time like this.
She felt her legs move quicker under her as she clutched her backpack closer to her.
I wonder if Naruto-kun's there yet…
Hinata shook the thought off. He was probably already there with Sasuke-san, arguing like usual. And everyone was probably bored to tears waiting for her.
They probably left without me…
Hinata shook her head, letting her legs keep going on still. Her heart rammed in her chest, and her body felt rather heavy, like it was going to fall over—but not so much to where she actually did. The people started passing her in a blur, and her heart rammed even harder, and her legs moved even faster…
"But Sakura-chan, it's true! I really am going on a C-class mission!"
Naruto-kun?
Hinata stopped, looking around, trying to pinpoint the noise and where it was coming from. She stepped to the side of the street to let the others pass so that she wouldn't crash into anyone. That would be most impolite.
"I said stop lying and leave me alone, Naruto!"
That could only be Sakura-san's voice. The loud shrillness of it, and the slight gentleness in the tone was unmistakable. Sometimes, Hinata wished she could sound so loud, so outspoken…
"But I'm not lying at all!" Naruto-kun said in a desperate tone—and Hinata couldn't help but feel her heart clench a little bit. He tried so hard to get her to notice him…And yet she was infatuated with Sasuke-san…
Hinata's eyes kept moving about, trying to find their location still. She wasn't about to use the Byakugan and make herself look conspicuous. She looked about a few times, and then noticed a patch of orange and pink in the corner of her eye.
She turned around, and then saw them standing next to a park bench in a patch of green grass, facing the street from the right side. Sakura's long pink hair trailed down her back in a beautiful silky mass, and her red and white dress clung to her childlike yet elegant form. Naruto-kun was standing in front of her, hands outstretched, a 'please believe me' expression plastered on his face, blue eyes sparkling as he looked at the gorgeous Haruno girl. He looked like he was completely infatuated with her.
While he…with her…
Hinata looked down at herself, and then cursed her own pale white skin. "I'm not tan enough…"
Hinata stepped forward, once, towards them. Another step. And then it turned into an all-out run, stopping two feet away from Naruto's back, trying to keep silent so she wouldn't interrupt anything. She didn't know why she just did that. She just…
Then Sakura's eyes lifted.
And their eyes met.
They were so cold. Steely green eyes looked through her, piercing through her retinas and filling her entire body with a sense of dread. Hinata had this sudden urge to run away and hide from those eyes…in a way, they were much colder than Sasuke-san's. His didn't show any trace of emotion at all, no trace of even humanity in them. But Sakura-san's…they looked at her with such malice…such anger…such…
Hate?
"…Hyuga-san. Kon-ni-chi-wa."
Hinata wanted to back up, but looked at Naruto-kun, whose blue eyes were now fixed on her, curiosity surging through them. She held her ground, though her body still shook a tiny bit, and her face filled with a deep redness that covered her features. Hinata flinched at the sound of her last name being spoken—that sort of formality with that kind of venom was just…
"H-hello…Sakura-san…"
Naruto-kun turned fully around now, ignoring Sakura-san for the moment, his eyes completely focused on the young Hyuga. Hinata's face reddened even more, and her heart started to beat fast in her chest, and she could feel her lungs clenching and unclenching, making it hard for her to breathe.
"How's Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked. It felt like a jab in the gut with her quickness and bluntness of the question.
"Sasuke-san…is all right…" Hinata said gently. "He always is…"
"Of course!" Sakura said, nodding. "It's Sasuke-kun. Not like you would know that though."
Why is she so upset at me?
"Well…I am his…t-teammate…um…"
Sakura said nothing. She just threw Hinata a glare, putting one hand on her hip before turning on her heel and storming off. It seemed that the world was getting duller with each step she made away from the Hyuga girl, and the farther away Naruto-kun was from her as he stared at the Cherry-blossom girl's retreating back. She was radiant all right…too radiant. She seemed to take the sun away from any girl that got too close.
But that is unlike Sakura-san…even when it comes to Sasuke-san…what did I do…that could make her so upset…with me?
Naruto-kun said nothing for a moment, then his eyes moved towards the Hyuga girl, slightly dulled, but not losing their usual shine. Hinata was driven aback a moment, and her right foot moved back, and her face stared at his, a bit of a redness coming to her cheeks.
"Na…Naruto-kun?"
"Why was Sakura-chan acting like that?" he wondered aloud. "She's never like that to anyone. Did you do something to make her mad?"
"No…not at all…" Hinata said softly, though she knew that it was a lie. "I think it was about Sasuke-san…" I was on the same team as Sasuke-san…
"It's always about Sasuke." Naruto-kun mumbled. It was quiet, but Hinata could hear him a mile away. "Sasuke, this. Sasuke, that. But one day I'm gonna be strong enough for Sakura-chan to like me…"
"I-I'm sure you will…one day…Naruto-kun."
It hurts to have to say that.
"Hmmm…" A grin slowly made its way across Naruto-kun's face, and Hinata's face became even more red, her heart beating even faster than it was before, if that was humanly possible. Her index fingers made their way to each other, and she started poking them together absent-mindedly, trying to get her mind off of the boy's hand, which was now on her shoulder and felt like a fire of warmth was being branded onto her skin.
"Well, we should go, huh?"
"Eh?"
Naruto-kun's hand didn't move, and Hinata's heart couldn't stop pounding. She attempted to look towards him, to try to look at his eyes, but her heart wouldn't let her. She just couldn't do it…
And her eyes were only a few centimeters below locking with his. Why couldn't she just raise them…just a little…It was only a little bit more…
"Well…uh…Hey, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata blushed redder, her eyes trying to raise a little bit more. They tried so hard, but she couldn't bring up the courage to just bring them up, just a little bit, even though he was right there, and she was right there. She felt some words come in her throat, and she opened her mouth, just to let them out and be in the open, but all they came out was a small squeak:
"Yes…Naruto-kun…?"
She could tell that he was frowning. She couldn't see his eyes, and she wasn't looking at his face, but she could tell. It was his voice, his motions, maybe. His hand moved from her shoulder, and she heard him moving ahead of her, only slightly.
"You never look at me in the eye." Naruto-kun said in a soft voice. Was he sad? No. She couldn't really tell what the emotion was. It was down, low, and Hinata felt her heart yank in her chest, and her entire body feel heavy, like it was going to fall down into the Earth and make a crater where it stood. She stepped forward, just a little.
"I'm sorry." Hinata said softly. "It's just…I…I'm not…used to…talking to people…so I…um…"
"Oh, that's what it is?"
Hinata nodded, her face glowing a bright pink, her index fingers poking together. "Y-yes…I never…Father didn't…I didn't…go…out much…um…"
The hand went on her shoulder again. It was a strong grip this time—not slightly loose like it was before. And it wasn't just one hand…it was two.
And there was Naruto-kun, his face a few inches away from hers. She couldn't look him in the eyes, she just couldn't…but…
Hinata thought she could just die! They were close enough…they were close enough to…We're close enough to…I…um…I don't think…
Her eyes met his. They finally managed to meet his own, slowly but surely. Her heart raced, her palms perspirated, and her mouth moved in a small, quiet smile. She tried to calm herself down. She had to. She couldn't just look at the ground like this and not face her teammate. How was she supposed to work with him if she never looked him in the eye?
But…she was managing so far now…even if she did want to melt in a little puddle. Half from fear and the other half because of looking into Naruto-kun's beautiful, sparkling blue eyes.
"Well, don't worry about it!" Came the sunny reply. "We're teammates now, Hinata-chan! We're gonna be talking a lot from now on—so don't be so scared, okay?"
"Y-yes…"
Naruto-kun…you're so kind…
His hands left her shoulders. He walked away a few steps, then his head moved over his shoulder and he flashed the girl a grin.
"Well, let's go. Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-teme are waiting for us."
Hinata walked forward, nodding a little bit, a tiny blush still on her face. "All right. L-let's go…"
And then the two started to run. Naruto moved in a brisk jog, his excited energy seeming to cover his whole form and fly out into the world around him. The sun shone down onto his golden hair, giving it a heavenly shine—almost like a Halo as the adoring Hyuga girl ran several steps behind him…
And she secretly wondered when she'd be able to run beside him.
Well everyone! I'm sorry for you guys having to wait so long for this chapter to come out! School, life, and all sorts of other things kept me from putting this up on time…but now it's here! XD And I'm so happy that it's back. Don't worry—I haven't turned my back on this story. Even if you see an InuYasha fic in the works in my profile, I'm still working hard on this fanfic. I've already got eight done and I'm working on nine in my notebook at home, and I'm trying my best to make this the best NaruHina ever!
Thank you my readers for being patient with me! I appreciate it!
Jen