Hold On Hinata
By Hyuuga Amane
Chapter 24
The Final Act
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!
EDIT - Author's Note: The sequel for Hold On Hinata is entitled This Photograph Is Proof and the first chapter is up.
"Hinata you're spacing out again." Hinata's head snapped up as Tenten pulled her from her thoughts.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to." It had only been two days since Naruto had left for his mission, but to Hinata it felt painfully like years. She just couldn't stop her thoughts from straying into the fond memories she had of the blonde man.
"You were thinking of him again weren't you?" Tenten asked with a plain smirk on her face. Out of all her friends Hinata could relate to Tenten the best. She didn't really know why, she just could. That's why, regardless of what Sakura thought, Hinata considered Tenten her best friend.
"Yeah. I just can't keep him from invading my thoughts." Tenten laughed in amusement. She knew the feeling all too well. Neji himself had left for a mission only the day before. The fact that Tenten wasn't going with Neji on that mission suddenly made everything about her pregnancy all too real. Before it had almost been like a dream of some sort, but now it was real. It was really happening. It made the whole thing so exciting, but yet so frightening at the same time. "It's not funny ya know."
"Oh I know. I get just exactly what you mean. I've sort of been having the same problem eversince Neji left yesterday." Hinata smiled sadly at Tenten.
"It's almost hard to believe how much we each miss our different guy, huh?"
"Yeah, almost." Agreed Tenten as she picked at the bowl of ramen on the counter infront of her. "Please remind me why we decided to get ramen for lunch?" Hinata gave Tenten a slightly hurt look. "Nevermind. I think I remember why now."
"Ya out to. I only told you four times already." Hinata joked in a playful voice, envoking laughter from her best friend. It didn't take long for the dark haired girl to join her. A figure passed the ramen stand. Hinata barely caught his form out of the corner of her eye. Her laughter ceased as if it never exsisted in the first place as she took in the man's features. Spikey blonde hair, deep blue eyes, pointed ears, fanged teeth, and whisker marks on his cheeks. A blonde woman held tightly to his hand. Hinata's bowl fell from her hands and shattered as it hit the floor; spilling the contents all over. Then she blinked and the man was gone.
"Hinata? Are you alright?" Tenten's worried voice asked.
"Yeah.. yeah.. I'm fine. I just thought I saw something." That had been Naruto. Hinata was sure of it. But where did he go? And who was he with? Maybe Hinata had just been imaging things. Yeah that had to be it. There was no way that could have been Naruto. But either way, it left Hinata a little disturbed.
"She got caught in the genjutsu." Reported an overly eager Hyuuga boy. Hitomi didn't know how old he was or even what his name was. All she knew was that he was a branch house member and he was eager to prove he was worthy of being in the Hyuuga Clan. A small part, rapidly getting larger, of Hitomi wanted to whack the boy over the head, call him a fool, and send him home. Unfortunately for the boy, she couldn't do that.
"Good. Now all we have to do is watch and wait." After Hitomi had realized she had no real desire to help Hinata the night before, she had requested that she be able to help with the task she had once been so against. She didn't just get the permission to help; she was put in charge. That suited her just fine. Just fine indeed.
"Understood Hitomi-sama." A small smile forced its way onto Hitomi's face. Little did she realize that the smile that currently adorned her features was not so unlike the one of Nemo-sama's which she so much despised. As Hitomi stood there watching her sister begin her suffering, a part of her began to die. A part she could not afford to lose.
"Aww.. Sasuke don't you think this is cute?" Sakura held up one of the most frilly and pink item of clothing Sasuke had ever seen. He almost gagged.
"Forgive me for saying this Sakura, but I think if you decide to expose Sayuki to that particular dress she will be scarred for life! That thing is just plain scary girl!" Sasuke covered his sleeping baby daughter's eyes as if to prevent her from seeing the dress in Sakura's hands. It was kind of pointless since Sayuki's eyes were already closed, but Sasuke did it anyways.
"I'm just kidding Sasuke. I would never buy something like this for Sayuki." Sasuke let out a sigh of relief and Sakura laughed at him.
"Thank goodness." Sasuke spotted something on a shelf just behind Sakura. Before he could stop himself, he had strolled over and picked it up.
"I love my Mommy, but Daddy is my favorite?" Sakura gave Sasuke a disbelieving look.
"What? I think it's cute." Sasuke gave Sakura a pleading look.
"I don't know.." Sayuki opened her eyes sleepily. Sasuke was quick to notice this and brought the baby girl up so their cheeks were touching. A large pout graced Sasuke's lips.
"Please Mommy?" Sayuki seemed to be pouting now too and Sakura just couldn't bring herself to say no.
"Alright. Fine." A broad smile broke out on Sasuke's face.
"Do you hear that baby girl? Mommy says yes." He lifted Sayuki up into the air and spun around in a circle. Sayuki giggled and waved her arms at her father. Sakura smiled with joy seeing the two people she loved most in the world so happy. How could anything in Sakura's life be anymore perfect than the happiness in this very moment? Suddenly, Sasuke stopped spinning and laughing. "Neji? What in the world are you doing here man? Aren't you suppose to be on a mission?" Neji? Sure enough there was Neji sheepishly walking up to them after being spotted.
"Well I was on a mission, but I finished it early. I want to buy something for Tenten to surprise her when I get home." Neji stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "I didn't really expect to see anybody else here."
"We didn't really either." Sakura admitted.
"Yeah we're just having some fun together as a family." Sasuke grinned and wrapped his arm around Sakura's waist. "And there's no better way to do than buying I love my Daddy t-shirts." Laughed Sasuke.
"I -" Neji stopped.
"NEJI-SAMA!!!!!" A teenage boy with an Anbu 7 sweat shirt was running towards Neji.
"Oh no! It's a stupid fanboy!!! I gotta go!" With that Neji sped off in the opposite direction of the crazed fanboy.
"NEJI-SAMA WAIT!!! I LOVE YOU!!!" The boy ran right past Sasuke and Sakura without giving them a second glance. That made them both sigh in relief. But they were soon alerted to the sound of a snapping camera. They turned around to see none other than a crapload of paparazzi taking pictures of them.
"Let's pay for this and go home Sasuke." Sakura said. There was an undertone of disappointment and anger in her voice.
"Alright. I'll make it up to you tonight. I promise." Sakura nodded and the two made their way to the check out line. There was nothing like paparazzi to ruin a good day.
It's now been three days since Naruto went on his mission. I saw something pretty strange yesterday at lunch. But today.. I something even stranger. The thing is I don't know if it's real or if I'm just imaging things. I can feel myself becoming paranoid and I'm beginning to doubt my trust in Naruto. Twice now I could swear I saw him with a blonde haired woman. But always before I could get a better look the guy I keep seeing dissappears. It's literally I look, I blink, he's gone. What is wrong with me? Why am I seeing this stuff?
Start Flashback
"I'm sorry about the other day. I really didn't mean to get so mad at you two. I just couldn't stop myself." Hinata apologized to Sakura. Sakura smiled at her and shrugged.
"It's okay. I understand what happened now. So it's really no big deal. No hard feelings here." Sakura picked up a cd and scanned the cover.
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. We are friends after all." There was a bitter tone in her voice.
"You want to know why I never told you I was a Jinchuuriki don't you?" Sakura turned to look at Hinata and gave her a sly smile.
"Yep. You guessed it."
"You didn't even have to ask me and I knew that's what you wanted." Hinata frowned.
"Yep. At least this way I can honestly tell Sasuke I didn't ask." Sakura smirked and Hinata gave her a curious look. "What? He said I shouldn't ask as in with words. Mind speak doesn't count."
"Mind speak?" Hinata stiffled a giggle.
"Yeah you know where the person just knows what you want without you having to even say a word." Sakura explained to Hinata in a sing song voice.
"Right.. If you say so. I think you've been watching too much Star Trek."
"Stop avoiding the subject and spill it girl." Sakura pretty much demanded.
"Okay, okay. I didn't tell you because I honestly thought you and everyone else would well.. be afraid of me or worse hate me." Sakura laughed out right.
"That's the reason?" Hinata nodded. "Hinata I have been your friend since we were three. Do you really think I would stop being your friend just because you became a Jinchuuriki?"
"No.. I suppose not."
"What about the others? Do you think they would stop being your friends?" Sakura asked seriously.
"No. I don't." Hinata admitted reluctantly.
"Then you should tell them too. If they decide to not like you anymore, then they were never really your friends to begin with." Sakura was just all too right and Hinata knew it.
"Maybe I will, but you should know I kind of already told Tenten."
"Really? When?" Hinata carefully avoided Sakura's penatrating glance.
"Two weeks after it happened." It was the truth. She had told Tenten then. Tenten hadn't cared at all. She had told her that she shouldn't worry about it. That it was because of Kit that Hinata was alive today and she shouldn't be ashamed of that. Then Tenten had sprung into a lecture on how great power came great responsiblity. It pretty much turned out to be a rant about how much she loved Spiderman in the end. But it had made Hinata laugh and it cheered her up.
"You serious?" Sakura looked baffled and a tad hurt.
"Well I have known her since I was born." Hinata said sarcastically with a laugh. A familiar voice chose to meet Hinata's well trained ears at this moment. That was his voice. Naruto's voice. But why would Naruto be in a music store when he was suppose to be on a mission? Hinata turned around to see the blonde man she knew so well chatting and laughing with the same blonde haired woman she had seen him with yesterday. Today was a little different. Instead of holding hands the two had their arms around each other's waists. The blonde woman seemed to make eye contact with Hinata. She tilted her head up and whispered something in the man's ear. Then Hinata blinked and once again they were gone. She stood staring at the spot she swore she just saw Naruto and another girl with her mouth hanging agape. An expression of pure shock and disbelief was plastered all over her face.
"Hinata you home in there?"
"Huh?" Hinata asked Sakura as she tried to push what she had just seen out of her mind.
"Hinata are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. I think I've had enough shopping for today. I should probably head home."
"Whatever you say. Go right ahead." Hinata walked away without another word. Her mind was occupied by upsetting thoughts and her body seemed to be nothing more than a ghost as she made her way home. Something was wrong. Horribly wrong.
End Flashback
I don't understand. None of this makes any sense. Naruto wouldn't do this to me. Naruto wouldn't betray me. Would he?
It has now been an entire week since our plan has been set in moment. With every passing day my sister grows more distraught. With every moment she becomes more vunerable. It is almost time. Almost time to wrap up this little deed. There is one final step to this part of our plan and it will be carried out tonight. If everything goes well.. Hyuuga Hinata will disappear from Konoha tonight.
"Is everything ready for tonight Hitomi?" Nemo-sama asked me. I held my head high and smirked at the old man.
"Everything is perfect Nemo-sama."
"Good. You have pleased me Hitomi." Like I care. The stupid approval of the elder sitting before me means nothing to me. I hate this man more than anything. "You may go." I don't waste a second. I'm gone before the old man can draw another breath. I am looking forward to tonight. I just can't wait to see the look on my sister's face. I really can't.
"Will that be all Miss?" Hinata nodded as she tapped her fingers on the counter impatiently. She wanted to go home. It was late, she was tired, and her big, comfortable bed sounded really inviting at this very moment. "That will be 2033 yen please." Rolling her eyes slightly, Hinata handed the man the money and picked up her bags. "Miss you left your change."
"Keep it. I don't need it anyways." With an air of annoyance about her, Hinata left the shop and started her walk home. She had only gone a few blocks when she heard voices coming from a nearby alley. One sounded familiar. Going against her instincts, Hinata crept over to the alley. She was careful not to make any noise what so ever. It only took her a few seconds to reach the edge of the alley way. She took a silent breath and looked around the corner. The alley was pitch black, but she still heard the voices coming from within. Her hands quickly made several signs and she performed a small jutsu to allow her to see in the dark. In a flash the world lit up around her. Everything became as clear as day. Pleased with her work, Hinata directed her attention to the alley. Her eyes went wide at the sight that was revealed before her. It was Naruto and that girl. They were talking. More like arguing actually. Their words met Hinata's ears.
"I can't do this anymore Naruto." The woman said.
"Why not?" Naruto growled to her in obvious annoyance.
"Because I know about your girlfriend." She hissed at him. The anger was evident in her voice.
"You mean Hinata?" A cold laugh issued from Naruto's throat. "She is nothing to me. Hinata is just a toy to me. Something to mess around with whenever I want."
"Oh?" The woman sounded intrigued now. "So if I asked you to, you would dump her right now?"
"In a heart beat." Naruto smirked.
"God I love you."
"I know." Naruto crushed his lips to the woman's in a bruising kiss. Pushing her into a nearby wall Naruto used one hand to pin the woman's wrists do and he used the other to explore her pants. The woman moaned and Hinata couldn't take it anymore. Not caring if she was heard or not Hinata grabbed her bags and ran. Using all the speed and power she could muster Hinata leapt to the top of the closest roof top. When she was safely back in her apartment she collasped in the nearest chair and began to cry.
"WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?" Hinata slammed her fist into the wall. A loud cracking sound resounded through the room as a large crater took shape around Hinata's clenched fist. "NAURTO YOU FUCKING BASTARD! WHY?" Hinata stood up with so much force the chair she was sitting on tipped over. Charkra was leaking out from the pissed off shinobi in a great wave creating a large threatening aura around her. "HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME?" Again her fist made contact with the closest wall. This time it went straight through leaving a gaping, smoking whole in its wake. "How can you do this to me Naruto? How?" Hinata fell to her knees. Tears were rolling down her face in streams. Her hands hit the ground and one by one so did her tears. "Do I really mean so little to you?" The world around Hinata began to swim. A few seconds later she hit the floor; unconscious.
"Well that should take care of that." Naruto stood up and dusted his clothes off. It really wasn't worth the effort since they were so blood stained, but he did it anyways. "I'm glad I'm finally done with this stupid mission. I can't wait to see Hinata again." He smiled at the thought of the love of his life. With a small yawn, Naruto picked up his pack and swung it over his shoulders. Without warning a feeling of intense sorrow and anger washed over his being. He crumpled to the ground with a groan. What was going on?
"What the hell is this? Kyuubi if you know you had better tell me!"
"I didn't think you would ask." The Kyuubi chuckled.
"Don't mess with me fox! Just tell me!"
"It's your bond with your mate." The nine tails anwsered simply.
"What in the hell is that suppose to mean?"
"Boy.. Oh.. Boy.. Well when you first mated with your mate, you created a bond with her like all fox demons do. This bond is like empathy. You know you feel what they feel. That sort of thing. Anyways, this particular bond gets stronger with time. What you are experiencing now is a result of your bond with your mate." The Kyuubi explained in a very bored tone.
"Oh God.. What has happened to Hinata?" Naruto forced himself away from his thoughts and picked himself up from the ground. The emotions filtering through him were heart wrenching and intense. He had the sudden urge to cry. Shaking that feeling away the best he could, he jumped into the nearest tree and started his journey back. The only thing going through his head was: "Lord don't let me be too late to stop whatever's happening."
It's late. Very late. I'm being rash and I don't give a damn. I'm leaving this place. I need to get away from here! Don't you see? All the memories.. I can't stay here! I have to leave or I'll go mad! I realize that if I just pick up and run away from the village I'll become a wanted woman. No that's not something I want. I'll take a different way out of this place. The trial. Yes the trial of a Hyuuga heir. It is said that it took some years to return. The perfect escape and I'm going to use it. It won't be permanent. I will have to come back someday. But that day will not be in the near future. I'd leave a note or something for Naruto, but he doesn't deserve it. Not after betraying me. I will leave tonight. For how long I am uncertain. But I will leave and no one will be able to stop me.
"Hinata? What are you doing here?" Hitomi that's who opened the door. She dressed in flannel pajama's, but I can tell she wasn't sleeping. Hitomi is wide awake, almost as if she were waiting for me. Normally, this would have bothered me and made me on edge. But not tonight. No not tonight.
"I'm here to see the elders." I hear my own voice ring out into the cool night. It is raspy and emotionless. My sister visably shudders at the sound of it.
"Hinata it's late. Why don't you come and see the elders tomorrow. I'm sure you can wait until then." Overly sweet and caring - that's what my sister sounds like right now. Fake. Oh yes that's what that would be described as isn't it? Fake.
"No! It cannot wait! I must see them now!" There is a look of shock on her face now. I know it's an act. Does she really think she can fool me with that? I'm her twin. I know when she's putting on an act. Right now I don't care. I just ignore it.
"Fine then. I will take you to them." With that Hitomi turned and started to walk down the hall. I followed her. I didn't need her help to get to where the elders were. I knew the path there all too well. As a child I spent much time there with my tutor Nemo-sama. Even as a small child I was never free of worries or fear. Especially not fear. My days consisted of training, classes, and beatings. I had little time to myself. That was just the way of things. "Hinata we are here."
"Yes I know!" I snapped at Hitomi before I even thought about it. I decided right there and then to embrace my cold, emotionless personna. In that moment I became the Hyuuga Hinata my enemies know on the battlefield. "Accompany me inside." Deviod of all emotion, all feeling I entered the council chamber.
"Hinata-sama you grace us with your presence. Might I be so inclined to ask why?" Nemo-sama asked me.
"I have come to except the trial." I let my eyes meet his so he could see I was dead serious. "I wish to leave immediately."
"As you command Hinata-sama. You will not regret this." The old man motioned for Hitomi to come forward. I glanced at her as she obeyed. "You will occupany your sister as her guard Hitomi. Do not fail her." My sister's expression faltered, but only briefly. It was as if what the old man had since had surprised her.
"I understand Nemo-sama." A tone cold as ice that could rival my own.
The gates of Konoha loomed over Naruto as he finally, after two days at top speed, arrived home. A group of people, who he wasn't sure yet, stood waiting for him. As he came closer he recognized them as his friends. Something was wrong, he could feel it in his very bones. Hinata was not among them. He silently hoped that she was just running late and had not joined the rest yet.
"Naruto." Sasuke greeted him.
"Sasuke tell me what's wrong." It wasn't a request. It was a demand. Sasuke frowned at Naruto and looked away. "God damn it Sasuke! Tell me!"
"Naruto, Hinata has disappeared." Sasuke said quietly as he still refused to look Naruto.
"What do you mean disappeared?" Growled Naruto, not believing a word Sasuke had just said.
"It means Hinata is gone Naruto and nobody knows why!" Tenten shouted at him. The look on Tenten's tear stained and angry face told only the truth. Hinata was gone.
"I was too late.." Murmured Naruto as he fell to his knees. Hinata was gone and he had been too late to stop it from happening. "Lord if only I had been here sooner."
"This is it?" Hinata dropped her bag on the bed provided for her. "This is where the trial is?" Nemo-sama nodded.
"Not far outside this village there is a small cave. Our clan symbol is embedded on a stone outside. Inside is the trial. There are 13 stages. Each requires a intellegent mind and impossible chakra control. Every one of them becomes harder than the last. There is no time limit. Also there are ancient barriers around this village and a part of the woods. Once a Hyuuga heir enters this place, they cannot leave until the trial has been beaten." Nemo-sama carefully explained to the young Hyuuga.
"So I am a prisoner here until I finish the trial?"
"Yes, in a manner of speaking."
"I have no problem with that since I have no intentions of leaving until I finish." Growled the moody Hinata.
"So be it." Nemo-sama turned to leave, but stopped. "Oh and if I were you I would wait until your child is born before even attempting the trial. The chakra needed is too great. You would kill the child if you tried before." With that Nemo-sama left. Hinata was alone then and all her choices came bearing down upon her like ravenous wolves. Falling onto her bed, Hinata began to cry.
Word Guide
Nani- What
Demo - but
Nande- Why
Arigatou- Thank You
Gomen- Sorry
Gomen Nasai- I'm Sorry
Anou- umm
Teme- Bastard
Dobe- Blockhead
Moshi Moshi- Japanese phone greeting
Ja Nae- Good Bye
Meina- everyone
Baa-chan -Granny
Aniki- brother
Ohayo - good morning
Amane: Ahh.. It was so short! I wanted it to be longer, but it just didn't work out like that. Well I hoped you liked this last and final chapter of Hold On Hinata. I still don't have a spell checker so if I spelled something wrong in the chapter and you notice it, don't hesitate to tell me!
Naruto: Hinata! You stealed my Hinata! She was mine! Mine I says!
Amane: Erm.. Naruto Hinata is right there. (Points to cage in corner.)
Hinata: Let me outta here!
Hitomi: No can do! Mwahahahahahahahaaa!! I will kill you now!! (Pulls out her very sharp, and very long katana and starts poking it through the bars.)
Naruto: NOOOOO!!! (Tackles Hitomi and begins to rip her limb from limb.)
Sasuke: Is he eating that?
Amane: I think so..
Kiba: Ouu.. Food.. (Joins Naruto.)
Neji: NEVER FEAR!! NEJI IS HERE!! (Pulls out shotgun.) I know just how to deal with wild dogs!
Amane: Oh boy..
Tenten: (Whacks Neji in the back of the head with a giant mallet.) He's no problem now. Enjoy your dinner boys! (Drags Neji away by the hair.)
Amane: Cannibals.. Why cannibals? Ugh.. Anyways thank you for reading and please I beg you don't kill me! The 1st chapter of the sequel is also out! Please read and review!