Summary: Tales of Konoha - Hardships of a timid Jinchūriki (In Progress) –

CHALLENGE by Aengus

According to Erik Erickson, German-American psychologist noted for his theories on the development of children, because of Naruto's childhood as the outcast child that no one wanted or had time for, Naruto has severe attachment issues and problems socializing with others his age, not to mention a terrible fear of adults. Instead of him being the loud idiot that is portrayed in the manga and anime, Naruto should be very quiet, shy, extreme nervousness, with excessive smiling and nodding. In essence Naruto does not trust anyone, a severe inferiority complex, all the while being one of the most competent and caring ninja in the village. Sasuke cannot be his friend in any way, shape, or form; he is the main antagonist to Naruto's growth and relationships with others, sometimes even going out of his way to try and ruin them. During the main story, a kunoichi begins to have feelings for him and must convince him of that fact.

Conditions: No yaoi, no good Sasuke, no Harem (he's going to have enough problems with one girl), no 'over-night' change for Naruto, no Naruto/older women (ex. Anko, Kurenai, or Tsunade), while I would prefer a Naruto/Temari, I won't insist.

Combination of time-travel fiction and challenge set by Aengus. In their final battle against Madara, Naruto protected his lover at the price of his life. Devastated by such loss, Hinata finds a way to go back in time and save her beloved, but when she does, she discovers not only new, disturbing news about her new 'old' life, but also finds out that her cheerful orange fox turned into a timid grey mouse! Steeled from years of battles and softened from years of love, she struggles between keeping her secret and finding a way to help Naruto become self-confident and a strong ninja again. Pairing Naruto x Hinata.

Disclaimer: I don't own neither Naruto nor Hinata, both of them and their universe belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own just the plot, several OCs and some jutsu.

Chapter 1 – Something begins, something ends…

(…)

(Mid afternoon, former Hyūga clan mansion, Konoha (Village Hidden in the Leaves))

Konoha was always a lively, cheerful place. Every time someone would look at it, they could see a bustling village, filled with life and joy. Many high, proud buildings loomed above the lower flats and houses and the Hokage tower was the highest among them, enhanced by stone faces carved into the mountain right next to it.

Now, all that remained were ruins.

Destroyed, smoldering remains of houses, filled with small debris turning into dust, sliced and burned dead bodies, and scavengers, sneaking through dark places and dragging lifeless pieces of meat out of sight to feast upon them.

The sounds of battle echoed through the village, as were the remaining survivors fighting against the invaders, metal clashing against metal, technique against technique. Lightning came down from the sky, crashed into a rather large piece of debris and scattered all people hidden behind it, sending them twenty feet into the air before the earth's gravitation pulled them down once more. Half of them would never stand up again.

But one person was not focused on the battle. One lonely person stayed in the middle of what remained from the once proud Hyūga mansion, one person wasn't aiding her fellow ninjas in defending their already destroyed village.

She was using something that looked like a sparkling white powder, smearing it upon the ground in something that looked like a half-unfinished pattern.

A person with several cuts on her pale cheeks, ragged clothes, a practically destroyed blood-stained jacket and scratched Konoha protector on her neck. A person with long dark-blue hair, steeled lavender eyes and determination set in her every movement.

Her name was Hinata Hyūga.

And her goal was to correct what has been done.

(…)

(Flashback)

She was standing there, on the surface of the Moon, her hands stretched to sides, powerful chakra encircling her. Her hair was flowing in the gust of wind her concentration created, but she focused on a much more important task. The white mark of the crescent moon on her forehead was glowing stronger than ever. Inyoushou (Yin-Yang Bird) was right behind her, prepared to unleash his most devastating attack against the enemy who had tried to kill both her and her lover so many times, who constantly endangered them, threatened to destroy every single moment of peace and love they shared and wanted to share in the future. He even went so far as to try and resurrect the Ten-Tailed Beast. And now, she was about to become his undoing.

Hinata knew she would lose her life. Inyoushou warned her that his technique required her life force in order to destroy a human who made his body immortal, that if she wanted to erase him completely, she would have to offer a counterweight of the same weight or power. Her own life force, her soul… her existence.

But she was content with it. If it meant a peaceful life for Naruto-kun, to never be endangered anymore, to finally have the life he deserved, to become Hokage and be acknowledged by all the villagers for his good deeds… she was prepared to give him that, even if it would led to her demise. She would die for him a thousand times just to see his smile. For his happiness… she would go to much further lengths.

And then, everything went terribly wrong. She remembered only scraps of what happened next, how Naruto interrupted her technique, then he was shouting something at her… and Madara chose that moment to attack her.

She had no way to dodge, both she and her protector were too delved in their shared technique, and Hinata knew there was nothing she could do. Her attack failed, and she had to pay the price. That was what happened in battles – kill or be killed.

And then… Naruto took the blow meant for her.

Everything that followed blurred and mixed together, her tears, screams, her attempts to resurrect Naruto although she knew he was already dead. No comforting last words, sweet declarations of love, a final kiss to sustain her until their next meeting. Nothing like that happened, and she only vaguely remembered being dragged away by her only remaining friend before Madara got another chance to attack them.

Everything else, until now, was lost in a black cloud.

But now, a single ray of hope was trying to make its way through thick curtains of despair.

(End of flashback)

(…)

'Naruto-kun… why did you do this to me? You… you weren't supposed to die. That's not what happens in stories to heroes. Heroes are supposed to defeat the villain, save the world and then marry with the girl whom they love… and whom loves them back.' Two silent tears ran down her cheeks as she continued drawing the strange pattern, her free hand wiping the tears and remains of blood from her face in one motion. She knew she had to be careful and not to smear her work, but that pain… was still too fresh to bear, to forget… and she would never forget, even if somehow Madara falls and Konoha rises once again.

But that was impossible. With his army of Tailed Beasts behind him, following their enslaver with his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, no village was able to stop him. They all marched together, all five great villages standing as one against Madara's army… and they had lost.

Guerilla fights then took place, undercover operations, anything that could lower Madara's power or his hold over the Tailed Beasts, but nothing worked. Their only jinchūriki left was out in the field. She had agreed with Hinata's plan to give her so much needed time to finish her preparations and do what she was about to do.

Hinata swore she would make it up to her once she would clear up this mess.

'I still don't agree with this, my chosen soul-mate. It's too big a risk,' came a soothing, yet now rather worried voice in her head. She didn't even have to turn around to know it was Inyoushou, floating in the air behind her, slowly flapping with his wings to keep himself in the air.

'I have to do this, Inyoushou-sama. Please, understand,' begged Hinata silently as she drew another line. 'Naruto-kun was my life, my everything. I can't live without him. I would rather die… but then, no one would be left, and that… that evil man would win. I can't let this happen… for the sake of all people out there, fighting with him even now. For the sake of my village. For the sake of my beloved.' Her voice, though only in her head, was getting quieter until it could be barely heard.

'I know my chosen one. Remember, I see your whole soul. And I know what gives it strength, as well as your heart and your entire being,' Inyoushou sighed and his feathers warped in a way that had nothing to do with the air. 'But a technique that reverses the flow of time… is extremely dangerous, even more so because I know so little about it. Ironically, it is the Crow who knows about such things, and I'm sure even he would think twice about using it. Too many things can go wrong; it is very possible you won't even make it there. And even if you do…'

'Inyoushou-sama,' Hinata's soft voice interrupted the snow-white phoenix, 'there is no other way. If there was a way to rescue Naruto-kun now… and defeat Madara… and release Kyūbi and others from that wicked jutsu… but there is none. Desperate times call for desperate measures.'

'Still, please be careful my chosen soul-mate. I don't know how many things will change if you are successful in performing the technique. It could throw you back hundreds of years, possibly even before my father stepped upon this world and swore to become its protector. Or you could appear in the middle of the mountain. And even if, by some miracle, you get into your own time, there are so many possibilities that can happen that your village… will not be the one you remember from your time.'

Hinata was about to answer, but just as she drew the last line completing the pattern, now writhing and swirling on the ground as if it were alive, a mighty roar filled the air. Hinata's bloodline limit activated on its own, and she immediately witnessed the heaviest battle occurring three kilometers north.

Two enormous beasts, one bright blue and one dull grey, were clashing against one another, two tails against five. They were hissing at each other, digging deep wounds into their opponent's bodies, yet none of them seemed ready to pull back despite both suffering from serious injuries.

Hinata felt her heart clench when the Five-Tails took another hit, and gave it a silent prayer as she stepped into the middle of the circle. 'Please, just one more minute…'

Then, both of the Tailed Beasts were engulfed in an enormous mass of black flames, and Hinata heard one high-pitched scream before everything went terribly silent.

'Now it's time,' said Inyoushou darkly. Without waiting for his mate's response, he engulfed himself in a pillar of white burning fire, until, after just a few seconds, two smaller phoenixes flew out– the fiery one, burning with a mix of golden skin and feathers and ruby flames, instantly took off to the battlefield while the silvery one, resembling a sparkling stream of water in unending motion, landed in front of Hinata, protectively stretching his wings and singing a song in a soft, yet determined voice.

„Shasui (Water barrier)!"

'I don't know how much time I can buy you, my soul-mate. Please, whatever you choose to do, hurry. And for the sake of everything you hold dear, if you start to make hand signs, don't stop! Results would be catastrophic…' Water all around them left the earth and formed a protective shield around them, trapping them in a sort of flat bubble.

Hinata nodded, clenching her small fists as she knew another life was lost in the battle. Actually two lives, because the Two-Tailed Monstrous Cat could be dead as well, but she wasn't an enemy – not the real one. That one was somewhere in the shadows, enjoying the havoc his controlled demons were creating in her village, probably congratulating himself for his flawless plan…

Hinata was determined to find a flaw, even if she would have to make it herself!

Red flames filled the sky as Taiyoushou (Sun Bird) wreaked destruction upon his enemies, the screams of ninjas burned alive were heard along with sounds of irritated and injured demons as they were forced to scatter, trying to hit their new target down to the ground while the fiery phoenix was flying high in the air, maneuvering swiftly and precisely to dodge every single attack and shot a barrage of fireballs every possible chance. Sanbi (Three-Tailed Giant Turtle) was forced back into its shell in order to survive the raging flames around her while Nanabi (Seven-Tailed Horned Beetle) burrowed deep into the earth to protect itself. Other demons had to scatter around.

Hinata slowly breathed in and out, feeling her chakra seep into the circle below her. There was no going back now. This was it – her one final act of defiance against her enemy, her fate, the world or anything that conspired against her and Naruto to be together and have a normal, happy life. When – or if – this succeeded, they would get another chance – and she was adamant on not missing it!

'Tiger, ram, horse, tiger, boar, serpent, ram, tiger…'

With each seal completed, Hinata could feel her chakra seep down into the circle which started to shine with a bright color of the purest snow. She hoped it was a good sign as she focused her mind only into making the necessary seals.

A scream echoed as Taiyoushou fell from the sky, his flames doused by several hundreds of water missiles fired by Sanbi. His lifeless body fell down, away from Hinata's gaze, and Hinata almost stopped with her signs… until a new pillar of fire burst in the same place and she could hear yells of rage and terror, along with one highly irritated howl.

She knew who cried out in such aggravation, and she was as glad that Inyoushou managed to catch him off-guard as much as she was angry that Madara was so close to her and yet she was unable to strangle him, slowly and painfully.

'...dog, dragon, monkey, horse, serpent, bird, boar, dragon, horse…'

Her chakra was depleting fast, she wasn't able to get much rest in the last few days, and it was taking its toll on her. Her knees started to shake slightly, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and small hands, and her chest was rising up and down in futile attempts to get more oxygen into her hard tested body. Nevertheless, Hinata would rather stop breathing than stop her technique, than fail in her endeavor. The only thing she needed to do was continue, to not lose her concentration, and everything would be fine…

With a sad, final scream on his lips, Taiyoushou crashed down a second time, only this time right down on two tailed beasts. Both Sanbi and Nanabi were no longer able to fight, their bodies burned and damaged too much to move even when forced by the Mangekyou Sharingan. As the phoenix landed, his body slowly dissolved into a pile of ash which was quickly carried away by the wind.

'It's up to us now, my soul-mate,' stated Taiinshou (Moon Bird) sadly as his eyes glowed with bright silver color, remaining in his majestic pose with his wings unfolded and stretched to their limit, resembling an eagle about to dive down upon his prey. 'Please, whatever happens, just do not…'

"Hello, Hinata."

Anger, rage and hate burned in Hinata's veins as she recognized the man who was now standing in front of her barrier, clad in a black, red-clouded robe with a mask with a swirling theme on it. Here he was, the man who caused all this, talking to her as if they were old friends or something! Hinata felt a strong desire to halt her technique, rush outside her barrier and kill him slowly in the most painful way imaginable…

'…serpent, hare, monkey, dragon, serpent…'

"You do realize that everything you are doing is pointless. You surely do," stated Madara in calm, soothing, almost fatherly voice as his Sharingan rested upon the pale girl in front of him. "Whatever stunt you are trying to pull here, it won't work. Some old, family forbidden jutsu? An attempt to destroy the world, or to banish me into the land of death? You know, this is starting to become a little cliché. There are simply no last second rescues, because there is no one left to rescue. All your heroes, Kages, Jinchūrikis … no one is left." His eye glowed with hidden glee. "That last one was holding very well, for such a youngling she was. It was actually pretty funny to make her beg for her life before I ended it…"

'You monster!' screamed Hinata silently as her blood started to boil. She knew he was mocking her, trying to make her lose her cool, but she couldn't help herself. Gobi's Jinchūriki was like a sibling to her, and now Madara dared to spit on their bond?!

'… boar, rat, hare, ox, dragon, tiger, monkey…'

The circle was now glowing stronger than before. Hinata had to use all of her remaining strength to keep herself up on her legs. They were threatening to give up on her any second, and her hands started to become numb and her fingers slippery, unwilling to bend and form appropriate seals. With each seal done, Hinata feared she wouldn't be able to do the next one, that she would fail so far in to her task…

Realizing that this plan wasn't working, Madara silently nodded, and four of the ten Tailed Beasts appeared around the water dome. On his command, Hachibi (Eight-Tailed Giant Ox) lashed with its tentacles on the barrier, only to bounce back and the Eight-Tailed Beast writhed in agony, its tentacles slightly burnt.

Narrowing his only visible eye, Madara's voice suddenly became much smoother than before.

"So much work, Hinata, but what is it good for?" he slowly started to circle around the barrier, studying it with his Sharingan, as well as his prey trapped inside. Every now and then, one of the demons smacked against it, only to be tossed aside and mewl in pain before Madara forced them to rise up and continue. Hachibi was taking it worst of all of them, after its fifth attack it could no longer move and remained on the ground motionless, its tentacles pale and fraction of their normal size.

"Do you want to bring back your lost friends? Or do you work for higher good and want to rebuild your village anew? Or perhaps you already gave in to your dark side. Is it revenge you seek now?"

Hinata could swear he was smiling under his mask, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. The more chakra that left her, the more she felt she was just about to complete her long trail of seals, circle under her now beaming with white chakra.

'…dog, rat, serpent, tiger, dragon…'

Right then, Hinata's heart stopped.

As Madara lazily waved with his right hand, the Kyūbi, forty feet high bright orange fox demon, stepped forward, its normal slit eyes replaced by the Sharingan. It was amazing to look upon, even though it was enslaved now and under the will of that wicked human, forced to do his every bidding.

And in its jaws, high in the air was Naruto's body.

'Don't stop, Hinata! Don't stop making those seals!' Only the desperate cry of her protector forced Hinata to correct her mistake in the last second and continue with her hand seals, but she couldn't take her eyes off the body of the boy she had admired for so long, now being degraded into a chew toy for the demon controlled by her worst enemy.

"Do you want him back, little girl?" Madara's voice was now disgustingly sweet. "There isn't anything easier; one technique of my old, former friend the Sannin, and he will be walking again. I would even let you take him, for now that he no longer holds the Kyūbi within himself, I have no use for him."

Kyūbi, at Madara's command, opened its jaw, only to better show Naruto's dead, but otherwise surprisingly intact body. From the place where Hinata was standing, he looked very peaceful, as if he were only sleeping.

"Just stop this foolish resistance, convince the rest of your village to surrender and serve me unquestionably, and I will let you have him. As your lover, pet, slave, whatever you choose. You do want to be back with him, don't you? To share those little romantic moments with him, re-remember how you were holding hands together, how you kissed for the first time…"

Hinata's angered scream was the only answer to Madara's taunts.

„Don't you dare insult Naruto-kun with these ideas of yours from hell itself!" Hinata dropped down on her right knee, all her chakra nearly gone, but her white eyes and the mark of the crescent moon on her forehead glowing brighter than ever, synchronizing their beat with the sphere below her. Taiinshou was in pain as well, constant attacks of other demons were finally taking their tolls on him. "I would never betray him by allowing him to be raised from death by your foul techniques! But I will do this, Madara – I will come for you! I will seek you out, find you no matter where you choose to hide, I will drag you out of every hole you'll manage to find and crawl in. And when I find you, I'll make sure that my suffering will be nothing compared to yours!" Her eyes, looking now like white steel, glared into red ones. "And believe me – despite not hurting anyone unnecessarily in my entire life, I WILL make sure your death will be the most painful in the entire history of mankind!"

'Besides,' she thought as she looked sadly on her former boyfriend, 'Naruto-kun would never forgive me if I would protect him at the price of his friends and village.'

'…tiger, ram, hare, monkey, rat…'

"You insolent little brat!" snapped Madara, and Kyūbi crunched its jaws, crushing Naruto's remnants in a blink of an eye. Hinata didn't even have time to gulp or gasp in desperation as another wave of pain from destruction of her lover's body coursed through her already shattered heart. "I've played with you for long enough! Now feel the wrath of my enslaved tools of absolute annihilation!"

With a mighty roar, Kyūbi aided its fellow demons, both its clawed paws attacking the fading shield around the pale girl. Every other demon attacked as well, and their combined might finally shattered the protective dome. Taiinshou fell down with painful whimper as Hinata looked up from her kneeling position to see Kyūbi's Sharingan eyes, its jaw opening to blast her into oblivion…

'… ox, bird, boar, tiger, dragon!'

With her last activated seal, Kyūbi's chakra blast, already diving in to shred Hinata, slowed down… and slowed even more… and more… until it looked like a blurred line of chakra, actually going away from her instead of to her. In fact, despite being surrounded in a circle, it looked like Hinata was being carried away from all of them, a strange mix of voices all around her, although one of them raised high above others:

Madara's frustrated shriek, realizing that she won.

'I… did it…' was her final thought before she lost consciousness.

Preview:

Kiba: Oi, Hinata-chan, what's up with you? You look a bit different.

Hinata: The jutsu worked… and I'm home! Home!

Kiba: Heey, Hinata-chan, can you hear me?

Hinata: And all my friends are here, too! Kiba-kun and Shino-kun, Sakura-san and Ino-san, Shikamaru-kun, Chōji-kun and all others.

Kiba: Eh, Hinata, snap out of it!

Hinata: But most importantly… most importantly…

Next time, on Tales of Konoha: Chapter 2 – New old friends

Kiba: Geez, she must be really confused, not even paying attention to her handsome boyfriend.