Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mokushita Hyuuga ❯ Chapter 31
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Moghedian 
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters belong to Kishimoto, not me.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.24.2007 | Updated On: 04.24.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 625 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters belong to Kishimoto, not me.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 04.24.2007 | Updated On: 04.24.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.2K | Visits: 625 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 31
Carefully peering around the corner of a sandy building, a boy of 18 ran a hand through his shaggy soft blonde hair. The sun shone on his head, giving his hair a slight rose shine to it, something the girls had liked back in his village.
Deciding the way was clear, the boy regripped his fingers on the bag he was holding and darted out into the street. Running past scores of villagers and a few shinobi, the boy had almost made it to his destination when he saw a long bamboo pole stick out in front of him. His chocolate eyes widened as he tripped and fell, skidding a few feet along the ground. The bag's contents spilled out, and the boy rolled over, his face contorted in a look of anger.
His anger, along with the blood in his face drained away when he saw who was standing behind him.
"K-katoki-sensei!" The boy said, his accent was thick, as the boy was born and raised deep in Kumogakure. The tall man leaned over his student and said, his voice chilling the hot sun,
"Ditama Keii. You are coming with me." Keii gulped and slowly got up. Katoki grabbed the coller of his stolen flak vest, and dragged him back towards the ANBU hold.
"Oh, Katoki-kun...Keii-san! What a pleasent surprise!" Keii looked into the room and was mildly surprised to see Hinata making tea in the small kitchen of the small apartment.
"Keii, you are in alot of trouble. Your Jii-san blamed ALL of this on ME." Keii grimaced.
"What? Why?" Katoki frowned and pulled his student's face closer to his own.
"Because you got too good at stealth." Keii flinched, but almost grinned at the underlying pride in his sensei's voice. Instead of grinning, Keii looked to the side and said quietly,
"I just wanted to help fight...What are you going to do now?" Katoki straightened up and took the cup of tea Hinata offered with a smile and a thanks.
"I'm supposed to keep you detained until the fighting dies down, and then bring you back to Kumo." Keii frowned but kept his mouth shut. Hinata held out a small cup to him and he nodded his thanks as he took it.
"What are you going to do with me now, Katoki-sensei?" Katoki sat down on the bed in the corner and put his chin on his hands. Keii looked over at Hinata only to find her gazing at his teacher with a small blush. Rolling his eyes, he glanced over at Katoki when the tall man dropped his hand.
"I'm going to take you to Kazekage-sama." Keii dropped his teacup, spilling hot tea all over his lap.
"Itaa! What? Why! Why am I not aloud to fight with my country!?" He yelled. Hinata fussed over the tea and offered to heal him. Keii accepted and held back a blush as the older woman placed her hands on his thigh.
"Because you are Yondaime-sama's heir! His ONLY heir. He's an old man, wanting to retire soon. You're probably going to land yourself the position of Godaime by the time you are 20. There isn't enough time to pick another clan and train them! You know that, so dont be stupid!" Katoki said, his voice teetering on being angry.
"What about Mi-Sasami-chan? She's been trained just as long as I have!" Hinata finished and busied herself in the small kitchen as Katoki and Keii resumed their shouting match.
"She's already bundled up with being a queen, and secondly, she's a shinobi of the leaf, not of the cloud, you idiot! Stop being such a child!" Keii's face turned red as he crossed his arms and looked away. Katoki stood up and grabbed the teen by the back of his collar. Keii let out a wordless shout, but Katoki whacked him on theback of the head, effectively shutting him up.
"Hinata-chan, are you wanting to come?" Hinata nodded and slipped a large coat over her shoulders. She grabbed Katoki's gray-blue jacket and handed it to him as she exited the small apartment.
Knock knock... Katoki rapped the door to the Kazekage's office. A click echoed through the halls as the door opened, but instead of Gaara, a man with black hair gathered in a ponytail on top of his head answered.
"Ah, Katoki-san, Hinata-san...and...you. Gaara's not here, he's in his quarters, I think. Is there something I can help you with?" Katoki sighed and said,
"Shikamaru-san, this is urgent. Can't you just take us there?" Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head and closed his eyes.
"Well, you see, Temari is there, and well...I'm not exactly welcome..." Hinata stiffled a giggle, which caused the two blondes to look at her. She blushed and looked away.
"Then just take us to the door." Shikamaru looked apprehensive, but finally nodded.
"Here...This is as close as im getting." Katoki nodded and thanked the lazy jounin as he started back towards the stairs. Katoki knocked on the door and heard faint scrambling sounds coming from the other side. Hinata unconsciously moved to the back of the group.
The door opened to an averaged height woman with shoulder length brown hair, and black eyes. She was wearing a loose yukata and black knee length shorts. Katoki smiled and gave a short bow.
"Matsuri-san, is your husband home?" Matsuri blinked and looked over the group. When her eyes met Hinata's white ones, her own black ones flickered with recognition.
"Ahh...Yes, he is...Can I ask who would like to speak to him?" Matsuri said, staring up at Katoki with an odd look in her eyes.
"Katoki...tell him that I found the kid." Matsuri nodded and disapeared for a few seconds. When she came back, she opened the door and invited them inside.
Matsuri led them through the long hall and took a sharp left. In the large room was a low glass table surrounded by brown couches. Gaara was bouncing his red headed daughter on his lap. Kaisa, who when not squealing with laughter, was throwing blocks at her father, only to have them deflected away by his sand.
Temari was sipping tea, her over-sized fan leaning against the only solid wall in the room. Gaara let Kaisa slide off his lap when her mother entered the room. A few seconds later, the three Kumo-nin entered the room.
Temari took a sip of her rassberry tea, enjoying the sweet aroma it gave off. When she saw who entered the room, she abruptly sprayed her tea all over her brother's face. Her mouth gaped and she paled.
"N-naruto-san?" She said loudly. Matsuri gasped and clapped her hands together.
"Ahh! I knew it! Do you remember me? We met when I was 11...I was Gaara's student, and you were in the rescue team when I got kidnapped!" Katoki blinked, but didnt miss the flinch and flare of chakra Hinata gave off. Waving his hands by his head, he said,
"No...Matsuri-san, Temari-san, you got it wrong...I'm Katoki...Not Na-him." Gaara hadn't said anything, but was surprised at the similarity in Katoki's appearance to his former best friend. He admitted quietly to himself, as he wiped tea from his face, that Katoki had raised his hopes a dash.
"Gaara-sama, I found Yondaime-sama's grandson. I was told that he was to be put in holding until the fighting dies or he can send a suitable escort." Gaara nodded and looked at the ANBU's companions. A few seconds passed before Gaara once again found himself wiping tea off of his face.
"Hinata-chan!" Temari shouted. Kaisa squealed when she saw her father, but still hugged her mother's leg.
Hinata cringed and tried to hide herself behind Keii. Temari blinked when no-one corrected her.
"...No way! Hinata-chan, is that you, for true? I thought you were dead!" Hinata shifted her feet and looked down.
"G-gomen...I hurt a-alot of p-people...I n-never...no, n-nevermind..." Her eyes were dangerously close to tearing up, and Hinata cursed herself for stuttering. Katoki slipped his hand past his student and clutched the Hyuuga's, giving her support.
"Now. About Ditama-Oo." Keii wrinkled his nose and said,
"Please, just Keii. I'm no prince." He said to Gaara. Gaara's eyebrow raised and he said,
"I was just respecting your Haha-ue's position, but if you insist. But down to buisness. I think holding cell 14 is sufficent enough for this boy. Do you agree Temari-nechan?" Temari, still staring at Hinata, and making the poor woman more nervous, just nodded.
Keii broke out into a cold sweat as the Kazekage gazed into his brown eyes.
"This isn't as bad as I thought it would be." Keii said, looking around the small room that he was to be held in untill Raikage sent an escort group. In fact, the room looked like a hotel. It had a bed, a TV, and bathroom, and a small kitchen. No windows, as Keii had suspected. A pair of bare lightbulbs hanging from a pipe that ran across the ceiling lit the small cell. Keii sighed and sat on the bed.
"I hope you're having more fun than I am, Sasami-chan."
Sasami in fact, was not. She was currently bound, gagged, blindfolded, stuffed into a burlap sack, and very groggy. She was just starting to wake up from whatever her kidnappers had decided to slip in her evening meal.
The first thing that she became aware of was that she was moving up and down, rather slowly, which didn't help her groggyness. Every so often a small sharp jerk would force her awake, but she would end up nearly falling asleep again as soon as the slow motions continued. Finally, after she had worked off most of whatever was keeping her from thinking, she tried to form small chakra scalpels to cut the rope.
Her hands made the proper signs, Sasami focused on her physical engery and spiritual energy, and mentally combined them in a swirling pattern. When the energy was blended she willed it to her hands...but nothing happened. Grunting, the pink haired queen tried again, but the results were the same.
Whatever they slipped me must be blocking my chakra...I guess I will have to wait this one out...Kouden-kun...
What seemed like forever to Sasami, was in fact only an hour or so to her kidnappers as they made their way to the secret prison cell. Descending down the long and well hidden stairwell, placed strategically in the mountains along the Raikuni border, Sasami yelped when her sack was tossed carelessy into a cell. She hit the back wall, and bounced off. The tie on the sack broke and the pink haired girl, wearing only a long tee shirt and a pair of short pale green shorts, burst out from the top with a muffled yell.
Sasami looked towards her kidnappers in time to see the metal gate slide shut, and a flick of red that the lamp mounted on the wall caught. The figure left the small area, leaving Sasami too look around, until she found a way out of her binds.
"Sumimasen...if you crawl over here, I can untie your hands..." a small voice said. Sasami couldnt see the person, but headed slowly in the direction the voice came from. Sasami reached bars before long and sighed. She could make out another prison on the other side of the narrow hall, but it was too far away to reach her hands out.
"Shh, dont worry, hold still...snap! There!" Sasami was surprised when her hands fell down, the rope that had bound them, fell along side them. Reaching up Sasami pulled the gag fro around her head and spit.
"Yuuck! Ahh, thank you! Who are you? Why are we here? Who are they?" She said. The person in the next cell scrambled towards the bars, and revealed to Sasami that it was a little boy with bright green hair, and eyes the colour of amber. The boy waved his hands, and said,
"Ahhh! Too many questions!" Sasami shrank back and blushed furiously. Looking down, she saw the rope that the boy had some how cut, and was awed to see that the ends were smoking. Holding it up, she touched reached out to the bars for support, but jolted back when she received a small shock.
"Ita! Uhn, how did you cut my ropes? I'm all the way over here..." The boy sat back and grinned.
"Easy! I used lightening! So...I guess I should say sorry for that static shock you got." Sasami frowned, but started to untie her legs.
"What's your name, Ne-chan?" The boy said, crossing his arms.
"Sasami...you?" The boy smiled again and said,
"Raiden! Are you ok? Did they give you something that made you all woozy and stuff too?" Sasami smiled at the boy and said,
"Yea, they did...but can you explain to me how you cut the rope?" Raiden tilted his head and said,
"Sasami-ne-chan, I told you...I used lightning! I formed a jolt of lightning into a sharp point, and cut the ropes. it's easy, see?" Raiden held up his hand and flicked it towards the bars. A small point of white light was flung towards the bars. Hitting one, it didnt bounce, but instead was absorbed by the metal with a small crackle of energy.
"Ahh, sugoi! What kind of jutsu is that?" Sasami said, watching closely as the boy bounced a small ball of electricty over his fingertips.
"Mmm, It's not. It's a hyperaffinty...I think is was sensei said..." Sasami's mind clicked. She had heard the term somewhere before.
"Hmm? Hyperaffinity, what does that mean, do you know?" Raiden dropped the ball of light and his cell darkened a tad. He leaned forward and looked at Sasami.
"You know that everyone has a certain affinity to elements...say, my sensei has a naturel affinity to earth, but he can use water and wind almost as well...although he said he had to train extra hard."
"Ahh, I heard about that... I remember reading it in Tsunade-shishou's books. But what's a hyperaffinity?" Raiden let another crackle of lightning light up his small cell again before saying,
"It's rare. Ni-chan had it as well as I did, but we were the first to have one in a long time...that I know of. It means that I can channel my element and waste virtually no chakra at all, it just comes so naturally..." Sasami didnt miss the sad look in Raiden's grey eyes when he mentioned his brother.
"Oh...uhnnn, do you know where we are?" Raiden shook his head and brought his knees up to his chest. Resting his chin on one knee, he held an open palm out, face up and swirled a small ball of lightning around.
"So hold old are you? You seem pretty smart for a little kid." Raiden dropped the ball and glared at Sasami.
"I'm 8. It's plenty old enough."
"You're still in academy arent you." Raiden fell backwards and hit his head against the wall. The pink haired medic gave a small smile.
Tenten paced around the low table in her small, but modestly decorated house. Stopping in front of the TV, she ran her finger over the family portrait taken just before Kouden had left with Jiraiya.
She was hanging off Neji's arm, her head resting on his shoulder, while Neji was standing tall, proud, and grinning like an idiot. Kouden, who barely came up to Tenten's shoulder had his arm around his taller, and younger step sister. Aiko wore a small and lady like smile, but her large white eyes hinted at something else entirely. Both Tenten and Aiko wore their hair down that day.
Sighing with weariness, she sat down on one of the cusions on the ground. She hadn't seen her husband in a week, and her blonde stepson who reminded her so much of Naruto, in 2 years.
"Ka-chan...are you ok? Over the last few days you seemed to be a little...off..." Aiko said, as she silently descended the stairs. Tenten turned her dark eyes to face her daughter and said, with a little wave,
"It's nothing... I'm just worried about your brother and your father. Besides, don't you have to meet your team?" Aiko smiled politely, and Tenten saw the calculating Hyuuga that Neji was so proud of.
"I dont have a team meeting today...Sensei is taking the week off. I was just about to leave to see some friends...is that alright? Would you rather me stay and keep you company...?" Tenten smiled and narrowed her eyes.
"Friends...or Kamei-san?" Aiko's face turned beet red as she lost all of her composure. Opening her mouth she sputtered out,
"K-k-kamei-k-kun? No! We are just friends! I-I mean...Yea, b-but he's a friend! We are going to hang out with other friends!" Tenten nodded her head and laughed a deep and hearty laugh. It felt nice.
"Be lucky that you are Hinata-chan's relative, for if it wasnt for Naruto befriending Konohamaru-san, I doubt he would let you get anywhere near his cousin. He's very protective of Kurenai-sensei's son." Aiko tilted her head.
"Ka-chan...you're chakra spiked when you said Hinata-obsama's name...before you left for Kumo, it never used to do that...did something happen in the cloud? I've heard about what happened to her when she was a child..."
Tenten rubbed the back of her head. Sighing in resignation, she said in a quiet voice,
"Aiko-chan...what do you think of Hiashi-sama?" Aiko put her finger on her chin and said,
"Ji-sama is alright, he's sad sometimes, I think it's because he sent Tou-chan out to kill his oldest daughter all those years ago. I still cant beleive Tou-chan would do that though..." She ended her sentance on a sad note. Tenten smirked.
"Aiko-chan...Hiashi-sama...I was 12 when I first met him...a few days after I was put on your Tou-chan's genin cell, Hiashi-sama was not a very nice man. He abused Hinata-chan because he thought her too weak. He constantly destroyed her confidence to the point where Hanabi-chan was hostpitalizing her with every spar...But Naruto helped change that, as I'm sure everyone knows...It's one of Konoha's most famous love stories, famous for it's tragic ending. But he got very angry with the fact that she had been spending time with him...Aiko, when we were kids, everyone hated Naruto...I'm not sure why...the Elders will not tell us."
"Ka-chan...you're dawdling...I have to leave soon." Tenten felt herself heat up a little bit.
"Gomen, gomen. Just revelling in my memories. But when I was in Kumogakure, I met the last person I expected to see. I saw Hinata-chan, alive and well..."
"Ahh?! Hinata-obasan?! Really?" Tenten nodded, but raised a hand to quiet her 12 year old daughter.
"I talked with her. And found out the truth. Would you like to hear it now, or leave it untill after your date with Kamei-san?" Aiko squeaked and blushed again. A quick glance at the clock that hung over the sink in the kitchen showed that she had 15 more minutes to spare.
"Keep going! Keep going!" Aiko said breathily.
"Well, alright...You see, as explained later, she disproved the story that was realeased...She didn't go mad and kill Naruto...No, Hiashi-sama did. Hinata told me that it was because he found out she was pregnant with Naruto's child. Neji spared her, because he is too kind to kill like that."
"...Child? As in, from her and Naruto-sama? Is she still alive? The child?" Tenten laughed.
"Aiko-chan! What makes you think that Naruto would have a girl first! No, when we were younger, Hinata told me once that she dreamt of herself playing with a small boy, he had blonde spiky hair, and white eyes."
"So she had a boy? With blonde hair and white eyes?" Tenten nodded, and Aiko continued, "What's his name? How old...wait...he'd be...14? Two years older...than me...Ka-chan?" Tenten looked at the portrait and said,
"Hinata-chan was at the bar with her son. With Kouden. Your step brother. Neji, the only person to know that Hinata was still alive, agreed to take in her son and train him to be a proud Shinobo of the Leaf." Aiko's mouth was agape, and her face was ashen.
"S-so...ni-chan..really is my nichan? We are cousins?" Tenten nodded and smiled. Aiko smiled as well, but hers was of pride.
"I cant wait to tell everyone! This is so cool-"
"No. You must not." Tenten interrupted the girls chatter.
"What? Why?" Aiko said, finding herself growing angry.
"Hinata-chan said that she would come back in due time." Aiko huffed but slowly nodded. Tenten relaxed some more, glad that she passed the time without wearing a hole in her floor.
"Ka-chan...I have to go meet Ka-er, my friends. Baibai.."
"He has to bring you back by 11. No later." Aiko frowned and blushed again before leaving Tenten alone in her house.
A few hours later found Tenten snoozing on the heated table, a thin line of spit had reached the table from her askew mouth. A loud knock on the door startled her. Jolting upright, she looked at the clock, 9:46. Wiping the drool off of her face, she made her way to the door and opened it.
"Hyuuga-san?" Tenten nodded and the short but lanky boy held out a small letter. "From Sunagakure." Tenten thanked him, but he had dashed away.
Turning, she closed the door with her foot and excitedly opened the letter, eager for new on Neji.
This is a report, that is sent out at the end of each month to families not in Sunagakure concerning the status of soldiers. Any comments or questions regarding this should be directed to the Kage or Leader of your respected village. The status station is located on the outskirts of the encampment in outside of Sungakure if you wish to voice your comment/query in person.
Hyuuga Tenten-sama,
Concerning the status of one Hyuuga Neji-sama, we regret to inform you that he failed to report to any check point and has passed the 7 day time limit. His final day of MIA was 15 days from today's date ((11/16)).
Concerning the status of one Hyuuga Kouden-sama, we regret to inform you that he failed to report to any check point and has passed the special extended period of 14 day time limit. His final day of MIA was 6 days from today's date ((11/16)).We are very sorry for your losses,
Signed: Umino Chiyo (Assistant Status Point Worker)
"Umino Chiyo? What is she doing there? I thought she was teaching with Iruka-sensei..." Tenten said. Her voice was calm and cool. Re-reading the letter, Tenten was surprised to find herself on her knees, pounding the floor and screaming. Tears were falling down her face when she finally stopped screaming. Her legs felt like jelly, and her arms felt tense.
"T-t-today...is the 19th...th-th-that means...ichi, n-ni, san...Oh k-kami-sama...when I sent that let-t-ter...N-n-neji....K-kou-den...uuu.." Saying their names made it feel like it was final to Tenten, and this made her start to sob hysterically again.
Click. Aiko quietly shut the door. It was 11:30, she was late and her mother was going to have her hide. Smiling at the night's profitable events, she didn't notice Tenten lying on the floor by the table until the woman gave a heaving sob.
"Ah, ah! Ka-chan! What happened!" Aiko said quickly and quietly, pulling out a hidden kunai. Tenten didnt move her face, but released her grip on the letter. Aiko looked at it and gently pryed it from her mother's hand.
"Oh...Oh Kami-sama..." Aiko said, silent tears slipped down her cheek.
End Chapter 31
Carefully peering around the corner of a sandy building, a boy of 18 ran a hand through his shaggy soft blonde hair. The sun shone on his head, giving his hair a slight rose shine to it, something the girls had liked back in his village.
Deciding the way was clear, the boy regripped his fingers on the bag he was holding and darted out into the street. Running past scores of villagers and a few shinobi, the boy had almost made it to his destination when he saw a long bamboo pole stick out in front of him. His chocolate eyes widened as he tripped and fell, skidding a few feet along the ground. The bag's contents spilled out, and the boy rolled over, his face contorted in a look of anger.
His anger, along with the blood in his face drained away when he saw who was standing behind him.
"K-katoki-sensei!" The boy said, his accent was thick, as the boy was born and raised deep in Kumogakure. The tall man leaned over his student and said, his voice chilling the hot sun,
"Ditama Keii. You are coming with me." Keii gulped and slowly got up. Katoki grabbed the coller of his stolen flak vest, and dragged him back towards the ANBU hold.
"Oh, Katoki-kun...Keii-san! What a pleasent surprise!" Keii looked into the room and was mildly surprised to see Hinata making tea in the small kitchen of the small apartment.
"Keii, you are in alot of trouble. Your Jii-san blamed ALL of this on ME." Keii grimaced.
"What? Why?" Katoki frowned and pulled his student's face closer to his own.
"Because you got too good at stealth." Keii flinched, but almost grinned at the underlying pride in his sensei's voice. Instead of grinning, Keii looked to the side and said quietly,
"I just wanted to help fight...What are you going to do now?" Katoki straightened up and took the cup of tea Hinata offered with a smile and a thanks.
"I'm supposed to keep you detained until the fighting dies down, and then bring you back to Kumo." Keii frowned but kept his mouth shut. Hinata held out a small cup to him and he nodded his thanks as he took it.
"What are you going to do with me now, Katoki-sensei?" Katoki sat down on the bed in the corner and put his chin on his hands. Keii looked over at Hinata only to find her gazing at his teacher with a small blush. Rolling his eyes, he glanced over at Katoki when the tall man dropped his hand.
"I'm going to take you to Kazekage-sama." Keii dropped his teacup, spilling hot tea all over his lap.
"Itaa! What? Why! Why am I not aloud to fight with my country!?" He yelled. Hinata fussed over the tea and offered to heal him. Keii accepted and held back a blush as the older woman placed her hands on his thigh.
"Because you are Yondaime-sama's heir! His ONLY heir. He's an old man, wanting to retire soon. You're probably going to land yourself the position of Godaime by the time you are 20. There isn't enough time to pick another clan and train them! You know that, so dont be stupid!" Katoki said, his voice teetering on being angry.
"What about Mi-Sasami-chan? She's been trained just as long as I have!" Hinata finished and busied herself in the small kitchen as Katoki and Keii resumed their shouting match.
"She's already bundled up with being a queen, and secondly, she's a shinobi of the leaf, not of the cloud, you idiot! Stop being such a child!" Keii's face turned red as he crossed his arms and looked away. Katoki stood up and grabbed the teen by the back of his collar. Keii let out a wordless shout, but Katoki whacked him on theback of the head, effectively shutting him up.
"Hinata-chan, are you wanting to come?" Hinata nodded and slipped a large coat over her shoulders. She grabbed Katoki's gray-blue jacket and handed it to him as she exited the small apartment.
Knock knock... Katoki rapped the door to the Kazekage's office. A click echoed through the halls as the door opened, but instead of Gaara, a man with black hair gathered in a ponytail on top of his head answered.
"Ah, Katoki-san, Hinata-san...and...you. Gaara's not here, he's in his quarters, I think. Is there something I can help you with?" Katoki sighed and said,
"Shikamaru-san, this is urgent. Can't you just take us there?" Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head and closed his eyes.
"Well, you see, Temari is there, and well...I'm not exactly welcome..." Hinata stiffled a giggle, which caused the two blondes to look at her. She blushed and looked away.
"Then just take us to the door." Shikamaru looked apprehensive, but finally nodded.
"Here...This is as close as im getting." Katoki nodded and thanked the lazy jounin as he started back towards the stairs. Katoki knocked on the door and heard faint scrambling sounds coming from the other side. Hinata unconsciously moved to the back of the group.
The door opened to an averaged height woman with shoulder length brown hair, and black eyes. She was wearing a loose yukata and black knee length shorts. Katoki smiled and gave a short bow.
"Matsuri-san, is your husband home?" Matsuri blinked and looked over the group. When her eyes met Hinata's white ones, her own black ones flickered with recognition.
"Ahh...Yes, he is...Can I ask who would like to speak to him?" Matsuri said, staring up at Katoki with an odd look in her eyes.
"Katoki...tell him that I found the kid." Matsuri nodded and disapeared for a few seconds. When she came back, she opened the door and invited them inside.
Matsuri led them through the long hall and took a sharp left. In the large room was a low glass table surrounded by brown couches. Gaara was bouncing his red headed daughter on his lap. Kaisa, who when not squealing with laughter, was throwing blocks at her father, only to have them deflected away by his sand.
Temari was sipping tea, her over-sized fan leaning against the only solid wall in the room. Gaara let Kaisa slide off his lap when her mother entered the room. A few seconds later, the three Kumo-nin entered the room.
Temari took a sip of her rassberry tea, enjoying the sweet aroma it gave off. When she saw who entered the room, she abruptly sprayed her tea all over her brother's face. Her mouth gaped and she paled.
"N-naruto-san?" She said loudly. Matsuri gasped and clapped her hands together.
"Ahh! I knew it! Do you remember me? We met when I was 11...I was Gaara's student, and you were in the rescue team when I got kidnapped!" Katoki blinked, but didnt miss the flinch and flare of chakra Hinata gave off. Waving his hands by his head, he said,
"No...Matsuri-san, Temari-san, you got it wrong...I'm Katoki...Not Na-him." Gaara hadn't said anything, but was surprised at the similarity in Katoki's appearance to his former best friend. He admitted quietly to himself, as he wiped tea from his face, that Katoki had raised his hopes a dash.
"Gaara-sama, I found Yondaime-sama's grandson. I was told that he was to be put in holding until the fighting dies or he can send a suitable escort." Gaara nodded and looked at the ANBU's companions. A few seconds passed before Gaara once again found himself wiping tea off of his face.
"Hinata-chan!" Temari shouted. Kaisa squealed when she saw her father, but still hugged her mother's leg.
Hinata cringed and tried to hide herself behind Keii. Temari blinked when no-one corrected her.
"...No way! Hinata-chan, is that you, for true? I thought you were dead!" Hinata shifted her feet and looked down.
"G-gomen...I hurt a-alot of p-people...I n-never...no, n-nevermind..." Her eyes were dangerously close to tearing up, and Hinata cursed herself for stuttering. Katoki slipped his hand past his student and clutched the Hyuuga's, giving her support.
"Now. About Ditama-Oo." Keii wrinkled his nose and said,
"Please, just Keii. I'm no prince." He said to Gaara. Gaara's eyebrow raised and he said,
"I was just respecting your Haha-ue's position, but if you insist. But down to buisness. I think holding cell 14 is sufficent enough for this boy. Do you agree Temari-nechan?" Temari, still staring at Hinata, and making the poor woman more nervous, just nodded.
Keii broke out into a cold sweat as the Kazekage gazed into his brown eyes.
"This isn't as bad as I thought it would be." Keii said, looking around the small room that he was to be held in untill Raikage sent an escort group. In fact, the room looked like a hotel. It had a bed, a TV, and bathroom, and a small kitchen. No windows, as Keii had suspected. A pair of bare lightbulbs hanging from a pipe that ran across the ceiling lit the small cell. Keii sighed and sat on the bed.
"I hope you're having more fun than I am, Sasami-chan."
Sasami in fact, was not. She was currently bound, gagged, blindfolded, stuffed into a burlap sack, and very groggy. She was just starting to wake up from whatever her kidnappers had decided to slip in her evening meal.
The first thing that she became aware of was that she was moving up and down, rather slowly, which didn't help her groggyness. Every so often a small sharp jerk would force her awake, but she would end up nearly falling asleep again as soon as the slow motions continued. Finally, after she had worked off most of whatever was keeping her from thinking, she tried to form small chakra scalpels to cut the rope.
Her hands made the proper signs, Sasami focused on her physical engery and spiritual energy, and mentally combined them in a swirling pattern. When the energy was blended she willed it to her hands...but nothing happened. Grunting, the pink haired queen tried again, but the results were the same.
Whatever they slipped me must be blocking my chakra...I guess I will have to wait this one out...Kouden-kun...
What seemed like forever to Sasami, was in fact only an hour or so to her kidnappers as they made their way to the secret prison cell. Descending down the long and well hidden stairwell, placed strategically in the mountains along the Raikuni border, Sasami yelped when her sack was tossed carelessy into a cell. She hit the back wall, and bounced off. The tie on the sack broke and the pink haired girl, wearing only a long tee shirt and a pair of short pale green shorts, burst out from the top with a muffled yell.
Sasami looked towards her kidnappers in time to see the metal gate slide shut, and a flick of red that the lamp mounted on the wall caught. The figure left the small area, leaving Sasami too look around, until she found a way out of her binds.
"Sumimasen...if you crawl over here, I can untie your hands..." a small voice said. Sasami couldnt see the person, but headed slowly in the direction the voice came from. Sasami reached bars before long and sighed. She could make out another prison on the other side of the narrow hall, but it was too far away to reach her hands out.
"Shh, dont worry, hold still...snap! There!" Sasami was surprised when her hands fell down, the rope that had bound them, fell along side them. Reaching up Sasami pulled the gag fro around her head and spit.
"Yuuck! Ahh, thank you! Who are you? Why are we here? Who are they?" She said. The person in the next cell scrambled towards the bars, and revealed to Sasami that it was a little boy with bright green hair, and eyes the colour of amber. The boy waved his hands, and said,
"Ahhh! Too many questions!" Sasami shrank back and blushed furiously. Looking down, she saw the rope that the boy had some how cut, and was awed to see that the ends were smoking. Holding it up, she touched reached out to the bars for support, but jolted back when she received a small shock.
"Ita! Uhn, how did you cut my ropes? I'm all the way over here..." The boy sat back and grinned.
"Easy! I used lightening! So...I guess I should say sorry for that static shock you got." Sasami frowned, but started to untie her legs.
"What's your name, Ne-chan?" The boy said, crossing his arms.
"Sasami...you?" The boy smiled again and said,
"Raiden! Are you ok? Did they give you something that made you all woozy and stuff too?" Sasami smiled at the boy and said,
"Yea, they did...but can you explain to me how you cut the rope?" Raiden tilted his head and said,
"Sasami-ne-chan, I told you...I used lightning! I formed a jolt of lightning into a sharp point, and cut the ropes. it's easy, see?" Raiden held up his hand and flicked it towards the bars. A small point of white light was flung towards the bars. Hitting one, it didnt bounce, but instead was absorbed by the metal with a small crackle of energy.
"Ahh, sugoi! What kind of jutsu is that?" Sasami said, watching closely as the boy bounced a small ball of electricty over his fingertips.
"Mmm, It's not. It's a hyperaffinty...I think is was sensei said..." Sasami's mind clicked. She had heard the term somewhere before.
"Hmm? Hyperaffinity, what does that mean, do you know?" Raiden dropped the ball of light and his cell darkened a tad. He leaned forward and looked at Sasami.
"You know that everyone has a certain affinity to elements...say, my sensei has a naturel affinity to earth, but he can use water and wind almost as well...although he said he had to train extra hard."
"Ahh, I heard about that... I remember reading it in Tsunade-shishou's books. But what's a hyperaffinity?" Raiden let another crackle of lightning light up his small cell again before saying,
"It's rare. Ni-chan had it as well as I did, but we were the first to have one in a long time...that I know of. It means that I can channel my element and waste virtually no chakra at all, it just comes so naturally..." Sasami didnt miss the sad look in Raiden's grey eyes when he mentioned his brother.
"Oh...uhnnn, do you know where we are?" Raiden shook his head and brought his knees up to his chest. Resting his chin on one knee, he held an open palm out, face up and swirled a small ball of lightning around.
"So hold old are you? You seem pretty smart for a little kid." Raiden dropped the ball and glared at Sasami.
"I'm 8. It's plenty old enough."
"You're still in academy arent you." Raiden fell backwards and hit his head against the wall. The pink haired medic gave a small smile.
Tenten paced around the low table in her small, but modestly decorated house. Stopping in front of the TV, she ran her finger over the family portrait taken just before Kouden had left with Jiraiya.
She was hanging off Neji's arm, her head resting on his shoulder, while Neji was standing tall, proud, and grinning like an idiot. Kouden, who barely came up to Tenten's shoulder had his arm around his taller, and younger step sister. Aiko wore a small and lady like smile, but her large white eyes hinted at something else entirely. Both Tenten and Aiko wore their hair down that day.
Sighing with weariness, she sat down on one of the cusions on the ground. She hadn't seen her husband in a week, and her blonde stepson who reminded her so much of Naruto, in 2 years.
"Ka-chan...are you ok? Over the last few days you seemed to be a little...off..." Aiko said, as she silently descended the stairs. Tenten turned her dark eyes to face her daughter and said, with a little wave,
"It's nothing... I'm just worried about your brother and your father. Besides, don't you have to meet your team?" Aiko smiled politely, and Tenten saw the calculating Hyuuga that Neji was so proud of.
"I dont have a team meeting today...Sensei is taking the week off. I was just about to leave to see some friends...is that alright? Would you rather me stay and keep you company...?" Tenten smiled and narrowed her eyes.
"Friends...or Kamei-san?" Aiko's face turned beet red as she lost all of her composure. Opening her mouth she sputtered out,
"K-k-kamei-k-kun? No! We are just friends! I-I mean...Yea, b-but he's a friend! We are going to hang out with other friends!" Tenten nodded her head and laughed a deep and hearty laugh. It felt nice.
"Be lucky that you are Hinata-chan's relative, for if it wasnt for Naruto befriending Konohamaru-san, I doubt he would let you get anywhere near his cousin. He's very protective of Kurenai-sensei's son." Aiko tilted her head.
"Ka-chan...you're chakra spiked when you said Hinata-obsama's name...before you left for Kumo, it never used to do that...did something happen in the cloud? I've heard about what happened to her when she was a child..."
Tenten rubbed the back of her head. Sighing in resignation, she said in a quiet voice,
"Aiko-chan...what do you think of Hiashi-sama?" Aiko put her finger on her chin and said,
"Ji-sama is alright, he's sad sometimes, I think it's because he sent Tou-chan out to kill his oldest daughter all those years ago. I still cant beleive Tou-chan would do that though..." She ended her sentance on a sad note. Tenten smirked.
"Aiko-chan...Hiashi-sama...I was 12 when I first met him...a few days after I was put on your Tou-chan's genin cell, Hiashi-sama was not a very nice man. He abused Hinata-chan because he thought her too weak. He constantly destroyed her confidence to the point where Hanabi-chan was hostpitalizing her with every spar...But Naruto helped change that, as I'm sure everyone knows...It's one of Konoha's most famous love stories, famous for it's tragic ending. But he got very angry with the fact that she had been spending time with him...Aiko, when we were kids, everyone hated Naruto...I'm not sure why...the Elders will not tell us."
"Ka-chan...you're dawdling...I have to leave soon." Tenten felt herself heat up a little bit.
"Gomen, gomen. Just revelling in my memories. But when I was in Kumogakure, I met the last person I expected to see. I saw Hinata-chan, alive and well..."
"Ahh?! Hinata-obasan?! Really?" Tenten nodded, but raised a hand to quiet her 12 year old daughter.
"I talked with her. And found out the truth. Would you like to hear it now, or leave it untill after your date with Kamei-san?" Aiko squeaked and blushed again. A quick glance at the clock that hung over the sink in the kitchen showed that she had 15 more minutes to spare.
"Keep going! Keep going!" Aiko said breathily.
"Well, alright...You see, as explained later, she disproved the story that was realeased...She didn't go mad and kill Naruto...No, Hiashi-sama did. Hinata told me that it was because he found out she was pregnant with Naruto's child. Neji spared her, because he is too kind to kill like that."
"...Child? As in, from her and Naruto-sama? Is she still alive? The child?" Tenten laughed.
"Aiko-chan! What makes you think that Naruto would have a girl first! No, when we were younger, Hinata told me once that she dreamt of herself playing with a small boy, he had blonde spiky hair, and white eyes."
"So she had a boy? With blonde hair and white eyes?" Tenten nodded, and Aiko continued, "What's his name? How old...wait...he'd be...14? Two years older...than me...Ka-chan?" Tenten looked at the portrait and said,
"Hinata-chan was at the bar with her son. With Kouden. Your step brother. Neji, the only person to know that Hinata was still alive, agreed to take in her son and train him to be a proud Shinobo of the Leaf." Aiko's mouth was agape, and her face was ashen.
"S-so...ni-chan..really is my nichan? We are cousins?" Tenten nodded and smiled. Aiko smiled as well, but hers was of pride.
"I cant wait to tell everyone! This is so cool-"
"No. You must not." Tenten interrupted the girls chatter.
"What? Why?" Aiko said, finding herself growing angry.
"Hinata-chan said that she would come back in due time." Aiko huffed but slowly nodded. Tenten relaxed some more, glad that she passed the time without wearing a hole in her floor.
"Ka-chan...I have to go meet Ka-er, my friends. Baibai.."
"He has to bring you back by 11. No later." Aiko frowned and blushed again before leaving Tenten alone in her house.
A few hours later found Tenten snoozing on the heated table, a thin line of spit had reached the table from her askew mouth. A loud knock on the door startled her. Jolting upright, she looked at the clock, 9:46. Wiping the drool off of her face, she made her way to the door and opened it.
"Hyuuga-san?" Tenten nodded and the short but lanky boy held out a small letter. "From Sunagakure." Tenten thanked him, but he had dashed away.
Turning, she closed the door with her foot and excitedly opened the letter, eager for new on Neji.
This is a report, that is sent out at the end of each month to families not in Sunagakure concerning the status of soldiers. Any comments or questions regarding this should be directed to the Kage or Leader of your respected village. The status station is located on the outskirts of the encampment in outside of Sungakure if you wish to voice your comment/query in person.
Hyuuga Tenten-sama,
Concerning the status of one Hyuuga Neji-sama, we regret to inform you that he failed to report to any check point and has passed the 7 day time limit. His final day of MIA was 15 days from today's date ((11/16)).
Concerning the status of one Hyuuga Kouden-sama, we regret to inform you that he failed to report to any check point and has passed the special extended period of 14 day time limit. His final day of MIA was 6 days from today's date ((11/16)).We are very sorry for your losses,
Signed: Umino Chiyo (Assistant Status Point Worker)
"Umino Chiyo? What is she doing there? I thought she was teaching with Iruka-sensei..." Tenten said. Her voice was calm and cool. Re-reading the letter, Tenten was surprised to find herself on her knees, pounding the floor and screaming. Tears were falling down her face when she finally stopped screaming. Her legs felt like jelly, and her arms felt tense.
"T-t-today...is the 19th...th-th-that means...ichi, n-ni, san...Oh k-kami-sama...when I sent that let-t-ter...N-n-neji....K-kou-den...uuu.." Saying their names made it feel like it was final to Tenten, and this made her start to sob hysterically again.
Click. Aiko quietly shut the door. It was 11:30, she was late and her mother was going to have her hide. Smiling at the night's profitable events, she didn't notice Tenten lying on the floor by the table until the woman gave a heaving sob.
"Ah, ah! Ka-chan! What happened!" Aiko said quickly and quietly, pulling out a hidden kunai. Tenten didnt move her face, but released her grip on the letter. Aiko looked at it and gently pryed it from her mother's hand.
"Oh...Oh Kami-sama..." Aiko said, silent tears slipped down her cheek.
End Chapter 31