Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Hinata Chronicles ❯ Hyuuga Dilemmas ( Chapter 4 )

The Hinata Chronicles

------------------------

Hyuuga Dilemmas

-----------------------

 

“Welcome back, Hinata” Tsunade said hands folded looking at the ex-Hyuuga heiress.

“Thank you”

“You don't need to explain, Kurenai told me everything about a month after the funeral.” She paused.

“It was very smart of you, if it wasn't for that stunt you pull, you will already be in prison as a wanted missing-nin” her voice was dangerous.

Tsunade suddenly smiled.

“We've missed you. I heard Shino gave a warm welcome” Tsunade got off her seat and walked to the front to sit on her table.

“Ano, Tsunade sama. How did you know?” Hinata helplessly asked. Putting up her defense is too troublesome.

The blond Hokage gave a laughter before taking a letter from her table and handing it to Hinata.

“Yuu was concern. So he decided to let me know.”

“You know Father?” Hinata asked.

“ Hai, he's with us” Tsunade blankly said.

“A Konoha Spy!” Hinata shouted out.

“Hinata, this is only between you and me. It is not to be known to his other subordinates, understood?”

“Yes. Wait. If you knew all this time, that means..” she couldn't finish.

“It was the least I could do. The Hyuuga's had been a great contributor to Konoha's success. It's the least a Hokage can do for the ex-heiress”

At the mention of the word `Hyuuga' Hinata's eyes saddened for a moment then later turned emotionless.

“Hinata I need you to do me a favor, you have returned but you still are a Konoha shinobi. On your way to your house, deliver this letter to the docks” Tsunade sisnt give her a chance to say anything.

“Ma, dismissed.”

On her way out, Tsunade whispered “good luck”

 

 

She obediently did as she was told and arrived at the docks. Then she realizes that the letter was not addressed to anyone. From the looks of it, it was empty. Breaking protocol, she open the letter to find two words written in it. “Welcome Back”. Frustrated at the insult, she almost flared up in anger when she heard a foot step behind her.

 

“Hinata sama” Neji addressed.

She didn't want to turn. She did not want to face him. He did not know what to do. They stayed that way for a very long and awkward moment.

 

She's back. I knew she wasn't dead. It wasn't a rumor after all. Neji's happiness was leaking out into his face.

Hinata turned and looked at him. Their eyes locked, the same grey orbs that can't express much.

She's grown. She look so different. I never thought she would become like this. His eye fell on the tattoo on her right arm. That's new. He tried again.

“Hinata sama”

She smiled.

“Neji nii-san” she said. He expected her to be blushing or at least fiddling with her fingers.

She wasn't.

Hinata sigh to herself. It's now or never.

“I want to go home.”

Neji nodded.

 

The journey home was silent. No one uttered a word.

As they arrived, she notice that the Hyuuga manor was different. It seemed livelier. Unlike before.

As the gates open, to her ultimate everyone was there to greet her.

“It's true”

“She is alive!”

“Father look! She's alive”

They seem so happy. Seem happy. What they thought of her, no one knew. She didn't want to know. She gave them a weak smile.

Murmurs went on before Hiashi broke the crowd and went straight towards the `guest'.

He thanked Neji then went to his oldest daughter.

Booth eyes met, silence suddenly swept by. His eyes had a slight delight in it. But as he looked lover at her neck to see a Cloud forehead protector, his brows tensed and eyes hardened.

“Fathe_” Hinata was interrupted.

He turned his back to her. Addressed everyone then gave a speech on how they should treat her. Then dismissed them.

Neji didn't miss the sadness in Hinata's eyes.

 

Hiashi spoke.

“Neji, escort Hinata sama to her room.”

He turned and walk away.

 

Neji stood there. He wanted to speak up to tell his uncle, the Head of the Hyuuga clan, the most respected Clan in the whole of Konoha to show a little respect to his daughter. But he couldn't. He looked at Hinata and notice that the sadness was replaced with something else. Hatred. This is not going to happen again..

“It's alright, Neji nii-san. I know where my room is.” Hinata said it with deliberate hardness and loud enough for `him' to hear. The stubborn headman stopped to look back at his deifier. She looked for two seconds back at him then walked towards her room without saying a word.

She has changed.

 

 

The next morning, Hinata ached all over. She didn't come out of her room all evening till late night to eat some food.. The bed seem so different to what she had been sleeping on in the past three years. They seem so soft.

Too soft.

That must be it. I did not defy because I was afraid of loosing this. She looked around her room. She remembered her old self who liked being comfortable having warm baths and servants to clean the house. It doesn't matter anymore.

She cleaned up and took all the things she came in with and exited her room.

 

She didn't want to bump into any troublesome relatives so she swift and silently walked across the corridor. Right at a turn, she sensed someone coming towards her. They were going to collide. Neji was caught off guard about to use his hands as reflex. With a quick sliding movement she ménage to swish her way past her now taller cousin avoiding a collision. Just like before. Ignoring his `good morning' she continued on. Suddenly she froze. Unable to move, she felt the same way when a familiar ANBU used the same jutsu on her.

“ANBU? Since when? Hinata asked.

“Since you left.” Came the silent reply.

“Hmph, pathetic.” Hinata commented. This took Neji by surprise. He'd never seen this side of Hinata before.

“You've changed Hinata sama. It's nice to see you again” Neji didn't quite get over the idea that he was the one who failed to protect her the last time. He misses her all the time.

Damn that stupid jutsu. I need to counter it. She focused her chakra towards her skin to tackle that freezing jutsu. Her distraction was cut off when she felt two strong arms wrapping around her. She paused for a moment then continued. Just a little more.

There. She broke the jutsu.

She struggled out of her cousin's hold and stepped away from him.

“We're grown up now, Neji nii-san.” She paused. “Time to get over it” Hinata said coldly and left.

 

Neji was dumfounded. She's gotten stronger. How did she break the freezing jutsu. Why is she so cold. Could it be that she blames me for not protecting her? No something's amiss here. Something's wrong.

 

Hinata waited at the entrance for her team. Arriving just on time, she greeted her sensei with a cold stare, while handing the wrist bands to Tamiko and Kin.

“What's wrong now Hinata ” Kin asked. She noticed her fake smile and tired eyes.

“Ha ha! You must have missed me, ne? Hinata chan.” Tamiko leaped over to place an arm across his comrade's shoulders. Unable to resist the temptation to hit him she lightened up and jokingly pushed his arm off her shoulders.

“Whose missing who? One thing's for sure, I missed you Father.” Hinata stared romantically at her sensei.

“What! Father's too old for you. He can even be your father.” Tamiko laughed and fell to the ground rolling.

Yuu knew what she meant, but decided to play along.

He placed the back of his hand to his forehead and mimicked a feminine voice, with another hand stretched towards Hinata.

“Oh, night in shining armor, rescue me!” he pretended to faint hoping for someone to catch him only to fall flat on the ground making all his subordinates laugh.

“Traitor, you are not playing along Hinata!” Yuu said after standing up to dust himself.

They laugh even harder. Tamiko was covered in dirt as a result of continual laugh and roll activities.

 

“Someone seem to be having a lot of fun.” A familiar voice spoke.

Hinata knew that voice.

“Kurenai sensei!” she shouted in excitement and ran to hug he former sensei.

They held each other for awhile.

“You kept your promise.” Hinata sobbed. She didn't realize how much she missed her sensei.

“Now we'll have to scratch it out.” Kurenai released her former student and wiped off her tears.

The others gave them some space.

“Sorry, how rude of me. Sensei, this is erm, my sensei Yuu” she stumbled. “That's Shinju Tamiko and Shinju Kin.

“Shinju eh?” She nodded slightly towards Yuu.

“Suke! Hinata chan, you didn't tell me your sensei was so hot!” Tamiko was probably drooling. Hinata always knew her sensei was beautiful, and always wanted to be like her.

“Oh don't say that, standing beside Hinata, I look so common.” It was hardly a lie. She turned to Hinata.

“You sure have grown. I'm so proud of you.” Kurenai was wearing a new outfit, it had more cloth then her previous one.

“Father? Why are you staring at her?” Kin deliberately asked her sensei. Causing him to jump as a reaction.

“Father?” Kurenai asked.

Yuu immediately lifted both hands trying to shove Kin and the drooling Tamiko aside.

“Ma, It's just something they call since I'm older than them.” Yuu explained.

“Nice cover up. Looser!” Tamiko yelled.

Kurenai was quite shocked at the response his subordinates were showing. So little respect. And he doesn't even mind. Interesting. Thought Kurenai.

 

“Hinata, do you know where the temporary homes are” Yuu asked. Seeing where the conversation will end up.

Hinata shook her head.

“That's alright. I'll take you there.” Kurenai turned and walked towards the apartments.

That's when Yuu whispered to Hinata hoping the other two couldn't hear.

“Hinata, how old is your sensei?”

“I heard that!” Kin and Tamiko yelled in unison.

“I think she's already taken Father.” Hinata whispered.

Yuu sweat dropped.

“All the good ones are taken.”

They all laughed even Kurenai.

 

------------------

Author's note

-----------------

I just read chapter 308. Sasuke's so cool!

Reviews please!