Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Hinata Chronicles ❯ The Chunin Exam: First Test ( Chapter 6 )

The Hinata Chronicles

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The Chunin Exam: First Test

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Hinata almost had enough of excitement for one weekend. The constant bombardments of freaky examiners, crazy contestants, overexcited women drooling over powerful-good looking- guys and white Hyuuga stares are getting a little too much. This chunin exam was even crazier than the last one.

 

To Hinata the first test was simple, paper work. In truth, it's not any mere paperwork. Only the `strong ones' made it through the first round. It was mental torture, by a particular `torturing freak'.

More than half of them were kicked out. Hinata was quite surprised that Naruto's still around. Only a total of 36 contestants were left behind.

 

From there on, the real competition begins. The battle from here on will mean either death, success, of humiliation. No it's getting exciting. Hinata silently prayed for strong opponents. She had a point to make.

 

A few hours before the slots are taken, team Yuu decided to return to their apartment to get some rest. Hinata had other plans.

 

“Shino” Hinata called out. She knew `he' was one of the ANBU's that had been following her around. The wind gushed in the air, blowing dried leaves off the ground. She was at the memorial stone. Looking at her name.

No reply.

“I know you're here.” Hinata said, loud enough for him to hear. She recalled seeing him without his glasses. He looked different, a lot softer than before.

No reply.

“I guess I'll talk to myself then.” She sigh.

No reply.

“I missed you” she whispered.

 

The wind blew, a gush of leaves fluttered in a whirlwind, and then he was there. Standing behind her. She turned to face her comrade. Their eyes locked. Comrade to comrade. They knew they missed each other.

 

“Where's Kiba and Akamaru?” Hinata smiled.

“Hinata” apparently Shino still had his `cat' mask on. He is ANBU. It was a strict law not to let anyone see your face while working in the black-opps.

 

“I never really seen your face before.” Hinata made a remark-still smiling. Her old smile.

Shino took off his mask revealing eyes that knew guilt. Hinata knew they still felt some guilt of letting her take her own life away. Well, `almost' take her own life away.

 

“We've missed you” he said. He didn't smile.

Hinata smiled back even bigger.

“I missed you all too. Where's Kiba and Akamaru?” Hinata was getting uncomfortable under his stare. She never experienced this before.

 

There was a great distance between them. Both of them knew that but each refused to take a step closer. After a long stretch of silence between the two, Hinata spoke.

”I wish we could have been like before, I really enjoyed it then.” Hinata blushed. She didn't know why, the old Hinata seem to make frequent appearance since she arrived in Konoha.

“You're right. You certainly have changed. I doubt our relationships will ever be like before.” Shino said.

“Yeah.” Her smile dropped. She knew what he was saying.

“I've changed too. Somehow, we knew you didn't die. We believed you were still out there.” Shino looked away. Hinata didn't miss the sadness in his eyes.

“It was the right choice” Hinata whispered. Hinata didn't expected what came out next.

 

“Then why did you come back? What is there to prove? Why can't you see that it's not all about you? What you did back then was selfish!” Shino was yelling.

Too shocked by his outburst the new Hinata kicked in. Within a second she appeared inches away from her ex comrade. She looked into his eyes. He trembled. He never saw her eyes like that before.

“What I did was indeed selfish. But what else was there? You will never come close to understanding the pain I felt. Never.” Her eyes were still cold, emotionless.

“Hinata, listen to me.” Shino placed his hands on her shoulders.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted, but it's not too late. You can change, we can try to be just like before. You don't have to be like this.” Shino sounded a little helpless. He looked away.

“Shino, look at me.” His eyes still lingered.

“Shino!” Hinata stressed getting his attention again.

“We'll never be like before. Look at me now. I feel free. For the first time in my life I feel like a free bird. You are being cruel to think that my choice of leaving was wrong.”

Hinata tried to smile.

“We missed you so much.” Shino said in a very composed voice.

Hinata gently pushed away the two strong hands that rested on her shoulders.

“I missed you too.” With that she disappeared.

 

Something's up. They're suspecting it. I'm sure of it. Could it be? Yuu! Hinata suspected her little secret leaking into the atmosphere. It was suppose to be only between you and me! Why the hell are you so troublesome! Arrgh! Hinata screamed in her mind. In full speed she rushed her way to the apartment.

 

Upon arriving there, she rushed into the apartment without thinking and loudly called for Yuu.

“Where the hell are you?” she yelled. Although her Byakugan was activated. She was overcome by rage to notice another presence in the room.

“Hinata, calm down.” Came another voice from behind the kitchen counter. She turned to see Yuu, staring at her with a cup of tea in his hand. Beside him, was another man. None other than her cousin, her very shocked cousin.

 

“Hinata sama.” Neji addressed. What's going on? What has happened? Why are her eyes so, so white? That's not Byakugan. Something's wrong about her. Neji was left in his confusion. Hinata's Byakugan was indeed polluted. It was an accident that never should have happened.

 

“Thank you Neji kun. We will see you later in the battle arena.” Yuu walked towards the door. Neji didn't budge. He just stood there, frozen. To shocked by his cousins `new' boldness to think properly.

“Neji nii-san. Good bye.” Hinata said coldly.

 

When the two were alone, and her unsuspected guest far away from earshot she turned to her sensei hands folded across her chest.

“I did not tell them anything. Before you go on, I want to remind you that I am on your side. I'm here to help you.” Yuu said calmly. Hinata relaxed.

“What do you mean? Then how did they know?” Hinata asked in her usual voice. Apparently she cooled down already. Yuu was glad that her sanity was back. It would be troublesome if he had to us a jutsu on her.

“It's your eyes. It I recalled correctly, they were supposed to be grey, when you activate your Byakugan, it becomes white. That's unusual and must have led to further suspicion.” Yuu always had great influence on his subordinates.

“Oh.” Hinata said in a tone as if everything that happened was just a dream.

“Ma, you should get going the competition's starting”

“Hai, father.” She turned towards the door when Yuu called her.

“Hinata, control is everything. You are strong, I trust you.” Yuu added.

She smiled and nodded like the little child she was then left running towards the arena.

 

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Author's note

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Actually, I wrote this for myself. I don't really care if you hate it. :')