Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ TWIST OF FATE ❯ FAMILY TIES ( Chapter 5 )

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One of the hair pins, a golden peacock with beautiful rhinestones on it had actually been a gift from her sister, Hinata. The peacock Hinata said was very much like Hanabi, proud yet beautiful. Fierce yet graceful. The traits of a true Hyuga, she had said. Hanabi had cried when Hinata had it pinned into her bun just minutes before the ceremony started and Hinata embraced Hanabi as any elder sister would embrace their younger sister in moments of anguish. Hanabi had held onto Hinata's arm fiercely as she buried her face into Hinata's chest as she had to cry her heart out before the ceremony started.

Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Romance / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.20.2006 | Updated On: 02.22.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 367 | Status: Work In Progress

CHAPTER 5...

ALOHA! I'm back with chapter 5 of my ficcie: TWIST OF FATE.

This time around, it will more Hinata- centred.

ENJOY!!!

CHAPTER 5: FAMILY TIES

-KONOHA HOSPITAL-

So bright. Where am I? Am I dead?

“Sasaki sensei! You're awake.”

“Eh, Hime? What are you doing here?” Sasaki tried to sit up but the act of trying to lift her head alone was too much, she forgot the idea of sitting up altogether. Her eyes registered three blurry visions that she mentally knew very well. She tried to speak but her throat burned painfully and she let out a croak instead.

Himeko gave her a glass of water to sooth her burning throat.

“Aren't you three supposed to be away on mission?” Sasaki managed to ask as she massaged her irritatingly painful headache.

“Sasaki sensei, the mission was completed three days ago. You don't remember anything, don't you?” that was Ryo speaking from the corner of the room.

“Well, I do remember that you still owe me 50 dangos.” Sasaki grinned at Ryo.

“Really, sensei. In your condition but still fooling around.” sighed Hinata. “You do know that you are at the hospital right now? You have been unconscious for almost a week already.”

That piece of information suddenly hit home. Mental images of Orochimaru and lying dead Sound ninjas registered her mind. What had actually happened after that? Her head hurt once more as she tried to remember that part, so she gave up and closed her eyes.

“It was Hell's Fury wasn't it?” Sasaki asked her disciples quietly. Their silence was her answer. But if she had used that forbidden jutsu, she must have used up all her chakra. If that did happen, who in heavens had gotten her to the hospital? As she was busy thinking about this, Tsunade came into the room.

“Feeling better?” Tsunade automatically asked.

“I feel like my head is about to split into two.” Sasaki informed.

“Must be the side effects of that terrifying jutsu of yours. I gathered that it is called Hell's Fury, ne?” At Sasaki's nod, Tsunade continued, “ From what Hinata had told me, you coped with it better this time compared to the last time you used it, ? She informed me that the last time you used that jutsu, you passed out for nearly a month. Well, I've already healed most of your external and internal injuries, so it wouldn't take that long to get you up and going again. However in the meantime, I'll just do a few check ups just to make sure there are no other unwanted lingering side effects,” Then, Tsunade started poking her drained out body and thoroughly checked for any other internal injuries. Having made sure that there was nothing alarming, Tsunade announced that she will be leaving Sasaki to rest. On her way out to the door, Sasaki suddenly asked.

“Who was it that brought me in?”

Tsunade smiled, knowing very much who she had meant. She gave a small smile, “It was Kakashi. ” Seeing Sasaki's blank face, “You don't remember him, do you? Well, you were both in the academy when you were kids. That was until you ran off that is.”

Sasaki frowned. Even with this information, Sasaki found it hard to remember who Kakashi was. Giving up, she found herself asking Tsunade. “Do you know where he lives?” maybe once she was discharged, she'll give him a visit to thank him. And also to see who was this person that had rescued her.

****************

- At the Hyuga compound-

“Hiashi -sama. Everything is ready. Is everybody here?” asked Hakuma- san, one of the elders of the Hyuga clan. “Even her?”

All Hiashi could do was nod. He didn't feel like talking at all for some reasons. For one, he couldn't imagine that he would have to go through this. He didn't imagine that he would have to do this to his daughters, especially Hinata. He was glad that after all these years of worrying, she had finally returned, safe. But that happiness was to not last long.

FLASHBACK

A young boy knelt in front the head of the Hyuga clan and bowed his head to everyone currently present in the Hyuga's council meeting room. They were in the midst of discussing a matter regarding the clan when the boy suddenly asked to see the head of the clan.

“Hiashi- sama. There is word that Hinata- sama is back.” informed the boy, while still kneeling in front of Hiashi who was sitting crosslegged on a dais.

“ Who told you about this?” the head of the clan wanted to know. Hiashi wanted to make sure that for once, the news of her return was not a false alarm. He was tired of placing high hopes at the slightest news of his eldest daughter's return only to be disappointed. He could take no more emotional torture as it is.

“ It was your niece, Neji who had reported of her return, Hiashi- sama.”

Hiashi's eyes briefly shone at the piece of information. Coming from Neji, he knew that at last, his daughter has returned to Konoha and hopefully her home. However, his happiness was quickly dashed when an elder of the Hyuga clan, Mamori voiced out.

“ Well, looks like since Hinata- sama is already in the vicinity, you know what that means don't you, Hiashi?”

Hiashi was once again gloom. He knew that the daywould eventually come around. Her return would not only bring happiness and relief to him and their family but also sadness. Hiashi kept quiet, as he knew whatever reply he gave would not alter the clan's tradition that has been carried out over the generations.

“I see that you know very well, where your duty and hers lie to the clan.” voiced Moriko, another elder of the Hyuga clan. “We will carry out the ceremony in another week time. The council will take care of the preparations. All you have to do is to be ready by then and make sure that shepresents herself during the ceremony.”

Hiashi simply remained silent as he slowly stood up and walked away from the council's meeting room. Not only was his head heavy with thought, his heart was heavier with all sorts of feeling. Relief, happiness, guilt, regret and many others.

I'm sorry hinata, for I seem to never be able to save you from any pain that you have never deserved.

END OF FLASHBACK

“In that case we'll start the ceremony.”

The main house hall was suddenly filled with the Hyuga clan, all seated in their respective positions. The upper branch house, mostly of the near and distant family members were seated on to the right of the hall, while the other branch members were seated on the left. Hiashi- sama, Hanabi and the elders were seated in front on a dais with the Hyuga symbol on the wall behind them. Hinata however, was nowhere to be seen near on the dais that was meant for the members of the main family. She was actually seated on the right side of the hall beside Neji in the upper branch member's row.

The ceremony started off with Hanabi kneeling in front of Hiashi as the elders chanted a few mantras. Hanabi was prettily dressed in a bright orange kimono with red Sakura prints on it. Her brown long locks were put up into a bun with shiny hair pins securing it from falling. One of the hair pins, a golden peacock with beautiful rhinestones on it had actually been a gift from her sister, Hinata. The peacock Hinata said was very much like Hanabi, proud yet beautiful. Fierce yet graceful. The traits of a true Hyuga, she had said. Hanabi had cried when Hinata had it pinned into her bun just minutes before the ceremony started and Hinata embraced Hanabi as any elder sister would embrace their younger sister in moments of anguish. Hanabi had held onto Hinata's arm fiercely as she buried her face into Hinata's chest as she had to cry her heart out before the ceremony started.

Back to the present ceremony, after Hiashi read a few scrolls, Hanabi- sama was to testify herself as the new rightful Hyuga heir. Those words however did not come easy for her. Her speech was stuttered and tears were brimming in her eyes. How could she do this when her sister was just a few feet away? It should Hinata here. Not me. She inwardly cried inside. Hiashi knew just what his younger daughter was feeling and he felt a strong disgust for himself. All he wanted to do right then was to stop this stupid ceremony and embrace both his daughters as if he would never let them go again. But that was not to happen in any way. Embrace Hanabi he might be able to, but Hinata was different. He had realized that she was very much distant since her return. Not only physically but also emotionally. He doubt that he could ever embrace her as his elder daughter and expect her to return the same feeling now. Now, he knew what Hizashi [Neji's late father] must have felt. Traditions have torn apart even the closest and most precious relation anyone could have. It was all in the name of tradition.

From the right side of the row, Neji was intently watching the ceremony. He knew that glum had cast upon the main house and he couldn't help feeling sorry for the three closest family members that he had. Hiashi was obviously sad under that calm face of his, Hanabi was about to cry anytime soon and Hinata, she was … she was emotionless. Her face was a stoic picture as not even a word had come from her mouth through that whole ceremony. The most she did was nod her head as a sign that she heard what was said to her. As he secretly watched her, he saw that she too had her forehead in bandages. Bandages that were similar to his but were covered with her bangs in front. She to must have got it now. That makes two of us. Having thought about so many things, he didn't realize that it was time for the new successor to receive her blessing from the previous successor.

The whole hall was suddenly in a tensed silence as they waited for the previous heir namely Hinata, to walk into the hall from one of the door by the side of the hall. What they didn't expect was when Hinata suddenly stood up from her place beside Neji and slowly walked to the front aisle where her father and sister stood. Hinata was dressed in a simple and plain white kimono and had her long hair neatly tied into a ponytail with a white ribbon. Everyone was watching her closely as she closed the few steps and stood facing her younger sister, the new Hyuga successor. The other members were still not over the shock that all this while the previous heir was in the hall and sitting in the branch family members row. A member of the main family sitting in the branch family was unheard of. Then, they saw the bandages around her forehead and understood. She was now a branch family member. Most of them were silently sorry for her.

Hinata stood in front of her sister and said the few words that she had to say. Most were speeches of blessings that she was supposed to give. But none of those words came from her heart. It was simply for the sake of formality. Then, she noticed that Hanabi's eyes were slightly red of unshed tears. She lowered her head and kissed Hanabi's forehead as her personal blessing for her little sister. She loved her sister dearly, but life sure played some cruel tricks on them. All of them. Having gave her blessing, she looked down into Hanabi's pale face, a face that was so like hers and gave her a smile. A real smile that was soft and assuring.

Softly, Hinata whispered, “ I know you can do this, Hanabi- chan”

“Onee- chan!!!” Hanabi could no longer keep her tears from falling. It was the first time she heard Hinata say something to her since her return. Forgetting all about formality, Hanabi hugged her sister close and cried into her kimono. Right now, all she needed was comfort from Hinata. All she wanted to do was to hug Hinata as a sister and not as a main family and branch family. Hinata held Hanabi close as she softly stroked her sister's hair. Hiashi let his daughter seek comfort despite the traditions and protocol of the supposedly sacred ceremony. The two sisters needed this. He needed this. The whole Hyuga clan needed this. They need to know that tradition is important but family ties must always come first.

***************

After the ceremony, there was a feast for those who attended the ceremony. Hiashi was busy introducing Hanabi and attending to some of the important people in the Hyuga clan. Joyful chatters could be heard from nearly every corner of the room.

At one corner, stood two of the most prominent Hyuga members. Neji and Hinata. Neither spoke nor ate anything that was served in the scrumptious feast. Neji refused to eat even a single morsel. He felt disgusted by the way the Hyuga clan was treating Hinata. Hadn't anyone forgotten that the last four years, Hinata had been their successor. She was easily tossed aside for a new successor and one that they favoured too. It was as if she had never existed.

Hinata on the other hand didn't feel like eating anything because she was simply not hungry yet. As she stood at the farthest corner, her blank eyes observed the gathering. Happiness and laughter could be heard everywhere yet, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. The

Hyuga clan was never like this when she had been the successor. During her days as the successor only disappointment and glum was visible. It was nothing like today. But this was probably because everyone favoured the new heiress, Hanabi than her. Her father on the other hand, had seemed kinder. Hiashi had offered her old room in the main family's house but she strongly refused. In the end, he had given her the best room in the branch member's apartment. She remembered how she had to beg her otou-san to let her stay at the branch member's housing rather than have her old bedroom in the main house. She reasoned to him that it would seem awkward if people saw her still living at the main house when she is only a branch member. While deep in her thoughts, Hinata suddenly realized that someone was speaking to her.

“Hinata- sama…”

“It's Hinata only now. Yes, did you wish to speak to me, Kimura- san?”

Kimura- san gave her a scroll, “A girl asked me to pass this to you.”

Having thanked Kimura- san, Hinata opened the scroll. Neji just watched her from beside just in case anything was amiss. Hinata's eyes slightly widened (Neji nearly missed it), and quickly rolled the scroll.

“Neji…”

“Hai, Hinata”

“Just in case anyone seeks me out, please inform them that I had some things to settle.” Hinata looked straight in Neji's eyes.

By her serious looks, Neji knew that something had come up. “Hai, I'll tell them that. Something important?”

Hinata simply nodded and quietly made her way out of the hall. Once she thought that she was out of anyone's sight, she quickly sprinted towards her room to change into her normal clothes. Something unpleasant had arisen and if she did not hurry, things may get out of hand. In her haste to go, little did she realize that Neji was actually watching her dart off.

Take care, Hinata. Neji silently wished. From one of the crowds Hiashi and Hanabi had seen Hinata quietly took off. Hiashi couldn't help but also feel worried for the safety of his eldest daughter.

**************

TBC