Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ TWIST OF FATE ❯ CHAPTER 10: Hyuuga Vs. The Cloud ( Chapter 10 )

CHAPTER 10: Hyuuga Vs. The Cloud

 

 

“ Ladies and gentleman, we now bring you the last match for today. The sixth battle for the first round of elimination.” announced Genma from the battlegrounds.

 

 

- The Stadium's Seating-

 

 

“Man, the matches sure were tough, ne Sakura?” Naruto admonished. “I wonder who will be in the final match?”

 

“ Hai.” Sakura nodded. “ With contestants like Ryo san, Himeko san, and Kankurou, I'm not sure if I myself am ready to fight these people.” Even the freaky Kankurou lost.

 

“ Now, Sakura. What are you talking about?” Naruto frowned at his friend and crush. “ We all know that you are extremely strong these days. Don't degrade yourself, Sakura- chan.”

 

Sakura sighed in frustration at Naruto denseness. “Naruto. Don't you see? This is not just any kind of shinobi that we are looking at. Hell, if I would even recognize half of their jutsu.”

 

“But Sakura- chan…”

 

Kakashi interrupted Naruto's speech, “ Sakura is right, Naruto.”

 

Naruto and Sakura turned to look at their sensei who was seated behind them. Sasuke merely glanced from the corners of his eyes.

 

“ The contestants who have passed so far are not our average jounin material. They are certainly more than that. ”

 

“Ano..what do you mean?” asked a confused Sakura.

 

“Yeah! What do you mean `more than that'?. These contestants are mostly our age. They can't be that good.” quipped Naruto.

 

Kakashi merely kept his eyes on the battleground as if something interesting was going to happen any minute. “ That is where you are wrong, Naruto. Most of them, including Ryo and Himeko, their fighting techniques were special jounin level assassination techniques. Fighting techniques to swiftly demolish the opponent without leaving a trace. The only reason no one has died yet is because no one has yet to use their total capacity in the match. So far, it has all been like a warming up session for them.” Closing his eyes, “ For the next round, I'm not sure that all of those left will eventually survive, though.”

 

Sakura and Naruto gulped while Sasuke frowned.

 

 

“ Ladies and gentleman, now we bring you the last match for today. The sixth battle for the first round of elimination.” Genma announced.

 

 

“ Shh, it's the final match.” Sakura said to Naruto.

 

“ Hyuuga Hinata vs. Shindai of the Cloud.”

 

The crowd gasped.

 

Whispers and questions could be heard amongst the audiences.

 

Hyuuga Hinata.

 

Wasn't she the Hyuuga heiress who ran away four years ago?

 

She's back?

 

“ Otou san.”

 

“Hnn.”

 

“ Is onee chan going to be ok?”

 

Hiashi remained silent for he himself did not know as to where his eldest daughter's capability stood.

 

Hinata had returned to Konoha and from rumours of her last mission, it seems that Hinata yields a special ability now.

 

For the first time, Hiashi just did not know what to expect from his daughter.

 

 

- Down At The Battleground-

 

 

Hinata squinted at the blazing sun right above their heads. It was a few hours past noon already and nearly half of the contestants were eliminated. From the corners of her eyes, Hinata spotted the head of her clan and its heir. Her father and her sister. They were seated in the V.I.P. box where most of the clan heads and feudal lords sat. Past memories of humiliation and resentment as the former Hyuuga heiress filtered her mind. Memories of her father nearly disowning her and giving her away to Kurenai sensei to train when it was supposedly his duty to train the heiress of their clan. Memories of her younger sister, Hanabi, defeating her in a match witnessed by their father. And memories of Neji nearly killing her in the chunnin exam four years ago. Painful images of her younger self crying into the pillow at night wishing for her mother's presence and thoughts of suicide flooded her mind.

 

Then, memories of meeting Sasaki sensei, another person aside Kurenai sensei who truly believed in her capabilities. Befriending Himeko who she taught at first was just about as cold as Sasuke and how flirty Ryo had been only to nearly lose his life, protecting her and Himeko. Not to mention her friends back at the royal and Konoha. Shino, Kiba, Naruto, Lee, Tenten, Neji, Sasuke, Ino, Sakura, Shikamaru and Chouji. They were all rooting for her and thus, in no circumstances should she fail them again.

 

Pray for me, mother.

 

“You two ready?” Genma asked.

 

Hinata and her opponent remained silent, a `yes'.

 

“Begin!”

 

Hinata immediately twirled a few feet away from her opponent, sending specs of dirt twirling along with her. Not leaving her eyes of her opponent for even a moment, Hinata got into the customary Hyuuga fighting stance. Feet apart with one foot in front while the other balanced her upper body. Hands up in a defense pose and body relaxed for any immediate action.

 

Her opponent namely Shindai from the Cloud wore a loose dark brown robe-like garment that hung loosely around his lithe willowy form. His eyes were rather creepy looking with dark rings under them and his cheeks were sunken in. Truthfully, a first impression would tick him off ass weak but if there is one thing Hinata had learned from her years as a Royal, was to never underestimate an enemy no matter what.

 

Shindai apparently had increased the distance between them as well. He too despite looking the way he was, never glanced else where except for his female opponent opposite him.

 

Deciding that her opponent was not going to make the first any sooner, Hinata decided to play along. She wanted the match to end as soon as possible.

 

Closing her eyes, Hinata concentrated her chakra in her internal system. Flickering her eyes open, Hinata swept her two feet around to form a yin yang symbol on the ground. Her movements resembled the delicateness of some kind of dance. The way her long midnight blue hair spun around face and as the material from her long sleeved top twirled around her body, created the image of a dancing nymph. Her feet gracefully spun as a twister slowly built around her and started to form a large and violent tornado.

 

Shindai eyed her warily from his position as he tried to assess her. The twister looked dangerous enough to even be dreaming of getting near her.

 

So, you want to play, eh. Then I'll just have to put you to sleep with my lullaby.

 

Shindai whipped out a flute from his weapon pouch and played a tune that seemed like only he knew the melodies. Luckily, the spectators' area had been sealed from any form of attack because if one had eye jutsu, they would see sound waves resonating throughout the battleground. Of course there were spectators with this blessed ability such as Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Neji, Hyuuga Hiashi and Hyuuga Hanabi among the many of them.

 

 

The sound wave emanated from the melody was nothing neither sweet nor lulling. It was chakra infused and if the opponent were not careful, he or she would die a slow and painful death. Shindai had renovated the chakra system in the sound waves so that any harm or injury that it inflicted would only be internally. That means, the victim of this jutsu would not bleed or bruise, thus giving no indicator that he or she had been severely attacked.

 

Having released his attack and upon seeing no counterattack from his opponent, Shindai stopped his jutsu. His sickly thin lips slowly curved into a smile, knowing that there was no way that anyone exposed to the sound waves would eventually survive. His creepy smile then become a full grin, which then erupted into a series of eerie cackling. The Cloud ninja laughed like he has never laughed in his life before.

 

Even the cold and emotionless Sasuke was spooked.

 

The audiences remained silent at hearing the eerie laugh. Indeed, by the look of things, Hinata seemed to still be rooted at her spot with her head downturned as if in defeat already, while it seemed like Shindai was having a ball of a time down there.

 

The loud laugh continued and Shindai gradually ceased his laughter. Sensing something, Shindai's turned around and his eyes faced the young Hyuuga's white eyes. Around her eyes, veins were visible and Shindai stopped laughing. Hinata had her Byakugan on. Turning his eyes downwards, the Cloud shinobi's widened at the pool of blood under him. A short katana had pierced through his back was making his stomach bleed profusely.

 

“Weak.” came Hinata's comment.

 

Despite the deep injury, Shindai quickly leapt away from the Hyuuga but his movements were too slow or was it that his opponent who was too fast?

 

Hinata appeared just above him in the air, “Where are you going?” Hinata smiled sweetly. “I was just about to show you my jutsu.” And with that, Hinata raised her arm and summoned her jutsu, “ BLOODY TORNADO!!”

 

The tornado from earlier that was thought to have vanished had reappeared. This time, it was bigger and fiercer with both contestants were caught in the whirling of dust. The tornado had a bone chilling sound to it and the whole stadium watched in awe at the match. Most of the spectators including the Godaime were wondering about what was happening to the two contestants.

 

“ Amazing,” said Kakashi with his Sharingan activated. He had his left eye exposed during the middle of the match when the Cloud shinobi had released his attack.

 

Trapped inside the twisting jutsu, Hinata landed numerous kicks, punches and other attacks with the Cloud shinobi who was then totally defenseless from the katana stab.

 

After a few minutes, the tornado grew smaller and eventually, the twirling wind vanished leaving Hinata standing on one side of the battleground and Shindai on the other side. Hinata's stoic face gave away nothing and the still standing Cloud shinobi proved that he was still in the match. There was no winner yet.

 

But that was soon remedied.

 

Hinata's heavy breathing indicated great chakra loss when releasing her jutsu. Shindai raised his head and smiled his only smile. The eerie smile.

 

“ Heh, Hyuuga. You win.” and with those words, Shindai collapsed to the ground in a heavy thud. He was already limp waist downwards.

 

There was finally a winner.

 

Medic nins came rushing into the battleground carrying a stretcher to transport the defeated Cloud nin. While waiting for the emergency squad to arrive, Hinata decided to be `friendly' with her opponent. Walking towards the limp body, Hinata kneeled beside Shindai.

 

 

“Allow me to offer you a piece of advice” Hinata lowered her head until her eyes were several inches from his. “ Chakra infused sound waves attack do not work on Hyuugas. Never have and never will.” Patting his right shoulder,” Keep that in mind.”

 

Standing up, Hinata moved aside to make way for the medic nins to see to the battered ninja. Strapping him onto the stretcher, they took him straight to the emergency room to treat his wounds.

 

Hinata simply stood where she was with her arms folded in front of her chest. Watching the Cloud shinobi be carried away, Hinata looked at him without any expression. If it were the old Hinata, she would definitely be fiddling with her fingers, worrying about the other person and their injuries. But then again, if this were the old Hinata, she probably would not have won the match anyway. Looking at the exit that the medic nins had rushed out of, Hinata stood silently.

 

That's for making the Hyuugas suffer long ago.

 

Having seen the defeated contestant out, Genma turned to face the crowd and announced. “The winner. Hyuuga Hinata!”

 

A loud roar of applauds erupted throughout the whole stadium. Everyone cheered Hinata's victory upon seeing the spectacular fight.

 

“WOOAHH!!! HINATA!!! You kick ass, girl!!!!” shouted Naruto. Unfortunately, the loud cheering going on in the whole stadium drowned his shouting.

 

Unlike when they were 12 years old, Hinata no longer had only Naruto to cheer her on. This time, the whole of Konoha acknowledged her. Her abilities to fight, her abilities as a shinobi and most important, her abilities as a Hyuuga.

 

Even Hyuuga Hiashi had to admit that his daughter had improved tremendously over the years and he too clapped his hand for his eldest daughter's victory.

 

From his seat, Neji smiled at seeing his cousin's fight. Indeed, his shy and meek cousin had blossomed into a real fighter. The loud applaud going about the stadium was the proof. Hyuuga Hinata was weak no longer. Hinata now shone brighter than any sun. She was the Hyuuga's new pride.

 

Hinata simply smiled at hearing the loud cheering. However, her heart was not exactly joyous about her winning. Not that her mind was on the injured Cloud shinobi. For all she cared, he was better off dead. After that attack of hers, he would no longer be able to lead the life of a shinobi. But of course only she knew that. Shindai would just have to find out about it the hard way. But that was life. Life was harsh and difficult.

 

Thinking about her teammate, Himeko, Hinata worried about the other girl's condition. Remembering her conversation with her sensei before her match, Hinata recalled Sasaki mentioning about Himeko being attended at the hospital.

 

 

 

FLASHBACK

 

 

“But I thought she won without any injury?” Ryo exclaimed a bit too loud.

 

Luckily, Sasaki had dragged her two students to a more secluded corner before informing them about their other teammate's absence.

 

“Yes, she did. However, I think you also realize something amiss in the chakra flow, didn't you?” Sasaki looked straight at her subordinates.

 

Ryo nodded. Arms folded in front, “Now that you mentioned it, yes, I did realized something odd about her during the fight.”

 

“Her chakra cycle was rather haywire and her Sharingan was activated even though her opponent was not much of a threat to her,” said Hinata.

 

“You're right. Himeko has known Kankurou since small. There was no way that the puppeteer threatened her. Something or rather…someone had triggered some fear in her. Thus sending her mind into a nervous hay wire.” admonished Sasaki.

 

Ryo absorbed all the information and as he thought about it, his eyes widened. “You can't mean…”

 

Sasaki looked nonchalantly to the blank walls in front her. “It's just an assumption. I still need to investigate this matter deeper.” Looking towards Hinata, “ I guess your turn is next, ne Hinata?”

 

Hinata nodded, “Hai, sensei. The Cloud guy over there and I are the last pair for this round. But sensei, you don't need to stay to watch me fight.”

 

“Eh, why not?” asked Sasaki to her young student. “This match is important to you. Not so much for the title but to prove to people that you are no longer the Hinata they knew.”

 

Hinata shook her head slightly. “No. I'm still the same Hinata I was before. I just…matured. That's all. Anyway, the match is not really important. Himeko is more important, right now.” Hinata looked up into her sensei's golden eyes. Her own white eyes speaking on their own, “As much as I want to be by Himeko's side right now, I still have a match to fight and if Himeko were to ever know that I let the fight go, she would never forgive me. So, I thought that…that maybe, you could watch over her for me. That would make me feel better knowing that my friend is in safe hands.”

 

Sasaki's eyes softened at her subordinate's request. She knew how inseparable those two girls have become during their acquaintance at the Royal Academy. Sasaki smiled at Hinata and ruffed the midnight blue locks slightly.

 

“I never was going to leave Himeko unattended, you know.” she said.

 

Hinata's eyes widened. Thinking that her sensei had taken her request the wrong way, Hinata immediately apologized, “Ano..gomen, sensei. That's not what I meant. A- ano... I know that Himeko is in safe hands…I mean…” Hinata was a bit flustered trying to explain to her sensei her what she had actually meant.

 

Both Ryo and Sasaki smiled seeing the old timid Hinata.

 

“I know what you mean. If it means that you can concentrate on your fight knowing that Himeko is well looked after, I would gladly stay by her side. This is match is not about me as your sensei. This match is about you. All three of you. Ryo, Himeko and you, Hinata. Don't let this chance slip out of your hands. Out there in the battleground, you are no longer Hinata of the royals. You are Hyuuga Hinata. You are going to carry your clan's name just as Ryo and Himeko did. Don't forget that.”

 

Aoba came into the room calling for Shindai and Hinata, the last contestants for the day.

 

Sasaki nudged Hinata towards the entrance. “Go out there and fight. We are all rooting for you. Especially Himeko.” Smiled Sasaki sensei. “Don't worry, I'll see to it that she is safe.”

 

Ryo too grinned and gave Hinata the thumbs up that kind of reminded Hinata of Lee. “Go, girl! Go out there and fight like the fighter you are.”

 

Hinata smiled at her sensei's and teammates support. Running towards the door, Hinata stopped a few inches short and turned to bow at them. Sasaki nodded and Ryo grinned. Turning around, Hinata ran towards the battlegrounds. Her mind made up.

 

I will not loose this time.

 

At the end of the dark hallway was a tunnel of light that lead Hinata to her chance for acknowledgement and pride.

 

 

END OF FLASHBACK

 

 

 

Stepping out of her reverie, Himeko turned towards the referee, Genma.

 

“Ano, Genma san.”

 

“Hai, Hyuuga. Do you need something?”

 

Hinata shook her head. “I was wondering if I could go now. I would like to visit a friend at the hospital.”

 

“Well, there's nothing else left to do here. So, I think you can go. Don't forget tomorrow's match.” reminded Genma.

 

Hinata nodded. Hinata turned to face the audience and bowed before bowing at the referee. Taking her leave, Hinata sprinted down the deserted hallway.

 

I won mother, Himeko, Sasaki sensei. Can you believe it! I won the match.

 

 

 

- At Konoha Hospital-

 

 

Ryo and Hinata arrived at the hospital together. Apparently, the two of them had been in such a haste to get there that they had ran all the way from the stadium towards the hospital. And that sure was a rather long way especially in their tired state. Hinata had immediately left the battlegrounds after her match to go in search for Ryo. Together, they rushed to see how Himeko was doing.

 

Stopping quite near to their sensei, Hinata and Ryo panted heavily. Sasaki had just exited Himeko's room.

 

“Sasaki sensei! How's Hime- chan?” asked Ryo.

 

“She's resting in the ward room. Don't worry too much. She's okay…so far. Plus, there are two ANBUs guarding her.” Sasaki sank onto the nearest bench. Folding her arms and crossing her legs, Sasaki leaned against the white wall and closed her eye. Fatigue was clearly etched across her features.

 

Sighing, with her still closed.eyes, Sasaki continued to address her subordinates. “ There's something wrong with her. “ Sasaki said quietly. “ But she won't tell me what it is.”

 

Hinata and Ryo had heard Sasaki's quiet voice and Ryo had a frown on his face. Hinata's eyes had a worried expression in it.

 

“ It isn't like Himeko to be secretive.” said Ryo as his eyes drifted towards the shut doors of Himeko's wardroom. Ryo had known Himeko since the tender age of seven and throughout the whole years together, Ryo knew his friend was loudmouth, overbearing and rather a pain in the ass. But never was Himeko one to be secretive.

 

“The seal on her shoulder was half way activated. Knowing Himeko's control of the seal, its activation even if very slight means danger.” Sasaki said. “Danger mostly to her.”

 

“Sensei…”

 

Standing up, Sasaki stretched her tired limbs a bit. “There's no use all of us losing rest. At least one or two of us need to be in top shape should anything unexpected happens.” Sasaki gave her two subordinates a weak smile. “Don't worry too much. If Himeko saw you like this, she would be cursing her mind away and drag both of you back home to sleep.”

 

Ryo smiled as he could clearly imagine his tomboy of a teammate throwing obscene words at them for worrying too much. That little lady had to many `extended vocabulary' that would astonish most of the hardest and most bad ass male population.

 

“Sensei.” Hinata voiced out.

 

Sasaki turned towards the Hyuuga.

 

“Hai. Is there something you want?” asked Sasaki.

 

Hinata nodded. “Ano…since Ryo and I are already here. Could we just take a peek at how Hime is doing? We'll try to be as quiet as possible.”

 

Sasaki looked at her students and shook her head. “I wish I could let you visit her, but her state right now doesn't allow her to receive any visitors at all. Those authorized into her room are only the Godaime, Kakashi- san and I. For some reason, we need to keep Himeko in closure.”

 

“That sounds rather serious. I thought you said that she is okay?” Ryo asked, confused with all the tight security needed.

 

Sasaki looked towards the sleeping Uchiha's wardroom door. “ Her physical condition is stable but since putting on the seal, Himeko has yet to gain consciousness. It is feared that there might be side effects should she wake up. That is why, we need to keep close inspection on her.”

 

Hinata and Ryo understood. Resealing the cursed seal was a risky job. Side effects may persist and most often than not, the consequences were not pretty. They understood that their sensei was just trying to protect them and their friend from harm.

 

Sasaki turned around to face her subordinates, “I'm sorry but that's that. But, when Himeko is confirmed okay, you two will be the first to know. A shinobi's promise.”

 

Hinata and Ryo sensed Sasaki's sincerity and they smiled at their sensei.

 

“ In that case, will take leave now, sensei.” Hinata said. “We'll see you in the morning.”

 

Sasaki nodded.

 

Hinata and Ryo bowed and went off to return to their home to get some rest. However for Hinata, home tonight was the Hyuuga manor and she doubted that she would be getting much rest after all.

 

 

TBC