chapter 21: after the crisis
A few weeks passed and nothing occurred since. Hanabi came several times to visit them, but no other member of their family. Hanabi, said that the Hyuga manor's atmosphere is sad, and thata Korine benefitted from the occasion to obtain divorce withou trouble. She stayed in the secondary house however, with her lover.
Now Hinata can life with discovered
face, and her friends chunins copiously celebrated her "return". Tenten
burst of laughing when she learns that Neji actually lives with Hinata,
but some other people seemed to disaprove this union between cousins.
But
for Hinata and Neji, nothing could sully their happiness.
The small daily routine took again
its rights. Hinata engaged again as Chunin, but with a specialization
in
medicine and seals, and she doesn't leave anymore on external mission.
She chooses it herself and made the request to the Hokage. Except when
exceptional case requires her competences, she'll remain at the village
or near it. First, she doesn't want to endanger the village by letting
her Byakugan fall into enemy's hands. In addition, she doesn't want to
endanger her child. And finally and especially, she studies the seals
with
eagerness under the direction of Dr. Isha.
This week, Neji is on mission in
water
country and Hinata go home alone. But when she arrives before her door,
she drops her bag from the surprise to recognize her parents who were
waiting
there. Not knowing what to say, Hinata opens the door, let them enter
and
sit down in the living room. Then she go in the kitchen to prepare some
tea. Now, they're sitting all the three in silence in front of their
teacup.
Hiashi: "Hinata... I have a request to
present
to you, in the name of the Hyuga clan..... Do you accept to take my
place
and to become the chief of the Hyuga clan?"
The surprise make Hinata dumb and she can
only look at her father with round eyes.
Hiashi: "We discussed much in the clan.
You are the heiress... and especially you were able to join together
the
two divided branches of our family. We would like that you, and Neji,
take
now the direction of Hyugas and that you bring together the two
families
by your marriage."
Hinata: " Marry us??"
Hiashi: "We must ask an exemption from the
Hokage to marry between cousins, but it's possible. I think that it
will
be accepted."
Hinata: "..Father.... I.. I don't know.....
I must speak about it with Neji before... "
Hiashi: "We will await your answer, Hinata."
The departure of her parents leaves Hinata
thoughtful. She waits that Neji returns to speak about it, but also
herself
has already some ideas of answer.
One week later, Neji and Hinata announce
at the Hyuga manor that they want to meet the chief of clan.
Hinata: "Father... Neji and I decided to
accept to become the head of the Hyuga family, and to marry. There will
be nothing anymore but only one Hyuga family. "
Hiashi: "Thank you both, Hinata, Neji..."
The decision is then announced to all the
members of the clan. A date for the marriage and the transfer of power
is fixed and the preparations of these events start quickly.
After the evening meal, Hinata and
her parents are alone in the garden. It's a moment of calm and peace, a
moment when the hearts can open.
Hiashi: "Hinata, we have took much arbitrary
and unjust decision, especially towards you...."
Hinata: "You never asked me my opinion,
nor what I wanted to do.... especially .. this marriage.... I felt...
sold."
Hiashi's wife: "Hinata, we organized this
marriage for the interest of our two families, but for your too. We
thought
that the Shinobi life was too dangerous for you, and that it was not
appropriate.
You would have been sheltered in Kaishima, and you could have been
happy
over there."
Hinata: "No, I couldn't have been happy.
I am Shinobi by choice... "
Hiashi: "We were mistaken... Will you
forgive
us, Hinata? We thought really that what we did were right... "
Hinata stays quiet one moment.
Hinata: "Yes..."
The calm silence of the night
prolonge,
There's no need there to say more. Time will still be necessary before
Hinata and her parents really speak freely together, but it will come,
gently.
Hinata: "Father... I want to speak with
mother, alone."
Hiashi: "Well, I leave you between women.
Good Evening, Hinata."
Hinata: "good evening, father."
Staying alone with her mother, Hinata hesitates a little and nervously plays with her fingers. Her mother lets her do patiently, waiting until she speaks.
Hinata: "Mother... I'm
pregnant.....Not
of Neji, don't worry like that." Hinata keep silent a moment before speaking again. Hinata: "I won't say who is the true father of the child. I promised." The mother: "I'm happy for you Hinata. We didn't want to speak about the problem of children for the moment... but you were responsible and you think about it yourself." Hinata doesn't undeceive her
mother
concerning the reasons of her maternity and smiles. Surprising Hinata, her mother
gently passes
her hand in her hair. |
Chapter 22: Peaceful garden
The evening is clear and Hinata stays
alone
in the garden after the conversation with her parents. The calm make
her
forget almost all the bad memories which haunt this house where
she
grow. Not far from her, Neji looks at her. When he saw that Hinata's
father
returned in the house, he left to see her. But as she were talking with
her mother, he waited. He didn't listen to what the two women said, but
he saw the face of Hinata lighting. She seems happy, and Neji doesn't
want
to disturb her.
Hinata turns over towards
the house,
looks with her Byukugan and starts by seeing Neji so close.
Hinata: " Neji, you were here?" Neji: "For some time, yes." He approaches and sit close to her, attracting her against him. Neji: "You seem happy..." Hinata: "I spoke to my mother, about the child. She accepted it, and she will keep the secrecy." Neji: "It will be our child, and that of anybody of other." Hinata smiles to Neji, before new concerns disturbs her. About Naruto, will the child have is blond hair? And what the Fox did him? neji: "a concern, my angel?" Hinata: "Nothing... Not everyone will like it, to have a children between two so close cousins..." Neji: "Let's them say! In any event, nobody will dare to make any remark loud, because our child will be Hyuga. Our clan is feared and respected in the village, enough to make conceal the scandalmongering." Hinata: "It's true, our clan has considerable privilege nevertheless..." Neji: "It's normal, we're the most powerful clan of Konoha. Our child will have the best conditions to become a great Ninja." Hinata: "But if it doesn't want to become ninja..." Neji: "We will support it nevertheless." |
Hinata: "Neji, you remember...? In this garden.... you said to me that you would protect me and that I was the only Hyuga heiress."
Neji: "And it's always valid. You're the only and single chief of clan, I'm here only to support and protect you "
Hinata: "Thank you, Neji... It's because you're near me that I found the force to advance."
Neji: "No, Hinata. The force always was inside you. I just protected you, so that you can make leave this force. Today our clan started to change, thanks to you."
Hinata: "But the future of our clan won't be neither without you, nor without Hanabi. I would need your assistance to both, of your force."
Neji: "Count on us."
Hinata: " Neji, are you still angry against Hanabi....?"
Neji: ".... between her and me, that was never the great love...."
Hinata: " Fortunately for me!! But you should forgive her. Even if she's already a frightening Shinobi, she remains a child subjected to a strong pressure and who has a great emotional need. She feels very alone, you know...."
Neji: " I'm not angry with her anymore, Hinata, don't worry. Everyone can do mistakes.. especially when we're young...."
Now they laugh both, remembering the old hatred which bounded their families, and which they exceed. Together, they went from hatred to love. Together, they will follow their road in the joy as in the sorrow.
Chapter 23: Hyuga, chief of clan.
Hinata doesn't wear a Kimono. She wear a battle dress and her emblem of the Leaf. Only two discrete blazons on her clothing announce her membership of the Hyuga clan. But today, it's as a chief of this clan that all inclin in front of her. Today is the day of the transfer of power between Hiashi Hyuga and Hinata Hyuga. The totality of the Hyuga family is present as well as the VIP of Konoha.
All the previous day and all the night, Hinata was sick because of anguish about this ceremony and this crowd. But this morning, she dominate herself successful and she stands proud like a future chief of Hyuga.
A speech of his father, one of her grandmother, then the symbolic handing-over of the blazon of the family to Hinata, and the assembly inclines.
Chief of clan Hinata Hyuga.
Contracted, she looks in the crowd facing
her been, where Neji is and discreetly holds a small paper in his
hand. Hinata slightly concentrates her Byakugan without making appear a
single vein on her face ( fruit of a long practice as Yuuki) in order
to
read the text writen on the paper. It's her official speech. She and
Neji
worked a long time on it and have writen it, knowing well that the day
of the ceremony, Hinata would be too much panicked to remember or
improvise
a correct speech. In the attentive silence of the room, the new chief
of
clan starts to speak with her soft voice. Then as the words leave, her
voice strengthens and becomes more powerful. Hinata speaks with passion
about a new reconciled Hyuga clan, about a plain and strong family
facing
to adversity, about a clan welded and devoted to the village of Konoha.
A thunder of applause punctuates her words when silence falls down in
the
room.
The new chief of clan showed a future for
which they want to fight.
Then everyone comes to congratulate Hinata while the maids arrive with furnished plates. The reception can start. The guests disperse in the room, the ones approaching strategically the dishes, the others greeting such or such person who comes especially for the occasion. Neji joined Hinata to help her to face, but also to protect her from any attack. In the Ninja country, we know very well what assassins can do, and this kind of meeting is a dreamed place to achieve a murder. But fortunately, nothing sully this memorable day, and everyone could celebrate with ostentation the new chief.
It's only when the last guests
leaves
that Neji and Hinata allow themselves to return on their apartment too.
In their small apartment? no, surely no, first for reason of safety,
but
also... the chief of the clan, to live in a small poor apartment...? It
isn't serious!! Thus Hinata and Neji moved. Neither at the principal
manor,
nor at the secondary manor. To mark the fusion of the two branches,
they
made arrange a building on the principal domain, far from the old
manor. It's their house now, and the head office of the clan, since the
office of the chief is there from now on. But as the night is advanced,
Neji and Hinata walk towards the room and fall together asleep on their
bed without changing clothes.
Drop by drop, the days pass. While she
dresses
this morning, Hinata looks at her silhouette in the mirror with pride.
Her belly becomes very round. She doesn't enter any more in her clothes
and had to buy new one for pregnancy. She's happy. She takes
weight
well regularly and the Doctor is very satisfied. All occurs well for
the
mother and the child. for the future father to, in spite of a light
recrudescence
of possessivity. The only black spot which crumples the gossips of
Konoha
is that the father and the mother are still not married. The marriage
is
planned for later, after the birth of the children. Definitely, these
young
people don't respect anything, normally we marry before having children.
After having looked herself in the mirror, Hinata dresses quickly and leaves to the principal manor, in one of the training rooms. Her teacher is already here, but he would not dare to make any single remark about the chief of clan being late. Since Hinata said that she want to study more the ninja sciences of Seals and Potions, the Hyuga family provides her the best teacher, plus Dr. Isha. Worker and tough, Hinata progresses extremely quickly in her fields. But what her professors don't know is that Hinata studies in secrecy the prohibited seals that she copied in the secret archives of Konoha. There's a seal thta she would like to find, since a long time: a seal which cancel the one of Neji.
Unfortunately, for some time, she must learn another seal without her professors knowing it, and even without nobody knowing it except Neji. With this simple thought, the heart of Hinata tightens and her hand poses on her belly like to protect it. Her little baby.....
Like all Hyugas future-parents,
Hinata
and Neji used many time their Byukugan to look at their child sleeping
in Hinata's belly. They looked at it with attention and tenderness, at
this very small cluster of flesh in growth. They have seen it to grow
and
develop, taking form. They know it by heart..................... and
thus
they could see.... the four tails of fox.
The small girl, because it's a small girl,
has four tail of fox.
Her face, all her body is human...
but she has four tails of fox.
Heritage of the Naruto's blood.
Heritage of the demon-Fox who lives in her
true father.
Chapter
24: The responsabilities of a chief
During the development of the fœtus, Neji and Hinata saw four outgrowth
which appeared and growed on the bottom of the spinal columns. After
only few days, Hinata understood what they could be: tails of
Fox. Neji was wondering much more, and ends up to ask his wife, who
doesn't seem to worry much, not as much as he thought, and in any case
less than him.
Neji: "Hinata… Our child, what happens to her?"
Hinata: "It's…"
She hesitates one moment. She can't betray Naruto. But she can't
betray Neji's confidence either. He, who accepts this child even she's
not his, who already loves this girl.... He must obtain answers
to his questions.
Hinata: "It's.. four tails of Fox."
Neji: "…what? Tails of Fox? But how? why?... from Naruto? "
Hinata: "Yes."
Neji ponders a few moments in silence. He remembers that he saw
Naruto's chakra taking a strange shape when they fought at this famous
examination of Chunin. Indeed, it could resemble tails. Maybe they
arean hereditary capacity? Neji doesn't know anything about the family
of Naruto, he's an orphan. But it wouldn't be exceptionel that Naruto
could have Tails of fox. Many ninja clans have genetic capacities,
which are out of the commun...and some family are in relation with
animals. For example, Kiba's family with dogs.
A Ninja clan who have inherited by blood of Fox? Neji never heard about
it, but he knows that some clans hide their capacities. Is Naruto in
this kind of clan?
Neji raises his eyes towards Hinata to ask her more. But she shakes her
head gently.
Hinata: "I can't say more, Neji."
With a little impatience, he retorts: " I understood well. All that
relates to Naruto is secret, I know."
If Neji had been a little older, it would have known the terror of
Kyubi and would have immediately understant the bond with Naruto. But
Neji blongs to the generation which never heard about the nine tails
Fox. The older Ninjas would have been shaken by fear to discover a Fox
child, but no Neji and especially no Hinata.
Neji: " How will you do with our family and the village? Everyone will
see these tails of Fox, and will ask questions."
Hinata: "I will hide them. I know already how. With a seal "
She must hide them, absolutely, as soon as possible. She
understands well that her child would be in danger if someone
other discover that the Fox transmitted something to her. She almost
complete a Genjustsu seal which will mislead the other Hyugas
about the interior of her belly. But she must invents a more powerful
seal for the day of the birth. She works hard on it, with the help of
the formula of Naruto's seal and others prohibited seals.
In
her office of chief, Hinata audits the accounts quickly. All is in
order. But to manage a clan is more work than she thought. Fortunately,
although officially withdrawn, her father and his grandmother keep
helping her . Nevertheless, as the Chief of Hyuga clan, she
must take the decisions and the responsabilities. The responsability …
Suddenly, Hinata understand that ,she must also think about the future
of the village. All these problem with her family was a personal
problem. But the military power of the village is concerned too. She
isn't allowed anymore to take egoist decisions without thinking about
the consequences for Konoha. She isn't allowed... to hide to Hokage
what happens with Naruto. It's a terrible decision. What will be the consequence for her, for Naruto, for the child? She made a serious fault by keeping secret the reasons of her pregnancy, since the beginning. And now, she makes another fault when she hides that her child is marked by the Fox. Chief of Hyuga clan. She shouldn't flee her responsibility and her duties towards Konoha. Hinata calls a guard and send him to require an appointment with Hokage, as quickly as possible. |
When he comes back from his mission, Neji
finds Hinata sitting in her
office. But she seems in a deep reflexion, he doesn't disturb her.
Hinata hears him going to the kitchen, but doen't calll him. She would
like to have him coming with her to reassure and comfort her... but she
must talk with the Hokage alone.
The afternoon, she goes to Hokage's office.
Hokage: " Good afternoon, chief of Hyuga clan. What matter do you want
to talk with me ? "
Hinata: "I come… to speak about Kyubi."
When she explain the problem, Hinata does often pauses. And her words
are punctuated with hesitation and awkwardnesses. But the hokage lets
her finish without intervening. She's still a very young chief of clan.
Hinata: " You know that the shape of the Fox seal had changed a few
months ago. In fact, I discoverde that…. Part of the modification
had been established inside me… so as to form.... a seal of
fruitfulness. My child…. Is Naruto's … The Fox caused my
pregnancy. And…. Now, The Baby has…. tails of Fox. Four."
All is told. Hinata feels better. Hokage stays a moment in a pensive
silence, a distressing silence for Hinata.
Hokage: "And What do you want to do with this child, chief of Hyuga
clan? "
Surprised that her opinion is asked, Hinata stammers: "But, well
...... to give her birth, to raise her..."
Hokage: "And about the tails of Fox?"
Hinata: "I'll seal them, with the same type of seal as Naruto's."
The hokage looks at her with an interrogative face.
Hinata: "Naruto was rejected by the Adults of the village
because he has the Fox sealed inside. I don't want that my daughter
suffers the same rejection, of the same hatred. That's the reason. I
want to hide that she's the daughter of the Fox and the daughter of
Naruto."
Hokage: "Who know the real paternity of the child? And the tails of
Fox?"
Hinata: "About the paternity, Neji, Sasuke and me."
Hokage: " And no Naruto? I see, it's Sasuke's will. What a troublesome
guy, this one.... and about the four tails?"
Hinata: "To tell the true, Neji is the first who don't want to tell to
Naruto. About the tails, Neji and me only. I find a way that other
Hyugas can't see the tails."
Hokage: "Well, It seems that's a wise decision. Warn me if there's any
other change in Naruto's seal, and inform me about the evolution of
your daughter. If you need to consult specialists of Great Demons, I
would give you their name."
Hinata: "ah, well, yes, Hokage-sama."
Hinata leaves the office, a little deafened. It's all. Nothing were
imposed to her, her decisions were accepted. They were thus
right? The Hokage looks at the leaving girl with a a little
tender smile. She takes her first steps in her role of clan chief and
VIP of the village. She doesn't have yet the habit to see her words and
her coices having so much weight. Concerning the Kyubi, this evolution
is disturbing and must be supervised.
Chapter
25: Only one road for two
Hinata returns with a quiet pace, and
rejoins Neji who's training in the garden. He stops when he sees her
and asks: "Where did you go ? You still left without escort, it's
dangerous."
Hinata: "I survived without escort all my life, Neji. And I'm still
alive. I would not like to be surrounded permanently by vigilant
guards."
Neji: "I was at the house, you could have asked me..."
Without going down in the garden, Hinata passes her arms around Neji's
neck.
Hinata: "Excuse me, I wanted to go there alone. Without you. To have
the courage to do it. I don't want to depend on you all the time. It
would be a too heavy burden for you. Neji, I went to see the Hokage and
I said her... about the tails of Fox."
With an abrupt gesture, Neji releases himself from the arms of the
young woman and moves back. In silence, hurt, he walk in the garden
before turning again to Hinata, furious.
Neji: "Without even speaking to me before? You decided it all alone?"
Hinata: "Neji... I... I must to do it. I'm not allowed anymore
to hide that form our Hokage, I have responsibility towards the
village... "
This answer does nothing but poke Neji's anger, and he replies with a
deaf voice: "You're becoming like your father. The clan, the village...
all good excuses!"
Hinata: "Neji! Our family, our village, they are people whom I love and
whom I want to protect! I'm not strong like you, I can't protect
anybody when I fight. But if , by my decision, I can preserve from
danger all the people I like, then I would do it. It's for you too that
I do it."
Neji: "Without speaking to me whereas I'm the first concerned? You will
take all your decisions alone now, and will impose them to me,
arbitrarily?"
Hinata feel tense, standing on the
parquet floor. She has bare feet and don't want to go down in the
garden where Neji goes and turns in round, like a furious lion. Why
doesn't he want to understand?
Hinata: "No, I.... Neji, I try to do the best than I can... I thought
that it was necessary to do it without you. I....."
Neji shot her a furious glance
.
Neji: "Then it's like that? Now that you have again honor, family,
friends, you don't need me anymore, isn't it?!"
Hinata stays dumb of stupor one moment.
Hinata: "..... but.... no, it's not......."
Yes, in fact, she realizes that it's that. She doesn't need him
anymore, she doesn't depend of him anymore... Neji, who observes her
with attention, perceives this reversal. He closes the eyes, and
without warning, jump above the wall of the garden.
Hinata: "Neji? Neji!!"
She sees the disarray on his face, sadness, the feeling of treason and
abandonment. She would like to catch up with him, but it's
impossible. Bare foot on this ground, she would be wounded. In normal
time, she doesn't have any chance to catch up with him, but in
pregnancy, it's absolutely without hope.....
Nothing is without hope. She runs to follow him. She still has muscles
and reflexes of a Ninjas. She didn't lose sight of him, and his
race leaves some traces. He must really be upset. But he avance faster
than her, going away little by little. She sees him moving away from
her. Her heart tightens. It's undoubtedly just a blow of anger, he'll
go home in the evening, or tomorrow... or never. And if he never
return?? In spite of all her efforts, the distance increases,
she'll lose him...
Neji, looks behind you, just a moment!!
By reflexe, Neji turn his glance behind him. When he sees Hinata on his
trace, he stops right on the spot. In a glance, he sees that she's
alone, almost without weapons and with feet.
Neji: "What an insane girl!!!!!!"
He immediately turns back and rejoins her quickly. Although Hinata saw
him returning, she continues to advance, to meet him more
quickly. When Neji meet her, he begin by slanging her: "You lost your
head, Hinata?! A race in your state! And without guards, weapons or
shoes!! You want to kill yourself ?!!"
She lets him shout, then encloses the Neji's chest in her arms, firmly,
and poses her head above. Under her ear, Neji's heart beats quickly.
Hinata: "Neji, it's true, I don't need you anymore. But I want
you close to me. It isn't a necessity, it's a desire, a wish, a
request. It's more invaluable, for me."
Without answering its embrace, Neji stays motionless.
Neji: "Then why? Why do you do all without me? I have some time the
feeling that I don't exist anymore for you. All these mysteries of
which I am excluded, all these decisions that you take alone ... "
Hinata: "Soory, it's difficult. I have still difficulties to face
all... "
Neji: " Supports on me, Hinata."
Hinata: "I will do it. I won't take anymore my decisions about our
child without you, I promise."
They tighten one against other a long time before going, following the
same direction, by desire.