Chapter 4: Mina’s Truth
Hinata was up early and ready to take Mina on tour of all Konoha. She had money for lunch and planned a great route.
“Hinata!” Mina arrived running with a bag on her back.
“Ready?” Hinata asked with a smile.
“Hai!” said Mina before they started walking. In a short time, they arrived to the commercial area where many stores lined the streets.
“Oh my!” Mina approached a few “I remember seeing this but that place is so far from here, how you get them here fresh”
“We come as soon as they are cut,” said the old lady handing the girls a piece of fruit each “also they are really strong and long lasting, perfect for preservation”
“Thank you” said the girls before continuing to walk.
“Konoha has so many things,” said Mina “I have never seen a market with such diversity” she spotted the Yamanaka flower shop “Oh my!” she ran in “this are not even suppose to be growing now...how you do...”
“A family secret” said Ino with a smile. She wore an around the neck black top, a lose shirt that hung on her shoulders and barely reached he bellybutton and black shorts with a closed skirt.
“Oi” said Mina fascinated “are you related to Naruto?”
“Eh, Naruto?” Ino asked curious before seeing Hinata at the entrance with a saddened face “Not related but he is a friend, even so, careful with him. He is kind of pervert”
“I see” said Mina with a thoughtful look before turning around to Hinata “so where to next?”
Hinata waved good-bye to Ino and was thankful for not encouraging Mina.
Ino was worried for Hinata. That girl was clearly interested on Naruto and she was a Tsukyuga nonetheless.
‘No good, no good’ she thought before the doorbell ran.
“You okay Ino” said Sakura noticing her friend’s worried look.
Ino told her what had happened before.
“Naruto told me about her, he called her weird”
“Yeah, kind of” said Ino
“Do you think Hinata will be alright, I am not sure she stands a chance” said Sakura
“I think she does. She likes Naruto since who knows when and I don’t think she would give up on him no matter what. I bet this is actually what she needed to confess to him before that girl does,” said Ino twirling a flower on her fingers “Hopefully Naruto’s thick skull won’t get in the way”
“We have training with team 10 tomorrow,” said Sakura
“That’s great, you can help them get a little push,” said Ino with a smile.
“Hm” Sakura tilted her head thinking
“If you do I won’t make fun of your forehead for a week,” said Ino
“You haven’t made fun of my forehead for months,” said Sakura with a suspicious stare
“Not in your presence at least” said Ino sticking her tongue out.
“I guess then we are equal then, Ino-pig” said Sakura with a smart look.
“Sakura!” Ino shouted
“Bring it on!” shouted Sakura
Hinata and Mina heard shouts from where they came from.
“What was that?” asked Mina shivering.
“Just Ino and Sakura fighting” said Hinata with a smile before noticing Mina’s constant shivering “you okay?”
“Ha...Hai” she said closing her eyes and rubbing her arms.
Hinata showed her around every interesting spot of the village. They were having a good time. Only once or twice did she hear her ask about Naruto. She tried to answer simply but part of her was angered. She seemed truly interested on him. She didn’t want that. Naruto, she was going to train with him tomorrow and she had decided to invite him for ramen after the training. She tried to stay controlled. She hadn’t had time to read the scroll her father gave her. She sighed as they entered a small restaurant.
“So do you know why my clan left?” Mina asked her
“Not yet but I believe it had something to do with us and the Uchiha” said Hinata “do you know?”
“No” said Mina looking sad “I was hoping you did but I think is supposed to be a big secret”
“I am sorry” Hinata wondered how was to move from one place to another, never really having a real home until now.
“Konoha is great and all but that’s because I see a lot of what I saw out there here” she said taking the piece of fruit given to her out “I would never change my previous life for anything” she sounded more serious but still friendly “and besides it wasn’t like you were the one to kick us out. We left on our own. Another thing is that happened like Thirty years ago”
Hinata said nothing. She was kind of wondering how it would have been if Mina had grown here in Konoha with her and her friends. She was scared of that. She had felt so out of place back then and if she had been there… then she may still have been the same. She shivered. She continued showing her around. They stopped once to stare at Kakashi who just stood in the middle of the street with a blank look and a wide eye. They got to the Ichiraku. It had been a long day and she just wanted something to eat. After eating half her bowl, Mina spoke on a grim tone.
“I don’t know why you are angry with me Hinata,” she said looking down
“What?” Hinata stopped eating. She knew she had been careful to not show her feelings.
“That’s my kekkei genkai, not at full potential of course but I can see your thoughts kind of. You are angry with me and I don’t know why. I am not the kind of person that goes inside other people’s head so I won’t go into yours. Just tell me what I can do to make it better” she looked at Hinata with a hurt look.
Hinata was shocked. She had known all this time she was angry and had not dared said anything about it until now. In addition, she thought about this. Mina’s kekke genkai was always active, which was either odd or she had an even more advance bloodline. As well, she could not believe Mina was able to see sentiments.
“Is okay… I know I make mistakes but…is just that you are the first friend I have here. I don’t want to think that I am already messing up” Mina tried to smile as she watched and felt Hinata’s feelings “Is just it makes “You did it very fast!” Mina Said, “You are shielding your emotions. Wow, I had never seen someone do it so fast”
“You can see that?” asked Hinata
“Of course and you know I thank you since I always feel uncomfortable when I get to see other’s feelings”
“Oh”
“But don’t think that’s all our clan can do” she said with a cocky smile “remember that I am the heiress of the Tsukyuga clan” and with that she stood up “see you later Hinata” and then she left
“Hinata?” She turned around to find Ino and Sakura “are you okay”
“Yes” she said with a smile “Why?”
“Well, we kind of heard…”
“Oh, no everything is fine”
The blond and pink head sat at each side of her and ordered the diet ramen.
“You know, I think you should talk to Naruto before she tries to get close to him,” said Ino
“Ino!” Sakura could not believe she was so forward
“What? I mean…”
“I know,” said Hinata, this was the first time she admitted she felt something for Naruto
Mom always tells me that we have a great advantage with our kekkei genkai but I think is a little unfair to see other peoples’ feelings unless they are enemies”
“Don’t worry about it” said Hinata. She no longer knew what to think of Mina. It could be that she knew about her liking Naruto and was just trying to mess with her or it could be that she was telling the truth. She just had to keep a closer look on her and keep her emotions in control as well as her thoughts
“You did it very fast!” Mina said, “You are shielding your emotions. Wow, I had never seen someone do it so fast”
“You can see that?” asked Hinata also wondering how she could change so fast.
“Of course and you know I thank you since I always feel uncomfortable when I get to see other’s feelings,” she said before eating some more of her ramen
“Oh” said Hinata feeling tired.
“But don’t think that’s all our clan can do” she said with a cocky smile “remember that I am the heiress of the Tsukyuga clan” and with that she stood up “see you later Hinata” and then she left
“Hinata?” She turned around to find Ino and Sakura “are you okay”
“Yes” she said with a smile “Why?”
“Well, we kind of heard…” Sakura said
“Oh, no everything is fine” Hinata waved her hands in front of her but she had lost her appetite.
The blond and pink head sat at each side of her and ordered the diet ramen.
“You know, I think you should talk to Naruto before she tries to get close to him,” said Ino
“Ino!” Sakura could not believe she was so forward
“What? I mean…” Ino was saying.
“I know,” said Hinata, this was the first time she admitted she felt something for Naruto “I will try”
After eating Hinata went home. She was surprised to see Mina and her mother there.
“Hinata, Tamiko sama has asked for you to train with Mina this afternoon,” said her father.
Hinata saw Mina had that serious and controlled look.
“One minute please” she wanted to change.
“Just a short spar Hinata-sama” said Mina taking a fighting stance that Hinata had never seen before.
Hinata took a deep breath. She took her own fighting position after activating her Byakugan. She could see Mina’s eyes shine with a brighter red. Her position was really lose, her arms too lowered but her feet were firm on position.
‘What kind of style is this?’ Hinata thought before seeing Mina run towards her ‘she is too far to hit me’ then she saw her chakra accumulate of her closed fists. Hinata’s eyes widened before she jumped. She saw the chakra hit the wall of the compound. It left a small mark but the wall was concrete. She turned on the air evading the same kind of attacks.
‘Long distance fighter’ she thought before concentrating chakra on her palm and shooting it like a needle.
“Ah!” Mina held her shoulder as she glared at Hinata
Hinata measured her distance from her just barely ‘she is in my range’ she thought before launching “Hakke Rokujūyon Shō”
“Ha!” Mina received one; two, five, ten thirty hits before she found footing and jumped out of her range ‘still she didn’t receive the whole attack’ then she saw her smile. Hinata saw her chakra flow go back to normal.
“We specialize on moving chakra out from our bodies, I can push and unblock those points that I can’t see easily” said Mina.
“You were trained like that,” said Hinata “just to fight me”
Mina smiled “yet you are not worried...I can see it”
“I know,” said Hinata.
“That should be enough,” said Hiashi
“I guess,” said Tamiko with a thoughtful look “I apologize about your coat”
Hinata looked at her favorite coat. It had a whole through it and she could see her damaged stomach start to form painful marks. She felt the pain hit her brain. How did she miss it? She wondered as she tried to remain on her footing. She wanted to collapse and sleep. She felt like giving up.
“Remove it Tamiko,” said Hiashi with a harsh tone
“Mina” she said before Mina approached Hinata and hit her back with chakra.
Hinata felt release from her emotions
“We should be leaving now,” said Tamiko
“Good night” said Hiashi
Once they were gone, Hinata collapsed on her father’s arms.
“What was that?” she asked feeling her stomach.
“You did well blocking your emotions” said Hiashi “that delays the effects until you release them, they attack not only your body but your mind as well. They mess with the chemistry of your body and make you fake things”
“I am sorry, I didn’t have time to read the scroll,” said Hinata
“I expected that,” said Hiashi “the law was lifted yesterday, that’s why Mina called you out today. So you wouldn’t be ready for this”
“But she was prepared” said Hinata “Since you couldn’t tell me about their abilities...they took advantage”
“Knowing Tamiko she started training her at least a month ago against the Hyuuga’s techniques” said Hiashi before Hinata pulled herself up. She had a sneer on her face. She couldn’t believe Mina had tricked her like that.
“Next time I will be ready” said Hinata.
Hiashi smiled softly “go rest, I believe tomorrow you have training”
Hinata nodded before he left her. She looked at the afternoon filled sky. She needed some air. She went out the gates to meet with her sister and cousin.
“Don’t ask,” she said.
She went to her room where she found the scrolls about the Tsukyuga clan. She sat on her floor looking at them for a long time before she took one and opened it. She began to read and found to her disgrace that Mina hadn’t lied. She could see feelings. According to the scroll, it was all over them like thin layers of energy that changed color. The Tsukyuga could read those colors by pure instincts and with enough study; they knew how to manipulate the minds of others. They could see also, who had weak minds to work on and who hadn’t. That was just their regular abilities, one that all of their clan had. They had more but Hinata was too tired to look at them. The next day she had to go practice with her team, which she did not mind. In addition, she didn’t know how she would talk to Naruto. She knew it had to be soon. Something that really made her angry during that day was when Mina asked about him.
“Hinata” and there was no Sama. Neji came in. it seemed he was going on a mission the next day since he wasn’t wearing hid regular Hyuuga clothing. Hanabi was there too. She looked at her sister with a little of worry which meant she was worried. Neji gave Hanabi a look and she went inside before he closed the door and left to continue getting ready. He had been doing that but Hanabi hadn’t stop following him because she wanted to know what to do.
He had been tired of it and it had distracted him so he brought her to the other person that could help her since she didn’t want to tell her father.
Hanabi sat on the bed next to her sister and told her slowly what had happened that day at the academy. Hinata was somewhat glad and worried for her little sister. She was happy that she had made such good friends but worried about what Maiya had done. Her sister may be able to take on all the other students of her class but that didn’t mean she would end in good terms with them. That could be very bad after graduation at getting into a team of Genins. It couldn’t be for sure of her ending with her friends. She remembered how that had scared her so much. She, Kiba and Shino weren’t very alike but also they didn’t hate each other’s guts.
“Try to do nothing,” she said and Hanabi gave her that look that said ‘What are you saying’ “if you do nothing they will see that all she is telling lies. Just stay with your friends and keep them close”
Hanabi wasn’t sure that was the best advice of all but it was better than nothing.
8
Naruto was walking toward the Ichiraku when he found Kakashi standing in the middle of the street frozen with one wide eye. He looked closer and saw his pupil move so slowly that he almost missed it. He tried snapping his fingers, painting with a marker in his face and even call him names but nothing worked. He wondered who was able to put his sensei, the copy ninja of Konoha in such state. Then his mind wondered into something he some of his teammates had been wondering since they were Genin. Kakashi’s complete face. His hands shook as he truly saw he could not move his body. He didn’t even know he was there! This was the opportunity of a lifetime.
