Expectations

Leaning forward towards her mirror with an exaggerated pout, a pale woman applied her lip paint with only the light of half a dozen candles in her room. After applying the soft pink lip paint – flawlessly – and brushing her long, dark hair, she returned to her grand seat.

She stroked her throne lovingly, it was a reminder of her status, her ruling power in her tiny empire. Well, it wouldn’t be tiny for much longer. Soon, all people in the ninja villages would bow to her beauty and might. As it was always to have been. Her mother had fawned over her, telling her from a young age that with her looks she could achieve anything. Now, aided not only by her stunning looks but her outstanding prowess as a ninja, she would take all she wanted for herself.

Because she deserved it. Because she was beautiful.

It would have to happen soon, she wanted it. And she always got what she wanted.

She heard the rushing footsteps of one of her minions and she arranged herself in her throne in the most seductive way she could. Her shapely legs were free of her thin kimono as they dangled – crossed, of course – over her throne’s armrest and her head rested provocatively on her hand.

The door was flung open and she got a thrill of pleasure as she noted the minion’s appreciative gaze before he straightened. She loved having that effect, it made her feel even more powerful.

“The crisis is over, my Queen. The ninja have all gone back to their villages now that the moon is no longer falling.”

Her painted lips curved into a smile and she let out a sigh of utter joy. She dismissed the minion with a wave of her hand and glided over to her bed, where she lay herself down and ran her fingers slowly though her hair.

She closed her eyes and sighed as pleasure coursed through her body as the image of thousands of ninja bowing before her, formed in her mind.

“Soon.”
--
The atmosphere in Konoha was one of exhaustion and cheer. They had won, Toneri was defeated and disaster had been averted. Naruto Uzumaki  –  their hero – had not only defeated another threat, but had found love in the Hyuga Heiress, Hinata Hyuga.

In the weeks that followed, the Konoha ninja force was scattered. Some took long-earned holidays, some sent on diplomatic missions to maintain and strengthen the peace and others were sent on missions to assist with rehabilitation of areas scorched and destroyed in the war two years ago.

As it happened, only the best and brightest remained in Konoha, protecting and running the town.

One morning, scarcely one month after the moon incident, Hiashi approached his eldest daughter as she practiced some drills in the Hyuga Compound’s courtyard with some of the younger children. His lips twitched to repress a smile as he watched her. It was hardly practice, there was a lot of chasing, poking and giggling. But it warmed his heart to hear laughter in the Compound. Especially Hinata’s laughter.

“Hinata…” Hiashi called to her.

The small children stilled, suddenly terrified they would be told off, but Hinata smiled and patted one of the smallest on the head, which seemed to reassure all of them. As she approached him, Hiashi could not help notice the improvements in his daughter. She carried herself with more confidence and she held eye contact with him. He repressed a smile again.

“Yes father?”

“I would like for you to join me in my study tonight. I am going over some accounts and bylaws and would like your input before it goes before the family council.”

Hinata’s eyes widened slightly, then she smiled. “Of course father. Shall I join you after dinner?”

With a short nod to indicate his acceptance, Hiashi left. Hinata watched him go for a few moments, before she turned with an imitation growl and gave chase to one of the small Hyuga, who shrieked delightedly and ran.
--
“So he’s giving you a rundown of what being the Hyuga Head means? Hinata, that’s great!”

Hinata smiled, squeezing her companion’s hand. “Thank-you Naruto-kun. Yes, I think that’s what it means. Although, if that happens, I start to be busier with clan duties.”

Naruto stopped. “Does that mean I’ll see you less?”

Hinata moved before him, running a hand along his cheek. “No, it just means you’ll be seeing me later at night.”

Hinata’s cheeks dusted pink and Naruto couldn’t help but grin. His hands moved around her waist and he pressed her against him. His head ducked down to kiss her and she responded to the tender touch briefly before she became aware of the snickers, sighs and wails around them.

Hinata squeaked in embarrassment as she realised they were in public and Naruto snickered as he hid her blushing face in his shoulder. He noticed Shino and Kiba in the crowd – Kiba having been one of the instigators of the of the snickers – and waved to them briefly as he hugged Hinata close, teasing her about loving him so much she forgot they were in public.

To save her further embarrassment, he picked her up bridal style – his favourite way to hold her – and leapt off in the direction of the Hokage Monument.

The general population that had witnessed the latest kiss began movie away except for a few diehard Naruto fans, who clung to each other and wept at their hero no longer being available.

For the next few hours atop the Hokage Monument, Naruto alternated between teasing and soothing her shy nature by insisting it was her fault he kissed her in public because she was just “too damn cute”. He then followed up by promising only to kiss her in public on very special occasions.

What he failed to mention is that he would later claim that “a special occasion” meant any time he was with her.

When Naruto dropped Hinata off at her house just before dinner, he got to see Hiashi, who greeted him with more warmth than Naruto had ever seen of the older man. Hinata’s father invited him to dinner but the blond politely declined as he had already made plans with Team 7, including the newly-appointed Hokage Kakashi Hatake.

“Thank for the invite though. Next time, certainly! Just give me a date and I’ll be there,” Naruto said, squeezing Hinata’s hand. “I can’t say I’ve ever been to a real family dinner before.”

Hiashi offered a date of two days later, to which Naruto agreed, and the two Hyuga watched the blond leave.

“Well done, my daughter,” Hiashi said as the pair moved off inside.

“Well done?”

“You have chosen well.”

Hinata blushed.
--
After dinner than night, Hiashi found himself in a position that – until two years ago – he thought might never happen. He and his eldest daughter were encamped in his office, going over rosters and council notes and order forms. What amazed him further was the aptitude she showed in being right for the job. Her kindness and thoughtfulness – something he considered a hindrance for many years – was actually an asset.

“I do not think Dani-chan should be rostered on for this shift father,” she said as they looked over the roster for household staff.

“Why is that, Hinata?” he asked.

“She has just started back on rostering after having her baby and Tarada-san has the evening shift. If Dani-chan has the morning shift, instead of the afternoon shift, then she has time to spend with her family.”

“That sounds fine, but who can we swap her with?”

He watched as his daughter poured over the roster, absently sipping her tea. “Ah, here. Kimiko-chan’s daughter has just entered the Academy and she mentioned to me that she wished she could take her to school. By having the afternoon shift, she would be free in the morning to do that.”

Hiashi nodded and signed off on the changes, proud of his daughter’s instinctive knowledge in the area. He would never have thought to make these changes because he didn’t know much of what was going on in the personal lives of his clansmen. Hinata’s method would lay the ground work for the new age of the Hyuga.

“Hinata,” he said as he sipped at his own tea, blowing on it in a similar way Hinata had. “I have to say I am impressed and proud of how quickly you are picking up these duties. You will make a fine Hyuga Head.”

Hinata had to fight the impulse to cry, although her heart raced. When Hiashi placed a hand atop one of hers, she looked him in the eye.

“Hinata, you have exceeded all expectations in every aspect of your life. No one is more proud of how far you’ve come than I am. And the most impressive thing is that you did it yourself. No one can claim they had a hand in your development.”

“Father…”

“We are lucky to have you as the next Head. Your mother would be so proud of you.”

“Mother?”

“She was adored by the Hyuga because of her kindness. She was intelligent and diplomatic, two of the numerous qualities I loved her. She was relatively quiet during council meetings, but she always made her point.

“You are her evolution. You are all she was but you have something different. You have inherited the Will of Fire. You are what we need for the next generation of the Hyuga. You will ensure its growth and longevity.

“And,” he added, a teasing twinkle unlike anything Hinata had seen in her father before. “Your union with the world’s hero – and our most likely next Hokage – will put us in a position of power never before experienced in our clan.”

“F-Father!” Hinata didn’t know whether to laugh or gasp or blush. “I’m not with Naruto-kun for power. I’ve always loved him!” she blushed as he chuckled. “And you’re talking as if we are married. We’re not even engaged. It’s only been a month!”

“Tell me, Hinata,” Hiashi said with fatherly smirk as he leant back in his chair, official duties done for the night. “Does he love you?”

Hinata’s hands flew to her flaming cheeks. “Yes, Naruto-kun loves me.”

“Has he given any indication he is thinking long term?”

“He … when we were on the moon, he said,” she ducked her head. “He said he wanted to be with me until the day he died.”

“Well Hinata,” Hiashi said, tactfully not looking at his eldest to spare her embarrassment. “It doesn’t seem a matter of ‘if’ he will be propose, but ‘when’.”
--
An hour later, Hinata was packing what little she needed to spend the night at Naruto’s house, when a tremor shook the ground and then a moment later, the sound of an explosion reached her ears.

She instantly activated her Byakugan as she ran out into the hall and headed towards the branch house. As she ran, she could see what had happened. The Hokage Tower was on fire and leaning precariously to one side.

“Hinata-nee-chan!”

Hanabi fell into step with Hinata and the two sisters continued running. The only benefit of living so soon after crisis after crisis was that the Hyuga clan was a well-oiled machine when it came to handling an emergency.

Scouts knew to liaise with the fellow founding clans. Hiashi was to make directly for the crisis centre, where the incident team would set up to coordinate their counter attack. It was Hinata’s jobs to gather the capable ninja.

The branch members of the family were already congregating in the courtyard and Hanabi started ushering the children and elderly away. At the front of the congregated ninja, Ko watched as Hinata’s expression changed into one that told you she was a battle-hardened shinobi.

Even since the Pain incident, Ko had been working with Hinata as her second. It was a role that should have been filled by Neji, but Ko had promised to do his best in memory of his kin.

“Ko?”

“There are 45 of us ready for active duty, Hinata-sama. No word yet on what’s happening?”

“No, I haven’t heard from my father or command but - ”

Hinata’s Byakugan flared back into life when she felt Naruto’s chakra explode into Sage mode. From the swirling mass of chakra that was her boyfriend, she could tell he was heading to the Hokage Tower. She saw when Sasuke, Sakura and Sai joined him and Hinata instantly felt better. Team 7 was on the case.

“Team 7 are approaching the Hokage Tower. You each have two minutes to change if you’re not prepared. If we are called to action in that time, you assemble. Be at the Hyuga Gates in three minutes,” Hinata commanded.

Hinata dashed off too, woefully inappropriately dressed for battle in her long white skirt and pink shirt. Ko – already dressed as he’d been coming off shift – led those already prepared to the gates, wondering about Hinata’s growth.

She had been strong to step in Pain’s path to protect Naruto, but this ability to lead and command. It showed real change. For years he had heard the elders talk down Hinata’s abilities as a main branch member, ninja and heiress. Well, she showed them how wrong they were. She had exceeded all expectations and she hadn’t done it for them, she had done it for herself.

Hinata threw on her mission outfit, adjusting the placement on her kunai belt as she ran out the door of her room. With her Byakugan activated as she went, she could see that many of her friends were converging on the Hokage Tower and battling ninja who were adorned with sun patch over their hearts.

Just as she arrived at the gates, she heard Shikamaru’s voice in her head. “Hinata, we need Team 8. Kiba and Shino are – ”

“I see them, I’ll be there in a moment.” She turned to Ko. “I’m being called in with my team. Ko, lead our kin to the battle at the Hokage Tower. These enemies seem to be short-ranged attackers but be alert for any surprises.”
--
Kiba and Akamaru spiralled through two enemy ninja bearing down on them. He narrowly missed a building and Sasuke, who was slicing through attackers with his sword. Kiba noted briefly that the Uchiha seemed to have perfected fighting with only his right hand.

“Who the hell are these guys?” Kiba shouted at no one in particular.

Any response he might have received was cut off by a roof crumbling from its structure, headed straight for himself, Sasuke and a couple of other Konoha-nin. They were saved the hassle of having to jump out of the way by a blast of air knocking the roof clear, instead landing on a group of the enemy ninja.

Kiba had a witty comment about Hinata turning up late to the battle but suddenly had to deal with four incoming ninja. So, without a word, he took two steps to the right, a spot where Hinata landed a second later and the two moved in tandem and fluidly through a series of punches and kicks that left the enemy sprawled unconscious.

A window to their left exploded and a ninja jumped out, wielding a smoke bomb. A device he never got to use, as he was suddenly and mercilessly swarmed by thousands of bugs.

“It doesn’t matter who they are Kiba, and do you know why?” Shino said as he walked around the corner of a building into sight, not even flinching as Sasuke’s sword came slicing down mere centimetres from him as the Uchiha charged through at another ninja. “Because we will beat them.”

Kiba cracked his knuckled as he turned to look at the precariously leaning Hokage Tower. “Sounds good to me Shino.”

Any words to be spoken were cut off at the Rasengan war cry of Naruto, heard a block away. The shout was followed by a mini explosion that Hinata had no doubt took out more than half a dozen enemies.

Seemingly not to be forgotten or outdone by her male teammates, who were all taking out enemies in the dozens, Sakura Haruno’s cry of “Shannaro” gave Team 8 only three seconds of warning before an enemy came crashing through the wall of a building in front of them. The unconscious – if not dead – man slipped to the ground against the wall opposite them.

“What, only three buildings Sakura? Are you going soft on them?” came Naruto shout from somewhere nearby.

Kiba pumped his fist. “Come on, we can’t be outdone by Team 7!”

“I need Team 8 to get as many survivors out of the Hokage Tower as possible. Start on the higher floors,” came Kakashi’s voice in their head.

Without a word, the four of them leapt to the roof in front of them and used it as a springboard into the Hokage Tower. As her Byakugan was activated as she crashed through a window on the second highest top floor, she could see Naruto’s gaze follow until she disappeared from sight.

She located two young women – cleaners – hiding under a desk and coaxed them out with an encouraging smile and a hand each. Coating the two civilians in a thin layer of chakra, she leapt back out of the building and took them to a nearby safe zone. After noting Kakashi had sent Chuunin to escort them away safely, she leapt back into the tower.

There was no one left to rescue on the next two floors, as the attack had happened so late at night and a bug from Shino conveyed the message that all floors above the whole in the side of the building were clear.

Leaping back into battle, Hinata found herself close to Naruto and she smiled when she saw him clothesline a ninja that ran at her.

As the battle scene was cleared of enemies, Hinata turned her focus to using her Byakugan to try and locate who was in charge of the attack. She ducked and weaved through the enemies that did try to attack her and each failed attempt on the attackers’ part landed them in the angry and awaiting arms of Naruto Uzumaki.

“Hinata, anything?”

“Nothing, Hokage-sama,” Hinata responded to the voice in her head. “But something’s wrong, this was too easy.”

“Maybe we’re just too good now,” came Kiba’s suggestion in her head.

Hinata’s head whisked over to where her teammate was standing and he grinned cheekily. Kakashi’s thoughts were then broadcast on all the ninja on the battlefield, explaining that he and the operations centre staff were on their way over.

Hinata was only half listening as an enemy had tried to sneak up on her from behind but all she had to do was step to the side once he’d launched himself at her. He fell to the ground ungracefully ahead of her and she used a swift Jyuuken strike to the back of his neck to render him unconscious.

As checked the enemy was indeed unconscious, her father landed beside her, followed closely by Shikamaru and Ino. “Still nothing?” Shikamaru asked.

Both Hyuga nodded and bowed briefly as Kakashi approached with Team 7 flanking him. Hinata bent down to the unconscious ninja at her feet and tore the patch from his chest, handing it to her Hokage.

“I don’t recognise the symbol,” Kakashi said, passing it to Shikamaru, who shook his head. “Hiashi, do you recognise it?”

Hiashi took the patch and frowned. “The sun is linked with the Hyuga but – ”

His words were cut off as another explosion rocked the vicinity. Hiashi’s Kaiten and Hinata’s Shugohakke Rokujuyon Sho protected everyone in the immediate area and Naruto and Sasuke exploded into their Kurama and Susanoo forms.

Seemingly materialised from the very explosion itself, a new wave of enemy ninja swarmed on the Konoha shinobi. But something was different. These were stronger and better than the last wave of attackers. Not that the battle-hardened shinobi of Konoha couldn’t handle them.

As Hinata fought danced through the enemies, striking them with Jyuuken as she went, she heard tinkling female laughter from somewhere nearby. She had no idea who would be laughing – and so happily – during battle, but as long as they won that was –

A sudden blast of air not unlike a vacuum palm ripped through the crowd, knocking them all to the ground and as she stood back up, Hinata realised there was one figure, cloaked in a dusty pink cloak, standing before a downed Kakashi.

Her Byakugan focused and she released a breath of relief as she released he was still alive.

“People of Konoha,” came a silken female voice from within the cloak.

Nearby, Hinata noticed her father stiffened as he rose to his feet. Hinata’s eyes swung between her father and the cloaked woman. Close to the woman, an ANBU flew at her in an effort to rescue the collapsed Hokage, only to fall to the ground dead seemingly by the wave of the woman’s hand.

“I have defeated your Hokage and your men are outnumbered. Surrender now and live under me.”

There was a bark of laughter somewhere ahead of her and Hinata sighed in relief as Naruto got to his feet. “You really don’t know anything about Konoha shinobi if you think we’d give up. Ever!”

Naruto managed to dodge whatever attack the woman threw at him as she waved her arms when he approached. But she was even more fluid than him and weaved out of the way of his Rasengan.

Hinata’s heart clenched as she realised the movements were not unlike that of a Hyuga. Looking over at her father, she blinked in confusion and gave out a small cry as he rushed at the woman himself. Rather than attacking her though, Hiashi’s hands clasped her shoulders and pulled her toward him in such a way that caused the hood to fall back from her face.

“Hikari?”

Hinata’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at the face of the woman. It was so similar to her own. But older, with higher cheekbones and a face longer than hers.

The woman’s musical laughter wrenched at Hinata’s insides as memories of her early childhood flashed in her mind.

“M-Mother…”

The woman sighed femininely and relaxed into Hiashi’s arms, resting her head on his chest. Her hands came up and she cupped his face and pulled him into a kiss. A murmur milled through the disoriented and thoroughly confused crowd. A few people turned to look at Hinata, including her own teammates, confusion in their eyes.

“Hikari. You’re alive? But you died. In the carriage attack,” Hiashi croaked, holding onto the woman who looked so much like his deceased wife.

“Oh, Hiashi. My poor husband.” She kissed him again, before she pulled away and smiled.

Menacingly.

“You stupid man.”

Before Hiashi could utter a word, the woman struck him in the side, causing him to collapse to one knee, his arms coming away from her shoulders. Hinata’s eyes watered at the image of her father – so strong – crumpling before this woman. The woman ran her hands through Hiashi’s hair, leaning in to kiss him fiercely.

“I would rather have died than remained your wife for another day.”

Her hand came down to strike at his neck. Mere millimetres from her mark and she was thrown backwards by the force of a vacuum palm. Her minions converged on her to soften her landing and touch her beautiful skin. She awarded all four of them with soft touches to the cheek as she stood, shaking off her cloak, leaving her clothed in a skin-tight battle outfit.

She turned her Hyuga eyes towards her attacker.

Hinata stepped in front of her father, her arms brought up in a Jyuuken attack position. “Stay away from my father.”

“Hinata, you don’t understand. This is – ”

“Hinata?” came the woman’s surprised voice as she approached. “Yes, you must be. Oh, my daughter, you are so beautiful. Just like me.”

Hinata frowned, ignoring the stabbing pain in her heart. “You are not my mother.”

“Yes, my darling. I am. My only regret is that I didn’t take you with me when I faked my death 15 years ago.”

“My mother was a kind, loving woman who cared deeply for her family and village.”

“What I care for, my love,” Hikari said, touching Hinata’s hair. “Is power. Why do you think I married your father? Minato Namikaze wouldn’t have his head turned by any woman except Kushina Uzumaki, so I secured myself the next best thing.”

Hinata swatted the woman’s hand away and glared at the woman before her. Hikari wetted her lips, parting them slightly as she sighed sensually.

“My mother – your grandmother – always said I could do anything with my beauty, and I wanted everyone to want me. And you Hinata, you are just like me, we could do anything together.”

She stepped back and twirled towards half a dozen of her minions, who watched her movements with dazed eyes. Hikari touched the hand of one of the men and he fell before her, kissing her hand.

“This is the power of beauty, my love,” she cooed to Hinata. “How do you think I got so many men to leave their homes? Their villages? And even their wives?”

A Rasengan came speeding towards Hikari, only for her to weave away from it and the ball of yellow energy to mow down the group of minions behind her. She didn’t have time to react though, because Sasuke jumped into view, swinging his sword. Hikari jumped and evaded the swings of the sword, kissing one of her minions on the cheek as she went, only for him to stand, unsheathe a sword and face Sasuke.

Kiba and Akamaru barrelled through towards Hikari in a tandem attack, only for her to throw up her hands in that invisible attack again. Hinata, Ino and Sakura swarmed on Kiba and Akamaru as they started spewing blood.

Any follow up attack Hikari wanted to unleash on the girls was diverted by Sai, Shikamaru and Shino, who attacked her with techniques unique to them. Hikari twirled and laughed, running among her men, touching some but not others. The ones who had been touched moved to intercept the incoming attacks and the ones left untouched followed after the laughing woman.

Choji, Lee and Tenten created a blockade between the women of the Rookie 9 and any incoming attack. As her “mother’s” followers started to spread out among the battlefield, Hinata remembered her father, who was left unprotected. Sakura indicated that Kiba was fine, so Hinata used a rain of Tenten’s weapons as cover to run over to her Dad.

“Hinata, your mother – ”

“We have to get to the Hokage,” Hinata said, cutting him off.

She threw one of his arms over her shoulder and they began their way over to where Kakashi lay, protected by injured ANBU. Setting her father down next to the Hokage, she scanned Kakashi for his injuries.

Using her Byakugan, she frowned at the type of injuries he had. Yes, some of his tenketsu were closed but his injuries also looked similar to Kiba’s. Hastily stopping as much of the bleeding as she could, Hinata scanned the crowd for her “mother”.

She was fighting Sai, Shino, Shikamaru and now Naruto too. Hinata squinted as she focused on the older woman’s attacks, trying to figure out what was causing the internal injuries that seemed to tear through organs.

Sai was the first one brought down by Hikari’s moves, her Jyuuken jab rendering his chakra useless, causing his ink creation to break apart and drench him in ink. Shikamaru was next. Shino and Naruto held their own, having experienced fights involving the Jyuuken before.

Shino’s bugs were falling one at a time, none of them seeming to be able to break through whatever attack Hikari was employing.

From his place beside Kakashi, Hiashi could only start in confusion and heartbreak at the woman he loved. For his wife to deceive him so much was unthinkable. She had always been a formidable sparring partner for him and by watching her now, he could see she had improved. She was even keeping Naruto Uzumaki on the defensive.

But – he frowned, focusing on her technique – it had obviously been years since she’d practiced her forms against another Hyuga. “Hinata,” he said, drawing his daughter’s attention from the fight. “Show her what it means to be a true Hyuga.”

In the heart of the fray, Naruto spat yet another dead bug from his mouth. This damn woman kept killing the bugs somehow and they kept winding up in his mouth. And on top of that, he couldn’t get close enough to her to land a hit, she was too fast.

He had already taken two of the invisible attacks to the chest and he was hurting. He had no idea what she was doing to cause those injuries. Shino wasn’t doing much better and Naruto could tell the density of his bugs was dropping.

Throwing yet another useless Rasengan at her, Naruto received the invisible attack again, this time in the form of a piercing pain in his left arm. He clutched at his injured limb, momentarily distracted as he realised Shino had fallen to one knee.

Hikari used that distraction as her chance to attack and made it one step towards them before she was blown back by the force of two vacuum palms, one after the other in rapid succession. Picking herself up off the ground and dusting off her outfit, Hikari frowned at the sight of Hinata standing in front of the two young men she’d been fighting.

“Hinata, darling, please, I implore you to join me. It is only natural that my beautiful daughter would succeed me and be revered for her beauty and the power it brings.”

Hinata got down in a low Jyuuken stance, her Byakugan flaring into life. Hikari, sighing and shaking her head in disappointment, followed suit. With a boost of chakra to her feet, Hinata charged at her mother.

Sasuke, having disposed of his sword-wielding opponent, helped Naruto and Shino drag an unconscious Sai and Shikamaru over to where Hiashi and Kakashi were. Naruto kept one eye on the fight between mother and daughter the whole time. He had never seen a battle between two Jyuuken masters before and it was mesmerising to watch. Hinata, he thought, was amazing.

“Is that really her mother?” he asked.

“Yes,” came Hiashi’s defeated voice. “I thought – we all thought – she died. But she set that up! Faked her death. I thought I knew her. She was kind and quiet and loving. How could she have so thoroughly deceived me?”

“I remember the Lady Hyuga,” Kakashi said, sitting up. “I remember her being a kind soul, who thrived on the happiness of others. But maybe,” his gaze fixed on the conscious and unconscious men that had followed Hikari. “Maybe she really thrived on the attention.”

“What, that she pretended to be nice?” Naruto asked, still watching the fight. “Maybe that’s not really her mother then, because Hinata is genuinely kind.”

“One only needs to believe in the existence of goodness to strive for it, not inherit it in one’s blood,” Hiashi said.

“Hinata’s really kicking butt!” Ino said, as she and Sakura helped Kiba and Akamaru over to where the group had congregated. “I’ve never seen two Hyuga battle it out with Jyuuken. Except, you know, the Chuunin exam, but that wasn’t a fair fight. This is real.”

“This is the first real fight between two Jyuuken masters in decades,” Hiashi said.

Naruto’s not-useless hand clenched when he saw Hinata take a hit to the chin. She immediately returned the favour but Naruto still hated her getting injured.

Hinata dodged a jab to her chest – a move that had meant her downfall almost eight years beforehand – and responded by delivering a kick to her mother’s stomach. Hikari stumbled back, recovered quickly and raised her hands.

In that instant, Hinata knew what her mother’s invisible attack was and she spun into her Shugohakke Rokujuyon Sho to protect herself. As the paper thin chakra needles bounced of her ultimate defence, Hinata couldn’t help but smile at her mother’s surprise.

“That’s not a technique I’ve seen before,” her mother said. “It’s beautiful, I must learn it.”

Hinata dodged and weaved around her mother’s attacks. To the growing crowd, it looked like the two women were dancing with each other. Hikari let off another volley of chakra needles but Hinata expertly dodged. With a cry of frustration, Hikari swung her arm out to release another set of chakra needles and Hinata saw her chance to roll under the arm attack and make her move.

With flexibility and grace even Hikari was surprised by, Hinata made it in close enough to strike at the older woman’s arm, rendering it useless. Hikari lost her composure momentarily and shrieked, moving backward on shaky steps.

“Yeah, Hinata! Go for it!”

“Shannaro! Kick her ass!”

Hikari’s head swivelled to where Hinata’s friends and family were, glaring at Naruto and Sakura for calling out their encouraging words.

“Youth is shining brightly!”

“Girl power! Beat her down!”

Hikari turned her attention back to Hinata just in time to dodge another attack. Hinata noted that her mother’s expression ad shifted from complacency to annoyance.

“Hinata, darling, I have to say you keep crass company. You are so beautiful and so powerful, I had higher expectations of you.”

Hinata drew her arms by her side, collecting chakra in her hands. “I was going to say the exact same thing to you,” she felt her chakra building. “All my life, I remembered the kindness, love and the laughter you brought into my life. I wanted to be just like you.”

Hikari noticed the blue chakra forming on her daughter’s hands and tried to stop the attack by launching at Hinata, but she only back-flipped away, not missing a beat in her chakra charging.

“I’m always wanted to see you again. But here you stand, nothing like the person I used to know. No, you never were that person, were you? It was all an act to gain power and bide your time. I may not live up to your expectations, but you’re wrong if you think beauty and power are all that is important.

“Love, friendship, kindness, that’s what’s important. I’m glad I don’t meet your expectations, they would be a worthless thing to strive for.”

Hinata’s Juho Soshiken burst into life along her arms, her two blue chakra lions bigger and brighter than anything she’d ever managed before. With a determined step forward, Hinata launched her jutsu on her mother in conjunction with the Hakke Rokujuyon Sho.

Each other 64 hits landed squarely on Hikari’s body, knocking her back and absorbing her chakra at the same time. When the older woman’s body hit the ground, a cheer ran out from behind them. Hinata couldn’t smile though, her heart breaking at the shattered expectations of who she thought had been a kind and loving mother.

Two conscious minions of her mother descended on the downed woman. Hikari coughed and strained to use what was left of her energy to stroke the hands of both her minions. With a nod, they each summoned a giant shuriken and threw it at Hinata.

Hinata responded by spinning into the Kaiten. The shuriken bounced off the jutsu and due to the force of the rotation, caused the ninja tools to fly back in the direction of the senders. But without chakra or energy, the three of them were unable to move.

Hinata had to turn her gaze away from the sight of a giant shuriken sticking out of her mother’s – a woman that looked so much like herself – chest, her own Byakugan eyes lifeless as the older woman died in the arms of her equally afflicted minions.

She turned away, tears spilling out of her eyes. She took two unsteady steps but was saved from collapsing by Naruto’s embrace. He tucked her head into his chest, hiding her from the view of her dead mother.
--
The heart-wrenching sobs from the woman in his arms tore at Naruto’s insides. It pained him to know he could do nothing to make Hinata’s pain better. All he could do was hold her.

It had been three hours since the last of the still-alive minions had been captured and imprisoned, after which Naruto had scooped a catatonically-silent Hinata in his arms and whisked her to his house.

The moment they were safely ensconced in his house, her tears had started. Not knowing what else to do, Naruto had carried Hinata to his room, removed her shoes and his own and pulled her into a strong embrace on his bed. Her breath-stealing sobs were interspersed with exclamations of guilt and declarations that she had killed her own mother.

All he could do was hold her and whisper to her that no, it wasn’t her fault. If those “stupid men” hadn’t listened to Hikari and thrown those shuriken, they would all still be alive.

“Hinata, you didn’t make them throw those shuriken. She told them what to do. It was their fault. Not yours. Never yours.

“You heard her. They blindly followed her because of her beauty. For all her talk about beauty bringing power, it was that power that was her downfall.”

Hinata’s tears continued to flow for the next two hours and she only slept when she succumbed to exhaustion, with no more tears left to cry. Naruto continued to hold her, running his hands up and down her arms to keep her warm.

He summoned a clone to get the spare bed covering out of storage to throw on top of them. The clone did so without comment, his eyes reflecting the concern he too felt for Hinata. Of his own accord, he also brought a pitcher and glass of water, so Hinata would have something to replenish her fluids when she woke up.

Once the come was dispelled, Naruto shifted slightly so they were both in a more comfortable sleeping position. Curling his fingers through hers, he kissed her hand before placing it gently on his chest, over his heart.

His last thought before he drifted off to sleep – his other hand tucked under her shirt and pressed against the clammy skin of her waist – was for all Hikari’s talk of her beauty being enough to lure men from their homes, he hadn’t been overly impressed.

Yes, she was certainly where Hinata got her looks from, but was nothing compared to Hinata. Hinata, in his eyes, was never more beautiful than when she stood up for what she believed in and defied everyone else’s preconceived notions and expectations.