This choice: Hinata's teeth feel sharper. • Go Back...Chapter #21Hinata's teeth feel sharper. by: DJ Jaxx   “A-And that’s my report, Lord Hokage.”
Kakashi leaned far back into his chair, facial expressions hidden by both his mask and the mountain of paperwork at his desk. He stared hard into the eyes of both Hinata and her team, as they stood sheepishly in the back of the room. The mission had ended quicker than any of them had expected, with Raz even complaining that they hadn’t really even done anything.
“Well, that’s quite the tale, Hinata. And how do you feel, exactly? Are you alright?”
Truthfully, the journey back to Konoha had left Hinata in a sort of daze. She wasn’t exactly coming to terms with her supposed crash course transforming into a bear, it was all fuzzy to her. Even the Hokage’s words seemed distant and foreign as she stumbled in place, lost in thought.
“Y-Yes, I’m fine. Please, don’t worry about me.”
“Then you’re sure this is what you want? It sounds like a very heavy price to pay for becoming the new bear sage. If you’re unsure, it might not be too late to go to them and ask to reverse the process.”
Hinata flexed her bear claw a little, uncomfortably. “No, really, I’m fine. This is the best course of action for the v-village.”
Hinata noticed that Kakashi wasn’t the only one giving her a worried stare. Everyone in the room, especially Naruto and her teammates, was staring at her with a mixture of pity and concern. Perhaps they felt she was taking this news too well, but Hinata truly didn’t feel anything about it. The panic of becoming a bear was nothing more than a distant memory or a feeling, lodged firmly in the back of her mind.
“…Very well,” continued Kakashi, folding his hands and sighing. “Seeing as you’re so determined, I won’t stop you and will leave this assignment in your capable hands. As you…Progress, I will alert the rest of the village not to be alarmed by your presence. During that time and until you meet with the sloth again, your team will act as your personal guard. They will protect you from any threats while you remain indisposed.”
“Yes, Lord Hokage,” everyone but Naruto said in unison. The blond ninja instead glared bitterly at his former master.
“Good. Dismissed.”
~
Hinata and her team stepped out of the tower just as the sun was beginning to set on the horizon. It had been a long day.
As they stepped away from the doors, Naruto turned to Raz and handed him a coin.
“Raz, go with Spades and buy some ramen. You guys deserve a little treat.”
“With all due respect, Mister Naruto, I think we were going to—”
“I said,” interrupted Naruto with a more angry tone of voice. “Go take Spades and get some ramen, do you understand?”
Hinata could practically see the Nine Tailed Fox’s aura flare up, intimidating both her cadets into almost fleeing the scene instantly. Naruto sighed as they jumped onto the rooftops and into the night life of Konoha, far out of sight from him and his girlfriend. Hinata pretended to be disinterested, though even if she wasn’t listening, she could tell a fight was coming on.
“Why did you do it?” asked Naruto.
“Because it was the only way I could earn the trust of the bears. You know that they need to have a sage to learn under them. Besides that, they’ve been isolated from the ninja world for a very long time,” Hinata explained. “What if they decided they didn’t like how humans did things or if some rogue ninja was their first impression of humans and somehow managed to become their sage? I couldn’t let that happen.”
“I know, but it’s dangerous. You can’t put yourself at risk like that,” Naruto said. “You’ve already done it too many times to count. Back when you and Neji were young, against Pain, during the war…Each of those times you put your life on the line. What happens if you do it again and you don’t come back?”
“Then it will be because of what I chose. From the moment I became a ninja, I put my life at risk and knew the consequences. I’m willing to die in order to protect whatever I value, just like you.” Hinata then placed out her transformed pawn and reached out for Naruto’s hand. The blond was confused for a second, but took it before Hinata resumed. “Do you remember your nindo?”
“Yeah. It was to never back down or run from a challenge.”
“If this is a ninja way you believe in, then why would you ask me to do the opposite of it? I don’t want to run, so don’t ask me to avoid doing something you would for the sake of others.”
Naruto fell silent and his expression was somewhat disappointed. He folded his arms and looked down before opening his eyes.
“Yeah…I guess you’re right,” Naruto said. “I just don’t want to lose you is all.”
“Just have faith in my skill and resolve, then you’ll never have to worry again.” Hinata took her bearlike paw away from him. “Alright?”
“Yes…Commander Hyuga.”
“Uh, you can still call me Hinata, Naruto.” Hinata said to him. She could tell Naruto was trying to be more respectful, but the way he said Commander seemed hard for him.
“Phew, thanks. So are you going to rest?”
“No, I’m going to go see the sloth of Bears again once I finish resting and have time to prepare. I will send a letter for you, Raz and Spades to join me later on once I’ve fully gained their trust..”
“Gotcha. Be safe, Hinata.”
The lavender eyed young woman nodded. Even without jutsu, she was determined to make her way and learn as much as she could from the bears.
-
A few days later Hinata was back with the sloth of bears. During this time Hinata found herself having a hard time adjusting to her new surroundings. While it was training ground for cubs and a place with virtually no conflict or danger she couldn't’ help but worry about her mission.
Hinata knew that the task set before her was an important one, but she secretly feared failing. Hinata had grown quite a bit since her days as a genin. She remembered when she was younger and meek, too afraid to do much at all.
Since then she had faced her fears, become a chunin, faced many threats in the ninja war and grown to become a powerful ninja in her own right. Now wasn’t the time to let doubt take hold. This was the time for her to move forward and do what she could for the village. She believed what she had told Naruto, and more importantly she believed in herself.
‘Just remember your nindo,’ Hinata reminded herself. She decided it would be best to get the lay of the land and better understand the place where she was. She saw several young cubs at play. Either climbing trees or playing with eachother. They seemed so energetic and curious that it reminded Hinata somewhat of her academy days. Other children were as rambunctious as the young cubs were, even if the young bears were about the size of small buildings.
As Hinata walked, she began to feel strange. She couldn’t quite place it, but something felt somewhat different. Nonetheless, she decided to go towards a nearby river and wash her face. Once there, she looked at her reflection. Nothing there was different and her body seemed to be the same as well. Hinata chalked it up as her nerves and merely washed her face.
After a minute, she was completely washed and felt much more alert. That was when she looked at her reflection and noticed something odd about her teeth. One of them seemed to be looking sharper.
Taking her index finger, Hinata poked her tooth and found it was more sharp, as were a few others in her mouth. She hadn’t expected her teeth to change first.
Hinata smiled at her reflection and found herself chuckling.
“Finding your first changes appealing?” asked a female voice. Hinata gasped when she realized it was Medve.
“Oh, Medve. I was just surprised by my new teeth.”
“That is only natural. Those fangs are rather different from your human ones. Still, they should prove useful.”
“I’m sure they will.” Hinata gave a gentle smile. “So, what brings you out here?”
“I merely came to have a morsel or two,” Medve said as she pointed to the river. “The fish should be swimming about.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Would you like to see me try?”
Hinata nodded, seeing it as a good chance to learn. She watched as Medve started to paw at the fish, trying to catch them. Hinata looked at her own paw and wondered if she would be able to do the same someday. It was something she resolved to do well while she was there.
Something about Medve felt naturally motherly. No doubt it was the reason she was chosen to look over the place. While she had a moment alone with her, Hinata decided to…
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