Chapter 2: Solar Flare
Naruto and Sakura stood motionless. Expressions of shock and disbelief hung on their faces. “I told you so,” smirked Kiba with a laugh.
“B-But how did you know she’d ignore me!” inquired Naruto…with a singe of aggravation in his voice. “Don’t tell me you coerced her into this like it’s some sort of game!” Finally stepping into the conversation, Shino decided to explain.
“Naruto. Kiba was already aware of the outcome… That’s because, Hinata ignores even us on this day.”
“Huuuh?” said Naruto, his aggravation replaced with confusion and a puzzled face. “That makes no sense…. Hinata isn’t a jerk like Dog-Breath over here!”
“Try saying that again!” cried Kiba as Akamaru barked in support.
“Well… whatever,” said Naruto casually, “It doesn’t matter. All I know is I’m going to go find Hinata and figure out why she’s ignoring us!”
“You will do no such thing Uzumaki Naruto.”
The four shinobi turned around to find none other than Neji Hyuga standing behind them. The Hyuga Branch member stood with his arms crossed and a stern expression on his face. Not to anyone’s surprise, his gaze was focused directly on the one whom he had addressed: Naruto.
“Neji?” said Sakura with a tint of confusion. Continuing in her head she followed up with, “What’s he doing here?”
“HAVEN’T WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE!” shouted Naruto in defiance, “You can’t tell me what to do. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Hyuga…. I’m the man who’s gonna become Hokage… BELIEVE IT!” Neji kept his posture, but he closed his eyes and lowered them. Knowing that any further attempts to sway Naruto from what the Knucklehead Ninja had come up with… he decided to attempt an alternative approach.
“Naruto…. I’d tell you to leave Hinata-Sama alone, but I know you would simply ignore my request. Furthermore, if I try to detain you…. it will simply cause an unnecessary quarrel. While I would start such a quarrel to detain you…I would imagine the rest of you would simply aid Naruto, and even with my power, I cannot contain all of you. Naruto’s shadow clones would make this situation impossible to quarantine. As such, how about I propose a deal with you Naruto. You can follow Hinata so long as you do nothing to hinder her activities. This way you can see there is absolutely nothing that you need to be so intrusive about.”
“Tch…” breathed Naruto. Thinking to himself he started: “Ah man… if I try to ignore Neji….Hinata is gonna keep getting further away. Not to mention I’d have to fight him…… after the Chunin exams I could feel the effects of his attacks for days…who knows how bad it would be now.” Speaking aloud Naruto responded. “Alright… we’ll do it your way Neji….” Kiba gave out a short laugh as Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. “YOSH! AFTER HINATA!” The shinobi began to move out after Hinata. Neji breathing a sigh of annoyance knowing he’d have to go babysit Naruto.
Having been idle for only a few minutes, catching up to Hinata was an easy task… made easier with Kiba, Shino, and Neji’s tracking prowess. The group of five stopped behind a pole as they saw Hinata had made a stop at Gamatora’s Seafood Stand. “I don’t know why… but something feels oddly familiar stalking Hinata like this,” Naruto commented aloud. “It’s like something like this has happened before.”
“That isn’t surprising,” Shino commented, “That’s because, Hina—ACKHH!” Shino’s overly detailed response was cut short as Akamaru took a bite out of his leg.
“Eh!” exclaimed Naruto, “Oi Kiba I think Akamaru’s losing it… he just took a bite out of Shino for no reason.”
“Shut up Naruto,” sighed Kiba. Wearing a more serious expression Kiba continued: “Besides….this doesn’t make any sense.”
“I'm not following you Kiba,” questioned Sakura, “What's so odd about Hinata sitting down to eat... I mean sure it is odd she never showed up for our Lunch Date, but eating isn't that strange...”
“Eating isn’t the problem,” said Kiba, “It’s what she ordered that’s odd… not to mention this restaurant.”
“What’s odd about that…. I mean I get that it isn’t Ichiraku Ramen, but what’s so odd about food choice?” pondered Naruto. Having recovered his composure from his recent canine cadaver, Shino addressed the question at hand.
“Everything about it is odd. That’s because, she’s ordered too much food. Hinata would normally order Zenzai and Cinnamon rolls; however, she has also ordered Crab and Shrimp. This is the oddest part. This is because Hinata personally dislikes the taste of Crab and Shrimp…. Hmm?!”
Upon noting Shino’s surprise, the others turn to see why the Aburame was so puzzled. By this time, Hinata had finished the Zanzai; however, instead of digging into the Cinnamon rolls, she began to eat the Shrimp. After several minutes passed bye, Hinata had finished the Shrimp, but was apparently full as she paid for the meal as well as placed the remaining Crab and Cinnamon rolls into boxes to go. Observing and mentally noting how Hinata acted out of character according to Shino, Sakura took a glance only to find Neji intently staring: a noticeably upset, yet slightly sad, expression.
As our group of Shinobi Stalkers followed the Hyuga Heiress, they notice her pause at the Yamanaka flower shop and watch as she purchases a bouquet of Sunflowers. Continuing on an unknown path, Hinata slowly arrives at the Graveyard for Konoha Shinobi. Looking to the side, Naruto notices a look of intense sorrow on Neji’s face. Initially confused, Naruto looks carefully to notice that Hinata has stopped, and placed the sunflowers upon a grave. With a closer expression he makes out the name on the grave: Hizashi Hyuga. Recalling that the name happens to be that of Neji’s father, he immediately whispers to Neji. “Wait…is today the day your father...”
“No,” responded Neji, “This is not even the month my father passed on... Hinata often pays visits to my father’s grave.” Following this, Neji’s eyes narrowed with a hidden sense of sadness. Though, this action did not fail to go unnoticed by Sakura Haruno.
“Damn,” Naruto thought to himself, “She’s acting completely normal aside from a random taste for seafood… then why…. why does something seem wrong, and yet she’s so normal!” His self-meditation was cut short as Hinata began to move. By this point the sun had started to fall, and Hinata was seemingly on her way to the Hyuga Compound…. the group of five Konoha Shinobi still on her tracks. “TCHHH…. DAMN IT ALL!” cried Naruto suddenly.
“SHIT!” thought Neji to himself. It was too late as the Uzumaki had already gotten a head start on his march to the Hyuga Heiress. “I should have known he’d try something……. but Hinata-Sama was so close to the Compound I let my guard down!”
Hinata continued her slow and regular pace despite the marching Uzumaki quickly closing the gap. Her eyes were closed and a smile rested on her face having just finished prayers and blessings to her Uncle. All of it only added to Naruto’s annoyance. Finally catching up Naruto cried out, “OI HINATA WHAT GIVES! YOU COMPLETELY DITCHED SAKURA-SAN. THAT’S COMPLETELY UNLI…”
Having caught up to Hinata, he had placed his hand on her shoulder to turn her around. Suddenly Hinata’s eyes snapped open as if in shock, and before Naruto could finish his sentence the Hyuga Heiress quickly twirled around to her right as she smacked Naruto with the back of her hand. The bag containing the leftover meal from her lunch quickly flying from the hand: crashing on the ground spilling its contents.
“HOW DARE YOU LAY A HAND ON ME KYUUBI!” yelled Hinata. Not even waiting for a reply, she heightened her pace as she crossed the final distance between her and the Hyuga Compound leaving Naruto sitting on the ground with an expression disbelief in its truest form.
