Team Harmony

P4: Fireworks

Hinata could feel herself coming back but when she saw nothing but darkness, she began panicking, thinking that her eyes were gone.

"Hinata, my daughter, please remain calm. You're safe," she heard her father say. Slowly, her heart rate returned to normal and she reached out for her father who surprisingly took her hand. Her mother was the more affectionate of the two and Hiashi was trying his best to change that as his daughters needed to know fatherly love.

"F-father, what happened?" She asked. Her voice was tired but other than a small headache, she couldn't feel any other injuries.

"You did well protecting yourself. We have the man in custody and the Uchiha are working on him to uncover his mission objective and who gave the order," he explained. He squeezed her hand gently.

"I... injured him enough?"

"You did. He had a stab wound in his shoulder and you managed to shut off the chakra in his knee. That was enough to slow him down."

Hinata smiled to herself. She felt proud. "How long have I...?"

"Just a few hours, but, Hinata, you must listen." Hiashi started, "last night...your mother passed on peacefully. I'm afraid with your sight gone, you will be unable to see her as we decided to have her cremated by tomorrow in case any Kumo nin find out and attempt to secure her body."

Hinata was silent and still, so much so that Hiashi wondered if she'd lost consciousness. When she turned her head towards him, he was assured that she was okay.

"A-and Hanabi?" Her voice wobbled as though she was about to cry, but Hiashi saw no tears. That was part of her leadership and ninja training. One must never show emotions, especially on the field. He couldn't tell if he was feeling more pride in her hold on her emotions or shame that they'd had to teach their kids this way.

"She is well. Mitsuki is tending to her while we're here, but I will be going to check on her soon. I'm going to leave Ko here for your protection," he explained. Hinata nodded and went silent. Hiashi stayed there for a few more moments before squeezing her hand again and letting go.

It was time for a meeting with his brother and nephew. It looks like it was time for Neji to begin his duties as Hinata's protector.

"I will come back tomorrow. Rest up, Hinata." Then he left.

Hinata stayed frozen, the news about her mother slowly sinking in. She wanted to cry and curse the ninja who tried taking her, she wanted to curse her weak eyes, curse her father for training her so hard that she lost her sight, but she couldn't. Even in a time of relative peace, there was no guarantee that your family members or peers would be safe in everyday life.

"Hinata-sama," Ko said from the left corner of the room, near where her father exited the room. "You may cry for your mother if you need to." His voice was soft and understanding, just as Ko always had been towards her. Where her father trained her with an iron fist, he used encouraging words and held her hand every time they went out into the village together. He gave her the fatherly love Hiashi struggled to express.

She was thankful for the permission, but she couldn't. She shook her head and shut her eyes tighter beneath the gauze to prevent the gathered tears from falling.

Ko didn't speak another word and stared out the window at the morning sun shining off the snow-covered buildings.

*

"Itachi, what happened?" Sasuke asked when Itachi woke him up in the dead of the night.