日向導 - A Hyūga's Guide

Chapter Forty Two: Lay Low

"I'm sorry if it's not much." Jūgo smiled awkwardly as he placed a bowl of broth in front of everyone. The sight of them was much more tolerable since they were no longer covered in blood and grime. Just the scent of blood made the big man uncomfortable. "The bath wasn't too cold, was it? I know that it's not exactly on the warm side."

"We'll get used to it in due time." Naruto waved him off and gave him a much needed smile as thanks. The atmosphere was very tense, everyone was tired and weary of each other.

Jūgo nodded and stepped back as he surveyed the food he gave them. It included some bread and butter, broth with potatoes and fish, and a cup of water. He really felt sorry that it was the only thing he could offer despite how many times the group thanked him.

"I'll be right back."

"Right, the berries."

His head turned to the only woman of the group, he tilted his head to the side and stared at her — something he'd find himself doing often. For one, she seemed extremely on edge, the same as the rest of the group but something about her just screamed out her nervousness. Besides her barely concealed skepticism, she just looked lost and tired, perhaps even hurt.

"Yes, the berries. I've already shown you your rooms, so feel free to sleep." His lips twitched but he never smiled. Humming to himself, Jūgo awkwardly excused himself and left them alone to finish their meal.

The room was silent excluding the sounds of utensils being used. No one said it, but they much preferred what little they had to eat as compared to the berries they were hungrily eating a few minutes prior. They also liked feeling clean and relaxed, even if it wasn't by much since no one really trusted Jūgo too much.

"How long are we staying?" Neji asked as he set his cup down and leaned against the table with his fingers playing with the hair strands that brushed his cheek.

It took a while for someone to respond, no one really had an answer. "Maybe a few days?" Naruto mumbled, unsure of himself.

"That's not possible." Hinata scoffed and rested her head on the cool surface of the table. "We all know that we have nowhere to go, there's no point leaving only to come back once we realize that there's nothing out there."

"So that's it? We just sit underground and do nothing?" Neji's eyes shifted across the room despite him not being able to see. "Surely—"

"Surely you realize that after what happened, there's no turning back, or getting back from this." She turned to him, her eyes narrowed but softened slightly once she realized how hostile her response was. "Sorry..." Hinata bit her lip and sighed.

"Let's just stay for as long as Jūgo allows us to." Sasuke set his spoon down and crossed his arms, "that does not mean that we will do nothing about...what happened, we should just be careful."

"Then that means you're planning on going out there." She frowned. "You can't, Sasuke...I can't lose you too. I can't lose any of you."

"That's your fear speaking, Lady Hinata." Neji leaned back against his seat, "and I do not blame you but..." He paused. "Running and hiding, is that not what your enemies want? Is that not what you've been doing for years? Does that not exhaust you?"

She stood up and slammed her hands against the table, the rattling of the utensils did nothing to snap her out of her annoyance. "I—" The words got caught in her throat as she looked at everyone around the table. "I'm so tired of doing that! Yet if running and hiding is what would keep you all safe, then I rather we go off the radar and have the people think that we are dead."

"That's not the way an Empress should speak...Or the Matriarch of the Hyūga clan. Have you learned nor retained anything from what you have been taught?"