Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 10: Rescuing the Hermit

Journey of the Three Failures

Ten: Rescuing the Hermit

Hinata ヒナタ

'It's not working...'

'Go on,' he thought, 'try again. Raise your hand – Nope, you're trying to move my paw, too!'

'Is this even possible?' I was sure we'd been at this exercise for an hour; I needed to learn to 'remain myself even while we were one.'

'Quit complaining. Now, just raise your hand – No, don't pull away! Where're you going?' he asked, mentally approaching again. I sighed, opening my eyes.

"Kurogiba-sama, it's getting late. Can't we continue tomorrow?" I said aloud.

He pulled out of the Soul Link and eyed me curiously. "But we're having so much fun," he said sarcastically. "Besides, since when do you like to put things off to tomorrow? I thought you never give up and all that crap..."

"I'm not giving up," I protested. "It's just that... I promised to help Lee-kun with something today."

Lee リー

"I cannot thank you enough, Hinata-san..."

"Don't worry! It was a challenge, but now I have that much more experience with seals. I'm glad to help – that's what friends are for, right?" she said with a cheerful smile.

"Friends..." Sheathing the katana, I walked over to sit down beside her on the log. "I just hate to bother you when you are already tired out after Kurogiba-san's training..." My gaze lowered, falling toward the ground from the half-moon lighting the night sky. I sighed. "The truth is, there is something else I want to talk to you about as well."

"What is it?" she asked, puzzled by my solemn air.

I looked into her white eyes. "I fear for our friend's wellbeing."

She gained an expression filled with concern. "Wh–?"

"There is nothing wrong with him," I quickly assured her.

"Then ... what are you worried about?"

"You have not seen it yet, have you?" I noted. "Naruto-kun's Advanced Kageken... It is not yet a complete technique and he is still working to master it, but it is already extremely powerful."

"B-but isn't that a good thing...?"

I shut my eyes. "Indeed, he has added a unique and formidable form of taijutsu to his arsenal, but... This technique has the potential to very easily be made lethal."

My ears caught a soft gasp.

"Do you see? Naruto-kun's hands are still clean, but with so much strength suddenly at his disposal, I fear the Kageken will either make or destroy him. What I know for certain is that with the way we are now, he will soon blaze past you and me both. We cannot allow that to happen, Hinata-san – we must work harder as well. We must be strong enough to protect him."

She knew I was not speaking entirely of physical protection from foes. "...So that he hopefully won't be forced to resort to a lethal form for as long as possible, right?"

"Yes," I said. "For that, we must be strong enough to protect him, ourselves, and each other. For should he need to protect us or himself, in a desperate situation ... the result could be disastrous."

"Naruto-kun..." She clasped a hand over her heart. In a moment she looked to meet my eyes again, nodding determinedly. "I understand. I'll work harder, too."

Naruto ナルト

"Did I stay out training too late?" I thought aloud, standing on a tree's roots as I examined an almost half-moon's position in the sky. In a second, though, I felt lightheaded from looking upward; I lowered my head, rubbing it gently as my eyes shut. I groaned, not feeling all too great. My present weariness and depleted chakra reserves didn't help the matter.