Chapter17-2

Part Two - “Resolve”

Hinata sat on the edge of the hot spring, dangling her legs in the nearly-scalding water.

The springs were one of the several Hyuga clan retreats scattered around the vicinity of the Leaf village. This one had been outside the attack of the Hidden Depths shinobi a month ago, and had become the clan's primary dwelling in the days since.

Ever since her awakening here, after the destruction of the village, Hinata had driven herself to train. Some sort of counterattack had to be in the offing, and she was not going to be sidelined for it.

They'd tried to talk her out of it, of course. She was still weak form her ordeal, what happened was not her fault... but the timid little girl of years before was gone, and the woman Hinata was now would hear none of it.

“Still at this?” came a voice form behind her.

Hinata turned to see Neji emerge from the steam and fog.

She did not meet his gaze, even now she found Neji oddly unnerving at times. His injuries were more extensive than her's had been, and he still required a pair of crutches to move about, but he'd still done all he could to help secure the Leaf survivors.

“Yes,” she said simply.

He seemed to consider that bit of an answer for a moment. Finally, he replied as tersely as she had. “Good.”

She blinked. There was the smallest tone of approval in his voice.

Neji caught her reaction and smiled. “The elders won't say this, of course. They think you're too valuable to the clan. But I see it. You've changed, and for the better I think.”

Hinata lowered her gaze to her own lap.

“Not as much as I need to. I'm still too weak.”

Neji uttered a derisive word she'd wager he'd not said thrice in his life. It shocked her so much her eyes snapped back to him.

“Gentleness is not weakness,” he began. “I saw you stand against Pain, a fight you could never have won, and you knew it. But still you didn't care. You did what was necessary. Here too, you stand with your friends, for the sake of the village against danger. The clan can go hang itself. Some things are more important.”

Neji centered his stance as best eh could and bowed forward at the waist. “You are stronger, and greater, than I Lady Hinata. It is an honor to call you Clan, and a greater still to call you friend.”

With that he turned, and hobbled back into the white.

Hinata Hyuga picked up her discarded dive mask, and set about her training anew.