Green verdant leaves swayed with the wind. Attached to them were branches, brown and numerous, encasing and wrapping around a clearing like a bird cage. Within it sat a beautiful woman.
She had long hair that trailed down all the way to the middle of her back. Her ears peeked out from the luscious silky strands, a milky white contrast to the deep black of her hair. Her eyes were closed, yet veins softly bulged and throbbed around the corner of her eyes. An obstruction merely as small as her eyelids could not block the all pervasive sight of her Byakugan.
Day by day, Hinata saw more. Even now, despite the fact that her Saul-kun was here at the training grounds with her, she saw his clones active in many parts of Konoha. Some moved between the training grounds and the forest of death, others lay in wait around the hospital. She wondered why exactly Saul-kun still had two clones active in that area, then discarded that thought. He always had his reasons. All Hinata had to do was trust in him.
There were only a few places left in Konoha where her eyes could not normally reach. The Hokage building, her Hyuuga clan compound, and past the ever pervasive invisible barrier that surrounded the village. Her eyes however, were special. If she focused or supplied more chakra to her eyes, her vision became capable of seeing the unseen.
She could even see through the Shadow clone Jutsu now. The clones were good, but not perfect. If she focused, she could even see the small flow of chakra tethering the clones to something yet to be seen. That's how she knew her Saul-kun was actually here, at the training grounds.
Hinata held her face in her hands at the thought. Saul-kun, her wonderful Saul-kun, was right here! No, she couldn't focus on training anymore. Even as she explored different areas of the village with her eyes, her attention kept darting back to her beloved.
Every time she looked at his face, a smile touched her lips. Every time she saw his smile, her heart skipped a beat. Saul-kun wouldn't mind it right? She was just watching him...💗
That's why, when Hinata saw him hold the Kunai to that woman's throat, she flickered away. Flashing through trees at speeds exceeding the sound barrier, reappearing for mere moments to push off another tree trunk to launch herself again.
*Crack*
Her feet touched down on the trunk of a nearby tree, leaving two sandal sized imprints into the trunk. In the next moment, Hinata was already using her 360 degree vision + a small chakra flow from her gentle fist to fix her hair. Perfect from every single angle, the beautiful white eyed woman stepped out from behind the tree. She'd give him the encouragement she knew she'd love if he said it to her.
"G-good job, Saul-kun!"
The way he turned, the way his eyes lit up when he saw her, the way his lips instinctively curved into a smile. She saw it all. His affection was like a drug Hinata was hopelessly addicted to.
She walked back up to him and took her place at his arm. Suddenly the entire world felt right. Everything was as it should be. Well everything but...
Temari shook her head angrily. "Fight me again!"
"Why should I? You already lost."
"I was holding back, so I wouldn't accidentally kill you! Dumb bastard. You only got lucky because of your tricks. I won't fall for them again!"
Her Saul-kun tilted his head in response to the rude bitch's attitude. God, he was so cute!
"That doesn't answer *why* I should fight you again, though. You're not some sort of lowly woman who wouldn't even honor her own word, are you?"
"...No!? But you're a dirty bastard who doesn't play fair! You put me under a Genjutsu, didn't you!"
Hinata was starting to grow irritated with this woman. Even though she could feel that her beloved didn't care one bit about the insults, she did. Her patience was wearing thin. Still, she didn't say anything, more out of respect to her Saul-kun's wishes than anything else. He must have his reasons for tolerating this woman's behavior.
Saul smirked. "Don't you know who my Jonin Sensei is?"
"What does that have to do with anything!?"
"You know nothing."
Having her earlier words being returned like this came as a slight shock to Temari. At first her mouth widened even more in outrage, but then she thought about it some more. It was such a weird feeling, having her words returned to her like this. This one named Saul was certainly interesting. Temari chuckled. She wasn't stupid enough not to see the irony of the situation.
"Fair point. I guess I'll have to do some digging then. I'm sure you wouldn't mind?"
"I'll even help you out a little. Ask about Jonin Yuuhi Kurenai. She's my Sensei."
Kurenai, huh? How arrogant was this man, to reveal his cards so easily? If he was telling the truth, she'd easily be able to learn a bunch of information about how to fight him by learning of his sensei.
Temari spoke sweetly, yet her tone also contained hints of sarcasm, "Thank you so much for your 'generous assistance.' I'll come prepared to repay you next month."
She smirked right back at him.
Saul waved his finger. "Did you forget something? You will be repaying me tomorrow, first. You still owe me lots of BBQ, remember?"
*Tsk* Temari turned away in annoyance. She'd make him pay for his arrogance in the coming exams.
After she left, Hinata looked up at Saul.
"Saul-kun... Who's she?"
"That's Temari, daughter of the Kazekage. She's here to participate in the Chunin exams."
Hinata shook her head. "No... Who's she to you?"
She noticed from the way he looked at her. His gaze was appraising, calculating. Hinata had only seen that look on his face in regards to Yakumo before. Saul was interested. Hinata just wasn't sure to what capacity yet.
Scratching his budding beard, Saul gave the question some thought. He wasn't exactly sure how to answer Hinata's 'deeper' question. The woman was clearly gaining greater insight into him as a person - he wasn't sure if he'd be able to successfully lie to her if he tried.
Plus, his thoughts toward Temari were on the darker side. He wasn't sure how Hinata would react if he told her everything just yet. Well even if he told her the truth, would she even necessarily understand?
"I'm not sure yet, Hinata. A target, maybe? That's the simplest way I can describe it."
"Target? Like something I'd shoot with my bow?"
Oh his poor, lovely Hinata. How naive. He couldn't resist giving her a kiss on the forehead.
The cute woman began smiling uncontrollably, as her face was flushed. She angled her lips upward and puckered her lips, a silent plea for more. Saul kissed her again, this time on the lips. They made out for a little while until Hinata was satisfied.
"Does it really matter who she is to me? I love you Hinata. That will never change."
"I love you too, Saul-kun~💗" She smiled blissfully, snuggling closer into his chest. Hinata was completely caught up and distracted by his words. She was practically wrapped around his finger, following his every whim. Yet, as long as she could remain in his arms, nothing else mattered to her.
Author's Note: I felt like a chapter from Hinata's perspective was in order. It gives a nice clue into how she currently feels about Saul - and also foreshadows a future event of Saul's plans I won't be writing directly.
I'm thinking about time skipping to the final stage of the Chunin exams shortly. Thinking of covering a short session with Sakura one more time beforehand - let me know you guy's opinions on the matter!
If you wish to chat / provide feedback, the link to the discord is here: discord gg YwperMGsBq ("." before gg and "/" after gg, no spaces)
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