The Caged Bird Seal - 3

Hinata desperately tried to sort through the small crowd of people in the courtyard. All at once she was glad that her friends had come to help her and yet terrified of what would become of her older cousin.

'And Naruto-kun is so brave...he wants to help me even if it means he'd get into trouble…' The prospect of the blonde boy selflessly aiding her only added to her adoration for him. 'No! I can't let Neji-niisan get the seal! Not after so many people came to help!'

As she darted around searching, fierce determination flooded her veins, 'I'll be like Naruto-kun...I won't give up!'

Suddenly many of the adults rushed over to the garden and watched in astonishment as the contents of a bucket of water inexplicably began to levitate in the air.

While the water swirled about, Hinata noted that it was Haku's aforementioned distraction. She seized the moment to continue her search.

Without warning, something clicked in her head.

Hinata was startled when she was suddenly fully aware of her surroundings. Her once-straining eyes saw perfectly in all directions and even inside of her own house...through a solid wall.

It was a shock that also felt natural somehow.

'Is this what father sees when he uses the Byakugan?'

She now understood her father's description of the Hyuga Family's blood limit. She didn't waste time doting over her accomplishment, although it was the first time she had ever used her Kekkei Genkai.

Hinata stopped in front of the Branch House and giggled to herself when she noticed Sakura and Naruto slinking along unseen through the hedges.

Without the Byakugan, she wouldn't have noticed them at all, which reminded her of a daunting realization.

'If someone else uses their Byakugan and sees them...'

They didn't have much time. Haku's power had also aroused suspicion that something other than the absence of gravity was responsible for the hovering sphere of water.

Hinata swung her head from side to side to get a full view of the area, and gasped suddenly when she spotted the one person she had been looking for.

"Oh, Neji-niisan!"

The boy looked at her in confusion, "Hinata-sama?"

He stepped outside of the Branch House and walked over to her, seeing the apprehensive look on her face. Neji also noticed how many people were gathered around the garden for some strange reason.

"Hinata-sama is something wrong-?" The boy fell quiet as he observed the veins surrounding her eyes.

"Hinata-sama...when did you begin using the Byakugan?" He had only just managed it himself a few weeks before, and was surprised to see shy Hinata brandishing the prestigious blood limit.

"Um, j-just now actually," She said quickly while deactivating it with a small twinge behind her eyes, "But Neji-niisan, we must hurry! P-Please come with me!"

Hinata hastily grabbed his hand and pulled him along towards Naruto and Sakura's hiding place.

"What's going on?" Neji asked.

Instead of a response, Neji was surprised to hear a voice from the hedges, "Hey, did you get him Hinata-chan?"

"Yes!"

A blonde boy who Neji had briefly seen the day before dove out of his cover and grabbed the both of them. He pulled them back behind the bushes hurriedly.

Neji looked at the blonde boy and Hinata's pink haired friend who he had seen the previous day, "Hinata-sama, what are we doing, and what are they doing here?"

"Shh!" Sakura was quick to warn him, "You have to be quiet!"

He looked at her, not understanding at all.

"You s-see, Neji-niisan, we don't want you to get the Caged Bird Seal..." Hinata clarified.

"Yeah!" Naruto agreed in a low voice, "They were gonna put that seal-thingy on you so we came to rescue you!"

Neji was dumbfounded, "You mean it will happen today, Hinata-sama?"

"I think s-so..." She said softly.

"But don't worry Neji!" Naruto wore a reassuring grin, "We're gonna get you out of here before they can find you!"

A look of betrayal and horror was present on the boy's face. He had no idea that he was so close to receiving the Caged Bird seal, 'No one said anything to me…'

It made sense to him then why his father had been so upset recently, and he felt a combination of anger and fear rise inside of him. He had seen his father at the mercy of the Caged Bird seal before, and had come to dread the time when he would be branded with it.

"Come on, let's go!" Naruto commanded before turning away to retrace their steps. Sakura followed close behind him, but Neji was hesitant to go anywhere.

"Please, Neji-niisan," Hinata gave him a worried look, "We can't s-stay here."

She had a point; the sharp ends of the tangled branches were painful.

He said nothing, but followed Hinata and her friends, wondering where his father was.

The gardens had emptied out after the water had ended its supernatural dance. Haku had easily caught up to his companions who made a bee-line for the front gate.

"Haku-kun," Sakura was glad he had re-joined them, "Did you find Gaara-kun yet?"

The black haired boy shook his head, "No Sakura-chan I haven't, but I think he's alright."

Haku then noticed that they had successfully retrieved Hinata's cousin, "Oh, hello Neji-san! I hope you're alright."

Neji couldn't believe how popular he had become in such a short amount of time.

"Okay, it's just a bit farther now!" Naruto was grinning at them, "I can't believe how well this worked!"

Honestly, it was a miracle his plan had worked at all.

Sakura was still edgy as they neared the perimeter wall, "Naruto-kun, we can't just leave without Gaara-kun! What if he needs our help?"

Naruto halted and they ducked down as a few Hyuga clan members entered the compound.

"Hm, you're right Sakura-chan. Where did Gaara go anyway?" The blonde pondered. They hadn't seen hide or hair of him anywhere.

Neji quickly took stock that everyone he had seen yesterday was now present with the exception of one person. He recalled the boy with the red hair, and assumed he was the one Sakura was worried over.

Silently, Hinata had activated her Byakugan for the second time, and scanned the area. She noticed a small, lone figure well-hidden in a tree top.

"Naruto-kun, I see him!" Hinata pointed to Gaara's perch, "He's up there waiting!"

Haku clapped his hand over Naruto's mouth as Jiraiya had, silencing him before he could call out to their lofty friend.

"Remember Naruto, we still have to be quiet," Haku said in a soft voice, "We haven't escaped just yet."

The Kyuubi container nodded and Haku let go after seeing he would restrain himself.

"How are we going to get his attention without being seen?" Sakura asked.

Haku frowned. Sakura had another point.

Without warning, Naruto hurled his shuriken up at the tree, causing Hinata to 'Eeep!' in surprise.

With a thunk, the shuriken was embedded in the side of the tree, and after a moment, Gaara extracted it and hopped down from the branch.

Naruto was grinning at himself. It was the first time he had ever thrown a real shuriken and he actually hit his target!

Sakura knocked him on top of his head, "Naruto! Are you nuts! What if you hit Gaara-kun?"

"He didn't." Gaara had quickly re-joined them, "Here." He handed the weapon back to Naruto who was nursing the new lump on his head.

"Aw! Come on Sakura-chan, he's fine!" Naruto whined, "And why did you have to hit me?"

"Because what you did was reckless and I don't ever want you to do that again!" She scolded.

Neji watched with slight amusement.

Although Hinata did feel bad that Naruto had been disciplined so roughly, she agreed with Sakura's reasoning. Naruto had once again nearly given her a heart attack.

"We should g-go now," Hinata said softly while she observed the front gate, "No one's coming."

Naruto nodded to her, "Alright, let's go!"