Entangled

Bleeding - Chapter Thirty Two

Bleeding - Chapter Thirty Two

Hanabi's face pursed in concentration. Her eyes stayed on her feet as she ignored her teammates. Inuzuka Kasai rambled about the newest litter of pups while Aburame Rekishi nodded along at each brief moment of pause. The team had just been dismissed from their morning training.

Ambling through the narrow pathways that connected the various training grounds, they prattled about how they would spend the rest of their day.

"Hanabi-chan," Kasai blurted, leaping forward and throwing an arm around the tense heiress's shoulders. "Do you wanna come to the Inuzuka grounds and see the new puppies?"

"Hyūga don't get along with the Inuzuka," Hanabi mumbled, keeping her gaze on the ground.

"Huh?" Kasai's brows furrowed, "No, Okaasan said everyone's welcome."

Hanabi scoffed, twisting away from her teammate. "Yeah, I'm alright. I have to go home."

"Wait," Rekishi stopped, grabbing Hanabi and Kasai by the scruffs of their coats to force them to a halt.

Hanabi scowled, "What are you-?"

"Shh," Rekishi hushed as he sneaked off the well worn path. He peered over the naked shrubbery to catch a glance at the solo occupant of Training Ground Three.

"Woah," Kasai gasped, her green eyes going wide.

Rekishi's own eyes had widened behind his black rounded glasses. 'This is the level of a Jōnin?' His insects buzzed within him at the strong chakra permeating through the air. 'Is Yūgao-sensei this strong?'

Hanabi peered back at her lurking teammates. Rolling her eyes, she strode up behind them. The high pitched cry of chirping birds pierced her ears. Her pearl coloured irises reflected blue sparks of lightening.

The trio cringed as the lightening exploded outwards, shooting the silver haired Jōnin through the air. They jumped out of their hiding place, running towards him as his back rammed into a surrounding tree.

'Fuck,' Kakashi cursed to himself, glaring at the charred glove and skin of his right hand. The glare lifted to the Genin narrowing in on him, halting them mid-stride. His glare emptied as it drew to Hanabi.

Hanabi met his mismatched eyes, the rumours that had been circulating around the village running through her mind.

"Hatake-san, are you alright?" Rekishi voiced, his feet rooted in place.

Kakashi switched his attention to the stoic male, "Electrified."

Kasai's expression twisted in panic, her words hurrying out, "Should we go get a doctor?"

Kakashi sighed, forcing himself to a stand, "All good." He held his hands up in front of him, "See, just a few third degree burns." At the look of utter terror on the Inuzuka's face he added, "Kidding." They were only second degree.

"Is it true?" Hanabi intruded, the question slipping past her lips in a hurry.

Kakashi glanced at the heiress from the side of his eyes, "Yep. No third degree burns here."

Hanabi's lips pressed together, "I meant," she hesitated, "with what everyone's saying."

"Hanabi," Kasai spoke softly, inching towards her.

Hanabi persisted, refusing to hesitate when it came to learning about the truth of her older sister.

Kakashi looked on with sympathy. A large piece of himself wished he could Shunshin out of the area or dance around her questions with half truths. But he couldn't do that when it came to someone whom Hinata loved above everyone else. He plopped back down to rest against the base of the tree; he'd need to get his hand healed before he could continue his training anyways.