Fragile Heart, Confused Mind (1x1 - OC/Hinata)

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Shino paused slightly, his gaze flicking to the guards at the gates of Konoha. This should be interesting, he thought. Kiba smiled slightly as they reached the gates of the village, glancing at Hinata, who looked a little shaky, but aware. Hyojin's gaze flicked around, his visible eye still glowing slightly, though the pupil was the normal black and round it usually was. His dark reddish brown hair gleamed in the sunlight, showing shades of copper, bronze, and gold as well as crimson and burgundy among the normally dark hair.

((Maybe the village gates...))  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

((Is Hinata still on Kiba's shoulder?))  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Shino shifted his weight, glancing at Hinata as Kiba let her down from the piggyback state the Inuzuka had been carrying the heiress in since she'd awoken several dozen yards back.Hyojin exhaled sharply as he felt a mental nudge. I agree, but let me control it for once... it's disorienting when you shift forward, Kraidar, he thought. He glanced at Kurenai, then at Hinata as his hand shifted, the dark violet wisps of energy reforming and hovering around his hand before turning a deep green and hanging closer to his hand. He doubted they would immediately notice the narrow trails of light trailing downward into his other hand where it was half curled by his hip; it was a technique known in his birth home as 'Synthesis' and was a healing talent. He wasn't about to reveal that when he'd been sick, something urgent had been happening to his home city at the time he'd merged with Kraidar in a symbiotic choice. Kraidar knew more details than he did about what had immediately followed than he himself did.  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

"Th-thank you, Kiba-k-kun," Hinata said quietly, leaning against him just slightly as he set her on the ground.





"The boy isn't an enemy," Kurenai said to the ninja guarding the village gates. "We need to talk to the Hokage. Let him know Team 8's returned from our mission."

((Welcome back!))  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Shino blinked, his body tensing fractionally as he noticed the green aura around Jin's hand. Hmm... seems simlar to medical chakra... yet different somehow, as if it were more... natural in nature, he thought as the boy took a couple of steps towards Hinata. He saw Kiba tense, a slight growl slipping out of the Inuzuka's lips. Kiba's eyes narrowed on Jin as he moved closer to Hinata, glancing at the guards as one nodded, not really surprised as the other darted into the village. "What are you...?" he said carelessly, knowing his voice was sharp as he spoke.Hyojin sighed. "It's a healing technique... suffice it to say I'm far from normal, even where I grew up," he said warily as his hand got closer to Hinata. He knew the warm aura would spread once within a couple of feet, as he'd seen the effect before. "I nearly died when I was five... as to how I got better.... that's for someone else to elaborate on," he said as he saw the aura spread slowly and lazily, which he found a touch odd, since it usually didn't react that way. He cocked his head slightly as he sensed several people headed their way rapidly, including one that felt.... concerned with an edge of wariness. He recalled when he'd first sensed Kraidar's desperation to live that the ancient being had remarked on his strong empathic talent, which apparently had only been seen in others Kraidar had encountered with psychic talents.  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

Hinata flinched when the green aura touched her, even though it seemed a lot like medical chakra. As the warmth spread, though, she relaxed. "Th-thank you," she said. The pain and dizziness from the bump where the Mist ninja had hit her was gone, and she stood more easily without leaning on Kiba for support.





Kurenai watched as Jin healed Hinata's head wound. Huh. This kid might be a good addition to the team. We need a medical specialist, she thought.  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Shino wasn't surprised to see the Hokage himself watching Jin keenly with a slight smile.Kiba tilted his head cautiously, keeping his mouth shut as Akamaru barked a greeting to the Hokage. Hyojin chuckled. "I'n not surprised that you'd flinch from an unknown technique, regardless of its nature; anyone with intelligence would do so, and it's obvious you have a very kind and gentle nature, but I have no doubt that you have a core of steel where those you care about is concerned," he said softly, seeing the older man from the corner of his eye. He also noticed several masked people in stylized masks standing around, though he wasn't fooled one bit at their apparently relaxed stances. He had a few unique tricks thanks to Kraidar, mainly enhanced by the being rather than really awakened. "Due to my nature, which you could say is similar to Inu-baka and his dog, I am able to summon my... tenant, for lack of a better term," he said casually, mainly to Kurenai and the Sandaime Hokage. He saw the older man blink as if surprised. "You are not a...?" Sarutobi said thoughtfully. "Not in the way you mean, no... Kraidar merged with me both to save my life and keep itself from fading from existence; as a result, I am able to summon him when necessary... among other things," he said as he lightly pressed one palm to the ground. A pulse of violet chakra swirled around his hand before apparently melting into the ground. He drew his hand away and moved back a half step as what appeared to be his own shadow (not really) streamed into the point he'd touched and vanished. Within moments, a subtly rippling violet aura flickered over the ground as something rose from it. It was a black, shadow-like creature. It had a small head with a white ghostly substance billowing from its head covering one of its bright blue eyes, and also had a red spiky growth around its neck. It had skinny arms and long black tatters hanging from its shoulders. It also had black, claw-like hands. It has the slight appearance of an hourglass figure and appears to be wearing an old, ripped cloak. Kraidar's visible eye was closed before a slight itch was felt in the gathered shinobis' minds simultaneously. "Interesting world... it appears your theory is, to some extent correct, Hyojin; he once mentioned an idea that stories, where he grew up after Alamos was essentially destroyed, are more.... uncovered or 'sensed' than written, in his words," he said quietly, his voice holding a stronger ethereal tone to it similar to Jin's from before.  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

"The jinchuriki can't summon the Tailed Beasts like that," Kurenai said. "Hokage-sama, I expected to talk to you in your office. This is an unusual honor." Both she and Hinata flinched upon hearing, or more accurately, feeling the creature's voice in their heads.  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Considering the Mist-nins foolishly crossed paths not far from one of the outposts near the border going in, and knowing your team was on patrol, it made me more alert. I also sensed his use of chakra... surprisingly strong and controlled for one who doesn't seem to know much of what he's doing," he said, amusement in his tone. Kraidar cocked his head, but said nothing more at the moment.Kiba shivered slightly as he heard the being's voice in his mind. Hyojin shifted his weight, hearing a creak behind him. Unconsciously his fist flashed out as before, striking the ANBU with the blank mask hard in the abdomen. This time, however, a bright white flash flared on impact as the ANBU flew back and slammed hard enough into the tree to leave it leaning heavily to one side. Jin grimaced, shaking his uncurled fist as wisps of smoke wreathed it. "Sorry... suffice it to say I didn't have it all that easy growing up... bullies, among other things," he said sheepishly, not noticing the chakra burns on his hand from the blow's impact. It had been a move he'd tended to use often growing up with bullies around, known as 'Dynamic Punch'. "Neither Hyojin nor I know of these 'Tailed Beasts', he said softly, lowering his psychic voice to the equivalent of a murmur. Kiba blinked when Jin spun and coldcocked the ANBU before he noticed the drawn tanto which had been aimed at the newcomer's lower right side. That would have been fatal had the guy gotten any closer, he realized.  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

"I'll tell you about them later," Kurenai said to Jin and the creature. "Hokage-sama, we were attacked on our way back from our mission. The Mist ninja had sent this after us." She unloaded the Mist ninja's corpse from her shoulder and revealed the animal seal on his throat. "He said something about taking Hinata back to Kirigakure to breed."  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Sarutobi Hiruzen tilted his head, outwardly nonplussed by the information. "Then we may find information on who sent him on the body," he said simply. He did not like the fact that Kirigakure had access to kinjutsu such as any type of cursed seal. He had a suspicion on who created the technique, but was unlikely to reveal it unless absolutely necessary. "Then welcome back to Konoha; as to whom he stays with... I will allow you to decide that among yourselves. You may want to get those chakra burns checked out, however," he said idly as he half turned away with a grandfatherly smile. He saw the shadow creature fade away from the corner of his eye as the unknown boy twitched as if surprised the elderly Hokage had noticed the results of whatever Taijutsu technique he had employed. Hyojin wasn't really surprised to see Kraidar shift, his form fading into shadows before disappearing entirely. They are interesting, but I prefer remaining within you unless absolutely necessary, he murmured. Jin shifted ever so slightly, the movement barely noticeable. He noticed one of the ANBU staring at Hinata for a moment, as if slightly annoyed about something. Likely related to her, unless I'm mistaken... and he's likely angry about something, though he's barely showing it in his stance and demeanor, he thought.  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

Kurenai nodded. "Thank you, Hokage-sama." She turned to her team. "Shino, please show Jin to Konoha Hospital so he can get his burns looked at. Then meet me at the training field. We can figure out where he'll be staying a little later."





Hinata flinched, feeling the ANBU ninja staring at her, and looked at the ground. She was going to be in trouble when she got home, that she was sure of.  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Shino tapped the civilian fighter on the shoulder, tilting his head slightly in a silent gesture to follow him. Kiba frowned slightly, hearing Jin's low voice, but not being able to tell exactly what the guy was saying. Hyojin paused before following Shino. "They can only threaten you and belittle you if you let them... don't," he said simply in a low voice to Hinata. He knew it from personal experience how to keep others from belittling him.  

[SKBCTayuyaFluteofDeath]

Hinata glanced at Jin as he passed. "I-I'll try," she whispered. "K-Kiba-kun, w-would you mind, um, w-walking me home?"  

[Kaosujin Ryu]

Shino exhaled, walking quickly and briskly towards the hospital. He glanced back, noticing a slight flicker of bluish light before he blinked, noticing the chakra burns almost completely healed. Kiba blinked, then nodded with a grin as he took a couple of steps towards her. "So what'd Akakage say?" he said idly, offhandedly both complimenting and insulting Hyojin by calling him 'Red Shadow' due to his obvious talent for manipulating what seemed to be shadow chakra and his dark red hair.Hyojin hadn't been certain using Synthesis would heal the injuries his own strikes had caused, but had been concentrating the excess energy from healing Hinata into his own hand and had been pleased to see the burns healing steadily, if not quickly.