Claudio: I plan on making this a long story...or a lest maybe 5-10 chapters. I'm not to good on dragging out stories. This is the longest thing I have ever written and its a NARUHINA! YEAH! No fluffiness in this chap. but I promise that theres alot in the next one. This is basically just an introduction.

Thunder and Lightning

Act I: The Mission

"Noooooo!" Screamed the blond haired, large bosom-ed woman as she threw a large stack of papers on to the ground. Most of the papers scattered and flew around the room, covering every inch of the floor. When the papers settled, there stood Tsunade, the Godaime of Konohagakure. She wore an angry and slightly pink-tinted face. She also had a large bottle of sake in her hand, almost half gone. She was glaring at the slightly shorter woman standing in front of her. Her own personal assistant and aid, Shizune. Shizune held a very shocked and surprised face, but quickly regained her composure and beamed at the Hokage.

Shizune squeezed Ton Ton, the small cute little piggy she always carried with her and shouted, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Shizune had rarely ever yelled at Tsunade-sama, except the times when one of them was heavily drunk and their emotions got the best of them.

"NO MORE!" Screamed Tsunade-sama, right back at Shizune, slightly slurring her words. "I'm done! I can't take anymore papers and files! It's too much!" Tsunade-sama was getting less and less angry as she talked, almost realizing her foolish act of throwing the large stack of papers, but she kept her facade. "If I would have known that this is what would have come from being Hokage, then I would have reconsidered!" Tsunade turned her back to the black haired medical apprentice, and slowly began to walk back behind her desk. She took a large swig of the sake bottle, finishing it off, and threw it to the side. It clashed into the wall and shattered into pieces, creating a shimmering glitter effect on the left side of the room.

Shizune knew that Tsunade-sama was drunk, and would be heavily plastered for the rest of the day. Even as the Godaime, Tsunade-sama still held a lot of old habits that she had picked up while the two were traveling together. Shizune remembered once specific incident when the 'Great Sucker' was so drunk, that she began to tare the bar down with her godly strength. All because they refused to sell her anymore booze. Shizune had felt really bad for the owners of the bar, but she had already forgiven Tsunade-sama the very next morning, knowing that it was just who the Medic Sanin was. But now, Shizune had no tolerance for this woman's antics. For Kami sake! She was the Hokage of Konoha! She NEEDED to put away theses childish actions and take some damn responsibility! "Tsunade!" Shizune didn't yell, but anyone could've heard the authority backing her voice. "You need to stop it. NOW. Your the Hokage, and this is no way for you to act. You have hundreds of Ninjas at your finger tips, controlling their lives to a certain point, and you can't even manage you own damn life!" Shizune knew that Tsunade-sama had caused the uproar out of mostly a fit of rage, because of her constant drinking in the past, Tsunade-sama could keep herself function like a normal person most of the time.

Tsunade sat down at her desk and laid her head into her hands, taking along deep sigh. She DID know that what she had done moments before was stupid and an act on impulse. She needed to clear her mind, and take a brake from paper work. Maybe without tossing the stacks of them across the entire Hokage office. Tsunade gave a soft chuckle. Maybe assigning missions will take my mind off of the gauntlet of forums and filing I still have to do. Assigning missions were a lot easier then the village paper work, and it was fun meeting the young shinobi she knew and loved. Yes, this is what I need to do. The Godaime thought to herself as she remembered the latest mission contract to arrive to the council this morning. The one that wanted four shinobi to make their way to Suna, in order to reestablish the strong alliance and regulation that Konoha shared with the village. Tsunade smiled to herself as she grabbed the several papers that she needed.

Shizune just stood there staring in disbelief as the woman who just moments ago was throwing a tantrum like a five year old, collected herself, and began systematically picking up papers from the floor around her desk. Tsunade stacked the papers by tapping the bottom of the papers on her desk and set to work assigning new teams. "Tsunade-sama..." Shizune sighed out and smiled at the large chested Sanin. Finally. Shizune thought. She managed to get a hold of herself. "Hokage-sam-'" Shizune was cut off by Tsunade pointing at the door.

"Shizune, I need you to collect Sai, Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto. Tell them to meet me here the moment they get the message from you." Tsunade said, not bothering once to look up at her personal aid, as she was continuing finishing the mission assignment.

Shizune was taken aback at the assertiveness of the Hokage's voice and stuttered out, "H-hai Tsunade-sama!" Shizune began to walk out of the office, giving one more turn around look at the Hokage and smiled at how she could work under the circumstances that she was utterly hammered. Shizune walked out the door, closing it as she left, and a long sigh shutting her eyes, glad that the commotion was over. Never looking back to the door, Shizune dashed out of the Hokage building, in search of the four shinobi that Tsunade-sama had requested.

(-_-)

Naruto couldn't help the large fox-like grin from spreading across his face as he walked out of Training grounds thirteen. Naruto was was drenched in sweat, and had his shirt slung over his shoulder. His body supported bruises, scars, and dirt spots from his face all the way down his torn and tattered pants. Standing next to him was an equally as happy and exhausted Kiba with his dog, Akimaru trailing not too far behind. Kiba supported an almost as equally large smile, and was just as beat up and sweaty, but he had kept his mesh undershirt on.

As the two walked back towards town they were talking about the spar that they just had. Naruto right away began to talk about Kiba's improvement over the last few weeks, "WOW KIBA!" Naruto grinned even wider (if it was even possible), "You and Akimaru are getting better and better!

You teamwork almost had me! If at this rate you two keep it up, you could beat me one of these days!" Naruto quickly adopted Lee and Gai sensei's good guy pose and shot it at Kiba. Naruto was telling the truth. He had to admit, Kiba was getting stronger and stronger at an alarming rate, probably because of all of the extra training that Kiba's older sister was putting him through. Of course even with all of Kiba's extra training, Naruto had still come out on top, winning the friendly spar, but Kiba wasn't to far off from coming in first. Naruto decided that he would just have to work harder to make sure that it never happened!

Kiba looked back at his large white canine companion, and winked at him. "Don't you worry Naruto. Me and Akimaru are gonna train till we drop if that's what it takes to defeat you!" Kiba Grinned mischievously at the spiky blond haired boy, who looked right back at Kiba, as if he were accepting the dog shinobi's words as a challenge. That's when Kiba looked back to the direction of Konoha and blurted out, "Hey Naruto! Race ya to the village! Loser has to buy the other as much ramen as the victor wants!" Kiba glared at Naruto waiting for the answer that he already knew.

"Your on dog breathe!" Naruto shouted pumping his fist in the air. Naruto was never know to refuse a free bowl of ramen! Naruto glanced at Kiba, and they both gave a short nod, before both of them broke of into a full out sprint towards the village.

(-_-)

From the inside of Konoha, everyone could hear the competitive shouts from the training grounds getting closer and closer. This included a short-black haired medical kunoichi, who was currently on the look out for a hyperactive noisy blond shinobi. She immediately stopped her search right inside of the village gates. From the outside she heard loud yelling.

"YOUR NOT GONNA BEAT ME AGAIN!"

"OH YEA! TRY ME! KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"

"HEY! THAT'S CHEATING! TWO CAN DO THAT! GATSUUGA!"

The noises got louder and louder, and heavy crashing noises and grunts soon reached the front gates, as two shinobi locked eyes with an intense glare. The two were running so fast and not looking at where they were going, that both of them failed to see the poor Shizune standing in their way. The Hokage's assistant had also failed to notice them right away, with the speed they were traveling at and such. With a loud 'CRASH' and a 'THUD' both ninja's ran right into Shizune, throwing all three of them to the ground.

Naruto and Kiba were the first to recover from the collision. "I'M SO SORRY! I DIDN'T SEE YOU" Both Naruto and Kiba said in unison, rubbing the back of their heads. Naruto looked down to see to his surprise that it was Shizune that they had ran into. She was sitting up with her eyes closed rubbing the back of her head, but not like Kiba and Naruto. She rubbed it out of the pain when she fell back on the ground.

"AH! Shizune! Sorry about that!" Naruto offered the medical konoichi a helping hand and she gladly excepted it. Naruto, being as strong as he was had no problem pulling Shizune up from her position on the ground. The only mistake that he seemed to make was how he either pulled to hard, or he just didn't realize how light Shizune was. In a quick tug, the Black hair assistant found her self face first into the powerful naked chest of Konoha's number one knucklehead ninja.

To say that Shizune was embarrassed and blushed was an under statement. Very quickly the medical konoichi began to use Hinata's trademark blush that reached her ears. Shizune felt the heat that radiated off the blond boy. She also felt his nicely chisled muscles all around her face. The black haired women had to hold herself back from rubbing her face up and down his chest from the great feeling it gave her. Unfortunately, out of shock, Naruto and Shizune just stood there akwardly.

Thankfully, Kiba had been there and broke the two out of their trance with a slight chuckle and a nudge to Naruto. "Hey Naruto...when you two start to make-out, tell me before hand. I don't want to watch." Kiba grinned a wicked smile at Naruto, and both the blond boy and the black haired medic instantly broke the accidental embrace and stepped back embarrassed. The two of them were blushing profusely and nervously laughing. Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

With what he could muster, Naruto laughed again and said, "Sorry again Shizune-san. Guess I don't know my own strength!" Naruto flexed his bicep as if to prove his point, but only succeeded in making Shizune blush even more and Kiba teasing him again. Naruto didn't like that. "Gah! Shut up BAKA!" Naruto yelled at the Inuzuka, waving his fist in the air. Kiba only began to laugh at Naruto's threat. Giving up, the blond shinobi turned to Shizune and proceeded to tell her that they needed to leave to go to Ichiraku's, but Shizune stopped them just before they left.

"Sorry Naruto, but Tsunade-sama needs to see you right now. Its for a new mission." Shizune said while keeping her blush. Its not that she felt anything like THAT towards Naruto, its just that she never realized how physically fit the boy had gotten since she remembered last. She would always see him as the knucklehead ninja that was always right below everyone else, but never giving up to prove himself to those around him. It was just hard for her to accept that her little brother was growing up so fast.

"Whaaaat?" Naruto whined and dropped his arms and head, fake sobbing. "But I haven't been to Ichiraku's since like..." Naruto scratched his chin in a thinking pose, "...since this morning. Which was like SIX HOURS AGO!" Naruto continued to whine. He knew that he would go, he had to, it was his job as a shonobi of Konohagakure. Naruto also knew that he had grown up a lot since his adolescence and was beyond the age of whining, but it was always good put up a good fight when he really didn't want to do something. Besides, he still had a reputations to up hold on the village as THE one and only UZUMAKI NARUTO!

Shizune shook her head at Naruto's antics. She knew him too well to know that he had already given up and planned to actually show up to Tsunade-sama's office. She sighed and warned Naruto, "You better hurry up now Naruto. The Hokage-sama has already been drinking today and lost her temper earlier." Naruto's face went pale. The black haired konoichi giggled at the expression that she had caused. She knew that Naruto would respond to that. He never liked to be on Tsunade-sama's bad side. He would always get pummbled. Not EMENSILY, but enough so that he straighted up for the next few days. Tsunade-sama was known for her legendary strength as one of the three Sanin. Tsunade-sama used chakra that was stored in the diamond shaped purple mark on the middle of her forehead.

Naruto (still pale by the way) turned and ran in the direction of the Hokage tower. As he ran he turned and yelled, "Thanks Shizune-san! Later Kiba! We'll settle this later!" Naruto was already a tiny speck in a matter of seconds. A cloud of dust trailed behind the blond boy as he used his unbelievable stamina to book-it as fast as he could, hopefully getting there fast enough not to get smashed with Baa-chan's fist.

Kiba stood there, angry and shock at Naruto's immediate escape. "HEY GET BACK HERE BAKA! YOU OWE ME RAMEN!" Kiba yelled and tried to run after Naruto, but the ball of energy was already long gone. Kiba yelled some more words and insults that caused some of the mothers around watching the situation, cover their children's ears. Shizune could help a giggle at the two young men. She might have never said it, but she enjoyed the boy's competitive nature. It pushed them to better themselves, and they were getting stronger and stronger everyday because of it.

Shizune shook her head, clearing her distracting thoughts. "Now time to find Sakura and Sai." She said to herself and began to walk towards the memorial stone, thinking they might be training with Kakashi-kun. The dark haired medic blushed at her own horrific she had added to Kakashi's name. Just the thought of the gray haired sharingan user brought a blush to her face. Why is that? She wondered.

(-_-)

Shizune had guessed right. When she arrived at he memorial stone, she had found the cherry blossom haired girl train with the socially awkward, and emotionless Sai. Kakashi had not been far of, sitting a a nearby tree, reading his icha icha book's written by none other then infamously perverted Sanin, Jariya-sama. Shizune shivered when that name appeared in her head. She never really felt...comfortable, when Jariya was around. Shizune had always felt an uneasy aura protrude from the white haired Sanin, and felt more like a piece of meat then a respectable Kunoichi. Shizune had to shake her again for like the fourth time that day in order to keep her mind on track. She quickly told the two that their presence was request at the Hokage's office and that it for an urgent mission.

The two shinobi training, stopped and gave a small saying, "Hai!" The black haired medic almost laughed at their formality, but waved it off as she saw Kakashi approaching her. He was walking at a casually slow pace and had his eyes closed in a small smile. Even though his Kakashi's face was always covered up by that mask, Shizune loved it when he smiled. It always warmed her heart to no that he wasn't one of those ninja in the village who were stoic and solemn. She suddenly got nervous, noticing that Kakashi was walking up to her, Shizune. The Hokage's aid quickly mumbled out that she needed to find one more person for Tsunade-sama and took off in the other direction, leaving three ninja's standing with confused looks on their faces.

(-_-)

Bit of a time lapse. This is Hinata's day, from morning to now.

The warm sun had crept every so slowly into a young sixteen year old Hyuuga Hinata's room. With the yellow light illuminating everything in the heiress's bedroom, a soft almost comfortable feeling was emitted. This was of course a feeling, contrary to what one might feel in the Hyuuga compound. Instead, one might feel; fear, sadness, loneliness, or maybe even hatred and loathing. When the warmth from the rays finally hit the young Hinata, asleep on her bed, her eyes began to softly flutter. With cat like yawn and stretch, Hinata slowly rose out of her bad and gave a delightful sigh. She rubbed her eyes and stood up from her bed to perform her morning rituals. She never woke up with an alarm clock, the sun provided her with its rays to get her up every morning at sunrise. Grabbing a towel from a small closet in her room the black and blue haired beauty walked into her bathroom and turned on the faucet to start a bath. As she was undressing, she gave a look at herself in the mirror. She gazed down from her soft and beautiful features (so she was told) on her face, to her ivory skinned body. She inspected her large C cup breast, which to her were too big for her petite body, and began to look even farther down. Her hands traced her own slender hips that gracefully complemented her wonderfully full hips. Her slender, yet thick legs were long and perfectly finished off her body. Hinata sighed. She knew was beautiful, and probably most men's dream in Konohagakure, but to her it meant nothing. She felt their looks, their stares. But she never felt HIS stare, not even a glance. She sighed again. "Naruto..."

As the tub finally filled up, Hinata quickly jumped to the water and with haste, began to wash up. She didn't want to be in the tub for too long when her thoughts were on her blond hero. Expecially when she was touching, and rubbing herself all over. Hinata gave another long sigh, remembering the last time she wasn't able to control her thoughts in the tub, and had to embarrassingly explain to her father that those weren't screams of agony coming from her room. Her father stop asking questions after that, probably out of fear of what the answers might be. Hinata was grateful.

Getting out of the tub, Hinata quickly dried off, and found some clothes in her drawers. Hinata had put on her usual pants that reached above her ankles, and her large bulky gray coat. Hinata inspected herself one more time in the mirror before she headed out. Indeed, she found herself suitable, reveling nothing at all. Perfect... she thought. As she left her house, with the sun still very low to the sky. Everyone in her compound was already awake, either training, or being a Hyuuga. Not sure what that means, maybe just being a stuck up asshole. Hinata giggled to herself, at calling the Hyuuga's assholes. They were, but she would never say it aloud, or even around another Hyuuga, for fear that they might be able to read her mind. Hinata giggled again.

Everyone in the Hyuuga compound might be awake, but the village itelf was quiet and almost dead. It if wasn't for the early stores that opened up, like the breakfast restaurants and the drug stores, Konoha would be a ghost town in the mornings. Hinata loved strolling around the village at this time. It was so peaceful, and most of the time, she would meet an old friend of her mothers, or even once upon a time her fathers, and have a nice chat with them. Without realizing it, Hinata ended walking right next to her crush's apartment. The heiress snapped out of her train of thought, and looked up at Naruto's apartment door. She smiled at the building, though it looked more like a shack then anything anyone should live in. How easy would would it be for someone to break into Naruto's apartment? Hinata asked herself. The Hyuuga gave a small almost sinister smile. How easy would it be for me to just silently break into his apartment, sneak carefully into his room, and... Hinata slightly shook her head hoping the dirty thoughts would stop. At least while she's in public. No. Bad Hinata. Bad Hinata. The girl gave a small slap to her hand. She laughed at the her own gesture, but was stopped when she heard Naruto's door open. Hinata let out a gasp, and looked for a place to hid. He can't know that was just standing here look at his apartment! He might think I'm a stalker! Not that she was really anything short of one, she just didn't want Naruto to know.

Hinata quickly jumped behind a small barrel that was right at the corner of her Naruto-kun's house. In silence the kunoichi watched the blond boy walk out of his apartment, and give a slight stretch in the morning sun. She blushed when she saw that he was missing his usually orange jacket, and only had on a tight black shirt. It IS a hot day. She told herself. Hinata continued to watch as Naruto began to make his way down the street. What is he doing up so early? Maybe I should follow him. Thats not creepy right? Hinata questioned her actions. I'm just a little curious...that's all...

Hinata began to trail her man. To her surprise, she followed him all the way the Inuzuka compound, and watched as him and Kiba talked for a little while. Then she watched, as the took off the the village gate, and further down to the training grounds. Hinata had a difficult time keeping up with the two energetic boys, remaining hidden the whole time. When she arrived at Training ground thirteen, Naruto and Kiba had already begun their sparring.

For the next several HOURS (Yes. It was hours. Hinata was ready to leave after the first, but when she saw Naruto take of his shirt reveling his well toned pecks and abs, she had to stay. How could she walk away from that?) Hinata watched the two go at it. The battle was fierce and rough, but in the end, her Naruto-kun came out the victor. Silently she congratulated the blond in her head. Naruto...your so strong...I want so much to be like you one day...Hinata made an oath to herself that she would. Then maybe he would notice her.

When the boys were done sparring, they collapsed at the foot of a very large tree on the opposite side from where Hinata. That didn't do much to stop Hinata, as she just activated her byakugan and got a closer look. Hinata didn't normally use her blood limit to by nosy and peep on others business, but she knew that they would never catch her. Kami, she looked like a grade 'A' stalker right now. When the "stalker" focused her byakugan at Naruto and Kiba she saw that they were just talking, still supported by the trunk of the giant tree. Hinata wasn't a lip reader, so she had no idea what they were saying. Damn! Hinata began to scold herself. I knew I should have asked Neji-sama to teach me how to read lips through my byakugan. Indeed the genious of the Hyuuga could do this feat, and Hinata now wished she had taking his offer of teaching her how to do it when he asked her. Hinata was about to get up and walk closer to the blond and the Inuzuka, she noticed that they had already gotten up and began walking out of the training grounds. Oh No! I'm gonna lose them! Hinata yelled at herself when she saw them take off in a full off sprint towards Konoha. She also broke out into a sprint, but began to slow down have way to the village, knowing that she wouldn't catch them. Speed was never really her strong suit, especially when it came to her Jyuuken, and her father despised her for it.

By the time that Hinata reached the village gates, she was panting and out of stamina. How can they still have energy like this, they just got done sparing... Hinata shook her head. They would never change. She was specifically talking about Naruto of course. Ever since he was little and they were all still in the academy, he had unbelievable energy. She never could figure out how he did it, but it use to make her feel even worst about herself, knowing she would never be able to catch up to her crush. As she got older though, her thoughts began to turn into something she considered not appropriate for her age. She began to put her and Naruto in situations that would put his stamina to the test. Now that she thought about it, still had these dreams quite often. The heiress reached out to hold herself up on the village gates, trying to catch her breathe and clear her head of dirty thoughts.

When Hinata began to recover, she started to walk through the large entrance only to be stopped dead in her tracks. What she saw in front of her dropped her heart, and she felt a pang of sadness inside her. Standing some ways off in front of the Hyuuga konoichi, was Naruto holding a very red Shizune very close to his hot, sweaty, powerful chest. Hinata almost died on the spot. H-h-how could he d-d-do th-this? She stuttered in her own mind. Hinata knew that she could really complain, seeing that he didn't actually know about her feeling towards him. The Hyuuga staggered back in shock to see her love hold someone else so intimately. However, when she saw the two split up looking embarrassed and Naruto saying something about not knowing his own strength, she sighed with relief. It was only an accident...that's OK, right? Hinata asked herself, as if trying to reasure that her chance to be with Naruto was still there.

Hinata continued to watch as Shizune told her Naruto-kun something, he took off running, and Kiba began to shout foul language at the running blond. Hinata watched her crush heading off to what seemed like the Hokage tower. Hinata didn't want to lose him, so she started to walk towards the Hokage's office as well, but since she was positive on where he was going, she walked at her own leisurely pace. She was of course avoiding Shizune and Kiba. The Hyuuga heiress never stopped or slowed down to talk to anyone, and it wasn't like there was anyone stopping her to talk anyways. Hinata was content on just getting to her Naruto-kun. When she finally arrived at the Hokage tower, she began to panic. She didn't know what to do. Should she just stand out here and wait for Naruto to come out or should she maybe go inside and try and find. She knew that if he had to come here, he probably had something important to talk about with Tsunade-sama. Even if she did go inside and find him, she would have the courage to say anything to him. Why did she follow him again? All of Hinata's thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her.

"Hinata?"

(-_-)

Kami! How hard is it to find one simple girl? Shizune had been looking for Hinata for the last hour, and she had no signs of where the young girl could be. Shizune had exhausted all of her possibilities. The women had already been to the Hyuuga compound, rechecked the training grounds, check with her teammates, and even scouted around town for a bit. The only piece of information she had gotten, was from a few store keepers who had said that they had seen her a few hours before. Big help that was. The Hokage's aid had already given up, and was on her way to back to Tsunade-sama to tell the older women that Hyuuga Hinata was nowhere to be found.

As Shizune neared the Hokage tower, she noticed a dark haired girl standing outside of it. "Hinata?" Shizune asked with out thinking. Why did she do that. The young girl turned around and looked at Shizune with pale white eyes. Definitely Hinata. Thought Shizune as she ran to the heiress. When she reached her, Shizune gave a deep bow, paying respect to the Hyuuga, and started, "Konichiwa, Hinata-san. Tsunade-sama requests your presence immediately in her office." Shizune rose back up to say that last part.

Hinata blinked. She didn't expect Shizune to tell her she HAD to go into the Hokage tower. Hinata took one more look at the tower and looked back at Shizune smiling, "Arigato, Shizune-sama. I will go up right away." Hinata was jumping for joy on the inside. I get to go see my Naruto-kun without seeming like a weirdo for stalking him! Hinata gave no pause as she walked into the large tower, with Shizune following close behind her. Hinata didn't know Shizune too well, but if Shizune was bound to give Hinata reasons to go to her Naruto-kun, Hinata might consider to try to hang around the Hokage aid more often.

(-_-)

Tsunade sat behind her Hokage desk and looked back and forth at the three teenage shinobi that sat before her. Naruto, Sakura, and Sai, looked impatient and were starting to move in their seats. Tsunade knew that she could start explaining the mission until Hinata arrived. Well ACTUALLY...she could, but Tsunade really didn't want to repeat herself. She utterly hated repeating herself. Tsunade continued to eye down the three. She had a really strong connection with this group. Or maybe just two out of three. She really didn't feel towards Sai what she felt for Sakura and Naruto. They had changed her. One, reminded her of a younger version of herself, while the other, beating some sense into her alcoholic self. Then again, she probably didn't feel what she felt for 'dunce' and the blossom haired girl, towards any of the shinobi in the village, with an exception of Shizune of course. Shizune had always been there for Tsunade. No matter what 'The Great Sucker' did, Shizune had always been there. In the lowest times (Tsunade chuckled, remembering one particular incident that happened at a bar while they were traveling), and she even managed to be there to make Tsunade even better in the good times.

"Come on Baa-chan!" Naruto yelled in annoyance of waiting. He hated silence, and this was about as silent as it gets. Naruto was almost sure that he could hear the very thoughts of those around him. Something about a 'sucker', maybe a bar...or something. Anyways it didn't matter. Naruto couldn't take it anymore. He had to break the silence.

Tsunade was ripped from her thoughts by the infamously self proclaimed future Hokage. Tsunade glared at Naruto giving him a 'don't do that again' look and then smiled slightly, knowing how the waiting must have been killing him on the inside. "Listen you brat!" Tsunade replied, "I already told you that we can't start until the last person is here." Tsunade intended to keep to that.

"Ahhhhh!" Naruto moaned in anguish. "Well then at least tell us who he is!" Naruto gave Tsunade his puppy-dog eyes, in hopes that she would take pity on him and tell him something. But Tsunade was not going to break so easily.

"Naruto. For the THIRD time, I'm not-." Tsunade started, but paused and took a quick glance at the door. "Well Naruto, you got lucky. SHE'S finally here." Tsunade took up a grin at Naruto as she said this.

"Whaa..." Was the only response that Tsunade got from the blond. Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. Everyone's head turned to look at it, except Tsunade who was already looking at the door.

"Ah Hinata! Come in!" Tsunade said loud enough for the shy girl on the opposite side of the door to open. The heiress, slowly opened the door, and peeked in side, before she fully walked in. Hinata gave a deep bow to the Hokage, and apologized for being so late. "NONSENSE HINATA!" Yelled Tsunade, purposefully trying to startle the small girl. She succeeded. "Its not your fault. I should have counted of someone more trustworthy to find the people I needed." Tsunade meant this as an insult to the black haired medic that followed in after Hinata. Shizune gave an angry look at Tsunade-sama. She wanted to tell the Hokage that Hinata had been difficult to find, but decided to wait until later. Shizune also knew that the statement was only meant to get her goat, not really to put a large amount of guilt on to her.

"Hinata? Your going on this mission too?" Naruto looked confused at Hinata, and then quickly back at Tsunade, looking for some answers.

Hinata blushed. Does he not want me on his team? Hinata was worried that Naruto had not wanted her to interfere with his team. She would be completely destroyed if that was the case. Wait! Did he said mission? "Mission?" asked Hinata looking at Tsunade-sama.

"Now that your all here, I can begin." Tsunade took a long sigh before starting. "I have a mission for you four. Hinata will temporarily be joining team seven for it." Tsunade looked at the shocked Hyuuga, and smiled. "Kakashi will not be guiding you on your mission. Naruto will." Tsunade smiled at the blond boy, looking just as shocked as Hinata did. Tsunade waited for everyone to soak in what she had just said. The Hokage was expecting a large reaction, which of course she received from Sakura.

"WHAT!" Sakura jumped out of her chair, losing her composure for the first time during the meeting. "You can't possibly be putting NARUTO in charge of a mission!" Sakura was yelling, eyes wide like someone had just told her that Sasuke had been brought back. But no, this wasn't about Sasuke, this was about the most unlikely candidate to be head of a very important mission. The blossom haired girl was almost angry at Tsunade's decision to do this. Sakura had thought that herself would have been the better choice. She could make appropriate decisions, guide her team effectively, and not utterly FAIL at almost everything that caused her a bit of trouble. Not that Sakura didn't trust Naruto, it's just that...well...OK, maybe she didn't trust Naruto enough to conduct such a vital mission.

Tsunade was put off a little at Sakura's out burst. It was insulting the Hokage's effectiveness to put together a team and a leader. How dare she. "Sakura. Are you questioning my decisions?" Tsunade asked with a bit of sourness tinting her voice. Tsunade hadn't expected a huge reaction, just enough of guilt that would set the pink hair bitch straight. Yes. She did mean bitch. It really did take one to know one.

Sakura took a step back realizing her mistake to make such a scene. She looked down in regret. "Sorry Hokage-sama. Forgive my out burst." Sakura said almost expressionlessly. Sakura hated being called out in front of her friends like that.

Tsunade smiled. "Its alright Sakura. I know its different, and normally would do this, but this is a special case." Tsunade said looking directly at Naruto, who look as confused as everyone else.

From behind Naruto, Hinata silently cheered for her love. Naruto, you deserve to lead a mission. Your stronger then all of us. She smiled. I know you'll do great. Hinata believed in Naruto, even if she too did wonder why he was going to lead the mission. Naruto apparently was also curious.

"Hey Baa-chan? I'm not saying I don't want to be in charge-Cause that's awesome that I am!-it's just that...well...umm, why am I in charge?" Naruto's voice was calm, and that surprised Tsunade. She expected him to be ecstatic that he would lead a mission.

"Yea Tsunade-sama. Why is this a special case?" Sakura also added in. Naruto wasn't offended by this, he really DID want to know, just like everyone else in the Hokage's office did.

Tsunade was glad enlighten everyone. "Well, this is my reasons for who I picked and why. Sakura, I picked you for your medic skills and your brute strength for close range attacks. Your work with Sai and Naruto is also unquestionable. Teamwork will be vital on this mission. Sai, and his long range painting summonings and his strategic skills will also be useful. Naruto, I picked you for your powerful close range attacks, and your long range Kage Bunshin. But most of all, I picked you to lead this because of your close relationship to the Kazekage of Sunagakure." Naruto smiled at how important Tsunade made him seem. Tsunade chuckled at him. So like his father... Tsunade thought. But then she quickly got back to the matters at hand. "Last, none of your skills would be of any use if you were to never know where the enemy is. Lots of other nations do not like the strong bond we share with Sunagakure, and feel threatened by it, Most would like to see it destroyed. So that is why we have Hinata. He Jyuuken abilities along with her byakugan are perfect for discovering enemy shinobi." Tsunade gave The Hyuuga konoichi a grin. Hinata of course blushed at the Hokage's words. Tsunade began again. "I want all of you ready within the next hour and at the gates, do you understand?"

Sakura replied. "What? So soon?" She didn't leaving for such an important mission with such short notice. It didn't seem all to fair.

"Yes. The sooner the better. Now, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Tsunade repeated. She was given a 'Hai' from the four shinobi, and all of them left the tower to go prepare for the upcoming mission. Left alone now with Shizune, Tsunade began to shuffle some papers. "Now, time to get back to these damn things."

Claudio: See. No fluffiness. Sorry, this story is slow, at least with Naruto and his feelings. But when Hinata gets her chance with an unconscience Naruto, can she stop herself? You'll find out when that situation (and answer) arises in the next chap. of Tunder and Lightning! Give me a week to update.