Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Author's Notes: This is a plot bunny that struck me a while back. I was thinking of developing it into something more. Might try if the time presents itself and people enjoy it. Review to let me know what you think. I truly enjoy hearing from you all! ~ Luna
Few people in Konoha know that Hinata is a great actress. She's had the most undercover missions of her generation and this fact is a closely guarded secret. However, it does not mean that Hinata is not just as she's always been, it just means she's more apt at taking on whatever role the Hokage asks her too, and Hinata very rarely turns down a mission. She is happy to serve her village in any way she can and that her strength lies is deception when she is inherently a truthful person shocked even her. The Hokage comforted her by saying simply, "Your honesty means you understand the cost of a lie and respect the power that lies and truth have. It means that while you can deceive you will never abuse this ability or use it for personal gain. This makes you uniquely qualified to handle the missions I assign you, don't let it trouble you." And Hinata being who she is tried not to, but when the Hokage called on her to deceive her friends and family she found herself questioning her leader as she never had before.
"We need to draw our target out into the open. We have a mole, and I refuse to allow a traitor to continue to undermine our village and endanger the people who rely on us for protection. I would not ask this of you, Hinata, but you are the only one I know that I feel can succeed in this. He has to believe you, he has to believe that you would place him before the village and that ultimately you would betray the village if he asked you too." Tsunade spoke plainly and with a touch of steel in her tone. This was the one mission that Hinata had questioned and it was the only one that the Hokage couldn't allow her to refuse. Hinata bowed low and spoke quietly but in a firm tone.
"I will do this if you ask it of me Hokage-sama." Then with a slight hesitation that let Tsunade know the quiet kunoichi still had more to say, she straightened and looked directly into her superior's eyes. "I feel that I must tell you though, that I feel I cannot complete this mission. My feelings will make this difficult, and where I have always put aside my own personal feelings when it comes to my missions I cannot put aside others. If this mission will hurt my comrades or allow hurt to come to them, be it physical or emotional, I cannot in good conscious take this mission." Tsunade sat forward in her chair and steepled her hands in front of her mouth. "I wouldn't expect you too" was all she said.
Hinata relaxed a fraction before straightening to attention again and reaching her hand out to receive the folder that would tell her everything she would need to know to begin. Tsunade smiled behind her hands before dropping one to lift the folder to Hinata's waiting hand but she refused to release it when Hinata gripped it. "This will be the most difficult mission I've assigned you, you will have to deceive while you remain yourself." Hinata nodded and Tsunade released the folder. Hinata bowed again then turned to exit. When her hand touched the knob Tsunade spoke again, "Pretend he's someone else if it helps, but make him believe." Hinata nodded and then she was gone the door clicking quietly shut behind her.
Tsunade allowed her smile to fall after the door had closed and turned to look out the windows behind her desk. Somewhere in the night quiet village a traitor lurked, and the only thing Tsunade had to go on was a name that a less than reliable source had given under intense interrogation, interrogation that Tsunade was sure would have made him give up any name to escape.