Expectations
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Summary:It was just a diplomatic and peace relation mission, long, hard, and boring but simple, but then a string of murders start happening, & the mission goes into a completely unexpected direction. Not that anything can ever be expected, not when you're Hinata.
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Chapter One:
Hinata:
I munched on a cinnamon bun happily, happy to be back home after the long mission I had been on with Kiba and Shino. The savory taste melted on my taste buds and I sighed happily. The sugar always put me in my happy place.
I was sitting outside on a park bench, enjoying the nice weather, and eating my favourite snack. The sky was that perfect shade of blue, the clouds were white and fluffy, lazily floating across the sky, green grass shining, and there was a warm breeze accompanying the warm rays of the sun. I relaxed and sighed again, it was the perfect day today.
My hair was up in a pony tail and it blew in the wind, the long, midnight-blue strands flowing behind me. I closed my eyes and turned to lye on bench horizontally, resting my head down. This was the li-
"Hinaya Hyuga!"
I shot up, eyes flying open, cinnamon bun falling onto the ground, and whirled around, not entirely graceful.
An ANBU, cricket-masked, stood before me. I flushed as I stood up (no Chunin should have a reaction like that) and barely managed to maintain eye contact.
"Y-yes?" I cursed, great, I had to stutter too?
Thankfully the ANBU had no outward reaction, "Report to the Hokage's tower. The fifth Hokage is requesting you."
I nodded, adopting the Hyuga mask, and watched the ANBU flit away. Only when the ANBU was gone did I relax, and let my eyebrows furrow. I had just returned from a 2-week mission with Kiba and Shino, what did Tsunade want with me right now?
I sighed, and looked at the ground forlornly. Poor cinnamon bun, just lying there on the ground...alone and half-eaten. It wasn't too dirty though, just a little dust that I could wipe away with my shirt. I didn't want to waste food...I bent downwards, wasn't there something like a 5 second rule anyway? I'm sure it would be fine if I just-
"Ahem."
I turned around and saw a disapproving grandma staring down at me, nose crinkled. She glared down at me as I stared at her in apprehension.
I laughed nervously, cheeks reddening, "J-just stretching, haha. Working my core, you know. A ninja's got to stay in shape." I touched my toes for effect ( pretending that I had not just been bending down to pick up a fallen cinnamon bun to eat), but the grandma just sniffed and walked past me, nose in the air.
"That was embarrassing," I groaned, smacking myself mentally, but I quickly shook myself, I had to go to Tsunade's office.
I made my way to the Hokage's tower by jumping from roof to roof, and finally entering in through the door, smiling at Shizune and TonTon. I saw Tsunade sitting in her chair, and surprisingly, Shikamaru. He blinked upon seeing me, but otherwise showed no other outward signs of surprise. He was lounged on an arm-chair his Chunin vest dirty and hair matted. He had probably just gotten back from a mission.
"Hi Hinata," Tsunade greeted me warmly, "Take a seat."
I smiled and sat down, saying a quick greeting to Shikamaru. He gave me a tired smile in response, closing his eyes after.
"Have any idea what we're here for?" His eyes were still closed.
"No idea," I shrugged.
"I'm sending you on a mission, " Tsunade announced, brandishing a folder, or rather two in front of us.
We raised our eyebrows, wasn't that to be expected?
Tsunade wasn't finished, "To Suna on a diplomatic and peace relation mission."
I blinked, confused, but Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.
"How long would this mission be?" And then it clicked. Diplomatic and peace relation missions were always extremely long missions, lasting up to to what could be a decade or so. My eyes widened,no...
Tsunade grimaced, "That's the thing, we don't know."
"How can you not know, Tsunade-sama?" I asked, politely, restraining myself from yanking at my hair. No, no, NO!
"We don't know. Suna and Konoha are still recovering from the war, and now is a good time to strengthen our peace relations. As well we have to discuss trades and negotiations between the nations." Her face had an uncomfortable expression on it and I was tempted to question her but I held back, still shocked by the realization that I could be away from Konoha for years.
Konoha was my home, and I had just been getting along on good terms with my family, Hanabi finally seeing me as her older, role model of a sister. I couldn't just let that be ripped away from me, all my hard work, not to mention I was being named heir...
As if reading my thoughts Tsunade turned to me, "I'm sorry Hinata, I know this means that you'll have to give up your title as heir." Her tone was sympathetic but it didn't help.
Shikamaru turned to me, "They named you heir?" His voice wasn't surprised, and that brought a small smile onto my lips. It was nice knowing that someone wasn't surprised at my being named heir, that they made it seem like it was something that was always going to happen.
"I was keeping it a surprise, until after the official ceremony, but as you can see that won't be happening now." My smile had faded and I lowered my eyes onto the ground, forcing myself not to pout. I didn't want to be seen as a cry baby, I had seen enough of that in the past.
I had been so excited to finally feel recognized, to feel strong and worthy of something, but I couldn't complain. I had a great life with loving family and friends, and not being heir was something I would just have to work with.
I swallowed a lump in my aching throat, and gave a smile, "It's fine. Could we hear the details of the mission, please?" I thanked the Gods that I didn't stutter.
Tsunade welcomed the change of topic, "Of course, " she ruffled through some papers, before looking back up, "You and Shikamaru will set out tomorrow at 5:00 AM in order to reach Suna in time. There you'll be greeted by the Kazekage and his family. You'll be there to promote the peace, help out, and discuss the trades and negotiations. I'll be giving each of you a package that will go in detail about your certain responsibilities. Nothing is to be rushed, and you are not allowed to view the package until after you have reached, understood?"
We nodded, taking our packages.
"Good," Tsunade sighed, sinking into her chair and fingering a bottle of sake, "I'm sorry about this, I really am. It's not easy, and missions like these need to be handled with the utmost care. I needed ninjas who were intelligent, skillful, and know about the type of politics and can conduct themselves civilly. Obviously you two were the perfect choice, both of you being respectively intelligent and belonging to clans, so you at least have a basis level of politics. Not to mention that you both have exceptional skills."
"Thank-you Tsunade-sama," we accepted the praise gratefully but Tsunade waved it off.
"Don't thank me, I know how much missions like these suck. They're long, hard, and boring." Her smile was bitter.
We couldn't argue with that because they were long, hard, and boring.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru mumbled.
"Is there anything else we need to know?" I asked, hoping to leave as I didn't want to stay and hear more about the mission.
Tsunade drummed the desk with her fingers, "I don't think so, the packages will go in detail about what you have to do. The most I can say is try to befriend the people. You don't know how long this mission is going to take and it'll be easier for the both of you if you had good company in the time you're staying."
We nodded, thanked her, and stood up to leave.
"See you off at 5:00 AM, " Tsunade waved as we left.
I said good-bye to Shikamaru as we separated.
"See ya'" He replied back, before disappearing into the shadows which wasn't that surprising, seeing as how he could control them.
I jumped down from the roof, and slowed down to a walk as I neared the compound. When I got there I would have to inform my Father about my mission, and than all the forms would have to be edited so it would be Hanabi's name instead of mine. I would have to tell Kiba, Shino, and Kurenai-sensei about my mission, and face all the good-byes. I sighed, not looking forward to any of it.
Life had been going so well, everything had been falling into place, but this mission had changed everything. My puzzle was broken and all my pieces had been scattered. I told myself not to whine, I wasn't the only one having to deal with it. Shikamaru must be having a hard time too, he had a clan and a team as well.
I reached the compound, and with a nod to the guards, walked in. I ran my fingers through my hair and steeled myself. I couldn't act this way in front of Father, I had to act like the perfect Hyuga. Calm, emotionless, and knowing where my duty lay. I had to accept what I had to do and do it. I had to face the reality of my situation and own it. I had to-
I groaned, I couldn't do any of this. It was easier said than done. I had had no backbone for stuff like this years ago, and was just growing one. Why couldn't I just leave and not say good-bye to anyone? It'd be easier...but it wouldn't be right. I sighed, they were my family and friends, and they deserved a proper good-bye. Besides I had no idea how long I'd be gone, and I wanted to make sure I parted on good terms. Nothing would tear me up more than realize that I had a broken friendship with someone.
I sighed once again before straightening my back, putting on my Hyuga mask, and walked to my Father's door. I knocked three times, each knock sharp and precise.
"Come in." His voice was emotionless, flat, and demanding, the voice of the Hyuga clan leader, something I was never going to become, even when I had proven that I could.
I took a deep breath, shook away my emotions, and stepped in.
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A/N: The two main pairings are GaaHina and ShikaTema.
Hope you enjoyed! ^_^
...Thoughts?