Naruto, Hinata and Ino are sent on a mission to the land of lightning to help secure the safety of a young princess. What will happen when Naruto starts to fall for the princess? Will Hinata take this new threat? Read and find out. NaraHina and other couples. Rated T.
All right so here is another story that has been playing in my mind for a while now. I have not been getting many reviews on my other story Wild at Heart, and as such I am taking a break on writing it. it will be at least two weeks before I update it because I am leaving for Oregon to visit my family. This story is called Until my last Breath. It is set a few years after the Pain battle. The Jonin exams are coming up soon. Naruto has reached Chunin as well as everyone else from the other teams. So there you have it: ) enough of me chewing your ears off…or in this case without any further ado. Until my last Breath.
Tsunade sighed deeply as she reviewed who she had left to send on a mission. All the jonin were out on missions. King Hisingto from the land of lightning was requesting, no demanding high ranking nin to keep his precious daughter, and heir to the thrown safe. King Hisingto's people had been attacked many times from an unknown source. And now there were threats against the royal family! His majesty was going crazy with worry for his daughter. His wife was away at the royal summer house...making preparations for his daughter's grand courting ball.
Looking at the last high ranking ninja's files in the village Tsunade called in Shizune to gather them and bring them to her in her office. "Please have these three prepared to leave on a mission and then report to me quickly so I can give them the assignment" Said Tsunade. "Yes my lady" replied Shizune. Shizune stepped away from the desk and walked out of the office only to bump into some one she was looking for. It was Hiashi Hyuuga and his daughter Hinata Hyuuga. "Excuse me Hiashi Sir, I do not mean to interrupt, but Hinata is needed on a mission today". "Hinata you need to be ready to leave and then report to the Hokage's office as soon as you can", said Shizune. "Yes Miss Shizune" Hinata said. "Father?" Hinata addressed Hiashi. "May I be excused to prepare myself?"
"Yes Daughter, you may." "Thank you father." "Good day Miss Shizune." "Good day to you too Hinata, I will see you shortly." At that Hinata bowed respectfully and flash stepped away.
"I ask again Lord Hiashi, for you to excuse me as I need to gather the rest of the three man team." "Good day" Hiashi nodded and walked past her to the Hokage's office.
Shizune's Pov:
All right who is closer Ino or Naruto? Naruto's apartment is closer but I really doubt he will be home. Hmm Shizune sighed as she finally drew close to the blond knuckle heads apartment complex. Well I better go see if he is even here…
When I reached the correct door I took a deep breath and knocked on the run -down door. To my utter surprise Naruto answered the door in his boxers and yawning.
I could not help but giggle at the sight of Naruto in the late morning. He is nearly 18 and yet he still sleeps with his night cap. He was shirtless and his hair that was showing was completely messed from sleep. Over all he was absolutely not awake yet.
"Good morning Naruto, I'm sorry to wake you but you have been assigned a mission." He finally opened his shockingly bright blue eyes to look at her with a sleepy look.
"When do I need to be ready Shizune?" Naruto asked. "Right about no actually, I'm sorry but the Hokage wants you there as soon as you possibly can." "I believe this mission is important because of the rush."
"I understand" he said with a yawn mixed into the statement. "Well I need to get around real quick, so see you later."
"Good bye Naruto" Shizune replied. With that being said I bowed and made my way down the stairs and started off to Ino Yamanaka's Apartment. I had almost forgotten that Ino moved out of her father's house. It was not till I realized I was walking to her old residence that the memory came back to me.
Flash back:
Ino came bursting into the Hokage's office sobbing and trying to tell us something. I was standing next to Lady Tsunade while we tried to calm the pore girl down so she could coherently explain what was going on.
In the end we found out that she was being forced into an arranged marriage by her father with a noble man from the land of waves. She would have accepted this if she was not in love with someone already. Ino and Sai had gotten really close to one another during the last few years and were currently secretly engaged.
But Ino's father was not taking no for an answer. And so the Hokage stepped in to help settle this issue.
Many weeks of fighting went on between father and daughter until Ino's dad gave in and let her be engaged to Sai. But Ino's relationship with her dad was never the same..And so she moved out to gain her independence.
End Flash back:
The move had just happened two weeks ago, so that is why I almost forgot where here new residence was located.
It took me all of two minutes to run to Ino's apartment complex and find the right door.
When I started to knock on the door I heard muffled sounds…that I can only assume was Ino and Sai… well just great! I really don't want to interrupt them and have to pretend that I was clueless to what is going on in that room.
Well I can't just stand here….so I guess I am knocking. Ahhh why is it always me?
Oh well, here goes nothing.
I knocked three short raps and waited. As soon as they heard me it got very quiet. About ten seconds past and then there was a lot of shuffling around in the small apartment. I was trying not to laugh but hiding my smile was getting harder every second they scrambled around trying to hide what had been going on.
I was waiting about two minutes when the door finally opened to reveille Ino in a very sheer blue night gown. She smiled timidly at me while her eyes were worried.
"Hello Ino, I'm sorry to disturbed you, but you have a mission." I could not help but say the words with a sarcastic tone. "You need to be ready to leave and then come to the Hokage's office as soon as possible."
"Of course Shizune, I will be ready and at the Hokage tower shortly" replied Ino.
"See you soon Ino" I smiled and then took my leave. I really did not want to be around for round two of whatever "game" her and Sai were playing….
Few I am glad that is over…..but I need to get back to Lady Tsunade before Hinata or Naruto arrives.
Hinata's Pov:
As I reached the Hyuuga estate I slowed down to a walk so I could pass through the gates in a respectful manner. While walking to my room I saw Hanabi my younger sister leaving her room across the hall from mine. In a way she looks like me but she is very different. She carries an aura of arrogance around her where as I am timid.
"Hello little sister" I said in passing. She nodded to me but continued walking. I shrugged it off; Hanabi had always been cold to me. Finally entering my room I began to change into my gear and gather my supplies when there was a knock on my door. I was currently undressed except for my thong and socks. I panicked. "Um just one moment please" I shouted at the door! But it was already too late, Neji had already let himself in and was standing shell shocked behind me. He had a full view of my almost naked body. I screamed and dove face first onto my bed as fast as I could! As for Neji, all I could hear was his profuse apologies
"Ne-ji please...cou-ld you come ba-ck in a few minutes?" "Of course Hinata I am so sorry." "It's all right Neji" I said.
He then left without another word. I giggled to myself at what had just happened. Sure it was very awkward but I am not so self conscious anymore. But that darn stutter does come back every once in a while when I am stressed out. I finished getting everything ready and called for Neji.
When he walked in he was just as hesitant as I was to address what had passed between us. I cleared my throat and pushed my fingers together, waiting for him to say something…but we just stared at each other.
"What was it that you wanted Neji?" "I have a mission today and the Hokage is expecting me right about now so…."
"Right sorry, um I wanted to give you a heads up over something I heard being whispered among the members of the main branch" he almost whispered to me. "Does it have anything to do with me? I asked. "Yes dear cousin it does" he answered me.
"Your father has been trying to arraigning a marriage for you to someone from the land of lighting." "From what I Heard he is a great noble man and shinobi." "It appears though, that the council members are planning on giving you time to find someone you would rather be with, instead of forcing you right off the bat." "The only drawback is you must find this significant other within two months time.
"I thought if you knew ahead of time, it would give you a few weeks to start looking at someone you want to spend the rest of your life with."
I was stunned by how much he cared. Neji was risking a lot by just telling me this. It truly showed how much our relationship had grown sense our genin days. I could not help it anymore I let the tears that had welled up in my eyes spill over onto my flushed cheeks.
His face went from his normal stoic visage to one of worry as soon as he saw the tears on my face. Before I knew what I was doing and before he could do anything about it I had tackled him in a tight hug and was silently crying into his shirt.
"Hinata, don't cry my dear cousin!" he said in the most worried tone he had ever used around me. It only made me cry harder. Neji sighed deeply in his chest and wound his arms around me. He let me cry for forever it seemed, until he reminded me I had a mission. I sniffled once and gently pushed away from him.
"Thank you so much for telling me Neji, it means more to me than you will ever know" I said whole heartedly. I smiled at him and gave him one more quick hug. He seemed shocked again but embraced me all the same. When I pulled away from him to leave I realized he must have just gotten home from a mission because his clothes were still soiled and wet. But I think the wetness is from my tears.
"See you when I return my brother" I used my nick name for him just as he had used mine when trying to calm me.
"Until then" he replied. At that note we both exited my room and went our separate ways.
Ino's pov:
Oh my goodness that was a real close one… if Shizune had come over any earlier I'm afraid of what she might have heard or even worse seen. I gulped loudly at the very idea.
I walked back to my bed room where my fiancé was waiting for me. Sai was not my favorite person when he and I had first met. But he grew on me and now our relationship was even stronger. I glanced to my large queen sized bed where I had left him to answer the door. He was still in the bed and still completely nude. His upper body was the only thing visible, but what you could see was sharp and chiseled an absolutely made to please the eyes. Most of the girls thought Sai was cute but none of them really liked him more than a friend. To me he is the kindest and best looking man I have ever known. I am truly glad that I get to spend the rest of my life with him.
"Ino come back to bed" he whined as he saw me heading for the shower. I smirked at him and slid off my night gown. "No, why don't you come take a shower with me" I playfully wiggled my butt as I walked into the bathroom. Before I turned on the water a said "I might need some help reaching some spots." And what do you know…he was there right behind me already in the shower. I giggled and joined him.
Naruto's pov:
When I closed the door and walked to my kitchen I realized that I was partly naked. All I was wearing my boxers, night cap and socks. No wonder Shizune laughed. Wow that was embarrassing
Oh, well I better shower and grab some chow. Setting my kettle on the stove to heat some water, I stripped the rest of my clothes off of my sore body and jumped in the shower for a fast rinse. I have been training my brains out while I had a mission break. While scrubbing my body down with soap I ran my hand over a sore spot on my shoulder and winced in pain. And by doing so I got shampoo in my eyes. While rinsing the soap out of my eyes I lost my balance and slipped on the bar of body soap. Ahh… that hurt!
I started to get off the bottom of the tub when I heard the kettle whistling very loudly.
Crap…I forgot about the water. After turning off the water in the shower I jumped out and grabbed a towel. While wrapping it around myself I jogged out to take the boiling water off the stove. I poured myself a cup for tea and then used the rest for my instant ramen. I still can't cook to well, but I am getting better. When I'm running short on time though instant ramen is the easiest to make.
I was finished eating and geared up for the mission, so I shrugged outside and looked out to the street. Someone I recognized was walking down toward the Hokage's tower. It was Ino, cool maybe I'm going on a mission with her.
"Ino …HEY INO wait up!" I yelled down the street. She turned her head sharply to see who was yelling at her, once she saw it was me she stopped and waited for me to ketch up to her.
"Hey Ino got a mission today?" I asked. "Yeah I do how, did you know?" "Cus I do too." I told her. "Shizune woke me up and told me to get going soon." "Same here." "Wanna walk together and see who else we are going to be with on the mission?" I gave her one of my goofy smiles. "Sure Naruto" she said in a sarcastic voice.
Hinata's Pov:
I am late...I am so freaking late! Lady Tsunade is going to kill me. I rounded the last corner to the Hokage's tower .I sighed in relief as I drew closer to the office. Finally reaching the door I knocked quietly and waited for an invitation in.
Tsunade's voice boomed from the room like a rolling of thunder…"Yeah, Yeah come in!" "It's me Lady Tsunade, Hinata Hyuuga" I stated. "Ah, Hinata come in please the rest of your three man squad just arrived a minuet ago so no worries, you're not late."
I stepped into the office only to blush when I saw my favorite blond headed ninja along with Ino as well. I get to go on a mission with my crush and one of my best friends! This just might be my chance to get Naruto finally. Maybe Ino could lend a hand with the wooing of him….
"Take a seat Hinata, the mission details may take a bit to explain" said Tsunade. The only seat open was next to Naruto. Oh well I guess I have to…..
Wow that was really long for a first chapter. I hope you liked it! it took me a little while but I got it all down. Tell me if I got the characters all right. Hinata has gotten bolder and not as shy. That is why I wrote her thoughts so ...calculated and almost plotting instead of the always blushing beauty we all knew. She has grown up in more ways than one. So R&R I love reviews so very much!
NightWish4