Recreant

by wasuremonogatari

They lived in a dark reality of the extrodinary within their own blood, but her dreaded eyes could see the best in him. "I could not tell you if I loved you the first moment I saw you, or if it was the second or third or fourth. But I remember the first moment I looked at you walking toward me and realized that somehow the rest of the world seemed to vanish when I was with you."

1. Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (duh?) and I gain nothing from writing this piece of fan fiction.

Author's Note: Hello to everybody reading this! Thank you for clicking on this story, but firstly I'd like to explain some things about it that you might want to know.

I have labeled Recreant as a romance and mystery genre rightfully. Sasuke and Hinata are the main pairing but their relationship will not be the only focus of this story, although primary. It will take this chapter and the upcoming one until their first interaction. I love both Naruto and Sakura, so don't expect any bashing of either of the two in my story. Most characters will be equally flawed. Another thing is that I won't be pairing those two together as is usually done in SasuHina stories.

Hinata has a new power, Sasuke is still travelling, Naruto's already become Hokage and they are all around 22 years old. (Hinata is 21 as she is the youngest of her generation)

If you despise NaruHina and can't handle the slightest notion of their romance, this isn't the story for you. While trying to make this as realistic and close to the canon as possible, I felt that their relationship couldn't be avoided, although it will whither soon enough.

There will also be an OC as a minor character whom I will use to assist the plot and characterization in the beginning. Said character won't be prominent once the actual SasuHina part begins. This chapter is very long (16k words, I believe), and if you are interested in this story and let me know in the reviews, I'd rather opt for longer chapters. If you dislike it, please let me know why!

Sorry for the long note, if you read it, thank you! I hope you enjoy the first chapter of Recreant where we set a foundation for the story.

NOTE: The chapter has been edited (December 2017). Constructive criticism I have received has been so helpful! I hope the new arrangement is improved. I'm working on fixing all the chapters I have before finishing the upcoming one. Thanks for everything!

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Chapter 1

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A cigarette innocently dangled from in between the peach plump lips of one very pregnant Nara Temari. Her tongue toyed with the crisp finish in her mouth as she was lulled into a state of fleeting calm by the desert which stretched beyond the distant village gates. By her window she stood, one arm resting on the growing bump on her stomach.

"You're so lazy you don't even move around…" She sighed, grazing her swollen belly button with her knuckles. It was warm in the village of Hidden Sand and the mother-to-be was clad in a thin robe. Her hair was pulled up in four ponytails.

"And you should consider not following his example and going out every once in awhile." The voice which rang from behind her didn't startle Temari in the very least. She'd heard her little brother's sand crawl into her room through the lock of her closed door.

Temari turned to face him. He didn't bother commenting on the cigarette in her mouth or her flushed cheeks. She'd been crying for months on end and the contraptions she held between her teeth habitually were never lit.

"I told you I don't want to." She frowned, crossing her arms.

Gaara sighed. "How would you feel about it if I told you that a messenger from Konoha has arrived and you are obliged to carry out your duty as the ambassador and greet him in the meeting room?"

"I would tell you to find somebody else to do it." Temari said sternly, taking the cigarette into her fingers and strolling into her open bathroom, throwing it into the toilet.

After his sister's disheveled form disappeared from his sight and he heard a flush, Gaara started. "He carries news concerning Nara Shikamaru's mission."

A thud was heard before a gliding noise and Temari clumsily ran out to face him, grabbing his collar. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot - pleading and hopeful.

"Is he okay?" She stuttered, tears tickling her waterline. Gaara's aquamarine orbs softened and he held his sister's wrist.

"He's okay."

Suddenly, Temari surrendered herself to gravity, knees colliding with the floor softly as Gaara's sand prevented the fall from jarring her. She leaned her forehead against his knees, moist eyelashes brushing the harsh fabric of his brown trousers. A sob broke from her lips as a hand still held onto the fabric of the long Kage robe, by his thighs. Gaara's own vision became blurry for a second as her whimpers of joy and relief pierced his calm.

"He's downstairs." He gulped, biting his lip and blinking rapidly for a second. "We will go ahead with the meeting as soon as I arrive in a minute, so hurry making yourself presentable."

Having said that, Gaara too kneeled at Temari's eye level, meeting her gaze. Her lips were trembling, but they were suddenly adorned with a smile. For the first time in six months, his sister looked alive. Gaara's hand landed on the top of her blonde head, caressing it with his thumb. "You're okay now. All of you." Receiving one last nod from her, Gaara's finger fell to brush the top of her stomach, a genuine curl of his lips taking her breath away.

Shortly, Gaara had found himself pushing the heavy door of one of the Kazekage Tower's smaller underground chambers. Inside was a medium, rectangular table covered by a large map of the ninja world and surrounded by a few comfortable chairs covered with red cushions. It was complimented by warm lighting from the numerous torches evenly distributed across the walls.

Sitting in one of the chairs was an eerily ordinary man with the Leaf headband. He would not have recognized him had it not been for the metal gear framing the sides of his face and the ANBU mask he'd been hidden by once he first made a sudden appearance in Gaara's office. He could've been no more than a regular merchant or civilian in the redhead's eyes without the trademark giveaways of his infamous identity.

"Captain Yamato." Gaara acknowledged once the man turned to smile at him pleasantly. The Kazekage approached the table and took a seat. "I apologize for my digression. The ambassador will be here shortly." He neatly folded his robe beneath him, taking the wide white and green hat off of his head. The man waved him off. Temari was not even required to be there.

"Don't worry, my Lord. I did not mind waiting a couple of minutes, but I bet those must've meant the world to your sister." He beamed in understanding.

Gaara chuckled. "Please, don't be so formal, Captain. You are far superior than me in both experience and skill."

"You forgot to mention age, little brother." The men turned around as the blonde made her appearance. The door closed behind her and they stared in awe. A different woman approached them and took a seat besides her sibling. She was tired, but radiant and bursting with energy - thin yet protectively curling her arm around her plump belly while taking a giant fan off her back. She was clad in a black skirt and a red top, face fresh and smelling of rosewater.

"Hello, Captain." Temari smirked. Until she became a mother, first and foremost she was a lover, but with this little reassurance she had, she was ready to, in spite of everything, be the Princess of the Desert. Yamato briefly remembered why she was the wet dream of most men who had had the pleasure of working with her. He mirrored her beam.

"Good afternoon, Temari." Yamato started. "I bring news."

She nodded. "Or so I've heard…" The wariness in her voice still remained the same, Gaara noted as he glanced at her. She was reasonably anxious to hear about her lover's voyage.

"You may present the purpose of your abrupt visit. As you might already know, there is no top secret information that Lady Temari doesn't have access to. There is no reason to hesitate in front of her." Gaara said.

"Of course." Yamato nodded before starting. "As I've already said, Nara Shikamaru has returned from his undercover assignment four days ago."

"Four days ago?! Why didn't he come here straight away? Is he injured?" Temari enquired, eyes widening. Yamato shook his head.

Gaara interrupted him, turning to his sister and grabbing her fist which rested upon the table. "Temari, I ask of you nicely to respect the formality of this meeting. Your husband is fine, let the man talk and you'll get your answers." He lightly castigated before Temari bowed her head. Yamato watched as he tightened his hold briefly and reassuringly before releasing her and withdrawing his hand.

"Go on, please." Gaara asked as his sister bit her tongue. Yamato's black eyes darted from her tense form to the colorful scheme of the map before settling to rest locked with Gaara's own.

"Nara Shikamaru isn't injured. His mission was a success, but his request to venture off to Suna has been denied by the ANBU Black Ops as he still hasn't been thoroughly debriefed." He elaborated and the Sand siblings listened to him intently. There were waves of relief patronizing the woman's quickened heartbeat.

Yamato gulped. "I have come on my own as ordered by Hatake Kakashi, seeking your help. I also ought to relay information about his mission to the Kazekage and… Lady Nara." A corner of his lips darted upwards at the notion.

"We appreciate your effort..." Gaara started. "...but I was hoping you could tell me what the nature and purpose of Nara Shikamaru's mission was in the first place. We have gone through hell and back during these six months and I've tolerated the Hokage's decision to have it remain secret from me even though I had already done him a favor and consented to letting Konoha claim the Princess's first offspring. I am your friend, but I am also a politician. I have a nation to protect." His red hair appeared to be glowing in the candlelight while his usual raspy and airy tone of voice was adorned with a slight flare people all across the world liked to call a manifestation of the young Kazekage's impeccable gift for diplomacy and rhetoric.

"I won't delay this information any further. You have been patient enough." From the inside of his thick coat, Yamato pulled out a scroll with the Fire insignia. As the Kazekage reached out to take it, Yamato shook his head.

"Temari." He said, turning towards the woman who eyed him curiously. "This is for you." Gaara smiled lightly at his sister's suppressed awe as she took it, caressing the paper with her thumb. "This is merely part of my message to you. It is a handwritten letter from Shikamaru himself. It does not contain the mission details, though. It is a personal matter." Temari blushed before tucking it inside of her kunai pouch, resuming eye contact with the newcomer.

"The Nara answers to Suna just as he does to Konoha. I've made enough exceptions. Aren't you going to hand me over his mission report?" Gaara quirked a nonexistent eyebrow inquisitively.

Then, Yamato's visage hardened. "I'm afraid that the Hokage hadn't deemed it safe to leave such information written on paper in case it fell into the wrong hands." He said. "I am going to relay it verbally."

"What is this dangerous thing you speak of during such peaceful times? How do we know that you aren't lying?" Gaara asked straight away, not faltering for a second.

Temari glared at him. "Gaara!" She hissed, although the redhead didn't acknowledge her warning. Yamato licked his lips before glancing around.

"The room is impenetrable. Nobody will see or hear you." The Kazekage crossed his arms, waiting for the Leaf ninja's hesitation to wither. Slowly but surely, he stood up and threw his coat over the backrest of his chair. Darting his fingers lower, he grabbed the left edge of his black joggers and just as Temari was about to protest, he pulled the side down exposing his pelvic bone.

She grew silent.

Gaara watched.

There, intruding on the perfect fairness of his skin, was a tattoo of a triangle. It rested barely below his bone and to an outsider it might've seemed ridiculous or insignificant. Seeing it, Temari then smirked.

She stood up and confidently turning around, thrust her fingers back and in between her skin and fabric of her skirt. The two males watched her lower her hand just enough to expose the same emblem with the exception of a small circle centered in the middle, low on her back. The meaning behind the tattoos was only known by the people who had them and the ones who adorned them.

"That's enough." Gaara stated, causing the exchange to stop. They sat back down. "There is no reason for me to doubt those who carry their leader's Seal of Confidence. You may begin."

With a polite bow of the head, Yamato started. "Our ambassador in Kirigakure had reported some strange news prior to her sudden disappearance around eight months ago. Rumors, those were, but the mysterious circumstances and the Mist's refusal to assist us with the investigation had stirred some suspicion back in the Leaf. Mei Terumi had never displayed any curious behavior, but we had every reason to believe that the ambassador might have been killed because of that very piece of information she passed onto us."

Yamato paused. He was content with the attention he was receiving. Even Temari was focused. He continued.

"The said ambassador, whom you might know as Uzuki Yūgao, had suspected the Mizukage of starting to assemble a deadly new unit which the country had sworn never to assemble again. It was one of the key conditions on their part of the contract when the Allied Nations were being formed."

Gaara frowned. "Unit..? Do you mean the Swordsmen?"

Yamato nodded. "Yes, Yūgao had reported suspicious activity on Mei Terumi's part and alleged intentions of gathering another generation of the Legendary Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist. The last one had proven to be nothing more than trouble as all members aside from Chōjirō, Mei's heir, went rogue. That involves one Kisame of the Akatsuki. I am sure we all find both names familiar. The ambassador stated that two members had been assembled, one being the only remaining one and the other being a mystery figure. Shikamaru Nara had been sent to investigate this issue and discover both the validity of these rumors and Yūgao's sudden disappearance. He came back in one peace and with a concrete answer to only one of those questions." He paused.

"How was the mission a success then?" Temari enquired. As thrilled as she was about her husband's safety, some things just didn't add up.

"…because the Swordsmen aren't being refunded, but found out the underlying cause for the rumor which started it in the first place." Gaara's gaze was piercing and Yamato chose his words very carefully. "Mei Terumi had, at some point, seemingly gotten her hands on one of Orochimaru's old toys. Perhaps, she didn't want to share so this person's identity had been kept secret. Shikamaru gathered evidence of her alleged capabilities and after we had consulted our leading chakra and bloodline limit experts, we concluded that it would have been impossible for the Sannin to gather specimen of those kekkei-genkai in the Land of Waves, since they are only found in the Land of Earth. What we seek from you is consultation with Suna's geologists."

As Yamato spoke, Temari glanced sideways at her brother's deepening frown. He was still in his seat, while the information made her slightly nauseous. Yamato's story was delivered in a monotone. Her heart still beating quickly, she took long breaths to help focus on the serious matter at hand.

Yamato shifted in his seat, giving the siblings a moment to process before continuing. "This person has been given a nickname of some sort and our last Hokage seems to have recognized it as well. Akira Suizen, whatever she is, most definitely had to have been made in the Land of Earth, where Orochimaru was known to have had a few labs in his day. Judging by the fact Kakashi briefly fought her in Iwa, ten years ago, it seems as if she had been traded for peace after the war or even prior to it."

"Meaning that our friends have a secret alliance that we didn't know about." Gaara concluded.

"Or a secret weapon..." Temari growled, clenching her fists.

"As for the question which has actually been answered this time around…" Yamato took a small leather bag out of his pouch and opened it, letting the contents spill onto the table. Gaara's eyes widened as a palm-sized translucent stone slipped into his hand. In the luminescent depths of the pale matter, he could clearly see one side of a face rimmed by purple ropes of hair.

"Shikamaru also seems to have found some of the remains of Uzumi Yūgao."

---

An iridescent outline - a body coated in a thin layer of sweat which reflected a weak flame illuminating the dimly lit bedroom from above - the warmth of the body which rested upon his pelvis entirely - Naruto's senses were in overdrive.

The woman whom he had reached climax with began to shift from her straddling position, rolling onto her side, next to him.

Her hair resembled a spill of black ink as it cascaded across his bed sheets. The sound of her heavy breathing made him ignorant of his own as he stared sideways at her tilted visage in awe. Her glossy eyes were half lidded and glued to the distant broken chandelier with only one candle lit, pink lips slightly agape. Her skin glistened and shadows danced across her barely visible naked form as her chest continued to rise and fall. Their bodies were filtered in the fire's orange, black and white in the dark, caressed by only the weakest of moonlight. She sighed.

No words could explain how beautiful Hyuuga Hinata was to him.

"Naruto…" The sound of her voice rang. She didn't turn to face her equally exposed lover although she felt his attentive gaze on her.

"Yes?" He heaved in a raspy and tired tone, running a single bandaged digit down the side of her bare neck.

"Why did you call me here?" She asked softly, yet barely gathering the air to do so. The earth shattering release still left her with tremors which soothed and shook her musculature.

"Do I need a reason to do so?" His recovery was speedier than hers. Turquoise eyes followed her lean silhouette as she heaved before pulling herself together, wiping warm sweat off her pale temple. The weight of her head was shifted off his forearm and for a moment he was left to marvel at her backside before she grabbed a thin piece of clothing from inside of the open drawer and pulled it over her shoulders to cover herself.

The white silk hung from her like second skin. Naruto too shifted to sit up in the king sized bed, surrounded by disheveled mattress, witnesses of their sinful act. Hinata peeked through the gap in the closed curtains.

They were never able to leave the windows open during their meetings and love making for that matter. Enough scandal was stirred at the notion of the young Hokage running for office while still a bachelor, in spite of being spoken for. Even though their relationship was not a secret, it was highly controversial and dreaded by many. What made it even more despicable were the abominable years the pair had spent together without tying the knot.

Hinata didn't need to be told those things.

Every night in Naruto's inherited wooden mansion above the village was one she swore to be their last. She was truly disgusted of herself.

Fighting off the goosebumps which attacked her at the sudden gust of wind which entered through the open door of thr grand bedroom, she turned towards the tan blond who watched her hazily. He was undeniably a handsome sight to see. She softened.

His hair had slightly grown and came to tickle and stick to his forehead. His eyes gleamed in the relative darkness of the room, lingering on her in recollection of their previous ministration and to him preferably, many more to come.

Hinata sighed.

"We don't do date nights, Naruto. We haven't done date nights in over a year, baby." She uttered, trying to falter his lustful visage. In midst of attempting to prove her point she was glad that the taller male had pulled some sheets over his pelvis. Tucking a silky strand of hair behind her ear, she strolled over to the bed, resting a pale knee on its edge. "Where is it?" She asked softly as he failed to produce a response.

Finally did he run a hand through unruly blond locks, appearing somewhat vicious for a moment. He had changed from the boy she had fallen in love with.

Naruto chuckled into the palm of his hand, miserably hiding his dismay. "I was hoping it could wait until later." His eyes finally rested on her own lilac ones and she forced a small smile. "We could have dinner first." He hopefully remarked, searching her face for something. Hinata shook her head, appearing not to be shaken by the situation. Naruto knew better than to believe that.

"I really don't feel like eating ramen noodles in bed tonight." Hinata sounded sympathetic, yet her words were never to be taken lightly. Then, seeing her lover's visage twist into a small frown, she repeated herself.

"Where is it, Naruto?" Patiently, she asked.

"It's in the bottom drawer." He lightly pointed at the only piece of furniture aside from the bed which the room contained. With a brief nod, Hinata moved a few steps to the side and deftly opened the drawer before pulling out an elaborate scroll.

It was painted in a blood red color with a single firm stamp sealing it.

"An S-rank, huh?" Hinata hummed as she twirled it in her hands. Naruto had pulled on a pair of boxers for the sake of professional modesty. The girl did not bother opening it. "Makes sense." A pained smile graced her features and Naruto felt like air was punched out of his lungs.

"There was nobody else I could have given it to. It's not necessarily dangerous, it's merely top secret. It might also take some time, but your squad is the best at these things." He tried to ease her somehow, but clumsily so.

"That's not the problem, Naruto. I appreciate the trust you put in us." Hinata collected her thoughts and chose her words wisely still a couple of feet away from his disarray. "I really do, but… you don't need to do this." It was a vague suggestion but to Naruto it was self explanatory.

"Hinata, I'm sorry, I really am, but-" He started but was cut off. "Don't bother, please." She uttered and he seethed for a minute, noting the protective stance of her hands crossed over her chest seemingly leisurely. They had been together for too long for him to mistake the posture as such. "We've barely had a dozen conversations ever since you became Hokage a year ago and I hardly have a life beyond the ANBU now. You keep wanting to mix business with pleasure, Naruto, and it isn't healthy." She pleaded. "If you are going to give me an assignment do so like a professional, don't lure me into your bed and then…" Hinata halted to contain the tears which threatened to spill from her waterline.

"I don't want us to be this way, you know." He started, seriously, as he pulled Hinata by the wrist to sit on the bed in front of him. Her knees went limp once they hit the mattress and bounced there for a second, the faint smell of sweat and their natural scents filling the atmosphere. "I don't like only getting to see you for missions and reports, I don't enjoy us having sex here or in my office as much as I should. I want to marry you and make love to you every day for the rest of my life in a bedroom in a house we could call our own."

He stopped to bite his lip at the sight of tears gathering in her eyes. "We could start a family one day and raise kids, grow old together." He ran his hand across her flushed cheek as she fought the urge to cry. Naruto heaved shakily at her expression. "But you don't want that anymore, do you..?"

Then, he pulled her into an embrace. He did not comment on the wetness which stained his bare shoulder and he did not let her slip out of his arms. "It's alright." He said. "It's not like you owe me any time anyways…"

---

"It is only a matter of time before they part ways, Father." The teenager's feminine voice was notably more poised than usual as she poured tea into her father's cup before filling her own.

"How is it that you are so sure, Hanabi?" Hyuuga Hiashi questioned eloquently while picking up the warm drink and bringing it to his lips.

After hours of excruciating training with his youngest, a break on the porch of their private training ground was a refreshing treat which was slightly less sweet while clouded by dreaded topics such as his eldest's scandalous love life. Not to mention that he dreaded Hanabi's ugly habit of gossiping with the maids and other village girls in her leisure time.

"Hinata does not desire to marry the young Hokage. I know it for sure." Hanabi began to elaborate. "He is very much in love with her, that much has not changed. However, her feelings are somewhat indecisive. Hinata is too kind to reject him once and for all, but too rational to give her hand to a man whom she doesn't love enough to do so willingly. Many say that she has established an affair with Naruto's previous sensei, Hatake Kakashi."

Hiashi absorbed the information as the pleasant aroma of mountain herbs filled his senses. No thirsty Hyuuga was a good Hyuuga. "I will not listen to your gossip, Hanabi. Although, as much as it breaks my heart to hear that Hinata will potentially miss out on such an opportunity as marrying the Hokage is, I am more concerned over the reason behind her recent… breakdown." He bitterly pronounced as the words awkwardly rolled down the tip of his tongue.

"I would all but call it recent, Father. It was a long time coming." Hanabi begged to differ.

"I agree the loss of Neji could have been a turning point. It is one of the few things she has confessed to us." Hiashi remarked. His tone dropped as both family members suddenly tensed. There were no people on the compound who would understand what they were speaking of, although it didn't make them any less wary. Regaining his posture, Hiashi took another sip of his flowery drink. It had a pleasantly bitter undertone, much like everything else in his placid life.

"Frankly, there is no way to blame her for all of the distress she has suffered." Hanabi muttered more casually than Hiashi would've liked as she rocked her feet back and forth as her calves dangled down the porch.

"Hinata has proven herself capable enough to handle this burden on her own, I believe." Hiashi said, hoping for their discussion to reach an end. "If she wishes the matter to remain a private one, her decision should be respected. It is an abnormality too… abnormal, to consider as anything more than a passing occurrence in the clan's history. Believe me, I am as curious as you are, but we must protect her from the prying eyes of others."

"But, Father, we do not even know how great of a burden she is carrying!" Hanabi said in a whisper even though the main house was vacant with the exception of a maid who was too far to hear their conversation, feel them or see them.

Hiashi frowned as his daughter continued in a more civil manner. "I apologize… Nevertheless, we are yet to discover what has led Hinata to experience such a change. What makes her different than the rest of us in the family, dead or alive?" She pondered. Yes, Hanabi was slightly jealous. Yes, she still understood the gravity of the situation. However she was moreover worried about her sister.

"We may suspect that Neji's demise was at fault, we may suspect that Hinata's little adventure to the moon and interaction with the Tenseigan had triggered her… optical mutation. For all we know, it might be a disease. The psychological damage has been done, but she is using her skills for the best of the village's interest." Hiashi concluded. "The most important thing is to protect her eyes and to trust that she will continue to handle herself as is fit for a Hyuuga of Hinata's caliber."

Hanabi grew silent with a nod of the head. Hiashi glanced at her petite form as she consumed the tea while still deep in thought over his proclamation. "Does Lord Hokage know about it?" The head of the clan spoke with an unshaken visage, averting his gaze to a far point on the cloudless sky.

"He must." Hanabi shifted. "Hinata is in the Ops, Father. There is not a thing about the ANBU that Uzumaki Naruto doesn't know. If so, she must keep no secrets from Hatake Kakashi. After all, the only people she does allow to explore her eyes are him and his team, whoever they might be." She insisted.

"You'd be surprised at how much goes on behind that young man's back… I am afraid that it will take more warming up for him to get things under control." Hiashi rolled his shoulders. "Even so, I suppose, their ongoing relationship complicates the situation even further. How deep if a bond that one is, we will never know." He sighed into the cup before drinking the remaining tea. Hanabi faltered at the rare display of worry her father briefly exhibited.

She pondered.

"Their bond runs deep, although their… romance, I hear, is slightly different than it used to be. Naruto is busy and so is Hinata. They rarely have time for one another. It seems to prevent my sister from thinking it through clearly. She is very much invested in her duty as a ninja, she's rarely in town. There are rumors swirling all over the place. I genuinely do not know what to make of all of them." It would've been farfetched to say that Hanabi wasn't proud of the person her sister had become.

"It is out of character of her." Hiashi said. His youngest blinked at him, scooping up her lower limbs and crossing them while he sat with long legs impeccably folded beneath him. The Hyuuga elegance was one of the few things Hanabi failed to inherit from her father and Hinata did.

"What do you mean by 'out of character'?" The short brunette questioned. The clan head heaved while refilling his own cup with tea. He couldn't blame his flabbergasted daughter for not noticing its emptiness herself. She never had an eye for fine manners, although she made up for it in brute force.

"What I mean is that Hinata never enjoyed combat and I have every reason to believe that she still does not." He elaborated.

Hanabi slowly comprehended his explanation. "It does seem odd that missions appear to be bringing her joy."

Hiashi scoffed. "They can't be… Tell me, Hanabi, how long has it been ever since you've last indulged in a real conversation with your sister? Or, have you recently started regarding her as a fictional character civilians like to tell stories about?"

The girl's eyes widened reluctantly. It had never occurred to her. She remained silent as she averted her gaze to the formerly warm drink she held in hand.

"I suppose that you are also oblivious to the fact that Hinata's relationship with the Hokage is predominantly sexual at the moment." Hiashi spoke without hesitation whilst Hanabi nearly choked on her own spit.

She was sixteen and extroverted, but she had never felt comfortable admitting to herself that her kind elder sister was an adult who did adult things she had not. "It… has not crossed my mind, father."

Hiashi grunted in approval. "Truly, I had never perceived Hinata to be the type to seek stress relief in the form of violence and obscenity, but God knows what sorts of changes her body and mind have all gone through to achieve this mysterious ability. I do wish that she could be more open with us, but I have proven myself not to be the best of parents."

Hanabi flushed in discomfort as she hid her face behind a thick curtain of dark hair. She peeked at her father's eerily indifferent expression. "She really loved him, you know." She whispered awkwardly. The Hinata she knew was the only person in the world kind and emphatic enough to embrace such a flawed person with all of her being.

"I believe she might still do. But what do we know." Having said that as if it were the most mundane of things, Hiashi tilted his regal chin upwards. "Trust your sister, Hanabi. She might be confused, but she is still the same person she used to be. Now, go better your appearance." He turned to face her, suddenly appearing stern.

"We have an unexpected guest."

One moment too late, as Hiashi Hyuuga smoothly stood up from the wooden porch, Hanabi sensed an oddly familiar presence in front of the gates to their compound. She gasped in realization as she stumbled to gather the tea cups on the iron tray and carry them over to the kitchen before ridding herself of the sweaty and worn grey training gown which flowed behind her with each hurried step she took.

---

"You're late." Aburame Shino didn't bother with turning around in his seat to face his incompetent teammate and his hound who made their way to the third and final chair surrounding a round table while muttering apologies.

Hinata stayed silent at her end, inwardly marveling at the expense of the wonderfully sculpted high ceiling of their meeting room in the ANBU's HQ. It had absolutely no windows and was sealed with dozens of techniques. It was a circular shape and adorned with dozens of plain shelves which carried hundreds of colorful scrolls from missions they had completed together as an ANBU unit. The walls were the color of dry dirt, organically, carrying the same aroma.

She inhaled and exhaled patiently before turning to smile at her tardy friend. "I'm glad you could make it, Kiba."

The Inuzuka male reciprocated with an awkward stutter, eyeing her. No, there was no visual significance or a change in her appearance. Kiba could smell the events of last night woven through her skin as he furrowed his brows in distaste, avoiding her gaze suddenly. Hinata's visage returned to a state of calm, hiding her discomfort more deftly than Kiba did his disgust.

"I was given the scroll yesterday." Hinata informed. "Yes, I have taken my time to study it." Shino nodded in her direction respectfully. There were several candles burning which the girl had lit upon her arrival.

"What is it?" Kiba hastily questioned, rubbing the top of Akamaru's head. The table was low enough for him to rest his chin on a rounded edge of its surface comfortably.

"Uchiha Sasuke needs to be found and retrieved after his years long… journey. Before parting, he had signed a contract with the previous Hokage in which he consented to being at Konoha's disposal if a situation called for his help or influence." Shino elaborated while tracing neat kanji written in dry ink on silky paper. Hinata sighed and her other male companion growled.

"That all? Why can't they just summon him with a messenger hawk or something?" He asked. All were familiar with the fact that, while his teammates would always settle for a good chase, Kiba did enjoy battle more than he should've. Tracking missions tended to bore him, yet he was aware of the important role he played in them and was too loyal to his team to explicitly complain.

"As stated in the contract, the Uchiha is not obliged to report to anyone or disclose his location at any point." Shino murmured.

Glancing sideways at him, Hinata took out a small handkerchief from her single kunai pouch and motioned it to the man. With a small appreciative nod, Shino took the cloth into his hand and took off his elaborate shades in order to polish them whilst revealing expressive chocolate brown eyes which focused on the writing. The cool air of the condensed room caressed his pale eyelids in an unfamiliar manner.

"I can't stand that guy." Kiba rubbed his own eyes as he rocked in his chair. Hinata pondered for a moment.

"Do we have any clues as to his current location?" She asked, expression soft yet collected. This was a professional meeting. Even the hound master straightened eventually.

"Multiple sources have suggested that Uchiha Sasuke has recently been seen somewhere northeast in the Land of Lightning." Shino started. "Others report spotting him near the border of the Hidden Grass."

Hinata sighed, lacing her fingers together. "Those are in completely opposite directions. How do we filter through all of this?" She asked, gazing at her comrades inquisitively.

"Every idiot with an emo bang and the right amount of black on them can pass off as Uchiha Sasuke nowadays." Kiba said, battling his frustration with a snicker.

"I agree that he certainly does have common basic features. To people who've only heard descriptions of him, or if ever, only seen him once or twice, it would be fairly easy to mistake someone else for the last Uchiha." Shino heaved before rolling the scroll back into its original state and tucking it neatly in one of the many internal pockets of his coat.

"So, now we meditate, huh?" Hinata hummed. "It doesn't appear as if we have any actual lead." The girl reasoned.

Kiba nodded. "What do you say, Captain?" He asked, glancing at Shino whilst drumming long calloused digits against the stone table.

"Now we meditate." The leader confirmed.

Yes, first came meditation. There was a fine science to being the most efficient tracking unit in all of ninja history, and Team 8 knew it by heart. It always began in their assembly room in the ANBU headquarters. There the missions were thoroughly studied and planned, for hours on end if needed so. It was in the nature of their specialty to choose the least time consuming alternatives as well as the safest ones. Scouts were not to get hurt in battle. Scouts always had more people they needed to scout.

The mission of Uchiha Sasuke's retrieval was an S-rank for multiple reasons. First and foremost was one which only the most loyal of ANBU knew - Uchiha Sasuke was very much not only traveling abroad. And yes, no one was supposed to know of his mission or upcoming return to Konoha but the most trusted of personnel.

"Do we know why Naruto wants him back all of a sudden?" Kiba pondered.

"The matter has not been disclosed." Shino stoically responded.

"…and, are you sure he'll voluntarily follow us back here?" The Inuzuka finally leaned in his chair, ready to seal the deal when Hinata replied instead.

"Lord Hokage has guaranteed docile behavior on Uchiha Sasuke's part."

Kiba's lips thinned. "I'll need a piece of his belongings. Anything that carries any amount of his scent." He explained. "I would most definitely recognize it should it come across, but he's been out and about for… four years now? I haven't seen him since we were eighteen."

"You should go to his abandoned place. It's most likely that there you will find what you need." Shino said before glancing at Hinata's silent form.

Then she spoke up. "Will my services be needed?" Shino reciprocated her inquiry with an affirmative nod.

"I hate overworking you, but if it is possible, your involvement in the initial search would be of great assistance. The only tricky part of this mission seems to be locating the target, and as it is of great importance, we should finish it as quickly as possible."

Hinata flashed him a dismissive smile. "It's alright. I never really paid enough attention to memorise his chakra signature... In that case, I'll need a picture. I haven't seen him in a decade. I can hardly recall what he looks like."

"Sakura should have one in her panty drawer." Kiba felt horrible snickering like that at a business meeting, but nobody would blame him. His companions muffled their chuckles.

"I'll be making a stop at the hospital tonight, then." Hinata said conclusively.

"And I'll look for some of Uchiha's dirty laundry." Kiba gagged.

"In my possession there is a kikaichu who has fed off our target's chakra before. It should be enough for me to begin my meditation."

"I assume we'll all probably be able to begin the process by midnight." Hinata turned to them and said inquisitively.

Shino nodded. "I shall be meditating in the woods behind the Aburame estate this time around. Fall is approaching." He informed the pair as he rose to his feet, brushing the cold surface of the table with the tips of his fingers.

Akamaru barked as he propped himself up while his master mirrored their team leader. "I'll be on the Fourth's head, respectively. Same as usual. The air currents clash well up there. I should be able to break down scents without a problem as it's quite windy these days. At least I'm not picky with my spots." He grinned at the slightly older hooded male who replied stubbornly.

"Different sorts of insects seek different environments during different seasons, Kiba." He defended with an awkward glare before pulling on the shades again. His pale hands were then stuffed into his pockets, habitually.

Hinata suppressed a giggle with the back of her hand, having risen to her feet soundlessly. "It wouldn't hurt to take a joke every once in a while, Shino." She patted the lean brunette's hair with a rare physical display of sisterly affection. He failed to produce a response as he merely hid a tug at the corner of his lips.

---

"What is it that I can do for you at this hour, Hinata?" Sakura observed the pale beauty who politely knocked and slipped into her office.

"I need you to give me a picture of Uchiha Sasuke." She spoke outwardly. The medic cocked her head in confusion.

"I just need to see it… please." Hinata's doe eyes bore into her own.

Sakura raised her eyebrows. "Why would you-" Then she went silent, mug faltering. "Oh." She simply breathed. "Oh." Sakura repeated in a conflicted whisper, looking down at her paperwork which was quickly forgotten.

"Yes." Hinata uttered. Her hair was cascading down her back and she was dressed in thigh length pale kimono and boots. It was clearly not her ANBU attire. Sakura looked up again. "When do you start?" She asked.

"When meditation is complete. We have no knowledge of his whereabouts right now, so we'll leave once the first clues surface." Hinata sympathetically elaborated, taking a seat in front of the girl. "We begin meditation at midnight in a few hours." She said.

Sakura buried her face in the palms of her hands, pen dropping to the side of her desk, elbows resting upon it. Heaving against her own skin, she did not conceal her dismay in front of the Hyuuga. It would've been pointless. There were very few things in the world which Konoha's white eye didn't see. Hintata could even hear the girl's blood rushing and heart beating frantically.

"This… meditation. How long does it last?" She lifted her head and curled her fingers beneath her chin, face flushed with anticipation and frustration.

It had been four years.

"There is no way to know. Kiba will begin dissecting particles of smells traveling through dozens of air currents. Shino already has some of Sasuke's chakra and his kikaichu will start searching the Lands, and once I find a picture… I will do my thing." Hinata paused.

Sakura didn't falter anymore. Out of the few people aware of her exceptionality, only one or two knew exactly what 'Hinata's thing' was. Unfortunately, Sakura was not one of those people, but she had learned to quiet down her raging curiosity.

"It might take days, assuming that he's far away. We will try our best. The meditation process is founded on natural energy and focus. Regardless, it is continuous. Once we go into hibernation we won't stop searching until we've acquired something. You can trust that we will bring him back as soon as possible, but I also ask of you not to make this a public matter. It is top secret." Hinata finished, careful not to disclose too many details on the process. Sakura noticed.

She swiftly rubbed her tired eyes clean of pooling tears and nodded. "I wasn't planning on doing that. You guys know what you're doing." She flashed her guest a pained smile which was reciprocated with a similar one.

"So what about that picture?" Hinata shifted in her seat awkwardly. She hated hurrying her, but neither were the two exceptionally close nor did she have much time to spare. Her good intentions didn't go unnoticed. Sakura laughed sheepishly before taking out a small piece of glossy paper out of the pocket of her white medical gown.

Hinata curled her fingers around it and noted the youthful appearances of a genin team consisting of her friend, her bitter lover, her target, and her previous Hokage and mentor. What a bunch. The avenger's face was easily distinguished by a trademark snarl. It freshened her memory from their early years.

"That's all I've got." Sakura fidgeted hopefully, searching for approval on the female scout's face.

She sighed. "Sakura… I'm not sure whether I can work with this."

The pink haired medic sunk in her chair helplessly. "I'm so sorry… I don't have any other pictures of him, I don't know whether he's changed from the last time we've seen each other." She sobbed.

"Kiba said something about you having one in your panty drawer..." Hinata sheepishly peeked up at the girl, trying to lure a laugh out of her or at least counter some of her depression.

She did chuckle, wiping a tear from her flushed cheeks. "My panty drawer isn't nearly as exciting as Kiba might suspect." She rolled her shoulders.

"I'm rotting in this hospital day after day, I barely ever sleep. I haven't been on a mission in years, I have nothing but piles of stress and paperwork, I cause earthquakes and scream at people to ease my nerves. And then there's this man who promised to come back on his own and while I'm waiting and convincing myself how good I'm doing, I one day look at myself in the mirror and just see a sleep deprived twenty two year old virgin who is physically shrinking in places she can't afford to be shrinking in." Sakura's voice broke near the end as she muffled a sob with the back of her fist.

Hinata bit her lip in empathy. "Sakura…" She called out to the girl, her hand creeping across the table offering to hold her own. The medic did, and unsurprisingly she had a firm grip.

"Tell me, Hinata." She leaned in slightly, tear stained cheeks gleaming in the white light of the room. The Hyuuga noted she even smelled of soap and disinfectant. "What does sex feel like?" She uttered.

Hinata suddenly felt a burning sensation storm across her pale cheeks as she cupped the other side of her face with a free hand.

"S-Sakura!" She stuttered, but the girl was persistent. "Please, Hinata! I don't know who else I would ask, and I don't know anyone who has sex as much as you do!" She insisted.

Hinata's eyes went wide. "There are lots of people who have lots of s-sex, oh God, I'm stuttering again!" As she attempted to stand up, Sakura firmly tugged her by the hand and unintentionally sent her nearly halfway across the desk before falling back into her chair.

Yes, Sakura did not exactly know that she and Naruto had been having trouble in paradise for quite a while.

"Hinata, you're an adult." The words stung and the girl's lips thinned. "How old were you when you first did it?" Sakura asked. Hinata took a moment to evaluate the extent of determination on the girl's face. She was skilled enough to leave the room in a million ways, but running just didn't feel like an option.

"Eighteen." The word felt like a slip of a tongue. Sakura sighed. "I was nineteen then, wasn't I… So? How was it?" All sorts of emotions flew across her face. Hinata could clearly see the turbulent mood driven by her insomnia. "It felt… good." She confessed.

A sardonic smile crept up Sakura's features. "Doesn't it usually hurt a bit?"

Hinata bit her lip. "That would be because of the hymen, but a lot of the times kunoichi have theirs broken during battle or prior physical activity. Sakura, I thought you knew these things!" She cried.

Sakura laughed aloud. "I really want to stop reading about sex from textbooks." She whined. "Tell me more!" Her legs were dangling back and forth beneath the table. Hinata felt trapped and the clock above Sakura's pink head was counting two hours until midnight. She looked her in the eye.

"Sex is… nice. It's the best when you do it with someone you love. Ahm… As always it's important to be safe and consensual. What else… Naruto and I were both each other's firsts, so it was clumsy. Nevertheless, it was a few months after the battle on the moon, in his old apartment and it was…" Hinata paused before a small, awkward smile graced her flawless visage and her voice went thin. "…it was romantic. We were really happy back then."

Sakura blinked while letting go of her hand. The medic just stared at her for a moment, still fighting her anxiety and trying to ease her nerves with heavy breathing. "Is it true?" She asked. Hinata remained ponderously silent, raising her eyebrows. Sakura continued. "Is it true that you will break up with him?" She finished.

Hinata's lips went agape. "Where did you hear that?" She asked.

Sakura frowned. "Everywhere, but… I didn't want to believe it. So it's true?" As the brunette was going to speak again, Sakura interrupted her. "Ino told me you've been going through a rough patch. I get that this thing is messing with your body and mind, but Hinata he's beyond head over heels for you."

The look Sakura was giving her made Hinata nearly drown in self-hate. She then pressed her knuckles against her lips, eyes growing reluctantly glossier by second as they stared to the corner of the room while Sakura stared her down, grabbing her other hand again.

"Hinata, you need to answer me. If this is true-" She inhaled and exhaled patiently, not wanting to stir the girl beyond her limits. They were both fighting their own battles. People healed from broken hearts and she was aware that love would find her sometime. Hinata was fighting herself, along with an unfamiliar force which was turning her world upside down. Sakura didn't understand it. Nobody but a selected few did.

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore." The Hyuuga confessed in between sniffles. That was only one of the handful of truths she could disclose to her.

"Hinata, look at me." Sakura tugged on the girl's fingers, making her comply.

That look on her face. She was falling apart.

"I need you to remind me… when was your last exam?" Sakura's professional and motherly side were beginning to overtake her and Hinata struggled to come up with a response.

"Y-Yesterday." Hinata stuttered.

Sakura frowned before harshly turning the pale girl's wrist and pulling her sleeve up to examine her entire arm for puncture marks. She struggled as the pink haired medic did the same to her other limb, digits digging deep into her skin. "You haven't had a needle in you in at least a month. I'll ask you one last time, Hinata, when was your last exam?" Sakura demanded.

"Wintertime." The Hyuuga confessed.

"Hinata!" Sakura was frustrated. "You can't skip these things. I can't believe the ANBU let you do that! It's irresponsible! You're the last person I'd ever expect this from!" And then it started to settle in the pit of her stomach, the realization. Hinata was also the last person in the world she would've expected to fall out of love with someone she wanted for so many years. Sakura admitted to herself inwardly that her lifestyle made her blind and oblivious to what was happening in her friends' lives. Naruto would've normally been her first priority, but the girl in front of her was her patient at the moment, in her hospital. She turned around to glance at the clock before facing the Hyuuga.

"You have fifty minutes until midnight. Twenty is all I ask for. Then you can find Sai and ask him to draw you a picture of Sasuke."

She quickly shook her head, a look of panic jarring her pale mug. "You know I can't do that, Sakura."

Hinata grew serious. "I'm sure the Ops wouldn't mind you taking a blood test, just to see if you're eating well."

"I'm eating just fine, Sakura." Hinata brushed her off more harshly than she would've liked, but Sakura was not the one to back down especially in front of other women.

"Listen here, if you're gonna break my best friend's heart, you at least owe me proof that you aren't doing it because you're lacking beauty sleep, okay?"

And there she went, pulling the Naruto card. Hinata's arms smelled like ethanol that night and she didn't find it in her to complain once Sakura began to stray away from her "bloodwork only" promise. The procedure would not be documented, and there was nothing she could find anyways. Right?

---

Yamanaka Ino and her favorite boy-toy were dangerously close to doing the nasty on his couch during a commercial break of an irrelevant movie which was being played on his newly purchased TV.

His shirt was already discarded somewhere on the wooden floor tiles and her lips were praising the lean muscle of his neck. Sai's arms curled around her waist pulling the blonde beauty closer and just as his fingers crept under her crop top and dangerously close to the hook of her bra, a knock came from the door.

After an attempt of ignoring the intruder and their polite persistence reflecting in the way the number of knocks grew in quantity steadily after each break, Sai stood up and opened it. The tall form of one Hyuuga Hinata was staring up at him with an uncomfortable pout. He was shirtless indeed, but Hinata was more worried about the late hour of her sudden visit.

In a swift motion, she brought her hands to her sides and bowed deeply with much Hyuuga grace. "I apologize for my intrusion." Sai faltered, scratching his bare chest as cold air startled him.

"Hinata, you do not need to be so formal. Feel free to… come in." He said glancing at the blonde behind him who had in the meanwhile adjusted her fallen ponytail.

"What brings you here?" She asked as the brunette took off her shoes and neatly placed them far enough from the pair's own.

"I need Sai's help with something." Hinata said before turning to the said male. "It shouldn't take much time. This is a business matter and I wouldn't have come here at such an hour if it could have been delayed."

Sai nodded in understanding as he motioned to her to kneel by a low table resting behind the couch in his spacious loft. "You are my friend. I wouldn't mind doing you a favor anytime regardless of your motives." Sai insisted. Ino gave him a sweet and proud smile before she positioned herself behind Hinata and began to tie her hair into a high ponytail. It startled the girl, but she left her friend to it. Judging by the state of the living room, it was obvious what she had almost walked in on.

"I need you to draw me an accurate depiction of Uchiha Sasuke. It is very much required for our team's meditation process which begins at midnight." Hinata elaborated steadily and professionally. She was lucky that both of them were permitted access to top secret information. Ino was an interrogator in the Ops (having been trained by Ibiki) while Sai was a part-time member. Moreover, the pointed upper half of Sai's seal of Confidence peeked at his two companions as Sai's baggy pants hung low on his hips. The pair had grown close at a time when Ino was tasked as his psych consultant during the process of treating mental damage of ex-Root members. Before Ibiki asked her to start learning under him and continue his leverage, she was training to be a therapist with a focus on PTSD victims.

"Ah." Sai acknowledged. "I've always found your ways beyond intriguing." He smiled in his trademark fashion before standing up. "I'll be back with the drawing in a minute. It should be as accurate as humanly possible and recent as it can be. I was one of the last people to see him depart." With a polite nod, he walked through a door on the opposite side of the living room and shut it behind him.

After Ino finished playing with Hinata's hair, she set down some tea for them. "I heard all people of your clan have a tea fetish, is that true?" She pondered half-humorously.

Hinata chuckled into her cup. "I would be foolish to deny that, but my Hyuuga pride prohibits me from confirming it too."

Ino laughed lightly as she dusted some sugar into her own cup which Hinata politely declined. "If that pride wove itself into the most selfless person I know, I will begin to suspect that it comes with the Byakugan itself." Hinata nodded good-naturedly. Ino was a smart girl.

"Why don't you come see me anymore?" She asked with hidden disappointment.

Hinata placed her drink onto the table. "I've been busy." She shrugged.

"What I hear is that you've been making yourself busy." A forced smile didn't leave her doll-like features. It seemed as if people in love really did look alike.

"You could say that…" Hinata sighed. "I am ashamed to admit that I seem to have been running from my problems as Sakura likes to put it. I came to her first in search of Sasuke's photograph." She laughed awkwardly, scratching the roots of her well done hair.

"Did she force some tests on you?" Ino questioned eyeing the small red dot tainting Hinata's pale wrist. It did awfully resemble a needle mark and it was not the kind of injury people got in battle.

"Just earlier." She drank and observed the whirls of evaporated substance leave the cup. "She doesn't think I have things under control." Hinata said.

Ino noted the girl's pallid expression. "You may think that overworking yourself is a way to pass time and do some justice to this ability that you've gained, but it's not. The two of you are actually doing the same thing. The only difference is that Sakura is aware of how pathetic she seems and you're in denial. But the instability they all speak of… well, you've done quite a convincing job on that." Ino spoke confidently. Unlike anyone in the world, she had followed Hinata's mental progress for years and knew the way her mind functioned. "I heard you are going to call it quits with Naruto. Do it. You're too selfless to be happy in that relationship." She stated curtly. Ino was impeccably clever.

Hinata blinked. "I know I am, but we are actually both being selfish about this." She was a woman of fewer words. She didn't do expression the justice Ino did.

"Naruto may say he's happy with just sex, but he's not and you're miserable because you know that your visions don't collide." She elaborated.

"They used to, but they don't anymore." Hinata finished with a sigh. "He is so gentle." Then she started again, guilt driven. "Naruto has always wanted protection. He's always wanted stability and security. Family values are his guidelines. He should know by now that I'm not going to give him what he wants. He probably does. I've told him a million times, but he's still very hopeful."

"It's just that good, huh?" Ino snickered, petting her guest on the back. The girl just smiled mildly and stared into the distance.

"I do love him." Her voice broke.

And that was one thing that only Yamanaka Ino knew - a hidden consequence of a mysterious power nobody grew as familiar with as her and one copycat ninja. Hyuuga Hinata had no change of heart. It was just a cover-up.

"I began seeing things after Neji died… But then, I saw us." Hinata whispered as if her words would leak through the walls. "I saw us in the future. He was so handsome." She let out a pained laugh as tears tickled her cheeks. Ino stared. "I saw us when we first kissed. I saw our children after we first made love. But then… when he asked me to move in…" She paused and Ino knew the remaining story. "I saw him die for me. And then, my eyes opened for the first time."

The blonde listened carefully before asking another question. "Have you had any other visions lately?" Hinata shook her head. "Not prominently… Sometimes it's hard to distinguish dreams from predictions, but most of the time they're just mundane. I'd see a face I'll see in the streets, or a mission we'll get soon enough. However, I've been practicing gaining control over my Byakugan myself. Usually once I activate it, there is no telling when it will subside. Now I can at least encourage it to go away at command. It doesn't always work, but it's progress. It's only manageable during my meditation. " The tea she drank was the cheapest and most common kind, but by balancing missions and her occasional stays at the Hyuuga compound, it became her favorite since she rarely got to taste it.

"Have you told anybody about the visions yet?" Ino insisted on discussing that very occurrence. She was no dōjutsu expert, so Hinata's words meant little beyond her speciality.

"No. I tell father enough to keep him satisfied, although not nearly as much as there is to tell. Hanabi is worried, but more interested in my… psychological state. Kiba and Shino know the most, I'd say. They know about the visions, although they respect my not wanting to discuss them. As for the physical aspect of it, Kakashi is training me and documenting my progress. You are the only one I let in on the details." Hinata hummed, drawing her knees up to her chest.

"And… do you plan on consenting to that medical trial?" Ino did not look her in the eye while she said that.

Hinata grew silent, briefly. "No."

"All done." Sai strolled into the living room with his signature beam, approaching their table. Hinata took the piece of thick acrylic paper from him with both hands and much care. Looking at it, she noticed Sai hadn't spared her of any details. In the far corner there was a full body drawing, vividly painted in blacks and greys and the remaining space of the large paper was covered with images of his head from many different angles, with his bandana and without, hiding his sharrinegan and exposing it. One depiction of his Mangekyo caught her attention. It's blood red color was hauntingly beautiful. Abruptly, the image of this awesome man made her eyes sting. From her waterlines began to leak two stripes of blue, stopping at her cheekbones. She froze.

"Hinata." Ino's firm voice and Sai's sudden hold on her shoulder shook her from her trance. The blue hastily subsided back into eyes.

"Not yet." Ino continued.

"I'm sorry…" Hinata breathed out, covering her mouth and calming her nerves.

---

"For the last time, my answer is no!" Hyuuga Hiashi was seething with his fist against the mahogany table in his private meeting room. He was shaking as the man in front of him merely sighed, gathering his patience.

"Hiashi, your daughter has already signed the contract. My coming to seek your permission is a formality and I hope you understand that your reluctance is not going to stop Hinata from carrying out her decision." Hatake Kakashi explained, hiding the annoyance boiling within him. Nobles were always too proud for their own good. 'Control freaks.', he thought.

"You are lying! There is no way my daughter would've wished such a sentence upon herself!" The clan head yelled, having lost all composure. It was late at night and he was sure that he had woken up his entire peaceful compound, but that didn't matter - not with his youngest silent, shaky lipped and tear stained seated at the far corner of the room.

"Once she became a member of the ANBU Black Ops, she immediately swore her loyalty to the village first and to her clan second." Kakashi stated, looking the fuming Hyuuga in the eye. His Byakugan had turned on at some point during the conversation and veins were now throbbing down his temples and cheeks.

"This isn't a matter of loyalty, this is a matter of principle. All her life, my daughter has fought for the removal and banning of cursed seals! What you are saying is that she wants to imprison herself inside the very cage she has helped hundreds of future generations of young branch Hyuuga escape!" Hiashi couldn't deny the moisture gathering at his waterline. His face was red and Hanabi's whimpers now echoed the room.

"Hinata understands the gravity of her situation, and what she has consented to receiving is very much different from the cursed seal your family had been practicing for centuries. She designed it herself." The copycat elaborated in hopes of ending the argument as soon as possible.

"This major variance you speak of is an ability for her to murder herself at the slightest hint of danger." Hiashi said before screaming. "Hinata is not stable enough to choose between her own life and death!"

Kakashi frowned considerably. "As head of the ANBU's Kekkei-Genkai Exploration and Protection Force, I have been following my subordinate's progress for the past few years. When this optical mutation began and her body was showing irregular symptoms, you did nothing. Months later, after coming back from the Moon and having completed it, I am the person she came to. You refused to leave her under my wing and beheld the consequences."

Hiashi's jaw was shaking, but he listened. It was true.

"Your daughter was scared and back from a mission where she killed a dozen people in a blink of these new eyes of hers. She hated herself and she still does because they could've murdered people she loves and she wouldn't have even known it was happening. We are working on her gaining control over them and she is doing well. Nevertheless, if anybody has the right to say how stable Hyuuga Hinata is in making her own decisions, it's me." Kakashi stood up. "I hoped you would be more rational about this ordeal, but I guess I was wrong. Don't mind my asking of you to remember the nature of the Mangekyo. This Byakugan your daughter has has so far proven itself to be quite similar. It pulls its wielded into a cycle which begins with sacrifice. How it ends..?" He paused, looking away. "I hope to die of old age before I learn."

Silently, the Sixth Hokage ghosted out of the room, leaving uninterrupted by either fear ridden relatives of his junior.

In under a minute, with lightning speed he sprinted off to his humble home. Entering his rooftop apartment through the window, he was welcomed with the sight of his messy bedroom. He had refused all estates offered to him upon becoming Hokage and instead used his old place whilst preserving his family home in the outskirts - there were too many bad memories from the traditional mansion for him to have been able to live in it.

Stripping slowly and peeling off excess layers of heavy clothing, he left his joggers intact. Cool air crept under his bare skin adorned by a small birthmark at the corner of his lips.

He shuddered.

Gliding through the narrow hallway and pushing the door of his guest bedroom open, he saw one Hyuuga Hinata through the darkness, in a meditating position sitting on the neatly made bed with an elaborate drawing of Uchiha Sasuke resting by her side. He scratched the aching muscles of his abdomen.

Her hair was in a bun at the back of her head and the girl was clad in her usual attire. Kakashi sighed, walking over to the edge. Leaning over the bed and bending to her side, he pulled the zipper of one of her boots down and pulled it off her foot. The same motion followed for the left one and he ended up taking the shoes in his arms. By the looks of it, she had begun shortly before he arrived. It made Kakashi wonder what she had been doing in the meanwhile as it was past midnight.

From the empty closet he took out an IV pole equips with the proper anatomy of the device and a banana bag. He sat next to her, took her wrist and following the medical protocol, injecting the cannula-over-needle device into a peripheral vein.

Her eyes were open, but she wasn't looking at him. Hinata didn't even know he was there. Two blue stripes ran down her pale cheeks and neck and up her forehead, along with shorter ones with pointed ends running up the sides of her face to right below her cheekbones, ending sharply, as if painted in an upwards motion. The same color symmetrically framed her eyes. They were wide and empty.

She was meditating.

Inside her mind, in an incomprehensible speed, she was revising faces of all people around her and beyond. In an hour she should've covered the entire village. Although Kakashi was sure she wouldn't have found Sasuke there, the girl had to begin in close proximity of her location in order for the web to grow. She was creating a map in her head and eliminating all places where Uchiha Sasuke's face hadn't been seen by her and memorising chakra signatures to ignore. The process wouldn't end until she found him. The same thing went for her two teammates, although their routine was far less complex and requiring no such thing as her mysterious power-up.

He walked over to the side of the bed and closed the open window. It was becoming cold.

Glancing at her one last time, he exited the room and closed the door behind him. Her boots were folded at the entrance before Kakashi allowed himself to fall into bed and drift off.

---

Uzumaki Naruto woke up naked and alone in the abandoned summer house of the First Hokage in the woods by the monuments. The scent of mahogany and moist grass tickled his nostrils as he took a first morning breath. It was his second night sleeping in the same room, sporting a state of undress, and the last day he'd spent merely relaxing, going over some scrolls and making the best (and frankly the worst) of his free time.

The night before, his lover had abandoned his side while he'd been asleep. There was a coldness to the mattress he glanced at wistfully.

There was also a vacancy. He ran a bandaged hand over his opposite bicep, staring at the distant sight of the village which peeked at him from behind the floating curtains. She had left through the balcony and hadn't bothered to close it, allowing the air to penetrate the initially cool interior of the glorious wooden mansion which Naruto inherited upon becoming Hokage.

A feeling of bitterness lingered about and Naruto sat up, shaking it off. After their saddening confrontation and another one of Hinata's attempts to let him go, he had made love to her instead of complying. In the comfort of her arms he had fallen asleep, although not doubting for a moment that she wouldn't bat an eye before fleeing after he dozed off.

He didn't want her to feel guilty. He really didn't.

Scratching the back of his head, in all of his toned splendor, he strolled out of the room and down the stairs, ignoring beds of dust which laid around. Once upon a time, Hinata had had the will to stick around and clean it up, fix up a meal and smile all whilst doing it.

A little under a year after they had made it official, Naruto started to notice his lover's turmoil. She told him about her Byakugan. He was happy, but predominantly terrified, having seen first hand what another dōjutsu's superior transformation could do. Naruto really believed them when they said the abrupt change of heart was not her fault.

Yet, he did not want to be let go of.

Having sent Team 8 to search for his best friend, he was quite confident he would be back in under a few weeks. The two had abandoned their clothes at the bottom floor in the living room. His jacket laid on the sofa, his shirt by the empty fireplace, his joggers on the large Persian rug in the hallway and his boxers by his feet at the bottom of the staircase.

He sighed.

Later in the day he had already showered and rid his body of the last of his reluctant lover's lingering warmth.

Back in his apartment, he stepped out of the bathroom with a mere towel wrapped around his waist. He leisurely entered his bedroom, appearing underwhelmed by Sakura's cross-legged form seated on his bed. He picked up a stray t-shirt from his nightstand and dried his hair with it.

"What do you want, Sakura?" He was not in the mood for a rant or a beating, and the medic saw it clearly once she glanced at his bent back over her shoulder. Multiple factors played a role in the assassination of Uzumaki Naruto, the goofball. Although she believed he was still somewhere in there, stress and disappointment had driven him someplace far away. Facing the opposite direction, she heard his tower slip and his clothing ruffle as he got dressed.

"I want you to talk to Hinata." She stated, staring at the old picture of Team 7 which was framed upon his old TV. Naruto snorted - Naruto never snorted.

"I want to talk to Hinata too, you see." He then appeared in front of her. "But Hinata doesn't want to talk to me."

He glanced at his friend tiredly. She was still dressed in her medical attire and the black circles rimming her eyes weren't doing her any justice either. He motioned his hand for her to follow him into his living room. She sat at his dining table as he ventured into the kitchen. Sakura was startled by the lack of feminine touch in his old apartment which currently resembled a mine field.

"She is hiding things from us." Sakura insisted, upset by his absence. He reappeared and sat in front of her, sliding a warm cup of instant noodles and chopsticks in her direction.

"Sakura, this is my only day off in months, I'm really not in the mood to play 'stating the obvious'." Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair before opening his pack of ramen more aggressively than he had intended to.

"Look!" She heaved, taking out a pile of papers from her bag and pointing at something. Naruto furrowed his eyebrows in midst of slurping on his noodles. After swallowing he rolled his eyes. "Sakura, that's just a bunch of numbers and words I don't understand. If you have something to say, just say it." He spat.

Suddenly, the look in the girl's eyes changed. She stiffened and frowned. Naruto put his chopsticks down. "I'm trying to help you solve these ludicrous issues you have and all you do is bark at me? Way to go, Naruto." As she was going to stuff the papers into her bag and storm off, the blond grabbed her wrist, avoiding her gaze.

"I'm sorry." He breathed. "I'm sorry."

Sakura's lips thinned. She couldn't resist the plea of the man whom she considered to be a brother. Brushing his hand away, she pulled the papers out. After glancing at them one last time, she put them aside. Now she had his attention. The ramen was left to cool. Emerald met azure blue as Sakura started.

"All of Hinata's medical records were classified by the ANBU, so I couldn't get a hold of any. However, during the War, the head medics of each camp ran tests on ninjas in their area, and luckily, Hinata had had her exam with Shizune. Because she was the Hokage's assistant at the time, those records were held in the Hokage's private vaults and were later transferred to Lady Tsunade's estate once Kakashi took over."

Naruto raised his eyebrows inquisitively while listening to every word she said. Sakura was content with his focus. Her gaze was determined and her speech captivating.

"Long story short, she kept most of that material in the hospital where I work, Naruto. Obviously, the ANBU didn't remember to confiscate that too. I've been searching for these all night." She insisted.

"The Ops don't just miss things, Sakura. How do you know those aren't fake?" He questioned, scratching his chest and ruffling the oversized, plain white tee with a large red Whirlpool print in the middle.

Sakura smirked. "Not even the ANBU has access to the Hokage's private belongings and Lady Tsunade did not alert anyone of the transaction she made. Besides, even her birth records were sealed. They obviously didn't make any effort to maintain an appearance. Technically, in the citizen data bases, just like all ANBU, Hyuuga Hinata is nothing more than a name." She then merely pointed to the date at the top of the crumpled paper, Naruto paying close attention to it briefly before they rekindled their gaze.

"This test isn't as accurate as it would've been had it been run in the hospital, but it is thorough." Sakura beamed, tucking a greasy strand of pink hair behind her ear. "These results are meant to establish whether a soldier is stable enough to resume fighting after great traumas such as when Hinata lost Neji. Her estrogen is low here, her noradrenaline is over the roof, which is all normal considering it was wartime and she was in extreme distress. But her brain chemistry is flawless, plus her adrenaline, cortisol, norepinephrine are all high when I tested her, which means she was nervous and under stress, possibly afraid for some reason." Sakura paused. "This mutation of hers first manifested after Neji's death, that's what we all know. She won't tell me how, but comparing it to the Mangekyo, it only makes sense. Yet, there was no relevant imbalance in her physically. Which means, she was in no way unstable or hormonal."

Naruto buried his face in his hands. "To think that I actually had any hopes for this." He faced her. "Sakura, this thing took years to develop. She lived a normal life until it bloomed into what it is today."

The pink haired ninja shook her head, straightening the front of her lab coat. Naruto's place smelled like ramen and deodorant. She scoffed. "She came to see me last night. Hinata needed Sasuke's picture." Sakura stated, for starters. Just as Naruto was opening his mouth to speak, she cut him off. "You don't need to apologize. I understand your decision, but I know about Team 8's legendary meditation, as they call it. In fact I tried getting them to do a medical trial and let me research it, but they won't do it for the sake of 'authenticity'. Frankly, I know it's because Hinata doesn't want her eyes to be studied. I respect that. But I don't think it's safe."

Naruto frowned. "They've caused her a lot of pain, Sakura."

The girl chuckled. "I like your girlfriend, I hope you haven't forgotten the fact that I went through hell and back just to get the two of you together, but as far as pain goes, I'm more curious about what those thirteen men from two years ago felt when she killed him subconsciously. There was nothing physically wrong with them, Naruto, they were healthy, and Hinata only knows basic genjutsu. She's no Uchiha Itachi!"

"What are you trying to say?!" He yelled.

"I'm trying to say that I guilt-tripped her into a round of the same, basic tests. Just blood work and brain chemistry, and let me tell you, it was as flawless as it was five years ago after the mutation started. She's not hormonal and there's nothing wrong with her head. She's also not seeing Ino. That bitch won't tell me anything even though I'm supposed to be her best friend. Conclusively, Hinata is either faking all of this or is going nuts. If she is the former, then she should've been prescribed drug therapy months or years ago. Meds would've helped her by now, so what does that leave us with? Regardless, she wouldn't need to hide those things. But she hides everything! And what do we know? She's not talking to you, she's ignoring her family, she's constantly on missions chasing or killing for good money and she's persistently refusing all offers to have her Byakugan examined by people beyond Kakashi's dōjutsu unit. And Karachi is Kakashi's dōjutsu unit! You're like a brother to me, but she is bad news, Naruto!"

"Get the fuck out, Sakura." At the last notion, Naruto slammed his fists against the table, making a crack in the sturdy wood and spilling the ramen on the floor. Sakura stared in shock as his eyes seemed to be clouded with rage.

"N-Naruto," she lowered her voice in an attempt to soothe him.

"Get the fuck out!" He screamed, finally shattering the table with his bandaged hand. Sakura's eyes widened at the pool of tears at the corners of his eyes. She started to approach him.

"Naruto, I'm sorry, I-" He smacked her hand away as it reached out to touch his red face. She drew her fingers to her chest as they throbbed. Sakura was disgusted.

"I love you more than you will ever know, but get the fuck out of my house, Sakura. You've crossed the line."

---

On the opposite side of the world, a lone hooded figure stood in the rain, sheltered by a dripping wet leather hood of his traveling attire. The sturdy cloak and muddy boots at his feet had seen four years of dramatic variance of both weather and surroundings. The twenty-two year old Uchiha Sasuke knew the ninja world like the back of his hand, and frankly he wasn't sure just how much he appreciated what he was seeing.

He stood tall at the sharp edge of a cliff which tilted over a valley he had ventured through and about dozens of times before. Only the moonlight was present to light his way, so emitting delicate currents of electricity through his hand and into his sword, he raised it, pointing its end towards the clouds. Through the rain, his Chidori suddenly sprung into the pitch black sky. Sasuke sheathed Kusanagi and waited for a couple of tense seconds before an earth-shattering bolt of lightning broke from the heavens. White light appeared for a split second, illuminating the valley.

Sasuke frowned.

Akira Suizen had been there.

Inside of the canion used to be the habitat of another stray pack of Orochimaru's failed experiments - mutants who were human in only name and nothing else. They aged slowly, but were ancient, having been created back when Orochimaru was still an amateur scientist who used the distant north villages of the Sound as his playground. Their skin emitted radiation that was only able to damage living organisms if they remained near it too long. Unfortunately, the wildlife around their territories suffered for it and so did humans inhabiting the central and southern region of the land.

These armies answered to no man and no beast and were all but aware of their actions. Another notable thing was that they were compulsively violent and should a human stray into their territory, they would kill them and feast on their flesh. Sasuke wasn't unhappy that somebody had already taken the liberty of doing those civilians a favor and destroying their colonies once and for all, but something just didn't feel right when his eyes fell on the deep blue surface of the transparent stone freezing by far the largest concentration spot of these animalistic creatures and stretching for miles.

It was an incomprehensibly lengthy area, having served as a river basin, that was enveloped in the smooth crystalline, which reflected brief lighting like a body of water would.

Blinking in the dark, Sasuke noticed it almost looked as if a city had been drowned beneath there. With inhuman precision and speed, Sasuke dashed off the edge of the cliff, landing a good distance away from his initial spot, boots colliding with the slippery material with a silent thud. Squatting down, the last Uchiha glided his fingers down the sleek surface. In a blink, his Sharingan activated and through the dimly filtered world of his superior eye, the stone appeared to be glowing. The unsettling feeling suddenly made sense. It was entirely chakra infused.

Dispelling it, Sasuke stood up. Something was off.

Gathering electricity and averting Kusanagi to glare up at the heavens, another bolt of lightning broke, lighting up the area. What he saw made his muscles tense.

e

A single word deftly engraved into the crystal. Little of his intruder's wishes remained free for interpretation.

Sasuke snorted before his face twisted into a distasteful snarl. He did not like being watched and even less not realizing it as it happened. With a quick swing of his only arm, the hooded male charged his sword and with incredible force, penetrated the sturdy mass. Large pieces of the surface broke away dozens of feet in front of him, although they were too tall up from the village to near the remains of its inhabitants and their clumsy wooden tents. Sasuke had his own response. Halting his dig, the Uchiha sheathed Kusanagi, content with the inflicted damage. His goal was not to rescue anybody below. Even if someone else managed to break the woman's creation down to its core, all captive bodies would be shattered into pieces as they had already become one with the matter.

This was not the first mutant camp the ninja had raided on their unintentionally simultaneous journey to the North.

"What is it that you want from me, Uchiha Sasuke?" A feminine voice broke through the rainstorm, causing a smirk to stretch over the man's rugged features. He had not planned on countering her, but she was obviously more easily agitated than he had expected.

Turning around, Sasuke beheld her. "It's good to finally meet you… Akira Suizen."

---

A voluptuous woman clad in a purple kimono which cascaded down her plump belly stormed through the Konoha gates. Her ponytails were impeccably spiky along the back of her head and her companions struggled to catch up to her. The gatekeepers didn't bother with questioning her, for Temari was no stranger to the Leaf and its citizens.

"My Lady, please, you shouldn't rush!" A man dressed in Suna's standard mission gear pointlessly castigated, followed by a few who carried the small yet elaborate wooden frame in which their princess had been forced to spend most of her journey in. She didn't pay them any heed as she penetrated the streets of Konoha, eventually losing them in the crowd. In minutes she had elbowed her way into the Hokage tower.

In ready and hurried steps, Temari climbed up the numerous flights of stairs before finally countering a large door painted in yellow and gold before gushing past the Hokage's guards and pushing the knob, revealing the office of one Uzumaki Naruto.

"Where is he?" She demanded to know, looking the seated blond man into the eye. He sighed, waving off the guards who were peeking inside with questioning looks.

"Welcome, Temari." He said with a forceful smile.

"I don't have time for your bullshit, Naruto. Where is my husband?" The foreigner rephrased, slamming a fist against his desk, causing some paperwork to stir. Said man licked his lips. Stress. He was going to burst at any minute.

"Not that you have any lawful right to know this, but officer Nara Shikamaru is still going through a thorough investigation regarding his mission in the ANBU headquarters." He heaved, leaning back in his seat. A white and red robe framed his torso, but neither that nor the fire emblem on the hat he had on a nearby hangar intimidated the woman.

"I bear a seal of the Kazekage's confidence, I have every right to know what is happening to the father of my child." She growled, pointing a finger at her brother's friend. Naruto frowned deeply.

"You have no such thing as my seal of confidence and Shikamaru is a Konoha nin. Learn your place! You can't just barge in here and expect this nation's leader to obey your orders and reveal classified information. The situations Yamato disclosed was supposed to be for Gaara only. He obviously though you responsible enough to handle such intel, but I guess he was wrong."

Temari blinked, fuming with rage. Her breathing was heavy and green eyes clouded. "When will you release him..? It's been over a week and you're still interrogating him." She uttered, lips thinning.

Naruto observed and some of his own tension evaporated. "I'm sorry." He started weakly, avoiding her gaze. "I understand that you are rightfully worried. He should be finished soon enough."

The blonde closed her eyes and could almost hear her heartbeat drumming in her ears. She brought a hand to her chest.

Naruto shifted in his chair. "Take a seat. I will send word for an approximate confirmation." Gulping uncomfortably, Temari walked a step away from his desk and collapsed into the crimson, cushioned sofa in front of him. Naruto felt guilty for her sudden loss of spite. It was horribly out of character for his friend's lover to be this silent.

"..I'm sure you've already been told the details, but the mission was a general success and Shikamaru was not injured at any point. It's just that he took a while gathering evidence and retrieving without appearing suspicious. Formally, our peace treaties are still intact and there could've been a colossal damage had the Mizukage found out that we sent a spy to penetrate her ranks." Naruto murmured awkwardly as he scribbled the last of words on his scroll. Summoning a small toad, he handed it the message and it disappeared. Temari watched the interaction passively before starting.

"Do you know why this person killed Yūgao?" She asked, weary of her tone of voice. Temari didn't doubt that the Hokage's office was sealed and soundproof to begin with, but she still didn't know what to make of the situation. In all of her worry over Shikamaru she paid his mission little heed. Now, at least knowing that she was in his physical proximity, she could cool down a little bit.

Naruto thought for a moment. "No." He answered simply.

She blinked, eyes aimlessly glued to some piles on his desk. "Yamato mentioned something about putting national security at risk. Since she killed Yūgao, now she is a criminal. The Mist could just put her in the bingo book and admit it. Why are they protecting her?"

Naruto sighed. Normally he would've lashed out again and defend sensitive information, but he didn't have the heart to do so. He was aware of the way he had been acting for the past year. "There are… few things we know about Akira Suizen." Naruto started, an expression of surrender tainting the dominant facade he'd built. "None of those make us understand why Kiri and Iwa jeopardise the alliance for her sake, and they have, according to several explicit conditions the contract contained." He started, words coated with confusion prominently.

"For one, Orochimaru's guinea pigs aren't uncommon nowadays. People like Yamato, Sasuke and Anko are living normal lives all around the world, but the law states that should another victim of his experiments surface, successful or not, it ought to be reported. That's the first promise those two broke. Second of all, she was found in the Land of Earth. Whether Iwa deported her to Kiri before or after the Alliance's formation, it doesn't matter. Either way, they broke the law by not alerting the other nations of their exchange which could've been a form of a treaty. That could mean that their conflict was forged. If this turns out to be 100% true, it could mean that the peace is flawed and built on a lie that could potentially mean that it is invalid. They traded an incredibly powerful weapon, Hatake Kakashi has testified."

Temari let the information sink in and she gulped. Her hands circled her bump protectively. "What does Kakashi have to do with her?"

Before Naruto could utter a single word, a sudden bang interrupted his attempt. "Enter." He called, voice dripping with annoyance. The door swung open and a jonin of some sort entered the room, panting loudly.

"Lord Hokage… We have news for you!" He exclaimed, weakly gathering his breath to speak. He gripped his knees, apparently exhausted. "Hyuuga… Hinata has…" He breathed and Naruto stiffened, jumping out of his seat. His whole expression changed. Temari found it incredible. She turned to glance over her shoulder at the man who failed to collect himself.

"What about Hyuuga Hinata?!" He demanded, short hair wildly sticking at sharp angles after he ran his bandaged hand through it. Suddenly, another figure emerged.

"Kiba." Naruto's eyes widened and he gazed at the tall man inquisitively, still high up on his feet. The Inuzuka male pushed the jonin out of the office murmuring curses of disapproval before turning back to the two blonds. Clad in leather from head to toe, Kiba looked like an angry bundle of insatiable testosterone with a slightly shortened breath. Handsome nevertheless.

"I was forcibly stirred from hibernation by the ANBU while Shino is still at it. Hinata's woken up." His eyes intently bore into Naruto's demanding azure orbs. "Something went wrong."