AN: This is an AU story from my "Sword and Flute" fic
This fic is dedicated to forbiddenfruitunloved. As will a NaruTayu fic that I'm planning be. Forbiddenfruit, you're right. Hyūga Hidara does sound good.
Chapter 1: a new mission
Hinata was fed up.
The war was over, and she had finally received the respect from her family that she had always dreamed of, her father shocking the entire Hyūga council by smiling (Three elder had suffered from heart attacks as a result. Hiashi was almost convinced that he should make his smile an S rank technique, and wondered what they would do if he grinned.) What she didn't like about this was the fact that the elders were now piling more and more pressure on her to become a "proper Hyūga" that would be appropriate as the heir. Another thing that made her feel fed up, was that she was single. After the war had ended, Naruto had sat down with her, and told her that he cared for her, but in a brotherly way. A crushed Hinata had accepted this, and after a few weeks (and a few dozen ice-cream tubs (all the kunoichi and female civilians in the village seethed in jealousy at this fact. They all had their own theories about how she could eat some much ice-cream yet stay so thin, from jutsu's, high metabolism, to "It goes straight to her breasts")) and had managed to keep the friendship she had with the blond jinchūriki. She watched as her cousin entered a relationship with Tenten, and their hyperactive, green spandex wearing teammate entered a relationship with Sakura, much to everyone's surprise. Hinata sighed as she trudged towards the Hokage tower, kicking up dust in a very un-Hyūga like manner. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her two teammates sitting next to each other and eating breakfast. Hinata guessed that they were also discussing their girlfriends, due to the animated way that Kiba was waving his arms about. Kiba was now going out with a vet that had nursed Akamaru back to health after a mission that had turned nasty, and Shino with a girl that he'd met hunting for insects, and was apparently the leader of the 'SAF' (Shino Aburame Fanclub). Hinata was happy for them, and waved cheerfully in their direction as she passed. She sighed as she realised the time, and decided to shunshin to the tower so that she wouldn't be late.
Hinata stood outside Tsunade's office, taking deep breaths to calm her nerves. Regardless of how much confidence she had gained, facing the Hokage always made her nervous. A momentary burst of confidence seized her, so she opened the door before it left her. Tsunade looked up from her paperwork, and gave her a weary smile. Hinata smiled back, and waited patiently for the older woman to finish the work that she was doing.
Tsunade stretched out the kinks she had developed in her back and let out a satisfied sigh. She'd managed to finish all of today's paperwork, and could now drink sake without Shizune telling her off. She looked at the Hyuga heiress and smiled. If it had been any of the other shinobi from Hinata's generation, they would have interrupted her before she'd finished the papers, and set her back several hours. "Thank you Hinata, that was a very important issue one of the clan heads had brought up, and it had to be dealt with tonight."
"Ano…it's no problem Hokage-sama." Hinata replied politely. Tsunade chuckled, looking forward to the day when Hinata became the head of the Hyuga clan. Hopefully under her guidance, the rest of the Hyūga's could pull the stick most seemed to be born with up their arses, out.
"None the less, thank you." Tsunade smile fell into the professional semi-scowl that she wore when giving out missions, or discussing matters to do with the village or the shinobi forces. "Now, as to why I asked to see you. I have a mission for you." Hinata sat up straighter, and focused her attention on what was being said. "I need you to go to the cloud village on a diplomatic mission." Hinata froze. She could still remember that it was ninja from Kumogakure that had kidnapped her in the past, an action that led to her uncle's death, and Neji's past hatred of her. The Hokage noticed that and smiled. "We're sending you on this mission, because you are without a doubt, one of the strongest ninja's this village has. Even if they do try something, I'm sure that you'll be able to protect yourself." Tsunade noticed that Hinata didn't look much better after the small 'pep talk', and so tried another ploy. "I'm also sending someone with you." Hinata perked up at this. "Since all of the ninja that I would usually trust with escorting you are either on a mission, or recovering from injuries, I've assigned it to a shinobi that wishes to join our village."
"Umm…H-Hokage-sama, how do you know that we can thrust them?" Hinata questioned timidly. Tsunade smiled to herself.
"I've told him that if you both complete this mission, and come back alive, then he will be given Konoha residence, and be instated as a Konoha shinobi." Tsunade opened a drawer and took out a file. "He's very good. He's successfully completed 198 D rank missions, 62 C rank missions, and 6 A rank missions. He has attempted two other A ranks that failed, and a single S rank, also failed." Hinata's eyes widened. There were several jonin Hyūga's from both the main and the branch families that hadn't completed that many missions. Hinata thought for a moment, before nodding warily in agreement. Tsunade smiled again, and wrote Hinata's name down on the scroll. "Be careful Hinata. The war may be over, but there are still rouge ninja out there that would wish us harm." Hinata nodded in understanding. "Now, gather your things, and get ready to leave. He'll meet you outside the main gates." Hinata bowed and left. Tsunade sighed, and took out a sake bottle. "I just hope that the two of you can influence each other…"
Hinata bid farewell to her father, who gave her a small smile (so she could see that he was pleased with her) and told her to be careful. As Hinata neared the main gate, she caught sight of someone who she'd been trying to avoid.
"Hey Hinata." Ino greeted, looking a little uncertain. Hinata gave her a shaky smile.
"G-good morning Ino." Ino gave her a small smile. "I'm sorry, but I've got to meet someone at the gate for a mission." Ino chewed on her bottom lip for a moment.
"Can I…Can I walk with you?" Hinata nodded, a little shocked by the unconfident tone coming from Ino. The two walked towards the gate, before Ino stopped. "I'm sorry." Hinata turned and looked at Ino in confusion. "I'm really sorry Hinata. I didn't know that…I never thought that he'd ask me out, please believe me." She pleaded. Hinata realised what she was talking about and smiled kindly.
"It's alright Ino…as long as the two of you are happy…that's what matters." Ino wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes, and grinned.
"I think…that we are." A figure landed behind Ino, and wrapper their arms around her waist. Ino jumped, and elbowed the man in the stomach. They coughed and rested their chin on her head.
"Ino…that hurt!" the whiskered blond ninja whined, before noticing Hinata. "Hey Hinata! How you doing?" Hinata smiled in greeting.
"I'm alright Naruto-san, how's your shoulder?" Naruto shrugged, and then winced.
"It's almost better. The fuzzy bastards taking his time healing this wound though." Ino chuckled at Naruto's description of the Kyuubi. "You off on a mission?" Hinata nodded. "Well, good luck then. And be careful."
"I-I will, Naruto-san." Hinata turned and headed to the gates, refusing to turn back. She knew that if she did, she would see the blond, stubborn, and loud couple kissing either hugging, or kissing. She stopped three feet away from the gate, and calmed herself.
"So." A male voice suddenly declared, causing the heiress to jump in surprise. She turned and saw a male, around her age, wearing a long dark blue coat over a black t-shirt, black trousers, and black ninja boots siting on a large rock. He smirked at her, his Blue eyes scanning her body quickly. "You must be the Hyūga." He ran a hand through his black hair, before jumping off the rock. He picked up a sword with a blue hilt wrapping and a blue sheath, and attached to his belt. He walked over to Hinata and held out his hand. "My name's Hidara Yasito." Hinata took his hand slowly.
"Hinata Hyūga. It's nice to meet you Yasito-san." Hidara grimaced.
"It's Hidara. Not Hidara-san, Hidara-kun, Yasito-san, or Yasito-kun. Understand?"
"Ah! Y-yes…I-I'm sorry!" Hidara shook his head, muttering something about backbones and clans, before he started walking down the road. He spun around and walked backwards.
"Well? Are you coming, or what?" Hinata stuttered out an apology, and raced to catch up with him. The guards at the gate shook their heads at the display they had just seen, and started to take bets on how long the two would last before Hinata got berated for her shyness. Three seconds later, and Izumo and Kotetsu (the afore mentioned guards) heard an indignant Hinata shouting
"STUTTER-CHAN?!"
AN: And so it begins! And Kotetsu loses 60 ryo. I'll try my best not to make Hinata too out of character, but if the story needs it, then I shall.
Until next time on 'Blades of the Byakugan', Farewell!