Just a Little Deeper

8 years ago...

Young Hinata slept peacefully in her room alone, on a nice soft bed. It was a beautiful night, the stars shining on her. At least, if they weren't blocked. Two ninjas stood over her. "You sure we should do this?"asked one. "Yesh we need to take her while she's young, it'll be easy to influence her. The heir to one of the most prestigous clans in the entire world, you want to pass this up?"asked the other. The other sighed.

Present, one day ago...

12 year old Hinata stood in front of all the members. She wore much more casual clothes then the others:a light brown jackets with blue pants and sandles. "We know there's a tailed beast in the leaf village in one of the students, however we can't locate him or her at all"said the leader. "Then how do you know he's there?"asked Hinata. Hinata's voice was strong, arrogant and with a hint of viscousness. "It appeared in the village 12 years ago and was reported sealed away, and it must've been sealed into someone. Your job is to find out WHO it was sealed into, whoever has it has to slip up sometime"said the leader. "So I'm going undercover"said Hinata. "Correct, however if we send you in with your real identity then it will be figured out you are the missing heir of the Hyuuga clan and you certainly don't want to go back there"said the leader. Hinata shook her head. "We're sending you in under the name Tenata Rei. As soon as you find out, report back here so we can deal with it"said the leader. "Hold it, why can't I do it? I'm not some damsel in distress, I can handle whoever it is myself"spat Hinata angrily.

"You are indeed strong, perhaps one of our strongest, but the 9 tail chakra is deadly. Therefore we have someone else ready to handle the possesor, speaking of which, it's time you met him, he'll be your partner"said the leader. "HIM? Oh c'mon, I don't need some hormone driven idiot slowing me down!"said Hinata. The leader chuckled. "I assure you, hormones won't be a problem with this man"he said. A man about 6 years older then Hinata stepped out in the typical black robe Akatsuki members wore with the lower half of his face covered and expressionless eyes. "Tenata Rei"said the leader with an ironic chuckle "meet your partner, Itachi Uchiha. Like you he's one of our younger members, but he's even more powerful then orochimaru, one of the 3 legendary sanin. If you find any of the higher officials like jounin becoming suspicous, Itachi will easily deal with them"said the leader. Hinata hid the fear she felt from his presence.

His reputation was certainly known to her and she knew if he wanted, Itachi could kill her in an instant. "Itachi will around the village, occasionaly checking up on you"said the leader. Hinata felt insulted by the expression "checking up on you" but she was afraid if she protested at this point she would get on Itachi's bad side. She had never been afraid of the leader, but Itachi was a different story.

The two were dismissed and they walked outside. "Hinata"said Itachi. The sound of his voice sent shivers down her spine but she did what she could to look defiant. Did itachi buy it? She doubted it. "Although the leader explained things pretty well, I want to tell you myself how it's going to be. I will intervene if you run into trouble with any jounin, especialy Kakashi or Gai, and maybe even chuunin, but I do not like to waste time with useless bloodshed, so expect to be fighting some of your own battles. I will spy on you every once and awhile to make sure things are going smoothly but I am not your caretaker. Also, your defiant tone to our leader has me weary of you. If you betray us, you will die"said Itachi. How Hinata did not faint from that she did not know.

Itachi took out a pair of shades and held them out. Hinata took them. "The leader gave me these to give to you.Use these, otherwise your eyes will be a dead giveaway. We depart from here, so good luck for now"said Itachi. Hinata put them them on, they were small shades simalar to Shino's.

"What a dull place"said Hinata walking through the town. She saw a ramen shop ahead. "I could use something to eat"she said. She stopped when she realized she didn't have any money. "Oh well, there's always an alternative"thought Hinata walking in. When she walked in, she saw naruto scarfing down ramen. "Who is that? Ugh, if there's a pig tailed beast I'd guess it was in him"thought Hinata disgusted. She took her seat a few spaces away from Naruto. "How may I serve you?"he asked. "Anykind of ramen will do, just give me something"she said. The man went off to cook.

In a minute he came back. "About time"she said, beggining to eat. She ignored Naruto next to her, who was allready ordering another bowl. It took her about 5 minutes to eat, half the time it would usualy. She finished at the same time Naruto finished his thrid bowl. She got up and began walking away. "Hey, my money"he said. "Sorry, maybe I'll bring some next time"she said. The man leaped over the counter and grabbed her arm. "You would be wise to let go of me"she warned. "If you can't pay then you better work it off!"he said. "I'm warning you, let go or you die!"she warned spinning around, yanking her arm free. Naruto handed the man a coupon for a free ramen. "Here, it's on me"said Naruto. Hinata turned to him.

Naruto handed his other 3 coupons and got up. "Are you new around here?"he asked. "I suppose I could use him for now"thought Hinata. "Yeah actually"she said. "My name's Uzumaki Naruto, the next hokage! Who are you?"asked Naruto. "Hin, err, Tenata Rei"said Hinata. "Well it was nice meeting you, I have to go train now"he said. "Wait!"said Hinata. He stopped and turned. "What is it?"he asked. Hinata didn't know why she said it either, but came to a conclusion in her mind. "Could you show me around?"she asked. "I don't know, I really need to get to work"said Naruto. "Please?"she asked, holding one of his hands with both of hers. "Hey Naruto!"

Naruto turned around, Jirayah heading his way. "Hey Perverted Hermit"said Naruto. "Don't call me that!"he said. "Perverted Hermit? What did I do to deserve this?"thought Hinata. Jirayah noticed Hinata. Then he turned to Naruto. "Oh I see"he said nudging him. "Huh?"asked Naruto. "Did you sleep with her yet?"asked Jirayah. Hinata's body stiffend like a statue, her expression one of mortifacation. "What! No way, I just met her you perverted hermit!"said Naruto. "Oh c'mon, you don't have to hide it from me"said Jirayah. Hinata had had enough. She rushed up, Naruto stepping aside quickly as Hinata punched Jirayah in the nose. He fell backwards, a sickening crack heared. Hinata shook her fist from the recoil, Jirayah holding his nose. "Are you allright?"asked Naruto. Jirayah's nose was bleeding.

"What did I say?"he asked. "Great, guess I can forget mt little tour"thought Hinata running off.

Itach watched from afar. "Jirayah, one of the legendary sanin. I didn't expect to see him here"thought Itachi.

Hinata strolled into a more rural area, memorizing her surroundings. Just then, something came at her with tremendous speed. Before she knew it, a tremendous blow at came right at the side of her head. She couldn't stop herself from flying off, but grabbed her glasses before hitting a tree. "Oh no, what have I done!"gasped Rock Lee. hearing him, Gai and Tenten came out. Before they could ask what's wrong, they saw Hinata face first on the ground. Neiji joined them soon. "It was an accident, I thought she was Neiji"said Lee. Gai smacked Lee. "Ten thousand push ups, right now!"said Gai. "Yes Gai sensei!"said Lee obidiently. Ten-ten went over to check on Hinata but Neiji stood in place. "There's something familiar about her. It's the hair"he thought.

Hinata got herself to all fours, putting her glasses on. "Are you allright?"asked Ten-ten. "Could be better"growled Hinata from pain. She got herself up. "The fact you're even concious must mean you're a ninja, but I've never seen you around here before"said Gai. "I'm new here"said Hinata rubbing her head. "So where are your team mates?"asked Gai. 'Don't have any"said Hinata. Neiji grew a suspicous look on his face. "Are you a ninja?"asked gai. "I've been trained as one, yes"said Hinata.

Gai noticed Lee stopped his push ups and was watching with interest. "Hey, did I say you-

"Now's my chance"thought Hinata making a mad dash away. By the time Gai was done yelling at Lee, Hinata was long gone. "Didn't even get her name. Oh well"said Gai. "Could it really be her? What's going on?"thought Neiji. "Neiji, is something wrong?"asked Ten-ten. "It's nothing"said Neiji.

Hinata was back into the regular part of town. "Great, I've allready made a few friends and enemies, but am nowhere close to finding out who has the kyuubi beast. Oh well, I doubt they expect me to find it quickly, I just need to be patient"she thought.

She held the side of her head. "Damn that Rock lee kid"she thought. "That's an awful mark on your head"said Kakashi. "Oh great, someone else"she thought. he was standing just outside the book store. "I'm fine"she said. "If you say so"said Kakashi. "Good, I don't have to put up with him"thought Hinata. "There's something about her"he thought.

"Perverted hermerts, pigs, ninjas that attack you out of nowhere"she thought"and in all this I'm supposed to find the container of the 9 tailed fox?"

TBC