Twenty five and half sets of eyes fixed on the blond pacing in front of the small clearing. The very clearing that would be housing a full out war rather soon. As the seconds ticked by Lady Tsunade's smirk only grew wider, growing into a full blow mischievous smile, wicked intents glowed within the warmth of her amber eyes. The small inner voice nudged Tsunade into the direction of her favorite past time. The blond kunoichi quietly contemplated on engaging the panel of judges with a friendly bet. This was going to be entertaining, she could hardly wait.
"Granny-Tsunade hurry up and get to the point already!" The obnoxious demand only earned the orange clad nin a simple glare.
The Hokage's rather odd forgiving mood didn't go unnoticed, Sai's eyes drifted to the odd group to the left of blond in teal haired kunoichi and her little band of misfits must be the cause. He was almost sure of it, but the point of his confusion was why. What could Lady Tsunade be scheming? And why were they all needed?
The former team eight, Inuzuka and Aburame plus an overly lazy shadow wielder's eyes kept drifting to the kunoichi on Tsunade's left. The hip length indigo haired kunoichi easily aroused an uneasy feeling that bred deep within all of them. As much as the heart wanted to believe the hope that the eyes had offered, rational thoughts drove the dream into the ground. The facts were simple, but why was it so hard to swallow? This wasn't Hinata, then why did that thought feel so off instead of calming. The Hokage and the small group of travelers, it appeared were the only ones not affected by the strange female.
"As I was saying," Amber eyes narrowed at the impatient blond brat before Tsunade's mischievous mood returned. "Shizune, Kakashi, Kurenai, Gai, Gaara-sama and myself will be the judges."
Pulling out two scrolls, a soft chuckle passed through Tsunade's slightly parted lips, revealing a warm smile directed at the young shinobi. Excitement of the task at hand, ran through her like an electrical current cycling through her every fiber. Oh this was going to be worth watching.
"The rules will be simple. Each team will obtain a scroll. Your mission will be to prevent your opponent form stealing yours. The team to first capture and secure both scrolls wins. Remember this is just a friendly game please reframe from any lethal attacks if possible. Now for the teams."
All eyes, including Lady Tsunade's, shifted to the unknown group. All waiting for some sort of introduction.
"Hn, and I was told my manners were lacking. Didn't your mother ever tell ya it's rude to stair." The hostility that laced his child-like voice earned a few chuckles, the point of his rant being that they were behaving in a less then proper manner seemed comical considering his lack as well.
"Listen up you bastard! I-" The irritated and overly wound up future Hokage never had a chance to kindly dictate on how he could handle his double standard manners.
"If you want some-" Suigetsu too was cut off, unlike Naruto, it wasn't some snappy retort from an over grown brat. Shocking hot pink eyes twinkled with a warning Suigetsu wasn't about to test. Instead he took the only path he could see. The youngest member of the odd group hunched his shoulders in defeat, and silently took his place back at Hinata's side.
"Haaaahaaaa! That's rich! Your scared of a little fe-" Naruto followed Suigetsu's steps when an overly large vein on Sakura's forehead caught his attention, cowering back, out of arms reach of his pink haired girlfriend.
"Wow! You sure showed him, Naruto." The fan wielding sand kunoichi taunted, laughter dancing brightly through her enchanting emerald green eyes.
The five odd strangers, now the center of all of their curiosity, stood silently awaiting for the Hokage to continue. Recognizing two from last week in the ramen shop, Ino eyed the other three.
The rude sandy blond one stood in the center, on his left, the short teal haired freak that attacked her and the freak's rather attractive companion. On the brat's other side, the very female that, for the past week, had the whole village talking. Her long indigo locks resembled the beloved Hyuuga heiress. Rumors of the shy and timid kunoichi returning from the fiery pits of hell to seek revenge upon the shinobi who failed to keep her safe.
Taking a closer look, even the villagers who knew nothing about her could easily tell that this person was not Hinata. Everything was off. Her height, the lack of curves and soft pale lavender eyes, were all easy difference to point out. It was almost a mockery, this women lacked the angelic persona that Hinata radiated with. Every time thoughts of her sweet and kind friend would drift through her mind, sorrow's tight grip would yank on the strings of her heart. The death of Hinata had it's toll on the rookie nine. And this girl seemed to stir all of it up again.
On the other side of Hinata's impostor, a man with several birds on his shoulder. His innocent and sweet persona clashed with the loud mouth blond's aggressive nature.
"Sense apparently Tsunade-sama isn't in any hurry to introduce our new guess. I suggest one of you to go ahead and began." The mischievous chocolate brown eyes counteracted his bored tone. Revealing the desire for his unasked questions, regarding the new comers, emitted brightly through the puppet master's eyes.
Turning to face Juno, Karin began the introduction in her sweetest voice. Earning a few flinches, even her voice seemed to slap the memory of their beloved and highly missed companion.
"This is Akemi, the smart ass is Umi and I'm Akane." Karin fought against the urge to roller her eyes, Hinata's idea of a joke wouldn't go unnoticed. Red. What a lame name. Well, two can play that game. Shifting to face the last two of their group, Karin inhaled before continuing.
"At the far end is Shunsuke and lastly is Kaya." Karin's wide grin faltered upon seeing Hinata's lack of a respond to her new name. Grinding her teeth, Karin's deep blue eyes finally completed the action that they yearned for.
The corners of Hinata's soft pink lips twitched just a bit after a sideways glance at the kunoichi next to her. Rolling her bright blue eyes at Hinata's lack of response to Karin's weak attempt for payback. Hinata had to hand it to her though, the name was quite fitting; the resting place. Most did assume she was dead, she kind of liked it.
Curiosity wore thick in Sasuke's honey hazel eyes as he watched several eyes drift to Karin's tall frame. The sight of the indigo locked kunoichi had a better outcome then he had hopped for. Who would have thought that the old weak and pathetic Hinata would have not only the Konoha twelve and their sensies, the sand siblings and even a few leaf shinobi seemed taken with the slim hopes of the return of their beloved kunoichi.
Glancing to the kunoichi in question, Sasuke had to suppress a smirk. The lavender and royal purple clad kunoichi resembled nothing of the Hinata from the past. The petite female held her head high, eyes never averting from the hard glares from her former peers. The shy meek female, painted with a thick layer of ever deepening blush would have been on verge of fainting. Instead Hinata's shocking pink eyes taunted the group, a smirk playing on her child-like-innocent lips. Her facial expressions had to be the reason for their lack of acknowledgement. They were quite unlike the Hinata they once cherished.
Feeling Sasuke's eyes, Hinata glanced over at the usually stoic man. Taking in his every thoughts, the emotion that danced in the open just for her, out of everyones grasp but Hime's. A smile slowly joined his. She could tell where his thoughts had just been and he was correct. The shy bashful Hinata long since passed on, she was no longer that person. Nor did she wish for the return of her. Hinata's thoughts slowly slipped out of the present.
"Do not bow your head, its a sign of weakness. Your emotions can easily be turned against yourself. Even if you fail at becoming stronger at least disguise your uncomfortableness. Do not allow your guard to falter. Your life may be the price for your slip. Plus its pathetic." Sasuke's icy tone lacked its usual hatred, Hinata almost wondered if this was his way of being kind, but decided to squash that complex before it could breed into some sort of false hope.
"Hia Charming." Hinata's newly adopted emotionless tone replied to the man beside her.
Nine months had past after Hinata's little attack from the lovely bandits. The color slowly started to return to Hinata's sickly face. She still, in her opinion, looked under weight. Her hip bones could be seen along with her spine and the back of her rib cage through her lucid skin. Other then that she had finally started to resemble her old self.
Hinata's thoughts came back to the present when Tsunade continued with her explanation.
"Now for the teams. Kaya, Shunsuke, Akane and Umi will be competing against the rest of you. To make this a little fair, we will be doing this in rounds. Kaya," Tossing the first scroll to the petite kunoichi, Tsunade's smile widen. She knew something very few knew; Kaya's little secret. She couldn't help but gloat. This really was going to be fun. "Will be team one. Team two will be, of course, the rest of you." With that, the second scroll landed in Naruto's out stretched hands.
"Now you will all have five minutes to discuss your plan of action. The first round will began with two opponents from each team. Team two, considering you have sixteen members, you are limited to the same amount of players on the battle field as team one. Every thirty minutes a new round will start, at which point a new player will be added to each group. Any questions?" Adopting her business-like tone, Tsunade stated the rules.
"This is going to be a synch." Naruto's ability to boast never really seemed to affect his comrades any more, it was kind of expected.
"Oh yeah, huh? Just like you would never back down from the likes of a female." Suigetsu on the other hand was not as comfortable with Naruto's antics.
"Your time starts now." Interrupting what could easily turn into a pissing contest, Tsunade announced the start of their five minute game planning opportunity. Team two scattered, following what ever direction Shikamaru was heading in.
"Follow me Akemi." Hinata's sweetly implied demand could be heard trailing after her tiny figure, which Jugo immediately complied to.
Hinata led the quite redhead over to a little corner that hid him from view of the war that would be starting at any moment. To Hinata's relief, the Hokage finally submitted to Sasuke and her request to leave the poor man out of the brutal assessment. They had finally convinced her that the tall gentle man refused to fight due to his past. Which still haunted him to this day, reeking havoc upon his gentle mind. That would be unfair and cruel to torture him so. A part of Lady Tsunade could sympathize, images of her younger brother and beloved Dan, still haunted her.
Three potential flaws flaunted their existence in Hinata's face. The bloodlust taunting Jugo to the degree that his gentle and kind demeanor would become tainted with his sadistic side. Which was reason on holding him back, in his own personal haven.
The second issue would prove to be a little more difficult; Suigetsu. Like Jugo, Suigetsu had a sadistic side as well, but unlike Jugo his was all due to lack of self control. The little water demon was also prohibited from using his Decapitating Carving Knife and or any form of water; Water release or water nature jutsu. He was to use taijutsu strictly. If he were to slip, their cover would be blown. Sasuke was still a missing nin.
Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino, Sai and Hinata, were the potential malfunction. Sai, Shino and Shikamaru were too observant. Kiba and Shino knew Hinata to well, even with Hinata's extreme changes, the possibility still lingered. The solution, take them out quickly and quietly as possible. Eliminate the threats as smoothly as possible.
"Alright, from team one, Shunsuke and Kaya, and team two will be Ino and Temari. Ready?" The excitement twinkled within Tsunade's honey brown eyes as she waited for their reply. Nodding, all four dropped into a defensive stance.
Alias's for the band of misfits
Hinata- Kaya
Sasuke- Shunsuke
Jugo- Akemi
Karin- Akane
Suigetsu-Umi
Happy New Years!
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