Hello readers! Here is Killer Queen's first chapter. I hope you enjoy. Not many out of characters and there is a spoiler or two. I have labelled. Before I continue I have to say this:

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY RIGHTS TO IT. MASASHI KISHIMOTO IS THE OWNER AND THIS IS A FANFICTION. NO INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

The flashbacks never stop. A flash of war, blood, and death all around and the only calm was the sleep. That's when I did not see the flashes. No, in my sleep I saw him. Happy things like being around him, smiling, staring into those earnest blue eyes. Then I'd wake up, the air feeling staler by the moment as I realized that it wasn't my cousin greeting me in the hall, asking me how I slept. No, my sister frequented the hall outside my room, worried for me. Such as sisters are.

(SPOILER) Neji was dead. (END SPOILER) The day commences and I go through the motions. Missions, hopeless sessions with Dr. Yamanaka and fearless training with the only person I spoke more than polite sentences of greeting behind my fake smile. Shino was a brother to me. The only form of comfort I found after the war two years ago. The village was in peace, all the nations rallied behind our new Hokage. Lady Tsunade had finally passed the name on. The war had taken its toll and she agreed to step down for our new leader. (SPOILER) His strategy in the war was priceless and his confidence was what rallied the troops in the end to help Naruto and Sasuke defeat Obito, the ten tails jinchuriki. ( END SPOILER)

With hesitance, and a lot of convincing, he accepted the unanimous vote cast amongst his peers (save one). Shikamaru Nara became the Sixth Hokage of The Village Hidden in the Leaves. His wit and relations with the foreign nations as the rally point of the final battle made him the most obvious choice. Though many believed that the hero of the leaf, Naruto Uzumaki, should have been deemed Hokage, the elders thought it unwise to promote a gennin, who was untamed and still a Jinchuriki, to the position. This angered many including the current Hokage but even lady Tsunade agreed. Naruto was not quite there, and so he accepted the challenge of the chunnin exam last year. He's already at Jonin rank along with his team mates Sakura and Sai.

The biggest scandal after the war was Shikamaru's agreement to allow Sasuke to become a leaf shinobi again. He was head of ANBU Black Ops and was rarely seen in the village. He refused readmission into Team 7 and now answered to the Hokage alone. Of course we all knew that he only one that could keep him in line was Naruto. So Naruto was elevated to a higher position within the village just a few months ago. He was head of a new wing of the Hokage. While ANBU did the behind the scenes dirty work The Konoha Special Ops handled the actual allocation of Konoha Shinobi throughout the world. Ambassadors were sent and Naruto presides in Konoha's place when there is alliance threatening missions to take on.

He's always busy. This, Shikamaru claims, strengthens international bonds. So, my days are long and terrifying. Flashes of blood stain my eyes, especially when I use byakugan. I'm still a part of Team 8. We are an elite tracking and assassination team used under ANBU as well as in regular missions. When Shino and I aren't training vigorously, we're killing undercover threats from smaller villages and even larger. Peace is still hard to attain and it is fragile. There have been two assassination attempts so far. Both thwarted by ANBU.

Today is my twelfth mission under ANBU. As I leave the Hyuuga compound I can smell the beginning of village life. What used to make me smile only makes my mind real. I'm not the same Hinata. I haven't been since being promoted to Jonin right after the war. Everyone deals differently and I've shut myself to the world focusing only on my duties. Naruto is still pinning over Sakura, and Sakura is still hopelessly in love with Sasuke. He rarely sees either of them and when he does he approaches them with cold eyes.

Not many women could endure the pain I have. I lost my cousin right in front of my eyes, stepping in the way to protect the man I love. Neji's sacrifice was my fault and I blame myself every day. Though I used to believe that his sacrifice was earnest I realize that it was wasted. Naruto hasn't spoken to me about it ever again. His eyes, every time he sees me, turn dark and he becomes disconnected. He blames me for Neji, I can see it. And I blame him for not loving me. Life has been miserable.

"Hinata," Shino greets, pulling me from my thoughts as I approach the large village gates.

"Shino-kun," I say, a soft smile plastered on my face. It's like it is natural; using this fake smile to hide my heartache.

"Kiba is late, as usual," he comments briskly, his glasses on me. His eyes are never revealed to me, even though we are each other's only close friends anymore.

"He always is. Why were we ordered to depart from the front gates," I asked. "It just makes it obvious for any enemy watching."

"That is what Sasuke-sama ordered. I believe he thinks it will make it look like we are on a regular tracking mission. To throw the enemy off," Shino stated, walking over to me. "That fake smile, what is wrong?"

"You're overanalyzing again, Shino-kun," I said, turning from him.

"No I am not," he said.

"Shino, it's just been a rough time… I'm not sleeping well and today isn't the best day," I confessed, looking down at my feet.

"The second anniversary, correct?" Shino commented. "You could have refused Hinata-hime. Kiba and I could have handled this."

"Oh yes, I'm sure Sasuke would be all for that," I said, shaking my head slightly. There was too much sarcasm in my voice to become approachable after that.

"Oh, I can smell Hinata's in a bad mood," came Kiba's voice from behind. Akamaru barked in concurrence. "So, what's the problem?"

"You're late," Shino interrupted. "Let's go over details before we leave."

"Fine," Kiba groaned, rolling his eyes. "You're always so abrupt. That throws people off, you know?"

"Our mission is seemingly normal, to the enemy," Shino began, pulling out a scroll. He unrolled it and showed it to us. It was a map. "We are going to leave and head toward Takigakure, the village Hidden by a Waterfall, but we are going to the countryside. There is group, unknown name currently, operating as an extension of Iwagakure's black ops. They track down enemy bodies to use in their experiments to crack the Edo Tensei jutsu."

"That's new," Kiba announced. "A tracking unit fighting a tracking unit."

"They covered that in the briefing. We're to neutralize?" I asked, glancing between them.

"To erase all their findings and any survivors. We will do it in the night, using Hinata's special skills. I will neutralize with my paralysis bugs, Kiba will create a distraction, and Hinata will destroy their findings. Kill on site is our orders."

"Sasuke sure isn't taking chances," Kiba scoffed.

"And he sends his dogs," I smirked, hoisting my pack tighter over my shoulder. "Let's go then."

"There is another portion to the mission, though the briefing didn't cover it," Shino said, putting the scroll away. "We are to gather some equipment still stashed in one of Orochimaru's hideouts. This is why Sasuke really sent us. The tracking unit is to be an allaby. Hokage-sama has ordered that all research and equipment gathered by Orochimaru is to be brought to the leaf village immediately."

"We're supposed to haul equipment and shit?" Kiba growled, shaking his head. "I am not a delivery service."

"No, not equipment," Shino mumbled. "A single file, stocked away in Orochimaru's findings, that is vital to neutralizing Edo Tensei. Just in case Orochimaru needed contingency plan."

"Alright, and you know where it is?" I asked.

"Yup, I didn't mark it but I know where it is. I've sent some insects ahead of us."

"Alright, so we're going there first?"

"No, tracking unit first. We'll hit the hideout on the way back. Our route will be through The Village Hidden in the Sound. Orochimaru's old coup."

"Then let's get going. This is already a bum mission," Kiba sighed, rubbing behind Akamaru's ears.

"We will reach our target by nightfall. No rest, no stops. We finish that portion of the mission and then get a safe enough distance to set up camp. We collect the files in the morning."

With that we were off. There was no need for talking. Team 8 was no longer what it used to be. Part of me yearned for those times but the way we worked now, cohesively and without sound, made us the most deadly group in the ANBU Black Ops. I felt safest amongst my team.

The day was long, a trek to our north western boarder toward The Land of Waterfalls. When we reached the border Kiba smelt out our enemy in no time. They were near the border of The Land of Sound. The sun was just going down, the blood red stretching over us like a blanket. It was almost time. We stopped, rested only until the night had come on in full force. We were silent, unhindered by the dark.

We went our separate ways, my Byakugan immediately spotting their make-shift laboratory in the middle of their camp. There were thirty. Thirty shinobi in that camp, all keeping vigorous watch. It was Kiba's turn to act. There was a loud bang to the east of the camp, the Shinobi startled as they grouped three teams of five to survey the area. Kiba could easily take them. He and Akamaru were a perfect team. With his tracking abilities and the ability to see in the dark using his chakra to focus his night vision like the wolves he tamed, he was the master of mass kills. He'd picked that up after extensive training countering Sasuke's sharingan. He trained like mad with Sasuke to become not just some friend of Naruto's but a real adversary. He would lure them to Akamaru, and when they were distracted by him he'd use his beast clone, a new jutsu that transformed his body into that of a beast. He'd become wolf-like, fangs and long nails with taught limbs and quicker reflexes. He and Akamaru could easily take out fifteen opponents in the dead of night.

This left fifteen at camp. Shino easily dispatched the guard outside the lab, paralyzing their bodies with his infectious bugs that not only disintegrated the body's nerves but the brain. Anyone caught under such a jutsu is dead within minutes. I used my Byakugan, approaching the laboratory side entrance. There were five within the lab. Two on alert, acting as guard while the other three gathered their Intel to evac. This was going to be simple. The three gathering their documents and findings were chunin at best. Their chakra was all over the place. The biggest threat was the shinobi acting as guards. Their chakra was off the scale, easily high ranking jonin.

It was my turn. Shino secured the perimeter while Kiba took care of the fleeing shinobi guards. I entered the back entrance and skirted around a large machine before getting the three chunin into view. I quickly pulled out my senbon. This was my specialty. The Hyuuga chakra was unique. By attaching it to senbon and throwing them at exact spots of the body, it inhibits a brief control of the chakra network. You could, for brief amounts of time, control a shinobi's actions and jutsu. This proved useful used at key intervals. It had deadly effect.

I quickly crouched behind the corner of the machine before I got a descent look at the chunin. They were no older than sixteen. Young recruits. I bit back the lump in my throat before throwing the senbon. With precision accuracy I hit each target, making them go still. The guards immediately noticed and that's when I did it. One of the chunin was a fire user. I weaved a hand sign before setting the entire contents of the desk and folders into flames. This startled the guard for a moment before one came around the corner. I immediately used the fire style to eliminate the three chunin before releasing my hold and focusing my chakra. Both of the jonin chakra types were earth. This could get tricky.

I skirted around the machine, launching kunai, shuriken, and paper bombs at the two. They countered with a rock wall and that's when it happened. One of them dove for me with his fist, hardening the skins surface like steel. This would hurt if I got hit. I dodged out of the way, quickly activating my twin lions, jabbing him with a few quick thrusts into his most vital chakra centers. He fell to the floor with a loud thump. The wall was on fire from the fire user and the equipment was starting to squeal. It didn't look good. I quickly dodged a frontal attack from the remaining jonin before ducking out the side entrance. He followed and when he did I turned, facing him one on one. I didn't bother to speak, didn't bother to even look him over again. I knew all I needed.

His arm was burned from the initial jutsu of the fire user so his chakra was unsteady. I could hear Shino approaching so I had to end this soon. Without even the slightest hesitation I threw myself at him. He began building chakra but then I dodged around him, coming up behind him and hitting him in his injured arm and his leg. He barely dodged as I came at him again, this time bringing up a stone-spiked wall. I moved out of his way as he charged, jumping onto the now burning roof of the lab.

Before he had a chance I'd thrown my senbon at his open back. What I did not expect was that they bounced off. He used a jutsu to harden his skin. This was going to be harder yet. So be it. I'd use my new jutsu. If it can neutralize Shino's bugs, it can neutralize a defensive jutsu. I started building chakra, weaving signs from the roof as he skirted up to the roof. I watched him with interest. His chakra had suddenly dropped. That shield must have been taking it up.

Then it happened. He didn't have a chance to even let out a shriek of horror as my twin lions grew, suddenly coming to life. They charged at him and engulfed him in blue chakra flames. My new jutsu was a product of observing Sasuke's amaterasu. Focusing the chakra to such dense levels leaves the user with less than a quarter of their chakra but it produces a potent chakra that, like amaterasu, engulfs everything. It strips away layer by layer the chakra you have, eating into the most vital points. Death was eminent when hit with this jutsu.

I quickly jumped from the roof and took off into the trees toward Shino's location. Our rally. Kiba was close behind when we met up with him.

"Status?" he asked, looking behind me.

"Documentation, research, and all shinobi eliminated in the lab," I said.

"Enemy neutralized," Kiba stretched, running his hand over Akamaru's side.

"Same, though I'm weary. A tracking unit without any sensory types?"

"I noticed, but we found no others. Akakamaru searched the entire perimeter up to a half a kilometer out. Nothing."

"I've seen nothing either," I said, glancing about with my byakugan. No chakra signatures, bodies, or anything.

"My beetles are calm. Let's go. We will not stop until we are far into the Sound."

Another routine mission. After travelling for two more hours we stopped, making camp in the dense forest before eating. It was only then that Shino spoke.

"Get a good night sleep. We head out in a few hours. Kiba, you have watch first. Wake me in two hours so you can sleep."

"I'll take second watch," I said, looking at him. "No, you need sleep. That jutsu does just as much damage to the user."

"Hardly," I said, grabbing the kunai from my side. "You sleep. I'll stay awake for a few more hours, Kiba."

"No," Shino said, shaking his head. "You may have developed that technique to aid our team but it hurts us as well."

"Harsh," Kiba mumbled, looking down at Akamaru.

I stood there a moment, looking down at the small embers of a fire. Shino thought it best not to even have one but Kiba demanded cooked food. He hadn't eaten all day.

"Shino-kun," I said, my voice softer. "I want to do this. I want to keep watch. I can't fall asleep…not yet."

"Hinata-chan," Kiba interrupted. "Shino is concerned is all. He has a fucked up way of showing it though."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Don't treat me any differently Shino. I'm fine. You don't need to act as my protector."

"I'm a friend and that is what friends do. You remember friends, right Hinata?"

I held back my anger. "I do, and that is why I am volunteering."

"I'm for it. I'm beat," Kiba yawned, shaking his head. "She wants to stay up, let her."

With that he disappeared into the tree line. He and Akamaru always slept under the stars when they could.

"Hinata," Shino said, glancing over his shoulder at me from the entrance of the tent. "Don't punish yourself. You do not deserve it. I know today is a hard day, I'm sure for all of us. However, trying to work yourself to death isn't going to help anything. And it won't win your Naruto's love."

"Go to bed Shino," I said hastily, sitting down by the fire. "I'll wake you in a couple hours."

"So be it. But remember. We are friends."

I sat there that night, staring at the smoldering embers. I sat there thinking, staring into the past for so long that the sun had started to lighten the sky. I hadn't slept and I hadn't woken Shino up. I'd catch hell for that but I didn't care. My mind was not tired. It was alive, remembering the happiness of the past, but most of all it was focused on one thing. I was determined to prove myself, to catch up to Naruto. I'll be damned if I'm left behind as the scared, timid, and nice girl I used to be.