Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 2. in which Hinata gets her sweet little bottom saved... probably
There was quite a lot of things she had learned during this journey. One of them, the higher she was, the safer she was. Other one, never turn your back to a potential danger. Next, never go to places which have only one exit. Unfortunately, it seemed that she already broke all those rules, being in the deepest basement she's ever seen, with some unknown kunoichi behind her, blocking her only escape route. To Hyuuga Hinata from a month ago, several weeks after the chuunin exams, this situation would have been totally and utterly helpless – meaning instant fainting. Hyuuga Hinata from here and now was aware that she still got a slight chance, she only needed not to give in overwhelming feeling of panic. Gaara seemed to be unconscious - not the greatest news, but at least he won't get in her way. She had to think quickly. Activating byakugan was out of the question, as she needed a hand seal to do so – it would reveal that she was a ninja, and...
"You heard me, scoundrel! Come here so I can see your face!" shouted the woman from behind. Wasting more time could be suspicious. For now, she had something up her sleeve: the other ninja didn't know about Hinata's abilities. Slowly, she turned around and directed her step towards new source of light. Her enemy was a woman around Kurenai sensei's age, with slim body, blonde hair and perfect, beautiful face. ANBU mask was mounted to her belt.
"Crap!" thought Hinata while frownig slightly. ANBU usually don't work alone, another one could be anywhere. Too much for single weak Hyuuga to handle. She didn't protest as her eyes were tightly covered with some kind of special sealing scroll and she was led upstairs, away from Gaara's cell. Now, struggling was useless, as narrow staircase was the only way of escape, and could be already blocked by other ANBU at the exit. She just had to wait for a chance, an opening... She had to be strong, like during her travel through Land of Lighting.
Finally, the stairs finished and that they got to the first floor. She could feel fresh air on her face. So, they were leading for exit, huh?
"Oi, Nii-san!" Some strange voice called after them.
"Don't call me 'nii-san'! I'm not your older brother!" (AN: "nii-san" is used to address older brother in japanese, and "Nii" is woman's surname, with "-san" as honorific... yep, that's Yugito Nii I'm talking about :D) woman yelled back in response.
"Sorry, sorry..." The other person sounded troubled. "I just wanted to ask what are you doing with this little beggar in Raikage Tower, that's all." Beggar? Hinata knew she surely didn't look pretty in her ragged clothes, that once were gray hoodie and green cargo pants, but still – she felt a bit insulted.
"It's a... robber" Her captor stated coldly. "Unfortunately for her, she choose wrong place to ferret around." A robber? Now she felt really insulted, she would never steal anything, even if her life depended on it... No! Focus, girl! Focus on finding a way to escape! "Now, I'm going to interrogate her. See ya, Akira" and with those words, the woman lead her outside. The cold wind hit her face violently. Here, in high mountains, it was already late autumn.
"Let's just make things clear" Hinata heard a whisper right next to her ear. Woman's grip on her shoulder tightened painfully - she seemed to be even stronger than Gaara. "We both clearly know you're no robber, but a ninja from Kami-knows-where. Don't you even think of escaping, ANBU patrols already know of someone breaking in the city, and are super wary now." Situation had just got worse, but there was still hope. As long as Hinata was alive – she could take some action (even if it meant shinigami seal). That was the most important thing that Baki taught her during her short stay in Suna.
They have been walking quite some time, as if going to the outskirts of Kumogakure. Having her eyes covered with some weird scroll, Hyuuga didn't even try escaping, seeing only black in her field of vision. Running randomly into a wall wouldn't be pretty, right? She was growing more and more agitated – it didn't seem that her captor would easily let her guard down, creating a chance to escape. Finally, they stopped. Woman beside her knocked loudly. No, wrong, it was rather sound of a door-knocker.
"Nii-san!" She heard sounds of gate being opened, and some low, manly voice greeted the enemy ninja beside her.
"Just go to hell, all of you! Don' call me 'nii-san'!"
"Geez, woman, calm down. It's not my fault you have this stupid surname." Man seemed to be accustomed to such harsh words. "So, we have a guest, huh? Get in, both of you." Stumbling on the threshold, she was lead inside. The scent inside building was rather... pleasant. Cinnamon cookies? Curry? What the?...
"Sit. Put both hands on the table" woman ordered her. She could hear that someone poured water into something – kettle maybe? - and set fire. Something was put on the table, and the scent of cookies got stronger. Were they in the kitchen?
"So, who is she?" asked man, openly curious.
"It's this 'rat' you was talking about, the one from jinchuuriki's cell. Thought you may want to see it. It's well-mannered, didn't even try escaping... Who knows, maybe it knows even some tricks!" woman chuckled.
"Uhm..." Awkward silence. "A (AN: A, the Raikage.) told me to get rid of rats in the basement... but you know, rodents..."
"WHAT?" woman's mood changed from delight to fury. "Are you saying you just saddled me with dirty work assigned to YOU, again?"
"Yu-chan, calm down, calm down... Hide those claws, please..." this time man was panicked. "We have more important matters to deal with, right?"
"Hmph. So you didn't know there is actually a prisoner in the confinement room?"
"...there is? Is it this one?" It seemed like they were talking about her, Hyuuga Hinata.
"Of course not, moron! Seriously, you're getting senile!"
"I'm only 32! Besides, if it's not the jinchuuriki – who's this chick?"
"Some ninja, obviously. Who else could get into Raikage Tower unnoticed?"
Their chit-chat was getting on her nerves. She had been thinking she was already familiar with talking about her as if she wasn't in the same room – the questionable charm of being the weakest Hyuuga in clan. Yet, she still felt angry with them, underestimating her as if she was a piece of thrash. For Kami's sake, she managed to get into the heart of Land of Lighting, break into village hidden in clouds, and then into Raikage Tower, all alone! It wasn't nothing! ...And she desperately needed to get rid of this scroll blocking her field of vision, the sooner the better.
"Why d-don't you just a-ask then?" she said aloud, intending to push them out of balance. Furious people tend to think irrationally.
"Soo... what's your name, little girl?" As if she would really tell them.
"T-tsubaki." Hinata replied as convincingly as she could.
"You're a bad liar, really. But okay, 'Tsubaki' is fine for now." Woman's voice was cold as ice. Atmosphere in the room seemed to get more serious. "Mind telling us what have you been doing in jinchuuriki confinement room, Tsubaki-chan?"
"Talking." Come on, Hinata, get a grip on yourself! Think, think!
"Certainly. Something about setting him free... what was his name again... Gaara?" So she heard her before. Crap.
"Huh? Why would anyone want to get a jinchuuriki out of prison?" The man was shocked, this much was obvious. She decided not to answer.
"Let me ask you again: why did you want to free him? What's the relationship between you two?"
"They're spies, obviously." stated woman, as if it was evident.
"Ever seen a spy getting overpowered so easily, with only vision sealing scroll?" the man asked her dryly. Silence.
"Oh, Kami! Just who in the world are you?" Woman seemed to be loosing her cool. Good. Now, how to anger her a little more?...
"You w-wouldn't believe me a-anyway." And it was true, as Hinata hardly could believe herself - so much happened since assignment of this brain-dead mission...
"Whatever!" angry woman muttered under her breath, Hyuuga heard her taking few steps in left. Shortly after, she heard something like rummaging in cupboard, putting a cup down, some rustling and pouring water. A new scent filled the room, was it green tea with jasmine? Just like then...
"Please, help yourself" an old man proposed, moving tray with nut muffins closer to indigo haired kunoichi.
"N-no, t-t-thank you." she politely declined, trying not to show her nervousness to him – and obviously failing. She was sitting in Sunagakure Council's chairman's dusty office. The day before, during official meeting with elders, she didn't manage to look closely at said man. Now she realized how old he really was. The skin on his face was covered with wrinkles, furrows even near his dark eyes and thin mouth. He had a silver beard, which seemed to be considerably thinner than his bushy eyebrows. He was wearing simple outfit, probably common among people of Sunagakure: light mantle thrown on his cream shirt was elegantly contrasting with his dark, baggy pants. From the very first glance one could say that the chairman was serious person, and his office was arranged in similar manner. Furniture wasn't as fancy as in Kazekage Tower, though still could be considered stylish.
She felt that she was being rude, staring recklessly at the office, and averted her gaze to the cup of green tea before her. Chairman said it was his special blend: with jasmine and little pieces of dried fruits. Hesitantly, she took a sip. It was truly delicious. (AN: nope, I haven't tried that blend of tea, only green with jasmine.)
"Lady Hyuuga" stated old man, taking a muffin in his hand "let's save all the small talk for some more official occasion, shall we? For now, I would like to hear your honest opinion, without all this political talk. How do you imagine your stay in Suna?"
For a couple of seconds, Hinata was speechless. She was unprepared for such turn of events, expecting rather formal greetings and questions.
"U-um..." she started to play with her fingers, feeling even more uncomfortable than she was before. "W-welll... I... I d-don't want to be a b-burden! B-besides, I w-would like to r-r-resume my sh-shinobi t-training... a-and also go on m-missions."
"Oh." Elder just finished eating his muffin and mused over her statement. "Of course, Suna has common training grounds. Still, the matter of your training is far more complicated. As a kunoichi from different village, you can not be exposed to dangers like every Sunagakure's ninja..."
"O-o-onegai!" Hinata stood up from her seat and bowed deeply. "O-onegai, I d-don't want to be a n-n-nuisance to a-any of you! D-don't make any e-exceptions f-for me, p-please! I -I want to... I w-want to b-be a r-regular n-ninja!"
The chairman looked unflinchingly at the young girl before him.
"I'm afraid it is not possible, Hyuuga-san. You are not – and will never be – a regular kunoichi. You're aware of this fact, aren't you?"
Hinata sat down, uneasy.
"You are practically one of many terms of the most recent peace treaty with Konohagakure. You do not have much choice, really" the chairman stated with his usual carefree manner.
"I-I'm a-afraid I-I do not u-understand..." stuttered Hinata.
"Sunagakure can't let you get hurt in any way, since this would lead even to a war. Taking this reasoning further, either your training or missions seem to be out of question, really."
"I-I'll b-be... a c-civilian? A p-p-prisoner?"
"A 'prisoner'?" elder chuckled. "A 'fragile princess' is more suitable term in this situation. And since you are a shinobi, you would be perfectly fine with obeying this order, right?"
"No" was what she wanted to say. Instead, some odd sound escaped her dry throat.
"As I was saying" the old man looked at her with amusement "sending you on missions on standard conditions is unacceptable. However, if you assent it, there is a - let's just say – a workaround. A special long-term mission, which can be assigned only to you. What is your decision?" Man continued his speech in friendly tone, although his stare was now colder, calculating even. Hinata clenched her fists under the table. Another mission? She had just arrived to Suna... Something was definitely suspicious! However, she knew that elder was right – getting injured would bring disastrous effects. It was now or never: once she does agree to leave behind her shinobi training, she would never come to back to shape she's in now – which simply meant becoming a civilian. A mere, pathetic civilian girl, perhaps a servant of main Hyuuga house... No! She couldn't let it end like this!
"I-I agree." she stated calmly, trying not to flinch under chairman's gaze.
"Oh, perfect!" elder exclaimed joyfully, then started to rummage drawers of his desk. "You'll need to sign an official agreement to that... where is it, where is it... Got it!" The chairman gave her tiny scroll. And she started to read it.
'I, Hyuuga Hinata, sound in mind, hereby declare Sunagakure not guilty in case of '
She gulped, trying to calm her breath and shaking hands.
'… of my death.'
Was it a pact with the devil? After signing this, she would be a perfect target for anybody! Still, if she doesn't sign...
"Oh, don't worry, it is just in case. You know, to prevent a break of war and such."explained old man, carefree as ever.
Speechless, Hinata was staring at the elder before her. He was smiling kind-heartedly. Feeling odd, she signed scroll. Maybe it was the most stupid thing she had ever done in her life, but also the bravest.
"A cookie, maybe?" he asked with a genuine, pointing to the tray with nut muffins.
"N-n..." And she did what seemed to be most suitable in this situation – fainted.
"And if I said I actually would believe you – what would you tell me?" asked the man, composed unlike his female companion. Now, that was a good question- who was she, after whole this time?
"A heiress."
"You don't look like one." Hell, who would, after a month of survival in freaking forests? "I ask you one last time: who are you?"
"I'm..." she started, but got interrupted by loud knocking on the gate. After few seconds, she could hear squeaking of hinges.
"Ohaiyo. B-san..." she could hear some meek greeting from far away.
"That's jinchuuriki-sama for you!" Thundered a man, apparently called B. Was it even a name?... Wait, did he say jin...
"Jinchuuriki-sama" the same uneasy voice corrected himself. "I'm sorry to bother you, but we've been told to ask everyone... A direct order from Raikage, however embarassing it would sound... By any chance, have you seen any outsider today?"
"Nah, 'course not., and you, Nii-san?" he yelled in her general direction.
"Just go to hell with all 'nii-san' this, 'nii-san' that! And I've been getting rid of rats from Raikage Tower's basement, remember? How could I see any outsider down there?" woman answered.
"See? Now, if you please." and B shut the gate with apparently too much force, because Hinata could hear that pane in nearby window trembled dangerously. They were covering her? More importantly – was B really a jinchuuriki? It would mean their mission was almost successful. Well, 'almost' made a big difference...
"Heard that, little girl? We've just saved your sweet little bottom. Now, could you please have a little faith in us and tell honestly – who are you?" the man asked again, clearly impatient. Maybe it was really time to get honest? After all, this man was the only one who could help Gaara.
"I'm... the imprisoner's teammate. Our mission was... to ask you for help."
"Help?" sneered woman. "Ever heard of diplomatic protocol? Of ambassadors?"
"Our countries aren't in good relationships... and this is rather... personal matter" Hinata was becoming more and more anxious. Situation was getting worse each second.
"Personal?"asked the man sceptically.
"Just spill it already! We don't have all eternity for such stupid games!" growled woman. Hinata took a deep breath. Calm down, girl! Calm down!
"Gaara is a jinchuuriki. He needs help with taming his demon."
"...and how should we know this is not a bunch of lies?"
"G-go and t-talk to him... p-please! H-h-help him! I'll do a-anything, but h-help him, I'm b-begging you!" she felt tears under her eyelids, too many to hold them back. First tear rolled down her cheek, then another, and another. She felt panic slowly raising in her chest - it was too much for her. All pas events were coming back in bitter waves, bringing remorse. This whole mission went wrong from the very beginning, because of her.
"I b-beg you... h-help him..." she sobbed, clenching her fists, nails digging into flesh of her hands. "P-please..." new flow of tears rolled from her closed eyes. She was weak, once again. In the end, the didn't believe her... Everything was in vain... Gaara...
"Enough of this slush, it makes me sick!" she heard woman's hiss and felt a pressure point on her neck being hit. Defenseless as her senses and consciousness were slowly fading away, she heard a quiet: "You've grown soft, Yugito."
AN: I hope I didn't make things more complicated than they already are. So... yes, the jinchuuriki confinemet room is in the Raikage Tower (at least according to me). Nice way of showing off Kage's power.
I haven't read Naruto manga so attentively to know everything about Lang of Loghting, so I'll make up many things.