CHAPTER 3
First time
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Iruka came into view as Sasuke was about to tell Hinata something else.
" It's good to see at least two people are early," sighed Iruka.
Hinata blushed and said 'Thank you' while Sasuke grunted the usual 'Hn.' just then there was a mad rush- mainly from Ino and Sakura.
Soon everyone was seated in a circle with their legs crossed as Iruka explained the day's task.
" So you will have until twelve to collect one red flag, one white flag and the first person back to the clearing will get the blue flag that will be placed here when you leave to search. The point of this exercise is to develop your tracking skills as well as dependability on your team mates. Now be off."
With that many teams left at once. Sasuke was still leaning on a tree and Shikamaru was lying down watching the clouds. Hinata could not understand the two but sighed and approached them anyway.
" Ano… can you please get up Shika-kun?" she asked, then turned to Sasuke. " we need to hurry to find the flags."
" Che," snorted Sasuke. " Let's get this over with. You will be the leader, Hinata."
Hinata was absolutely shocked to hear Sasuke say such a thing, but she nodded in agreement. Shikamaru simply sat up and watched her as though waiting for instructions.
" Since I'm a tracker by nature, I'll look for a white flag," she started. " You two will go together in search of the red flag. Iruka gave us no distinct clues or information on the task, meaning it's not as easy as it sounds, but I guess you'd know that."
The two boys nodded.
" That's for sure," said Shikamaru. " I know that they are lots of crazy things in the forest that's why we are at the edge."
" Exactly," agreed Hinata. She was really into her new position and was taking it seriously. She wanted to prove she could lead a team, therefore, she would be able to lead her clan someday. " There will be competition for us since we don't really know how many flags are really out there. Other trackers like Kiba and Neji are out there too so we should hurry."
" Which direction should we go in?" asked the bored Sasuke, with a hint of a smirk.
" You two go straight ahead and I will go left then right since I can see more with Byakugan."
" Hn," replied Sasuke. " We'll meet you back here then when we find the flag. Keep looking at the clearing to see if we're here or if someone got here first."
" Hai," came the reply and the three teams darted off into different directions.
( A/n: I'm so sorry I will now give a brief description of the mission. )
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Hinata had found the flag with out any real effort which was surprising to her. Leaping through the trees, Hinata forced chakra to her eyes as she looked in the direction of the clearing not seeing anyone there yet.
Strange, everyone else were still looking for the flags. Even the better trackers than herself. If Hinata was as blind as others, she would be boasting to herself that she found the flag first, but she knew some thing was wrong.
She knew she was being followed from the time she had left on her own to find the flag but she took it as no notice. Even with her Byakugan, she could see no one and she found that very unnerving. She knew someone was probably helping her out. But who? Who would do such a thing?
Sasuke? No, she could see him with Shikamaru still searching. In fact no one from the group was not found and they were all doing their own thing.
Hinata ignored everything and went to Sasuke and Shikamaru to help them find their flag.
While leaping through the trees, Hinata's eyes caught a red glint. Stopping immediately, she hopped towards the bush where she caught the red object winking at her.
Hinata could not believe it. There, in the bush, was the red flag. She hesitated to pick it up, after all, she knew someone was surely helping her or tricking her in some way.
Hinata was happy she found both flags anyways, so she took up the red one and darted through the trees once again to find Sasuke and Shikamaru who were on the other side of the forest.
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Itachi watched Hinata bailing through the trees away from himself and Deidara. They had decided not to follow her anymore since she found the flags.
" Do you think it was right to help her find those?" asked Deidara, who was playing with a clay bird.
Itachi thought for a moment. He was watching the Hyuga and the others since morning. He knew what Iruka was up to. So what if he helped her? At least she and her team- even if his brother was in that team- would not be in the same boat as the other teams.
" No," he replied simply. " But we can't have her weak and stringy can we?"
He decided he would watch Hinata for awhile to really know her. That way, she would be easier to snatch away without any fingers pointing at the Akatsuki. He wanted to learn every habit Hinata had, he wanted to know all.
Deidara was of the same view as well. Itachi had to watch him. He was too open about his affections for the girl he himself started to like and he resented that very much. However he just watched Hinata leap further and further away towards the rest of her team.
He was confused why he found the flags for her. He liked her a bit, sure, but he never helped anyone. ' She better thank me for this someday.'
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" This is so troublesome," said Shikamaru, " We've been looking for some stupid flag since nine."
Sasuke was of the same view as well. He and Shikamaru were not close friends but they got along well because they liked silence just the same.
" I know," agreed Sasuke, leaning on a tree. " We have been searching for a blasted piece of cloth on a stick for the past two and a half hours."
A sigh was then heard from Shikamaru. " I wish the flag would just drop from the sky right now so we can go back to the clearing."
At that precise moment, a red flag was dropped at Shikamaru's feet. " What the hell?"
A giggle was heard and Hinata landed on the ground before them. The white flag in her hands, Hinata stood there in front of a wide eyed Nara and an impressed Uchiha.
" How did you find those so quickly?" asked Shikamaru, bending down to pick up the red flag.
" I honestly don't know," said Hinata, opting not to tell them she had a strange feeling someone had helped her. " I just found them lying there."
Sasuke walked up to Hinata and eyed her closely. " Can you come with me a minute?" he asked.
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Hinata confused, still followed him the short distance among the trees, leaving Shikamaru a while. When Sasuke thought he would not be overheard, he stopped abruptly, causing Hinata to bump into him. Not that he minded.
" Are you really Hinata?" he asked.
Hinata was confused. Of course she was really Hinata. Did he think she was an imposter or a fellow team member out to play tricks on them? Maybe he did she figured so she just answered.
" Yea, I am."
Sasuke did not look convinced. He narrowed his eyes in thought and then said. " What did I tell you last night at the river?"
Hinata thought that Sasuke had forgotten about the incident as she had been trying to do. Looking on his face, she saw a smirk. The same one he wore the night before.
" You told me you… liked me," Hinata replied, softly, blushing madly and looking away.
" Hn," was Sasuke's reply. He then grabbed Hinata's hand as though to lead her back through the trees. He suddenly tugged her hand, making her stumble towards his waiting arms. Sasuke held her around the waist, awfully close with their faces a breath away.
" And don't forget I told you, Princess," whispered Sasuke in a raw tone, sending shivers up and down Hinata's spine.
Hinata did not even have to chance to reply before Sasuke released her and pulled her through the trees towards Shikamaru, who was perched on a tree branch looking at clouds.
" Took you long enough," he said before leaping towards the clearing.
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When the got to the clearing, no one was there yet. That meant that the had won the challenge slash mission. Sasuke was not in a perfect mood because Hinata had found both flags while himself and Shikamaru did not have the slightest clue where to look.
He was happy for her though. He guessed it was because he was really starting to like the Hyuga.
Sasuke leaned on a tree while Shikamaru went to the middle of the clearing and performed a revealing jutsu. A 'poof' was heard and then a blue flag appeared. Hinata sat on the ground, biting her thumb nail.
" Question," said Sasuke, his eyes closed. " How come you knew how to get the blue flag?"
Shikamaru shrugged and rolled his eyes. " Well I guess I had a hunch the rest of the task would be easy after we found the two flags. I mean who's going to go through all the trouble of setting a tr-"
Just then a loud explosion was heard. When the smoke cleared, there was Shikamaru, covered in blue paint.
Sasuke was trying his hardest not to burst out laughing. Hinata was not so controlled. She was laughing like a maniac and rolling on the ground.
Sasuke never knew the girl could act that way, but then again the sight of Shikamaru was one of the funniest things he had ever seen.
" I'm glad you find it so funny, Hinata," drawled Shikamaru, wiping the paint from his face. He was a total mess. Sopping wet from the paint, Shikamaru had taken on a new appearance. He looked like a dried blueberry, at least that was what Hinata managed to heave out while she was laughing.
Sasuke did not really find the scene as funny as Hinata had, but he could not help but smile at the girl rolling on the ground laughing as though someone was tickling her continuously.
At that thought, Sasuke's genuine smile turned into a wicked smirk as he wondered if Hinata really was ticklish. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Iruka appeared in the clearing.
" Well," he started. " Seems you three will be eating today. Congratulations."
It took a moment for Iruka's words to sink in.
" What do u mean we will be eating today?" asked Hinata.
Iruka smiled at Hinata, much to Sasuke's annoyance. " While you all were searching we decided to give you a surprise," Iruka said. " We took all your food from your tents. No one will eat until tomorrow morning because they didn't complete the task. I'm really surprised you three found the flags, because we thought everyone would go through hunger tonight."
With that he gave a slight chuckle as he pulled out the food team ten had brought for themselves and gave them to their owners.
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Hinata was so glad she had found the flags that she promised herself to hug the person who helped her finish the task. Iruka had told the three to eat their lunch before the others arrived and not tell them they had eaten. He said it was part of the task.
Although Hinata felt guilty for eating although the others would have no food until the next day, she ate her o-bento and drank happily, as did Shikamaru and Sasuke. When finished, they packed up the evidence that they had eaten and sat innocently, awaiting the arrival of the other teams.
Hinata was thinking about her short meetings with Sasuke. How he made her shiver to know what he would do next. She knew it was silly of her to feel that way since she like Kiba, but she was curious why so many girls liked the Uchiha but he liked her instead.
She looked down at her chest. Sure she was well developed in that area but she never saw her body as anything someone would want. In fact she hated her curves and her size.
She had been trying to get Naruto to like her for all these years and he had eyes for only Sakura. Well now it was Ino, but still, she was skinny as well.
The thing with Hinata's body was the fact that she was muscle. That was what Tsunade had told her when she had asked why she was not as slim as the other girls although she trained everyday and ate moderately.
Tsunade told Hinata not to worry, that her body was well developed and that she should be proud to had such a figure.
Sure Hinata got lots of catcalls and whistles when she walked by in the village, but if she was so pretty and if everyone liked her curves, why did Naruto not take notice of her?
Not that she wanted his attention now, but her self esteem was at an all-time low during the years she had liked Naruto.
Oh well she had Kiba now, although she had not spoken to him since they had been in different teams. Now Sasuke liked her as well. To say the least, Hinata was happy she had one of the most wanted boys in the village after her. It was a nice feeling to be liked for who she was.
Although Sasuke was grumpy sometimes, he was kinda cute. Hinata snatched a glance at the raven haired boy who seemed deep in thought. Yup, he was cute, no doubt about it.
Hinata giggled to herself.
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Sasuke wondered what Hinata could be giggling at like that. The joke on Shikamaru was now old so it could not be that. Sasuke damned himself for liking Hinata but in all truth, he was glad he was attracted to her after what he had seen the night before.
Sure she was not slim and Sasuke was wholly happy about that. If Sasuke was corny, he would say she was a high priestess of the senses or something of the sort, but of course he was not so he settled with the fact that she was very pretty.
He hoped she would like him soon. She was stressing out his ego. After all, he was not accustomed to someone not returning his feelings. Not that he had shown feelings before.
Maybe that was why he was so nervous despite his outward calmness with the situation. Inside Sasuke was afraid of what Hinata would tell him if she decided what she wanted.
He had heard about the fact that she no longer like Naruto and was starting to like Kiba who had showed his attraction to Hinata. He did not shout undying love for her like Naruto had done for Ino a couple of months ago, he showed her by giving the simplest compliments and kissing her on the forehead if she did something cute.
Sasuke was not like Kiba who was able to show his feelings so subtly. He was forceful by nature although he tried not to be with Hinata, worried he might scare her away. Hinata, the one girl he liked did not seem to like him back.
Sasuke sighed.
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Shikamaru looked up at the clouds thinking about Temari. He really missed her. She left to go back to Suna a few days ago after staying at his house for three weeks. Although Shikamaru thought all girls were troublesome, Temari was an exception in his eyes.
Sure she was older than he was, but he liked her just the same and she did him. At least she would be back in the next two weeks.
He did not expect her to abandon her village for him, she had a life too, but he sure missed the way her hair looked let down and draped across his pillow.
Shikamaru smiled.
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It was so silent in the short time the three were alone. Only the sound of birds, the gushing of the nearby river and the rustling of the leaves were heard and it was utter bliss for team ten.
" Oh man!" came the voice of a certain blond, breaking the peaceful moment and the thoughts of the quiet group. The three looked up as Naruto, Ino and Shino came through the trees with the others following them. Some with read flags, some with white ones.
Naruto flopped on the ground rubbing his belly. " I'm so hungry, if I had a grandma I'd sell her for a drop of ramen broth," said the blond, only to be whacked on the head by Ino who was laughing.
" Don't say such things," she scolded.
At that time, Iruka appeared again with a smug look on his face.
" Uh oh," came the defeated sound of Naruto's voice. " I know that look."
Iruka smiled even more. " That's good because it saves me from telling the others the very sad news."
Naruto mumbled something and a 'thump' was heard as Ino told him to speak up.
" He has the same look as Kakashi when my former group would not get lunch," said Naruto looking down.
Many sounds, curses and swear words were heard at that moment. " Is that true?" asked Tenten, who was holding onto Neji.
" I'm afraid it is true," confirmed Iruka. " No lunch, not to mention no dinner either." He was interrupted by many shouts and whines to which he stopped abruptly. " As I was saying, no lunch, no dinner. This is to test your strength, for instance what if you had to go for days on water alone? Would you make it?"
The silence at that moment was deafening, but as soon as it came it went.
" Are you crazy?!"
" Who came up with that ridiculous idea?!"
" Tch"
" YOSH! What a wonderful way to improve our resistance!"
" Enough, enough," said Iruka, getting the group to be quiet again. " You will eat tomorrow ok? The reason why you are not given the privilege of eating is because none of you completed the task before twelve so that's a failed mission for each of you.
" I have taken everything considered as food from your tents- yes that includes your diet roots Ino and Sakura- and you will only have water as your punishment for not completing the 'mission.' I will see you all in the morning."
He paused for a moment. " Oh and by the way, there was only one team that completed the task and they have food."
And with that he left.
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It was late now and Hinata had already had her bath without interruptions. She was now eating silently while peering around with her Byakugan in case someone came her way. She was not to tell anyone she had been given the privilege of eating.
As she was eating though, she saw Neji looking right at her with his Byakugan as well. He was smirking.
' Oh no' Hinata thought as she saw Neji climb through his tent opening and walked casually towards her. Frozen in place, Hinata could only wait until he made his entrance.
Poking his head through the crevice, Neji smiled. " So it was your team that passed the test?" he asked.
Hinata nodded her head.
Neji crawled inside her tent. " Well congrats, Hinata. I'm really proud of you."
Hinata returned the smile. " So do you want some?" she asked, offering Neji a rice ball.
" I'm ok," said Neji. " I'm accustomed not eating much being a branch member."
Hinata felt hurt by his words. Neji was not really a branch member anymore. In fact her father had taken to taking in Neji as a son. He was treated as a main house member and even had a bedroom and such in her mansion. " Why did you say that?"
Neji smiled even more. " I was only teasing you, Hinata," said Neji. " Of course I would love a rice ball. I'm famished."
After talking and eating with Neji, he left to give some of his food to Tenten and Chouji, who was lolling around without his precious chips.
Having eaten, Hinata was comfortable now. She was not really sleepy because she did not have to work as hard as the others, who she saw, were sleeping heavily already.
Hinata had just decided to lie down anyway, but as soon as she closed her eyes, she felt the cold air washing over her. When she looked around she saw Kiba.
" I'm cold," he said grinning. " Hungry too, and I know you have food because Akamaru smelled it."
Hinata smiled at the boy who was now crawling through her tent crevice and went straight to her bag to get two rice balls for himself and Akamaru, who had come in behind him. Soon Kiba was eating and drinking tea gratefully and talking to Hinata. Akamaru was on her lap sleeping peacefully now.
" I'm telling you, Lee and Sakura are nuts," continued Kiba. He was telling Hinata about his day with the new team. Hinata was laughing loudly again as he continued to tell her about the quarrels his new team mates were always having.
No one took notice of the fact that they were talking and laughing loudly because there were others doing it as well. Hinata told Kiba about her day as well and Kiba found it strange for her to find the flags without problems. He was happy for her however and was glad she had completed the task.
" How else would I have eaten tonight?" was his reason.
It was then that they started laughing a fresh bout at his answer, rolling on the floor and tumbling around snickering and giggling much to Akamaru's annoyance because he had lost his comfortable spot to sleep. Akamaru went into Hinata's camp bed but was not unnoticed by Hinata.
" Hey," giggled Hinata crawling over to her camp bed. " That's mine."
She then pretended to wrestle with the dog when Kiba decided to join the fun. There they were. Two sixteen year old and an over grown dog tumbling around, laughing and barking happily.
" Ah- ah!"
Hinata and Kiba were now a tangled mess in the camp bed as Akamaru got away and ran outside leaving them alone. The two did not even realize it because Kiba tickled Hinata who was laughing like a banshee. She then flipped over so she was on top and attacked Kiba jabbing him in his ribs.
" I always thought you were ticklish," laughed Hinata, who was giggling still.
" Oh really?" asked Kiba. He then lay absolutely still, pulling on a serious face.
" You tricked me!" said Hinata pouting, crossing her arms as she was sitting on Kiba's lap.
Kiba started laughing again. " I didn't trick you," he said, now propping up on his elbows. " I did that so I could see that cute pout of yours."
Hinata giggled again when Kiba tickled her once more. " You know, we might wake up the others with all the racket."
Kiba stopped and looked thoughtful and propped on his arms again, leaning closer to Hinata who was still straddling him. " We'll just have to be extra quiet then," he whispered as he leaned upward to Hinata.
Hinata's heart beat tenfold the normal pace. Kiba was right under her, leaning to kiss her. Like a magnet, Hinata was drawn in, leaning in towards him as well. Soon their breaths were exchanged as they were a moment away from their lips touching.
Kiba looked at her with half lidded eyes. " I really like you Hinata."
Hinata smiled when he said that. She nodded. " I like you too," she said.
Kiba reached to cup her face as she leaned into his hand while looking at his eyes. She could tell he was being honest by the warmth he held there as he smiled back at her.
As soon as their lips touched, in bounded Akamaru and pounced on the two, crushing them in the process. Hinata did not even know what was going on until her stomach was fluttering madly as she felt Kiba's mouth over hers.
' My first kiss.' she thought as she kissed him back on instinct. Several moments passed when they parted and Hinata found that she was breathing like she had run a mile as well as Kiba. She smiled and rolled off him then buried herself in her camp bed out of embarrassment.
Akamaru was in the corner sleeping since no one was paying him any attention anymore.
As Hinata lay there with her face buried in her pillow, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
" You sure are shy, Hinata," said Kiba. Hinata turned to see his face as red as a cherry. She snorted trying to hold back the laugh.
" What?" he asked.
" I'm shy? Your face is so flushed," she breathed. Kiba then hopped next to Hinata and scooted her around. " What are you doing?" she asked.
Kiba then slid into the camp bed as well, lying on his side while facing Hinata. " What do you think?" he asked. " I told you when I first came I was cold."
Hinata just grinned at the boy next her as he pulled her close around the waist. " Goodnight, Hina," whispered Kiba as he tuned out the lamp, leaving them in the wash of the half moon peeping through the crevice of the tent.
She kissed him on the nose, making him blush even more than she was as she snuggled close and felt the warmth take over. " Goodnight, Kiba- kun," Hinata whispered and felt sleep drift over her.
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Itachi had seen Kiba enter Hinata's tent over an hour ago and heard laughter and such. He could not go any further because he knew the dog would pick up his scent if he got too close. He and Deidara were not as happy campers as the two teens in the tent they were watching because they knew something was up.
Deidara had offered to put a clay bird in the Inuzuka's tent but Itachi did not want to draw attention to themselves. He just had to live with the fact that the Hime was falling for the dog boy.
" So we're just going to watch them sleep in the same tent?" asked Deidara fidgeting with his pouch of clay.
" Yes, we leave them be for now," Itachi answered calmly.
Itachi decided to let them be for the time being. He had seen the encounter Hinata had had earlier that day with Sasuke and had a plan.
Of course, he just had to sit it out for the time being and let his plan unfold…….
Well there you are, the third chappie.
A/N:
Gomen nasai mina for not updating these past months and I'm sure no one feels worse than I do about it. The thing is, my Pc was not working all this time and I had no way possible to update. I am truly sorry for taking so long and I hope you will continue reading. I will now continue my stories and update once every week. For the weeks I can't update, I'll make it up to you by posting two chapters the following week.
Thanks for understanding. Ja ne
