Everyone was assembled, standing at attention, in front of the Hokage. Everyone, that is, except Naruto and Hinata. The group consisted of six people and a dog:
Kiba had since re-donned his fuzzy-hooded jacket, but left it open to show the traditional black shirt and wire mesh for shinobi. His hood hung down, showing off his short brown hair, and the red fang-shaped tattoos on each side of his face were as bright as ever. His face was serious as he stood up straight, watching Tsunade shuffle papers around. She seems irritated, he thought.
Akamaru was sitting obediently by Kiba's side, even larger than he was before. Had Kiba needed to, he could have ridden upon Akamaru's back. The dog was looking around patiently, wagging his tail.
Shino stood next to Akamaru, his hands in his pockets. Shino's outfit had changed little over the years. His hair was still unkempt, his eyes were still covered by those perfectly circular sunglasses, but his jacket was gray and hooded, the zipper open, and a high collared black button-down shirt underneath. His collar remained high to obscure most his face. He used the long black pants and leg guards that ANBU used, however, and wore the ANBU-specific armor underneath his jacket, like most of the ninja here. He made no movements, and failed to give away a single thought.
Chouji rubbed his large stomach. What're we waitin' for? Where are those two? he thought. He had the most visible armor on, the traditional breastplate of his family along with the leg coverings and arm guards used by ANBU. His brown hair was longer and spikier, no longer pointed in horns or held by his forehead protector. He took great pride in his hair. It was a sign of heritage to him, a proud family symbol. "Like father like son," he had answered when someone asked about his new style.
Ino, who was standing next to Chouji, kept considering forcing herself into somebody's body, just for kicks. Not Shino, too many bugs living in there, she thought, maybe... Akamaru? A smile played across her lips and she giggled silently to herself. THAT could be fun, she thought. She wore less, with her hair grown to the small of her back, her bangs overshadowing her left eye. She fidgeted slightly with the hem of her short, black skirt. Her shirt was a black sleeveless, button-up that exposed about two inches of her midriff. Her knee and elbow joints were covered by wire mesh armor, and ANBU arm guards covered her arms. Ino left her hands uncovered except for a tattoo she had put on each palm. They were large black X's with the circular pattern of something sealed around them, but when questioned about them, she simply laughed and gave an I'll-never-tell smile.
Sakura looked much like Ino when she stood next to her. She wore a similar skirt a bit more near the knee, less tight, and a similar shirt, though hers covered her shoulders, while Ino left them bare. She had left her hair short, tying it with her forehead protector. Her right ANBU gauntlet had a square medical cross carved into it, painted red with what seemed to be the blood of an enemy. Sakura had made it on a mission that led to her giving the killing strike and saving a fellow ANBU-nin's life. She thought it appropriate. Her hands were clothed in gloves that left only her fingertips exposed, while she had forsaken ANBU leg-guards and sandals for just-below-the-knee high boots.
Shikamaru was the only one who remained in the traditional green Jounin jacket, though he wore a long-sleeved dark blue shirt underneath it. His eyelids were half closed, and he looked about ready to fall asleep on his feet. So troublesome, he thought. Where are those two? I'm not going to be able to teach my class at the Academy if this keeps up...
Footsteps, hard and fast, coming up the stairs at the end of the hallway, then after a short second, they were at the door. Naruto opened it, looking dignified as if he had not missed a beat and was definitely not out of place, and walked in, attempting to take his place next to Sakura.
Everyone stared at him angrily for a second, and screamed in unison, "BAKAAA!"
Naruto frowned. "Well, I only found out this morning!"
Tsunade-sama was preparing a retort when Hinata came walking through the door as well, huffing slightly, and taking her place at attention next to Kiba. Akamaru let out a familiar, deep "woof!" and wagged his tail. Everyone turned to stare at her, though not as angrily as they had at Naruto.
"Hey, no yelling, Tsunade-obachan! I was late first so finish with me first, dattebayo!" Naruto demanded. Hinata blushed slightly, and said, "Sorry I'm late Tsunade-sama..."
Tsunade fumed at Naruto, but closed her eyes, shuffled her papers, and got serious. "I've called you together because we have a situation," she said, looking them all in the eye (at least, in all the eyes she could actually see). "No doubt you've heard of the increasing tension among the Hidden Villages and the countries they control."
Hinata chanced a look at Naruto, who had the let's-assume-I-WAS-paying-attention-to-all-the-pol itics-and-get-on-with-it look on his face, his arms crossed. She smiled slightly, and redirected her focus.
"The Country of Lightning is massing forces," Tsunade continued, picking up the small pipe on the desk and taking a long draw from it. "And we've had unsubstantiated reports that the Sound might have formed an alliance with them. The Raikage's intentions are unclear at this moment in time."
She smiled and pointed at them mischievously with her pipe. "That's where ANBU comes in, more specifically, you eight. We need you to infiltrate the Country of Lightning, find out what they plan to do with their military nins, and report back."
Tsunade closed her eyes and paused for a moment. "As you are the youngest ANBU members since Uchiha Itachi, I want you to know I have great faith in you. This has been classified as an A-rank mission. And I am obligated to send you because you are the lowest ranking ANBU officers at the moment. I need to keep the rest of my higher-up resources open. Shino, Shikamaru!" she barked, and they came forward to her desk.
She held out a folder to each of them. They took it and stepped back into file. "I am sending out you two as team leaders. Shino, you will take a group of five: Yourself, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto to the heart of the Country of Lightning, the Hidden Village of Cloud. Shikamaru, you will take yourself, Ino, and Chouji to the shoreline, where their military and their ports are located. Report any threatening activity."
Hinata's heart jumped and sank simultaneously. Naruto would be coming along with her group, and yet, Sakura would be tagging along as well. It wasn't that Hinata hated Sakura, but they hadn't had a close relationship. Like most people do, Hinata compared herself to Sakura, and was sure that in a fair fight, she could defeat the pink-haired girl. But Sakura was undoubtedly closer to Naruto than Hinata. Friends, even.
As long as she doesn't start taking too much interest in him, Hinata thought, I should be okay...
Wait, why am I worrying about Sakura so much! She was dating Lee last time I heard, right?
Shino flipped through his folder, and nodded. "Understood."
Shikamaru looked through it more slowly. "Why send ANBU?" he asked after a minute. "A normal Jounin without an obligation to a team of Genin could handle these missions. So why send out large groups of ANBU?"
Tsunade smiled. "You caught me. Good thinking. Anyone know why?"
At first, everyone remained quiet. Then, Sakura raised a hand. "The Country of Lightning is known for its criminals and numerous Missing Nins. It is nearly chaos at all times within the Country. Lightning is usually viewed as the most unstable of all the Countries."
"Which is why I'm not taking any chances," Tsunade said, standing. "I said this was classified as an A-Rank mission, but I personally believe it to be higher. A+ or S. It is very likely that you will come across a dangerous Missing Nin, with abilities akin to your own."
"Tsunade, what're you making these kids do?" asked a deep voice from the doorway. Everyone turned to see Jiraiya leaning against the doorframe.
"You're late, Jiraiya." Tsunade said with visible annoyance. "You're going with Shikamaru's group."
Everyone could see Ino visibly cringe.
"Is he still under my authority?" sighed Shikamaru.
"Yes, Jiraiya will be under your command," Tsunade said. "Alright everyone, you leave tomorrow. Go home and get ready." Everyone bowed, and exited. Naruto casually high-fived Jiraiya on his way out, the two grinning at each other.
Hinata hung back behind Naruto, in her group with Shino and Kiba. She watched him walk ahead of her, and just gazed at the back of his head. So bright blonde, she thought, and around the other side of his face, bright blue eyes to stare into...
She blushed slightly, sighed, and smiled.
"EARTH TO HINATA!" Kiba screamed in her ear, and she nearly fell over. "Geez, we've been talking to you forever and you just space out. What gives?"
Shino smiled, looking dead ahead. He rarely looked at anyone when he spoke, which Hinata found an annoying tendency. "Isn't it obvious, Kiba? Hinata is in love again."
Kiba feigned surprise, gasping. "I'm shocked! Whoever could it be? Do you know, Shino?"
Shino shook his head. "No clue. Any ideas, Kiba?"
Kiba grinned, and shook his head. "Not one teensy idea, Shino."
"You haven't figured it out, Shino?" Hinata said, giggling. Her voice turned suddenly sultry. "It's you, Bug-man. I can't stop thinking about you!" Quite suddenly, she threw her arms around him and looked up into his sunglasses. "Let's get married!"
The group just looked at one another for a second or two, and burst into laughter, mainly at Shino's expense, as he was blushing ever so slightly. Kiba and Hinata wiped the tears from their eyes, and kept moving, while Shino regained his composure, slightly embarrassed. "Meet at the gate tomorrow at dawn," he said, and departed.
Kiba waved to him as he walked away, and yelled, "Is the honeymoon before or after this mission?"
"Hinata, we're not inviting Kiba to the reception," Shino called back, and dashed off. Hinata and Kiba laughed again as they continued down the street, away from the Shinobi headquarters.
"So, why were you late?" Kiba asked.
"My alarm exploded in a giant fireball and everybody died," Hinata answered nonchalantly.
"Ah," Kiba said sagely, "you should avoid those kinds of alarm clocks. Word on the street is that they blow up."
"Maybe."
Kiba laughed, and Hinata giggled. "Wanna race me and Akamaru for training today?" Kiba asked.
Hinata considered it, but shook her head. "I'm going for lunch," she stated. "Ja ne!"
"Oh, okay, bye!" he called to her, waving, and Akamaru woofed again.
I'm sorry, Kiba, Hinata thought, but an opportunity arose. She turned the corner, smoothed her hair out slightly, ended the byakugan, and pushed the curtain to the small ramen shop aside, stepping in as she heard a familiar voice say, "Gimme a big bowl, Oji-san. Big mission coming up, dattebayo!"