Mkay, everybody, here's chapter three! Hope you enjoy it!
Breakfast went quickly at the small shop down the road from her apartment. They'd gone there many times with Kurenai after missions when they were younger, and it was an inexpensive place that sold large meals. The owners even let Akamaru come in and lay beneath the table, although that was harder now that he was as big as Hinata. They ordered and ate fast, Hinata sitting guiltily next to Shino, even though Kiba didn't seem to notice or care that she was avoiding him.
It was strange. She would have expected him to act differently around her, or somehow change how he looked at her. But he was still the same old Kiba she'd always known. Maybe he regretted the night before, or maybe he was trying to put her at ease. She realized that she'd been staring at him and blushed when his eyes jumped to hers and he smiled boyishly. Her eyes returned to the table cloth, and she heard him chuckle before continuing his quiet conversation with Shino. Akamaru sniffed at her under the table, nudging her leg and making a sound deep in the back of his throat. She gasped and moved away from the dog's head, putting her close enough to Shino to make things awkward. She once more glanced at Kiba, and didn't entirely believe his innocent expression. She was the first to get up and pay for her meal, and her boys soon followed. She could have sworn that Kiba shared a triumphant look with his dog, but she couldn't be completely sure.
They entered the Hokage Tower just in time to see Ino and Sakura leaving Tsunade's office. The two attractive girls were talking quickly in low voices, and Sakura was giggling and blushing, looking for all the world like she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't have. Ino's eyes widened as the pair walked up to the trio and the wolf hound.
"Did you guys get called for the mission too?" she asked, and when Hinata nodded shyly, she leaned back and popped her hip out. "Well, neither Sakura nor I were good enough for it apparently, so maybe you will. She'll want to see you first, and then they boys can come in." Hinata cocked her head to the side.
"Why does she want just me first?" Ino smirked as Sakura blushed behind her then came up and patted the shorter girl on her shoulder. The pink haired kunoichi was beautiful- no wonder Naruto likes her, Hinata thought sadly, and lowered her head. She felt a little squeeze on her shoulder, and looked straight into the woman's light green eyes. She seemed to understand, and her grin was comforting.
"She'll have some questions for you." Hinata smiled at her in return and watched as she left the tower with Ino. She was so strong and nice- Hinata's heart sank, and she bit her lip. There's no way he'll choose you over her, some spiteful little voice in her head said. She answered back grudgingly, I know.
"Hinata." Kiba's whisper shocked her, and she looked up at him as he leaned in until his mouth was right by her ear. "Don't worry about her. Even if he doesn't choose you, you'll always be good enough for me." She gasped, stunned into silence.
"How- how did y-you… I was thinking that…."
He chuckled. "I've known you for a long time, Hinata-chan. I can tell when you're bashing yourself." She nodded mutely, then turned on her heel and knocked timidly on the large wooden door of the Hokage's office. She got leave to enter, and opened the door, taking a deep breath before closing herself in with the strongest woman in her village. Tsunade was writing something on her papers, she merely motioned for Hinata to come forward, then continued with her filing. The young kunoichi stood tall and proud, but inside her mind she was panicking slightly. What sort of questions is she going to ask me? Is there going to be a test? She jumped when Tsunade called her name, then bowed quickly.
"Hinata Hyuuga. I've called you here about a mission that I need someone for, but I'm not entirely sure who will be able to do it. How much did Shizune tell you when she came to get you?"
"Not much, Tsunade-sama, only that you were taking volunteers for an important mission that could stop a war in the Land of Grass. She said it was very dangerous." Tsunade nodded, putting her pen down and picking up a small clay bottle.
"Yes, that is true. But before we discuss that, I need to ask you a personal question. Are you a virgin?" Hinata's jaw dropped, and she gasped, blushing fervently at the invasive question. The older woman smiled wryly. "Yes, I know it is a very odd question, but I need the answer. You must not be shy around me, Hinata- I'm a medical nin, as well as the Hokage. You can trust me. This is why your friends didn't come in with you. Now, are you?" Hinata nodded blindly, feeling faint. "Hmm. That's just as I thought. And are you in a relationship with anyone?" She hesitated, and then shook her head. "Good. Do you have any reservations about being with older men?"
"What?" Tsunade just looked at her, and she blushed before shaking her head once more. "No, I suppose not. Hokage-sama, why are you-?" The woman cut her off, asking her to bring her teammates in. Hinata opened the door and motioned frantically for Kiba and Shino to enter, and just then Shizune walked up with other ninja. There was Ten Ten and Neji, Naruto and Rock Lee, and a couple older ninja who leaned casually against the door frames as they all filed in.
Shizune handed a stack of files to her boss, bowing slightly. "Here are all the males you asked for, and Ten Ten fits the requirement s for the woman's role." Ten Ten blushed, then caught Hinata's eye and went to stand by her. Tsunade nodded, then stood up, slapping a hand down on her desk to command attention.
"Listen up! The Hidden Leaf has gotten wind of a very sinister plot, and it is up to us to put an end to it. The Land of Grass has notified us of collaboration between a very influential man and Orochimaru, our village's greatest enemy. This mission is dangerous, but only a very select few can do it. We need tracker ninja, and one of them has to be a woman. At most this team will be a three man squad. Those who take on this mission will have to be okay with spending months in an undercover situation, and they need to be adept at gathering information, keeping their cover, and pretending to be civilians. If you cannot do this, say so now. It will not be considered giving up, it will be forfeiting for the good of the village. Please leave now."
Hinata glanced around as Rock Lee and Ten Ten exited the room, and were closely followed by many of the older men. The door closed behind them, and only herself, her teammates, Naruto and Neji remained. Then she looked back at Tsunade, a sense of foreboding coiling in her stomach. She nodded, then turned back to the remaining ninja. "Now then, I'll choose who goes, and who stays behind as reinforcements. Hinata, you'll be going no matter what, so stay here. Naruto and Neji, you are both in Orochimaru's Bingo Book, and this mission calls for inconspicuous ninja. You are free to leave."
Neji nodded, bowed and turned, but Naruto glared at the Hokage. "Aw, come on, Granny Tsunade, you gotta let me go on this one, I've been cooped up in this village for forever! I'll be inconspin- incos- uh, whatever that word is- I'll do whatever you say!" He groaned and whined, and Hinata blushed. Oh, what if I really did get to go on a mission with Naruto? What's more, I'd be gone for months with him, just the two of us! The thought had her head spinning madly, and she took a deep breath.
"Naruto," Tsunade screeched, "be quiet this instant!" For once, the young man actually did so, stepping back and squinting at the leader. "If you go on this mission, you risk Hinata's life, as well as the future of this entire village and possibly the Land of Grass. I will not allow you to put everything in danger. Leave now, or you won't go on another mission for a month!"
"Come on, Granny!" he wailed, but after a few more minutes, he stomped out of the office, leaving silence in his wake. She looked at Kiba, who was staring at her with a bemused expression on his face.
"Him? Really, Hinata?" She gasped and narrowed her eyes, feeling uncharacteristically angry. No one had the right to insult Naruto, not after all he'd done for her! But Kiba just chuckled and tugged a piece of her hair affectionately, turning back to the Hokage. "So, is it us three then?"
"I'm afraid not." Tsunade was looking straight at Shino, who stood impassively by the window. "Shino Aburame, your bugs crawl from behind your eyes and through your skin, right? I hear it's an involuntary process, and that it happens without your direct command." He nodded once, and she closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Then you can't go undercover- you may go." Hinata watched as her teammate bowed and jumped out the window, the easier way down for agile ninja. Kiba laughed behind her, and her eyes widened in shock- was it really just the two of them left?
"Why can't ANBU take care of this mission?" she asked respectfully, and Tsunade glanced up with a smile.
"Not many of the ANBU agents are still… well, like you. And those who are also happen to be in Orochimaru's Bingo Book, and he must not know that we are interfering in his affairs. It might spark a reaction, which could very well devastate Konoha and the surrounding areas." Hinata felt Kiba's eyes on her, and blushed. So, she was one of the only virgins left in the village at their age. What a lovely thing to be known for. "Now, your mission is to gather information about Lao Suji. He is a very rich man who is famous for funding scientific projects and making money off of them. The only reason he hasn't been imprisoned yet is that the daimyo of the Land of Grass happens to be his close and personal friend. The ninja of the Grass Land cannot go against their daimyo, because it might spark a civil war. They've enlisted us to help, and given us a plan of action. We've researched it enough to know that this plan is not a trap. Lao is not married, and often visits a geisha house in the town closest to his estate. His last companion went missing three months ago.
"Hinata, you will pose as the newest geisha, and seduce him into choosing you as his companion. Kiba, you will find a job within the town and keep watch over her. When she and Lao go out or travel, you will gather information about him from his house and servants. Hinata, he'll often take you on business trips with him. These will be an opportunity to learn about his fascination with Orochimaru's scientific experimentations.
"If you succeed in this, it will put a stop to that snake's sick experiments, and it will restore peace to the Land of Grass. Any questions?" Hinata stared at her, willing herself to move, to say anything. But something inside her had locked up, and she found herself completely unable of speaking for herself.
In her clan, it was considered the most foolish of missions. If her father knew that she'd be a mistress, even if only for a research job, he'd be disgusted. She was already enough of a failure in his eyes; how much further could she sink? You're not worth anything now.
"Hinata, Kiba? Do you have any questions about your mission?" Tsunade asked again, expectantly. There was a tense beat of silence as she waited for her answer.
Cliff-hanger! Haha. Well, the fourth chapter is already done, and I'm really liking this story so far. Let me know how you feel about it! If you review for me, I'll review for you! And I'll dedicate something to you if you give the best or most in-depth review! Yes, I am bribing you shamelessly. But that's okay with me. Thanks for reading!