Shino watched Shikamaru look at the building, then at Sasuke, then at the building, and then at Sasuke again.
"Why are we here?" he asked him.
"To pick up the last member of the team." Sasuke replied. The three of them stood outside the Uchiha complex. The others had gone home to pick up their gear. Sasuke had been given a set of ninja gear before they left the Hokage Tower, and both Shikamaru and Shino had all their equipment with them. The rain had subsided by now, but the ground was still quite damp.
Shikamaru shook his head. "Please tell me that you mean Naruto, that way I can just call you an idiot and we can leave."
"No, I mean Hinata."
Shino raised an eyebrow. Hinata? She hadn't trained as a ninja in years. Although she had not officially retired, she was never given any missions anymore. She probably would have taken the missions, thinking of what Naruto would do, but she would be far too distracted to be of any actual help, putting the team and herself at risk.
"Hinata's in a state of emotional turbulence right now. She's too focused on Naruto to worry about a mission. She's also just a chuunin, and only barely holds that title. It'll be worse of for everyone if she comes with us." Shikamaru stated simply.
"But this isn't a normal mission. This is to save Naruto. I think she will do everything in her power to help." Sasuke countered.
"No." Shino said suddenly, drawing the attention of the other two. "Hinata stays here with Naruto all day because she truly believes that she's helping him. She knows that no one else will come to keep him company, to bring him food, to take care of him. This is her way of saving Naruto. But it's also her way of saving herself. As long as Naruto needs her, she has a purpose in life. If she leaves him, and the mission fails, we have no idea what it might do to her."
"Hinata has to stop thinking about Naruto and start thinking about herself!" Sasuke shouted. "I barely knew her when I left this village, but even then she was never this pathetic. She was able to stand up for herself against Neji in the preliminaries of our Chuunin Exam! I heard all about that. But the Hinata cowering inside that complex wouldn't even dream of doing that. She needs to be taken out of there! Going on this mission is the best thing for her."
Shino and Shikamaru stood silent for a moment, and then Shikamaru spoke.
"And since when did you care about the well-being of anyone in this village?"
Sasuke tried to look him in the eyes, but couldn't. He turned to Shino instead, but his face was cold and unreadable. Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets and walked past Sasuke towards the gate. He stopped and began saying, "Hinata's not on the team. And that's-"
"I'm coming."
All three turned to see Akamaru, ridden by Hinata, walk out from around the corner. Shikamaru groaned. Sasuke quickly hid his smirk. Shino didn't move.
She scowled at Shikamaru. "I heard everything you guys just said. First off, I don't spend all my time standing in the rain watching Naruto doing push-ups. Second," she glared at Sasuke, "I stand up to people everyday who berate me for taking care of Naruto. My father not least among them. Third," She shot an icy stare at Shino, "I'm not some fragile little girl who needs to be protected from the outside world. I've seen it at it's worst, and I survived it." The three boys stood there awkwardly, until finally Shikamaru spoke.
"Yeah, you've survived wars. We meet at the gate in one hour. Don't be late."
"I won't be." Hinata shot back.
Hyuuga Complex
Neji was almost finished packing. He had gotten used to traveling light, so it hadn't taken long. Tossing a few more kunai into a side pouch, he decided that he had everything he needed. He was securing the pack when he heard the door open and close behind him.
"Neji." It was his uncle, Hinata's father. Head of the Hyuuga clan.
"Hiashi-sama. I'm honored you've come to see me." The only person who could hide their emotions behind an iron expression better than Neji was Shino. "May I ask the reason behind your visit?"
"Don't play games with me, Neji. You know damn well why I'm here. You haven't answered any of my summons."
"I've had to prepare for a mission, Hiashi-sama. Unfortunately, that takes precedence over Hyuuga matters."
"You're not going on any missions that I don't know about, Neji. You're going to go back to the Hokage Tower and tell them that you can't take it."
"But I can take it. I am taking it."
"As head of the clan, I order you to forfeit the mission." An icy silence filled the room and the two Men stared at each other. The obvious tension filled the room thickly, though there was no one there to notice. People tended not to be around when Neji and Hiashi confronted each other.
"I don't take orders from you anymore, remember? I will not forfeit the mission." Neji said at last, shattering the silence. "I'm going on it, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"This is about that demon boy, isn't it! That's why that Nara and the Uchiha are back in the village. The demon deserves nothing! That boy has brought this village nothing but pain and misery. He tore this clan apart."
"As I recall, you did that just fine without him. You disowned your own daughter. You severed the secondary branch when they took Hinata in and showed Naruto sympathy. It was your radical behavior that lost the Hyuuga clan its spot on the council. It was all you."
"Silence! The Hyuuga clan has suffered worse than this, and we will rise again, as it has always been!" Hiashi was practically screaming now.
"The Hyuuga clan? You're delusional, 'uncle-sama'. The Hyuuga clan is now made up of only those too afraid to leave you. I am no longer a Hyuuga. I have taken up the same name as Hinata, and it is one I am proud of. It is one I will finally earn on this mission."
"That name? When you and Hinata took it, I thought you would soon see the error of your ways. I thought that you would finally understand why the Hyuuga name is so important. Clearly I was wrong."
"Clearly."
"I will not be waiting for your return."
"I will not return for your sake." And with that, Uzumaki Neji walked out of the presence of Hyuuga Hiashi for the last time.
The Gate
Tenten was talking with Sakura and Ino. Chouji had taken Shikamaru aside to speak with his, and Shino and Sasuke seemed to be talking in low voices as well.
"Listen you two," Tenten began, "I know that you both already know how important this mission is, but let me remind you one last time. You have a chance to bring back a friend you never thought you'd see again. Naruto was like the sun, always shining, brightening up everyone's lives. If you fail to save him, I'll never forgive you."
"Don't worry, TenTen, I'd never forgive myself either." Sakura said slowly.
"Look at both of you, drowning in sorrow. You won't have time for that on the mission, Sakura! You've got to look ahead!" Ino said enthusiastically. Sakura knew her friend well enough to see through the brave face she had thrown on.
"You're right, Ino. We can do this!"
"That's the spirit!"
Shikamaru and Chouji were off to the side, whispering to each other. Chouji had taken Shikamaru aside to talk privately as soon as he had reached the gate.
"I'm always worried about Ino when she goes on missions, Shikamaru, but there's no one I'd rather have going with her than you."
"Ino can take care of herself, Chouji."
"I know that, but still, it makes me feel better to know that you're looking out for her."
"Alright, alright, don't worry, I'll bring her home." Shikamaru smiled, but it was a smile his friend did not return. "What's the matter, Chouji?"
"The night after you left, we searched everywhere for you. You hadn't told anyone that you were leaving, and we were all worried sick. Ino was strong at first, butas time passed and it seemed like you had disappeared completely, she started to break down. She'd never lost anyone before, Shikamaru. I found her one evening crying at your favorite rooftop. And she was a real mess. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, hair all over the place, bags under her eyes, a sprained ankle from running around too much. She didn't notice me at all. I just sat down next to her and put my arm around her, trying to offer some comfort. She fell onto my chest and begged me not to leave her, ever. What could I say? I promised I wouldn't. The next day she was already doing better. Soon after that we got your first letter. She was back to normal in no time. You weren't around any more, but at least you were alive. She kept on trying to spend time with me, and I thought for a long time it was because she didn't want to lose me too. Then I saved her life. I lost the ability to be a shinobi forever. That's when she asked me out on our first date. At first I thought she pitied me, but then when I realized what it was, and I wasn't sure if it was better or worse. Since that evening I found her, she had attached herself to me. And after I lost my abilities, I attached myself to her, because she was there for me. But I can't help but wonder, if you hadn't left, which one of us would be married now."
There was a stunned pause.
"You think that she used you as a substitute for me?" Shikamaru asked.
"I don't think she did it on purpose, but it happens to shinobi sometimes. I just can't help but wonder…"
"I spoke to her, Chouji. She loves you. There's no question about it."
"I know, and I love her too, but…"
"Chouji, enough. Everyone has enough stress to deal with already. There's no point worrying over something that doesn't exist."
"Yeah, you're right."
Shino and Sasuke were closest to the gate. One might be surprised to see them together, and even more surprised to see them speaking, but there they were.
Shino heard from his insects both of the other conversations while carrying on one with Sasuke at the same time. It was a talent most Aburame had honed by the time they were jounin. Shino had mastered it before he became a chuunin.
"Neji and Hinata aren't here yet." Sasuke observed.
"They will be."
"Shino, was… Did Hinata always like Naruto?"
Shino turned his head to look at him. "You never noticed?"
Sasuke shook his head. "I thought only Naruto was thick enough to not realize Hinata's feelings for him."
Sasuke felt a pang of regret for the first time since he had gotten to Konoha. Before he had only felt guilty about what had happened to Naruto, and he wanted to help change things as they were now. But he had believed that he had done the right thing in killing his brother and avenging his family. But now, hearing about some of the small things in Naruto's life, things that he should have been a part of, he was actually starting to wonder if it wouldn't have been better if he had stayed.
Shino continued. "She hasn't just started watching Naruto now. Even before we were on a team, back at the academy, she always watched him. He always gave her hope. Naruto never knew a thing; saw Hinata only as a close friend. And even with that, she still treasured the time he spent with her."
"I should have been there." Sasuke said suddenly. "I should have been there to see that, and laugh at how Naruto didn't realize it, and maybe even help him see her differently too. I should have."
"But you weren't." Shino replied simply. Sasuke looked at him with surprise.
"You don't seem as bitter as everyone else. Why not?"
"Do not misunderstand me, Uchiha Sasuke. You've betrayed trusts and forsaken bonds that are at the very core of our society. You're the worst kind of criminal there is, and you have a very long way to go before anyone respects you again." He stared hard at Sasuke. "But you came back. There's hope for redemption yet."
Before Sasuke could say anything in reply, Ino's cheerful voice rang out loudly, causing everyone to look over. "Oh, the Uzumaki's are finally here!"
Both Sasuke and Shikamaru spun around, no doubt expecting to see a couple of blond haired, blue eyed ninjas. Of course, both were shocked when Hinata and Neji came forward.
Sasuke looked from the pair to Shino and then back.
"What are you guys talking about?" Shikamaru asked.
"Oh yeah, I forgot that you're out of the loop." Ino said, grinning slightly. "There's been some trouble in the Hyuuga clan. It's really a clan matter, so I don't know too much, but the short version is that Neji and Hinata, as well as a few others, changed their name to Uzumaki in their defence of Naruto against the main branch." Ino said all this to Shikamaru, but Sasuke was listening too.
Sasuke turned back to Shino. "What about the real Uzumaki clan? What did they say?" Shino didn't even spare him a glance this time.
"There is no Uzumaki clan. Don't you think if Naruto had had any family, he would've lived with them? They made Naruto head of the clan, but it's an honorary title. Neji pretty much runs the clan in Naruto's stead."
Sasuke felt like smacking his head against a wall. Of course there was no Uzumaki clan. Naruto was an orphan. There may never have been an Uzumaki clan. The Third Hokage might have just picked the name for this orphan.
He watched Shikamaru looked around at his team. Shino, Sasuke, Ino, Sakura, Neji, Hinata with Akamaru, and himself.
"Almost enough for two whole teams. It's a ridiculously large team, but for this particular mission, we'll need strength over stealth anyways. And Sakura is an amazing med-ninja too. We can definitely do this, people."
As they walked out the gate, Shino couldn't help but notice that Shikamaru had left out the fact that almost certainly not all of them would be returning from this mission.