Chapter Four

Hinata waited rather impatiently in the waiting area. She had arrived promptly at ten o'clock and she hadn't seen anyone else since arriving. She briefly wondered if Naruto was back to playing his pranks on her, or she had gotten the wrong time when Kakashi showed up.

"Lady Hinata," Kakashi greeted somewhat lazily. Hinata narrowed her eyes again at Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sensei, you don't have to call me Lady Hinata" Hinata complained. Kakashi smirked and she frowned, "you're enjoying this way too much Kakashi-sensei." She accused.

"I'll stop calling you Lady Hinata when you stop calling me Kakashi-sensei, Lady Hinata." He responded with ease, "Is Hokage-sama in?"

"Would I be waiting here if he was?" She responded with ease, "It is strange that you bet him though, do you have any idea on what this meeting is about?" Kakashi shook his head but raised an eyebrow.

"If Hokage-sama is late…" He started but Hinata cut him off.

"We would have heard about it by now. You know Naruto-kun, Kakashi-sensei." She pointed out. Kakashi shook his head.

"Shikamaru, would still have been here if Naruto was just late. He comes up with excuses worse than mine." The ex-ANBU caption actually sounded worried.

"I don't know if anyone's excuses could be worse than yours Kakashi-sensei." Hinata stated somewhat offhandedly but worried just the same. Just then the door opened and both adults jumped slightly.

"Sorry I'm late everybody I had to bring a lazy ninja out of his BED." The Hokage in question half yelled. Throwing what seemed to be Shikamaru into his desk.

"You may want to be troublesome and go to Sound, Hokage-sama but I. Am. Not. Going." Shikamaru grumbled. Hinata and Kakashi just watched silently as Naruto smirked.

"So you won't get to see Temari, then." He stated lazily. Shikamaru looked up half interested (which was admittedly an improvement)

"Not if she's managed to follow all the others." He grunted, slumping back and Hinata wondered (not for the first time) what had gone wrong in Shikamaru's life.

"She hasn't. She'll be there with Gaara." Naruto said with ease.

"I take it we're going to Sound?" Kakashi spoke up. Naruto and Shikamaru both looked slightly startled at Kakashi's voice, which caused Hinata smirk.

"Forget about us Naruto-kun?" She questioned then her eyes widened slightly when she realized what Kakashi had said, "We're going to Sound?"

"Right, we should take this into my office. Shikamaru, you are coming in. I haven't finished with you yet." Naruto told his assistant.

"Troublesome."

"Everything's troublesome to you Shika." Hinata teased, as they made their way into the office.

"Alright. The mission." Naruto said sitting down at his desk, "What I want is you three to guard Kushina and I to Sound and back for peace treaty talks."

"He wants something." Shikamaru stated.

"He's not Orochimaru, Shikamaru. It's good for the village and my daughter deserves to be able to know her roots and see her godparents." Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

"I still don't know why you didn't let me be a godparent." Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Right and let you raise my daughter if something happened to me? I don't think so." Kakashi pounted.

"Your father wouldn't let me raise you either." He said folding his arms, "I'm not that bad an influence."

"Loose the orange books and maybe you won't be." Naruto scoffed, "Anyway. Hinata I want you to be primary caregiver to Kushina while we're in Sound. Kakashi and Shikamaru will be with me in the talks."

"I wouldn't have to see her?" Shikamaru interrupted.

"Depends which her your talking about." Naruto pointed out, "if you mean, Ino. I don't know her status in sound. You won't have to if she's on a mission."

Hinata furrowed her brow. Ino was in sound? Kushina's god parents where in sound? This made absolutely no sense what so ever to her.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru grunted. Hinata and Kakashi shared a knowing glance; "you should have at least one other person on this mission Hokage-sama."

"Whatever." Naruto said reminding Hinata of Kakashi very briefly. She wondered if she had picked up any habits from her own ex-sensei, Kurenai.

"You know Shikamaru's right Naruto-kun." She spoke up, "we travel in four man sells protecting important people for a reason and as there are two…"

"I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself, Hinata-chan." Naruto interrupted rather bluntly. Hinata raised an eyebrow, a little hurt.

"But what about Kushina, Naruto-kun? It would be easier on us if there was at least one other person to protect you both." She pointed out trying to push her feelings aside.

"But…" Naruto started.

"Chouji's just came back from his mission, Hokage-sama. He would be willing to come along." Kakashi pointed out interrupting the Hokage, "Especially now you've convinced Shikamaru."

"I never said that." Shikamaru argued rather weakly as the remaining three gave the genius a knowing look, "troublesome."

"I'd rather let Chouji rest for a few days. Spend some time with Anyame,"

"Anyame, threatened you didn't she?" Shikamaru asked while Naruto sheepishly nodded.

"She's scary when she wants to be." He said simply. All three Ninja's laughed.

"And when she's threatening you with ramen," Kakashi said and Hinata wondered if he was smirking behind his mask.

"Back to my point, you are all Jounins. I'm positive you can handle it." Naruto stated. Hinata raised her eyebrow.

"I never made it to jounin status." She commented looking down slightly. Naruto looked somewhat confused as he looked to his former teacher and adviser.

"Troublesome, you didn't tell her did you Hokage-sama?" Shikamaru shook his head not expecting an answer.

"Guess I didn't. I could have sworn I had," Naruto trailed off and he turned back to Hinata, "Hinata-chan based on the reports I have gotten from Tsunade-sama and all the people you have trained with over the years I fully believe you are qualified for jounin status and promote you to jounin. He pulled out a vest for her, "congratulations Hinata-chan, I knew you could do it. You deserved it."

She blushed slightly at Naruto's praise and again when they touched she pointedly ignored Shikamaru's glare, which Naruto seemed oblivious as well.

"Th-thank you, Hokage-sama" She stuttered out, for a few moments going back to her old self.

"Hinata-chan you know the rules." Naruto said with a smirk, "but you are very welcome."

"We leave tomorrow for Sound at ten thirty, and I mean Ten thirty. Kakashi-sensei you will be picking Kushina up from Tsunade's at nine and then treating to her ramen for breakfast at Nine thirty and Anyame-chan will tell me if you are minute late Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said narrowing his eyes at his former teacher, "timing is important on this mission and we will not be late."

"Why don't you rely on Lady Hinata to treat Kushina to ramen Hokage-sama? She is supposed to be Kushina's primary caregiver on this mission." Naruto just smirked.

"It's simple. I already told her that you would. You would not want to disappoint a sweet innocent little girl now would you Kakashi-sensei?" Kakashi frowned while Hinata held back a laugh and Shikamaru gazed out the window.

"That's something Tsunade-sama would say." Kakashi grumbled, Naruto grinned.

"I learned from the best and that's why you aren't a godparent." The sixth Hokage said simply with a smug smile he turned to Shikamaru, "Shikamaru, you will pick up something from Chouji, I believe he has a couple of things for the journey and Hinata-chan? I'd like you to get some medical equipment from the hospital. One of the medics has requested some equipment she left behind and it's only right it goes to Sound." Hinata nodded.

"Other than that I want you to rest well tonight. Don't train to hard and waste your energy. Spend time with your friends and families."

"You're one to talk," Kakashi and Shikamaru both grumbled while Hinata mealy raised an eyebrow.

"You're acting as though we won't come back, Naruto-kun. Is there something you're not telling us?" Naruto looked startled for a few moments and Hinata was almost tempted to open her bloodline. He however shook his head. "N-No nothing, Hinata-chan. Just preparing for anything that could happen." Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly.

Naruto was lying.

She could see that plain as day but about what and was it her imagination or did Kakashi and Shikamaru look somewhat uncomfortable for a few moments? Yet that look passed almost as quickly as it had appeared but she had seen it.

"If that's all…I have to pick up Kushina from Tsunade-sama's" Naruto nodded and Kakashi disappeared with ease before Hinata could point out that Kushina was staying with Tsunade that night. She raised an eyebrow and stayed where she was. Unfortunately, so did Shikamaru.

"Hokage-sama there is some paperwork we need to discuss." Shikamaru said somewhat pointedly. Naruto groaned slightly.

"Hinata-chan, do you mind? We do have a couple of pressing matters to discuss." Hinata nodded wordlessly, but gave Naruto a look clearly meaning we're going to be talking later. He nodded briefly almost refusing not to look up at her. She sighed and left the room, her brow somewhat furrowed.

What did Naruto have to hide and why did Kakashi and Shikamaru know about it while she didn't?


How do you leave the past behind when it keeps getting to your heart? The question was on Hinata's mind as she started to head towards Konoha Hospital.

She thought she had banished those emotions to the back of her mind when she had left Konoha. Yet since she had figured out that Naruto was lying to her she felt hurt. No betrayed.

Yet maybe that was more to do with the fact that he didn't trust her.

Her, Hinata Hyuuga.

That was the part that possibly hurt the most.

She had debated listening in on Naruto, Shikamaru and Kakashi's (she had felt the oldest out of the three re-enter the room once she had left) conversation. However she then realized that was actually proving to Naruto that he shouldn't trust her and she didn't want that.

She could never want that.

To Be Continued.