Hinata jumped from tree to tree easily landing on each branch. She had been running for an hour and was keeping up with Kakashi. They were heading for the water fall just near the hot springs.
They had been at the springs for nearly a week now and had gone exploring the mountains were the macaques lived. They watched them as they paraded the peaks, staking claim to the springs up there. Some of them had babies, and one pair had been squabbling and pushed the other out of the pool. Her and Kakashi had burst out laughing finding themselves comparing the pair to a certain pink and blond haired nin back home. They had taken a dip in the natural springs themselves and had allowed the day to pass by without even realising.
The following day they had gone to the forest and watched the birds in the trees. Hinata was fascinated by their bright colours and watched them wide eyed. Kakashi, while paying little interest in his surroundings, enjoyed watching Hinata explore. Her enthusiasm was enticing though. She had pulled him along to look into a nest of baby birds, He couldn't help but marvel at natures true beauty with as much enthusiasm as Hianta.
Hinata had collapsed on the bed exhorted almost every night. Their exploring had used up almost all of her energy; much to Kakashi's disappointment.
"How much further?" She asked as she managed to synchronize her leaps with his. Even as Kakashi jumped from branch to branch his demeanour was laid back. Hinata had caught on to his easy going attitude early on in the week, and it had calmed her nerves relaxing in his presence a little. Kakashi too loosen up around her too and had begun to be a bit more of himself.
"About another forty five minuets Hianta. We'll come to a clearing and set up base camp there." Kakashi said as he jumped again with ease from the branch he had just landed on.
Kakashi had suggested they camp out at the water fall. They were still in the fire kingdom and he felt no real need to be completely on guard. Although the river below was near the border, he knew he would have to be a little cautious if they went down there.
They had packed for a night camping, Kakashi taking the majority of the weigh while Hinata took the food he packed in her bag. She had tried to protest, when she had realised that she had a lighter load, arguing it was unfair for him to carry so much. He had attacked her with passionate kisses though and before she had known it, she was dizzy and had forgotten her argument.
"Hai!" She replied, landing on the branch before Kakashi did. They kept going through the trees, Hinata inhaling the air rushing passed her.
Even thought she wasn't on mission she was glad to be out of the village. There little camping tip felt like a mission though when Kakashi turned to her, signalling the clearing up ahead. Giving a knowing nod she hopped ahead and activated her Byakugan.
Guess he as cautious as ever she, She thought taking her usually roll as scout as she so often had done on mission.
She sometimes felt her Byakugan was a blessing and a hindrance: hating that her team mates would rely on her to scope out the area more often than not. She had full belief in her abilities, but she liked to have a safety net to fall back on also.
Scanning the area with her bloodline limit she was satisfied.
"All clear." She turned to face Kakashi as she jumped from branch to branch.
His reflex's told him to jump to catch her, but realised she had landed on every branch she jumped from. He shook his head, of course her Byakugan was like a second pair of eyes to her. He thought secretly impressed.
Her team mates over shadowed her in the past, her shy nature making her disappear into the background. She was a Jonin, he knew, but hadn't really witnessed her full strength: their Last mission together was four years ago, and she had been chonin.
He made a mental note to train with her in the near future. He wanted to see what she was capable of, and thought it would be fun to try out a few genjutsu he'd stowed away secretly: for personal use.
The trees were thinning and the distance of their leaps had became wider and wider, eventually forcing them to the ground. Although they kept at a running pace. They weaved through the trees, jumping over rocks and boulders as they pushed on.
Eventually coming to the clearing, both entering at the same time. Hinata had been here many times; yet it's natural wild beauty still struck her. They had approached the place from a different angel so hadn't really recognised were she was headed.
A grass land with wild flowers swaying in the wind, birds riding the wind currents scouring for pray. The sent of pollen was carried by the winds in the air and the rising wind was soon over powered by the sound of the rushing river just a few feet from were they stood.
The river was rather large and it ran fast towards the edge of the cliff. It was a ferocious beauty and was one of the biggest water falls in the whole of the fire kingdom. It was so big it acted as one of it's natural barriers against the bordering lands.
Servilians would take weeks to travel up the cliff, but for a physically fit nin they could scale the wall within half a day. Unfortunately for enemy nin though, they would find it difficult to scale the wall so easily. Traps and bombs were place strategically up the sides of the cliff and within the caves of the waterfall itself.
Leaf shinobi often came her to train, especially newly fledged Jonin.
Kakashi drew her attention back to him, signalling her to help him erect the small tent they had. Once they had finished Hinata lay out their sleeping bags inside and stowed away their things. Kakashi had brought fire wood and was laying a fire for later so they wouldn't need to search in the dark.
"Hungry?" She asked holding out some dried meat, snacking on a strip of her own. Kakashi looked up from the pile at her.
"Hai!" He snatched the meat packet out of the air as she chucked it towards him. Taking a strip and pulling his mask down he ripped off a peace, stood and walked towards her. "So I was thinking." He said, standing infront of her holding the packet out towards her. "We could go and explore the river creatures in the pool at bottom if you want?" He asked her settling back into his relaxed stance.
He wanted to dive into the river for old times sake, knowing that when he was a Jonin her age he would have done the exact same.
"Hai!" Hinata smiled taking the packet from him. It had been a while since she had done this with her friends.
The drop to the bottom had always been so exhilarating. She beamed from ear to ear, remembering how Kiba and Shino would push her to compete with them wile scaling the wall. She had once even managed to beat them both; That was the last time she came and they hadn't been back since. Probably still sore from their loss, She giggled thinking back and then that gave her an idea.
"We could race to the top too if you wanted!" Her eyes were shining brightly, her excitement hard to contain. Why not have fun with it, she thought wanting to push Kakashi to compete with her. He watched her face and could see the excitement burning in her eye's.
"Sure, why not Hinata!" He said scratching the back of his head. He did his best to make his voice sound casual. It was hard not to let her enthusiasm wash over him. He was beginning him react like a teenager. He needed to keep himself in check, if he wasn't careful he'd be showing all kinds of things he didn't want her to see.
Finishing the last of his strip of meat he looked at her. "You ready?" He asked taking off his jonin vest and mask, throwing them inside the tent. He'd never liked the way it felt against his face when wet, and didn't feel the need to keep his face covered with her.
"Hai!" Hinata followed suit, gulped down the last of her meat snack and placing her jacket and top neatly inside the tent. She sighed at Kakashi's laid back attitude, it reminded her of a certain nin; although he wasn't as lazy.
She stepped out of the tent wearing only her fishnet top and shorts; her usual jacket gone showing of the curves of her body. Her headband, that was usual around her neck, was now tied around her waist, nipping her in there. Kakashi found it hard to keep his eyes off her and when she looked at him, he smiled gleefully.
"Are you ready Kakashi-san?" She asked smirking, eyebrow raised as if to question him.
"Hinata you sound so confident, are you challenging me?" He asked not thinking she was bold enough.
"I don't know Kakashi-san, can you even keep up with me?" Her voice a little cocky.
"Hoo hoo! Hinata love do you have the ability to win me?" He raised his eyebrow, daring her to take the bait.
"I think the real question here is, do you have the ability to win me Kakashi-san?" She walked over to him smiling smugly.
This was one of those rear moments when Hinata actually felt like she had the upper hand. Her stamina and speed had improved over the last year, and other than Kiba, Shino and Kurenai she hadn't really had the chance to test her new found abilities on anyone. She though Kakashi would provide a challenge. Now that she was a jonin she needed someone her own level to compete with.
"Where is this confidence coming from?" Kakashi reached out to touch her cheek, stroking her soft skin. He love the feel of her it on his callus hands. "You dare to challenge me?" Hinata smiled innocently looking directly in to his one uncovered eye.
"How about we make a bet?" She asked trying to make it interesting. She knew this would appeal to his competitive nature. She had experienced how competitive he could actually be when they were playing chess. She'd beaten him well over ten times, and as a result he had resorted to using his sharengan eye. "First one to the bottom gets to decide the losers punishment." She smiled knowing she had the advantage.
They were both just as eager to make the jump to the bottom, and knew a bet would make him eager to win.
"Are you willing to risk the odds?"
"Are you?" She couldn't help herself, it was too easy to push his buttons. She grinned at him slyly, putting on her innocent act, she wasn't going to let him win this time.
"Love I'd be careful if I were you." He said moving his hand to tilt up her chin. He watched both her pail eyes, trying to keep her distracted from the chakra he was building up in his feet. He felt her hands move to his sides and flinched.
She wasn't usually so bold and this wasn't like her at all. She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, never breaking eye contact.
"That wont work Kakashi-san." His grey eye widened as he realised Hinata was not Hinata at all, but a shadow clone. The real one was at the edge of the cliff. She gave him his informs salute and answered with a 'YO!' before falling backwards pushing off the cliff descending in mid-air.
"Shit!" He spat out. He had been caught out with a simple trick that he should have recognised sooner. He was about to step away when he felt the tug of the shadow clone on his waist.
Looking down at the Hinata clone he couldn't bring himself to stick a Kunai into her side. Her face had masked itself into a knowing grin at the knowledge she was keeping him there. Smiling himself he knew what he would have to do; he would seek revenge for using such a cheap trick.
Bending his head he pressed his lips against her soft ones, thinking that would get her to release him. The clone only pulled him closer and moaned into his mouth. Kakashi hissed, realising Hinata had created the clone with the intention of not holding back. Biting her lip in response to her moan, Kakashi knew he needed to sweep this clone off her feet if he had even the slightest chance of winning now.
The Hinata clone gasped when she felt the pain of his teeth against her lips, he wasn't being gentle and yet he wasn't rough with her either. Lips parted in her surprise giving Kakashi the chance he needed, and he took it.
Slipping his tong into her mouth, violently exploring her, he felt the clone melting into his arms. Still as innocent as ever Hinata. He thought as he felt her arms loosen around him; this gave Kakashi the gap he needed.