BOOK II - Prologue
She watches the sand beneath her sandaled feet, one foot treading before the other as she walks.
It's the only way she keeps focused: on her path, on her goal, on her home. It's what keeps her mind from straying into the deserted lands around her, to the sun beaming down upon her fair skin, to the winds tossing grains of sand into the nooks of her clothing.
It's been a day she thinks... or hopes.
It means that she only has two more days back to Konoha, two more days back to home and the woodlands that surround it. She wonders if it's possible to taste dryness, considering the arid sensation on her tongue leaves a bitter flavor as she draws short breaths from the sweltering air.
Why is it that this journey back home seems twice as long as it had been on the original commute? This desert seems to stretch much farther than it had been a week ago, when she had simply been on her way to what she had thought was a low-ranked diplomatic mission. And though her current condition was much more exhausted than what it had been on the original route, it surely should not have taken this long to tread through the barren desert.
She supposed this delay could be as a result of her walking instead of sprinting through the sand dunes. Without her cloak to shield her clothing, she felt that much more sweltered in her bulky lavender jacket and trousers. She could easily pass out if she didn't preserve what little energy she had left.
One step, two steps, one step, two steps…
She watched as the tops of her feet disappeared and reappeared over the rise of her bosom. With her head bent low to keep her bangs from clinging to her face, she let a hand drift to the canister at her side, uncovering it and glancing down at the modicum of water she had left in it. The sunlight reflected itself in the crystal clear liquid, making it sparkle and shimmer with the tempting allure of moisture. Hinata could feel her mouth wither at the sight of it, weighing the consequences of drinking it now or saving it for later, when she was truly in dire need of hydration. Sighing as she recovered the container, Hinata realized that the air around her seemed less thin that it had been some moments ago. It felt more nourished and full of oxygen, the kind you would get from fresh...
greenery?
The Hyuuga heiress paused mid-step, taking in the sight of the few blades of grass sprouting from the darkening sand beneath her feet. She was finally treading on dirt, and more specifically, the thin patches of grass that grew from it. She looked up towards the expanse before her, where the patches became thicker and eventually led to the cluster of trees in the distance.
Without a moment's hesitation, she was sprinting; her current dehydration long forgotten as she ran towards the nearest tree and leapt atop its branches. With one flicker of her Byakugan, she was surveying ten kilometers in every direction, in search of her most substantial necessity at the moment: water.
It came in the form of a river trailing some kilometers northwest of her current position. Drinking off the last remnants of her canister, Hinata quickly made her way toward the body of water, appearing at the riverside some moments later.
She had to stop herself from outright diving into that effervescent stream, bubbling against the riverbank with a crisp and lively current. She knelt down along the border to refill her canister. The water tasted just as cool and refreshing as it looked, the heiress forgetting her in-bred manners as she gulped down the liquid with insatiable thirst. So overcome by the satisfying feel of hydration, Hinata failed to notice the movement of bodies through the trees.
"Ah! I knew it! I knew there was a river around here!" An orange and black-clad shinobi emerged from the foliage, pointing eagerly at the river. "Look, Sakura-chan!" He glanced back over his shoulder. "I told you I could find us water!"
The pink-haired kunoichi drifted out from the trees, a deadpan look on her face. "Big deal Naruto, anyone could – Hey, wait a second," She paused with a squint of her eyes. "Is that... Hinata?"
The Hyuuga heiress, with wide and blinking pale eyes, stood up from her knelt position at the riverbank, watching as Naruto eagerly waved an arm in the air.
"HEEYYY~!" He called loudly over the sound of rushing water, waving both his arms now, as though the girl didn't possess more than superior vision. "HINATAA~! HEEYY~! HINA – OW!" Naruto held the back of his head.
"Would you quit yelling so much?!" Sakura held a fist in the air, glaring at the blond before shifting her attention to the other kunoichi. She gave a small wave in the air, ostensibly gesturing for the heiress to come over.
And Hinata, who was still in a somewhat stupefied state, let herself cross the surface of the water to join them.
"Hey," Sakura greeted with a smile once the Hyuuga had approached them. "I thought I sensed someone familiar earlier. What are you doing out here? Are you on a mission too?"
"Yes," Hinata nodded lightly, feeling slightly abashed for no particular reason. "I was just on my way back to the village."
"Us too." Sakura informed. "We were just stopping to rest for the night. You should come along with us." She offered casually. "The rest of our team is back there."
"Team?" Hinata questioned. From the last she's heard, Kakashi was still being hospitalized from that last incident with the Akatsuki.
"Oh, that's right," Sakura remembered. "You haven't met our new squad captain and member. This was our first mission together."
"Oh, I see," Hinata nodded meekly at the intel, keeping her eyes focused on the pink-haired kunoichi and not the blond in her peripheral vision. She didn't even want to meet eyes with him.
"Yeah, they're great." Naruto chimed in on cue, completely unaware of Hinata's attempt to ignore him. "Sai's a bit of a weirdo though..." The bubbly blond simmered down to a thoughtful look. "And now that I think about it..." He squinted as he rubbed his chin with a pensive gaze. "That Yamato's kinda creepy too..."
Well accustomed to Naruto's slowly developed and slightly off-topic thoughts, Sakura pushed on. "Anyways..." She began with emphasis, drawing Hinata's attention once more. "We're just grabbing some water for tea." She informed, simultaneously moving towards the riverbank and filling up a large cloth-covered sack with water. Naruto followed suit, filling up his own canister. After the three had done their deed, Sakura continued to update Hinata on the current situation. She told the heiress of their plans to set up camp nearby for tonight. When Sakura had complained about how weary her team was, Hinata had felt compelled to ask what exactly their mission had been.
It was only seconds later she regretted it, when the atmosphere suddenly darkened...
Emerald eyes drifted to the ground beneath their feet, a sorrowful arch appearing at the pink kunoichi's lips. "It was..." Sakura started lowly with downcast eyes, seeming to struggle for the right words to grasp. "A mission... a mission to..." The med-nin heard Naruto's fist hit the tree behind her, bringing an abrupt halt to her statement. "It was... nothing." Sakura brightened her tone as she met Hinata's worried gaze, giving the heiress a smile that was miles away from the sadness in her eyes.
A heavy tension kept silence reigning on the walk back to base.
"Th-This is your campsite?" Hinata failed to keep the disbelief from her tone as she tilted her head skyward to gaze upon the massive wooden cabin before them. "H-How did.."
"Yamato's a wood style user." Sakura informed casually as she walked passed the stunned Hyuuga, hopping onto the platform that lead into the house.
"Pretty cool eh, Hinata?" Naruto beamed as he walked past her as well, ostensibly recovered from his momentary relapse.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-
"Pale-eyes."
Hinata glanced behind her towards the end of the hallway, where the boy called 'Sai' was scribbling something in a notebook by the window sill.
Unsure of whether he was talking to her, considering his head was still bent low towards his book, Hinata chose to continue her walk towards the stairwell.
'Hmm, it seems that she doesn't respond to nicknames'. Sai scribbled a few more notes before shutting his book.
Feeling his gaze on her back, the heiress couldn't help her curiosity, glancing back once more towards him, this time meeting his dark and lifeless stare. "H-Hi." She offered kindly.
"Hello." He gave her a sudden and amiable smile as he stood up, walking towards her in the process. The closer he got towards her the more she took note of that that odd-but-strangely-perfect smile.
It seemed that everyone on Team Kakashi was rather strange today. After an unceremonious introduction to Sai and Yamato before dinner, the meal had proceeded in a quiet and equally tense atmosphere. Hinata could only feel her curiosity reaching its peak, knowing full well that it had something to do with that mission that Sakura had avoided talking about earlier. She wanted to know what could cause such discord among the typically bright Naruto and just as composed Sakura.
"You can ask me if you want."
Huh? Hinata felt herself blinking rapidly. How did he know…
"I can always tell when someone wants information." Sai spoke rather sagely, only adding to Hinata's current need for knowledge.
That chillingly kind smile of his had also yet to falter, adding to Hinata's current qualms. Why hadn't she heard of Sai until now? Did he recently migrate to the village or was he someone from Neji-nii's academic year?
"In any case," Sai proceeded in fill of Hinata's bemused silence. "If you're wondering about our last mission..." He took note of the sudden interest now reflected in pale eyes."I'm afraid I can't disclose that information." He turned in order to pass her and proceed down the stairwell.
"P-Please wait."
Sai halted in his descent, his face expressionless before turning to give what he hoped would be a slightly curious expression. "Yes?"
"U-Um…" Hinata began hesitantly. Considering her novelty to the bizarre mannerisms of Sai, she hadn't the slightest idea how he would answer. "C-Could you at least tell me what's bothering Naru - I mean, everyone?"
Sai hid the genuine smile tugging at his lips as he continued down the stairs. It seems that women truly are predictable…
Just about to take his silence as a refusal to respond, Hinata felt a bit of heat rise to her cheeks when he paused at the foot of the stairwell, giving her a languid glance over her his shoulder. That odd smile from earlier was nowhere to be found and Sai gave a submitting sigh before choosing to answer.
"We came in contact with Uchiha Sasuke."
Hinata felt her eyes widen marginally, an endless chain of questions and thoughts suddenly sprinting through her mind. She glanced back down at the empty bottom of the stairwell, wishing she had at least gotten to thank him.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-
The heiress awakes to the sound of crickets and rubs her eyes warily before sitting up from her futon. Lightly stepping pass a sleeping Sakura, she makes her way towards the back doors of the cabin, wishing not only houses but indoor plumbing could be manifested through jutsu.
The air seemed chill through the fabric of her robe and Hinata brought her arms around herself as she made her way towards the woodlands out back. After tending to nature's call she brought her gaze upon the night sky, feeling disappointed at the sight of a dull moon. It seemed so much smaller in perspective now than it had been from beyond that balcony's view...
His balcony.
The heiress took a deep breath as she tightened her arms around her body, staring down at the path before her as she led herself back in the cabin's direction. She supposed she had no reason to be referring to Gaara so vaguely. They both had ended things on good terms and she desired nothing more than to leave it at that, without recollection of more dismal memories.
"It could have been a piece of lint," The Kazakage started, "He should have cherished any gift given to him, especially one of adoration."
Hinata paused mid-step at the sudden flashback, recalling Gaara's bothered expression after telling him of her childhood 'rejection' from Naruto, or more so the blond's lack of concern for her silly homemade chocolates.
She had found herself so startled then, to see his ostensible defense on her behalf, against someone that he had taken such a profound interest in...
Hinata paused once again in her tread, realization gradually dawning upon her. She recalls a dream she'd once had in Suna, where Gaara had coldly saved a false Naruto over her.
His words meant nothing, the Hyuuga tells herself, shaking his echoing words from her mind. There should be no reason for the heat she feels at her cheeks or the way her heart beats to such a sorrowful rhythm.
And then there's Naruto and his behavior today… The heiress honestly hadn't thought his rumored mission to meet Sasori's spy would actually bring him in contact with Sasuke.
She brings her attention back to reality and the current scene around her, where she finds herself looking up towards a shadowed form beyond the trees, one that sits upon a rock with slumped shoulders and a spiked head.
"N-Naruto-kun?"
His shoulders rise shortly before returning to a steady level, letting her know of his deep intake of breath before he turns to look towards her; an affable grin at its usual place.
"Hinata."
Even with that cordial smile on his face and the way he shifts over to welcome her, she hears the sadness threading its way throughout his tone, darkening the sensation she already feels in her heart.
"I..." The kunoichi begins, about to explain her odd presence there as she moves towards him, "I was just -"
"Me too", Naruto interrupts with a knowing look before she can finish. "Well I mean I already did... Now I'm just…" He glances back forward as though searching for the answer.
"M-Me too," Hinata responds meekly this time, cheeks tinted as she sits beside him.
Naruto eyes widen slightly at her response, wondering if she truly had been doing the same, just wallowing in negative thoughts as he had been doing all day. He disregards that notion immediately. What could Hinata possibly worry about? She had to have misunderstood him.
"So," He began casually, "How was that mission?"
The question had been asked to break the momentary silence, something that typically occurred between he and the heiress. Although usually she'd be tapping at her fingers by now while stumbling over words with reddened cheeks…
The blond looks over to find the Hyuuga with her eyes upon the sky, holding a look as distant as the stars themselves.
How… was that mission? She echoes him softly in her mind, staring at an ink black sky.
Hinata found herself incapable of answering such a question, something she found more bothersome than the pool of emotions currently dwelling in her chest. The answer should have been instant, simple, and yet… Here she sits, next to the boy she's loved all her life and she can't help but feel so despondent, as though being by his side just isn't good enough.
"No, it's fine," Gaara was gazing deeply into her eyes. "I like it when you talk."
Before the flashback had even ended her cheeks were inflamed, earning the curious stare of the kyuubi's jinchuuriki.
"Hinata?" Naruto asked with a blond brow raised, thinking his question hadn't seemed that odd.
"I-I…" The heiress hadn't felt this sort of embarrassment in a while, finding herself unable to meet the blond's gaze. "I-It was… good."
"'Good', eh?" Naruto gave her a deadpanned look, thinking she couldn't seem any more suspicious. "So just what was that mission about anyway?"
Hinata was beginning to think the blush at her cheeks would never fade. Just how am I supposed to answer that question?!
"I-I went to Suna…" She began quietly, "a-as a diplomat." The Hyuga supposed that was essentially the truth.
"The Sand huh? That's great." Naruto brightened mildly at the mention of the desert village. "How's Gaara?"
Hinata suddenly wished she were back in the cabin, still unconscious and not thinking about things she didn't want to think about, with a person she didn't want to think about. It was true that those things that Gaara had said still pained her but Naruto was someone that she could never stop loving, no matter how hard she tried. The blond had been carved so deep into her heart. Like a tragic scar that refuses to fade with time, Naruto had been the very model of her way as a kunoichi. Whether or not he even notices her humble existence on this planet, much less return the adoration and respect she holds for him, Naruto would always be someone who she could emulate.
But Gaara... Gaara was another story, one that she had already spent far too much time thinking about. He only left her feeling so confused about him, about everything that had happened.
"Hinata?"
The heiress blinks back to reality, where two bright blue eyes were way too close to her own, a bewildered look held in their gaze. She flinches at the sudden proximity, slipping off her edge of the boulder. Reflexes prompt her to regain her footing, pulling her torso forward to balance herself. Unfortunately, Naruto's newly honed reflexes were just as quick. He reaches out to grasp her as she pushes herself back upright, their faces colliding in the worst (best) of ways.
It was only a split second before impact that Naruto realized what would be the outcome of their collision.
He stares into two very large pale eyes with two soft lips pressed against his own. Those eyes dim slightly as the seconds pass and he can't help but mirror the action, feeling those supple lips soften further as she relaxes into the kiss, her body moving ever so slightly towards him. Her hand rises from the surface of the rock and drifts slowly towards his face, feeling the warmth of her hand as it pauses right before making contact with his cheek. Then those soft lips slowly begin to drift away, prompting blue eyes to suddenly blink back open. She's already turned away from him.
"I-I'm s-so sorry." She starts to rise.
His hand shoots out to grab her own before she can run. She doesn't resist, taking her place back at the edge of the boulder with her back still facing him. He breathes, drifting his gaze back to the clearing before them and allowing crickets to fill the silence. He realizes he's still holding her hand but rather than letting go he slightly tightens it, prompting Hinata to glance at him over her shoulder. Her lavender eyes appear wistful and glossy, threatening to spill over with unshed tears.
"Don't worry about it," Naruto gives a sheepish smile, prompting scarlet to dust the Hyuuga's cheeks. She wipes her eyes with the back of her hands before gradually turning forward. She had actually kissed him back just now, hadn't she? Was she just caught up in the moment?
"Heh…" The blond gives a dry chuckle, a bit of color at his cheeks. "Wanna know something funny?" He asks casually, reclining back on his arms to look upon the sky. "That was the first time today that I hadn't thought about him… that Sasuke-bastard…"
Hinata glances up at him, her expression inscrutable.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-
"Just make sure to turn in that mission report. Otherwise you're free to go."
Hinata felt a headache take rise as she recalled the Fifth's dismissal. It had only been less than an hour since she had gotten back to Konoha but she already felt the burdens of being a kunoichi weighing on her shoulders. As if being interrogated by Naruto last night hadn't been enough, now she had to try and summarize her entire mission into a dignified report by sundown, something she would of typically had prepared already but considering the circumstances, couldn't dare to attempt.
The heiress took in a slow, soothing breath of crisp Konoha air, strolling lethargically in her home's direction and praying that her greeting to her father would be short. Why was it that everything that came to mind at the moment was something she didn't want to be thinking about?
The sound of a dog's barking came suddenly, too quick for her to prepare for the impact of Akamaru's body, or even quicker, the impact of his owner.
"Hinata!"
"You'll suffocate her again, Kiba."
"Oh, right." The Inuzuka stood, offering a hand to Hinata as Akamaru barked his greetings. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming back?"
"I'm sorry," Hinata dusted lightly at her clothing with a bit of color at her cheeks. She reached down to give Akamaru a friendly scratch behind the ears.
Kiba harrumphed at her lack of explanation but decided not to pry… yet. "So are you busy right now? We were about to grab some barbecue."
Hinata knew what the outcome of that situation would be. It would only take Kiba a few minutes to realize something was wrong with her and she just knew he wouldn't quit until she told him everything. She wouldn't be surprised if Shino had already noticed despite her feigned composure. "I was just heading home… t-to get some rest."
"Oh... well I guess we'll just stop by later or something." Kiba turned to make his leave, Shino and Akamaru in tow.
"W-Wait," Hinata knew she couldn't avoid talking with him forever but today just had to pass with some peace of mind. "I-I'm actually meeting with my father later."
Kiba paused to give her a look over his shoulder. "Some other time then." He gave a small wave, a half smile at his lips.
Feeling guilty at the ease of acceptance on his face, Hinata quickly turned the nearest corner.
The half smile at Kiba's lips fell short as he placed his hands in his pockets, staring pensively at some spot on the ground.
"I'm sure she has a reason to… Kiba."
The Inuzuka felt Akamaru nudging his thigh and he placed his hands atop the canine's head, rubbing passively before glancing up towards Shino.
"I figured."