A/N: Hey, all! Yeah, it's been a while, I know, but not quite a month yet- even considering the short month this time. Taking into account that this is a much less popular story (for reasons I still can't explain) than One Hour, that's really not bad at all. :)
In terms of action, this one's a little slow, especially when you take into account that it's eight pages long. However, it still has quite a bit happening, so it's worth a read, I think.
Still, mostly set up leading to... something big. :) Read on!

Chap. 14 Revelations in the Mist

The next six weeks were hell for Ioka Toride. The training in itself was difficult, more stressful and strenous than his slave-driver Sensei had ever put her team through before. There was no let-up, no pause, no break. For six weeks, the longest break they had was the one night they were allowed six hours to sleep instead of four, half-way through the period.
But despite the blood, sweat, tears, and pain that the three Genin had been through, despite the literal risk of losing life and limb in Training Ground Forty-four, commonly known as 'the forest of death', and even despite knowing he was alone- still- while his two teammates were happy with each other, those were only minor annoyances compared to the real issue that had been plaguing the seventeen-year-old Genin.

The short version was simple. He considered himself a 'man' in all but one way. He had killed, maimed, tortured (for one horrible hour that he never wanted to remember), been tortured (that was less painful to remember, though still not pleasant, than torturing someone himself), and believed himself fully ready to die for his new country and Hidden Village, if that's what it took.
But he was a virgin.
The closest he'd ever been to a naked woman were the two times he'd seen his Sensei in total or near undress; the showers at the beach in River years earlier, and in the Rendo Hot Springs Inn room, where she had passed out sprawled across his own unconscious form with her in nothing but a bikini bottom. However, due to the 'talk' in the inn, he knew- had committed to memory with every fibre of his hormon-driven being at the time- exactly what his Sensei looked like under said bikini. So while he'd been shocked to have her jump upright on the couch- one foot perilously close to his 'boys'- in her mostly-naked state, it truly was nothing he hadn't seen before.
Unfortunately, the situation wasn't quite so clear-cut.
If it had been, the young man would probably have been able to pull through it with his usual stubbornness and mental fortitude.

No, the problem was worse than that.

He'd come to realize, not so long ago, that his hormonal (he had, at first, prayed that it was only that) desire for his immediate commanding officer and teacher was not just lust.
No, he respected her too much for that, despite the undeniable fact that there was indeed a lot of lust there. Hanabi was a beautiful woman, one who, in his young mind, embodied grace, power, good looks, wisdom, and a caring heart bound by a will harder than steel. In short, the somewhat older woman was everything he desired in a companion; be it girlfriend, lover, wife, or even 'other'. She was desirable, so much so that he found he had literally no choice in the matter.
As far as he could tell, he was madly in love with his sensei.

Of course, that wasn't, in itself, the problem.

No, he thought, distracted once again from the two-on-two spar, himself and Kinyue against Hanabi-sensei and Kenkei in a no-holds-barred match, the problem is that Sensei won't even let me get close to her any more. She hardly talks to me, barely even looks at me. I think... I think she figured it out, she knows how I feel about her, and it disgusts her. Why would she, practically the embodiment of a Konoha Kunoichi, and a soon-to-be Clan Head, want to be with me? An outsider who wasn't even born in Konoha, no matter how loyal to the Leaf I am? Hell, even if she wanted to be, she probably couldn't. I'm pretty sure the Clan Laws of the Hyuuga prevent that kind of thing. She probably has to marry someone that'll bring strength to the Clan. What do I have that they don't? Nothing, that's what.
So it's not like I can blame -

Toride's musing were cut off by a flaming kunai embedding itself in his abdomen. Fortunately, his new train of thought observed something non-Hanabi related. Oh, I'm so glad I bought those flame-retardent clothes last time...

Then, just as his Sensei and other teammates reached his collapsing form, his vision went black.

(O)(O)(O)

"He's coming 'round," a cool female voice said, pulling Toride the rest of the way to consciousness. Familiar... who is she? Not Sensei, not Kin, not Mom... I don't think it's Sakura- or Hinata-sama, either, but it's so...

"Thanks, Ino."

Oh...

"No problem, Hanabi. Sakura said he'll be fine by tomorrow, so you won't have to miss the Chunin exams. The surgery really wasn't that bad, it just took a while to heal up the interior burns as we went. Wasn't really all that life-threatening, since you got him here so fast."

The Genin tried to say, "What happened?", but all that came out was a low groan of pain.

"Don't say too much," his Sensei's voice filtered through the new pain, her tone clipped and terse, "Ino's gone to get you an IV for fluids. Your throat's gonna be dry for a bit. The kunai burned two holes in your stomach, so you can't drink anything for a few more hours."

Forcing his eyes open in annoyance, Toride looked around. The hospital room was just like any other he'd been in in his ninja career, clean, white, and smelling slightly of disinfectant. Kinyue and Kenkei, the latter looking quite angry with himself, were sitting on the two chairs, watching silently. Their Sensei was standing by the foot of his bed, nearly white eyes flicking back and forth over his medical chart. When she put it back on the hook, she looked to the others, ignoring Toride, "You two take a few minutes. I'll be back with Ino, then I need to have some words with your teammate."

Even worse than the words she spoke, clearly warning him of her unhappiness with him, the fact that she didn't speak to him more than absolutely necessary told him that now he was in even worse trouble.

"Sorry, dude," Kenkei muttered, as soon as the door had clicked shut, "I really thought you were watching that one come in, I didn't think it'd hit you, or I wouldn't have used the fire on it. I... I'm really not trying to kill you, ya know."

Toride's mouth turned up in a small smile as he shrugged, then immediately morphed into a grimace of pain as the stitches in his stomach pulled. "Fuck... ow."

Kinyue giggled, "Must hurt a lot for you to curse. I don't think I've heard you say more than three swears the entire time we've known each other."

Toride looked away, frowning. "I swear a lot in my head. I just try to be polite in public. Ken, don't let it get to you. I know you didn't. It was my fault for being distracted. I should have seen it coming, I was looking right at you while Kin was up against Sensei."

The younger teen frowned himself, but didn't respond. As much as he blamed himself, their sensei had drilled it into them to look at the facts, at reality, and the truth was... the older Genin was right. He should have dodged it, but didn't even move out of the way once he saw the projectile coming. He could have at least lessened the damage in that time by making it strike a less sensitive area than right in the navel.

"What had you so out of it, Tor?"

Kinyue's question was genuine and sincere, but he refused to answer for a few minutes, until he could hear Ino and Hanabi's conversation almst at the door, accompanied by the rhythmic tapping of Ino's heels on the tile floor of the hospital. "I just... Sensei. It's Sensei."
The former Iwa teen wasn't sure why he'd let that secret slip, but was grateful that he hadn't said any more, and that his plan to not give the others time to respond had worked. Both looked quite frustrated as they rose silently, then both wished him a speedy and healthy recovery before they were due to leave tomorrow.
A moment later, he, Ino, and Hanabi were alone in the room.
Thirty seconds after that, with a quick change of the bag hanging by his bed and a quick scribble on his chart, Ino was gone as well, sparing him a kind smile as the blonde left.

Then Toride had part of his wish... he was alone, spending time with his Sensei.

Unfortunately, it wasn't how he'd prefer for that scenario to play out.

"You are damned lucky you got a flaming kunai to the stomach instead of what I want to do to you right now, Ioka."

His eyes closed in shame without even really looking at her, but her next words nixed that plan.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you, Genin!"

Three years of obeying his super-scary Jonin Sensei's every hint of instruction had his terrified brown eyes looking right into her enraged, almost-pupil-less ones. He was forced to watch the muscles in her jaw work furiously, her lips twist in (somewhat unflattering) ways while she warred with herself about what exactly to say next.
Unable to resist her command, the young man found himself watching his Sensei- a guilty, and rather strange pleasure, since he thought she was cute when angry, even if he was upset that said anger was directed at him this time- under her own orders for several minutes.

"I am extremely disappointed. I know you saw that coming in time to move. Being distracted was bad enough, but why didn't you move when you did notice it?"

Inwardly cursing, for the first time, the Byakugan's ability to detect and read body language, Toride forced his expression to remain neutral. It took him a long time to get that much self-control back, when all he wanted to do was leap from the bed, fall on his knees, and beg for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, Sensei. I just... for a moment, I wanted it to hit me. I wanted... I wanted to..."

The sharp intake of breath cut him off.
"You wanted to make your teammate, your brother, kill you? Do you have any idea what that would do to the rest of your team?"

His tan face paled to nearly match his Sensei's fair complexion, but he said nothing.

Hanabi's arms crossed under her breasts, and she continued to stare at him in silence. Distantly, he was aware of the wind whistling through her flared nostrils. Just when he was about to break, though, she folded.
All the fight and anger left her in a rush as tears welled in her eyes. She slumped forward, almost falling into the chair behind her, the one Kenkei had occupied minutes earlier. "Did you even think about what that would do to them? To me? Why? Why would you... I thought your parents had been leaving you alone?"

"They are," he said after a few second's wait, "I haven't seen them in weeks. It's just..."

But he couldn't say it. He dared not put it out there, not after her reaction to how they'd woken up in the Inn just under six weeks ago.

"If you can't give me a reason," she said a few minutes of silence later, "I'm going to have to hold you- and the team- back from the Exams, pending a psych eval. I need to know, Tor."

The level tone helped a lot, but... he couldn't.
If for some reason... no, that wouldn't work. Using the excuse of 'if I don't pass, and have to stay on the team under Hanabi-sensei, it would be too awkward' just wouldn't work. Pass or fail, after the Exams, they were basically on their own.

Then again...

If that was the case, what was stopping him? He'd be damned if it was just relationship anxiety. He could deal with rejection. It wouldn't be the first time a girl had turned him down, even if... even if she meant more than every other girl he'd even kind of liked all at once. He could deal with it. He was tough. A shinobi. What was a broken heart, right?

"I... I couldn't take it anymore, Sensei."

She took a deep breath to calm herself, looked back up at him through wet eyes, though her voice was as steady as ever, "Couldn't take what?"

"How... how you were treating me. After the... after the Inn. I mean... At first, I thought you'd just shrug it off and pretend it'd never happened, but the way you were acting... it really hurt. I just... I just wanted it to stop. And for that split second, I didn't care how it stopped, just that it did."

Toride expected anger, fury. He expected her to rage. A denial of returned affection, certainly. He did not expect his normally stoic (he had only seen her cry twice, and both times were under extreme emotional stress) team leader to burst into tears and sob into her hands for more than an hour, leaving him to sit, practically tied to the bed by three different IV's, and wonder what was going on.

(O)(O)(O)

The next day, Kenkei threw open the door of his hospital room and chucked Toride's pack- heavily loaded- onto the chairs, called, "Be right back, Tor!" to the older boy, who was obviously in the tiny bathroom, since the IV's were missing but the bed was still rumpled, and shut the door behind him.

A few minutes later, he returned, followed by his girlfriend, who carried a bundle of clothing suitable for standard ninja activity. That is to say, reinforced, armored, but still flexible and insulated, clothing. The stuff that every ninja in a temperate- if on the warm side- climate worse almost every day. "Here's your clothes, Tor! I'm gonna head back outside, there's an ice-cream vendor set up by the hospital doors. Sensei's out there now with our release-from-duty forms, so hurry and change!"

Just as she left, the door opened, revealing a half-dressed, half-hospital-gowned young man. "Pissing like this is for the birds, man."

Kenkei couldn't help but laugh at his friend's misfortune. One IV in each arm was bad enough, but the third was clearly set in Toride's right femoral artery, given where the tube was running.
"It's not damned funny. Help me get my belt on. Just throw the rest back in the pack, would you? Ino-san's not gonna be here for another five minutes to take them out, but she says I need all the meds I can get before I leave to help fight off infection."

Snickering slightly, the younger shinobi helped his sempai tie up three belts and roll up the sleeves of his long-sleeved outer shirt and jacked so the medic, when she arrived, would be able to remove the needles with a minimum of fuss.

They had just done so when the pretty blonde arrived, her daughter and new husband in tow. "Hey, you two," she chirped, "ready to go?"

The bushy-eyebrowed, tall Tokubetsu Jonin smiled widely. "Yosh! Two more Chunin for Konoha's ranks, yes? Your youth is about to explode! I'm so happy!"

Before Ino's eye had finished twitching, Lee's adoptive daughter's hand met the back of his head with a resounding smack. "Quiet, dad. This is a hostpital. Show some restraint! It's bad enough at home!"

"Yes, of course my youthful flower! I'm just so excited to see more soon-to-be Chunin! It reminds me of my own two exams! ... though I hope you don't run into S-Class Nukenin in your first exam, of course. That would be, in the words of my un-youthful friend, very troublesome."

Both quite familiar with the story due to their Sensei's circle of friends, the two Genin nodded as one, both suddenly more nervous than they had been the entire run-up so far.
"They'll be fine," Ino said, rolling her blue eyes, "Hanabi's too good to turn out weaklings like you, Lee, and tougher than anyone except Neji."

While Lee cried in the corner over the 'subtle' insult, the two blondes wished the younger men very good luck, then sent them on their way.

As they left the hospital, Kenkei couldn't resist just one dig at his friend. "So, I noticed that Inoko didn't bother turning away while her mom removed the femoral IV. In fact, those pretty black eyes got pretty wide. You packing down there, or something? 'cause I think you have a new fan."

Toride snorted. "Inoko is very pretty, but she is not my type.

(O)(O)(O)

For most of the eight days it took the seven ninja- all of Hanabi's team plus Team Hokage- Toride was only slightly better off than the previous six weeks, even figuring his two days in the hospital in that equation.
On the one hand, his sensei seemed to have lost her anger at him during her sob-fest. On the other... she still wasn't talking to him. She was obviously upset about his revalation, but didn't seem angry about it. Not even really bothered, just... well, he didn't really know what she was thinking, but she wouldn't meet his eyes for more than a few seconds, and that only when no one else was around. But despite all her vaunted Hyuuga self-control, when she did, she always had a slight flush to her cheeks.

But it was not his Sensei that finally broke the funk.

Nor the beautiful, even gorgeous, weather on their five-day boat trip, nor the sparkling water and bright sunshine that made the 'mist' part of Kirgakure seem like a myth as they strode toward the city, which was nestled in a deep bowl between several extinct volcanoes on the largest of Mizu's islands.

It was actually Yamanaka (she refused to go by "Rock" despite being adopted, and hated "Uchiha" even more) Inoko.

Out of the blue, she had asked as the group was gathered around the fire whether he'd ever been on a proper date.

While he had immediately blushed, sputtering while the others (even Hanabi) laughed, he was unable to give an honest 'yes', so said nothing.

However, the Sharingan-wielding Yamanaka knew quite enough about body language to get the truth out based on his reactions- as would anyone with a brain. "So that's a no. Well... since we've got a few days before the Exam starts, let's go spend a day together, just you and me."

Hanabi didn't miss the frown that wandered across her Genin's features before he slowly nodded, forcing a smile onto his face. She also did not miss how her own heart seemed to stop beating for a moment before seeing that frown, and then how it clenched, deep and cold, in her chest when he agreed.

However, the Jonin was not aware enough at that point to see the wily smile pass between the Hokage's students, nor the pointed looks in her direction. In fact, Kinyue was the only member of Hanabi's team to catch the glances.

So, when Tenchi woke an already-awake Kinyue for her turn at watch, the young teen grinned at the older kunoichi and whispered, "Your plan- I want in, or I spill it to Hanabi-sensei tomorrow."

Logically, the earth-specialist Aburame could find no reason to deny the request even without the threat. "We'll need your help in Mizu. Ask Inoko for the full plan, it was her idea."

Nodded, the Genin rose from her bedroll, stretched, and moved out of her and Kenkei's tent to take up the still-warm log by the fire.

(O)(O)(O)

"I could get used to this," the once-again-blonde kunoichi said, stretching to give her 'date' an eyefull. She was a bit disappointed when he wasn't looking at her as she resumed a normal position. She'd been baiting him for hours, first in the markets, then as they browsed for clothing- suitable for both ninja and civilians- and even more so at the small beach they were currently resting at before heading back into town for dinner. He'd been attentive, polite, and she'd had fun... he had been a good date, overall. But no, even without her plan, she wouldn't have wanted a second one with this young man. He was simply too taciturn for her, and he obviously wasn't all that attracted to her, absolute babe that she was or not.

Poor kid's so hung up about 'Sensei-sama', I wouldn't stand a chance. But that look in her eyes... I haven't been that scared since Sakura found out about me trying to put the moves on Naruto when I was a kid. At least Hinata thought it was funny... I still don't want to think about how she'd have reacted if we'd told her back then, though. She's a lot calmer with kids.

"You know, Toride, I'm not really interested in a relationship with you."

He sighed, brought his knees up to his chest and put him chin on them, still staring out over the ocean, before replying. "I know. I'm not interested in you, either."
"Well... don't you know how to make a girl feel special."
He glared at her teasing tone, but said nothing, only returned to watching the waves. After a minute, he replied, "I'm not interested in a fling, either."

This time, Inoko actually laughed. "Neither am I, duh. You haven't figured out why I asked you out, huh?"

Frowning, Toride turned to look at his 'date' for the first time in what seemed like half the day, his eyes narrowed. "Tell me."

She rolled her eyes at his 'intimidation'. Larger, stronger, maybe, the young man still had no chance against her. While the same age, she had two years' more experience, had been a Chunin when he just became a Genin, and had two powerful Clan's techniques to back it up. But... there was no reason to be mean. She was trying to help, after all.

"Hinata asked us, a few years back, to keep an eye out for potential boyfriends for her sister. Hanabi... well, Hinata knows about her past with Kiba-san, though she wouldn't tell us how she knew. She knows Hanabi's... well, 'unique' is as good a word as any, I guess, in what she wants in a relationship. She's never really dated, never really been a kid... at least, not since Kiba. But she's also not one for casual flings, though I'm sure Kiba wasn't the last."

Toride's eyes narrowed further, but she wouldn't let up. "Grow up, Toride. It's obvious to me how you feel about her, but glowering that she's not a virgin is going to accomplish nothing but make you mad. She's older, and a kunoichi. It's practically expected that she's not a virgin any more, Clan Heiress or no."

His already tan skin darkened further in a deep blush, making the kunoichi roll her eyes. "Oh, seriously. Just because you're still a virgin doesn't mean everyone has to be. You know I never approved of your teammate's relationship two years ago, but now? Nothing wrong with it. Just because it's not the path I chose, or that you seem to be choosing, doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Look... we're getting off-subject, here."

"What is your point, then, Yamanaka-san?"

If she hadn't known the Genin for more than two years, now, she would have been annoyed at his apparently formal tone. But she knew he hid a very tender heart behind that gruff formality, and it was just that sort of thing that Hanabi both wanted and needed- both on a personal level, and more lately, as a potential mate, especially with the recent announcement about old Hiashi retiring soon.
"Simple. You want your Sensei. You might even really love her. That's the impression I'm getting, anyway. But you're scared, feel inadequate, and so on. She's an Heiress, will be taking over soon, even, she's older, wiser, stronger, prettier, and so on. You should feel inadequate, maybe."

He grunted, but Inoko only continued.

"But that does not mean you have no chance. Have you even guessed as to why she's treating you the way she is?"

"She's mad at me."

Inoko snorted. "No, she's not mad at you, stupid. She's terrified of you."

This time, it was the male who snorted. "Why? She'd kick my ass if I tried anything. No reason to be scared, 'cause I wouldn't anyway. I respect her too much. How did you figure out my problem so easy, but completely miss the target on that one? Your kunai might need a little polish."
Raven-black eyes narrowed at the roundabout (and seven years out-of-date) insult, but she ignored it verbally, choosing instead to smack his shoulder as she answered, "I didn't. I'm good with emotions because of my training, but it was Hinata who pointed this out to me. She's right, though. One hundred percent. Hanabi is deathly afraid of you."

"You still haven't answered why."

Inoko drew herself up into the same position Toride was in before replying quietly, "The same reason you're afraid of her, but for her, it's even worse. You've been alone for a long time," she now had to speak over his grunt of denial, "but Hanabi was even more alone for... for a long time. It took her years to learn to open up to someone, but as soon as she opened up to two people, one practically abandoned her, and the other used her in the worst way."

"Who?"
Inoko inwardly crowed with joy at the sudden protectiveness and promise of pain in the Genin's voice, but didn't react except to say, "Hinata and Kiba, of course. She opened up to Hinata, and then Hinata immediately got married and moved away. Abandonment. She opened up to Kiba, looking for solace from that pain, then screwed each other a few times, and then they simultaneously- as near as I can figure, anyway- decided it wouldn't work and left. So both thought they other was using them. You see the problem?"

The brown-haired young man was a long time answering. "No. I mean... I can see how that would mess you up, but... I can't identify with it, you know?"

Inoko nodded, "Yeah... I'm kind of glad I can't identify myself. But maybe I can help you understand better. Hanabi's kind of learned to open up now. Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Neji, and my mom are her only friends, but they're all several years older. She knows us, and we get along, but we aren't really friends, you know? Associates, we hang out occasionally, but there's not a lot of... well, not a strong connection. Mostly that's on her, just 'cause she's so quiet and so on, but my point is, she doesn't really have any peers. There aren't any decent ninja in her age group aside from her, so she's made do with older people... but again, no decent ninja in her age group, so who's she going to date? Practically no one. Older? Kiba and her get along a lot better now, but their history pretty much prevents them from having a relationship now. Not to mention, Kiba wants to take over the Inuzuka, and Hana-san seems willing to let him when their mom retires. Shino and Hanabi? Yeah, right. Lee's taken, obviously. Neji's got Tenten, and they're first cousins anyway. Naruto? That'd never work, with Hinata, even not taking into account Sakura too. And she couldn't put up with him long-term. Seriously, there isn't anyone in their age group or even one above it suitable. That leaves pretty much you guys. Convenient, the way she seems to feel."

Confused by the long, but rapidly-delivered list of 'no's', it took Toride a second to process the shift in conversation.
"But... what?"

Inoko sighed. "You're kind of dumb when it comes to women, aren't you?"

Frowning, Toride tried to retort but was talked over by the kunoichi.
"Listen, just... listen. I'm gonna spell this out for you in ways that any ninja should understand. If you don't get it this way, there's no hope for you. Okay? Can you listen and pay attention?"

He nodded slowly, scowling. Inoko watched him for a few seconds to measure his determination to do just that before beginning.
"You like Hanabi-sensei, right? Like, really like-like?"

Slowly, cautiously, he nodded.

"And... she likes you, like really-like-likes you. Whether you believe it or not, it's true. She's scared because of her depth of feelings for you, because of the natural fear of rejection- your fear- and even fear of what others would think if they found out she had a major jonesing for a younger man, and even worse, a man with no Clan background, and on top of that, someone not native to Konoha. While she obviously has no problem with any of that, she's not sure what others would think."

"I still haven't seen any proof of-"

Inoko's hand flashed out to cover his mouth without even turning her eyes toward him. "Don't need proof. You don't need it at all. Just trust me, trust Hinata. Even more, trust Hanabi. Watch her, watch how she looks at others, and watch how she looks at you- especially when she thinks no one's looking."

He snorted this time for real, "She's always watching for that, I've never been able to watch her without her knowing."

Glad he'd finally come out with that admission, Inoko was glad for the confirmation of her verbal victory, even if he didn't know it yet. "I guess there's your proof, then."
"My- what?" Honestly, Toride was tired of this conversation. He hated feeling like a moron, but... he had to know, had to understand what the kunoichi was getting at.

Still smiling, Inoko answered, "Proof, silly. She knows you watch her, being a Hyuuga, she also knows what that means- whether she wants to admit it consciously or not- but she's never stopped you, never said a word. Even when she had a chance to do it privately, she's never stopped you, right?"

With a sigh, Toride agreed, but... "there was one time. Six weeks ago, but... it was kind of, um... unusual."

Inoko smirked, but hid it with her elbow, "You saw her naked?"
His flush, visible even in the growing darkness, gave her all the answer she needed. "So just show her what you're packing, and you're even. Then you can move along on even footing."

His sputter didn't drown out her giggles. "Look, Toride, just trust me on this. She wants you as bad as you want her, even if she can't admit it to herself just yet. Give her some time, let her think about it a bit longer. Don't mope around, you don't need the distraction right before the Exams. Do well, and you're- if nothing else- at least proving that you're mature enough to be in a relationship with an older woman. Chunin may not mean much in ages, but it means a lot in maturity."

"But she's still an Heiress, and-"

"Bah!"

Both jumped. Distracted, even the more experienced Chunin hadn't caught Kamisori's stealth as he snuck up behind them, padding silently across the sand. The tall, gray-haired Chunin scowled at the others, "Hanabi's getting a little annoyed that your date's taking so long, probably ought to get back soon. We're due to register by oh-eight-hundred tomorrow, so get some rest."

The others rose to walk back with the medic-assassin, and were almost there when Toride worked up the nerve to ask the older young man- who he honestly was starting to idolize in many ways- to explain his dismissal of the question he'd interrupted.
"Not that hard to understand. Tenchi's not gonna be a Clan Heiress unless half of the Aburame get wiped out, but even though my Clan's small I get this. Basically... she's got this role cut out for her, one way to live and die for the rest of her life. Be a ninja, train a team, retire from active duty, lead the clan, get married, pop out some heirs, and she's done. Everything in her life is set out from here on. She hates it... she's pretty independant. She wants one thing, just one, to be her choice. And damned if she's not gonna get it, too."

"But what's that thing?"
The two teammates shared a knowing look before Kamisori continued to explain, "She has to get married. Has to produce heirs. But there's actually no Hyuuga law that insists on in-Clan marriages for the head family. In fact, they discourage it too much. They need new blood to keep their lines fresh, and the Byakugan is a dominant trait, so they really don't have to worry about it anyway. Notice how all of Hinata's kids have it, even though all of Sakura's have blue eyes but one? Naruto's eyes are dominant, but the Byakugan wins out over it. They can use anyone and still have strong members. So from that point of view, what difference does it make who she chooses?"

"But they always arrange-"

"And they're going to turn down the Clan Heiress' pick? That's a good way to have a happy life after she takes over. Ruin her one chance at real happiness. Yeah... the Hyuuga aren't stupid."

Tenchi's voice coming from the now-dark jungle surprised only Toride, but he had to acknowledge- at least intellectually- that the Aburame was right.

Still, there was one niggling thought that kept him from resting well that night. How did all three of the Hokage's team know about this, anyway? Are Sensei and I the subject of a huge rumor, or something?

(O)(O)(O)

Fortunately for the young man's mental state, the next day thoroughly distracted him from his troubles with romance. It turns out that, 'friendly' or not, even allied villages have a bit of trouble registering for the Chunin exams every six months.

The resulting paperwork- largely due to prevent an international incident as a result of a squad of Oto ninja causing problems because of their historical 'disagreement' with Konoha- took from nearly sunup to sundown to finish. As a result, their team, Konoha's only entrants this time, were the very last team to register in a field of dominantly Kiri, but with several representatives each from Iwa, Kumo, Suna, and even a few from Ame, Kusa, Taki, and even a team from Frost, who hadn't had a Chunin Exam team entry in decades.

All in all, as Hanabi observed to her team the night before the first exam, this was shaping up to be a very entertaining year.

A/N2: Again, not much to say, so I'll be brief. Yes, this means that Toride and Hanabi's relationship is shortly going to be 'outed' to everyone, don't expect a quick end to it all. The story itself still has quite a lot of unresolved issues, and their growing romance is, while a large chunk of those issues are involved with the overall plot, they aren't going to be totally 'resolved' until near the end. There's gonna be tension and drama till it's all over. :)

Lastly, while I VERY much appreciate the (relatively) large number of reviews for the last chapter, I still have more than a hundred readers per chapter- and I got three reviews. 3% isn't a lot, when one is used to 10-20%. So everyone, PLEASE review!
Unless you really think this story sucks, in which case... why are you reading it?