A/N: I'm really sorry for this taking long to be updated. It's a hectic period. Still, I try to not abandon any of my stories. I'll still post, but not so frequent as before. Thanks for understanding. Because this story still has some to go… Oh, friendly reminder: Konohamaru is not evil, people. Geez, I'm sorry, I did want to give this impression as to hide what's really going on, but it ended up pissing me off, this thing that my work is. So you can rest assured about it: no, nothing evil in our dear Konohamaru.
If Hyuuga Hinata did still live, not even the woman they called this way could tell. Who was this person walking around, being charming and signing papers – another enigma this dark-haired woman could not solve for you. What she wanted, what she aimed for – interesting matters that could be put in the queue, if you have to time to wait. A lot of time to wait.
She could tell you her name is Hyuuga Hinata (so do the paper say). She's the Hyuuga clan's leader (also officially stated in papers). But who was she when it came to deeper meaning… Who were her family and who were her friends? She could name them, too, if you do insist.
Her cousin was Hyuuga Neji. Hyuuga Neji was very loyal. Hyuuga Neji was a Jounin. Hyuuga Neji was married to Tenten, one of his old teammates, now Hyuuga, too. They had a son, named Noboru. She named him.
Her sister was Hyuuga Hanabi. Hyuuga Hanabi was quiet. Hyuuga Hanabi was pretty. Hyuuga Hanabi was a talented Jounin. Hyuuga Hanabi was stronger than Hyuuga Hinata. Hyuuga Hanabi had been chosen as the clan's leader. But she was no longer. The reasons and events that had lead to this, Hyuuga Hinata did not like mentioning.
And she has many other relatives, too many to list.
Kurenai Yūhi had used to be her sensei. Kurenai Yūhi was a Jounin. Kurenai Yūhi had a daughter. She had seen neither this daughter, nor Kurenai Yūhi in a long while.
Haruno Sakura and Ino Yamanaka were friends of her. Haruno Sakura and Ino Yamanaka were both Jounin. They had worked together with Hyuuga Hinata at the hospital, not long ago. Ino Yamanaka was married to Sai. She did not know the man's other name anymore. Haruno Sakura was engaged to Uchiha Sasuke. Or maybe they were married already. She couldn't really remember. Or she just didn't think about it, same as she didn't think about many things, lately.
Uzumaki Naruto was another friend of hers. Probably. Uzumaki Naruto was many things. And for many people. First of all, Uzumaki Naruto was, for all the people in the world, the Hokage of Konohagakure. Secondly, Uzumaki Naruto was an inspiration for most of people, in Konohagakure and beyond. Thirdly, Uzumaki Naruto was friend of quite a number of people, from Konohagakure and beyond. And then, if Uzumaki Naruto was fancied by women, she did not care to listen. If he was also hated, she did not get to hear such.
As for her, from afar, Uzumaki Naruto was clearly her Hokage, as Jounin of Konohagakure. From a bit closer, he had been an inspiration for her all along. Some may have said Uzumaki Naruto was not the smartest, but he was clearly witty and wise. And she loved listening to him. Even closer, she could see him as her friend. Seeing him right in front of her, she could see her ever crush, the boy she liked since her childhood years.
If Uzumaki Naruto was handsome, she could not tell. His hair was bright blonde, his eyes deep blue, his features symmetric, his face looking manly, yet somehow soft, reminding anyone who had ever met Uzumaki Kushina those were inherited from her and not from the boy's well known father. His body was well build from the hard training he put himself under through all of those years, one you could call attractive with no doubt. Tallness is a fact always appreciated in men, and he was tall, indeed. Not the tallest, just the necessary amount past the average high. So could Uzumaki Naruto of today be described in appearances.
But when Hinata had first started to have feelings for him, he was a skinny boy, shorter than any of the boys and most of the girls, and you could not tell if his features were even somehow alright, because he'd always be wearing a dumb expression on his face.
So she couldn't see him differently now. Whether his eyes were beautiful or not, there was the same determination and carry in them. The same kind and encouraging smile on his face. Yet, the same coldness when there was a real danger.
Whether he was especially attractive or not, his pose managed to be imposing, even when he'd just lay relaxed. His hands, just as she remembered them from the war, when he had held hers, were strong, yet soft. Same as his strong structure, they simply made her feel safe, out of any danger.
On the whole, these characteristics described his whole person, strength and softness. He could be cold-blooded and hot-blooded at once. He could be all serious about something, but still joke and laugh in the same matter. He could show himself thoughtful and preoccupied at the office, but also give the impression of 'a monkey with paperwork', as Sakura would sometimes call him.
He mostly appeared as an open book, but Hinata knew he was an enigma. And everything about him interested and surprised him.
And, despite all this, these times, she did not have any dream. She did not think of him. She did not see a future for them. All of it was inside her mind, kept for herself dearly. And no one could nowadays see a single sign of it in her. As for Naruto, he had never showed a single sign at all. So, we can guess, people had their right to be surprised, no longer than a year after.
That day, being in the numbness kind of state already described, Hyuuga Hinata was waiting, along with other Jounin and their teams, for their Hokage to join, and the journey to Suna to start. Kenji was telling her something. She wasn't attentive, but she did look at the boy attentively, with some kind of fondness. She couldn't help but feel a slight regret for being so positive regarding their potential to become Chunin after this exam. Because that way they'd part. And, through all the numbness, she got to care quite a lot for these children.
Soon enough, the Hokage joined them and, with nothing but a nod, they moved towards their destination. To Hinata, he seemed a bit thoughtful about something for the beginning. But she only gave it a bit of a thought, until going back to her 'mind palace', with all the randomness, philosophical wonders and family estate problems to be solved just as soon as she got home.
As soon as they entered Sunagakure's territory, Naruto immediately changed moods, becoming all cheerful and glad. Welcoming them, in the honor of their Hokage, was Gaara of the Sand himself, who didn't want to hear of intermediary representatives to greet Uzumaki Naruto, just as the other Kages would be normally treated.
And it's not like anyone would dare put themselves against a clear decision taken by the Kazekage. Of course, the Kazekage was highly changed and not the fearful one (not in a bad way), but some could still not get to oppose him sometimes, in the reminiscence of old past times.
If he wanted to show his fondness for a dear friend (and the committee could not forget, also a strong ally), who were they to oppose such gesture of young friendship?
Walking ahead of his comrades, Naruto shook the Kazekage's hand. The Jounin and their teams stood behind, respectfully, waiting for the right time to move, too. However, the Kazekage, after the warm encounter with his friend, did not gestured for everyone else to follow inside the gates. Instead, he walked from Jounin to Jounin, saying a few kind, welcoming words to each of them, something especially surprising for both the Konoha ninja and the Suna's present ones.
Seen by some who may not have met the Kazekage, or had not at least heard anything of him, he was rather distant and cold with these people. Thinking of it, he hadn't been especially happy or enthusiast towards the friend he had insisted so much on welcoming either. Not a single sign of attachment. Just a serious shake of the hand; a smile so thin you could say he was not even trying.
Those who knew him well, did know to appreciate his gesture enough. It was not something the Kazekage would normally do. Coming from him, it was to be highly praise and appreciated. The Konoha Jounin present that year were Nara Shikamaru, Sai, Rock Lee, Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata. These were the groups to have past the written examination already, which now each country held for each other. Just the second and last, but also hardest parts of the exam, were held in a single country, with all the other villages invited for participation.
"Shikamaru," Gaara addressed first his future brother in law, "Temari will be glad to see you this early, two months before the wedding." They shook hands and he wished him luck with his team.
"Sai, congratulations; I heard about the wedding," he passed to the next Jounin, shaking hands with him, too.
"Welcome to Suna. Your first visit here, I believe," Gaara noted, shaking Shino's hand. Shino nodded, expressing his contentment of finally having the chance to be there, in his usual formal manner.
"Ah, Hyuuga Hinata. We had not the actual chance to meet face to face. I've visited Konohagakure shortly after the event with your sister. But you were in hospital there, I assume. Had I been to the hospital, I would have had more of Naruto's presence, I guess," he said in a rather personal manner. The only thing that missed from the moment was a smile and a wink for him, to make it understood he was hinting to a secret only they shared. Shaking her hand gently, he added confidentially, "But I have a feeling we'll see each other more often in my next visits to the Hokage," and with that he turned to her students, wishing luck for the upcoming exam, just like to all the others, before returning at Naruto's side.
"Why, let me lead you through the village now. Of course everyone must need a well deserved rest right now," he said, turning once more to them and actually giving a weak, yet welcoming smile.
They all followed. Hinata continued thinking about what could he had meant. Also, she felt kind of weird for the different way he talked to her, as if he was sure they'd get to be the greatest friends.