Hello all, thanks for the reviews! :*
I do hope you enjoy the chapter and I will update again as soon as I can :)
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Before Kiba could even move a muscle, he found himself with a kunai at his throat and his shoulder gripped tightly by someone standing over him from behind.
"If you dare make one move to harm Hinata, I swear I'll rip your head from your shoulders, send the head to your mother and make mincemeat out of the rest of your pathetic body. Am I clear Inuzuka?"
Kiba could barely think, he was sweating bullets; terrified by the sheer, large amount of killer intent directed right at him that it even made Akamaru whimper in fear at his feat.
"Answer me mutt"
Kiba shuddered, unsure of what to do.
"Naruto please let go of Kiba, he's too scared to answer."
The blonde scoffed at the Aburame's sad attempt to save his friend and instead pressed his newly sharpened kunai even harder against the Inuzuka's throat.
"I said answer me you damn mutt before I really do decapitate you. I'll have you know that my patience wears thin very fast."
"U-und-derst-tood…"
Naruto smirks and withdraws his kunai, watching Kiba gasp for air in amusement. He casually licks the kunai as he walks toward Hinata who was looking at him in disapproval.
"I know you like the taste of the tortured but seriously? Kiba?"
"He had it coming Hina-hime."
As soon as the words reached his ears, Hinata sighs, "I swear you act more animal than ninja."
"Like I care"
Hinata rolls her eyes as her best friend joins her side, who was lazily twirling his kunai in his hand, "I can take care of myself Naru."
"I know that but I'm still going to protect you anyway hime."
Hinata sighs again, feeling tired suddenly. She loved Naru but sometimes his protective nature was a headache for her.
"Why are you even here anyway?" Naruto asks as he keeps away the sharp kunai.
Without warning, Hinata punches him hard on the arm.
"Ow! What the hell?!"
"Idiot! You made me wait for a while now! I had to come see what your damn problem was!"
"Hinata?"
The violet-eyes assassin looks up to see it was Sasuke.
"What?"
Ino blinked, surprised by the rude tone but guessed it was just misdirected anger since she just yelled at Naruto. But was even more surprised when she blinked again and found that Hinata had caught Sasuke's fist in her hand with a blank look on her face.
"Why did you fake your death?" Sasuke hisses, obviouly angry.
Hinata shoves Sasuke back, almost knocking her into Lee before answering, "Because I wanted out of this fucking village."
"Couldn't you have just resigned from your ninja rank?" Tenten asks, frowning.
"If only it was that easy."
Sasuke's deadpanned, obviously confused.
Naruto, being nice decided to explain while he rubbed the slightly sore spot on his arm, "We're Special ANBU operatives. There is no such thing as 'leaving ninja rank' for us. Special ANBU is where we were raised hence we owe it to them to be loyal to each other and the village."
"But you just said Hinata-san lost her Will of Fire" protested Lee.
"Yes which is exactly why she faked her death. She would have never been allowed to leave unless a severe injury was the cause."
"But in this case, she plays dead?" Shikamaru asks, obviously sceptical.
Hinata rubs her temples irritably before replying, "I have things I wish to accomplish and they cannot be done as long as I am a ninja bound to Konoha."
"What sort of things?" Sakura asks curiously.
"None of your concern."
Everyone sweatdropped at her cold tone.
"Erm, Hinata...if the Hinata we knew was a mask...what are you really like?"
The blue-haired girl looks up at Kurenai, her former jounin-sensei, "What's it to you?"
"Are we not allowed to wonder what exactly is the kind of person you really are? You are supposedly dead now so it doesn't really matter now does it?"
Hinata smirks at Shino's conclusion, turning to him, "Fair point."
Naruto felt bored, he always did if he wasn't doing something ninja like and decided he was going to mess with everyone for the fun of it. He steps closer and wraps his arms around Hinata from behind, resting his chin on her head.
Ino watched this, feeling a piece of her heart ache and it became worse as Hinata comfortably leaned into his touch with a thoughtful expression trying to think what to say.
"Are you guys dating?" Ino asks bluntly.
In perfect unison, the two snorted, "Why would I date this troublesome person?"
Sasuke frowns.
Why does that sound familiar?
"Then why are you touching Hinata like that?" Chouji asks, confused.
"Because he always does this"
"Because I always do this."
Sasuke blinked, seriously wondering why she was having deja vu.
Kakashi tilted his head, "Why do you then Naruto?"
"Because she's comfortable."
Hinata pouted, "I'm not a piece of furniture Naru."
Naruto chuckled, a sound familiar to everyone but it sounded deeper than they remembered.
"No, but you are cuddly."
"No, you're the cuddler."
"Am not"
"Are too"
"Am not"
"Are too"
"AHEM!"
The two looked up to see an irate Tenten.
"Shino asked a question and you haven't answered yet. You two can flirt later."
Hinata narrows her eyes at the weapon expert, "We aren't flirting."
Tenten rolls her eyes, obviously not believing it.
"Hinata is playful, devious, stingy-"
"I am not stingy Naru!"
"You barely spend any money!"
"Well sorry, I don't donate money like you do!"
"I donate to good causes!"
"You donate wayyy too much money!"
"Wait a second," Asuma says suddenly, stopping Naruto from speaking back. "Naruto, are you The Benefactor?"
Kurenai's eyes widened, "You mean the one that's been sending large amounts of money to the academy, the orphanage, the Pauper Foundation and the Hokage Tower?"
The blonde smirks, "Is it that hard to believe? I can be generous when I want to."
Kiba shivers, still shaky after what happened earlier and a little more so seeing Naruto's sadistic smirk.
"Now as I was saying, Hinata is playful, devious, stingy, cunning and merciless."
Hinata nods in agreement causing Naruto to hold her even closer.
"Why a mask?" Neji asks.
Hinata's eyebrow rose, "Why do you care? You barely did while I was 'alive' anyway."
That made Neji falter and look quizzically at him.
"I...I apologise for that...I wanted to say it before but-"
"Whatever Hyuuga."
Neji visibly flinched causing Naruto to kiss his friend on top of her head, "Come on Hina-hime, play nice."
"Shut it Naru-chan."
"Come on Hina, don't be stubborn."
"Stop bugging me"
"Come onnn"
Hinata sighed tiredly, obviously reluctant to speak to her cousin at all instead she spoke openly to everyone.
"I wore a mask because I wanted nothing to do with the Hyuuga's damn powerplay."
"Powerplay?" Neji inquired.
Hinata snorted, "For someone with all seeing eyes, you don't really notice what goes on do you? The Main House wishes for more; more power, more influence, more money and whatever else they want. The clan has gotten greedy and I would be damned before I would be used as their damn pawn. Uchiha Itachi is such an example."
Sasuke blinked, wondering why her brother's name even came up but before she could ask, Hinata continued.
"My grandfather warned me of this and asked me to keep my prowess a secret but I was reluctant to do so until my mother died."
Naruto buries his face in Hinata's neck, comforting her noting the subtle shake in her shoulders.
"The clan had high expectations of me to be like my mother and as powerful as my father. However, I realised by then that my Jyuuken was imperfect so-"
"Imperfect?" Neji asks, frowning.
"Maybe you know or maybe you don't but my mother was not a Hyuuga and if a non Hyuuga is present in a marriage, there is a higher chance for the child they would have together to not be completely able to carry out the Jyuuken at its full potential. That is what happened to me."
"But Hanabi-sama can?"
"I said higher chance, I didn't say none of the children could. Anyway, with my mother and grandfather gone and the Hyuuga clan completely against me, I thought, what the hell? That's when I became the shy and bashful Hyuuga Heiress."
"But by acting the way you were, you were constantly frowned upon by everyone, how could you withstand all that?" Tenten inquires.
Hinata shrugs nonchalantly, "Wasn't easy but I got through it. Once you create a mask, you need to be committed until the end."
"So were all our times together a lie?" Sasuke asks suddenly, catching the attention of Hinata and Naruto who noted that the Uchiha looked visibly upset.
The blonde frowns, seeing this, "The thing is, our masks hide our personality sure but they don't mask our intentions."
"We honestly do like you guys, our times together and all our interactions with you all were not untrue. This year, Konoha has produced the most talented bunch of genin she has seen in years and we are glad and honoured we got to have been a part of it."
Finally, for once since this whole crazy encounter happened, Hinata and Naruto smiles sincerely at them causing everyone else to stare. Eventually, Hinata speaks again.
"All of you are good people despite your naivety and gullibleness."
"Is gullibleness a real word Hina?"
"Yes, it is Naru."
Sakura looked on, still a little dumbstruck that Naruto and Hinata had actually smiled and timidly asks another question.
"Erm...so Hinata how did you get recruited into Special ANBU?"
"That is thanks to Naru."
Naruto smirks, "When I found out about the Kyuubi at 4 years old, the first person I told was Hinata. She was my newest friend and thefirst friend I ever had. I knew I could trust her because she didn't let the rumours and other nonsense get to her; she actually saved me from a mob that was chasing me and she hid me in the her clan compound."
Sasuke frowns, why did that again sound really familiar? She purses her lips, deep in thought as Naruto continues speaking.
"So when I told her about myself being a jinchuuriki, Hinata tells me she already figured it out and even tells me another crazy theory so to validate it, we sneaked into the Konoha Records Storage and found the files about my parents and proved her theory correct. We were caught by Morino Ibiki and after Ibiki-sensei interrogated Hinata, he found Hinata to have an IQ level that rivaled that of Uchiha Itachi and an analytical ability fitting of a top grade ANBU strategist."
Shikamaru blinked, "Erm...wasn't she 4 at the time like you?"
"Yup"
Hinata giggled at the ninjas gaping at her.
"What was Special ANBU like?" Chouji asks.
"It was hard and tiring but awesome at the same time. We were a squad too with Sai as our other teammate and Itachi as our sensei."
Naruto blinked, surprised she was mentioning Sai so soon but seeing no falter in her body language, she assumed she was okay.
"Wait, you knew Itachi?" Sasuke asks, directing her question at her blonde teammate.
Naruto nods solemnly, "Our team has never failed a mission since we became a unit."
Lee was impressed, "You two..are really incredible."
"Thank you but now we must take our leave. I don't want to waste any more daylight. Let's go Naru."
"Wait"
Hinata looks up, frowning, "What is it now?"
Sasuke points at each respective person as she speaks, "You're Akuma Kitsune and you're Jigoku Tenshi."
For once, Hinata and Naruto were surprised and because their looks were so priceless, Jiraiya started laughing from his spot under the tree.
"HOW THE FUCK DID YOU FIGURE THAT OUT?!"
This time, Sasuke finally has a chance to smirk.
"Tenshi told me the same story you did of the time how you met Hinata and the both of you called each other troublesome when we asked if you two were dating like at the festival when the same thing happened after Shizune said you two would make a good couple."
Hinata facepalmed and Naruto cursed.
"Never leak this out, any of you! Or else!"
Sasuke's smirk immediately disappeared at Naruto's strict tone.
"We created those identities for a reason so please do not jeopardise them for us."
Sasuke nods to Hinata, feeling uncomfortable seeing Naruto looking miffed that she figured out the whole thing until she realised something else.
"Naruto! You have been flirting with me all this while?!"
Hinata snickered and Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Akuma is a suave kind of guy besides how could I not take the opportunity to tease you?"
Sasuke flushed, "So that all I am to you? Somebody to play with?"
Naruto smiled the second time today, his eyes gentle, "You are a hell lot more that that. Give yourself more credit Sasuko."
Before Sasuke herself could react to the name, Hinata started laughing in a way none of them have ever seen before. She doubled over with laughter and pointing feebly with a shaky finger.
"Ha! I like that! Sasuke! Change your name to that!"
"What? No way!"
"Oh come on!"
"No way Hinata!"
"Aww but Sasuko-chan~"
Now everyone was snickering at Sasuke's new name. Hinata eventually stops sniggering and grins widely as she comes over and pinches Sasuke's nose hard.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
Hinata lets go and says to Sasuke, smiling softly, "If you want to know the truth about Itachi, go to his room and undo the seals he kept in place there. I suggest bringing Kakashi with you. Good luck Sasuke. Itachi and I will look forward to reuniting with you."
"Wha-?"
It was then Hinata disperses in a flurry of sakura petals causing everyone to watch in awe and leaving Sasuke bewildered.
"She still loves him, your brother"
Sasuke blinked to see Naruto in front of her now.
"She's leaving the village to be with him then?"
Naruto nods and Sasuke sighs.
"I swear my life has gotten super complicated since I turned to a damn girl."
"It's not all bad. It works in my favour." In the next second, Sasuke found herself lip locked with Naruto.
Wait…
WHAT?!
Naruto drew back before moving his head down and biting hard at Sasuke's shoulder. The sound of a gulping noise alerted the genins and jounins who stared wide-eyed at Naruto embracing Sasuke tightly to his chest and his teeth sunk into the her skin; they looked alarmed and even more so when Jiraya started to snicker. The old man waved his hand dismissively, gesturing that all was fine. After a while, Naruto finally lets go, smirking as he licks his lips before licking hard at the Uchiha's bite mark and to everyone's amazement, it glowed orange.
"Interesting, your blood tastes awfully sweet for someone who hates sweets. Not that it's a bad taste though."
Sasuke pushes Naruto away, grasping at her bitemark, "W-what the hell was that?"
Naruto smirked, "It's my way of keeping tabs on you Sasuko. If you're ever in trouble, I'll come as fast as I can. For you."
Sasuke blinked, dumbfounded until Naruto speaks again.
"I'm going to miss you the most. Take care!"
"No, wait!"
Sasuke runs forward, trying to grab him but Naruto had already disappeared in a swirl of leaves and instead falls on her front, defeated.
"That dobe!" she got up on her knees and slammed her fist in anger on to the ground.
"Ma ma, don't be upset after all you won the battle of Naruto's heart."
Naturally, Ino and Sakura wanted to know what Jiraiya meant.
"How do you mean?"
"Well Naruto just bit Sasuke and as according to the jinchuuriki customs, it's a way for the jinchuuriki to keep tabs on someone they feel precious. They only need to take in the blood if it's the first person they're doing it to or for other reasons…"
Kakashi frowned, seeing the smirk on his face.
"Well?"
"The other reason could be possibly Naruto has marked the Uchiha as his possession or as his mate."
Everyone turned, curious to see her reaction to this only to witness Sasuke turning beetroot red.
"T-THAT….DOBE! IMMA KILL HIS ASS!
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A review would be most appreciated! Hope you liked the chapter! ^^
Have a good day! :)
