Sunny place for S. and Cooper80: I love you guys! You are always the first ones to review.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…and it is better that way.
Chapter nine: Gaara of the Sand (part two)
Hinata rubbed her eyes as the day's first light hit her sensitive white orbs. The Hyuuga stretched and buried her face under the sheets. In a small corner of her mind, she knew that it was passed her usual waking time. Usually, the Hyuuga princess was already up and prepared before sunrise. As an Anbu, time is a very important matter and protocol.
But last night, she did not get much sleep. She recalled that it was already morning when she returned to her chambers to rest. Hinata winced as she willed herself to rise, even though her eyes are still closed and swollen.
A knock from outside the door alerted the bluenette.
Hinata wiped her face and combed her hair with her fingers as she took a few steps to the door, wrinkling her face as she realized that this is the first time someone will see her looking disorganized and unprepared.
Sasuke should not have stayed too long last night. Hinata thought as she opened the door. That Uchiha stayed up all night just looking at the night sky and never even bothered to strike a proper conversation with her, just his usual arrogant remarks and grunts.
"Ohayo…" Hinata poked her head of tangled blue mess outside to see who it was. When her eyes focused on the person standing in front of her, looking at her with black lidded eyes, she almost dropped down on the floor.
It was the Kazekage, looking at her with serious amusement.
"Ka-Kazekage!" Hinata involuntarily covered her face. Good heavens! Of all the people who can see her looking like a ragged doll…This is so unacceptable for a Hyuuga.
If Gaara have eyebrows, he would have raised them way up. He looked at the blue haired Kunoichi in front of him and his eyes stayed at her flushed cheeks. She is trying to hide her face to him while trying not to look impolite.
"Gomenasai… I…uhm…I just got up from bed and I did not-"
"I understand." Gaara answered, his eyes now tracing the red skin of her face to her neck. It amazed him how she could turn herself that red. "You and the Uchiha stayed very late."
Hinata's eyes widened. The Kazekage knows…
Before she could come up with an excuse, Gaara gave her a brown scroll with a seal. "This is for the Hokage. I entrust you to bring it back to Konoha safely."
"H-hai."
"And also…" Gaara looked at her with the serious face he always wore. "Temari and Kankuro want you to have breakfast with them. You can change first if you want. I will be waiting outside."
Without waiting for an answer, the Kazekage turned his back to the Hyuuga and walked away. Hinata stared at his broad back for a second before closing the door behind her. That boy never smiles…
She stared at the elegant scroll on her hands. She breathed deeply and smiled as she traced the elegant lines and markings engraved on it. This is the sign that the Sand is still an ally of the leaf. Their mission as the Hidden leaf's emissaries is about to be completed and no other thing could make her happy.
Hinata stopped looking at the scroll when she felt a familiar chakra signature near her. Her head jerked to the direction of the window.
"The Kazekage likes you." He smirked.
"You really like windows, don't you Sasuke-kun?"
The Uchiha gestured at her face and body. "You look like hell."
"And I would like to fix that if you could give me privacy…" The Hyuuga nin placed the scroll inside her pack and waited for the Uchiha to leave. He smiled,his arrogant face ever so handsome. "After all, you are the reason why I have to stay up all night."
"Did I tire you princess?" He mocked. "Staying up all night and all."
Hinata almost slapped herself when her own words sank on her. Sasuke really knows how to tease her in an awkward sort of way.
"Be sure to look pretty for our little Kazekage." He snorted then jumped out of the window, leaving Hinata to her 'privacy'.
-o-o-o-
Nara Shikamaru ducked as two shurikens whipped past where his head had been seconds ago. He looked at Neji who is still fighting two mask opponents at the same time. His palms glowing with the signature light blue chakra of the Hyuuga clan. After a few jabbed of those glowing fingers to his opponents, The Hyuuga prodigy became the only person standing, his opponents lying on the soft dirt.
Now this is troublesome. The Nara thought as he sent his opponent flying to a tree with a kick. The masked opponent screamed as he landed on the tree trunk with a deafening crunch. After making sure that no kunai or anything sharp was being thrown at him or Neji, Shikamaru jumped to a tree branch to help him see the location of the other masked men better. Unlike Neji, his vision is limited and the thick forest trees and plants make it harder for his vision. Grabbing a kunai from his pouch, he aimed at the bush where he saw one of them dived in earlier. An agonized groan and a soft thud was heard and the Nara knew that whoever that was, he would not be standing up again.
Two more. Shikamaru's mind gears are already running in motion as he leaped from the branch to land softly on the forest dirt, his hands performing the signs for his shadow manipulation jutsu. Black shadowy lines appeared from under him and elongated to trace the path where three of the remaining masked men passed seconds ago.
A few shocked gasps can be heard and the Nara smiled, he got the three in his shadow body lock. Without warning, Hyuuga Neji leaped above Shikamaru's head and knocked the unmoving masked men himself by a few jab of his signature gentle fist.
"You alright Neji?" Shikamaru asked, standing up and patted the scroll inside his vest pocket. He wanted to make sure that it was untouched. They have been on their way back to Konoha when six armed men ambushed them on the forest grounds. They are using ninja weapons but their skills are not those of a shinobi, that made the Nara confused. The men who ambushed them wear the same black clothing and mask that covers their face except for their eyes.
The genius smirked. "These guys are not even worth the time."
"I did not expect anything like this would happen though." Shikamaru replied, putting his hands on his pocket and
Neji gritted his teeth. "Can't these people understand that we are on a mission of peace? Everyone can benefit if this is successful."
Shikamaru looked at the unconscious masked men who are littered around them. He took a few steps near one and removed the clothing that was wrapped around the man's face. The Nara Genius frowned. "How troublesome."
"What?" The handsome Hyuuga asked, His fist still clenched.
"These men are not ninjas…they have no forehead protectors."
"Shinobi or not. I still suspect that they are after the scroll." Neji declaired sternly. "Good thing we are prepared."
"Idiots." A low laugh followed the word. "Do you think we are after those scrolls? We are not stupid to interfere in a peace treaty son."
Both Konohans looked at the masked man who holds his stomach where a kunai found its way earlier during the fight. He removed the cloth from his face and looked at the two geniuses with bloodshot eyes, his lips oozing with blood.
"We are not Shinobis…" He coughed. "Damn…I am a good fighter but these kids are new." He smiled and shook his head.
"If you are not interested in the peace treaty then why did you ambushed us? " Neji asked.
"You."
Neji looked at the wounded man incredulously. "me?"
"Or shall we say…your eyes."
Shikamaru suddenly understood. These men are no Shinobi…they are a bunch robbers, rogue people who are banished from town because of hideous crimes. "You wanted Hyuuga eyes." He clarified. "Forgive us old man, my friend's eyes are not free for your taking."
Neji smirked. "As if you could take the eyes of an Anbu captain…I still think that you are after the scroll. If you wanted to ambush us, you could have done it before we reached our destination, why wait for us to return first?"
"As I said, we are not fools to interfere with a peace treaty. We allowed you dogs to accomplish the task first." The man laughed. "You are lucky….but the other one, I'm sure my brothers can take her eyes off." He pointed bloody fingers at Neji's direction who glared daggers at him. "Our spies saw two Hyuuga's exit Konoha's borders a few days ago… but both parties separated and journeyed to the other shinobi villages…so are force was divided...but don't worry, there are a lot of strong men in that group. If we failed here, I'm sure they will succeed."
"Hinata-sama!" Neji's heart drummed against his chest as the man's words dawned on him.
"Sama you say? Well…too bad…your Hyuuga-sama will be next. There would be no escape for her boy… You may get away from us but not her…Hyuuga eyes are very expensive after all… people from all over the nation wanted to get their hands on them."
"Black market." Shikamaru mumbled, shaking his head.
With a swift movement, Neji grabbed the bloody man's collar and forced him to look at his face. "Someone is following her? "
The man laughed, almost deliriously. He Looked at Neji and smiled, his bloody lip starting to swell. Neji's hands formed into fists and have almost succeeded in punching the wounded thief if Shikamaru have not prevented the blow.
"Neji…."
"Remove your shadow jutsu Shikamaru…" Neji growled.
"Neji…we will reach Konoha before noon, I suggest that we deliver the scroll first to Kakashi-sensei. This is an S-class mission after all…We can plan whatever we need to do for Hinata's case when we got there." Shikamaru removed his Jutsu, but still making sure that Neji would not kill the man because of his anger. They will need the intel after all, and a dead man can't help.
"But Hinata-sama…"
"Sasuke is with her…no sane person would dare try something to them."
"I do not trust that person."
"Then trust Hinata. She is an Anbu… no matter how gentle she is, she can defend herself."
-o-o-o-
Walking side by side with the Kazekage on Suna's sandy roads can sure be an experience that Hinata will never forget. Gaara is very limited on his words, speaking occasionally if he only needs to. His black lidded eyes serious yet soft everytime his gaze falls on Suna's local folks.
When they passed on the locals, they gave them a silly smile and greeted them with a sheepish expression on their faces. Hinata's face was three shades of red darker than her usual blush color, she realized that the locals thought that she and the Kazekage have more than the normal acquinatance relationship.
"What a pretty girl…" She heard one of the locals say to another. "I think Gaara-sama and that blue haired girl really look good together."
"I heard she's from a powerful clan from the leaf…"
"Maybe that's the reason why Kazekage-sama is a loyal friend of the leaf? Because his love interest is from Konoha?"
The white eyed Konohan pretended not to hear those kinds of remarks. She concentrated on observing the place and wondered how people can grow crops or perform daily activities in the dessert. The temperature is also a little hotter than Konoha's.
They stopped in front of a tall circular tower, If Hinata's calculations are correct; the building is located in the very middle of the village.
"Temari and Kankuro are both inside…" Gaara gestured for her to enter the building.
"How about you, Kazekage?" she asked when he made no actions to go in himself. He just looked at her like he was waiting for something weird or amazing to happen. Hinata realized with dread, that her actions earlier might have made her looked like a comical nin in the Kage's eyes.
"I still have matters to attend to."
"Oh…"
Gaara 's lips twitched like he was going to say something but did not continue. He waited for her to enter the building so that he could take his leave. The girl nodded at him, her brows furrowed like she was thinking something that bothers her.
"Arigato Kazekage-sama." She bowed low and scurried inside the sand made building.
When Gaara was sure that the Kunoichi was inside, he smirked and crossed his arms, tilting his head to the direction of a shadowy part of the building. If one would look closely, a shadowy figure could be seen. "You are really good in hiding your chakra signature. I almost did not notice you."
"I have years and years of practice."
"I bet you have…Uchiha."
Sasuke chuckled low and dark. He stepped outside of the shadow that hides his features from broad daylight. The young Uchiha looked at the Kazekage and admitted to himself that this is not the same blood thirsty monster that he has fought years ago.
There is maturity and wisdom in Gaara's eyes, hidden by the coldness that just comes naturally.
Gaara stared at the eyes of the once enemy of the whole Shinobi nations. The last living bloodline of the Uchiha is still as arrogant and annoying as ever, though he got to admit that no shinobi have ever followed him with that kind of stealth.
"You are so concerned with your comrade…that is so unusual for you." Gaara turned his back on Sasuke. "Imagine following her around when she is with the most powerful Shinobi in the land of sand."
"Just in the land of sand…" Sasuke muttered as Gaara walked away, not even bothering to look at him twice. When the Kazekage is out of sight, The Raven haired Uchiha stared at the building's entrance where he saw Hinata entered a few minutes ago.
Sasuke felt kind of irritated when the heiress did not even bother to asked him if he have eaten already, she just used her charms on that no brows and proceeded on her merry way. She is gonna get it later. He thought to himself, wondering a little why he was thinking that way, but decided not to waste any more thoughts about the matter.
He was just pissed and that was all that counts.
She has no obligations to you, idiot. A small corner of his mind reminded him.
She bears and controls my cursed seal. That is obligation enough. The bigger part of his mind bantered back.
With one swift, graceful move, the young Uchiha returned to the shadows and was out from anyone's sight. Suna ninjas may notice that he was like a crazy creep on the shadows but they did not try to ask or bothered him. They are still bound to let the emissaries explore Suna anyway, and as long as the once rebellious Uchiha did not try something bad, they can leave him to whatever he wanted to do with his life.
-o-o-o-
Everything that happened for the rest of the day was a blur for the heiress. Hinata have been dragged by Kankuro and Temari to the popular places or food houses in Suna. The sand siblings, along with the other emissaries insisted that before going back to their respective villages, they should have at least an enjoyable time in the land of Sand.
Hinata, thinking that Sasuke should also be with them, asked everyone politely if she could go get him, he is also an emissary after all. She did not like the idea of Sasuke getting left behind like he was not a part of the peace mission.
Everyone looked at her with an unreadable expression plastered on their faces, she stood her ground though, for she would not like to let her partner be by himself while she was out enjoying with the others,no matter how hardheaded and arrogant he is.
Kankuro grudgingly gave her permission, the others were polite and nodded their consent, to that, Hinata was grateful.
The only problem is…the Uchiha cannot be found. He was not inside his room and no one can tell where he was. When the Kazekage happened to pass by, he just told her not to look for him, because the Uchiha would just appear if he wants to.
The whole day passed and she did not even get a glimpse of him.
I hope he is inside already. Hinata thought as she stared at the door of Sasuke's designated room for the time being. She knocked and waited for a sign that he is inside.
Nothing.
The Blue haired Anbu tried again, stopping herself from using Byakugan. Her father has told her once not to use such honorable talent on unnecessary tasks.
The Hyuuga gave the door a push and it creaked open as she let herself in. Hinata's first instinct was to looked at the bed, where Sasuke usually lies when he has nothing to do.
"Checking on me again?" A cold voice drawled from another door inside the room. That door, she was sure, leads to a bathroom.
"So you are inside the bathroom…Sasuke-kun." She cannot help but to let out a sigh of relief. Good thing he was not outside causing havoc or something.
The bathroom door swung open and a very wet Sasuke Uchiha emerged. He was naked, except for a towel wrapped around his waist, his hands ruffling his wet hair to shake off the excess water that drips to his chest and down to his well chiseled abs. He looked at Hinata and smiled deviously as her face starts to turn into his favorite shade of tomato red.
His favorite shade of tomato red? Now that came out of nowhere…
Somewhat unprepared for such a daring scene in front of her, the Hyuuga heiress stared on the sand floor of the room like her life depended on it. "Gomenasai… I did not mean to intrude…Sasuke-kun."
She heard him smirked while she was trying to control her breathing. Somewhere inside her head, she was telling herself that her Anbu training did not prepared her for something like this.
"Gomenasai." She apologized again and started to take small steps back.
Sasuke let out a chuckle and shook his head. "Are you intimidated by me, Hyuuga?"
Hinata frowned, her eyes still on the floor. "I suggest you change first Sasuke-kun. I am going to wait outside…we have many things to discuss…especially for our journey back to Konoha."
Hinata was about to turn her back at the dark haired Uchiha when a wet hand gripped her arm. She stared at it for a second in surprise. The hand is surprisingly warm, such a contrast with the cold droplets of water that she can feel on her skin.
"Look at me, Hinata."
-o-o-o-
So here ends the chapter…what do you think guys? Please review… (reading reviews makes me so happy…please..please..please..please.)
By the way..I am going to stick with my story pace because you guys are so supportive!
Ps. I don't know…but I suddenly found myself falling for Kakashi-sensei…bwahaha… I have been watching the latest Naruto episodes and I saw one ep with Kakashi as an Anbu…I love you Kakashi!
Isnt's a dripping Sasuke hot? :p