This chapter is dedicated to HimeHaeDen. She is so nice and I like the way she reviewed my work. It was fun and cute! (Hey Hime, this one if for you. I hope you will like it.)
-btw, one guest reviewer pointed out that Hinata and Sasuke are already acting like they are in an official relationship without them knowing it. Lol…yeah, I kind of notice that too…
-oh…thank you for all the readers who wished me luck for my exams. I will do my best!...
-One last thing…after the Hinata-Itachi scene, a lot of readers wanted an ItaHina story…lol…you know what guys? I just made up my mind last night. An ItaHina story would be next (and it has the highest votes on my poll anyway.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Twenty-three: Three Separate Missions (Part one)
"Karin." Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously at the sheepish looking girl who was peering at him behind the glasses. He knew what the girl is up to. He has a lot of experience with her foolish antics. She purposely said those things in order to make Hinata fled.
The girl bit her lip. "What?"
"I had enough of this Karin." He told her. "Now go inside and rest." The command was said rather gruffly. He turned his back at her and prepared to leap where the Hyuuga heiress disappeared a few seconds ago. Her chakra was not far yet. He knew he could reach her for he was faster than her.
Before he could take off, bite-scarred hands suddenly wrapped around his waist.
"You like her." Karin stated, breathing air was like moving walls for her at the moment.
Sasuke remained silent, his crouched position stiffened.
"Sasuke-kun." Karin buried her face on his hard back. "Don't follow after her."
Sasuke's face became stoic.
"Please…Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke sighed as he felt the back of his shirt getting wet by Karin's tears. Her arms were like a death grip, refusing to let him go. "I need to." He answered and his voice was low but clear. Karin has saved him many times, even sacrificed herself for him. She risked her neck just at being in Konoha, and it was all because she wanted to keep him safe.
And he appreciated that a lot, but as Naruto had said, He already found the one.
"Why?" The Uzumaki sobbed behind him, her voice strained.
Sasuke answered her with the words that entered his mind instantly when the question was given. "Because…she owns me."
And that was true. He had said it in the hospital back then…
He owns her.
She owns him.
Even though Hinata was still learning to accept it.
A pair of hands removed Karin's arms from Sasuke's waist. It was a firm gesture, but was affectionate at the same time. "Come Karin, let Sasuke go." Suigetsu said, taking both of her hands away from the Uchiha. For a second, the two looked at him with surprise. Apparently, they did not hear or noticed his approach.
Leave it to his water-like stealth.
Sasuke met his eyes, and a swift understanding passed between the two.
"Karin." Suigetsu led the girl away from the man that she loved dearly. "That's enough." Sure she may always beat the hell out of him, or scream at him every time he made jokes or mention things she does not like, but looking at her now, with her beautiful red eyes downcast, tears streaming out of her face like she has an endless supply of it, he never felt so concern for her before.
Karin may be a violent loudmouth sometimes, but if there is one thing that he was sure about her, it was that she has a big heart and strong faith.
"Sasuke." Suigetsu nodded at the Uchiha to go.
"Take care of Karin…Suigetsu." Sasuke said before disappearing from his sight.
-o-
Hinata saw Karin embraced Sasuke from behind.
She shook her head and deactivated her Kekkei Genkei. She does not want to see what follows next between those two.
It was not her place to know.
Itachi-san… Hinata thought as she tied her mask back on its place. You really gave me a hard one here. Breathing a heavy sigh, she straightened herself up from the covers of thick leaves, chakra building on her feet to help her in maintaining her secured position on the branches.
She can feel Neji's chakra a few meters away from her, so she followed its white flare, bounding thru the trees distractedly, mind and emotions still unstable.
"Nii-san."
Neji frowned when he saw his cousin. "Why did you leave the mansion?" She should not have left the two Taka members unguarded.
The blue haired Anbu shrug. "I wanted to do the perimeter check…c-could you take my place instead?"
"But-"
"Please Nii-san."
Neji fought the urge to roll his eyes as he realized that he would always be putty in Hinata's hands. "Fine…but do not go too far outside the Uchiha district." He just saw the Anbu watch guards passed by the district a few minutes ago, it would mean that they would be checking other places, and Hinata would be rounding the place all alone.
"Hai Nii-san."
"Be back immediately after you're done."
Moments later, Hinata found herself standing near the boundary of the Uchiha district, staring at nothing in particular, her hand unconsciously pressed on her chest, lips forming into a thin line.
She felt funny.
"Baka…" She scolded herself, not aware that she was actually speaking the words out loud. "You should stop this nonsense Hinata…Don't let Sasuke get into you." Gritting her teeth, she let her hands balled into fist. "It does not concern you that they are…they are…w-whatever."
She took a deep breath, glad that she remembered it.
"Don't let it bother you… Don't let it bother you." The heiress chanted, letting the words sink in as she wrapped her mind into it. "Don't let it bother you-"
"If it bothers you so much, why did you flee?" A voice from above interrupted her small self talk. When Hinata raised her head up, she saw the reason of her problems perched on the tree just above her head.
Sasuke Uchiha's Shinobi skills were really something to be praised.
Hinata backed away from the tree like it was something that was very scary. "What are you doing here?" She asked, wasn't he being embraced by Karin a few minutes ago? Even as she watched him land easily on the ground, her cheeks burned behind the mask, embarrassed that he heard her little self talk.
She knew Sasuke would not let this one pass.
"That's the second time you have asked me that." Sasuke smirked. "Well, the Uchiha district belongs to me Hinata. I can do what I want since this is my territory."
"Gomenasai… You are right. You're territory." She tried to act relax and natural, but her voice was a few octaves higher, betraying the uneasiness she felt. The man in question looked relax and cool, she needed to do the same. She cleared her throat, hoping for her voice to return back to normal.
"You did not have to bolt like that." He told her, referring to her early escape tactic.
"I did not bolt…I am performing my duties as an Anbu watch guard."
Sasuke snorted and she knew that he was not buying it. "Really?"
She nodded. "Really." She shifted her weight on her other foot as she looked at Sasuke behind the catlike mask, studying his handsome face as he studied hers, she was careful to avoid his eyes though. "Why didn't you go back inside when I left?"
"You are out here, and you expect me to get back inside?" Sasuke asked, incredulously.
A small laugh erupted from her lips as she shook her blue head in disbelief. He was being embraced by that Uzumaki girl a few minutes ago, not to mention that she just found out about their little night visits…and he has the guts to tell her those words?
She was insulted.
Sasuke however, looked confused. His brows furrowed as he was trying to figure out what triggered that sarcastic laugh. "You don't believe me." He finally said and his jaw was clenched.
-o-o-o-
Hatake Kakashi looked grim as he scribbled some notes on a piece of parchment. Looking at the clear sky, the masked nin gave up a heavy sigh as he tried to refresh his mind even just for a few seconds.
A message from Onoki, the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, just arrived from a messenger hawk this morning. It says that he was going to send two of his best nin to help with the spying mission, just like the other kage has decided.
It was actually a good thing, but right now, it was actually the least of his worries.
Last night, Kiba's dog, Akamaru, returned without its master. The animal was the only one who returned from the small unit that he has formed in some kind of B-class mission. The giant dog has wounds and injuries and Kakashi feared that something bad had happened with the small unit on their way home.
He was worried about what happened to the group, but he can't help but be worried most for Kiba. He was fond of Konoha eleven after all.
There was a knock on the door and Yamanaka Ino entered; she was carrying a bunch of red roses on a small porcelain vase with her. She smiled modestly at the Kage when he gave her a gesture to come in. "Ohayo…Kaka-sensei."
The Hokage managed a smile. "Ohayo."
"Gosh, Kaka-sense, you look bad." The blonde shook her head upon landing her eyes on the mess the Hokage has made of his office, just like the way Sakura does every time she comes to see him. "This should add a little life in here." Ino mumbled as she placed the roses on the Kage's desk.
"Beautiful." He motioned at the red flowers.
The girl made herself comfortable on the chair opposite the copy nin's desk. "Why did you summon me Kakashi-sensei?"
The kage made an act of watching the red petals with interest. "Ino-chan…have you ever tried entering a dog's mind?"
"N-no…" Ino's brow creased at the question. "Not even once Kaka-sensei. I have tried entering a tailed beast's mind before…but I don't think that counts for normal animals such as dogs."
"Hmm…" The kage nodded thoughtfully.
"Why did you ask sensei?"
"Because…" The silver haired Hatake shifted his gaze from the roses to Konoha's future captain for Anbu interrogation force. "I think it's time for you to try."
-o-o-o-
"I did not say that."
Sasuke's face was grim. It did not help that the moon's light was casting shadows at his face that makes him look more intimidating that he usually was. "But your actions say so."
Silence.
"I need to go." She said hastily.
He took her by the arm, growling as he did so. "Stop this nonsense chase this instant." He told her. "I had enough of this."
That made Hinata cracked.
"I had enough too Sasuke…" She glared at him."I had enough too!" She never screamed at someone face to face before, she got to admit, the feeling was good.
For a second, the Uchiha was stunned.
"I had enough too…" Hinata repeated for the third time, shaking under his eyes. "Why don't you go back and pester someone else?"
"I am pestering you?" Sasuke said the words like it was bitter medicine inside his mouth.
"Assuming that you and that girl from the rooftop were having something going on between you, then yes, you are pestering me." She tried to pry her arm form him but to no avail, if anything else, he just tightened his grip on her. "I am not an idiot…and I can see that you are walking between two rivers here."
"Walking between two- what the hell are you saying Hinata?" He has that confused look in his face again.
"I saw you being embraced by Karin." Her words just came flooding out of her mouth, somewhere in her mind tells her that she was going to regret it. "So do not act like you are the one who was confused here. Please Sasuke, do not mess with me again…If it was for the sake of fun on your part-"
"Hinata, shut up."
"I won't shut up! Everyone tells me-umph!" She swallowed her own words when he crushed her into his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her torso. He removed his mask on her face and threw it on the ground.
"Sasu-"
He pressed his lips on her, growling as he did so.
He cannot resist himself…the girl was so damn cute…and she was acting like a jealous little kid.
Hinata felt like her knees was going to gave in beneath her any time. She unconsciously let him support her weight as she sagged into his heaving chest.
She needs to detach herself from him
She needs to stop this invasion.
Her hands balled into fists as she tried to push him away. That only triggered Sasuke to push her to the large tree trunk beside them and pinned her there with his arm and body.
Her heart was beating so fast she wondered if she was going to have a heart attack that very moment.
"Admit it, you like me." He whispered on her ear, his breath tickling the sensitive skin. "You like me and it scares you."
Hinata tried to say something, but wondered if her speech would betray her again. Throwing the idea of speaking, she let her hands speak for her.
It glowed with dangerous looking chakra.
Sasuke smirked. "Stop my vital organs for all I care."
As if wanting to prove his brave proclamation, he took one of her glowing hands on his own, wincing as the burning chakra contacted his skin. Raising her hand up, she stared wide-eyed as he put it in his chest. "What are you waiting for?" he challenged her. "Do it."
For a few seconds, they only stared at each other, White against black. Hinata knew how painful it must be for him, for Hyuuga chakra was not something to be played with. If it was not used to stop the nerve points to mess with the chakra flow, it could burn skin.
She gasped when Sasuke pressed her hand more on his chest, all the while observing her face.
The battle of wills lasted a few seconds more, until Hinata lowered her gaze and let her hand lose the chakra that was building there. She could feel the skin on his chest bleed. "Stop…" she whispered. "Stop…".
"Baka…" he whispered back, but the word was spoken with affection. "You have been watching us with your byakugan don't you?"
There was no answer from her so he continued, but this time with an amused look and raised eyebrows. "So you get jealous too huh?" With those words, he let his forehead rest on hers, letting the tip of their proud noses touch. Sasuke felt Hinata shuddered at the contact, her knees buckling underneath her. "Karin can make things look different compared to what they usually are." He explained. "So don't go messing your head about it. You hear me?"
He did not know how long they have stayed in that position, until he caught her lips again and kissed her deeply. The Hyuuga girl did not protest this time, for her hands hung limply on her sides. He suspected that she was emotionally drained to bother.
Holding the nape of her neck firmly, he removes his lips from her own and started to trace her jaw with it, wrapping her other hand around her thin waist.
"One more thing…" he murmured, loving the feeling of her soft skin on his lips. "Don't make me jealous… it won't be safe for both of us."
She whimpered, and he has to clench his teeth in order to hold to the tiniest thread of self control that was left inside him. It was all he could do to prevent himself to devour her there and then.
Hell, he wanted her….he could feel it all over his body.
But not like this…
Shaking his head at his own chivalrousness, he stopped kissing her neck and sighed, looks like his own breathing was becoming a hard process for him. Reminding himself to breath, he kissed the tip of her nose and whispered in a strained, husky voice. "We should get back before your cousin comes looking for you."
Shit. This is the one of the greatest torture he has ever endured in his insane life.
"Holy shit." Naruto cursed as he looked at Sasuke's dead pan expression. "You look like hell Teme." The Uchiha's eyes were red, and underneath them were dark circles. He has never seen this guy looking so tired before, if anything else, he always managed to look good.
Naruto knew something was bothering his best friend.
Sai looked up from the sketch he was making. It was a picture of Ino, being draped with the flowers that represent the Yamanaka clan. His eyes darted back and forth between the two young men in front of him. Currently, they are in Naruto's messy apartment.
Sasuke rested the back of his head on the couch and closed his eyes. "I have two loudmouths living with me, what should you expect?" He asked sarcastically, rubbing the area of his chest where Hinata's chakra filled hands touched the other night.
"Oh come on…loudmouths never bothered you before." Naruto looked like he was thinking. "Oh I know! You got dump by Hina-chan!" The blonde nodded his head. "Yeah…that's it. Hinata found out that you are a jerk and dumped you."
Leave it to Naruto to make a guess that was so close yet so far at the same time.
The blonde gave him a cheeky grin, but shifted his attention to the more stoic Sai. "Hey Sai, is that Ino-chan?"
"Hai."
"Wow…she looks great. Hey Sai…could you draw Sakura-chan for me after you finished that?"
"Sure Naruto."
There was a scratching sound on Naruto's window, when the three shifted their heads and looked at the source of the noise, a masked head popped, peering at them.
An Anbu.
"Kakashi requests for your presence at his office…" He looked at Sasuke. "And please bring your guests with you Uchiha-san."
"Why? Did something come up?" Naruto asked the Anbu.
"Hai."
-o-o-o-
(Meeting with the Hokage)
Hinata watched as team seven entered the office, followed by the two members of team Taka.
Her eyes dropped to the floor instantly as her last encounter with the young Uchiha refreshed itself inside her mind. It made her feel so wanton that it was embarrassing. Transferring her gaze from the floor to Shino, she looked at him questioningly if he has any idea why they were summoned. The bug wielder shrugged and leaned on the wooden wall, their shoulders touching. Unconsciously, Hinata found herself leaning on the strong shoulder of her teammate.
Looking around, she saw that a few members of Konoha eleven like Shikamaru and Tenten were present too.
"So we're all here." Kakashi began, mentally counting the heads of the people he has ordered to come.
Sasuke felt Hinata's chakra signature. He looked around for her until he spotted her standing next to the Aburame, their shoulders touching in a very familiar sort of way…or was she the one leaning on Shino? Sasuke waited grimly until he caught her eyes.
He glared at her and shook his head, letting her know that he doesn't like her little touchy-feely act with Shino.
A satisfied smirk found its way on his face as he saw Hinata straightened herself up, cheeks flushed. She obviously remembered his instructions about being close to males.
"Over-jealous boyfriend." Naruto grumbled after witnessing what passed between Hinata and Sasuke. "Gosh Teme…you're worst than me."
"Shut up dobe."
Beside Sasuke, Karin threw the white eyed girl from the farthest corner a scathing look. That Hyuuga may be Sasuke's center of attention right now, but Karin knew it would not last. She has never given up on Sasuke all those years when he was still deranged and considered as a rogue; surely she would not give up now.
She just needed the right timing.
"We all know that something is about to come up after the arrival of our two guests." Kakashi continued, politely looking at the place where Suigetsu and Karin were standing. The Uzumaki girl's face was stoic and there were dark circles under her eyes like she has been crying her eyes out for days. Suigetsu on the other hand looked uncomfortable with all the Shinobi around him. The white haired Taka member frowned at anyone who looked at him with curiosity, like a child who does not want to be the center of attention.
The copy ninja even caught him sticking his tongue out when one Shinobi looked at his white hair with interest.
Removing his attention from the Taka members, Kakashi began to tell all those who were present about the mountain town and the danger it can bring to the village, its future disasters and the risks for those who are going into the mission he was going to assign them into. After his little sharing of information, a chorus of murmurs could be heard from the group of Shinobi. Hinata frowned and she exchange glances with Shino, who crossed his arms and waited for what was coming next.
"Originally, I planned to send out two different groups for two separate missions. Those who would spy and those who would look for the missing Taka member named Jugo. The spy mission would be consisted of members from all the great villages, each having two representatives…while the search group would only be consisted with ours." Kakashi scratched his masked chin. "But another thing came up and I have decided to send out a third batch. A few days ago, there was a mission for a group of Inouzuka's." The copy nin's eye landed on the two members of team eight.
Hinata froze and Shino stiffened. They knew Kiba was a member of that group.
"And…" Kakashi clicked his tongue. "Only one dog returned, finishing the mission on the process…Ino-chan has tried to see what happened by entering the dog's mind using her mind reading techniques, and we found out that they have been ambushed with the same people who are living in that town."
Another chorus of murmurs.
Hinata felt her face drained as she slowly took in Kakashi's words. Kiba's group has been ambushed…and no one has managed to return. She suddenly found herself being supported by Shino, his strong arms wrapped around her arms to prevent her from collapsing. The news was so unexpected that she can't help but thought for a second if the Hokage was just messing with their heads.
Knowing that something wrong happened to Kiba was like giving her a gentle fist on her stomach.
"So, another mission has been made. Find Inouzuka Kiba, for the dog's memory has told us that he was the only one who was alive when he was separated from his animal partner."
Shino looked at Hinata behind the dark glasses. "Hina-chan…we are going to find him."
She nodded.
Pulling out three scrolls from his pocket, Kakashi placed them on his desk. "The spy mission would start after all the other Kage's representative Shinobi arrives. A few of our Anbu has been assigned to meet them personally, in case another ambush was planned. Right now, I'm going to assign you to your teams, and let your team captain do the briefing."
"Kiba…" Sakura whispered under her breath.
"Damnit." Naruto gritted his teeth, his hand reaching out to hold Sakura who has the same stunned expression like the rest who were closed to the dog lover. "I hope Kiba is alright."
-o-o-o-
Hinata's hand touched the rows of sharpened kunai and shuriken that she has placed in a neat row on her bed, checking for any damages that needed replacing. She needs to check everything before she goes on her mission, which was going to start tomorrow morning. Counting the vials filled with medicine, she placed them inside her traveling pack with shaking hands.
Of the entire three A-class missions, their group would be the first one to execute the task given. Hinata wondered if Neji would be able to return before she leaves the village, her cousin was one of the Anbu who were assigned for the escort mission with the arriving nins from the other villages.
"Hinata Hyuuga, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara. You are under my team." Captain Yamato pointed at the three of them one by one. "I am originally on the search mission but things have been changed so I am going to be your captain for the Inouzuka rescue."
"Captain Yamato," Shikamaru pocketed his hands and looked the wood user. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Hinata bit her lip. Tomorrow morning sounds like a hundred years for her right now. "W-why?"
Yamato placed his gloved hand on Hinata's head. "We need to be prepared, Hinata-chan. We won't be any good in rescuing your comrade if we are vulnerable ourselves."
She sighed, worry still visible in her eyes.
Kiba's life might be in peril at this very moment and she can't help but cringe at the thought. Running her shaking hands into her messy hair, she closed her eyes, letting the darkness engulf her for a moment. She needed to relax and compose herself.
She yelped when strong hands wrapped around her from behind.
"You're shaking like a leaf." Sasuke buried his face on her hair, loving the scent of lavenders. "And distracted." The girl did not even noticed when he entered the window behind her.
Hinata turned her head to the side. "How did you…?"
"Your little sister helped me sneak in…and obviously, Hyuugas doesn't use byakugan inside their own home."
"Oh." That made sense.
Sasuke turned the heiress around so that she would be able to face him, distancing her at an arm's length as he studied her pale face. "You look like hell."
"I am worried about Kiba-kun." She admitted honestly, bowing her head down.
"And I am worried about you." His voice was dead serious.
-o-o-o-
I love the reviews guys…lol…It made me smile…though most just wanted to kill Karin…hahaha.
-exams would be tomorrow, but I figured to add another installment…because I don't think I would be able to update until Friday. (Like I said, exam week)
Reviews are not just appreciated but loved.
-crazygurl12