Hello, it has been a long time, but you know school, my diploma all that. But no worries, new chapters will be coming soon enough
There were moments in the life of a Shinobi that were harder than the other. In her short life, Hinata had already experimented many of those instances: losing her mother, living through the harsh treatment of the Hyuga education, the Pain invasion, the war. Losing Neji. Sacrifices and suffer were what rhythm her life. Sacrifices of self, of friends and family for a greater sake, for the clan and for the village. She had always known the reality of her condition and for a long time she had accepted it but even the most perfect soldier was behind the strongest armor a simple human made of blood and bones.
The Hyugas were the perfect soldier. Neither cold or hot, always perfectly neutral in their stand and attitude. With perfect techniques and all seeing eyes, they were the perfect image of an unshakable force for any outsider.
Many people knew she was too soft hearted for this world, too human for her role, for her family. Her eyes too warm, her voice too sweet, her emotion too loud on her soft face. For as shy and quiet as she was, she had always been too radiant, too expressive, too much. Hours of educations, lessons, etiquettes and training could seemed to erase these traites of tears, sweat and blood her radiance never seemed to diminish. It seemed to become stronger after the day Naruto Uzumaki came into her life after one fateful event and a shredded red scarf. An ever present smile was on the back of those shining, iridescent nacre pupils and a glow seemed to always shine through her skin.
As a matter of fact, Shino didn't remember an instance where his female teammate didn't embody the meaning of her name. He had always found funny enough that she had been called a sunny place as it revealed to be so pin point of who she was. He never catalogued her to be like him, someone of the shadow. She was just too bright. Like the moon piercing through the darkest night shining a soothing beam in the cold of the uncertainty. If her brightness was quiet, silent and sometimes challenged by hardship of life, it never went away. So much, he thought it was unshakable. He knew as far as he was aware the world will one day see it. Her world will one day recognize the warmth of her aura. She would shine through the densest cloud to illuminate everything and he will finally see what he had been looking for his whole life. She just needed some help for her to be aware of this about herself. She could have everything in the world if only she realized how much of a light she was in others life. In his mind, she was one of those people that deserved everything life could give.
However, she wasn't warm anymore. Her movement stiff, her look hesitant. Her eyes didn't shine. They took this light grey color no longer bearing their characteristic nacre shade of lavender. Her beauty, while remaining the same, didn't have the same impact or the same inviting gleam. She looked like an ice statue moving among living men. This light that was so constant was disappearing. And it was heartbreaking.
Nothing could have prevented the scene that had unfolded right there, in the middle of the Main Street. An uncommon silence of the busy street was reigning. All four members of team 8 stood frozen, in shock at what just happened, incomprehension in their eyes.
None of them spoke, unable to explain what had just happened. The commotion around them amplified the awkwardness as tears gathered in Hinata's Byakugan active pupils. She was trembling, looking horrified, keeping her hands close to her chest. The constant buzzing sound around Shino was astonishing loud and menacing despite their master trying to calm them down. At his side Kiba and Akamaru looked at her silent and shocked.
Time had stopped.
People had gathered around them, at first witnesses, but then commoners curious about the sudden crowd of people around the notorious closed team. Whispers and ushered questions passed around them questioning the strange scene in front of them: On the ground, Shino was firmly keeping his limp arm closed to his side as Kiba was at his side supporting his weight while Hinata three feet away was keeping next to her heart an offending hand. It was easy to deduct what had just happened but the reason was on everyone's mind: why ?
Taking a step forward, Hinata tried to come up with words to explain herself and her actions but none came out. Unfortunately, her sudden move closed the two men to slightly move back. A simple gesture that any Byakugan would have picked up.
"It is okay Hinata." Tried to reassure her Shino as he stood up. She tried to take another step, but the buzz around the hooded man intensified increasingly becoming more and more sinister. The young woman knew better than to approach. He inwardly swore between his teeth. How long hadn't he been able to control his bugs? Never before, they would have behaved in such a way and threaten her, but he could feel them fervent need to keep her away from his hurting body.
"I am sorry Shino, I-I..." Word flew out of her mouth like a river of sorrow as she desperately wanted to convince her regret. He shook his head, trying more than ever together to understand that he wasn't mad. He just wanted to understand what was heaping but then as he opened his mouth no words came out. It was too late. The deed was done. Against him, his best friend was visibly in a state of shock. The usually boisterous and talk active friend was reduced to silence.
Rarely the bug user felt this powerless as he saw the light flicker to death with every tear falling down her eyes.
She felt suddenly too hot under their questioning stares. Her distorted vision looked at their figures the closed Tensuku widely visible under his skin. It was so blatantly blaming. She couldn't help but clench harder her hand. But as if life couldn't be crueler then it already was, her world suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his voice overpowering any other. She snapped her head, the crowd around them finally materialized in her head. Inquiring stares and whispered offenses punctuating her inexplicable moves. But his voice was louder than any of them.
Her body moved by itself as she disappeared in a cloud leaving a mystery in her shadow.
" Wow Shino, are you okay? " Naruto boisterous voice pierced through the eery atmosphere seemingly snapping the remaining of team 8 out of their trance. Pressing a bit more against Kiba, Shino let his head slightly hang on his shoulder before readjusting his glasses on his noses and turning toward her world.
" Yes… " He answered enable to say more too shocked to voice his normal verbal tic.
" Why all the commotion? " Asked Sakura behind him. He didn't even see that she was there his mind wandering a thousand miles to everything that just happened. Kiba filled them in, visibly shaken up too. Sakura as soon as aware been down to heal the Shinobi's arm.
" I would have never taken Hinata as someone able to attack her team. " Sai voiced out loud. A general chill passed through the four Shinobi as they turned a hard glare at them. " Hey, watch out what are you saying. " Kiba spat " She didn't attack us. Don't you dare say she did! " A kunai materialized in his hand as he threatened the poor boy. Naruto interposed in between his two friend restraining the dog user a bit forcefully.
"Of course he didn't mean. Dude, calm down would you ?" The crazy look in the dog nin calmed down as he lowered his blade, but the silent warning was still lingering in the air. Sai couldn't be aware, but he once again notes in a place in his mind the interesting commotion around the heiress and visibly the dynamic of her team. There was one Shinobi cell in Konoha that everyone envied and it was team 8. Team Kurenai. The impeccable trio. The Dream Team.
The rookie nine had been already well known amongst the village's Shinobi division. It was bound to happen from the get go as it was composed, with few exceptions, with the heirs and heiresses of the most influential clan of the village. Their generation had already been remarkable at graduation. Now all grown up and with years of experience and after the war, the original three teams were the well-known faces of Konoha's Shinobi force. However, one was particularly remarkable beyond only his reputation: the elite tracking team.
Maybe not a powerhouse with leading figures such as team seven or mastermind in stalling opponent like team ten, but their abilities to track and collect information had no comparison. The four members all together aligned all of the human senses, bringing it to a superior level. Added to that was their strong bond they were unstoppable. In the field the quartet worked as one and unique entity combining their strengths and compensating their weaknesses, communicating without words moving as if they shared one unique mind. They were efficient and quick to execute missions ranging from a simple gathering of infos to track down and neutralized criminals. Outside of the field, true links of friendship built of years of growing up together, caring and relying on each other, going through hardship and victory shaped them to the person they were. True best friends. Their clashing personalities coming together to bring the best out of every member of their group. They were siblings.
Insinuating that Hinata had attacked them wasn't just a treason from a fellow Shinobi to an another but a prejudice to the integrity of their entire team and who they were as a cell. No, she didn't attack them. It was a cry of help. Something was happening to her and she was desperate.
A shiver ran through Shino's spine. What could be happening for his friend? When did she fall so far from them? What had tarnished her light?
His gaze automatically fell on the blond ninja that for one was really silent, staring intensely at the empty space that Hinata left an unreadable expression on his face. Could he be the reason? What had he done? Last time he saw them together, he had been more than charming, he even looked eager to see her. However, they were all eager to see her and her comportment changed way before that.
It was different for quite some times now. Since she stopped coming to mission with them. They didn't get a lot of information about that, not that they didn't ask, but it was reduced to clan matter. As heirs themselves from their own clan, they knew what he meant and secrets needed around it. They, however, had been assured it was a temporary situation to not alarmed them further. They felt amputee from a member going to mission without her and they didn't feel comfortable behind able to adapt so easily going on the field without her.
What they thought was a temporary solution for their friend to attend clan matter had lasted for over four months. Too long in any Shinobi career. Four months of inactivity, four months where their field experiences were improving without her. They wanted her back.
"Hey! Quit the staring !" Sakura snapped at the crowd still around them as they dispersed in a cloud of gossip. Shino groaned. No doubt, the rumors something happened to team 8 was already everywhere in the village. He felt very tired out of sudden.
"Have you done something to her ?" Kiba's voice full of venom called out suddenly Naruto that was still keeping him in a firm grasp. The concerned man looked at him, puzzled taking a step back.
"Why would I do anything to her? " He countered back, angered at the insinuation. What was that again with him hurting Hinata? He had never actively and willingly participate in any of her misery! Why all of the sudden they accused him of being such a bad friend? She was one of his precious people for gods sake!
"Kiba! " Shino's warning was loud enough for the dog in to not speak further, but his animosity toward his comrade did not diminish. A low growl from Akamaru seemed to prove his point. They were not on a friendly term. Again, secrets
The building frustration inside, he was growing with each word unspoken in between the two men. Worth, Sakura seemed to be able to understand what they weren't saying shooting glares and stares exchanging incomprehensible information. He had enough. He was going to find the heiress and see if she was okay.
Activating his Sage mode, he easily localized her in the forest near the Nara's territory. 'Again with Shikamaru.' He noted bitterly. He almost took off when a firm grip on his shoulder stopped him.
"Leave her alone. " Sakura advised her voice strangely soft.
"Why? Because you also think I am the worst thing that could happen to her ?" He shot back fury and hurt fulling his words. She looked guilty for a moment before shaking her head.
" I think it is better for her to have some peace, alone. " She responded. He judged her without saying a word before finally stopping himself. He supposed she was right. It didn't sit right in his heart, but he knew Sakura was probably right about those kind of stuff. She usually was.
As almost on queue an ANBU materialized in the middle of the small group bowing slightly to acknowledge them before turning toward the Jinchuriki to indicate him that he was summoned by the Hokage. Feeling strangely defeated, Naruto resigned himself to let aside his personal matter before taking off to the Hokage tower without saying his goodbye leaving behind him a group of visibly hurt people.
Missions were the best thing for him to get his mind of this Hinata problem. He could concentrate on his task and empty his mind to better confront it later. It usually helped him with his problem. Passing through the door, he saluted his former Sensei and Shikamaru posted next to him reading the paper with a frown. Kakashi looked at him with his usual coolness, but with a slight tremor of stress on the edge of his salutation.
"So what is the mission? " He asked, looking around a certain tiredness lingering in his attitude.
"We are just waiting for your partner. " Calmly indicate Shikamaru looking up. His brown eyes didn't look as aloof as they used to the blond ninja noted. It was usually the case when…
"Excuse me for the wait…" Her voice chilled him as he violently turned on his heels. Their eyes met in a second.
" Hinata! Just in time." Greeted Kakashi getting up from his chair.