I know what I am capable of. I am a soldier now, a warrior. I am someone to fear, not hunt.
-Pittacus Lore
Naruto slammed his hands on the Hokage's desk, leaning forward to meet Tsunade's dread-filled eyes.
"What do you mean she's not back yet?!"
Tsunade pursed her lips, her chin placed on the back of her palm, a serious look on her face.
Discretely, she glanced at Sakura, letting her eyes linger on her student. A blink, and she was back to looking at Naruto.
"Exactly as it sounds, Naruto. I didn't send any return message."
Naruto's eyes were frantic, his panic apparent as he bared his teeth. The fangs in his mouth extended, his whole form beginning to engulf in orange.
His voice was mingled with Kurama's when he spoke.
"Then, where-"
However, he was cut off, with a sharp blow to the back of his neck. His eyes rolled back, mouth wide in a mid-scream, as he leaned forward.
In a second, Kakashi was in front of Naruto, placing a hand to the blonde's head and pulling him into his chest. He looked down at his student, concern clear in his eyes.
Behind Naruto, Sakura exhaled shakily, hand still raised from when she had knocked her friend out. The fear and worry in her eyes had yet to subside.
Kakashi adjusted the boy in his arms, before turning to Tsunade.
"I should get him home." He nodded at the Hokage. "I'll be right back."
Tsunade watched him leave. Then, she closed her eyes, sighing.
"I'll be right back."
An indirect plea to not start without him. Even though he had nothing to do with the mission, he wanted to be a part of the investigation.
An ideal soldier.
Tsunade wished she had a hundred like him.
She glanced back at her student who was staring where Naruto had been standing just a few seconds ago, stewing in his rage.
"Do you really think it was a good idea to knock him out?" She asked, her tone quiet as she chewed her bottom lip.
Tsunade wordlessly took out the sake bottle beneath her desk, and poured some in a cup.
"It was either that or he destroys half the office and goes to look for her herself."
Kakashi showed up just as the Hokage threw her head back, gulping down the drink.
Slamming it back on the desk, Tsunade wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyebrows straightened.
"Tell me everything that happened on the mission. Don't leave a single detail out."
Sakura nodded, face still pale, as she launched into her tale.
Tsunade listened closely, chin resting on her fisted hand, as she mentally made notes.
"We had just stopped to camp when Hinata went to do a sweep of the area. I was talking to Lord Kisuke when Hinata showed up, saying that a return message had come."
Tsunade hummed, honey eyes narrowing.
"Do you have the message? And the summon? Did you see it?"
The Haruno shook her head.
"No to all of them, my Lady."
Tsunade pursed her lips, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She poured another cup, before downing it.
"I see."
Sakura clasped her hands together, eyes lowering.
"I tried to convince her at first to not go. But, then I realized that if you had sent a message, then it must have been important. So, I let her go."
Sakura looked up when she felt a hand on her head. Kakashi looked down at her kindly, ruffling her hair.
"It was not your fault, so don't beat yourself up over it. Alright?"
Tsunade nodded in response.
"Blaming yourself isn't going to change anything. If you feel bad about it, then simply apologize to her when you see her."
Sakura gulped, before nodding once.
When you see her...
Kakashi knew what Sakura was thinking as her face paled. He felt the dread coil within him, the bile rising to his throat.
They talked as if there was no possibility of her death, as if the world was kind enough to spare the innocent.
Kakashi hadn't known he would live to see the day when the names of the new generation--the one he had see grow, the one that had referred to him as 'Sensei'--would be inscribed into the Memorial, alongside Rin's and Obito's.
Kakashi hadn't known. But if he had, he would have chosen Death rather than seeing that day come.
He knew what Sakura was going to ask before she even opened her mouth.
"D-Do you t-think s-she-"
"No." Tsunade's voice was sharp as a blade, cutting through the silence, as she narrowed her eyes.
"Hinata is not dead. She is a strong Kunoichi, fully capable of handling herself."
Tsunade looked back at Sakura, voice strong as she clenched her fists around one other.
"Hinata is not dead." She repeated, "And anyone who says so, is a fool."
Kakashi went back to his position to leaning against the wall, hands crossed across his chest.
"When was the last time you saw her?" Kakashi asked, praying to all gods above that there was still hope.
If not much time had passed, then there was still a chance that she was alive, and preferably making her way to the village right now.
Sakura seemed to think about it for a moment.
"The second night after we left the village was when the message came. It took us one more day to travel back to Lord Kazuma's mansion, and we stayed there for another day. The return journey also took us a day."
Sakura licked her lips nervously.
"So, we last saw her about three days ago."
By the window, Kakashi swore.
Tsunade had her forehead on her palms, her fingers digging into her scalp. Despite her early words, she could feel the hopelessness clawing at her every second, breaking away just a bit of her conviction with every drag.
"Tonight." Tsunade's muffled voice came.
"I will set up an Investigation Unit which will start its search tonight."
She closed her eyes, thinking of all the best possible candidates for the mission.
There is Kakashi as Captain. And Kiba, definitely.
She hummed slightly.
Shino would be a good choice too. His bugs would be a great help. And Neji's Byakugan...
After a moment, she straightened, the. snapped her fingers thrice.
Immediately, three ANBU appeared in front of her.
"Summon Kiba, Shino and Neji to me office." She paused for a moment. "And Shikamaru, too."
A blink and they were gone.
As they waited for others to come, Kakashi thought of all the possibilities, all the scenerios they could have to face.
A knock on the door broke him out of his thoughts. As the Hokage gave permission enter, Shikamaru stepped in, raising an eyebrow at the crowd.
Following him, after a moment, was Shino. Neji was the next one to arrive. He, Shino and Shikamaru immediately understood something was wrong, taking in the faces and atmosphere of the office.
Shino silently surveyed the room, eyes stopping on Sakura.
Wasn't Hinata on a mission with Sakura? If Sakura's back, then...
He calmly fixed a glance at the Hokage, before cautiously adjusting his glasses.
"If I may not be so bold to inquire Lady Hokage...where is Hinata?" Shino asked, blunt, straight to the point.
Neji seemed to come at the same conclusion as Shino, as he clenched his fists, waiting for the Hokage to answer.
"The Haruno is back." He said, throwing a glance at Sakura. Oddly, he noticed Sakura flinching, as she slumped into herself.
"So, where is my sister?" He finished.
Standing at a distance from everyone, Shikamaru analyzed the situation, given the facts he knew until now.
In the opposite direction, he caught Kakashi's eye. The latter had a grimace in place beneath his mask, almost a defeated look in his eye.
Shikamaru swore beneath his breath.
Don't tell me...
He was broken out of his thoughts when the was a fourth knock on the door. It opened to reveal Kiba, his huge mutt by his side.
He entered, throwing a rambunctious greeting to the occupants inside. He took no note of the tense atmosphere. His idiocy was further proven when he nodded towards Sakura, not connecting the dots.
His head turned to Tsunade when she cleared her throat.
"You have all been summoned here to undergo an Investigation Mission, and find a particular Shinobi that has gone missing recently."
Neji froze, feeling the words slowly register.
Missing...nin...Hinata?
His throat went dry, the scene in front of him fading in and out, his mind repeating the words again and again and again in his head.
Missing...missing...missing...missingmissingmissingmissingmissing-
He jumped when he Akamaru barked
"Cool!" Kiba whooped, hands clenching into a fists. "Finally a fun mission!"
Had it not been below their dignity, everyone in their room would have facepalmed, but the serious situation kept them from doing so.
Tsunade glanced at him, her sympathy apparent and guilt boundless, as she realized that she would have to spell it out for him.
She sighed.
"As of five days ago, Hinata, along with Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura were sent on a three-man escort mission."
Kiba furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what that would have to with anything.
"Two days into the mission, Hinata received a return message. Complying with what she thought was an order, Hinata decided to return while Sakura and Naruto completed their current mission."
Kiba slowly looked at Sakura, frowning.
"But, Sakura's..."
His eyes widened, as the pieces clicked together.
"However, Hinata never made it back to the village, even almost three days after she abandoned her mission."
Kiba simply stared, blinking slowly, as if not comprehending why was being said. His face was beginning to drain of all colour, his excitement abruptly disappearing.
"You are tasked to find her and bring her back." Tsunade swallowed, knowing the effect her next words would have. But, they needed to be said. "Dead or Alive."
For a second, time froze.
Tsunade could see crystal clear the emotions on the faces of the males as they changed like the seasons. She watched every speck of light disappear from their eyes, every drop of fear that entered it, every bead of sweat that trailed down their faces.
For that one second, she could see it all so clearly, every detail, every echo of sound ringing in her head.
Then, time resumed its flow just as Kiba took a step forward.
Crash!
Suddenly, the window of the office shattered, the glass breaking into a million shards. All eyes snapped towards the window, those standing nearby moving away in the nick of time.
There was silence for a moment.
Kakashi slowly breathed out, eyes darting around the room.
What the fuck was that?
He didn't need to answer, when a blur of purple shot through the window and right towards him.
He jumped away at the last second, watching as the figure flipped itself, landing on the wall against which he had been leaning.
Cracks appeared in the wall, before the the whole room exploded in the flash of Violet and purple.
Just the figure's landing had destroyed the Hokage's office.
Immediately they ran out, dodging falling debris and going into their stances. Kakashi took out a kunai, preparing himself for a serious battle.
As they all gathered in the hallway, Neji watched the figure straighten. It took a step forward, creating craters and cracks along the floor.
Neji activated his Byakugan. However, he immediately clutched his head when he saw his vision being illuminated with painfully bright, white.
He paled considerably.
"Chakra." He said through gritted teeth, "All that purple.. It's Chakra."
Shikamaru felt dread coil in his gut, realizing how much raw Chakra the figure had.
He tried to think of a plan, where they--despite their comparatively low reserves--might have a chance of winning.
As his mind ran, he barely registered Kiba step forward.
"Guys..." The Inuzuka said fearfully, disbelief in his tone, eyes wide and face pale.
"That figure..." He began slowly, swallowing hard. "I think...I think that's Hinata."
Everyone froze. Then, their heads snapped towards him.
"What!?"
Cold sweat ran down his forehead, as he fixed trembling eyes on the figure. Kiba inhaled again, this time much slowly, to confirm what he had found.
His nose crinkled slightly. Beside him, Akamaru whimpered, taking in the familiar scent the figure gave off.
Angerlavenderforest and fireherbssorrow. Frienddisappointedblood.
"I don't know! It-It smells like her!" He cried out, taking a step back, "But, not like her at the same time!"
As the smoke cleared, the figure took a step forward. Now standing in one place, despite the Purple chakra that engulfed it, it was easier to see the face.
Easy to see that midnight hair, that pale skin. It was easy to recognize the woman standing in front of them, murder in her eyes.
Only a few minutes prior, Tsunade had told Sakura that Hinata was a capable shinobi. She had told her student that anyone who disagreed was a fool.
It suddenly occured to the Hokage that maybe...she was one herself. After all, she had never thought the young woman capable of such power.
Deep, deep down, a part of her had truly believed that Hinata was dead, because she knew of the rumors that surrounded the disgraced Hyuga. She had, unknowingly, let those rumors paint the image of Hinata for her, and made her blind to the woman's abilities.
It had made her underestimate her.
Now, Tsunade realized that those rumors had been nothing but just that. Rumors. And she...she had been a fool for believing them.
The Hokage gritted her teeth, taking in the woman in front of her.
Hinata was a force to be reckoned with.
Beside her, she saw Kakashi step forward, a kunai in his hand. Her eyes widened.
But, the question was why was she attacking them?
Has she been brainwashed? Or is she being controlled by the enemy? Or maybe-
"Hinata?!" Kiba shouted, a desperate look in his face.
"It's me, Kiba!"
The woman in question, who had slowly been making way to them, stilled at the voice, as if entranced by it. She tilted her head slightly, extending a hand towards the brunette.
Tsunade held her breath.
"Ki-ba?" Her voice was cool, yet distorted at the same time. Dark, but soft. Calm, but barely.
The Inuzuka stepped forward, more confident this time. He exhaled in relief.
"Yes, it's me. And Shino's here too."
Hinata blew out a breath, standing still. She placed a hand to her chin, as if deep in thought.
"Shino?" She sounded more like herself, this time. The Chakra around her dimmed, beginning to go back into her body.
Tsunade exhaled. She let go of the hand she had in her grasp.
Kakashi stared at her, frowning with the bright red imprint on his wrist. The Hokage had grabbed it when he had been about to attack. It had been an order.
An order and a warning to not hurt Hinata.
Kakashi was not impressed.
"You should not have stopped me, Lady Hokage." He began, blunt. "Anything could have happened."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"She is a child, Hatake."
"A child who, unconsciously, destroyed the whole damn office."
Tsunade's eyes were cold.
"Are you that eager to have her blood on your hands?"
Kakashi barely covered up his flinch.
It was true, that he would rather not have anyone of his comrades blood on his hands.
But, if it had to be done, then he would do it.
By the time they turned back toward the scene, Hinata was kneeling on the ground, clutching her head, the Chakra all but gone.
Hinata rubbed her head, the voice within it finally receding.
She had been returning to the village, and had been standing right outside the Hokage's office when she'd heard the conversation.
"As of five days ago, Hinata, along with Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura were sent on a three-man escort mission."
She remembered freezing at the announcement, wondering what the Hokage was doing.
"Two days into the mission, Hinata received a return message. Complying with what she thought was an order, Hinata decided to return while Sakura and Naruto completed their current mission."
It was a summary of what happend with her. Who was the Hokage telling it to? Was she delivering the news of her death to her friends?
"However, Hinata never made it back to the village, even almost three days after she abandoned her mission."
Was this the story she had made up? That she had been killed in action?
"You are tasked to find her and bring her back. Dead or Alive."
No. The Hokage was briefing someone for a mission. A mission to find her.
Then, Hinata felt the hot anger, her jumbled thoughts growing even more jumbled as she took in the Hokage's words.
Was this a way to cover up what had happened? What the Hokage had tried to do? Was she sending more men after her, considering the ones before hadn't returned?
Hinata remembered the cool voice in her head, familiar but she didn't know from where.
Don't out hate it? It had whispered. When people underestimate you?
Hinata remembered her nodding her head, too consumed in her thoughts to reason with the voice.
As if a bunch of mere humans would be able to take us down. There was what sounded like a snort.
Don't you want you show them, what you are capable of, so they stop doubting you?
"I do." She had whispered back.
Then, for the second time in her life, everything had gone purple.
Everything after that was a blur, bits and pieces of the events in her mind. Then, she had heard a voice, as clear as crystal, calling out to her.
"Hinata!?"
It had sounded so familiar, that even though she couldn't remember who it was, it still made her relax. Unknowingly, she let her guard down, letting the voice reach out to her.
"It's me, Kiba."
The name had caused a surge of warmth to pass through her body, and she had hesitated, wanting to hear more of it.
Kiba...Where have I heard that before?
As if on instinct, a brunette came to her mind, hair rugged and face decorated with tattoos.
"And Shino's here too."
Another name that made her chest warm, made her throat dry with tears. Soon enough, she could imagine those sunglasses, and that oversized coat.
Just who are these people? She had said to herself. Do I know them?
Wanting to know more, she had pulled her chakra back in, intending to clearly see the faces of those people. As their faces became more and more visible, one after another, memories came to her.
That's right...they're my friends. My teammates. My...My family.
All at once, she was back to her own self, feeling the effects of Chakra wear off. With surprising ease, it rolled back into her body, as she staggered slightly, before collapsing to her knees.
"Shino...? Ki..ba?" She choked out, slowly trying straighten herself up.
Not a second later, she felt warmth engulf her on all sides, as arms came around her. She melted into them, wrapping her own arms around the two figures crouching beside her.
"I missed you." She breathed out, voice cracking as she clenched her eyes shut. "I missed you. I missed you. I missed you."
After their reunion was over, Tsunade calmly walked over to the woman.
Watching as Hinata stood up, Tsunade smiled, before gesturing lazily towards the destroyed office.
"And to what do we owe the pleasure you your wrath and destruction, Hinata?"
The blunette blinked in confusion, before looking towards where the Hokage was gesturing. Her eyes widened, contour paling as her hand went to her lips
"I..I did this?" She asked horrified, clenching a hand at her chest.
She suddenly had a flashback of the men in the clearing.
Her head whipped towards the Hokage's.
"Please tell me no one was hurt." She looked up at the elder woman with begging eyes, wide with fear and terror.
At the same time, Hinata quickly looked around, to see any sign of blood or a serious fight.
Tsunade furrowed her eyebrows in concern, before placing her hands on Hinata's shoulders.
"Rest assured, Hinata. No one was hurt."
As if a mountain had been lifted off her shoulders, Hinata slumped to the ground slowly, before burying her face in her hand.
Thank god. Thank god. Thank god.
Tsunade discreetly looked at the males she had summoned, before gesturing towards the hallway. Getting her message, Shikamaru leaned forward and whispered them to leave.
A confidential meeting was going to take place.
They looked like that wanted to protest, but a stern look from the Hokage stopped them. Albeit hesitantly, Neji, Sakura, Shino and Kiba left.
Tsunade slowly approached Hinata, taking in the petite form of the woman.
Hinata tensed when she felt hands on her shoulders. She looked up to see the Hokage crouching in front of her.
"Hinata, what happened? Where have you been?"
Hinata looked at the Hokage for a moment, taking in the words. Slowly, she felt the warmth within her disappear, skin beginning to feel cold where the Hokage had her hands on her.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to grab the Hokage's collar and demand answers.
But, a familiar voice stopped her from doing either.
"I want you to go to the Hokage and tell her everything that happened."
Slowly, Hinata moved away, out of the Hokage's grasp. She focused a stare at her hands, as she clenched them in her lap.
"Tell me, Lady Hokage." Her hands fisted against the cloth of her top. "Do you authorise all ANBU missions? Or does anyone else have the authority to do so too?"
Tsunade's eyes widened at the query. She could sense the surprise of Shikamaru and Kakashi at the random question.
She sensed Kakashi step forward, curious about the origin this question. He stopped, standing right next to the Hokage's crouching form. He glanced down at Hinata, hands tucked in his pockets.
"The Hokage authorises only the major missions. The minor ones are issued by someone else." He watched as Hinata's shoulders slumped, as she rubbed her arms.
He narrowed his eyes at the younger woman.
"Why do you ask?"
Everyone watched as Hinata took off her backpack, before unzipping it. She slid a hand inside.
The silence was absolute, the clock ticking the seconds by. Finally, Hinata pulled out something white, with red lines, and pushed it towards the Hokage.
Tsunade felt a small gasp escape her. She sensed the exact moment Kakashi's breathing changed, the exact moment everything fell into place.
It was an ANBU mask.
Kakashi stepped forward, stopping to stand next to Tsunade as he took the mask from her hands. He traced the red streaks across the white mask, feeling it's crusty texture beneath his skin.
It took a moment for him to realize that it was dried blood.
Hinata was staring at the destroyed Office, a sad look on her face.
"The men who attacked me were wearing this."
She took out a second mask, and further two headbands, handing them to the Hokage.
Konoha Headbands.
She had undeniable proof of the involvement of ANBU in her mission.
Kakashi balked, taking the headbands in his hands, and inspecting them carefully.
Standing at a distance, Shikamaru was leaning against the wall, a hand covering the lower half of his face. A bead of sweat trailed down her forehead, as he connected the dots in his head.
So, Hinata was sent a return message while on a mission. However, when she was returning, she was attacked by Konoha ANBU.
He swallowed, glancing between the two women.
And Hinata thinks the Hokage ordered the attack.
Hinata's eyes were fixed on Tsunade, her body tensing, as the tension increased every second. Kakashi noticed as she straightened up just a little bit, hand inching just a little bit closer to her Kunai pouch.
It spoke volumes of how suspicious she was of them.
Unconsciously, his fingers twitched, doing the same.
Slowly, the Hokage looked up, staring straight into Hinata's eyes.
"You know damn well I would never waste resources on a Shinobi I could kill myself."
There was silence.
A heartbeat passed. Then, another.
Hinata relaxed, the room itself sighing in relief. She watched as the Hokage fixated a stare on her again.
"Tell me everything that happened."
Hinata didn't waste another second before launching into her tale.
After she was done, Tsunade was silent, deep in thought.
"Those ANBU...you killed them?" Kakashi asked, inwardly impressed. Konoha ANBU were strong. He knew because he had been one herself.
To defeat such talented fighters, took technique, finesse and strategy.
Hinata had done so with raw power.
It made him all the more curious about the nature of this Chakra she had. He made a mental note to talk to her about it.
Hinata, on the other hand, flinched slightly at the question, then grimaced.She nodded slowly.
"I didn't mean to. I was about to pass out, when I saw someone. At least, I think I did." She looked at her hands.
"The next thing I know I'm staring at half a dozen of dead bodies." Her tone was slightly bitter.
Kakashi hummed in response.
Hinata fidgeted, feeling uncomfortable with the questions. It felt as is she was revealing something personal to complete strangers. The only other person she had told was-
Internally, Hinata shook her head.
No. She didn't want to think about him right now.
It reminded her of that spar they had, and the spar reminded her of what had happened after.
And what had happened after was not something she wanted to think about.
At least, not now.
"I see." Tsunade muttered, before giving Hinata a once over.
"You are healed completely?" She asked, tilting her head to one side.
Hinata looked away, before nodding swiftly.
"Someone was kind enough to help." She said slowly, not wanting to give anything away.
The Hokage hummed in response.
"You may leave for now. Rest. Meanwhile, I will try my best to find out the one behind this attack."
Hinata nodded again, before shakily standing up. With a small bow, she disappeared.
That night, Hinata snuggled in with Kurenai, sighing, letting her mind wander to the recent events.
What a day.
"Are you okay?" She heard Kurenaj whisper into the darkness.
Hinata shifted slightly.
"Why do you ask?"She whispered back.
There was silence for a moment.
"You have been different ever since you came back from your mission. More...resigned, as if you have accepted something."
Hinata smiled bitterly. Kurenai didn't even realize how close to the truth that was.
She shifted.
"You know the feeling of content you get from sitting in front of a fire in winter?" Kurenai hummed in agreement.
"You think you can stay like that forever. But, after sometime you get used to the heat and move closer because the initial warmth the fire gives you is not enough anymore."
Hinata stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
"Then, the process repeats itself. Everytime to move closer, you tell yourself, 'Just a little more' or 'A little more wouldn't hurt'. But, a time comes when you move close enough to get burnt.
And when that happens, you have no one to blame but yourselves. Or the feeling you get when something you really want falls down a hole. Every second, you reach down a little further, knowing there is a chance you might fall. Then, a time comes when you do."
Kurenai was listening quietly.
"Did something happen?" She asked. "On the mission?"
Hinata didn't reply for a while.
"Something did happen." Hinata confirmed.
"I went too far, Kure." She said, voice oddly quiet as if she were revealing a secret.
Kurenai knew Hinata well enough to imagine the sad smile on her face.
"I went to far." Hinata repeated.
"And now there is no hope for us. No hope at all."
THERE YOU LOSERS GOO!!
Phew... this is the longest chapter until now.
Either way, who do you think sent those ANBU? What do think Hinata is talking about? And what exactly happened during that spar?
All that will be answered in the next chapter!! I assure you that you'll lovee it!!
Oh and...
*Whispering* Our characters are going to have their first kiss sooonn!!
(Cue fangirl screaming)
Anyway, be sure to tell me what you think!!
Until next Monday, ENJOY!!