The morning sun peeked out from behind a group of persistent clouds.
Birds darted here and there, flying low through the streets of Konoha, landing in great numbers outside of the bakery. The workers always threw the crumbs from yesterdays' bread to their feathered fans.
Ichigawa's establishment bustled with activity as he and his many cooks worked to prepare the day's pastries and loaves. Obsessed with poetry, the old man has written down all of his recipes in the form of poems and sonnets. The other bakers recited that verse as they sifted, measured, and rolled.
One inventive young woman handed Ichigawa a large pastry in the shape of a lyre. That had him praising her efforts in flowery words. An older man's work clearly resembled a violin. His son's creations called to mind swords and shields. Like their employer, the cooks were all avid patrons of the arts.
Ichigawa's young wife Sada entered, furious, an angry look on her face. "Again! Like a fool, you have given away baked goods to poets in return for their verses. You stupid old nincompoop. How are we supposed to become rich that way?" Flouncing her way over to her husband, she showed him a large stack of paper bags that she had made for the shop.
"What have you done?" The flour-covered man's eyes went wide. His hands trembled.,
The bags had been made from countless poet's manuscripts and other unique and original works of his patrons.
"Mister, I would like two jam tarts, please." A cute young girl walked up, her toddler brother clinging to her leg. "One for me and one for my brother." She sucked on one finger.
"Yes. Of course." Ichigawa selected the two largest pastries, but had to sort through all the bags, trying to find a poem that he could part with.
Tossing her hair, Sada stomped out of sight.
Hinata walked into the shop, looking very nervous. She wore her sword on the wrong side. Even though she usually eschewed the use of cosmetics, her make-up had obviously taken her a great deal of time to apply. Just the same, she had forgotten eyeliner under one eye. Jumpy, she nearly drew her sword when Sada comes out again.
"Miss Hyuuga, it's good to see you here again. What happened to your hand?" The woman looked at Hinata's left hand, wrapped with bandages.
"I do not wish to speak about it," Hinata answered. She peered out the window, looking for any sign of Naruto. Sada was not one of her favorite people. She had heard rumors that left her cold inside.
The baker's wife lost interest when a handsome young soldier arrived, telling the assembling group of poets and musicians that he was Sada's friend. Hinata spared him a quick look of suspicion, before fluttering her hands, looking once more for any sign of Naruto.
The customers all used fanciful and poetic phrases to describe their joy at the food they purchased. That had Ichigawa beaming and singing a short happy song. When he left to bring out more supplies, Hinata's eyes narrowed as she watched Sada's behavior. Naruto or not, she needed to shift her attention and say something.
"Sada. I think by now that you know that Ichigawa is a friend of mine." Hinata saw the soldier looking her over. Obviously, he did not know who she was. Otherwise, he wouldn't be smirking. "He is a generous man with a heart too big for his body. I willnot tolerate his being trifled with. I would say that if his wife were having an affair with a young soldier, it would be best for her to stop."
Sada blushed, then looked around, afraid that Hinata had been overheard. She looked over to the soldier, almost hoping he would stand up for her honor.
Hinata still hadn't gotten her anger at Sazuka out of her system, despite the events of the prior evening. "Do you have something to say, sir?"The way that Hinata drawled that last word was a clear indication of her opinion of the man.
The soldier smiled. He was no doubt about to make some grand remark, trying to impress his paramour. Frantically, Sada stepped hard on his foot and shook her head.
"Pity…" Whatever Hinata might have wanted to say died on her tongue. The bell on the front door rang. The clustered artists stepped aside quickly. Naruto strode into the shop.
Overcome with an intense rush of emotion, Hinata nearly knocked over a chair. Buying pastries for everyone standing at the counter, she quickly asked them leave the shop. She didn't want a crowd of people in the shop at a time like this.
"Hinata, those pastries look very good. Would you like some? And some tea?" Naruto's rich and vibrant voice had Hinata close to swooning,
She steadied herself. This was ridiculous. She was an adult now, not some cowering weirdo, hiding behind a training post. "Umm… well… yes…that would be… wonderful." Her words were rushed, but punctuated by pauses. Her heart was beating faster than ever before.
"Here. Let's sit. They'll bring us out one of everything." He pulled out a chair for Hinata, and then placed his order with Ichigawa. "Don't let anyone say that Uzumaki Naruto is not generous with his friends." He sat next to her at the rear corner table.
They were in the most secluded part of the shop, Hinata noticed. Maybe her hopes were reasonable after all.
When the food and drink arrived, Naruto took a sip of tea, and then raised one eyebrow. "That was quite a performance, last night."
"Yes… ummm….I…." Hinata swallowed hard, and then pinched herself hard in the leg. She willed herself to be calm. "I had warned Suzuka not to…" She was interrupted.
"That was rather unexpected in itself," Naruto said, grinning. "But I'm talking about the skirmish in the streets that followed." The blonde haired young man drummed his fingers on the table. "Things had grown larger than the perpetrator must have intended; but, things quieted down rather fast. Fast and forcefully, I would say."
Hinata nodded. No doubt Naruto had heard how she had taken on one troop of drunken soldiers single-handedly, sending many to the stockade to dry out, but landing no small number in the infirmary.
"Hmmmm-mmm-mm-m… all I can say is, people change." Naruto smiled, thinking how much he had changed. His worries about being accepted were long gone. His secret out, he had faced hard times, until he finished off Akatsuki once and for all, saving the village in the process. "Some grow very beautiful."
"Oh…" Hinata brought a hand to her mouth, blushing. She stared at Naruto for a while, something she still did when time and her duties still allowed. The opportunities grew less frequent every year. "Yes… ummm… things have certainly changed..."
Naruto finished his pastries, and pointed out of the window. Hinata looked, then caught his hand when he tried to sneak one of hers.
"Why are you here? What did you want to speak to me about?" Hinata fought hard to control her breathing.
Naruto ignored the question. Leaning back in his chair, he reminisced about the childhood the two of them had shared, mentioning their time in school together and her bravery in the chuunin exams. Seeing Hinata's hand, he asks for her to show it to him. Reluctantly, Hinata unwrapped the bandages.
"That's a rather nasty looking cut. You should have gone to the medical center for treatment. Here, this time I have the medicinal cream. Don't you dare pull that hand away." Naruto began ministering to Hinata's wound. "I have a number of immobilizing jutsus."
The feel of Naruto's warm hand on hers had Hinata smiling, until she caught herself. She was blushing furiously. It had to stop. She was acting like some blasted school girl, or one of the strumpets at the aborted play.
"So, how many was it this time, Hinata?" Naruto looked up into her eyes. "And what was the reason for your recklessness?"
"It was only thirty," Hinata replied, not wanting to reply to the second part of Naruto's query.
"I see," Naruto said, examining Hinata's face. "No big deal then, right?" His voice had a curious character to it. "Straight ahead… into battle… let no one stand in our path!" He stared at her face for a moment. "That's our Ninja Way, isn't it?"
"Yes." Hinata looked deep into Naruto's eyes, trying to tell him so much with that single word. After that, the two of them spoke quietly of their recent duties, until Naruto sighed and pushed his cup away from him.
"I'm in love with someone," he admitted suddenly, rubbing his head. Putting one hand behind his head, he continued, looking down at the table. "She doesn't know that I've fallen for her."
Hinata almost fell off of her seat. Was Naruto making a confession of love to her? Had that big idiot finally realized how much she cared for him?
"She is so beautiful." Naruto looked out the window, rubbing his chin. "So slender, and just a touch taller than me."
That had Hinata's heart falling like a broken bucket down an old dusty well. It couldn't be her. Naruto was taller than she was now.
"Her name is Apate." Naruto said, not meeting Hinata's gaze. "I met her last night after the duel. It's funny how lightning can strike out of the blue."
Hinata barely managed a nod. Part of her was destitute, wanting to turn to dust and fall between the cracks in the floor. It just wasn't fair! She had been watching Naruto forever, and some woman captures his heart in a single night.
"She's here from the Waterfall as an envoy." Naruto tugged at one ear. "She was sent to see how we think and how we fight. These days, we can use any ally we can get, no matter how small." He scratched his neck. "It wouldn't hurt if they could spare some Hero Water."
Hinata looked down in her lap. The word 'small' rang in her ears. What she wouldn't give to be slender and tall. If only there was a water that would gift her with beauty enough to catch Naruto's eye!
"And, as coincidence will have it, she will be assigned to your company." Naruto watched Hinata's face. He was impressed that she managed to hide most of her shock. "I'm a bit worried, because she seems so timid, and your group is a rowdy lot. Some of them have gotten into a fracas or too with foreigners before. So, as a personal favor, I would ask you to watch over her."
Hinata sat straighter, the professional in her taking over. "Yes. I can do that then. Is there anything else?" She was proud of herself at that moment. There was no sign of pain in her voice.
Naruto nodded his head. "I'm not much of a man with the ladies." His words almost had Hinata shouting out how she felt then and there. Was that ever an understatement! "But, I would very much like to meet with her again. Maybe you could get her to write to me…."
Hinata sat quietly a moment. The world seemed so unfair at times. She waved her hand and said "Sure."
Naruto smiled. Standing up, he left money on the table. "I knew I could trust in you, Hinata!"
"Of course. I have always…" Hinata clenched her fists. Things almost slipped out there. "I have always held you in the highest regard, Naruto. You should know that." Her inner voice screamed 'You should know so much more than that!'
"Thank you." With that, Naruto left.
The bell on the shop rang once as Naruto walked out, but soon began ringing nearly continuously as members of her ANBU squad and their trainees flocked to her. Some of them were anxious to know how things had gone with Naruto. Most were excited about the events of the previous evening.
The whole village was talking about the poetic duel. But, that was not all. Quite a few people were spreading news of the fight that took place afterwards. Her friends were glad to see that someone had stood up and put the soldiers in their place. The younger shinobi were awestruck, hearing how many rabble-rousers Hinata had taken down herself.
"Come on outside, Hinata." Ten Ten pointed out through the bakery window. "There are a large number of people who want to congratulate you on your victory." As the second ranking ninja in their ANBU squad, and as the other girl's friend, she felt entitled to what she asked next. "Did you have another victory this morning?"
Hinata shook her head sadly. She wasn't in the mood to go outside and carouse.
"I'm sorry," Ten Ten said, sighing. "Don't give up hope. It took a long time for me to get through to your cousin." She and Neji were engaged. "It looks like they will all be coming to see you, then."
Countless well-wishers began making their way into the shop. The bakers pushed into the throng, happily taking order after order. They were particularly glad to see the wealthy men who had stopped by to see Hinata. They bought large numbers of pastries as they waited to speak with her, wanting to ask the famous young woman to train their personal guards, or to see if she would perform for their personal gatherings.
It was quite a scene. But, Hinata was not hungry for attention that morning. Not any more. The one person whose attention she craved had walked away, leaving her heart shattered like a mirror struck by the Gentle Fist.
"Hinata…" Ten Ten tapped her kunai on the table. "This is a good opportunity for you…" She paused, catching sight of someone. "Damn…"
Hinata began to scowl. She had caught sight of the same person. Yukinime Akazuki had made her way into the shop, and was heading her way.
"Hinata, dearest!" The taller and older woman smiled a crocodile's smile when she stepped up to the table. "Quite a performance from you last night… in many ways, if I hear correctly…."
Hinata looked up at the woman, and then nodded, saying nothing. The woman had called her out during the almost-play, trying to curry favor with Naruto, and now she was all smiles, talking as if they were childhood friends.
"You need not be modest… not one of the Hyuuga… our village's foremost family." There was no doubt that Yukinime did not like that last fact one bit.
"Is Konohamaru alright?" Hinata asked, running her hand over the bandage Naruto had put on.
"Hmm-mm-m? That young nothing? I don't see how it matters. Of course he is fine, since it was the tiniest of wounds."
Hinata put on her own false smile. "Of course. Of course. So many people are beneath your notice, I suppose. Whatever shall we do with the lot of them?" Ten Ten was standing behind the higher ranking ninja, trying to get Hinata to stop. Hinata ignored her.
"Yes-s-s-s-s…." Yukihime picked up one of the uneaten pastries and took a dainty nibble. "As you may know, my uncle has become one of the top elders in Konoha. He may be willing to help one such as you. Your…wit… could carry you far…."
"I thank you for your kind offer, but I have no need for anyone's help." Hinata shrugged, smiling a true smile. She knew what kind of cost such help would bring with it. Hyuuga Hinata was no one's trained falcon or performing monkey.
Yukihime had a rather dark look in her eyes, but maintained her tranquil appearance. Her fingernails gouged into the hapless pastry. At that moment, one of the ANBU members pushed his way through the crowd. He was laughing, his arm full of hats and weapons.
"Squad leader, look what we have here!" He was followed by other members of the company, their arms full too. "Hats, swords, and pouches from the thirty men!" There was no need to mention what thirty men.
The look on Yukihime's face soured . One of the men mentioned that some of the trouble-makers had been shinobi of the Mist, and had been seen speaking to a Leaf ninja of some note.
"Who?" Hinata asked the man, who only then saw who was standing near his Captain.
The man glanced at Yukihime, but said nothing.
"I spoke to our friends from the Mist," Yukihime admitted. "They were of a similar mind as me." She smiled, her eyes flashing. "Generous men, they offered money to other men in need. Funny, but I believe that some of the thirty were among those treated so charitably." She picked up one of the hats, looked at it for a moment, and then tossed it on Hinata's lap. With that, she marched out of the shop, her personal servants pushing ahead of her, manhandling the crowd.
Everyone around Hinata's table spoke in hushed but excited voices. Who could know what that confrontation might bring about some day?
The crowd gradually thinned out, until only Hinata, Ten Ten, their ANBU squad, and the bakers remained inside the shop. Looking outside of the window, Hinata saw a runner leading a few shinobi to the gathering of troops, new to the company that she and the others were loosely assigned to. The soldiers and their ninja brethren would be heading out on a mission together.
"I really worry about you sometimes, do you know that?" Ten Ten looked exasperated. "It's one thing to put your status as ANBU team leader at risk. While the elders might look at you cross-eyed, anyone bringing complaints to Tsuande would leave with their tail between their legs." The slender ninja worried at her hair. "But, you find so much joy in your acting. There's no way you can be a successful actress… or even get any parts within the village walls… if you keep angering influential people."
Hinata put her hands on the table, spread her fingers wide, then looked down at her nails.
"I have no interest in making friends of unworthy men… or women…" Hinata looked at the window, imaging Naruto's face in the reflection. There was only one man she had ever really been interested in. He was too worthy for her own good. "It's not our… it's not my Ninja Way to kiss up to people who are more worried about their careers and reputation, than they are about the Leaf."
Suddenly, accompanied by a number of men looking to win her notice, Apate burst into the shop. "Where is our Captain? I'm here to report." While she could not be a member of Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, there were other ninjas assigned to the company, and she would be amongst them.
The Leaf shinobi poked fun at the foreigner in their midst, but in a light-hearted and spirited way. Apate did not take the shenanigans well at all, and had even drawn a weapon. A number of the men pointedly told her to be certain not to make fun of Hyuuga Hinata's height, witness the events of the night before.
Ten Ten took the new recruit's name, then passed it along to Hinata. To her credit, the white-eyed girl did not flinch or sigh. The two of them overheard Apate jawing with the ANBU squad members, and swapping words with ninja recruits and trainees. She was not merely a shy sweet girl.
"So, what should I do?" Apate walked over and asked Ten Ten. "What should I do when your Leaf shinobi grow too boastful at my expense?"
"You should do what should any respectable ninja would do." Ten Ten twirled a kunai around one finger. "You should show them that a ninja can be from the Waterfall, and still have courage. You should show them that you won't back down from them, or from anything. That is what I would do."
Apate looked over at Hinata, and then narrowed her eyes. She knew just what she could do to show her courage to these Leaf soldiers and shinobi.
"Captain… tell us about last night… was it really one hundred men?" One of the newer additions to the squad called out. Soon everyone else was clamoring for the story from Hinata's own lips.
Hinata knew they would be crowding the bakery all morning, if she didn't tell them something. "OK. Settle down you louts. You all know me, as meek as I was when I was a genin." That had a number of men and women guffawing. One new voice trilled with laughter.
"Oh yes, our little Hinata." It was Ino. She had walked in a few moments earlier.
"You assigned to my little family too, Ino?" Hinata asked, a smile on her face. "Or are you just here for some hot cross buns?"
"Sure… that's it…." Ino laughed. "I eat those buns… they go to my buns…" She patted a rump that couldn't be any better in shape and size. "Seriously, though. They gave me a choice of assignments, and this one sounded best. Temari and Kankouro have teamed up with Shikamaru and his group. Choji won't be out of the hospital for a while. He used those stupid pills again. Asuma has been sent out on a covert strike."
"I see," Hinata said, grinning. "We're just table scraps, are we?" She pointed to a chair. "Pull up a seat. I'll tell you and the others the tale. As I was saying, I usually don't have much of a temper." Someone whistled, and then ducked down. "The streets were rather nasty, and it looked like the rabble rousers were spreading out into the shop district. There are too many livelihoods tied up there, and too many temptations for drunken sots. I…"
"Did someone have to put you up on their shoulders, so that you could see all that?"
That was Apate.
Hinata put her hand on her weapons bag, but shook her head. She had promised Naruto to take care of the visiting ninja. She ignored her. "I came across a group of thirty men, some of whom were soldiers and shinobi from the Mist. They were hassling a number of village women, urinating in the street, and defacing personal property. When I walked up to talk to the one who had acted like the leader at the Fukkoku…"
"He had no idea where the voice was coming from. He probably checked the bottom of his boot!" It was Apate again.
Ten Ten reached for her weapons scroll. Ino began working hand seals. A look from Hinata had them stopping what they were doing. The other shinobi, and the soldiers who had come inside, were muttering angrily amongst themselves.
"Did someone hear a lost puppy yapping?" Hinata's question had everyone laughing. Apate began turning red in the face. "It seems that I better go with the abridged edition, or we might be here all day." Those words had everyone but Apate laughing or chuckling. "Kaiten is rather useful at clearing a tight pack crowd. It is not much good, however, at getting men down from a roof or the top of lamp post." Hinata smiled. Kaiten was precisely the reason the men landed where they had. "And, I'm afraid that the name Gentle Fist is a bit of a misnomer. When there was only one man left standing…"
"What? They all sat, so as to see you eye to eye? That was rather mannerly for a drunken rabble!" Apate stood with her hands on her hips.
"Folks, I would like everyone but our new squad mate to leave the room." Hinata stood up and brushed off some crumbs. "Apate, you will remain behind." Everyone left after that, placing bets on what would happen. One wit wondered if they would have to mail the new girl home.
Hinata walked over slowly to Apate, staring her down. The girl flinched at first, but then stuck out her chin and clenched her fists. That had Hinata's opinion of her improving somewhat. Instead of striking Apate or dressing her down for speaking to a superior that way, Hinata shocked Apate by embracing her.
"So you are Apate, are you. I've heard about you from my cousin, Naruto." Hinata hoped that Apate wouldn't question anyone about that last lie. "It seems that he is quite taken with you. He's asked that I keep an eye out for you.
"Really?" Apate brought one hand up to his mouth. "Naruto? Uzumaki Naruto? I've been…." Her eyes went very wide.
"Yes," Hinata replied. "The Naruto. He asked me to tell you something. He'd very much like to hear from you while you're on this mission. He would like you to write to him." She swallowed, but kept her smile up.
"I…" Apate shook her head. "I can't do that. I'm terrible with words." She bit her lip. "If I write to him, he'll lose all feelings for me, as soon as he reads my words." She sighed, nervously messing with her fancy hair.
"Well…" Hinata was struck with an idea. "I can write your letters for you, and you can sign your name and spray on your perfume."
"But…why…" Apate looked taken aback by the offer.
"I think he really wants to like you… a lot…." Those words had Hinata crying inside, but that was nothing new. "And I would be glad to practice at my poetry and wit, to keep myself sharp." It would also be a way to speak her heart, even though Naruto would never know it. He would think that the words came from another.
"OK," Apate said, smiling brightly. She ran over and embraced Hinata again, just as a number of soldiers arrived, wanting to get their orders from Hinata.
One was the young soldier who was smitten with Sada. Having watched from the doorway, and having heard how Apate had mocked Hinata's height without reprisal, he decided that he would take the same tack.
"Well, we meet again. The woman with all the kunai told me you'd be outside shortly. But, I guess any time you show up, it could be considered…shortly." The young man smirked, feeling like he was getting Hinata back for her treatment of Sada.
Hinata stuck out her arm, pushing Apate out of the way. Before anyone knew what happened, she moved, striking the soldier hard in the chest. The young man rolled end over end, landing unconscious on the floor.
Apate stood stunned, her mouth forming an 'O' shape. Her thoughts were quite plainly written across her face. She had been playing with fire.
Hinata looked at her and smiled.