A/N: special shoutout to my minatoxkushina shippers out there
"Ah," Anko stretches languidly, water dripping down her bare arms, "nothing beats a good bath with friends, amirite?"
Kurenai nods, "Yeah, it's nice to get together with just us girls, right Hinata?...Hinata?"
Hinata's eyes widen at being singled out. She ducks into the water, arms curling around her chest.
"Oh, um, y—yes, it is."
"Oh c'mon relax, hime," Anko splashes her playfully, "you're acting as if I've never seen you bare-ass naked before."
Hinata instantly goes bright red. Kurenai looks curiously between the two girls. As far as she knows, this is the first time they've gone to the baths together, Hinata always managing to wiggle her way out politely.
"When did that happen?"
"It happened during—"
"Anko-chan!" Hinata cries and squeezes her eyes shut. "You promised you wouldn't—that you wouldn't talk about that in front of other people!"
"Uh, no, I promised I wouldn't talk about it in front of the boys. And we," Anko looks pointedly down at her chest and then at Kurenai's. Kurenai rolls her eyes at her best friend's blatant ogling, "are definitely not boys."
Hinata sputters. "Th—that is—Anko-chan!"
Anko laughs and leans in towards Kurenai with a conspiratorial smirk, one hand held up to her face to hide her lips from Hinata.
"You see…I caught our darling hime skinny dipping a while back."
Kurenai's eyebrows go up and she looks at Hinata in surprise. For someone as proper and polite as Hinata is it's hard to imagine her doing something so improper. Well, improper for nobles. Kurenai doesn't care who sees her. She's a kunoichi. Her body is a weapon.
"Anko!" Hinata cries in betrayal. "You're making me sound like a p—p—perv—like some deviant!"
Anko throws back her head and cackles. Kurenai jumps when Hinata whips to face her.
"I wasn't—I was only training, I swear, Kurenai-chan. I—I just didn't want to get my clothes wet."
Kurenai sighs at Hinata who's this close to tears. Which makes her feel bad but also kinda honored because very few kunoichi allow themselves to cry in front of others. "I believe you, Hinata, please don't cry."
Hinata goes slack in relief, a flustered sigh of relief leaving her as she wilts into the water. Kurenai grabs her arm to keep from sinking and shoots a still laughing Anko an unimpressed look.
"Anko, you shouldn't tease Hinata like that in the bath. It's dangerous."
"No it's not—" Anko startles when sees Hinata, "—oh shit. I think she's overheating."
Kurenai looks over at Hinata only to find her fully submerged in the bathwater save for the arm she's holding, bubbles coming up to the surface. Kurenai quickly yanks her out. Hinata flops bonelessly in her arms, her skin an alarming shade of red.
Anko wades over and slaps her cheeks lightly. "Hinata? C'mon, hime, wake up."
When she doesn't open her eyes, Anko begins to think that she might have taken the teasing a little too far this time.
"Hinata? Fuuuuck, I think we need a medic."
Kurenai frowns, "Hinata is our medic."
"...oh right, yeah, I forgot about that…"
Kurenai rolls her eyes and picks up Hinata in a bridal carry.
"Get our towels, we're going to the hospital."
Anko rises from the water and salutes, "Hai, captain! I'm on it."
Later...
The door to the hospital room slams open. Kurenai glares at Anko from where they're sitting at Hinata's bedside.
"HINATA!" "LADY HINATA!" "HINATA!"
Kakashi, Kou, and Hayate spill inside, a harried-looking nurse behind them.
"Ano, shinobi-sans, the limit for visitors is two."
The boys ignore her and shut the door, scrambling up to Hinata's bedside. Anko feels a bead of sweat gather at her temple when Hayate immediately turns to her, squinting at her suspiciously. In the background, Kakashi, still dressed in his ANBU gear, leans and sniffs the sleeping girl, prodding her worriedly. Kou sputters and tries to pull him away.
"What did you do?" Hayate asks.
Anko blinks and points at herself. "Me? Nothing!"
Hayate turns to Kurenai.
"What did she do?"
"She embarrassed Hinata and she fainted."
Hayate exhales in relief. "Oh."
Anko crosses her arms and pouts at Kurenai.
"Traitor," she mutters under her breath. Somehow Kurenai hears her. She grabs hold of her towel before reaching over to flick Anko's forehead.
"Shit! Ow, that hurt!"
"Good. It was supposed to."
Hayate's gaze flickers over them.
"...why are you guys naked?"
Kurenai clears her throat and tugs her towel tighter around herself. Anko perks up, her lips curling in a flirtatious smile.
"Hehe, wouldn't you like to know~?"
"WHAT!?"
The three of them look to see Kou staring at them, red-faced and sweating, with Kakashi mirroring him.
"You m—mean to tell us that—that Hinata-sama is...she is naked?!" the poor boy squeaks, looking at where Hinata is sleeping under a light hospital sheet.
Kou turns an even brighter shade of red when neither Kurenai nor Anko speak up. Kakashi looks like he's seconds away from passing out. Hayate is the calmest, giving the two an odd look.
Then Kou abruptly straightens, his back as stiff as a washing board. He snatches both Kakashi's and Hayate's wrists.
"W—we're leaving now!" He bows at the girls. "I leave Lady H—hinata in your care. Good day." With that said he marches stiffly out the door, Hayate and a limp Kakashi in tow.
"Hey, no, wait—why are we leaving? Let me go—" Hayate's protests are cut short by the door slamming.
Kurenai blinks and turns to Anko who simply looks back at her.
The two abruptly burst into giggles.
"...ano...why are you laughing?" Hinata asks sluggishly. She blinks blearily at the room and frowns. "...why are we in the hospital? Did something happen?"
Kurenai pats her hand.
"No, no, everything is fine. You just fainted again."
"And it wasn't my fault," Anko adds. "Not even a little."
Kurenai gives her a look.
"...okay maybe, like, a little bit…" she admits.
Kurenai rolls her eyes. Hinata giggles.
Dear Anbu-san,
Please take these. I hope they keep you warm.
Sincerely,
Hinata
(ㆁᴗㆁ)
Kinoto reads the note again.
And again.
And then once more.
Something foreign and gentle stirs in his chest. He turns his attention to the bundle the note was attached to. Kinoto reverently rubs his thumb over the hand-knitted mittens, admiring the soft cloth. He carefully seals the note away and puts on the dark blue mittens.
It's a perfect fit.
"Ugh, I feel like a whale." Kushina gripes, trying and failing to crack her back. "A big, bloated, ugly whale."
"You're not ugly," Kakashi says.
A tic-mark pulses on Kushina's cheek, "But I'm a big, bloated whale, eh?"
Kakashi pales behind his ANBU mask.
Hinata interjects smoothly with: "Here, shishou, let me help." Her hands glow green as she proceeds to knead Kushina's lower back.
"Sweet sage," Kushina groans appreciatively, "that feels goood. Thanks, Hinata-chan."
"You are—" Hinata frowns at a slight misalignment in Kushina's pelvis. She corrects it with two quick, painless jabs. "—very welcome."
Hinata massages the area a little longer, Kushina going limp like the noodles she loves so much. Her face smooshes onto the low table, face pressed and wrinkling the papers. Hinata stops and Kushina lifts her head, a line of drool stretching from her mouth to the table.
"Waaah, why'd you stop?"
Hinata smiles, "I'm going to make you some tea. It will help you feel better and keep you hydrated."
"Can't you have Kakashi do it?"
"Kushina-san, I don't think—"
Kakashi pipes up, "I don't mind."
"Alright." Hinata sighs and hands Kakashi a packet of herbs from her medical bag. "Please use these."
Kakashi nods and disappears into the kitchen. Hinata summons healing chakra to her hands once again and restarts the massage. Kushina makes a pleased noise.
"Oh yeah, that's perf—" her eyes drift down to the papers on the table. Her mouth falls open in horror. "—fuck!"
Hinata immediately pulls back at the same time Kakashi shunshins into the room, standing protectively in front of the two, lightning dancing between his fingers.
"Did I hurt you?!" Hinata hurriedly asks.
Kushina shakes her head, "No, no, never, Hinata, never."
"Is it the baby?" Hinata asks next, her doujutsu activating.
"No, not that—"
"Then what!?" Kakashi snaps.
Hinata and Kakashi startle as Kushina promptly bursts into tears. Hinata frowns at him disapprovingly and Kakashi takes an awkward step back.
Hinata settles a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder, "Kushina-san? Please tell us what is wrong."
"I—I," she hiccups, "ruined them."
"Ruined what?" Hinata gently coaxes.
"The seals for Min-chan!" She points at the scattered papers on the table. Kakashi winces at all the smudged sealing lines. It's going to take her the rest of the day to redo them.
"They're the new barrier seals for the village. I'm supposed to hand them in to Min-chan tonight."
Yup, Kakashi thinks, she's screwed.
"Yondaime-sama is a very understandable person," Hinata reasons, "I'm sure if you ask him for an extension he will give it to you."
"Yeah, and besides," Kakashi adds, trying to make up for snapping at her, "we've lasted this long with the ones we have. I'm sure it'll be fine for one more day."
"...I guess so…"
"I'll help." Kakashi offers. He knows enough from observing both Minato-sensei and Kushina to easily copy them. He also has the added advantage of Obito's sharingan.
"Um, no offense, Kakashi-kun, but your handwriting is shit."
Oh.
Right.
He forgot about that.
Feeling responsible Hinata says, "Then let me help you remake them. I was trained in shodo from a very young age as part of my preparation for heiress."
"I don't know, Hinata-chan, fuuinjutsu requires…" Kushina trails off as Hinata picks up a brush and perfectly replicates the outer-working of the seal. "...damn, nevermind, here, take this one." Kushina fishes out a smear-free seal from the bottom of the pile and hands it to her, along with a stack of sealing paper.
Kakashi fetches the tea from the kitchen and hands it to Kushina who drinks it far away from the table. The rest of the afternoon is spent with the two of them hunched over the table, brushes gliding gracefully as Kakashi watches from a hidden corner in the room.
Kinoe feels a flicker of something—surprise? confusion? dismay?—when Danzo-sama shows up to their training session with another agent in tow.
"This is agent Kame," Danzo-sama says. "Today we will see who is the sharper blade."
Kinoe doesn't wait for a signal to begin before launching a trail of spikes towards his opponent. They backflip over each attack, effectively driving them back. They land in a crouch and he gets a look at their armored claws, profiling them as a close-range melee combatant.
Kinoe himself prefers long-range attacks despite his varied skill set so he decides to keep them at a distance. He cannot risk failure. Not with Danzo-sama watching. He needs to finish this quickly.
Kame charges at him. Kinoe drops down and digs his fingers into the dirt there. Kame slashes down with their armored claws only to strike a thick tendril of wood. Other tree limbs quickly sprout up and wrap around their arms and legs, effectively immobilizing them.
But Kinoe is not done. He slaps his palms together and a dozen wooden pillars circle and encase Kame into a wooden ball.
"Wood Style: Wooden Maiden."
The wooden cage throbs with chakra and the training room echoes with the brutal sound of wood piercing flesh. Blood seeps through the cracks of the prison and pools around Kinoe's sandals.
He goes to release the technique only to tense as the room is engulfed by a malicious aurora. He looks towards the source in shock.
It shouldn't be possible... No one has ever survived his jutsu before. There is no way Kame can still be alive. Not after losing that much blood.
He flinches as red, bubbling chakra bleeds out, corroding the wood faster than it can regenerate. He loses control of the technique as the cage trembles, a vicious screech resounding from within before Kame bursts out in an explosion of splinters.
Kinoe's mind blanks as another wave of vile chakra washes over him. Kame slowly turns to face him, the holes of their mask glowing ominously. The hiss of skin mending and blood evaporating adds to the tension.
Kinoe braces himself as Kame spreads their feet apart and throws their shoulders back, an inhuman screech ripping free from their throat just as they are swallowed by that horrible, thick chakra. Kinoe watches as a long tendril forms at their back, waving this way and that like a cobra eyeing its prey. Kame settles into a crouch and the debris around them rattles as a deep growl emanates from Kame.
Kinoe swallows back the fear and bile that had begun rising in him. He risks a look towards where he knows Danzo is watching before quickly returning his attention to Kame.
They toss their head and roar in challenge before rocketing forward, deadly claws aiming for Kinoe's throat.
There can only be one victor here—him—and no other.
Kinoe reaches for that familiar feeling of life and green. It rushes to meet him, his body thrumming with the energy of life itself. His eyes narrow dangerously, meeting Kame's slitted ones.
He will show his master who the sharpest blade is. That the time spent sharpening him was not in vain.
Kinoe runs to meet Kame head-on, vines twining around his arm and ending in a wicked-looking point, purple liquid dripping off the end and sizzling into the upturned earth beneath their feet.
(because if it was in vain, what then? What does that make him? What is the point of his existence? What is he? Who is he?)
The two meet in the middle in a violent clash that shakes the foundation of the village.
Hinata stops in the doorway to her favorite café, the hairs on her arms rising ever so. She is tempted to activate her byakugan and find whatever has caught her senses but doesn't, knowing better than to do so in public. There are laws prohibiting the use of doujutsus outside of designated training zones or active combat, especially in-village.
Hinata shakes her and steps fully inside the café.
Kou rises from his seat inside and bows lowly when he sees she has arrived.
"Good morning, Lady Hinata."
"Kou-kun, you don't need to be so formal with me anymore. I am no longer a lady of the Hyuuga."
Hinata is surprised when Kou shakes his head. He so rarely disagrees with her, at least not this openly and in public.
"No, you will always be Lady Hinata." He clears his throat, pale cheeks coloring. "At least to me."
Hinata's face softens, her heart swelling with warmth. "Kou-kun…"
"I swore an oath to guard you always. From all and any harm and yet…" his mouth twists mournfully and his head dips in shame, "I could not keep it—my oath broken by my own incompetence. In the end, I could not protect you when it mattered most."
"Kou-kun," Hinata repeats tenderly. She cups his cheeks and lifts his head so his eyes might meet hers. It takes a moment, but eventually he looks back at her. Her heart pangs in sorrow at the shame and pain she sees in his eyes.
"I will say this once and only once so do your best to listen."
His reply is immediate. "Of course, Hinata-sama, always."
Hinata smiles sadly. She does not deserve such loyalty. She will never understand why Kou, a main branch member himself, devotes so much of himself to her. Yes, it is tradition for one of the main branches to offer a guard, but it is only a role. One of honor and prestige, yes, but just a role. Yet, Kou has gone far beyond that, becoming one of her fiercest protectors and confidants. Hinata doesn't know what she did to make him pledge such loyalty but she is grateful, nonetheless.
"You have served me faithfully all these years and in that time never have you once failed me or mine. Your oaths are as they were when you first spoke them: true and unbroken. Please remember that."
"H—hai," Kou nods in her hands, "I hear you, yes, Hinata-sama."
Hinata smiles at him again, this time happier, and lets go, taking an appropriate step back.
"I was told you had something for me?"
Kou stammers before retrieving a scroll from his sleeves. He bows again and offers it to her. She inhales sharply at the familiar brushstrokes.
Dearest daughter,
It is her mother's work. She has not heard from her mother since her banishment. The only contact she's had with her clan was with her uncle and that was only because he was visiting Kushina-san. Contact with her has been forbidden hence this secret meeting at A-won's.
Hinata takes the scroll and unravels it. Her heart stutters to a halt. When it resumes, it beats twice as hard. Kou startles when the scroll falls from her hand, rolling underneath a table. He bends to retrieve it.
"Lady Hinata? Is something wrong?"
Hinata looks at Kou, the tips of her fingers numb and blood roaring in her ears.
"I—I don't...think so?"
And then she faints.
Minato leafs through the stack of seals. His eyebrows rise higher and higher, disappearing into his fringe.
"You're saying Hinata made these?"
Kushina nods and leans against the back of his chair.
"Yup," she says, popping the 'p', "good aren't they?"
"'Good'?" Minato repeats incredulously, "they're beautiful."
"Yeah, that's the shodo right there. Guess those tutors of hers were good for something."
"Such attention to detail…" Minato points to a particular section. "Look right here. She didn't just copy yours, she improved it. The spacing here will prevent chakra stagnation, adding a decade to its lifespan."
Kushina huffs, "...I guess she is pretty great...for a beginner."
Minato looks up and smiles fondly at his wife. Kushina notices and flushes.
"What are you—why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're beautiful."
Kushina goes as red as her hair and roughly pushes Minato's face away.
"Don't suddenly say stuff like that, 'ttebane! You're at work!"
"Okay, okay," Minato chuckles, the sound muffled by Kushina's hand. She pinches his cheek before letting go and grabbing one of Hinata's seals.
"She really is good, isn't she?" she says quietly, studying the perfectly neat kanji.
"Very. Hinata has great potential. I admit I'm curious to see how far...she...can go..." Minato looks at his wife's thoughtful face and feels an inkling of trepidation settle in his chest. It only grows as a slow smirk settles on her lips.
"Kushina," he starts, hesitant, "what are you thinking?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all." Kushina pats Minato's cheek and steps back, winking at him. "See you later, Min-chan~"
Minato watches her leave, Inu following her from the shadows dutifully, and he wonders if maybe he should stop her.
Then he remembers Hinata, and how she flinched and curled into herself every time she made a mistake as if expecting Minato to strike her and offering no resistance other than to shield the more vulnerable parts of herself. He remembers with perfect clarity every bruise, cut, and fracture and the excuses she made for them. He recalls how eagerly, how desperately she soaks up any positive attention—like a starving man laps water after days spent stranded in the dunes of Suna—and how she reels back from it all like it is something dangerous and foreign.
Hinata reminds him of the stray dog from his childhood. It was a mangy, beaten thing, but with a heart big enough to fit the whole village in it and then some, and for that Minato thought it was the most beautiful creature in all of Konoha.
It would follow him to and from the academy, waiting patiently outside for him. Minato had always shared what small portions the orphanage gave him, the two of them often spending a quiet moment watching the village from the Hokage monument while snacking on stale bread. It was always so happy to see him too, no matter if he had anything to give or not.
When Minato finally got his genin apartment, he knew exactly who he wanted to share it with. He'd gone back that same day for the dog, his hitai-ate clutched in his hands. Minato had spent hours searching for it only to find it lying dead and beaten in an alley, lumped in with the trash.
(Minato didn't want Hinata to end up like the sweet creature from his childhood. So he filed report after report only for them all to be turned away as excused or lacking sufficient evidence. He'd tried reaching out to Hiashi and his wife, only to be blocked each and every time by someone on the council. He was about to turn to his teammate, Mikoto, and enlist the assistance of the Keimu Butai when Hinata was abruptly exiled.)
Watching her and Kakashi flourish in spite of all the misfortune they've suffered is the greatest privilege he's ever had, far surpassing his childhood dream of becoming Hokage.
Minato sits there in the Hokage's seat, memories whirling around, and does nothing.
They've made their bed, Minato thinks, tracing the beautiful yet deadly lines of the seal Hinata painted, now let them lie in it.
They have just finished eating Hinata's homemade dinner and are standing side by side at the sink when Hinata hesitantly calls his attention away from drying the dishes.
"Hatake-kun?"
"Hm?"
"I have a…" Hinata fiddles with the sponge, bubbles foaming out when she squeezes it. "...favor to ask of you."
"Sure," Kakashi replies easily, "what is it?"
Hinata swallows and slowly swipes the sponge across a dirty dish. Kakashi has to admit he's curious. Hinata so rarely asks for anything. He wonders what she will ask of him.
(He'd do anything for her. All she has to do is ask and whatever it is it will be done, will be hers. If she asks for the world he'll go out and conquer it for her. If she asks for his still-beating heart, he'll gladly rip it out.)
(After all, it's already hers)
"I need to borrow your uniform." Hinata hands him the freshly rinsed plate and makes eye contact with him. "Your Anbu one."
According to Section 771 of Chapter 45, a person who is not a member of the Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butaimay not wear a military uniform or any "distinctive part" of the uniform.
Kakashi takes the plate from Hinata.
"Okay."
In the time that it takes him to dry and put away the plate, Hinata slowly relaxes, exhaling quietly.
"Thank you. I will make sure to wash it before giving it back to you."
Kakashi's hand twitches and he nearly slams the cupboard door close.
"No, um, that's okay." He says, quickly taking a cup and turning around to hide what little she can see of his face. "You don't have to do that."
"I suppose I won't be getting them dirty...but are you sure? I don't mind."
Kakashi gulps, pulse quickening at the thought of her scent embedding itself so deeply into his clothes, of carrying it around with him wherever he goes, and her washing the scent of them—him and her—away.
"Yes." And then, in order not to sound like a complete weirdo, he adds, "I like to do it myself anyway."
"...very well, thank you…"
Minato gulps and nervously fixes his coat collar. He signs for Genma, Raidou, and Iwashi to stand down just before the door to his office gets kicked off its hinges.
"MINATO!" Kushina cries before dive-bombing straight into his stomach. Minato plants his feet on the floor and adds chakra to keep them from crashing out the window.
"Ku—kushina," he wheezes, "what are you—"
Kushina grabs a fistful of his Hokage's robes and smashes her mouth against his, effectively silencing him. Minato flails beneath her as she settles herself comfortably in his lap.
Somewhere in the distance, he thinks he hears someone wolf whistle.
Minato's surprise quickly fades away and his eyes droop close, hands coming to rest on his wife's waist. Just as he's about to return the kiss, Kushina pulls away from him, breathing hard. She lets go of his jacket and he thumps back against his chair, face bright red as he struggles to focus on the bright grin on her face and not her heaving chest inches away from his face.
"Minato," Kushina says joyously; breathlessly, and curls around him. Minato meets her eyes and he feels himself fall in love with her just a little more.
"Kushina," Minato replies and presses his forehead against hers, tension leaking out of him like a balloon.
"Thank you," Kushina whispers, cradling his face lovingly, her watery eyes boring into his. Minato loses himself in them for a moment, like a man lost at sea, but then Kushina—his anchor, his harbor—reels him with a chaste kiss to his lips.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she repeats, peppering his face with frantic little kisses.
Minato slides his hands up to hold his wife's face, causing her to pause.
"You don't need to thank me." He says, wiping her tears away with his thumbs gently. "It's what you deserve. It's what you are owed. You are as much a part of this village as me or anyone else."
Kushina laughs, tears falling freely down her cheeks. Minato smiles and leans up to capture her lips with his. It's a little messy and the angle is awkward, but even with the salt of his wife's tears on his tongue, Minato has to say it's the sweetest kiss they've ever shared.
As the sliding door to her room opens, Hinami wonders if she is fated to receive mysterious visitors each time she births a daughter. Fortunately, there is no god, only her daughter, dressed in a standard-issue ANBU uniform.
Hinata removes the dog mask, revealing a tremulous smile. Hinami's heart aches at the sight of it.
"H—hello, hahaue-sama," she greets, eyes flitting back and forth from the babe in her arms and then back to her face.
"Hello, daughter, please, come here." Her daughter hesitates before stepping closer to her bedside. Hinami takes the time to look at her closely. She looks healthy; happy, her hair beginning to grow back.
Hinata fidgets under her gaze, playing with the mask in her hands.
"Hatake-kun leant it to me. I thought it would make it easier if I was caught."
"Were you?" Hinami can't help but ask; curious.
"No."
Hinami smiles. Of course she wasn't. If anyone is capable of evading their clan's eyes it would be Hinata who had been under them for so long.
Hinami carefully shifts the newborn towards Hinata.
"Look, Hanabi-chan, it's your big sister. Say hello."
Hanabi blinks once then twice before going back to sleep.
"She's beautiful," Hinata says quietly, her face glowing in awe at the small wonder resting in her mother's arms.
"Yes," Hinami says, not looking away from Hinata, "she truly is."
Hinata gently traces a finger against Hanabi's cheek. Her face scrunches before smoothing once more in sleep.
"I pray she will make the clan proud."
The 'unlike me' goes unsaid.
"She will." Hinami reaches out and squeezes Hinata's hand. She looks at her meaningfully. "She is your sister, after all."
Hinata smiles at her, eyes wet, before donning the dog mask and disappearing.
Hinami holds Hanabi tighter to herself. She has a second chance now, not to repeat the mistakes she did with her firstborn.
"They will not break you," Hinami whispers to a slumbering Hanabi. "I will not allow it. This I vow."
"Usually apprentices live with their teacher for, ya know, better learning but I know you two," Kushina looks at Hinata who is sitting seiza across from her and then at Kakashi who is hidden under a genjutsu, "prefer to stay together which is fine. Saves you from all the crying Naruto-chan is gonna do."
Kushina pauses, mourning her current sleeping schedule before continuing.
"So are you ready for your first lesson, Hinata-chan?" Kushina asks excitedly from the seat across from her. They're currently at hers and Minato's shared apartment, having chosen to reside outside of the Hokage mansion.
"Hai, Uzumaki-shishou."
Kushina groans, "C'mon, Hinata-chan, you can use my first name. Using my last name makes me feel old." She looks to the side where she knows Kakashi is hidden and grumbles, "It's really one step forward, two steps back with this girl, amirite?"
Kakashi's silence is telling. Hinata turns her head and pouts.
Kushina claps her hands together, "Okay! Let's try that again. Are ya ready, my cute little apprentice?"
"Hai, Ku—kushina-shishou!"
Hinata squeaks when Kushina reaches over the table and pinches her cheeks.
"Aww, you're so adorable, 'ttebane~!" She squishes Hinata's face with both hands and jerks her head to face Kakashi. "Isn't she just the cutest, Kakashi, isn't she?"
"..."
Kushina's eyes narrow, seeing past Kakashi's genjutsu.
"I said 'isn't she just the cutest '?"
"...yes…?" Kakashi offers, face hot under mask.
"Uwah!" Hinata blushes and squirms in Kushina's hold. She laughs and lets go, patting Hinata's cheeks twice as the girl slumps in her seat.
"You guys are adorable. Now!" Kushina braces her forearms on the table with a thump. "Tell me, Hinata-chan, how much do you know about the sealing arts?"
Hinata rises obediently, her coloring going back to normal.
"Ano, fuuinjutsu is an ancient and obscure ninja art. Currently, there are only four known seal masters, a title rarely seen since the Fall of Uzushiogakure." Hinata makes sure her gaze meets Kushina's before lowering her head somberly, "My condolences, Uzumaki-hime. May they rest forever easy in Uzushiogakure's whirlpools."
Kushina feels her eyes water. She sits up a bit straighter and clears her throat.
"As one princess to another...thank you, Hinata, may the winds carry you far."
Hinata raises her head and nods regally.
"Hai. Thank you."
Kushina clears her throat again.
"So, uh, do you happen to know who the last four known seal masters are?"
"Yes. Three of them are affiliated with Konoha. The fourth...sorry, but not much is known of them other than they are from Kumogakure. The three known ones are Yondaime-sama, Jiraiya-sama of the Sannin, and you, shishou." Hinata dips her head once more. "It is an honor to be under your tutelage. Please take care of me."
"Er, right back 'atcha." Kushina sweatdrops at all the formality and sneaks a glance at Kakashi. He shrugs and waves his hand at her before slowly melting back into the shadows.
"So are there any seals you are already familiar with?"
Hinata nods, "Explosive tags, sealing scrolls, Yondaime-sama's hiraishin, and...the, um, caged bird seal," she finishes, voice quiet.
"Ugh," Kushina's lips twist, "yeah, that thing."
Hinata licks her lips, "It is my understanding that the seal was a gift from the Uzumaki to the Hyuuga."
"Uh, yeah," Kushina blinks, "I'm surprised you know that. Most assume the Hyuuga came up with it."
"The preparation for my ascension was very thorough."
"Yeah...I can tell."
Hinata elegantly coughs into her hand, "I would be most grateful if I could learn more about it, especially from a master descendant of its creator."
"Oh, Hinata-chan," Kushina says mournfully, "the key to that seal was destroyed when Uzu fell and your clan—"
"—would never share its secrets, yes I know." A pause and then, "I am Hinata. The Hyuuga name is no longer mine, the clan no longer mine."
(Despite how much she wishes for the opposite.)
"Right. Yeah." A wry smile forms on Kushina's face before it falls. "I won't be able to teach you much."
Hinata smiles slowly like they are sharing a joke.
"My apologies but...I sincerely doubt that."
Kushina laughs. Hinata grips the hem of her training shirt.
"I am ready to learn anything you are willing to teach me."
Kushina grins, "Alright, but don't go crying to Min-chan when things get tough."
"Hai. I promise to persevere even when I falter."
"That's what I like to hear! Now," Kushina unseals a huge stack of papers and drops it on the table, rattling the ink pots there, "let's start with the basics! Practice makes perfect blahblahblah—pick up a brush. I want you to write these three characters just like...this!" Kushina puts her ink brush down and slides the freshly painted sheet over to Hinata.
Hinata nods, "Hai, shishou!"
Kushina wants to fawn over her adorable serious face but refrains, not wanting to disrupt her concentration.
The Hyuuga don't know what they lost, Kakashi thinks as he watches over the pair, but I think sensei and Kushina do.
Kinoto is no stranger to thoughts of treason. He lives and breathes it. The fact that he has yet to turn himself in for re-conditioning or worse—disposal—is proof that he has gone astray. Though he isn't the only one, Zero, the only other Root agent proficient in sealing and many years his senior, makes a game of how far she can insult their master without their cursed seal acting up.
"Long live Danzo-sama." The agent ahead of him says solemnly to their sector manager.
Kinoto's mouth twitches downwards at the thought of his master and the seal on his tongue burns.
Oh, how he resents that Danzo is his master when he wants nothing more to serve—
Kinoto bites back a hiss. His tongue throbs.
"Your report." His supervisor intones, holding out a hand.
Kinoto hands over the manilla folder and from its depths out falls a hand-knitted winter glove.
Ah, that's where it went.
The only thing keeping his supervisor from seeing it is the folder so Kinoto...just...doesn't let go.
"At ease," the other agent says. When Kinoto still doesn't release the folder, the other Root agent's voice lowers warningly from its monotone
"Let go."
Another tug. Kinoto threads chakra into his fingers, keeping the folder glued there.
"I said let go, agent two-thirty-two designation Kinoto."
Kinoto's fingers go lax and the folder smacks into his superior's chest.
"Dismissed."
…
…
…
What?
"I said dismissed, shinobi," his superior repeats, voice hard. Kinoto doesn't want to risk getting reported (thankfully, his sector's overseer is lax compared to others) and steps out of line. As he passes by he glances down at the floor.
The mitten is gone. In its place is one solitary green leaf. A Hashirama leaf, to be exact.
He looks back. Lord Danzo's number one meets his gaze and, hesitating, he nods.
Kinoto slowly nods back.
A/N: mmmhmm...kakahina...gotta love a slowburn (◡́.◡̀)
thanks for all the darling reviews, folks! They bring me such joy :,)