Hey guys! Thanks for the review and for following… Here's Chapter 3…. Please enjoy..


Chapter 3: It's a War in Suna

" I wish this mission will end soon." Sai commented as he and Shikamaru took down the bandits that tries to rub the priestess carriage on their journey on the vast sand of Suna.

"Its so not like you Sai to say those words." Shikamaru said as he took a hold of the bandits shadows.

"Well I'm not the only one." Sai said as he eyed the Hyuga girl from afar.

Shikamaru nodded at him agreeing to the fact that something had happen towards Hinata on the night that she fainted when she went bathing with Shion in the river 20 days ago. She became distant and quiet. Sure Hinata is a shy and a quiet girl but she always joins in their conversation before if she had something to say but Hinata will keep quiet the entire time and only nodded or shook her head in response as if she is in a deep deep thoughts.

""Eight Trigrams Sixty Four Palms!""

Shikamaru and Sai look at the the 9 bandits that went flying all the same time. They know something is off.

"Sugoi! Hinata!" cheered Shion as she went to approach Hinata seeing that the Bandits wont be able to stand anymore. "That was amazing"

"Arigato Shion-san" Hinata bowed at the priestess and then proceed to where Shikamaru and Sai where, making sure that her teammates don't have any injury or sort. "Are you all okay?"

"yeah." Shikamaru replied. "you?"

"I'm good. We need to hurry up, we don't know how many more comrades these people have." She suggested.

"Finally! You talked." Sai commented.

"eh?"

"You've been to unresponsive a couple of weeks now Hinata-san" Sai explain. "I was thinking that maybe you had to much water in your system since it happen after you fainted in the river."

"Ohhh… Ahmmm.."

"On top of that Hinata you almost got yourself caught off guard when the bandits attacked us, if not for Haruka to push you out of the way you wont notice that we are under attack." Shikamaru added… "I don't know what happen with you and the priestess but you need to be alert Hinata. Youre a Shinobi and you have to put your head together or you will got everyone worrying out for you."

"Hey" Sai tries to make Shikamaru stop from reprimanding Hinata. He knows Shikamaru was right but Hinata seems to be so fragile this past days. Telling her things like that might break her.

Hinata bit her lower lips. Shikamaru was right these past few weeks shes been not herself. She keeps thinking about Naruto and Shion. Naruto promised to Shion 6 years ago and Shion is holding for that promise. There are lots of things going on her head. She was thinking that maybe Naruto felt awkward being with her because she reminds him of Shion? Naruto wont promised anything if he wont mean it and if he promised Shion to marry her someday then she had committed a sin towards Shion. Shion should be Naruto's wife and not her. If not for her being a Hyuga then Naruto and Shion might be…

She bit her lip even more to stop herself from thinking those things. Shikamaru was right She is a Shinobi, she plays an important role on this mission, she was supposed to be a look out for possible treat with her byakugan but she fail it and it almost cost her life or else the life of anyone present on this mission. She can't afford to lose someone for her sake just like what happen to Neji. She need to be the brave and strong Hinata, Neji believe her to be, she need to be the proud failure as Naruto used to be.

She is a Hyuga and an Uzumaki now.

"Gomenasai Shikamaru-san, Sai-san" Hinata bow her head. " I was a little bit distracted, I'm sorry. Ill be more alert from now." She said bowing to them again. And she went to Shion's carriage seeing her hopping inside.

"Shion-san, Gomenasai." She apologized.

"eh? What for?" Shion look at her confused.

"for everything." she said and then excused herself leaving a confused priestess. "Shion-san, I will free Naruto from this burden with me once we set foot in Konoha after Suna. So you two can…can.." he said mentally and tries to stop her tears from flowing.


"Were almost there." Sai informed the group as they near the Suna's gate. Earning a yell to the exhausted guards.

"We are almost at the gate Shion-san" Hinata informed as she walks beside the carriage where Shion was in. She open the curtains upon hearing Hinata's voice.

"Finally! I would love to soak on a bath with full of flowers all day." Shion said dreamily.

"Don't worry youll have it soon." She said and went to walk beside Sai and Shikamaru. " I hope we can see Temari." She said out loud wishing for her friend to be there. It would be great to have one of her girl friends to talk with.

"Shikamaru's girlfriend comes back and forth from Suna to Konoha, she might not be in there or might be there." Sai said.

"Who says shes my girlfriend." Shikamaru snapped at Sai that earns a laugh from Hinata seeing Shikamaru's ears turns red at the mention of Temari's name.


"Hey! If it aint my sister's boyfriend." Kankuro said as he greeted Shikamaru from the entrance of the gate. "We've been expecting you all. And Temari is looking forward to meet my brother in law."

"Quit it." Shikamaru warns Kankuro. Hinata and Sai just laughed seeing how Shikamaru tries to keep his cool.

"We are here along with the priestess from the land of Demon to seek a diplomatic business with the Kazekage." Shikamaru said trying to compose his self.

"Well like I said, we've been expecting you so come on in." Kankuro said as the sand gate opens for them. "Don't worry brother in law, Temari aint here. Shes in a mission towards the unknown so youre safe." Kankuro teased. "A food and a house is prepared for all of you so just rest for now. The Kazekage will be with you during dinner."

"Got it." They said in unison.


"waaahhh!" finally!" Shion exclaimed as she soaked herself on the large open Sento that Suna had offered them.

Hinata went in with her admiring how big the tub was. Its even bigger than what they have at home.

"Hey Hinata?. I havent got a chance to really meet this Kazekage, Is he a nice person?"

"Hai."

"Really?"

"yes of course he is a great friend of Naruto-kun" she replied to put Shion at ease.

"Really? Oh well then He is a good man alright." Shion said amazingly feeling at ease as she soaked herself more on the bath.

"Hinata?"

"yes?"

"Did you ever loved someone?" Shion asked her all of a sudden resulting for her to cough some water.

She blushed and felt unease. "Ahmmmm…."

"Well you do right?" Shion excitedly exclaimed. "Well, who is it? Is it someone that I know? Tell me what does he like?"

She just looked at Shion and tries her best to answer her as much as possible without the possibility of her mentioning Naruto's name or in any way she'll obviously describes Naruto.

"Ahhhmmm.." She blushed even more and she felt really uncomfortable.

"come on come on!"

"Ahmmm… Well Ahmmm, Ive been in love with him since we were Kids." She started.

''Woooohhh! And? Did he know that?"

"Well, he did since I confessed my feelings with him in the past."

"And what did he say? Did he tell you that he like you too?"

"Well when I confessed to him at that time we were in a bridge of chaos so…"

"ahhhhhh! Whoever is this person that you like sure is lucky. He will be the envy among all of my stupid guards who were head over heels into you Hinata."

"eh?"

"Anyway what does this guy like? IS he handsome or what? And what do you like about him? Considering he is your puppy love." Shion asked dreamily.

"Well…ahmmm.." Hinata look at above the sky. "He is a proud failure, and he is somone that never gives up despite people telling him that he wont make it far in life. I too , like him is a failure. I always end up crying and likes to give up but his determination and his smile inspires me to work harder and to never give up no matter what happen. I love him so much that loving him feel hurt, but seeing him smile and doing his best for his dreams had made me happy nonetheless. I would be happy supporting him all throughout." She said smiling and closing her eyes Picturing Naruto's face on her mind and tries to control some tears that might escape.

"Wow." Shion said while looking at Hinata. "youre a great person Hinata, youre really are." Shion said. and ill promise to keep you safe from your fate she mentally added.


"Wow! You look lovely on that Suna dress Hinata." Shion exclaimed seeing Hinata wearing a beautiful lavender Suna dress that she had packed with her things. It was a gift from Temari during her 20th birthday.

"Thank you Shion-san, you got one as well. It was prepared for us by the Kazekage and had it delivered it here." Hinata said showing the different dresses that Gaara had send for them.

"Ohhh I didn't know what to chose.. Wait I need to try everything and see what suits me perfectly." She said and then started changing clothes.

"Shion-san, me, Shikamaru and Sai are requested by the Kazekage to see him along with you." She informed her amidst Shions wardrobe troubles. She seems cant have them fit on her.


"The Kazekage also wished to see us along with the priestess." Shikamaru informed them once again while they were on their way to the Kazekage office. "This is such a drag."

"Well I hope he prepares good food to eat cause Im starving." Shion said earning a small laugh from Hinata. They haven't eaten yet cause they were fixing Shion's wardrobe problem.

And then when they were in front of the Kazekages office, Shikamaru knocks on the door.

"Come in"

Hearing someone's voice giving them permission, the four of them went inside only to be greeted by someone they didn't expect to be there.

"yo!"

"Naruto?" Both Sai and Shikamaru said in unison. He was sitting on Gaara's chair and Gaara aint no where to be found inside the office.

Naruto stood up seeing a shocked Hinata. He smiles at her and Hinata almost choked seeing his genuine smile. How long was it since they last saw each other? A blush form on her cheeks remembering the kiss she give him when she left.

"Hina-" Naruto is about to rush towards Hinata when two arms suddenly envelope him into a hug. "Sh—Shion?" he exclaimed realizing who was it that stopped him from pulling his wife for a long embrace and hugs he was dying to give her this past weeks since she left.

Shion was her friend and he cant believe that he was the priestess Gaara talks to her about having in for a diplomatic visit. And that Hinata's group were assigned to escort her.

"I though you forgot about me you stupid." She said as she let go of him and studies his feature. Shion blushed seeing how Naruto grows up to be this hunk and handsome man he became. "Naruto, you're hot!" she blurted out looking intensely at how Naruto grows so tall, so mascular and so handsome.

Hinata noticed how Naruto blushed as Shions compliments and how he sheepishly rubbed his hands at the back of his head a gesture he does when he is embarrassed or being shy.

Not once did she ever had made Naruto feel like what Shion just did for only a couple of seconds. She involuntarily placed her right hand on her chest. Its like a thousand needle just went through her heart.

Shikamaru and Sai took notice of Hinata's reaction and for almost a month of being with Hinata the guys had one thing in common, something that Naruto had asked them before they leave for a mission, something Naruto threaten them to suffer if they fail and that is to protect Hinata and stay her away from anything that would harm her. And they would fulfill it.

"How have you've been Shion?" Naruto asked.

"Well, just so you know, there's a small village that Ive been leading on and the temple has been rebuilt, its no longer like a prison cell anymore. And you? I heard you're gonna be the next Hokage"

"well I told you a long time ago that I Would become a Hokage and change the world right? And I'm fulfilling that promise ttebayo!." Naruto said proudly.

"Well you should be cause after all once you marry m-"

"Naruto, Wheres the Kazekage?" Shikamaru interrupts the two who seems to be catching up on greeting each other and forgetting their presence. And Naruto seem to forgot that his wife is there making Shikamaru feel sorry for Hinata.

"Well he went out for a while but he'll be back." He said and then divert his eyes to his quiet wife only to be surprised that she is looking at him without any expression. Is she having her bad day or something. "Are you okay Hinata?" He asked worriedly and closed the distance between them trying to make sure that she is okay and isn't hurt. "Are you hurt or something?" he asked her.

My heart… Hinata like to say it but choose not to. "Shikamaru-san I would like to dismiss myself and rest for a while seems like the weather aint coping up with me." She said looking at Shikamaru and totally neglects Naruto.

"eh? Why? are you ill? Would you like me to escort you?" Naruto asked worriedly.

Under normal circumstances Hinata would blushed with this kind of Naruto in front of her but she wont this time. "I will be fine Uzumaki san. Sai-san can accompany me." She said and turns her back on Naruto and walks beside Sai.

"Uzumaki-san?" Naruto repeated as she watched his wife walks away from him. Something isnt right. Did Hinata just ignored him? And wheres the usual Naruto-kun? Is this what Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei as well as Ino said that would happen if he would keep his feeling a secret to her? Its seems like Hinata went cold with him as Sakura warns him.

As Shikamaru look at Naruto, Hinata and Shion altogether he felt a war is about to happen here in Suna.

"What a drag."