(A/N) As you should know, Team 8 does not go on the Wave mission. Due to lack of appropriately messy timeline shenanigans, they can't go anyway. Also it'd be messy if they did. So, they're going to Taki! Whether its as messy as Wave, we'll see. Team Gai invited themselves. I'm telling you now.

"Kurenai-sensei, m-may we have a C-rank while Team 7 is out on th-theirs?" Hinata asked, perched on the tree branch she'd walked up to.

Kurenai thought about it. "Sure. You're probably ready for a trip outside of the village. I'll pick up a simple delivery mission for us to do."

Kiba whooped, and Akamaru barked at his side. "Whoo! Out of the village!"

"I'll go find one, you three go inform your parents and pack," Kurenai said, smiling at them. "I'll come by each of your houses with more information later."

Three nods, and she disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Hinata wanted to know how to do that, it seemed really cool. Instead, she headed home, dreading the conversation with her father. She dreaded all conversations with him though.

"F-father," Hinata said formally, having entered his study.

"Hinata," he replied, not bothering to look up from his paperwork.

"My t-teacher has agreed to retrieve a C-rank, and will arrive with further d-details at a later point," Hinata was proud of herself for only having the two stutters in there.

Her father finally glanced at her, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Fine. Inform your sister and cousin when they return."

Hinata bowed quickly, and left the room, stumbling into her room.

She leaned against the door, sliding down it to sit on the ground. Any encounters with her father were stressful, although that one had been particularly so. For seemingly no reason at all.

She got off the floor when someone knocked on her door to inform her that her cousin and her teacher were both at the house and waiting for her.

"N-Neji, Kurenai-sensei," Hinata greeted timidly.

Kurenai held up a scroll. "We got a basic scroll delivery to Taki. It's a diplomatic offer, and as such, we will be remaining in Taki to take back the reply when they are finished."

"We'll be joining you," Neji said, raising his hand. He looked tired, Gai must have pushed them harder than he usually did. She wouldn't bother him then.

"Yes," Kurenai agreed. "Team Gai has so thoughtfully offered to accompany us, as they are from last year's genin group, and we are rather lacking in offensive power, while it is their primary power balance."

It was logical, her team, a tracking based team, protected by a front liner team. It stung a little bit, but Hinata could acknowledge it was for the best. And it got Neji away from her terrible father for a while. Plus there'd be Tenten, and as far as Hinata had heard from Neji, she was rather sane. For a ninja. The bar was a bit low though when she was on a team with Gai and Lee.

"Alright," Hinata said quietly. "I suppose I d-don't need to tell you then."

"As I already know, it is unneeded," Neji agreed. "I can tell Hanabi if you wish."

"N-no, you should shower and sleep," Hinata disagreed. "You l-look like you had a rough day."

"She'll be home in just a few minutes," Neji replied patiently. "I can wait that long."

"I'll take my leave then," Kurenai said, standing up. "I will expect you packed and at the west gate tomorrow at 7. It'll be four days there, anywhere from two days to two weeks in Taki, and four days back."

Hinata and Neji nodded.

Assured, Kurenai left, presumably to have two more genin to visit.

Hanabi walked in from the academy a few minutes later. "What're you two arguing about?"

Hinata jumped with a squeak. "Hanabi!"

"We were arguing over who is going to tell you we'd both be out on a mission."

Neji, the traitor. How could he.

"Oh cool," Hanabi said, shrugging. "I'm going to do my homework."

(A/N) I would say sorry for this being nearly a thousand words short. But I have been in a car for 14 hours. This doc refused to work and I couldn't work on this about the entire time. I, unfortunately, am too drained to be sorry. Maybe I'll apologize next time. I'll try and get a really big update next time to make up for this, but no promises. Maybe if someone decides to be chatty, I'll let them run their mouth a bit.