(A/N) Guest: Yeah…. valid. But I thought Gaara and Hinata's fight was much better! I realized I should probably address this… I consider Hinata's stuttering a verbal thing, something that isn't able to be stopped. As such, even with her much improved confidence, she will never fully be stutter free.

"Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuuga, Shino Aburame, Naruto Uzumaki, Tenten, Fuu, and Gaara. You are promoted to chuunin, here are your vests," the Hokage announced. He turned to the others. "Better luck next time. Neji, you underestimated your opponent, and that cost you the match. See that you don't do it again. Arrogance is not befitting of a shinobi."

Neji bowed, then left.

"Lee, you performed admirably, but I would suggest branching out just a bit. Perhaps pick up a weapon. I'm sure your teammate would be happy to help you select one."

Lee nodded enthusiastically, and left as well.

"Congratulations on making chuunin," the Hokage said, turning to the newly made chuunin. "You may now begin to take on missions of your own, as well as training with the others in your team. You may also lead teams on missions, if the situation calls for it."

Fuu grinned. "Of course, Hokage-sama!"

"I'm sure your sensei are very proud of you," he finished. "Dismissed."

"They are, I'm sure," Naruto agreed as they left.

Tenten paused, then shuddered. "Oh stars, the youth involved in that speech will scar me for weeks."

Fuu patted her on the shoulder. "We send strength. And will help with the recovery as much as possible."

"Thanks…" Tenten muttered, turning off as they left the tower.

"You guys did well!" Shisui chirped, appearing in front of them, grinning.

Kakashi shunshined in next to him. "Agreed. Impressive that two full teams made chuunin. That hasn't happened since the sannin, let alone to two teams."

"We'll, they hadn't had genin like us!" Naruto shouted.

Kakashi patted him on the head patronizingly. "Of course."

Naruto puffed up in indignation, but Shisui pushed a scroll into his arms before he could protest. "Pack first, then get mad at Kakashi."

Naruto deflated, and nodded. Shisui chuckled, and ruffled his hair.

"Hinata, Shino, may I talk to you?" Kakashi asked. "Shisui, deal with the others."

They followed him to the abandoned Uchiha compound, for some privacy.

"I'm going to be clear. We're going to leave Konoha and go back to the Akatsuki, the organization we were with before," Kakashi said bluntly. "You can't stop us, Shisui and I are S-class ninja, but you can either stay, or leave with us, if you so wish. We will leave in three days, decide before then."

Shino didn't react. "I am afraid I will have to decline now. I would rather stay in Konoha."

Kakashi inclined his head. "No problem. I had guessed that would be your answer. If you require more time, Hinata, you do not have to answer now."

Hinata looked quite nervous. "N-no, I-I think I-I w-would qu-quite l-like to g-go."

Kakashi nodded. "Thought that might be your answer as well. Alright. If you change your mind, you know where to find us. I would suggest packing what you want, and coming over in two days time. Inform your father you will stay the night. We'll leave early that morning. After Shisui's done making a distraction."

Shino blinked. "I'm sure I don't want to know what distraction he is planning. I believe I will take a mission soon, if you do not mind."

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah… that might be a good idea. It'll keep you out of suspicion's way."

"Was th-that all?" Hinata asked, pushing her index fingers together.

"Yes."

Hinata nodded, turning and hurrying out. Shino simply shunshined away.

Two days later, Hinata showed up at their door, a small bag slung over her shoulder. "I-I'm ready."

Naruto grinned and invited her inside. "Alright! Cool! We're about done too!"

"But there are people there, Shisui," Sasuke sighed, rubbing his head. "Semi-innocent ones!"

"It's the freaking red light district!" Shisui squawked. "Nobody there is innocent!"

"And the kids there?" Sasuke asked impatiently.

Shisui pouted. "What about just the abandoned bits?"

Hinata blinked. "Wh-why are you a-arguing about the r-red light district?"

"He wants to set it on fire, why else would they be arguing about it?" Gaara said, from his spot lounging on the couch.

Hinata blinked. "Y-you're s-setting Konoha on f-fire?"

"Not all of it!" Shisui protested. "Just a little bit!"

"The Uchiha compound, the red light district, and the Hyuuga compound consist of at least a third of the entire village," Kakashi noted, turning a page in his book.

"P-please get o-off the counter, K-Kakashi-sensei," Hinata said, sighing.

"No thank you," Kakashi replied, turning another page.

"Get off the counter idiot," Sasori snapped, walking in. Hinata jumped and squeaked. "So one is coming with us. Noted." He circled her a few times, then moved away to sit in a chair.

"So!" Naruto asked, grinning. "Are you leaving your headband or slashing it?!"

Hinata blinked. She hadn't thought about it. She couldn't really just be wearing her headband, after all.

"She has a bit of time to decide," Sasuke said. "We aren't even slashing our headbands till we're out of the village."

"Anyone know what mission Shino took anyway?" Shisui wondered.

"H-he's on a tracking mission w-with a few j-jounin. J-just a B-rank, m-mostly for the experience. W-with the jounin, it should be n-no problem at all."

"Oh good!" Shisui chirped. "He'll have no problems then!"

"Probably," Sasori said, ever the pessimist. Or the realist, as he would correct anyone.

"Close enough!" Shisui replied, still grinning.

Sasuke facepalmed. "Shisui, at this rate, you're going to burn down the entire village."

"T-that would be b-bad," Hinata agreed.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Shisui groaned. "Fine, we'll get going.

Shisui checked the village once they'd left the city limits. Three separate columns of smoke rose into the air. One from the Uchiha clan compound, one from the Hyuuga clan compound, and the other from the abandoned bits of the redlight district. Had to punish Jiraiya for being such a bad teacher somehow, after all. And punish Hinata's family for being douchebags with sticks up their butts.

He preened slightly when the fires were still raging two hours out, the smoke still clearly visible to someone with the Sharingan.

"Kyu says he approves, lighting those places on fire was a good idea." Naruto said, grinning. "He just woke up now. Kurama caught him up."

"Isn't he supposed t-to be the sensible o-one?" Hinata asked, frowning slightly.

"But the Uchiha clan compound needed to be burned down to make way for new buildings anyway, the Hyuuga were douchebags, no offense to you, Hinata, you're great, and the red light district was clearly more important to my godfather then I was, and getting back at him is totally a job for fire."

Hinata flushed red at being called great, and Shisui patted her head.

"What did Shisui light on fire?" Itachi asked as he materialized next to his cousin in a swirl of crows. Kisame walked out of the bushes to join them.

"The Hyuuga clan compound, the Uchiha clan compound, and a bit of the red light district," Sasuke said, immediately moving to walk between his brother and Kisame.

"Hey guppy," Kisame said, ruffling Sasuke's hair with one very large blue hand.

"KISAME!" Naruto shouted, startling a flock of birds into flight. He latched on in a hug. Kisame ruffled his hair too.

"Hey remora fish," Kisame said, carefully and quickly detaching said teen. "We're walking, quit hugging me."

"Sorry!" Naruto chirped, not sounding very sorry at all.

Kisame rolled his eyes. "Whatever, squirt."

"I'm not a squirt!" Naruto protested loudly.

"A loud one too," Kisame lamented, completely ignoring Naruto's protests.

Hinata giggled softly at their antics. Itachi sighed heavily. Sasori rolled his eyes, and Gaara played deaf.

"You are back," Pain greeted, Karin poking her head out from behind him.

"We are!" Shisui agreed. "And we brought someone with us! Say hello to Pain, Hinata!"

"H-hello," Hinata said, shyly hiding behind Kakashi's leg.

Pain inclined his head. "Hello. We can get you set up in an empty room, if you don't mind following me."

Hinata nodded, and they followed him inside the base. The others all quickly found their previous room, heading into them to get set up.

Pain showed her a room marked two. "The two tails politely declined our offer to join us, so you may have her room. She and the eight tails decided to stay in their home village, as they were accepted there just fine."

Hinata blinked, but nodded. "Th-thank you, for your hospitality."

Pain ruffled her hair. "It is no problem, I assure you."

Hinata smiled up at him. She thought she could like it here.

(A/N) Alright, so theoretically I could end it there, or I could end it next update, or I could try and drag it out for a few more updates. Whadda say? I'm not in the biggest of writing moods right now, so I may not put up the poll to replace this right away, but I'll alert you in the Lilo and Stitch fic when that goes up, so there's that. Whatever happens, have a good night!