Chapter 19: Blackmail and Conspiracies
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When Hinata walked into the dining room, both of her teammates looked up. Shino was no doubt just as curious as Kiba had been as to why Hinata was dressed in her casual ninja clothes.
"I didn't know you were going on a mission," Kiba said once Hinata had settled down.
Her eyes trailed downward towards her breakfast. Although the food looked so colorful and pleasant, she didn't feel hungry.
"I haven't been entirely open with you two," Hinata admitted. "I've been working on changing a few things within my clan, but I recently found out that the elders had led me to believe that they were on my side. God knows what they're secretly up to while I'm away," Hinata said.
"What are you asking from us, exactly?" Shino replied, hoping she wouldn't request their assistance as Anbus, since he no longer wished to help her in such a way since it was obvious she clearly wouldn't like their way of handling things.
"I just need the full support of your clan," She couldn't have other clan leaders being neutral when the time comes. "That's all I ask of you,"
Shino nodded in understanding.
"I'm assuming you want to head back home as soon as possible, then. Do you need me to write an apology letter to Temari, on our behalf?" He asked.
"No," She didn't want Toneri wondering what she was up to. "We're still going to attend, but let's start packing, and leave quietly tomorrow,"
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There was a small orphanage located right by the Kazekage's Tower. Around it were landscapes of beautiful evergreen-looking palm trees, and trails that fork into different areas which eventually led to the same place. There were benches located scarcely about, and a playground. But nothing was more comfortable than the field of grass, or so Gaara believed, as he laid on his back, while being shielded from the sun by the palm tree.
Around him were children, sitting around reading. Gaara closed his eyes and listened to the reader's voice, correcting any spoken error as the orphan read. He had been coming around the orphanage a lot, recently. Something about the holidays made Gaara feel a little bit sad, and coming here helped take things off his mind.
Gaara lifted his gaze at the man approaching them. He lifted a brow as if to ask the Uchiha why he had come to visit, when today he wasn't scheduled for anything like this.
The moment he came into view, a lot of the young girls left Gaara's side as they ran up to Sasuke's side.
"Sasuke-kun!"
"Uchiha-san," Gaara called out.
Giving him a serious look, he silently asked with his eyes, why he had come.
"I made a promise to spend the holiday with the children," Sasuke replied, before shifting his gaze to the kids surrounding him.
"Did you now? So you're not going to tonight's dinner then."
Sasuke showing up helped encourage him to get back to the work he had been avoiding. There was paperwork that he needed to finish before the new year rolled around.
"I suppose I'll see you tomorrow, and happy new year to you Uchiha-san,"
"Hn. Likewise,"
After saying his goodbyes to the kids, Gaara retrieved, floating away on his sand.
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Hanabi took off her gloves and washed her hands thoroughly after helping Sakura with another successful operation. She went back inside the hospital room and did some final checkups on the patient they had just operated on, before meeting Sakura at her office.
When she walked in, the two shared a similar smile.
"I think you're ready for more responsibilities," Sakura said.
"You think so? As in my first medical operation?" She asked, a little hopeful.
"Not quite. Gaara asked me if you're ready for a mission as the team's medic. So if you say yes, he's thinking of sending you on a short mission. And since it's been peaceful around here, you're just there for assurance, but I'm positive nothing is going to happen,"
"I'll ask Onee-chan later, to see what she says,"
"Do you have to ask for permission for every little thing? She's your big sister, not your mother. Hanabi-chan, you're almost 18,"
"I know, but Onee-chan rarely says no to me. So it's no big deal,"
Sakura shook her head but smiled.
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The sun was slowly setting as Matsuri was outside, on the patio, at Gaara's mansion. She lit up a firecracker, and slowly crouched to the ground as she stared off at the spectacle of light, almost transfixed by its nature, until it dimmed and died.
She was bored. Sakura and Hanabi had arrived late from the hospital and were still upstairs getting ready. Meanwhile, Temari had kept to herself, and remained upstairs in her room for reasons Matsuri did not understand. Matsuri did have a feeling something was up with Temari.
She stood and dusted her shorts, heading over towards Kankuro and Gaara. The two were sitting down on a patio sofa, with cards littered about, on the low table, as they played.
Matsuri paused by Gaara's side and sat on the sofa's arm, to look at the cards he had been dealt. She casually crossed her legs, resting an arm over her thighs as she leaned more to Gaara's side.
"Matsuri, it's like I can read your thoughts. Thanks for telling me what hand my brother has,"
Gaara glanced up slightly, meeting Matsuri's eyes, before glancing away with his lips tilting slightly into a smile upon noticing her instant blush.
"Matsuri-chan, my brother is right. Maybe you should stop looking at my cards so that I can win,"
The sense of detachment that always went along with his beautiful, raspy voice, caused Matsuri to almost swoon.
When her lips parted slightly, she decided the next words she uttered were going to be chosen with extreme care. But when the silence stretched and stretched, she found her window of opportunity was gone.
Ugh, why was she so lame around Gaara?
While hiding his cards from view, Gaara reached over the table to grab a beer and offer it to Matsuri, but she declined.
"I want to wait until the guests arrive," She used to like drinking with Gaara, but she found that she would still feel a certain warmness, and drunkenness even without the alcohol, when around him.
Kankuro chuckled from his side, wondering when those two were finally going to get together.
"Are you sure you don't want at least one tiny sip from Gaara's-"
"Stop teasing her, brother," Gaara said knowingly. For he had always been aware of Matsuri's infatuation with him. But he just wasn't...interested.
The bell rang, and the three of them glanced towards the entrance to the mansion. Not trusting Temari to get the door, Kankuro moved to stand.
"I wonder who's here first," Matsuri commented as she followed Kankuro and Gaara, as they headed inside the mansion.
"We'll see," Kankuro said, not looking forward to the guy that hurt his sister's feelings.
Matsuri stayed further back as Kankuro opened the door. Naruto and Sai entered. Not a moment later, Shikamaru followed.
Matsuri immediately felt excited on Temari's behalf as she hurried towards the stairs, which connected to the chambers. She paused and held onto the stair's railing and glanced up. She took in a deep breath before she yelled, up the stairs, at the top of her lungs, while the guests were still greeting each other back in the foyer.
"TEMARI-CHAN, WE-HAVE-GUESTS!"
The guests slowly poured in one by one and glanced up the stairs to see Sakura, instead, standing there.
"Yo!" Naruto said with a grin while blushing.
"Hi!" Sakura said. "You guys made it so early," She replied while looking away from Naruto's attention.
"Naruto was being too fidgety. It was annoying to watch," Shikamaru replied while patting him on the shoulder.
Her reply was a giggle.
As Sakura descended the stairs, she met the gaze of each of her guests, before her eyes lingered on Naruto.
"Where's Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked, curiously, as she joined Sai's side, who had been standing next to Naruto. She was pretty sure Temari had said that he agreed to come.
"Uchiha-san is doing community service at the orphanage," Gaara replied. This seemed to earn a questioning look from Naruto. Although that statement was true, Gaara doubted it had anything to do with wanting to give back to the community.
"So he's giving it his all, huh," Naruto said, quite impressed.
"Aw, that's nice of him," Hanabi added, as she heard the conversation while emerging from the stairs and joining Matsuri's side. As Hanabi looked around, her eyes met Nara's, and she found herself wishing her sister would get there already.
Temari appeared out of one of the halls that connected to the main sleeping quarters, she looked at Shikamaru with almost a sad smile as she descended the stairs. Their long walk together, the other night, was still fresh on her mind.
She felt so angry with him. How dare he. They haven't even been broken up for more than a few weeks, and all of a sudden he had come to Suna to rub it in her face that he had a new love interest. It was hard not to suspect this might've been going on earlier on, while Shikamaru and Temair were together. Temari wanted to scream and shout. Instead, she swallowed and pretended to be just fine.
She looked away, to focus on everyone else.
"Thank you guys for coming," Temari said pleasantly.
The three Sand siblings began to trail towards the dining room, with the rest of the guests following. The dining table had already been set up in advance, by the same catering company that had become Temari's go-to.
And just as they all chose their seat at the table, the doorbell rang again.
Kankuro stood up once more, as they all glanced at one another.
"Must be my sister and her team," Hanabi said with excitement, as she also got up to follow Kankuro to the door.
Hinata entered first, then, the rest of team 8 followed.
"Onee-chan, You're here!" Hanabi said, throwing her arms around her. Her sister was wearing a dark blue kimono, with her hair up in a simple bun, with cute ornaments adorning her.
"Hello," Hinata said, her eyes greeting Kankuro next, who gave a flirtatious smile which she casually ignored.
"Where's my Akamaru?"
"I'm sorry Hanabi-chan, but we left Akamaru behind…"
Hanabi's smile fell. "You guys are evil. Who am I supposed to play with?"
Kiba rolled his eyes. "We had our reasons, you know,"
"Where is everyone?" Shino asked as they all walked inside, and past the stairs, following Kankuro.
"They're already inside the dining room. This way please," Kankuro replied.
When Hinata entered the dining room, the first thing she noticed was the seating arrangements. Sakura sat between Naruto and Sai, while Shikamaru was alone on the opposite side. While two catering staff members hung around in the background, awaiting orders.
When she met Shikamaru's gaze, he sent her a smile. It was returned, as she went over to his side to sit down, with Hanabi quickly joining her side. Team 8 got separated, since Matsuri had relocated, choosing her seat next to Hanabi.
The bell rang once again, and Temari lifted a hand and made a motion, asking a staff member to get the door.
It was Toneri.
Gaara motioned to an available seat close to him, as he sat at the head of the table.
When dinner commenced, there was an awkwardness looming, and Toneri couldn't understand why that was so. It wasn't due to his presence, that much he could tell because Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro would go out of their way to always engage him in a conversation and make him feel welcome.
And as he glanced around the table, he could tell whatever conflict he sensed may have to do with his leader. Temari's gaze hinted so. Her eyes would linger on Hinata, who had been sitting next to Shikamaru as they softly conversed among themselves.
Kankuro also made it obvious that something was going on, from the way he would look, from Nara to Hinata, and then back to Temari again. Why Nara would be involved in any way, left Toneri baffled.
How odd indeed.
"When do you head back home, Hinata-sama?" Toneri asked from his side.
"Soon, in three days." She replied with one of her smiles, knowing for a fact that she was instead of leaving tomorrow.
"So you're leaving before team 7," Gaara commented as he opened a brand-new bottle of some expensive drink before he passed it around.
"Hehe, Toneri and I were joking the other day about how you guys are all here, in Suna. Kakashi must be confident that he can defend Konoha by himself," Kankuro said.
Looking up, Sai gave a glance in Naruto's direction.
"What's your point?" Naruto asked, with little amusement in his voice.
"I'm just saying Konoha is becoming a bit too free-spirited, in my opinion. We can't complain, though, having you guys here means we're untouchable right now,"
"Or Kakashi-sensei believes the peace will last long enough until we return home," Sakura sent a comforting smile towards Naruto's way, hoping he wouldn't lose his temper. Shikamaru also seemed to give Naruto a cautious look.
Gaara rolled his eyes at his brother.
"Well, let's just enjoy this dinner, everyone," Temari chimed in as she sent a nervous smile in Sakura's way.
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Throughout dinner, Toneri listened intently as Naruto was entertaining a conversation about the future of technology, with Gaara and Shikamaru, while Hanabi also listened in.
Remembering something, Toneri glanced from Hanabi, over to Naruto.
"Didn't we donate a generous amount to the joint project?" Toneri said, as he had been aware, Hanabi had attended a convention on their behalf.
"Yeah, we did. I'm so excited to see it be finished this year." Hanabi added from her side, before turning back to Matsuri and smiling. She loved the idea of being able to keep in touch with friends without sending the poor birds to fly such long distances.
Hanabi was considering boycotting her village over animal cruelty.
"The first few lines of communications are supposed to go up in about a month," Naruto stated, as he looked towards Toneri's way, before shifting his attention to Sakura. "That means that no matter how far you are, we'll get to talk almost every day, Sakura-chan," Naruto said to the pink-haired woman, who seemed to have a sudden slight blush across her cheek.
"Adorable," Sai commented from his spot, as he gave a thoughtful look towards Naruto, the cause of the phenomena.
"Be careful, Sai, or you might end up on Sakura-sensei's bad side," Hanabi commented from her side.
Hinata was more involved in the conversation happening between her and Shikamaru. Toneri, who had noticed the secret smile being shared between the two, almost raised a curious brow at this. His leader was definitely on friendly terms with the Nara clan leader.
How interesting.
"Hinata-san," Temari with a smile. "Do you like medicinal herbs?"
Hinata glanced up, almost surprised that she was being spoken to.
"Yes. I used to make them. why do you ask?"
"Well, I also went through a phase. I wasn't inept when it came to the healing arts, so I stuck to making medicinal concoctions. But I no longer use my kit, if you're interested in taking it with you,"
"Oh, thank you..."
So Temari and Hinata do speak to each other. But then, what was the problem? Toneri thought to himself.
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After dinner was over, they all began to break into smaller groups.
"Hey, Shika, help me bring out the booze," Kankuro said while he began to walk towards the stairs that connected to the basement, where the wine cellar was located, with Shikamaru immediately joining him.
Toneri paused and stared after the two as they walked away. Hinata, who had joined his side, gave him a curious glance.
"Something wrong Toneri-san?" At the time, Toneri had mistaken her question for concern.
"There are about thirteen guests. Can they carry everything by themselves?" Toneri commented. "They may need an extra pair of hands,"
"Okay, see you outside," Hinata nodded and kept on walking as he disappeared after the two.
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While outside, on the Patio, Hinata watched as her little sister hurried over to Matsuri and Sai, stopping in front of them while waiving two firecrackers as though she was swinging two swords. The performance earned a laugh from Matsuri and a smile from Sai. Kiba and Shino were standing across from Gaara, Sakura, and Naruto, all with their firecrackers in hand.
"Your little sister is such a great soul," Temari said as she approached Hinata and settled down on a sofa, crossing her legs.
"She is. I love her to death." Hinata replied while keeping her eyes on her sister, as she had one of the happiest and carefree smiles.
"Nara-san told me about you,"
Hinata paused and looked at Temari with confusion. So it was back to Nara-san?
Hinata eventually realized what Temari had meant. Hinata knew she should feel happy that Shikamaru had shared that with Temari. But wasn't that a little risky? Temari and Kankuro were kind of close to Toneri.
"I honestly don't know why Nara-san thought that he owed me an explanation. Don't you agree?"
"Um, I can't speak on his behalf. Perhaps you should be having this conversation with him instead,"
"How long have the two of you-"
Hinata stopped her before she could finish. "He never cheated on you, Temari-san,"
"You probably presume that I talk about cheating in the context of just physically. But you were there too. So what's your take on this? " Temari shook her head as if giving up once she saw hints of ignorance. "Forget that I even asked. Maybe you two do belong together," Temari said while standing up to join Gaara's side, who had lit up a firecracker and handed it over to her sister.
Hinata gripped her hands as they rested on her lap. Had she been in the wrong the entire time?
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As Toneri got closer to the wine cellar, the door was opened and slightly muffled voices could be heard from inside. Hinata's name came up.
Deciding he had heard enough, Toneri pushed himself off the wall and calmly went back upstairs, with his hands tucked inside his pockets. When he reached the patio, he settled next to Hinata and gave her a knowing smile.
"What happened to helping them?" Hinata asked him.
"They were having a private conversation which I didn't want to interrupt," Toneri replied as he had a reflective look in his eyes.
He then glanced up, in time to meet Gaara's gaze, as he joined the two sitting around the low table.
"Gaara-san, why is it that you're still single?" Toneri asked just as Kankuro had returned with Shikamaru with a bunch of bottles of wine in their arms.
"Things are a little bit different, now, in Suna," Gaara vaguely replied as Kankuro and Shikamaru were setting down the bottles around the table.
Toneri smirked, he had forgotten that Gaara had banned arranged marriage in Suna.
"Hinata-sama, I understand that unfortunately, you find yourself single, with no fault of your own. I'll pray for your match to be a successful one this year," Toneri said. His eyes trailed towards Nara, whose hand had paused for a moment as he set the last bottle down in front of him.
"It was my understanding your cousin does not wish it so," Gaara said, with a slight tilt, while his eyes trailed to Hinata. "In fact, we both had made it into a sport,"
"Is that so brother?" Kankuro asked, while glancing at Shikamaru.
Kiba, who could partially hear the conversation, even though he was standing far away, was catching on to how uncomfortable Hinata felt, from the way she searched his eyes from across the patio. He motioned Shino over, and the two-headed back towards Hinata's side.
"Guys, why is it looking kind of tense over here? Let's make a toast, to a new year," Kiba said in his hopes of rescuing her. "And to peace," He added as he helped pass empty wine glasses around.
"Kiba slows down, and let us pour the damn wine first," Kankuro said with a grin.
Naruto and Sakura approached the group and reached for their glass of wine. Temari had opted to stay behind, by Hanabi's and Matsuri's side while Sai was casually sketching in his scroll, nearby.
"To Konoha and Suna," Gaara said.
"To bonds and friend," Naruto cheered.
"To family," Kankuro added.
"To my leader. May she finally find a Hyugan clansman worthy of her," Toneri said. He noticed right away how Naruto had also made a face as he looked towards Shikamaru's angry gaze.
"Oi, give it a rest," Kiba said while glaring.
After all their glasses met, Toneri leaned over, close to her Hinata's ear, with a devilish smile. His eyes locked with Shikamaru from across their seating arrangement.
"So you've chosen Nara. Really cousin?" He whispered.
Her face was drained of color, her heart almost stopped upon hearing those words.
"Come now, don't give me that look, as if it was supposed to be a secret,"
"What do you want Toneri?" She kept her voice low, almost inaudible, knowing he could read her lips.
"There doesn't need to be another scandal, Hinata-sama. Break it off quietly with Nara, and retract your thesis. Tell the other elders this trip has healed your broken heart, so we can get on with finding you another match. Only then can I pretend that any of this didn't happen."
This time, raising his voice for the rest to hear, he added;
"Cousin, you truly are beautiful. The most priceless jewel of our clan. I would've married you if I hadn't accepted my position, due to conflict of interest and all,"
When his hand reached out to touch her hair, Shikamaru's shadow had moved, reaching Toneri in less than a second, gripping tightly at his arm, with the intent of ripping it off as necessary.
Toneri let out a grin, as he could feel murderous intent being directed towards him from the Aburame, the Inuzuka, the Uzumaki.
"Maybe you should slow down on those drinks. You're being kind of weird Toneri-san." Hanabi said she overheard the last part. The shadow threatening to tear Toneri's arm quickly retracted back to Shikamaru, thus Hanabi had missed the exchange.
Hanabi, in her ignorance, casually approached the low table and confidently reached for a glass of wine. But her hand was brushed off by Hinata.
"Hanabi-san," Toneri began but noticed she didn't seem to know what was going on. He instead shook his head. "Perhaps you're right,"
"Onee-chan, can I go on a Suna mission?" Hanabi asked. "Sakura-chan seems to think I'm ready to aid a team,"
"Oh, congratulations, and of course Hanabi-chan. Just be careful,"
Toneri yawned behind his hand, before slowly rising from his seat, just as Temari was walking up with a questioning look in her eyes.
"Thank you for inviting me, Temari-chan. but I believe I have overstayed," He explained that he had a trip tomorrow and that he should head back to his suite and rest.
"Thank you for coming. Happy new year, Toneri-chan,"
Toneri-chan? Gaara felt a little confused as to how Toneri would allow his sister to call him that.
When Toneri began to walk back inside the mansion, Kankuro had followed.
Hinata glanced over at Shikamaru and looked away, before going after her cousin with Gaara joining her, probably wanting an explanation.
"I have to apologize on behalf of my cousin," Hinata said to Gaara. "You see, he seems to stand in opposition of how I envision the future of my clan,"
"It matters not to me, as long as the issue gets resolved. I quite enjoy my freedom and do not wish to find a letter, from the Hyuga elders, asking me for something unreasonable. If they try to marry you off, we both know they'll choose me,"
Eh? "No, I actually don't know. What makes you say that?"
"The way they eyed me during the inauguration, you weren't there, but it was pretty obvious," Gaara replied.
"I rather step down before something like that happens," Hinata replied, actually meaning it.
Gaara glanced over his shoulder, just in time to see Kiba and Shino had joined her side.
"So we're leaving?" Shino asked.
"Not 'we'. I think I need some time alone with Toneri-san," Hinata said.
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"Dude, what was that about back there?" Kankuro asked as he reached Toneri by the door.
"What I want to know is, why do you take her side when she's set on ruining my clan?"
"I don't know what you're going on about, but you should go back and apologize to Hinata-san for making her uncomfortable tonight," Kankuro stated. "If you don't, I don't think my little brother is going to like making deals with the Hyuga clan,"
"It's fine, Kankuro-san," Hinata said, joining the two, with Gaara, Kiba, and Shino following behind. "I completely forgive my cousin, which is why we're going on a walk together,"
"We'll come with you," Kiba said as he followed her.
"No. Stay," Hinata replied before she turned to her cousin.
"If you go with him, it's only going to ruin your night," Kiba tried to whisper, but everyone else could hear him. Toneri rolled his eyes.
"My night?" Hinata almost laughed. It was more than her night, more like the rest of her life. "I'll see you guys at home." Turning to Gaara, she nodded his way. "I'm sorry for not staying longer. Please communicate my apology to Temari-san and the rest of the guests..."
"You're fine. I'm just happy to see you two will work out whatever family issues you're having. After all, family is important..." Gaara said.
Just as she was leaving, the bell rang.
"Must be the other catering team member with snacks, finally," Kankuro said, almost with a smile as he glanced at the time and shook his head. It was 10:45 pm, and they had already run out of snacks.
When Kankuro opened the door, he was surprised to see Sasuke standing there. He chuckled and looked at his brother, Gaara.
"I take it you got kicked out of the orphanage. Kids do need sleep, Uchiha-san." Gaara said as he approached him.
"Ha-ha," Sasuke chuckled sarcastically, as he entered their home.
When he took a step inside, he could immediately tell something was not right. Kiba and Shino were standing far away from Hinata, and Toneri had locked his arm around Hinata while pulling her towards him.
"Let us go and enjoy this walk, cousin," Toneri said. "Happy new year, everyone."
As Hinata walked past Sasuke, her eyes didn't acknowledge him.
It didn't bother Sasuke in any particular way, but the main thing that got to him was that Kiba and Shino were not going after her. And knowing now what he knew about Toneri, that was problematic.
Speaking of problematic, where the hell was Nara? And why was he allowing this to happen?
"Sasuke-kun! You made it!" Sakura said, happily, from her side.
Sasuke, who had been trailing behind Kiba and Shino, continued to walk past them as they paused to sit down.
"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto grinned, from his place next to Sakura, with a drink in his hand. He motioned to the drinks on the table. "Hurry up and join us!"
"Hn, maybe later," Sasuke said as he stopped in front of Shikamaru. "Nara. A word,"
Shikamaru, who had been sitting across from Naruto, gave his best friend a look, before following after Sasuke.
Hanabi was playing with firecrackers in the background, but paused to curiously glance over at Nara and Sasuke. She couldn't recall a time she had seen the two talking to one another. Was something going on?
"Why did you let her leave with that nuisance?"
"You mean Toneri-san?"
"She didn't tell you anything, did she?" And it was obvious that Sasuke reveled in that fact, from the smug expression on his face.
Shikamaru sighed a controlled breath. He appeared bored and disinterested, but inwardly, he was simmering with anger. He was reminded that Hinata tended to confide in the Uchiha before ever turning to him...
Kiba, who had heard part of the conversation, walked over to the two while frowning.
"We shouldn't have left her alone," Kiba said, as Shino also approached.
"So what am I missing here?" Shikamaru asked.
Sasuke rolled his eyes before filling them in on the little recon mission he took part in during the afternoon. As he briefed them in, he kept it as professional as he could be, leaving out the irrelevant details and keeping them to himself.
Ah, Shikamaru thought to himself. So the two of them had met up, snuck off, on a secret mission, alone, okay. Should he be surprised?
The more Shikamaru thought about it, it had also been the same way before. Hinata tended to reach out to the Uchiha, even before the two of them ever got together.
But she had chosen him and not the Uchiha. Shikamaru knew that should mean something, right? But why hasn't she verbalized her feelings for him? He had professed his love for her multiple times, yet she had yet to say it back.
.
Hanabi nodded absentmindedly. Her replies had become 'uhuhs' and 'okays' as Matsuri spoke to her. Her main focus had been reading Sasuke's lips.
'She didn't tell you anything, did she' Hanabi could make out from the conversation. She didn't get to hear the rest of the conversation, since Kiba and Shino had joined in, forming a circle and obscuring her view.
Was her sister hiding something?
"Everything okay, Hanabi-chan?" Matsuri asked as Hanabi seemed fixated on the two brunettes who were conversing with a serious look on their face.
"Yes, everything is fine,"
.
Shikamaru crossed his arms with a calculative look in his eyes. Just as he glanced up, he saw Naruto and Sai approaching.
"What's going on?" Naruto asked Shikamaru. "You got that stupid scheming face like you're about to go to war or something,"
Sai chuckled from his side, as he liked the sound of that.
Ignoring Naruto's comment, Shikamaru turned to Kiba. "Where do you think she is by now?"
Lifting a finger, Shino showed them one of his bugs.
"I put a tracker on her, earlier," He admitted. "They seem to be heading towards the mansion."
"Wait, what's happening? Where are we going?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke sighed. It was becoming too crowded. They probably appeared conspicuous too, standing about, plotting.
"Naruto, come up with a cover," Sasuke said.
Even while clueless, Naruto still went along with it. He figured he'll later find out.
"Oi, Gaara! We'll be back! We're going to make a trip to the store to get more snacks," Naruto called out over his shoulder.
"Cool, can you guys bring back some ice cream?" Matsuri said from her side.
"Yup! We got you!"
Sasuke opened up a portal, and they disappeared inside.
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They found Hinata in the foyer of the mansion, her knees on the floor, next to Toneri's unconscious body as Akamaru sniffed the body.
"Kami, Hinata, is he dead?" Kiba asked unsure.
Akamaru barked a 'no', for which Kiba let out a sigh of relief as he approached the body.
Upon seeing Shikamaru, Hinata immediately rushed into his arms, hiding her face in his chest, so that she didn't have to face their gazes which scrutinized her.
"What have you done Hinata? I know he's annoying but…" Naruto said as he inspected Toneri's unconscious body by poking his cheek.
Shino also walked over to the body and felt for a pulse.
"Akamaru's right, he's alive," For which the dog barked.
Sasuke walked up to a wall and leaned against it with his arms crossed.
"Hinata, why?" Shikamaru asked.
"Toneri-san told me that he knows some information about me and threatened me with blackmail,"
"Hn. So she finally speaks," Sasuke said sarcastically from his side.
"Alright, I understand your self-defense angle, but killing him on Suna soil might only start a war," Naruto said as Sai took out a scroll and began to sketch Toneri's body. "He's an elder Hinata. There would've been an investigation. Do you also forget that he's Kankuro's friend?"
Shikamaru had remained quiet, mostly because he had been so furious he could barely even talk. Still, he continued to keep his arms wrapped around her.
He sighed against her bluish hair, and noticed the Uchiha giving them a look before glancing away.
Nevertheless, in the process of trying to come up with ideas, Shikamaru was reminded of the Sharingan's abilities.
"Uchiha, wake him up and delete his memories," Shikamaru said, strangely calm, while he held Hinata even closer in his arms.
"Wow, wait? You can do that?" Kiba pretty quickly realized that not everyone's stats and information were publicly published. He figured Shikamaru must've known because he was the Hokage's advisor, which meant he had access to information that wasn't available to Anbus.
"Why should I? It's obvious that Hinata brought him here with the intention of murdering him," Sasuke began, as he pushed himself off the wall and approached the two. "So why doesn't she do herself the favor of following through?"
"Sasuke, just do what Shikamaru asked." Naruto said, while glaring his way.
After finding Toneri's body to be a boring model, Sai turned to the three brunettes, his eyes darting between Shikamaru, Hinata, and Sasuke. When his hand began to sketch once more, he paused momentarily. How curious, that look Sasuke had in his eyes, as he looked at Hinata…
Hinata slowly left Shikamaru's arms and turned to Sasuke, just as he drew his sword and held it out to her. He wanted to stop her from leaving his side, instead, he watched.
"End his pitiful existence, Hinata,"
Hinata drowned out Naruto's and Kiba's retorts and comments. She stared with intent at Sasuke's weapon, as if considering his words. When she reached out, a smirk tugged at the corner of Sai's lips, as he regarded her with an extreme level of fascination that he normally doesn't let himself show.
A hand caught Hinata's wrist before she could reach out any further. She turned to Shikamaru and swallowed. His brown eyes met hers, with a secret question in them. But it was obvious he went on to ask her something else.
"And what would killing him do? From my understanding, it won't solve any issues that right now stand in our way,"
Sasuke rolled his eyes as he sheathed his sword, before retrieving it back again against the wall.
"I'm with Nara on this one," Shino said while glancing around Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba. They appeared to feel the same way. However, when it came to Sai, Shino could not get a read on him since he hadn't worked much with the Shinobi artist before.
Sai was incapable of smiling without seeming like a devious person. He glanced down at his sketch, which had captured the moment Hinata almost held Sasuke's sword.
"Erase his memories," Hinata said passively, almost in a murmur, as she allowed the surrounding opinions to sway her.
"If I do that, what guarantee do I have that you might not try this again? I won't be there the next time you get yourself in trouble,"
Sasuke's words left Shikamaru with a weird feeling inside.
Hinata walked over to the Uchiha with her arms crossed, her expression changing. Her gaze intensified, as she looked at him as though she would not settle for a 'no' because that would mean she didn't have ownership of her world. Sai tilted his head, had the two of them always been that close?
"Just do it, Sasuke." She commanded, firmly, with a glare.
Sasuke glanced past Hinata, over to Shikamaru. His gaze returned to her, and Sasuke wondered why he liked this side of her. The same side that sometimes irritated him as she tended to speak out commands left and right as if she had the right to, such a Hyuga thing to do, and sometimes he found himself thrilled by it all. He believed no one had any idea how he felt, and how it excited him whenever she asserted her dominance over him, as though he was some sort of peasant.
He didn't notice Sai's curious gaze on him.
"Hn," Having already been inside Toneri's suite before, Sasuke opened up a portal, and threw Toneri over his shoulder, to take him back. He figured he might as well erase his memories there, since it's easier to alter his memories into believing he got home after dinner with the Sand Siblings.
"Sasuke, just remember not to kill him." He heard Naruto yell as he stepped through his portal and disappeared.
After Hinata glanced away, she caught the strange, knowing look which Sai sent her way.
"Well, I guess that's that," Kiba said as he patted Akamaru on the head. He had a feeling his furry best friend had a hand in helping Hinata knock Toneri out.
"We should probably pick up those snacks, huh," Naruto said casually.
"Agree," Shino said. And as he opened the door, Kiba and Sai slowly strolled behind.
Shino sent Shikamaru a curious look as he remained by Hinata's side, but nodded his way nevertheless, and said nothing.
"Aha, so you're staying," Naruto said, giving him a knowing smile.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"Troublesome, I'll see you guys later."
"Later Hinata, and happy new year," Naruto said, smiling at her as he was the last one to leave through the door, which Shino had been holding.
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N/A: I've been writing recent chapters with your reviews in mind so thank you for leaving comments.
Edited: 9-24-21
Edited: 9-8-22