Chapter 21: The Hunt Begins
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Hinata was filled with a sense of dread inside, as she sat behind her desk, with Sakura's recent message in her hand. The pink-haired woman was not one to write to her unless it had to do with medical checkup reminders. However, the medic was in Suna, so this letter had to do with Hanabi. After she opened up the letter, Hinata felt a terrifying shift inside. It was similar to the heartbreak she had felt when witnessing Neji's last smile.
Recalling the last interaction she had with her younger sister, Hinata remembered the bright smile Hanabi had sent her way before she had departed back home. It felt like her entire heart had been ripped out, all over again, with a vacant hole in its place as she slowly read each word. It was painful to get through it since towards the end, her fears had been confirmed to be true. Her younger sister, the firework of her life, was missing.
Sakura's admission of guilt came across loudly, from the very beginning of the letter, from the words she had used, from 'I'm so sorry,' to 'We'll find her'. But wasn't their fault...
It was Toneri.
It must've been.
During her birthday, her cousin had said some strange things to her before, back in Suna, almost as a warning to keep a close eye on her sister. But Hinata hadn't thought much of it, believing there was no way anything could happen with Sakura and Sasuke around. Also, Hinata did not find it to be a coincidence that Toneri had also been there during New Year when she had given Hanabi permission to go on a mission.
It had to be him, and Hinata needed it to be because that was the only way she could say for certain that her sister was out there, alive.
In an attempt to roll the letter back up, it ended up scrunched in her shaky, impatient hands. Hinata tucked away from the letter, and briskly made space on her desk to write a few letters to send out; calling for an emergency conference meeting at her home.
Before she headed out the door, Hinata wrote up a quick mission request, addressed to the captain of her soldiers. She intended to deliver it in person, something she never had to do before.
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Each step, Hinata took brought her closer and closer to the massive, opened space training ground.
The sound of the captain yelling commands could be faintly heard even before she stepped into the military base, located at the furthest end of the compound. Hundreds of Hyugas ranging from Genins to Anbus had been lined up, practicing their stance together in a precise unified motion, while in front of their captain.
Hinata hastily walked past the soldiers, through a clearing, with an emotionless look in her eyes, while her cloak and hair flowed behind her. Her soldiers paused what they were doing the moment she came into view, bending on one knee, their heads, and gazed lowered towards the ground, as she reached the front, stopping right before their captain.
"Hinata-sama," The emotionless greeting, was followed with a bow. As the man behind the Anbu mask straightened back up, he braced himself, for she rarely physically came around these parts of the mansion.
Having previously heard rumors about the Main Branch trying to push back against her thesis and beliefs, he was ready for her to claim they were going to a war…
"What brings you here?"
Hinata stared at the older man in front of her while trying to hold on to her composure. She was afraid that her voice might break if she spoke out loud. Hinata tried to act strong, however, her voice came out low and soft, as if she had reverted to a timid girl.
"Ko," Hinata said, addressing the person that had been one of her protectors throughout her younger, earlier life. She had relieved him of his role as protector and promoted him to head captain of her small army after she had ascended to power.
"What's wrong?" Ko's recognizable voice replied from behind his mask, also becoming softer the more he interacted with her.
"Hanabi-chan- she's been-" Her throat felt hoarse, almost as though she had been crying.
She was unable to finish her sentence. Thinking it would be easier for her to do so, Hinata withdrew a scroll from her person and handed it to him. It was a mission request that had been thrown together, in a short amount of time.
Ko swallowed as he briefly skimmed through his mission request, his heart almost stopping.
Hanabi was Hinata's lifeline. He had to move right away.
"I'm on it. I promise she'll be found,"
While their commander and their captain quietly exchanged a few more words, several Genins and Chunins would lift their gaze, stealing glances her way, bewitched by her poise, appearance, beauty, and grace. She was more beautiful than any stories or rumors told.
Meanwhile, every Anbu internally shook their heads, because they knew something was off. Their leader doesn't frequent this place.
Ko motioned to three, out of the crowd of hundreds, to come forward. The three chosen ones broke formation to join the very front.
Ko sighed, as he couldn't make up his mind about whom to choose to become his first lieutenant to leave in charge.
"I guess the time has come, to pick a lieutenant,"
Without having to see behind his mask, Hinata could identify his struggle.
"It is hard for you to choose, may I?" Hinata asked as she approached the three Anbu standing in front of her.
Ko sent a nod her way, as she threw one side of her cloak behind her.
She activated her Byakugan, taking a probing look at each of the three of them. Hinata could see their hearts beating, knowing what they desired. Instead, she walked up to the one whose heart was beating normally.
"You. What's your name?"
The Anbu she addressed, kneeled. He glanced upon her, proudly, while he spoke his name. Hinata repeated it out loud, liking the darkness in his name.
"Give me your main weapon," She asked while extending her hands out, for which he obliged.
"From now on," Hinata said while holding his katana. She aimed the blade forward, raising it and lowering it to each of his shoulders. "You'll be my first lieutenant." When she returned the katana to its owner, the blade was aimed at her. "Please watch over everyone, as if you were a captain. They're yours now, while your captain is away."
"Thank you, Hinata-sama," The first lieutenant replied. "Your wish is my command,"
"Should anything happen to your captain, the leadership role may fall upon you, only if I were to approve it,"
Hinata turned to Ko, knowing she had just lifted the burden of choosing, from his shoulder. She imagined that, behind his mask, he sent her a grateful smile.
The other two Anbu were picked to join him on his mission.
"Hinata-sama." One of the two, Anbu greeted her, with a hint of eagerness in his voice. When Hinata briefly sent an acknowledging nod his way, he thought his heart was going to melt.
She turned away, wordlessly dismissing herself in a hurry.
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Right as she was nearing inside the mansion, she spotted a wounded messenger bird trying to land. She extended her palm as it tiredly landed on her hand, its chest taking odd patterns of breath before dying in her hands. It must've been poisoned, before being sent out, so that it doesn't fly back to its owner.
After she read the letter, half of her suspicions had been true. Her sister had been kidnapped, and if she wanted her returned safely, Hinata would have to publicly step down as the leader, and name Hanabi the new ruler.
At least it confirmed that Hanabi was possibly safe. She decided to keep this information to herself in the meantime.
While she headed to the next location, she reflected on Matsuri's death, her eyes tearing once more. The girl had yet to make a name for herself, and just like Hanabi, had been filled with endless potential, only to get snuffed before her time.
Matsuri. Even though the young woman held no titles, she had been very close to Gaara…
Hanabi's captors must've not known about Matsuri's connection to Lord Kazekage, essentially putting her whole clan at risk of war, since it was easy to picture what Gaara would do, should he find out it was a Hyuga involved. Someone like him would seek retribution.
Her feet brought her to the hallways, outside the conference room. Hinata paused and took a deep breath, before walking in. All the elders were already present, along with her father. Right before stopping by her seat, Hinata withdrew Sakura's letter and handed it to her father, not caring about the poor condition the scroll had been in.
Hiashi said nothing for a moment, as the room was filled with perturbed silence. The elders looked at one another, with silent questions in their eyes, as they waited for confirmation that something had indeed gone wrong.
"My youngest one has gone missing..." Hiashi murmured, his hand falling to the side, as he gripped the letter with one hand. "Whoever did this is going to pay dearly." He said slowly, with accumulating rage that seeped through his voice as he spoke each word.
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Perhaps due to inexperience, or perhaps because he was the culprit, Toneri remained quiet, while her father and the rest of the elders spoke about the reasons Hanabi might've been kidnapped. They referenced a failed attempt of the past, for which Hinata immediately glanced up, knowing they were talking about the incident that had happened when she was young.
One of the elders also suggested that the kidnapper either wanted Hanabi's eyes or a large sum of money. Or maybe both. All the legal dispositions were being laid out should the kidnapper make any demand for more, for which Toneri finally glanced towards Hinata's direction, meeting her eyes, studying her just as much as she was observing him.
Just as Hinata was about to speak, a maid interrupted the meeting, to announce the arrival of Lord Kakashi and his advisor.
After the two settled down behind their assigned seat, Hiashi filled them in on what had been discussed thus far. Including the information, Sakura had passed along. She had deduced that Hanabi had gone missing for nearly a week, based on Matsuri's estimated time of death.
Shikamaru's eyes instinctively looked towards Hinata's way, wishing he could hold her and soothe her.
"I know Gaara very well. Therefore, Suna is doing the best they can on their part to find her," Kakashi said, quite serious. "He was attached to his student, Matsuri-chan. I'm confident he wants revenge against whoever murdered her in cold blood,"
One of the elders glanced up from their seat at what he perceived to be a new piece of information.
"My daughter sent a team earlier to help with the search," Hiashi explained. "We appreciate any help you can spare." He specifically had Naruto's name in mind.
"Consider it done," Kakashi replied while standing, signaling the meeting to be over. The elders, along with Kakashi, exited the conference room.
Hinata stood up, her eyes glued to the person who had been avoiding her for nearly three weeks. She only wishes they had reunited under different circumstances. But when she summoned him, she knew he would come.
"Daughter, I'm going to the Tower with Lord Kakashi," Hiashi said, while he was standing outside the hall. "I need you to hold it down, and wait around to see if any news arrives." He sent a neutral glance in Shikamaru's direction, before making eye contact with his daughter. He shook his head and said nothing. Likewise, he didn't have time to even question her about the meaning behind the longing look she had sent Shikamaru's way.
Kakashi waited for Hiashi while standing further down the hall. When the retired clan leader joined him, the two promptly began to walk.
"Your advisor," Hiashi began as the two turned around the corner of the corridor. "What business did he have in Suna?" Toneri had briefly mentioned that the Uzumaki and the Nara clan leader had also been in Suna.
Kakashi decided to proceed with caution when it came to the subject.
"Gaara sent him an invitation. You know how it is, the Nara relation with Suna is shaky these days," Kakashi replied, spouting half-truths.
"I see," Hiashi said, but it was hard to tell if he was convinced. "My daughter was also in Suna,"
"Not sure what you're implying, Lord Hiashi," Kakashi said, his head doing a slight tilt as he feigned ignorance. "I'm sure it was just pure coincidence,"
Hiashi paused, sending him a look of disbelief.
"I'm not blind. How long has that been going on?" It would be even more foolish to believe Kakashi didn't know anything.
Kakashi also paused.
"Ah, let's see," Bringing one finger to his chin, he tapped thoughtfully. "My spies confirmed that it had been happening for nearly two months, or so. But you don't have to worry. Her virtue is intact," The last piece of information had been confirmed after Kakashi had ordered Ino to go into his mind, a day or two after he had returned, to confirm it. He remembered how pissed his advisor had been.
No matter...
"Her thesis. Isn't that what the branch members had always desired? Could it be that's why Hanabi-chan was kidnapped?"
"I fear that might be the case," Hiashi replied. Although Hiashi was furious with his daughter, he decided to let it be for now, since the main focus was finding Hanabi.
Returning once more to walking, the two quickly exited the mansion.
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"Hinata," Shikamaru began, pulling her into a hug while speaking the phrases she probably had heard too many times by now. "We're going to find her." He felt her wrap her arms tightly around him.
There was chilly darkness in her voice when she finally spoke.
"You should've let me kill him,"
"That's the most obvious conclusion we could both anticipate. But we should also prepare for the scenario that he didn't do it," Shikamaru replied.
His answer was only to pacify her, since her anger caused all the fixtures, tables, and chairs around them, to shatter.
"Sasuke told me Toneri was somehow connected to my ex…" She was a hundred percent sure that he was responsible. However, for some reason she felt like she credibly went down the moment she brought that name up
"Uchiha, huh,"
She noticed how Shikamaru's voice dropped dangerously low as he mentioned Sasuke's last name. She pulled away slightly while wiping her tears, and looked at him, with an expression of confusion.
"It doesn't hurt to start there. While Suna searches for my little sister, let's look into Toneri and the elders," Hinata said while handing him the letter she had recently just received, which blackmailed her into stepping down.
Although smoking didn't exactly dull these sensations, he found himself moving towards the door while tucking the letter he had just read, inside his pocket.
"Let's talk outside,"
Shikamaru led the way, as they walked through the courtyard, until they finally reached the bridge, knowing that it had some kind of property that prevented the Byakugan from looking in and spying. As Shikamaru stepped onto the bridge that arched over the koi pond, he took out a lighter and cigarette and began to smoke, while his mind tried to come up with a plan.
He knew it would've been more efficient to be sitting behind a shogi board because his mind tended to come up with more ideas when sitting behind the board.
Hinata moved past him, standing at a distance so that the smoke doesn't blow her way. She crossed her arms underneath her cloak and started towards the pond. Wherever Hanabi was, she could only imagine how scared, traumatized, and alone she must feel right now.
Her eyes instantly watered. "Shikamaru-kun, what should I do...?"
"Send out an order to bring in all the servants for questing," Shikamaru said, his gaze turned to meet hers. "Including your own. One of them is bound to know something." Gathering all the servants, and questioning them for information, was the safest option. Hinata could order such a thing, under the claim that she was merely performing an investigation for the sake of protecting the clan.
She understood that being careful was probably the tactical way of doing things without causing more turmoil within her clan, but it wasn't the fastest.
Like her, the elders held some kind of power. Although they sat below her, united, their voices were as strong as hers. Thus, she couldn't bring them in for interrogation based on just suspicion alone. And if she uses her soldiers and gives the order to forcefully bring all of them in, she would be seen as some sort of unreasonable, paranoid, tyrant.
Hinata leaned over the wooden rail, letting out a sad sigh, as she continued to stare down at the pond. Hinata recalled how the Aburame clan had once been close to Danzo and were inspired by him to build a large torture chamber inside their mansion. Perhaps she didn't have to publicly bring them in when there was a much more discreet way of doing things in the shadow.
Glancing his way, with her gaze far away, she finally replied.
"I understand your train of thought, but," Hinata said as she rested her elbows on the wooden railing. She appreciated his advice and would've taken them if it had been someone else's sister that had gone missing. But Hanabi was her world. "I need to find her before they start making more serious demands. You already know what the fastest way of doing things is..."
Shikamaru inhaled, his hand then moved away from his lips. His eyes absentmindedly returned to the death stick he held between his fingers. When he exhaled, he looked her way, thoughtfully.
"And if you're wrong?"
"I'll risk it." She murmured solemnly. Hinata performed a mental roll call of whom to summon for help. It had to be allies outside of her clan since those are the people she trusted the most at this point. Her eyes were then back on him. "Will you help me?"
Would.
Should.
Troublesome.
He had to.
Instead of verbally replying, he sent a smile her way to reassure her, before looking away. His eyes returned to the smoke in front of him, which had been dispersing in the air.
Hinata gave the cigarette in his hand a thoughtful look, before reaching her hand out, motioning him to hand it to her. He had assumed she wanted him to put it out, since Temari had always wanted the same thing, since she was disgusted by it.
"Ah, sorry. Do you want me to stop?"
When she shook her head, Shikamaru then blinked in the realization that she might've wanted the venom in her mouth.
"What a drag," He said, knowing when to refuse her. He put his cigarette out, not wanting to corrupt her in such a way.
"I'll ask Ino for help," Shikamaru said while trying to reel in the conversation back to the subject. "We'll do this tonight." He added, while not addressing the whole situation that had just occurred.
"I'll summon everyone," Hinata said while moving away from the railing. "And if they don't come..." Her eyes trailed to the side, as if she was imagining exactly what she desired to do instead. Blinking rapidly, she suddenly glared his way. "Why didn't you write to me all this time?" Hinata asked as she walked past him.
She kept moving, without looking at him.
Shikamaru couldn't justify or articulate his feelings in a way that didn't make him sound like a jealous person. Instead, he apologized as she walked away.
His steps hurried, and when he caught up to her, he grabbed her arm gently and waited for her to turn.
His hand touched her cheek, before disappearing into her hair, as he leaned down and kissed her.
She pushed him away while frowning and glaring.
At that moment, Shikamaru believed that he finally knew her.
Hinata was such a bad, bad liar.
Shikamaru felt confident in whatever he did next. He pulled her back on the bridge, before kissing her.
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The same night, Hinata stood perched on a tree, inside the Forest of Death, clad in a black cloak, with a hood pulled over her. Sitting down on the same branch, next to her, was Shikamaru, with one knee drawn in.
Around her stood six other individuals, with their identities covered up similarly.
Her lavender eyes shifted to Shibi, Tsume, Yoshino, and Sai, who wore Anbu masks.
"Why aren't you boys wearing your masks?" Tsume asked from her tree.
Hinata's eyes were immediately drawn to Shino and Kiba, surprised. She watched as they pulled out their own Anbu mask and placed it on with hesitation.
Hinata frowned. Now it all made sense, as to why her two friends had never been around for almost an entire year...they had been her guards the entire time. She wanted to be mad, but there was no time to ask them about it.
Hinata tossed a scroll to each of the leaders and Anbus present. Inside the scroll were a name and a picture of the elders they had been assigned to.
Toneri was hers.
"We'll meet at Aburame-san's location." Shikamaru reminded them, from his place next to Hinata. Ino was already at the torture chamber, waiting for them to arrive. "Are there any questions?" Shikamaru pushed himself up, his height always towering over hers, as he stood next to her.
"No, I just want to hurry up and find Hanabi-chan," Kiba said from behind his mask while his mother, Tsume, hummed from her side.
Shikamaru then glanced over in the direction of his mother, and sent a nod her way, grateful that she had come around.
After Hinata signaled them to move, they all fanned out, disappearing towards the same destination, the Hyuga mansion.
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N/A: Edited: 4/28/21.
Edited: 9/24/21
Edited: 9/8/22