Shikamaru and Naruto went around the village after they set out from their home area, but today unlike any other day they didn't go to practice or play. Naruto still thought about what happened last night. His first unofficial mission that ended with an abduction attempt and his meeting with Hinata, he did not regret for a second on the way he acted, but he still cared for her well-being. His brother Shikamaru didn't seem different but Naruto could see the pineapple-head that was lost in thought. They moved past a lot of people who walked around quickly and the reason was obvious.
"Is it true?"
"I heard they just decided to give up the agreement, but why?"
"Does it means they prefer war?"
"Don't talk like that!, chances are they just want to take the time with the terms"
Many citizens stood around and talked between each other and it was clear immediately to Shikamaro why they decided to cancel the talks after last night, 'so what will you do when you don't have someone to punish?' the Nara thought with a smile and turned to Naruto who was by his side. "So you remember what we talked about right?".
"Of course I remember, we're on our way to Hinata-chan and you are going to explain to us why we didn't say a word" said the blond with a smile.
"So you still keep calling her Hinata-chan?" tease Shikamaru with a smile.
Naruto who continue to go without any change narrowed his eyes at his brother, "I told you yesterday Shikamaru, there is no particular reason why I call her that...". He finished with his little red in his cheeks.
"Really?" asked the pineapple-head with doubt in his eyes, "it's just very odd that you keep calling her like that, not to mention the fact that you're blushing!" he said but did not received a reply from the Jinjuriki that just looked to the other side. 'So you want to play like that ah?'. "If I recall you mumble something in your sleep..." As soon as Shikamaru said it Naruto's eyes opened in terror and he looked at Shikamaru with the most embarrassed look he'd ever had.
"D-did I s-say anything?" he asked in a stuttering that resembled Hinata and pulled out a small chuckle from the Nara.
"I remember you clearly talking about you beating me, but I didn't hear exactly in what" Shikamaru lied, what he really heard were gibberish that include the name of Hinata.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and looked at what was happening around him and his brother, 'I did all this but it was worth it!' he thought firmly as he and Shikamaru continued to go to the Hyuga compound.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't someone who liked paperwork and working in an Office, but even he would prefer to return to his normal and boring work, and not to deal with the incident in the village. "As far as my sources say, one of the Kumo representatives that was in one of our hotels is missing", he stopped to take a breath from his pipe and let the information sink in. "The Anbu couldn't find any trace of him but the things he left in his room. And now Kumo doesn't want peace with us and are demanding for compensation for a 'veteran ninja'".
"Ha!, veteran ninja they try to make him sound like he was at the level of Kakashi or Guy!" said someone else that was in the room with the Hokage.
"The fact that he disappeared while he was in the village is a big trouble for konoha!" said sarotobi and blew through his pipe again, "we could reject the peace with Kumo in the meantime, but it's more important to find out where he's gone to".
"You think it was Danzo?" said the other person.
"Mmm ... I don't know, and even if it fits to the way he works he disbanded his organization and has no reason to tinker with Kumo" finished Hiruzen.
"So that is why you called me?, even though you know I have to deal with my information network" said the second person.
"I think your readers will be able to wait for your next book Jiraiya" said the Hokage with a smile. "It's important Jiraiya and I wasn't going to call you if I didn't have to".
Jiraiya looked at the face of his teacher "fine sensei!, leave the search to me. I will found out where he's gone to" said Jiraiya with a smile and tried to calm Sarutobi 'after I do some research of course!'.
The Hokage watched as Jiraiya disappeared in shunshin and left him alone in his Office, 'I leave this in your hands'.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
The two boys arrived after a few minutes to the same gates that belonged to the Hyuga, at the front entrance again there were only two guards who seemed serious and totally alert and spotted two boys that have progressed towards them.
"Good morning!" said Shikamaru to the two guards and bowed to them, "I'm Shikamaru Nara and this is my brother Naruto and we came to play with Hinata!".
Naruto quickly bowed too watching the faces of the two guards that changed to confusion.
"A-are you friends with Hinata-sama?" said one of the guards in surprise and looked to the two boys he had never seen before.
"Y-Yes!, we played with her a few times and we told her we were coming today!" said Naruto with a bit of fear in his voice.
The amazed guards looked at both boys for several seconds before one of them turned around and went back into the enclosure. "I will go to inform Hiashi-sama and Hinata-Sama, you stay with them".
The second guard nodded and moved as the two boys waited.
The guard went in and passed many buildings until he reached the area where training area where Hiashi was, he knocked on the door before he opened it.
"Knock, knock"
"Enter!" Hiashi's voice came from behind the door.
The guard opened the door slowly as soon as he heard the clan head's approval to enter, he immediately bowed and then lifted his head slowly. Hiashi stood in the middle of the room and folded his arms. His face had an expression of disappointment and opposite of him was Hinata who was on the floor, the little Hyuga was on her knees breathing heavily as she looked to the floor. Hinata was barely able to move, her training with her father was always tiring and even more than usual because of the fact that she left the house at night as Hiashi decided to increase her training.
"I apologize for interrupting Hiashi-smam!, but Hinata-sama have guests" said the guard, causing the Hyuga head to look at him in wonder.
"Guests?, what kind of guests?" asked Hiashi.
"Both children identified as Shikamaru Nara
and Naruto" replied the guard immediately.
"Shikamaru-kun and Naruto-Kun?!" said Hinata and in a second was on her feet and surprised her father that never expected she could get up so fast.
"Your friends?" he asked her with a little suspicion.
She moved closer to him in a speed he wasn't expecting from her and stood in front of him. "father they are friends of mine and I said I would meet with them today, I'm sorry I didn't tell you" she said and hoped that he would let her to meet with the two.
'She can stand?' thought Hiashi in surprise as he looked at his weak daughter that normally couldn't even move after sparring with him, just up and walks as if she's just fine. "Really?, I didn't know you were friends with kids from the Nara clan".
"So is it ok for me to play with them?" she asked with hope.
Hiashi faced a dilemma, on the one hand he had to teach his daughter lesson for being out of the House so late. And on the other hand he never saw her standing in front of him without stammering and looking him in the eyes, it was the Hinata that he still hasn't seen, she looked stronger with desire and even ability. "Fine, you can go and play with them, but we will continue your training when you come back" he said in a firm tone.
"Thank you father!" she said with a smile and bowed a slight bow before she ran out of the room and towards the gateway.
Hiashi and the guard stood in silence in the room.
"Hi-Hiashi-sama?".
"Was there anything else?" Hiashi asked the guard.
"No Hiashi-sama".
"So you can return to your duties" said Hiashi.
The guard bowed to Hiashi one last time then turned and walked out of the room leaving his clan head alone with his thoughts.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
After she received permission from her father Hinata went quickly to her room and switched from her training were to ordinary clothes she wore simple black pants with a blue shirt and black sandals. After the rapid exchange she was out of her room and headed for the gate to meet her two friends. Her eyes landed on the two brothers that still stood at the gate with guards and laughed with them. She was getting close to them until they noticed her.
"Hinata-chan! good morning!" said Naruto with a big smile as Shikamaru waved at her and two guards bowed to her.
"Good morning Naruto-kun! Shikamaru-kun!" she said with a radiant smile as she saw her blonde rescuer.
"Let's move you two" said Shikamaru and began to move.
Naruto and Hinata waved to the guards and walked with Shikamaru that was already several steps ahead of them.
"S-so N-Naruto-Kun how do you feel?" she asked with the same cute and stuttering voice.
Naruto crossed his hand and looked at his brother's back as he still went ahead "after yesterday I couldn't really sleep too much, especially after what happened. And I was just curious why Shikamaru did not say a word" he said with a little pouty face that looked so cute to the young Hyuga.
"I-I wondered why as well" she said with a bit of red in her cheeks.
'Good to see they get along so well' thought Shikamaru as he went before the two and gave them their privacy before they reached their destination that was the same forest where the brothers was amazed to see Naruto and a few dozen of his clones around her, her head began to spin slightly and she felt that she was going to pass out before she felt the hand of Naruto pulling her to the direction of a huge tree trunk where Shikamaru rested and waited for two.
"Come and sit down" said the Nara and signed the two to sit in front of him.
Naruto sat down opposite his brother and Hinata at his side, "Okay Shikamaru we are listening, so why did you asked us to keep quiet about what they almost did to Hinata-chan?" Naruto said and made Hinata blush when he said her name.
Shikamaru closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he began to explain, "as you already know from what that ninja told you, he was part of the delegates who came to sign a peace agreement with our village. and from what I saw it was their intention from the beginning" he stopped for a few seconds and gave the information to be absorbed before he continued. "And the main reason I stopped you from talking is because of the consequences that may come".
"T-the consequences?" Hinata asked with concern and grabbed the sleeve of Naruto by reflex.
"Yes, as a start if people find out what we did and our capabilities and they were learning that Kumo tried to kidnap Hinata then the real problems would start".
"What problems?" asked the Jinjuriki and narrowed his eyes at his brother.
"For starters they lied about wanting peace and tried to abduct a child, it could start a war over this fact alone. And that's without describing what Hinata's father would do if he heard about it".
Hinata mumbled something no one had heard while Naruto was silent.
"And because we have not said anything we have prevented a war and a lot of trouble" Shikamaru said and saw that they realized.
"But one thing I still don't understand, I thought you said no one can know what I can do. So what's with Hinata-chan?, she wont get into trouble for this right?" asked the blonde Jinjuriki with concern.
Shikamaru smiled when he heard the question "not at all, in fact I was thinking she will start to train with us" the Nara said with a big smile.
The eyes of Naruto and Hinata opened in horror as they heard his answer "t-that I w-will train with you?!" the little Hyuga said in amazement. She had not expected that the brother of Naruto will offer something like that.
"You think it's a bad idea Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked with a slightly sad expression on his face.
Hinata immediately panicked and began to wave her hands in all directions "n-no not at all N-Naruto-kun! I would be happy to work out with y-you!. I just do not think someone like me could keep up with you..." She finished with a weak voice and full of disappointment.
"Ah?, why not?" He asked curiously and turned to her.
She began to play with her fingers in an embarrassed manner "it's just that my father always say that I am learning too slow".
Shikamaru watched in silence what is happening in front of his and between the two, 'I thought it would come to something like that' he thought to himself. "Don't worry Hinata, if I can teach 'him'" he pointed to Naruto "I can teach you without any problem!" He finished with a smile and made Naruto look at him with anger.
"Hey! what do you mean with 'him'?!".
Hinata looked at Naruto who began to chase Shikamaru and demanded an explanation and began to laugh with a big smile.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
A few days have passed since the first time that the three began to work together. And much to the surprise of Shikamaru, Hinata was a student that learned quickly as Naruto but without the use of the 'kage bunshin'. Her chakra control was excellent and she could learn the 'kage bunshin' even if she couldn't still use it because she did not have enough chakra, and finally all the basic jutsu that she was supposed to learn only a few years wan they will be in the academy. Shikamaru would have guessed that the real reason she progress so quickly was because of the training was with Naruto and gave her a lot more confidence in herself than she thought she had. He was still worried what her family or rather her father would say when she leaves the house to play with them.
The three just finished their regular training and left behind an army of clones of Naruto, a few clones Shikamaru and one of Hinata who continued to work and advance in their way. The three walked around the village for pleasure and just talking and enjoying each other's company.
The three went on as usual until they heard a giggle came around the corner.
"Ha! Ha!, as I thought konoha is the best place to do research!".
In front of three was a large butt of someone who glued his head to a small hole in the wall that was made of bamboo wood. He continued to giggle and pressed his head closer and closer to the hole without noticing anyone.
'jiraiya?, What is he doing here now?. He was supposed to be here just before the finals of the chunin exams' thought Shikamaru before a smile crossed his face and he turned to Naruto Hinata and began to whisper something to them.
Hinata's face changed to a frown as she heard what the man in front of them was doing while Naruto's face changed into a smile as he thought of how to punish the peeping Tom.
"T-there is a peeping Tom!" Hinata cried out, causing Jiraiya's blood to freeze with fear.
'Not good! if sensei will knew I were here instead of exploring the ninja that disappeared!' Jiraiya thought fear and quickly turned to the source of the scream only to find they were three children that caught him.
"Only children Ahh?..." Said the toad sannin with a sigh of relief and smiled at the three "Hello Kids!, Why are you yelling?" he tried to say calmly with a big smile.
"Maybe it's better that you explain why are you peeping?!" Naruto asked with anger and pointed in accusation at the sannin.
"I am not peeping brat!, I'm doing research!" he finished with a proud face and folded his arms.
"Peeping on girls is not research!, who are you anyway?!" Naruto said and pointed at him.
An even bigger smile appeared on his face and he began to dance in a strange way, "thank you for asking!, I am a monk of Mount Myōboku known as the toad Hermite !, I am Jiraiya!" he present himself at last.
The three looked at him in question before they began to hear voices coming from behind the wall of bamboo.
"What was that?"
"Is anybody there?"
"I-Is there really someone peeping?!"
Feminine voices were approaching them and frightened Jiraiya. 'Not good!, sensei will knew I was here instead finding the disappeared ninja it will not it be fun to explain!' he thought with fear and immediately grabbed the three children and moved them to another area in the village.
"Fooo, that was close... you all right kids?".
The three were quiet and just in shock.
"W-what? where are we now?" Naruto asked and was shocked by the speed of Sannin Peeper.
Hinata was also shocked and even a little scared as she did not say a word, but she grabbed the sleeve of Naruto as if he was her only life line.
And even Shikamaru knew very well what the capabilities of Sannin was surprised by his speed.
Jiraiya finally dropped the three to the floor and smiled at them, "it's time to go home for you no?, it's getting late" he finished with a smile and thought about where to go for his 'research' and began to walk away from them.
Naruto and Hinata still looked at the disappearing form of Jiraiya while Shikamaru was deep in thought, 'it seems that I will be able to contact Jiraiya much faster than I thought' thought Shikamaru to himself and started planning his next move.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
In the days that came Hiashi noticed the changes in the behavior of his eldest daughter, the weak and timid girl he knew somehow got stronger. Even with a sudden change for the better of her, Hiashi was worried and found himself miss the cute form in which she was acting even if he would not admit it.
"Hiashi?" said a voice that belonged to one of the old elder of the clan.
"Yes elder?, do you need something?" Hiashi said and turned to the old man.
"I wanted to talk to you about Hinata-sama's progress" he said in serious voice.
'I knew it was not something they will keep quiet about' he thought but remained with the same expression. "Yes, what about the progress of Hinata?, there any problem?".
The elder shook his head with a smile, "No, no not at all Hiashi-sama. The complete opposite in fact!, We were very impressed from her progress lately!" He finished with an even bigger smile. "It is now clear that she is your daughter! and she's going to be a great clan head in time!".
Hiashi's eyes narrowed at the words of the elder,'clan head? she is only 6 year old and already you think about her like that?' He thought suspiciously. "Of course she'll be" he said in his normal voice.
"Great!, We are already looking forward to seeing her progress in the future!" He finished with a smile Hiashi did not like.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
It's been a few days since Jiraiya met the three children and with no revelation from his investigation, he was looking everywhere and tried to analyze all piece of information he was able to withdraw but without any success or even a little progress. 'It's as if the earth had swallowed him!' He thought angrily as he returned from his reporting to the Hokage that was not pleased at all. 'It did not seem that he was kidnapped or attacked, all signs point to the fact that he went somewhere, but where?' the Sannin muttered to himself as he walked across the empty street that was deserted.'S-since when he's there!?'.
The Sannin thought in panic as he felt someone who was very close to him and chances are that he is following him. 'Who are you?' Thought Jiraiya and continued his walk to a more quiet and secluded area and finally came to a clearing and settle down on a log and leaned on it wearily. 'So he's still after me...' thought Jiraiya and realized it was something serious if that person willing to follow someone like him. "It's time you show yourself!" He called out.
The person that followed him began to run away from the scene and deeper into the dark woods after he realized that he was no longer hidden.
'Your not running away!' The toad Sannin thought and launched himself to the hidden person that was not as fast as him and threw some shuriken to stop him.
'Sweist!'
Serrated blades whistled and warned the foreign ninja that immediately stopped his running to escape the death that could reach him, as Jiraiya landed a few feet away from him with clasped hands and a serious face, "it's time to give up, now you tell me who you are!".
The man that Jiraiya discovered was nothing remarkable, he was dressed in a simple dark shirt and brown pants. His hair was brown and it was clear that he was not a ninja.
"Like I thought you really are strong Jiraiya" said the person with a smile and crossed his arms.
"So you're giving up already?, boring I thought you would oppose more".
A smile appeared on the foreign man's face "give up?, why do I have give up when I've won and I got you?" he said for granted.
Jiraiya's eyes opened as he tried to move immediately but realized he could not. "W-what!? I can't-".
"Can't move right?, that's fine Jiraiya I just want to talk to you" he said and started walking slowly to the Sannin with his hands in his pockets.
Jiraiya was still trying to break free despite the foreign person's promise that he did not want to fight with him.
"You're really stubborn ah?, well then I will do this" said the person and at the moment the toad sage could feel the power that held him released but still holding him in place.
Jiraiya saw the thing that held it was the foreign person's shadow.
'A shadow?, he is a Nara?' Jiraiya began to relax a little more after he was freer, "Fooo, that was not bad at all so now who are you?" he finally asked still up.
The man smiled and then gestured with his hands, "it will be better if I show you 'henge'!".
'Poof!'
With the expired technique Shikamaru came out of the smoke and stood directly in front of Jiraiya who was staring at him in silence.
The fact that a child was in front of him was really strange and lose his concentration, "You look familiar kid..." he said trying to remember the black-haired boy standing in front of him. His memory kicked in after a few seconds and he remembered the boy and his two friends. "Oh!, you have been part of the three that caught me!" called Jiraiya.
'What are you a kid?' Shikamaru thought and stood in front of him. "So I guess now you are listening to me I should introduce myself" he took a deep breath and then began to speak. "My name is Nara Shikamaru, I am the jonin commander and the Hokage's assistant".
...
...
It was quiet for a few seconds before Jiraiya started laughing with tears and could barely breathe, "okay child you are very funny, I have never heard something so funny!".
Shikamaru was silent, his face became increasingly angry, "is that a way to laugh after you let Orochimaru escape rather than eliminate him when you had a chance? '.
The laughter of Jiraiya ended after a second and he looked in amazement at the Nara "how do you know that?!". He received no reply except a smile from the Nara "how do you know that!. You weren't even born than!".
"So disappointing Jiraiya, is that why you let Minato die rather than help him?".
"Y-y-you. W-who you are!?" Jiraiya was furious and tried again to get out of the hold of the shadow that caught him with all his power but with no luck.
"This is also why Tsunade chose someone else and not you...".
Jiraiya stopped resisting and just gave the shade to keep him as his body got numb and all his power left him.
Shikamaru realized that with all his anger he said something he shouldn't have said and released Jiraiya from his shadow.
"How do you know that?" he just asked in a defeated voice that begged for an answer.
"Let me introduce myself again, I'm Shikamaru Nara and I am from 25 years in the future from now".