The Art of Love

Chapter Fourteen: The Anger

Rated M for sexual contact, violence, graphic themes, and language.

By: Midnight-Runaway

.

.

The wall was filled with pictures, maps, and notes. Every site noted and color coded with the level of reliability and statement given. The furthest side of the wall had the names and pictures of people that been victims of the group.

Any mention of the group's name was listed on the wall. Everything they gather in the six months was there and yet with all that information she felt like she knew nothing.

Maybe it was the reminisce of the concussion the trap had left her, maybe her emotions were clouding her judgement, mostly likely was the amount of alcohol she has consumed in the last three hours.

She sighed. She was frustrated and that was evident by the disaster her room was. She drank another sip of the alcohol and leaned against the untouched table. There was a huge hole in the wall she would have to explain, and people probably heard the noise. They found one of the missing shinobi under the rubble. He had a little girl, four months old. His wife widowed and little girl left without a father. She had personally delivered the message to the wife.

Her screams still echoed in her ears. The woman had collapsed in her arms. Hinata would never forget the young woman's sobs. Later she had found herself in her room.

Hinata had surprised herself with the amount of pent-up frustration and anger she had. She always knew she was emotional but anger was rare. She wasn't a revenge thirsty woman but this assignment was far too personal, this mission had shown her the darker side of the world she would have liked to stay blissfully unaware of. Too many lives have been lost, too many broken promises and too much blood spilled.

This was the time of peace and yet it felt anything but peaceful. Her emotions had been taken out and onto her room. Things were thrown, and a large hole was punched in the wall. Moments or maybe hours later she found herself in the mess she created with alcohol in her hand. Which had surprised her yet again. Hinata was never much of a drinker but today she felt like forgetting and normally she found solace in her husband but he wasn't here and the alcohol would have to quench her thirst.

The door opened.

"Redecorating," she heard Kakashi.

She giggled. "I have heard trashing your room in a fitful rage is the latest trend," she said looking at Kakashi. She felt guilty as she saw him limp towards her. He had suffered from a concussion, a couple of broken ribs, and leg. She and he were the lucky few. Members of their team didn't make it expect. Shino was in critical care and at the moment in a coma. Team two was completely eliminated or missing and most of team three made it out.

Kakashi stood next to her and sighed. "I could use some of that booze," he said. She handed him the bottle and stared back at the wall. " It's been two days and I can't figure out how we fell into this trap."

"It was a lead, and there is another leak. Don't do this to yourself."

She took back the bottle and drank again. "Sasuke wouldn't want to see you like this."

She sighed. "Sasuke shouldn't have married such a fuck up."

She felt home grab her bottle. "Hey," she said turning to him. "He loves you and you are not a fuck up. This was a well thought out plan. The lead was solid. Get some sleep tomorrow morning we have to try to find this leak," he told her. She looked over to the former Hokage. In the last few years, he had become like a surrogate father to Sasuke and by default to her. She trusted the man with her life.

He took the bottle back from her. "Good night," he said limping away.

"He took my bottle," she mumbled.

The door closed l leaving her with her thoughts. She stepped towards the wall. What were they missing? Almost a year into this mission the couldn't even find one credible lead on where they are hiding. She looked towards her bed.

It was hours later when Hinata found herself next to the wall again. Her room had been cleaned minus the gaping hole in the wall. Picked up the last piece of displaced furniture she looked around. She had sobered up but was still bitter. Hinata was too caring for her own good, her emotions were both her greatest and worst strength.

She heard the door open and the sound of limping, along with footsteps. "Didn't like the arrangement," Kakashi asked. She could feel him smirking. She couldn't help but blush. She was a little embarrassed.

She turned to look at the people. "It's good to see you Ino and Sai," Hinata said.

The both gave her a small smile. She looked over at the wall, the furthers part of the wall had a list of names. Moving over to it she added one more name.

" There was a mole on our team. I can't trust anyone. This is all the names of shinobi who handled the sensitive information. I want to take these people apart. If we find the leak maybe we can find a way to the group. For now, I can only trust the three of you. "

"It wasn't your fault," Ino said. Hinata paused. She knew it wasn't but it was still her team.

" This is all the information we have. Every single detail is on the wall." "Those sightings look strange," Sai said Moving to the wall, he studied it closer.

"Yes but all in different nations." From what I could tell Kai is our only way to get to Yuu. From our Intel, he seems to be his second in command."

"The last couple of hours I have been studying the patterns on the map Iwagakure seems to the only nation that hasn't had a direct attack on their village. Yes small attacks outside and bordering small civilian villages but nothing traumatic," Sai said putting a question mark by the village.

" I thought of that too but that could be contributed to the fierce military regime that the kage had implemented. Their boarders are kept on tight surveillance. From the information, I have revived from our spies is that if a bird flys through the Kage knows," Kakashi said.

"There have become more hostile in the last few years. This could be a power move," Ino said.

Hinata shook her head. "But that doesn't make sense. Why be this obvious? If any of the Kages thought that he was making a move or had anything to do with Yuu it could start another war. It's too simple. There has to be something more complex than that. They could still be hiding there. Limited shinobi interference from other villages. "

"But smuggling weapons and money to other villages sound isn't an easy thing when borders are becoming tighter," Ino said leaning against the table.

Hinata's head hurt. She sighed. "I don't like going to the hostile environment but maybe our best bet is to take this operation into Iwagakure," Kakashi said.

Hinata frowned. "I have walked into one trap. If this Kage does have something to do with Yuu do we really want to walk into a trap again."

The group stayed quiet. "Yes," Ino said finally.

Hinata sighed again.

"What if," Hinata was cut off by a knock on the door.

"Hinata-SAMa the Kazakage has asked for you."

"Hai."

She looked at the group excused herself.

Making her way to the Kage's office, she knocked. "Come in."

"Sir," she said.

"You have been requested back to your village and this message has come in for you," Garra said giving her a scroll. She read the scroll. Closing it she was thanked the Kazakage.

"How are you," he asked. She gives him a small smile. "Better, thank you Garra."

" Ryo is to be assigned to your team." Hinata wanted to argue but she didn't. Ryo was on her list of people to research.

Hinata nodded. "You may leave."

Making her way to the living quarters, she found herself lost in thought. Shino was still in the hospital and a part of her wanted to stay with him, he was her teammate and best friend but her duty was to her village.

Duty above all no matter how many sacrifices you had to make, nothing came of the shinobi way.

She found the team still in her room discussing the wall.

"Naruto has requested us back. I just got word that Jane Doe is stable enough to talk to. Kiba has been working closely with her."

"I'll head back as soon as I can," Kakashi said.

"No, I think you should stay. I want you to stay and try to find out what we missed and keep an eye on Shino and I also want Ino to stay," Hinata said. "The request for specifically made for me. You two comb through these men and women. Found out who and how we missed this. "

"Hai."